These 4 Easy Tips Will Help You Get (And Stay!) Organized In 2023
Get Your Ducks In A Row
If spandex could talk, my workout leggings would shriek that they’re stretched to the max. So, like many, getting into a regular workout routine is top of mind for my wellness goals in 2023. But there are other wellness resolutions on my list too. Organization for one! You may not think being organized contributes to a healthy state of well-being, but if you are Type A like me, oh it can! I get a calming sense when everything is in its place. I blame this on my college roommate who had a bin and a basket for EVERYTHING (thanks Lisa). Getting started is the first hurdle. It can seem overwhelming. Breaking down a game plan into manageable pieces might help you to tackle some organizational projects. If you can focus on these 4 primary areas, you’ll be on your way to orderly bliss.
For more organization tips, including Erin’s must-know tips for closet organizing, click here.
Getting Started
The first step to get and stay organized is to declutter. Whether you edit your closet, the graveyard of beauty supplies taking up residence under your bathroom sink, or toss outdated spices in your pantry, decluttering will give you less to organize. Clear out the riffraff. And, not sure who needs to hear this but it’s okay to throw away your iPhone box! For more tips, keep scrolling…
Do you enjoy organizational projects or just wish you could wave a magic wand while it happens without lifting a finger? I think I’m somewhere in between! If you’d like to have blog posts delivered directly to your inbox and gain access to our exclusive resources, you can sign up here. Exciting things are coming in 2023!
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Doesn’t everyone frolic in their backyard with a bag full of tulips? The bag of flowers has become the new ‘thing’ for bloggers. Will it join the ranks of the Chloe bag, and Valentino Rockstuds? Only time will tell. Sorry, a little fashion blogger humor… 😉
Anyway, no, I normally do not carry a bunch of tulips in my handbag, but aren’t they SO pretty!!?? Anything for a picture.
I love this off-shoulder, flared jeans look! Fresh and modern for spring, but casual enough to do just about anything.
I actually wore this (because sometimes I just wear stuff for the blog)
And, in typical busy mom fashion, I forgot jewelry.
But, if I were to add something, maybe some simple gold hoops or a dainty pendant.
This handbag is a GREAT, versatile, everyday option for spring… and it’s on SALE! My sleuth-y shopping friend, Shawna, found me this one, and I’ve been carrying it everyday.
This light, off-shoulder cotton top is great for spring/summer. The fabric will keep you cool, but sleeves will keep you covered. I like the bow detail in the back. A little sweetsy, but I think with modern basics, you can do it.
BTW, Traveler is now 58 pounds!!! at 7 months. Yikes. She’s SO big!!
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*I use revenue-generating affiliate links. It does not influence or effect my choices in any way. You can help support my mission… to help women worldwide with their style… by shopping through my links. Thank you so much! Erin xo
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Blanket Wrap | How To Wear a Blanket Wrap With a Dress
Because sometimes you want to be covered up and cozy, but still sophisticated and stylish. This look is a simple, sleeveless little black dress (slight a-line skirt)…
Layered over a non-iron, white, button down shirt. (Non-iron because I loathe ironing). With a blanket wrap over it. Paired with suede, over the knee boots. I belted the blanket wrap because I wanted to add some definition to my waist.
I think this look is ideal for us more mature ladies over 40. Everything is conservative, but the boots add a dash of sexy.
I think the blanket wrap is a great piece to layer over a dress, like I did above. It also looks terrific with flared or skinny jeans.
You can see the same wrap with flared jeans here.
I wanted to give you 10 blanket wrap options under $100. That way, you can try it, without investing a lot of money.
*Thanks for shopping through my revenue-generating links and supporting my mission to help women with their style.
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How To Edit & Organize Your Closet (Plus, Louis Vuitton Giveaway!)
CLOSET EDITING
The most frustrating thing in the morning besides the alarm going off… is trying to find stuff, like the other shoe… or that damn, black cami! Let’s stop that madness, save you some time and aggravation… and get organized together! I know it’s an overwhelming project, and you’d probably rather pull your finger nails out, but don’t panic, I’m going to walk you through it.
Now…that you’ve watched both of those…Let’s talk mind games. While you are editing. Your clever mind will try to find ways to keep crap. You’ll hear yourself saying one or more of the following:
– Everything comes back in style. (True, but usually there is a new twist.) – I spent a lot of money on that. (Great, but you never wear it. Let someone else enjoy it. Consign it!) – I like it, but I don’t know how to wear it. (You probably don’t wear it, because it’s not your style or it doesn’t fit right.) – It reminds me of my trip to Paris. (I suggest keeping sentimental pieces stored in a separate place)
Yup, I know all of your tricks. So keep that inner hoarder at bay, and let’s get down to business.
Grab about 100 pieces in your closet and put them on a rolling rack (like this one), and ask yourself the following questions.
1. No more than ONE size up or down.
This is the toughest one for us ladies, if it is more than 1 size up or down from your current size…get rid of it. Clients will plead with me to keep their “skinny jeans,” pledging to get back into them someday. Listen, I know you will get there someday too. But, having them hang in your closet as a constant reminder of the fact that you haven’t reached your goal is…depressing! Think about it. A daily reminder of how skinny you used to be. Get rid of them. And when you DO get skinnier, go shopping!
2. Is it damaged?
Is your sweater faded or balled up? Has your white shirt, yellowed? Does your t-shirt have holes in it? Purge the things that look old. If you think they look old, others will too. If you notice stains, put them aside in your cleaning or dry cleaning pile.
3. Have I worn it in the last 2 years?
If you haven’t worn a garment in two years, you’re not going to wear it.
The exceptions are special occasion dresses (assuming you might actually wear them again), and I suggest holding onto cashmere, leather and/or suede, unless it is very dated.
4. Do I look cute in this?
Just because a piece is new…or it still fits you after all these years, doesn’t mean you should be wearing it. If you don’t feel cute wearing it, donate it.
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ORGANIZATION
When you are finished EDITING…it’s time to ORGANIZE.
1. Invest in matching hangers
I tell clients to buy 100 shirt/dress hangers for every 3 feet of hanging space on your rack. It’s an investment, but it’s SO worth it!
2. Sort by type
That means, hang sleeveless shirts together, short sleeve next, long sleeve last. Group blazers together. Keep skirts and pants separated. You get the idea!
3. Sort by color
Use a system that works for you. I like organizing light to dark and I use the rainbow as a guide, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, etc.
4. Store off-season
Keep off season clothes, shoes in another space and free your closet up so you can really see everything you have.
If you have a really large walk-in closet and you can keep everything in one place, put off-season things in the back.
Phew! We’re almost done.
Now, you just have to get rid of your garbage, donate the clothes that are still wearable and go back through and see what might be missing…
But that can be a project for another day.
I know this is a serious project, but when you are done…and your closet looks great…and it doesn’t stress you out anymore…and it’s easy to find stuff…
*I use revenue-generating affiliate links. Thank you for shopping through my links and supporting my mission! Erin xo
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My family recently took a trip to New York City for the marathon.
For those of you who don’t know, my husband, Chris, is a huge runner. It’s his ‘thing’.
He’s run more than 40 marathons around the world.
Most notably, he is one of a few people worldwide, to finish 15+ consecutive NYC marathons.
This year was his 18th in a row (19 finishes total).
Amazing in its own right… but, made even more remarkable given the fact that Chris broke his hip in late May…just five months ago. FIVE!
I’d love to tell you he broke his hip in some exciting way, but it was really a simple and freak occurrence.
He fell while racing my son.
I was standing right there, and saw it happen as if in slow motion, the quick stutter steps backwards,
The loss of footing,
And, then… down.
The next thing I knew, I was frantically trying to get our kids, and my 6’2″, 180-pound husband into the car.
I’m still not sure how we managed to get him into the SUV from the driveway.
After a not-so-speedy emergency room visit, we discovered he broke his femoral neck bone all the way through.
His bone had also fragmented, meaning it broke into little pieces.
Doctors told him a hip replacement was the best course of action and that he would never run again.
But somehow through his narcotic-induced haze, Chris managed to find a willing doctor and talk him into a hip repair, which in this case had a 30% chance of working.
You’ll be even more impressed with his mad persuasive skills when you realize, it was 5pm on the Friday, before Memorial Day Weekend, and our doctor was not scheduled for the night shift.
His name, by the way, is Dr. Bryan Kaiser (Yup, I’m naming him.)
We are both indebted to this wonderful doctor!
I wasn’t sure he would cross the finish line, and if he did, I didn’t have high hopes for his condition afterwards.
But, somehow, he pulled it off. He finished in 4 hours and 38 minutes.
Not a personal record. Not even close, but this year it was just about finishing.
One of his friends described him as “Superman.”
I think that’s about right, at least in our house, he’s Superman. But, I need to add amazing dad to that title.
My husband inspires me all the time (in a good way) to take risks, to push myself… to be my best self. And, I just want to say thank you to him, and to all of you who are doing extraordinary things. All of the Supermen and Superwomen out there!
Bundle Up…
A Must In NYC…puffer coats!
(Because you knew I was going to have some shopping…)
Here are some options (below):
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Having a good tailor is kinda like having a good hair stylist… they are hard to find, but when you do, it’s life-changing! A tailor can fix favorite pieces when they rip or tear. A tailor can adjust new pieces so they fit your body better and look more polished. A tailor can also reinvent old pieces, into something fresh and new.
That’s exactly what my tailor did recently with a pair of leather pants that I’ve had since 2000. These bad boys haven’t come out of the closet since probably 2004. But, now, they are out and proud…as skinny, leather pants!
I asked my tailor to take the pants in at the thigh, knee and ankle and add zippers at the ankle.
I can’t change the fact that these are that old-school leather pants, meaning they are made of the really thick leather that isn’t malleable (unlike today’s flexible, lambskin version), but I did change the shape and fit making the pants more modern and wearable.
Leather Pants BEFORE Leather Pants AFTER Erin Busbee, Wardrobe Stylist for Real Women, Founder BusbeeStyle.com
HERE ARE SOME LEATHER PANT OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER:
1) FAUX LEATHER PANTS by Bailey 44
I like that these are half and half, half faux leather in the front and half ponte knit in the back. The ponte will be much more forgiving with your bum. They are also affordable!
2) REAL LEATHER SKINNY PANTS
These are 60% OFF!!!
3) REAL LEATHER PANTS
These Rag & Bone skinnies are AWESOME, but expensive at $990. This is the kind of thing that you’ll have for a long time, though, so it might be worth investing more.
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TIP: Elongate your legs by matching your shoe color with the color of your trousers
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Few things excite me as much as women doing extraordinary things.
When I meet one I always feel compelled to share their story of accomplishment.
Susan Todd, Bolingo Bags
Susan Todd is the latest.
In her ‘retirement’ she decided she needed something more to fill her time (traveling around the world wasn’t enough. :)) So, this savvy businesswoman on her hunt for a new hobby started designing handbags. Not exactly what most of us would do if we had more time in a day.
Fast forward a few years and Susan Todd has built a renown Texas handbag business called, Bolingo Bags. (Bolingo means love in the Congo’s Lingala language)
She uses only the finest exotic skins for her stunning bags (same as Hermes)…think ostrich and crocodile in bold colors mixed with neutrals like brown and black.
Perfect for the Texas woman with discerning taste in handbags.
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