Recycling my closet...

How many times have you gone through your closet and said, “I don’t have anything to wear?”

One basic idea in recycling is to reuse, right? I know I’m guilty of keeping clothes hanging in my closet way too long. What’s too long? That’s up to you. Many “experts” say if you haven’t worn something in 12 months, it’s time to remove it from your closet.

Recently, I packed for a weeklong trip to New Mexico and Colorado. I needed mostly casual clothes, but also one outfit for a wedding. With a closet (actually more than 1 closet) full of clothes, I had to do laundry before I packed. I couldn’t leave without 2 of my favorite summer blouses, right? (I chose to ignore the dozens that were clean, and hanging in my closet…)
I’ve done it. There have been times when I can’t add another article of clothing to my bulging closet, full of items I don’t wear, and then I do it...I go buy more. I’m sure not practicing what I preach here…

One of the best ideas I’ve learned about recycling is the idea that when it comes to our attention that we are in possession of items we are no longer putting to use, pass them on. I love the idea of knowing that someone who couldn’t afford a new outfit it is wearing something of mine that no longer fits me (or I just grew tired of). The other part of that positive thought is that piece of clothing is no longer taking up space and collecting dust in my closet!

Why have items that we no longer have any use for taking up precious space in our lives? It feels great to have extra room in my closet. It took me a while, but that was one of the best things I ever did for myself: cleaning out my closet. Don’t get me wrong; I know I still have too much “stuff”. This is an ongoing process…the more I get rid of, the more I WANT to get rid of. I pass them on and that feels really good.

Do yourself a favor, go through your closet, find what you’re no longer wearing and pass it on. There are numerous organizations where your unwanted items will be put to good use.

You probably have your favorite charities you donate to. One that I use is Big Brothers, Big Sisters. It’s a great cause, and they will come to your house to pick up the goodies! Check them out here.

To read reviews of different charity organizations, check this out:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Stuff. Too much ordinary stuff

I have a lot of stuff. That's the best word to describe it...stuff. Don't get me wrong...I think I have some really cool, unique, lusted after by others kind of stuff. That's not the stuff I'm thinking about today. The stuff on my mind includes a lot of the kitchen ware that came out of my old, desperately in need of remodeling kitchen. Now that I have my new, long awaited, lovingly planned kitchen, I have no room, or no need for a lot of this stuff. (I can hear my nieces saying..."I'll take some of your stuff.") Come get it. By the time you read this, it might/should/will be gone. You can pick it up at the Goodwill.

Then there's the other stuff. In making room for the extra kitchen stuff, I had to move/pack/hide some other stuff.

Take for instance picture frames. I have a lot of picture frames. Most have pictures in them, some don't. The pictures are mostly of nieces, nephews, other family members, friends and friends kids. With my new kitchen, I have less wall space. Now what?

And vases...how many vases does one need? Right now I have 8 glass vases on my kitchen window sill, full of little yellow flowers. They make me smile. Then I have 1 glass vase with a large bouquet of flowers on my bamboo counter-top (yes, I'm nervous about leaving it there...but I need to get over that). Now, if I counted up the unused vases (which would take me a while, since they're not all in 1 logical location), I would have enough to share. with lots of you. come get 'em now, before they go to the Goodwill.

What about drinking glasses and coffee cups? I'll be right back, I'm going to count them. OK, I'm back-28 glass drinking vessels, 29 plastic drinking vessels, and 21 coffee cups (I don't even drink coffee). That doesn't include my stash of wine glasses, (crystal and plastic:16), or margarita glasses: 4, champagne glasses: 3, or the 8 cordial glasses I inherited from my mom. (I don't ever remember her drinking out of one, or ever using them).

Oh... candle holders. That will be a topic for another day.

Back to the kitchen stuff. I have lots of assorted odds and ends, that I'm finding I don't use very often (shame on you if you are surprised). Now, what to do with this stuff? Do I add it to my stash of stuff to take to the Re-Store? (it's amazing how much stuff surfaced during the remodeling project that can be reused). Do I try to sell some of it on eBay? Or is it just Goodwill worthy?

The funny part is, I need some boxes to pack these things in, just to take them to the Goodwill. Since I've been using my reusable shopping bags, I'm nearly out of plastic bags (which should be recycled anyway). So, it's another dilemma I'll have to continue to face. In the meantime, I need to find homes in my own home for the stuff I want to keep.