Wardrobe Wednesday-My First 10x10 Challenge

The weather here has been so beautiful.  It has truly felt like Fall over the past couple weeks.  Cool but not cold.  I love this weather!  On Monday I started participating in the Fall 10X10 challenge.  You can read more about it on Caroline's blog.  Caroline was the blogger who inspired me to start using capsule wardrobes and I have been enjoying her Fall 10X10 challenge.  The cliff notes version is that you pick 10 items to wear for 10 days.  I chose my red sweater, black sweatshirt, wine red tee, plaid shirt, black long sleeve shirt, blue jeans, black leggings, leather jacket, runners and boots.  The outfits in the post are from this past week and are not all part of the 10x10 challenge.

Happy Wednesday!

Simplify Fall 2018- Entryway

At the change of seasons, I like to go through our outdoor closet and entryway.  Weather varies so much from season to season so we can't possibly keep all of our outdoor gear in the closet for the whole year. 

I basically cleared out any summer items and made sure our fall/winter items are ready to go.  I sort through the summer items, clean things for next year and store them away in our downstairs closet.  This summer, I had also brought a storage unit with drawers up from the basement to help contain our summer gear (bug nets, bubbles, swimming bag, sidewalk chalk, etc.).  Now that summer is over, I got rid of the unit.

Before:

After:

(I organized the top shelf, but for some reason cut it off in the picture.)

Things are much better now.  It is easier to get out the door because we only have what we need in the entry way.  I am no longer digging through summer hats to find a touque.

Tips:

• Keep only what you need by the door.  It will help you streamline your morning.
• Go through your closet seasonally.  Remove what isn't needed and clean up off-season items for storage.
• Have a system so that your kids (even young children) can put away their own things.  My oldest daughter puts her shoes in her basket or on the shelf, puts her toque and mitts in her drawer, and can hang her coat on her hook.  
• I like to keep baskets for our daughter's shoes.  My oldest daughter keeps her dressier shoes and any regular shoes that stay dry in her basket.  (Wet or dirty footwear must go on the shelf.)  We also keep Baby Em's shoes in a basket.  This frees up precious space on our shelves.

Wardrobe Wednesday-Park Time

The weather has warmed up a bit so we made a point of hitting the park this week.  My clothes have to be functional, but I also want to look like I have put some effort in.  In Fall, I am all about plaid and layers. I actually had one other outfit to show you, but Miss. Em had other plans.  #momlife

What are your favourite Fall Wardrobe staples?

Simplify Fall 2018- Playroom

Toys.  My children have so many toys.  It is baffling.  They are given toys (by generous and loving family members and friends) for every holiday and occasion.  While I know the intent is good, it just adds up to too much stuff.  I try to go through their things as often as possible.  I donate any  unused toys that are in good repair.  I also "rest" toys throughout the year.  When my daughter becomes sick of something that she normally loves, I put it away.  When I bring it out again in a month, she is generally thrilled to play with it again.  If she isn't, the toy is donated to someone who will use it.

My before picture isn't too disastrous looking.  What you aren't seeing is the MASSIVE fort that my husband built with my daughter.  She has been squirreling toys away in her "house" and things had gotten out of hand.

After:

I dismantled the fort and dug out all of my daughter's treasures.  I rested a box of toys, donated several items, and then rearranged the playroom a bit.  

TIPS:

• If you have young children, don't involve them in the process.  Every toy is their favourite (even if they haven't played with it in 6 months) and they will keep removing toys from your neatly sorted piles.  Ask me how I know...
• If it is broken or severely maimed, let it go.
• If you aren't sure if your child will actually miss a toy, hide it for a little while.  If they don't ask for it in a few weeks, donate it.
• Less is more.  My daughter plays well when there is less to choose from.  Choice can be overwhelming for children.  If they have too much to choose from they will likely tear apart the playroom without actually getting into imaginative play.
• Toys need a designated home.  Our kids don't keep toys in their rooms.  We have designated the living room for baby toys and the playroom for all of the other toys.  When items have a home, they can be easily returned to it when playtime is over.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe 2018

I love fall and I love the clothes that go with it.  I had fun planning this capsule.  I have lost most of my "baby" weight and a lot of my favourite items fit me again. (Yay!)  This capsule is quite a bit smaller than many of my other capsules, but I think that is because I really know what I feel good wearing in the fall.  This year it has been snowing on and off.  It started in September.  I will use my winter boots and runners interchangeably, depending on the weather.

My wardrobe has 26 items.

4 bottoms:

12 tops:

2 jackets, 1 vest, 1 shawl, 4 scarves

3 pairs of shoes

I am excited to start working with a smaller wardrobe again and I am excited to wear some of my old favourites!  Happy Wednesday, friends!

Simplify Fall 2018- Pantry Clean Out and Inventory

I try to clean my pantry every few months.  I clear everything out, check dates and take inventory.  I also do this in my cold room (where I store some dry goods) and my freezers.  It is a great way to take stock of what you have, what needs to be used and what you may have too much of.

In Progess:

After:

Tips:

• Remove absolutely everything.  You may be surprised at what you might find.  My hubby will sometimes move items in the pantry to the top shelf.  I never know what is up there.  This time, I found a large bag of chocolate chips that I thought I had forgotten to buy.  
• Vacuum and wipe the shelves so they are clean.
• Read the best before dates and decide what needs to hit the trash.
• Store like items together.  (I feel like a broken record with that line.)
•  Evaluate your inventory and try to base your meal planning around what you already own.  It will save you money.

How often do take inventory of your pantry?

Simplify Fall 2018- Kid's Clothes

My oldest daughter has quite the wardrobe.  Between gifts and hand-me-downs, she has a lot of clothing.  I rarely have to go out to purchase much for her, which is such a blessing.  Her wardrobe does get out of control, however.  She loves digging through her drawers and leaving things in disarray.  She has recently developed the habit of putting dirty clothes back in drawers, so that is fun...

I generally clean out my daughter's closet and dresser seasonally and every time she has a growth spurt.  It is Fall which means that it is time to pack away her summer duds and go through her warm weather clothes.  I sorted through all of her clothes and took out anything that was too small, stained or that she refuses to wear.  She has always had strong opinions when it comes to her clothes.

I kept a few of the items for Miss. Em to grow into, I passed a few clothes to a friend's daughter and I threw away the stained pieces.  I was very honest with myself when it came to what my daughter would actually wear.  I would much rather someone else get use out of an item than have it sit in her dresser for ages.

Before:

Items removed from closet and dresser:

After:

Tips for Going Through Your Child's Clothing:

• Depending on your child's age (my daughter is 4), you may want to do this without your child present.  I find it much easier to take away clothes that are too small or are in poor shape without Miss. E declaring how much she loves it.  
• Sort clothing into a donation (or hand-me-down) box, a garbage bag or put it straight back into the closet/dresser.  This will make it easier to get items to reach their final destination and you won't get mixed up.  If something needs repairs, try to get to it as soon as possible so that it can be put away.
• Be realistic.  My daughter had the cutest pair of polka dot jeans in her dresser.  They were a gift.  She hates them.  She flat out refused to wear denim at this stage of her life.  It's leggings or sweat pants only.  I think that they are adorable but they are simply cluttering her drawers.  I put them in a box of clothes that I am hoping Miss. Em will wear when she is older.
• Don't save too much.  We attach memories to things.  We remember the lovely wedding that our child wore that dress to or the sweet day at the pumpkin patch.  We don't need to save the clothes to save the memories, however.  I do set aside the odd item for my daughters to have when they are grown up, but I try to keep that amount reasonably small.  I also find that time helps me detach from the item so if something is difficult to let go, set it aside and re-evaluate in few months time.