Saturday morning I was ready to get to work.
I was excited about Friday’s progress, and I felt that this was going to be the day when I would see real change.
I know, it almost sounds like I’m an Organizational Blogger, right?
After spending 30 minutes looking for the dust mask I wore the day before (which I still haven’t found), I decided to go with one that very well may have been worn by my husband during my third c-section.
It smelled a little like a dentist’s office, but it worked.
The overall view of the garage when I started on Saturday morning was this:
But the more encouraging views were these:
LOOK at all that empty space!
Of course, there were lots of piles on the floor waiting to be dealt with.
The . . . yep-these-things-should-probably-go-on-the-shelves-but-where-exactly-on-the-shelves-should-they-go pile:
The do-NOT-ask-me-right-now-because-I-have-no-idea-where-this-stuff-will-end-up-but-I-just-don’t-think-I-can-chunk-it pile:
And so on and so forth . . .
There was also the matter of this shelf:
The one piled high with boxes full of to-be-dealt-with-later randomness. I decided that there were enough of these boxes to warrant the designation of this shelf just for them. I moved things off that didn’t qualify, and started moving similar boxes onto it from the do-NOT-ask-me-right-now pile.
The existence of that shelf is not ideal. But it’s my reality. Over the past year or so, hubby and I have cleared out many such boxes, but we have a long way to go. The only way I know to deal with them . . . is one at a time. My hope is that we’ll one day soon be able to do away with that shelf completely.
Now, it was time to start putting things back.
My main goal was to establish a “spot” for each thing that really did need to go on the shelves. I started designating certain shelves for various things such as rollerblades (and related safety items), lake stuff (wouldn’t it be great to be able to just grab what we need when it’s time to pack up) and rain boots.
I used some of the many unused storage containers I had come across during Friday’s purge. (Lack of storage containers is definitely NOT my problem.)
Things were coming together and I was getting to the bottom of the yes-I-want-to-keep-it pile. And the bottom of the pile is always the hardest place to be.
ONE of my problems is . . . costumes.
And props.
I used to be a Theatre teacher. I still direct the drama at my church, and do the occasional production.
I LOVE props.
And costumes.
And the bizarre-to-anyone-but-another-theatre-person reality is that even though these incredibly random things are just that . . . incredibly random . . . I do end up using all most of them.
Like a phone. Or an alien ear. Or a little horn. All totally useful to someone like me. And then there was the thing that every self-respecting director must have:
A doorbell. I mean, it simply is not possible to get the timing and the comedic effect correct with a mere CD!
I ran across most of these things inside two bins full of props and costumes, which I had incorrectly assumed were full of things to be donated. Once I realized what they were, and that they were in a place where I could justify keeping them, I decided to do something crazy.
I labeled them.
I know, a totally life-changing concept. Now, if I need that doorbell . . . I know where to look. (Or at least where to start looking.) And as I’m sure any organized person understands, it felt so good to immediately know where to put any other props or costumes I ran across.
I put the painting stuff in one place, tools in another, and I even found the perfect spot for . . . . my camping potty.
I was almost done with this side of the garage, but I was scared to death to pull out one last container that was at the bottom of the built-in shelves.
Why I was so scared, I really don’t know. I think I was feeling good about how well the organizing was going, and I was afraid to find another big container full of things to deal with. I literally held my breath and pulled it out.
I found:
Life-jackets. Obviously, from an organizing attempt of days past. (Another example of the necessity of labels.)
I purged the too-small ones, and put the others on the “summer stuff” or “lake” shelves.
Now that this side was mostly done, it was time to decide if I was going to venture onto the other side of the garage. It would totally be possible to strategically take pictures of only the right side.
But I was feeling the momentum. I decided to keep going.
Ugh.
I purged this too-cool shelf of all but two things. It was completely filled (can’t believe I didn’t take a before-picture), but every single thing was deemed un-needed.
I decided to use it for hubby’s fishing stuff, which was piled right beside it.
In minutes, the area looked like this:
Much better.
This side went more quickly because I was able to move things to their proper prop-box or designated-spot-on-the-shelf.
Finally, when I decided to quit for the day, almost everything had a real home, and trash and clutter had been purged. I still had some cleaning and final touches to do, but the visible difference was huge.
My advice for the day? The old cliche about having a place for everything isn’t just something organized people say to make people like me feel bad.
It’s really true.
And the more established places I had, the easier the rest of the project went. I’m pretty sure that’s how organizing momentum works!
Tomorrow, I’ll share what I did on Tuesday, in just a few hours of working on details. You’ll see the final “after” pictures, and I’m planning to declare that my garage is . . . organized.
Really.
Little ol’ me.
Here’s the link to my post with the final “after pictures!
I’ll be linking this up over at Orgjunkie.com‘s 52 Weeks of Organizing.
Don’t forget to check out the progress and tips that the other Spring Spruce Up bloggers are sharing. And tomorrow we’ll post the linky so you can share your own Spring Spruce Up post! I can’t wait to see what you all have done!
Sprucing Up the Laundry Room | Mama’s Laundry Talk
Sprucing Up the School Room | Homegrown Mom
Sprucing Up the Craft Room | Many Little Blessings
Sprucing Up the Bathroom | Feels Like Home
Sprucing Up the Playroom | …Life’s About a Dream
Sprucing Up the Garage/Storage Space | A Slob Comes Clean
Sprucing Up the Master Bedroom | Raising Arrows
Sprucing Up Your Homeschool | Jimmie’s Collage
Sprucing Up the Kitchen | So Happy Together
Sprucing Up the Garden | An Oregon Cottage
Sprucing Up the Backyard | Successful Homeschooling
Tanya Taylor says
Wowza, girl! What an awesome job you've done!
simplify411 says
Having a place for everything is the KEY (and labels too – three cheers for labels)!
Way to go!! You've done a great job and I can't wait to see the photos on Tuesday.
Mama Laundry says
Nony, girl, that is some *serious* work you've done! I'm so proud of you!
I hope you are sitting down somewhere having a glass of sweet tea and mulling over how fabulous you are. Seriously.
Total inspiration.
-Lauren
Angie @ Many Little Blessings says
Wow! You've been working so hard! I'm kind of tired looking at it all. Kudos to you!
Sheri says
This. is. awesome.
I need to start doing this to our dining room that has become our storage space for things unknown. I always look at it and just get overwhelmed and not know where to put things. In the attic, in the basement, in K's room? The list goes on and on.
If you can do it, I can do it. I need to get off my lazy butt and actually tackle this thing.
I guess the thing that doesn't help is that there is no ceiling light in there so it's so dark and I get distracted!
But excuses no more! When the weather is nice again, I'm opening those windows and getting started!
Virginia (Jenny) says
Good job! We have two bad spots in our house. Our garage and our room. It's the place we put everything when we don't know what to do with it for have to just hurry and clean. Ugh. I love the feeling of the two when they are cleaned out. 🙂
Jami @An Oregon Cottage says
Fantastic! I can't wait to see the final pictures (you tease…)!
Mommyto3andahusky says
wow!!! that looks great!!!
Shonda says
Hats off to you! I started some garage cleaning, but it was hard being pregnant! That is one area that I wish was neater, but oh, my, it's a nightmare right now. I think we need a week or more to do that one! Great job!
Carol says
Man I would have ran the other way. What a huge job. Looking forward to the outcome. Happy Organizing!
allysgrandma says
Wow great job. I'm amazed.
Marilyn Holeman says
I'm visiting from Organizing Junkie and I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂
llamawriter23 says
Amazing! Well done. We have our 'garage' (actually a barn) to tackle soon. I was dreading it, but seeing what you've done has really inspired me. Oh to be as organized as you!
Amitiés, Stéphanie
Mary says
A clean garage makes a world of difference!! It also helps get the clutter out of the rest of the house, because if clutter overflows to the garage, it is more noticable if the garage is clean. Great job!
(What a fun blog you have!)
Mary
http://makingfamilylifefun.blogspot.com
Alicia says
Way to go!! You worked hard, and it looks great. I'll be tackling the garage later this year, so thank you for the inspiration!
Barbara says
Dana, glad to hear you too are a “costume” person! I am doing the Take Your House Back Course and I often feel intimidated by you three. I think, “they just don’t understand the kinds of things I have to keep.” Mine are ballet costumes for my 14 year old daughter. There is never anyone to pass on her too small things to, because she has been dancing since age 5 and she has always been the youngest in the class, and the only one “still growing”. So I feel relieved and justified in keeping at least the ones she could still wear (and could still be repurposed into another costume for a new production – if we ever get back to in person performances again. Another category that was very hard to declutter is “Uniforms” (Military) – there are taboos about disposing of them, even for military colleges your offspring have graduated from. I finally told him I would store his things until he either got married or bought a house, and now he has done both, so he has the items. My third crazy (and most challenging) “must keep” storage busters is “Durable Medical Equipment”. My daughter (yes, the ballerina) has CP and she has several large devices that she currently uses that have to be stored somewhere. One lives in my van, one graces the living room and 4 or 5 are in a corner of the garage, blocking access to the wardrobe that has the ballet costumes (formerly the military uniforms!) I am able to donate the items she outgrows to the PT who ordered them for us. She keeps a lending library so people can try before they buy. Otherwise my whole house would be full of DME. Any insight or sharing about these subjects would be greatly appreciated!