Preparing

My number one task at hand on Wednesday was to prepare our closets for all of the early mornings headed our way that are going to require clean, presentable clothes and matching shoes. The laundry piles in our room alone have stuff from before Brett went away to Army camp in them. It's been that kind of summer.

Ruby isn't going to school just yet but I still have to get her out in public on a regular basis so I started with her side of the room first. I'd gotten into the bad habit of piling things rather than hanging them up right away and was trying to store out of season clothing or things that didn't fit just yet in the same space as summer clothing. It was crowded in there.

I went through and pulled out everything that was sitting on the shelf and sorted them into piles - too big, save, donate, share with friends. Then I pulled out anything that was hanging up that is still too big (most of my favorite vintage dresses for her) or that I was willing to pass along. I added some layering items for those first chilly days that will creep in soon and put all of her leggings, stockings, and bloomers in the plum box. I separated pants, shorts, and pajamas in the wire basket (not easily seen) and then lined up all of those shoes she'll be growing into in the next few months.

I've got a tub of clothing that is too small that I'd like to hold on to or things that I've come across that were good enough to keep until they fit in their closet. It gets pulled out a few times a year to restock their wardrobes. Ruby is obviously not hurting for anything and I'm so thankful for great vintage finds, both locally and online, allowing us to stretch our clothing budget.

Sebastian's side is next up. His will be a breeze compared to hers. Our own closets have also undergone a little reorganization today since I've been able to get to the bottom of some laundry piles. It feels good to catch up on this part of life.

Have you recently had an urge to purge? Do you do it all in one or two days or spread it out?

xo,
Rachel

Comments

[Kelsi]

Little girl closets, clothes, and shoes are so CUTE.

I'm feeling the urge to purge right now, too! Although mine will be much easier, because I don't have two kids (but I do have a clotheshorse of a boyfriend!).

[Bryonyandtom.wordpress.com]

Those cupboards look beautiful! I always feel the same urge to get my wardrobes sorted ready for 'back to school' (aka work.). The biggest thing I've just cleared out is an overgrown allotment. Not quite as fun as sorting cute clothes, I imagine!

[erin]

oh my goodness, we have soooo much stuff we need to get rid of or put in storage. i just can't seem to get the motivation to do so.
i dream of a clean toy room, organized dresser drawers & closets, & all laundry put away.

by the way, ruby's closet looks great! if only i could be as fashionable as her.

-erin

[Portia]

I think there must be something in the air. After a few weeks of letting things slide, I too am massively on a purge. My sewing room is under scrutiny in a big way and have moved the whole thing around and given away alot of big items on Freecycle. I feel calmer already!
Px

[Kelly]

Yep, did my wardrobe this morning ... is it a full moon or something? I get such a sense of self-satisification from being organised, even if things are just in organised piles ...

Kelly @
Elegantly Academic

[Lianne]

Oh I've had to. The maternity wardrobe shuffle for number two due in December. Just started to get a bump so had to drag out the bump bands and put away the silk. Next job is to go through the baby clothes and see what I can reuse. Thankfully it all seems clean. Were having another girl so I don't really need to get anything new, especially as it's mostly stuff from last year as my daughter is only just gone 18months. Just a case of organising. Were moving house too so it needs to be done. Yet again......

[jenn the soothsayer]

just did the big purge myself, now the fun part is replenishing!

[Kat]

I love my little lambs clothing collection, more than I love my own, vintage childrens clothes are just so adorable. I have hers displayed on a clothing rail with sweet little hangers and I can regularly be found just sifting through them (when I should probably be doing more useful chores!). I now how boxes in the attic ready fro my new niece to arrive (December) or maybe one day we'll have another little girl, who knows.

[Alexandra K.]

Your closet looks exactly like mine, your is in wtite though:)) looks great how you organized it!! I scheduledmy cleanibg for this weekend.

[marissa (stylebook)]

ruby's got the best little wardrobe!

[Molls]

I am getting ready to purge our fall and winter clothing. Right now it is taking up a few tubs and closets so it needs to be downsized badly, lol
I just hope when we have a baby I can find such adorable clothes like you have for your little ones :)

[La]

Is it silly if I say Ruby has my dream closet? It's so cute!!

[April]

I've had the urge to purge, but I blame it on the fact that I'm a day away from my due date. I can't tell you how many times I've reorganized my kitchen cabinets. And how many loads of laundry I've done.

http://sweetfeetshuffle.blogspot.com/

[Leanne]

I know where you are coming from. I recently overhauled the basement, which is finished, but had become the dumping ground for all things donatable plus the "future project" stash pile. My son joked that it looked like an episode of hoarders. I gave myself 2 full days, completely uninterrupted, to deal with it, and although it isn't quite done, it is absolutely a 100x better and now usable space!

[Kelly]

I've been working a little here & there on tackling some of our biggest messes in our home, but now you really have me wanting to sort through our closets. There are so many things we could get rid of because it's been collecting dust, so I guess now is a great time to purge & make room for things I make once my craft cove is complete!

[Anna B.]

I've been dejunking & reorganizing closets as of late. We are preparing for a move across the country & don't want to take excess with us. All clothing that is still wearable (not stained) is passed along to some friends of ours. We've given them bags full this summer. My next task is the garage. It's scary in there, ha!

[Ms. Megan]

I love all her little clothes hanging neatly in a little row!! How sweet!! I have been on a cleaning + purging kick myself! It is so nice to have everything clean and orderly.

[Katherine]

i am a good purger, which is good because I'm also a good shopper! after moving from 1900 square feet to 1200 square feet last month I have promised myself that i will NOT b ring anything home unless I LOVE it or we NEED it. so far it has been a huge relief. my last couple of thrifting trips I have come home with little, and it feels good! all of our closets are organized and tidy still from the recent move, and it feels good and easier to keep them that way when I am not constantly adding more to them.

[Liz @ Blue Eyed Owl]

That Ruby has the best wardrobe. She has more vintage dresses than me! My daughter is 7 now and refused to wear dresses, it's so depressing. All she wants to wear are dog t-shirts from Old Navy...sigh.

[Katie]

dangit...i thought that you were pregnant haha!

http://breatheandhush.blogspot.com/

[jenny]

haha, girrrrrl it took me A FULL WEEK to work my way through both kid's rooms... henry's was THE WORST.

wait... maybe MY ROOM was the worst? either way. ;)

high five, looks like you are making excellent progress so far! i love peeking into ruby's closet and i think i recognize a couple dresses! XO

[Sandra Kohlmann]

Ruby's closet looks great! I just added cleaning out the closets to my "back to school" to-do list yesterday. My daughters' closet is usually pretty organized, because they have enough clothes for about 10 girls (not joking) and I'd be in trouble if I didn't constantly rotate things in and out. I keep a bin right in their closet. When I try to get them dressed and find out something is too small, it goes right into the bin. Unfortunately I'm not so good at keeping up with my own closet.

[skunkboy]

What is it with little girls and closets? We have to do a monthly cleanout just because things don't get put back the way they should.

[Amanda]

I donated two huge bags last week! There's definitely something in the air right now. I still have a pile to go though (and the endless battle with the boy to get him to do the same with his clothes!).

[dena miller]

I love the wardrobe closets you have...very nice and looks so neat...on another note...I just went through my closet. Reorganized totally by color and style and purged a bunch to the thrift store and friends... My closet thanks me and now I have room for more stuff..tee hee.

[Katie]

I am jealous of her closet! Super cute!

Katiediditt.blogspot.com

[Anna]

I love your wardrobe for Ruby's clothes. We are having a girl in two months and trying to figure out a way to store all her dresses and such... This has me inspired. Now off to search craislist furniture postings.

[Margaret]

Yep, the nesting urge is hitting me hard--I've been going through my place purging, organizing and finishing up half-finished projects. I love the open storage you have for you kids' clothes--that would definitely give me a little more initiative to keep things organized.

[Jessica C]

while sitting in a meeting at work today (shhh...) I started making a list of all the things I need to purge in my life, household wise. I forgot clothing! Thanks for the reminder. Other things I wrote down: my college memorabilia-as I approach 30 I think it's time to reevaluate what I really want to keep reminders of, books-a big one, craft supplies, recycling and/or 'items to donate' piles-i just need to deliver them or put them in my car's trunk for now so they're out of the kitchen! Thanks again!

[Ashleigh]

I actually just recently purged my closet. Its feels great!