January Simple Swap: Closet Clean Out

We all want to live healthier, more intentional lives, but sometimes it seems overwhelming and daunting to take even small steps toward our ideals because there are so many steps before us.

Simple Swaps was created by Hyacynth out of a desire and passion to encourage other women on journeys toward living healthier, more inspired, intentional lifestyles through implementing one simple swap per month. 

Each swap will:

1. Take 30 minutes or less to accomplish 2. Be inexpensive to implement or boast overall, long-haul {health} savings 

3. Focus on improving health/eco-friendliness, being good stewards of our resources and/or fostering a creative and intentional life.

Some weeks, all three will be accomplished in 30 minutes or less!

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I helped a friend pack up her entire house in one day for an impromptu move to Australia (from Los Angeles), and although I came home tired and sore, I also came home energized to clean and organize. Not my whole house mind you, no that requires visitors coming over to motivate me to clean. No, I was energized to organize my bedroom closet. The friend gave me 8 dresses to take home with me, ones she decided she didn't wear very often, so I came home tried them on, and went to town making room for them in the mess I currently call my closet. I worked in such a fury that I forgot to take before pics...whoops! But I will tell you that in 30 short minutes, I:

• yanked all old, too small, too big, out-of-style and not ever worn clothes off hangers
• stole good hangers from my husband's closet
• pulled out the shoes I never wear from the shoe rack and off my daughter's feet (she played dress-up while I cleaned...her favorites are boots...I don't blame her, they're mine, too)
• cleaned out all the junk in my old purses and put them in the giveaway pile
• Clipped the lift tickets (from my first date with my husband) off the oversized, baggy snowboard pants I will never wear again because it isn't 2000 anymore, and tossed them aside
• went online to look for new snowboard pants for our upcoming Big Bear trip ;)
• Came back and put all of the give away stuff in a bag to take to Goodwill next weekend. 

leftover hangers after clothing purge

Goodwill bag: I weighed this out of curiosity - 18 pounds!

This made room for the new dresses...YAY! But it also made my dressy work clothes hang smoother and nicer without being shoved in together. It made room for my purses, shoes, jewelry and my sanity when I need to get ready. Getting ready at 5:50am is no fun, but at least my closet is organized and roomy now. It's the New Year, you should join us and clean out a closet in your home! If you do, please link up with us at Undercover Mother's site and share your efforts, ideas and epiphanies. And before pics would be nice. ;)