This one is pretty fun, I have to say, because you get to chuck all of the old stuff, and dream about some pretty new things to refresh that ole' make-up bag of yours...
If you have a drawer/shelf AND a make-up bag, just pick one, or do both, if you're feeling extra-ambitious today...Okay...GET ready to...
CLEAN OUT YOUR MAKE-UP BAG!
- Get a small bowl of warm, soapy water ready and some rags
- Lay some fresh rags down on the surface you want to use
- Get out your bag & dump everything out right now!
- Scan it, check things...
- TOSS: Mascara older than 3 months, according to the word on the street. Eye pencils that are worn down to nubs. Eye shadow that has change color from mixing with other colors (6 months if cream shadow) Lipstick & gloss-2 years, actually, if kept well! (In my book, depending on your wear of them...)
- Place your make-up brushes in the warm, soapy bowl of water, and RINSE GENTLY, and several times (until they rinse clean.) Blot with a clean wash cloth delicately. Lay brushes out to dry on windowsill, on top of a clean cloth.
- Wipe off what you're keeping, making a mental (or physical!) list of what you need/long for/want to add to your make-up bag, including sunscreen for the coming season.
- Put everything back in your bag, in drawer, on shelf. Feel better? No? Look and go through, and toss some more.
- Surprisingly, albeit in a smaller way, make-up can have that same hold some aspirational clothing purchases do: That expensive, crazy-red lipstick when you when out on a date with THAT guy, the sparkly green eye shadow for the Mardi Gras party...Give it to your niece or kid to play with, or toss it!
- Go and replenish & restock with some great (clean) beauty finds at:
(But only if necessary ;) Yay! You are DONE! xoxo
This is either quite a tragic task for you, or very easy, depending on how many people are using the linen closet, how many family members you have, and how large your home is, bedroom & bathroom-wise. Get ready to turn some old sheets and towels into something more useful, and let’s get BUSY…
I just want to state again that the entire concept of these little Tiny Tidys, and the "Home" aspect of House & Mind, is to allow for the realization that not only is the idea of perfection not desirable, it's not even an option. It simply doesn't EXIST. (Phew!)…
This one takes a bit more concentration than most other Tiny Tidys, but its well worth it! You can still do this even if you have adapted to mostly using a Kindle, and your bookcases are used to mostly house knick-knacks, plants and the like.
PICK ONE BOOKCASE/SET OF SHELVES YOU'D LIKE TO TIDY THE MOST, AND LET'S GET TO IT!
I know, this one is not so "tiny." In fact, the electricity went out in my apartment for about six hours when I wasn't home this week. I literally had to throw practically everything went, as, I found out the hard way, a few things spoiled! Ick.
(It's a pain to do this one. I totally get it.)
But! Summer is sadly, soon, coming to an end. You have had probably had more fresh fruit and produce in the fridge than usual. Now is a great time to get rid of these old left-overs, condiments that have seen better days, and, well, YOU know! All that good (and gross!) fridge stuff. You CAN do this in 45 minutes or less. It's just going to take a little bit of planning…
Have you ever scrolled through your contacts in your cell phone, and your heart absolutely lurches, because you forgot to delete the number of the guy who ghosted you five years ago (or vice versa!) or it pricks up and races when you see the number for that tutor you never called for your kid's advanced math class!? Today, we are getting rid of all that shame, stress and blah-ness that comes from looking at a device that may be filled with contacts and apps that do not express or reflect the good and juicy and interesting life you are living right now...
This is an EASY-peasy one, and also allows you a guilt-free excuse to go to/shop at Target! (Yes!) GO to the space/place/drawer/cabinet in your home where you keep things like: Antibiotic ointments, band-aids, anti-itch creams, summer bug spray, as well as products like cough syrup, cold and flu medicine, Tylenol, and the like…
This, admittedly, will be easy for some of us-and absolute hell for others. Choose which bag you'd like to conquer today- your tote bag for work, your everyday purse, your computer bag-whichever functions as your go-to, everyday-type-of-situation bag…
Okay! Let's be honest, here: When was the last time you checked the dates on those spice jars and tins you have lurking (in maybe more than one place!) in your kitchen? That little bottle of ancient bay leaves you haven't used for ages? The three cans of Kosher Salt saved in the very back? C'mon! We are going to hit this baby, and hit it fast and easy…
This one, for some reason, seems to strike a note of dread in many-but-much like the Make-Up Bag Tiny Tidy from last week, can actually, dare I say, be "fun." You can discover some new stuff that has been hiding, give away what you're not using, and make room and way for some new treats!
Where you come home from a long, hard day, there is GREAT temptation to just toss your stuff any old place, crack open a bottle of wine and put your feet up…But what if you could get to the fun part after you quickly get organized for the next day? That’s what a perfectly functioning Landing Strip in your home should do for you (and your family): Get you good & ready for the next day’s activities/work. So! With those thoughts in mind, let’s get to it…!