NEAT New House

Moving is a real bitch. 

And though the results are always great after the boxes have been put away and the glasses tucked into a cabinet, the moments before that are a nightmare. Even for the most organized of people (sometimes me). 

Our move has gone off without too many hitches and I am happy to say that I am actually enjoying the space instead of obsessing over it. There is plenty of time to decorate, rearrange the vases, and shop online for rugs. 

But you at least want the spaces that you use everyday to be in working order. I was lucky enough to live close by to our new house and move a ton of items myself. Not having to box every kitchen utensil was a godsend. I was even able to set up the kitchen before the movers even showed up. The nursery was next since even though I could sleep on a couch, the baby needs an actual bed.  

Then there was our room/closet/bathroom. The clothes were shoved into the closet directly from wardrobes and toiletries dropped into drawers. And I kept telling myself....

"I will get around to that."

"I will totally organize all this to fit the new space."

"I will absolutely have the time and patience to organize it all."

Lies. All Lies. 

Because though I am a decent organizer, I am one of those eighty percent organizers. I do a great job up until about twenty percent is left and then hurriedly finish the job. The results are a solid B. 

I really wanted to start off on the right foot for this house and calling in the girls from NEAT Method was the best idea I have had since the move. 

They completely transformed the closet to a place that actually holds all of our clothes and makes sense. Every bottle and brush in our bathroom has a place. It is glorious. 

They transferred all of our clothes onto slim, no-slip hangers and categorized. Shoes are all in a perfect row. Clutches have their very own shelf. 

Jewelry is easily seen and browsed in clear, stackable boxes. Bracelets hang from an easy to see display. 

 I can actually see what is in those normally messy drawers. 

Products have a place that looks great and is functional. 

I highly recommend NEAT for any organizing you need done in your home. They assess what you need, tackle the leg work, and bring all the supplies. 

Plus, they are a ton of fun. Check out their blog, too. 

xo

Erin 

E Drop Off

As I mentioned in this post during my closet organization and Kat mentioned in her Style Snapshot, E Drop Off is the best way to sell any designer items you have in your closet. Those you are willing to part with, of course. 

You can drop off your pieces if you live in Chicago, but the genius is that they will coordinate a pick up anywhere in the country. I can say as an E drop Off client, that it is the easiest way to increase your shopping budget and get organized at the same time. 

Now you do not even have to take my word for it, you can watch the girls in action on their new show House of Consignment on VH1. It is on tonight and I love seeing what happens behind the scenes. Corri McFadden, the owner, is a girl with some seriously great taste and a fantastic drive that helped her build her business. Plus, from meeting her a few times I can say she is also super sweet and fun. 

The most fun part of the show is seeing the insane loot coming in from some of Chicago's most fab closets. And let's not forget that you can bid on items on Ebay. You can get that pair of Louboutins you love or the Prada tote for a lot less than retail. Good luck bidding, ladies! 

xo

Erin 

Weekend Wish: Neat Freak

Call it nesting or just plain craziness, I have been in full organization mode all week. While I will not bore you with the sheer amazingness that is emptier closets all around my house that makes me feel like I can breath, here are a few little projects I got done. 

Honestly, cleaning out closets is the most cleansing thing to me right now. I guess I am thinking that I will NEVER get around to doing any of these things after the babe is here, so might as well let this neat streak keep on riding along. 

At least twice a year I go through my closet and make one of three decisions on each piece of clothing I own (from a pair of socks to a designer bag). Do I keep it? Do I send it off to eDropOff? Or do I donate it? It is astonishing just how much I get rid of each year. You would think that it would help me keep my shopping in check, but clearly not. 

For anyone looking to consign designer or higher end clothes, bags, and shoes I cannot say enough great things about using eDropOff. They are located in Chicago, but will schedule a pick up anywhere in the country. Everything is done for you and in such great taste that you will see your items sell for much more than any other vendor. Don't forget you can shop their amazing selection as well (sometimes the best way to score that designer bag or pair of shoes you are coveting). 

For more great organizational tips, check out Neat's blog. This is a great company owned and operated by two chic San Franciscoans and their blog offers up some great tips and tricks. 

So my weekend wish is to keep organizing and feeling great in the process. Still working on the jewelry ideas, but most likely going to try and score a display case this weekend. I wish that all of you get that one (or ten) organizing tasks done in your spare minutes this weekend. I promise it will feel amazing. 

Happy Weekend! 

xo

Erin