Adventures in Organizing
Since I knew that Ali would be at work pretty late I took Maya to the park in an effort to kill some time. Then we came home and did the usual – I made her dinner, gave her a bath, and read her some books. Then I had dinner and cleaned the kitchen and it was still only 6:45! As I wracked my brain trying to think of a project it suddenly came to me – we could organize my closet!
Normally my closet is museum perfect because it is off limits to everyone else. I love everything to be perfectly neat and aligned and color coded. But lately I’ve found myself getting lazy and sort of haphazardly hanging things up where they don’t belong. Or even worse, I’ve been throwing things in my laundry hamper because I can’t be bothered to fold or hang them again. This is very out or character for me because I usually cannot function unless every single thing is in its place. This may explain why I have been functioning at about 75% of my usual efficiency. My feng shui is off!
I was determined to get back on track! So Maya and I headed to my closet, Dirt Devil in one hand (by the way, Dirt Devil is the worst vacuum ever…don’t ever buy one!) and Method Cleaner in the other. She moved things out of my way while I vacuumed and sprayed, and then she helped me clean up the dusty corners with the vacuum attachments. Conditions were worse than a Nike shoe factory.
When the dust finally cleared and we could see again, I put aside any shoes I hadn’t worn in a year to give away and then we arranged the rest on the shoe racks from light to dark.
Running shoes and flip-flops went in this handy hanging shoe rack:
Dresses were next:
I am never sure how to fit patterns into the color scheme but we did our best and moved on to the pants.
Previously I stored my jeans folded and in stacks on my shelves but Maya and I decided it was more prudent to hang them with the rest of my pants so I could find them easily. So we did:
At this point my pajama clad helper decided to take an unauthorized break:
But when I bribed her with some TV time she mustered up the energy to help me evenly space my shirts.
Next we tackled my sweaters. I’ve heard that it is bad to hang sweaters up because they often become misshapen, but I am tired of constantly rearranging stacks of fallen cardigans. Plus, my sweaters drape well from these new velvet hangers versus the old wire hangers I used to use. So I think the closet police will excuse my transgression.
At this point Maya thought we were done and tried to make a break for it. Silly, silly Maya! She forgot all about my Indian clothes, scarves, and shawls.
After a minute of pouting she agreed we couldn’t leave the job half-finished and we headed to the other closet.
I filled a huge bag with the Indian outfits that were out of style, didn’t fit, or were too scratchy, and was SO relieved at this newly edited version of my Indian closet.
We tacked the scarves and shawls next. I put a bunch of them in a bag to give away and Maya and I spent a good 20 minutes re-folding and stacking the rest.
I know that it was an exercise in futility though because the next time I need something and reach in to the stack, the entire thing is going to topple over. Again.
I need to research a better storage solution. Any suggestions?
To Maya’s utter relief my coats and jackets were in pretty good shape so all we did was switch out the hangers. I can’t say enough about these velvet hangers. They are a very reasonable alternative to wooden hangers and in my opinion are much better for your clothes!
After Maya picked this hat up off the floor:
I realized I still had my hats in a disorganized jumble and my skirts were kind of a disaster but even I was too exhausted to care. I thought Maya would be too but as we walked back to the laundry room to put the vacuum away she asked:
“Are we going to do my closet now Mama?”
I was so proud! She is proof that it is never too early to learn how to organize.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
I LOVE all of the soft colors in your wardrobe.. AND all of your sandals =)
This is a cute post!! I can tell rain is not much of an issue where you are judging by the sandals!
I see a little Burberry in there 😉 Love it!
XXOO
LOVE all of your shoes and clothes, great style mama!
Nice nice nice!!!
I love your organization, I need to get a hold of my shoe organization. It is totally out of order.
Maya is simply adorable 🙂
I want your closet!!! And I love the traditional wear of the Indian culture. It is all so detailed and beautiful! One of my friends is the president of Net-IP (a organization for Indian professionals) and learning about her culture always intrigues me 🙂
I love organizing my closet!!! I always do it when the seasons change, and it’s something I really look forward to. Nerd alert!!!
Ahh I want your closet! So nicely organized and spacious. Mine is this tiny little affair that I literally have to shove all of my clothes into.
I also need a shoe collection like yours, but I don’t think it’d be too practical when I need to trudge through 3 feet of snow… I should move to warmer climates.
Can I come raid your closet?!
wow ameena…your shoe and clothes closet look like that of an “actress”…..u look rich 🙂
wow!
Maya is beautiful as usual…great on organizing…i suck at that….i just…dont do it anymore 🙂
Oh how I dream for such a large closet! Haha. Glad you had such a cute helper with you 🙂
I so need to do this. It’s really bad. About half of my clothes needed to be donated since they don’t fit/I never wear them.
Totally jealous of the shoe rack–and all the pretty shoes!!
I love organizing things but my closet is pretty bad! I think the problem is that I don’t wear even half my clothes so I don’t see the point in organizing them for easy access haha
I’m impressed by your wide collection of shoes and clothes!And they all look so neatly displayed as if in a shoe shop and clothes store respectively. You make me feel ashamed of the state my closet is in.
Your closet looks wonderful! I love keeping my closet organized… in fact, I think I’m going to go through my shoes and do what you did- donate them if I haven’t worn them in a year. That’s a great idea.
I’ve heard the same thing about hanging sweaters, yet mine are still on hangers… and I wonder why they’ve lost their shape!
Maya is so lovely in that hat! It always amazes me how organized some people are – including some guys at work who have kept their desk super neat (may not be that clean) and organized. You have inspired me to get our closets organized this weekend. Weekdays are harder with my 1st grader’s homework assignments – I look fwd to her winter break truly. Thanks for your comment on my blog.
you could rolls them up and stack them?
=D YOU HAVE WAY MORE CLOTHES THAN I HAVE EVER OWNED IN MY LIFE! =D
I’m jealous you don’t have to store a winter shoe collection. 🙂 I also color coordinate my closet. I know it’s a bit obsessive, but it makes getting ready in the morning that much easier. I have to stay, though, I’d love my closet a lot more if I had some of those clothes. What awesome stuff.
love your SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOES. I own I think 6 pairs, oh wait…7 with my sneakers.
So stinking jealous. MAN do you have some beautiful clothes.
something is wrong with me.
xoxoxox
Whoa!! That looks like a small shoe-store out there. Loved every one of those! And you’re Indian clothes… pretty pretty pretty!
Whoa!! That looks like a small shoe-store out there. Loved every one of those! Loved your wardrobe, especially your Indian clothes… pretty pretty pretty!
What are you doing this weekend.. would you like to come over and help me with my closet? Holly Shoes girl…
My husband made me go buy cloths this weekend.. correction.. he went with and made sure I buy cloths. I have lost 25 lbs and have gone from size 6 – 2… but was still wearing my size 6 stuff… I just really hate cloths shopping … but he said it is time.. to say goodbye.. so he sent me an email today and said.. on your things to do this weekend… you need to go through your closet and take out anything that is higher than a 4… so… I need help 😉
totally got pressured. my elder sis is in medschool. dad is STILL trying to make me see how wonderful i’d be as a doctor. apparently i have this intelligence/way with people that would total work if i was a doctor.meh. =D
you want me to train you? seriously? hahah we could make it happen!
I heart organizing. Again, it’s the undiagnosed OCD in me. I love organizing closets, pantries, basically any enclosed space. You two did a wonderful job. I’ve never wanted children, but maybe I should have some for these purposes.
Wow! Awesome organizing skills. You rock! I so wish I could get to that point. It looks great. You have the cutest shoes too! So loving it. Maya looks too cute with your hat on. haha. She is a fashion diva for sure! Anyways hon I hope you have a wonderful day!
There is a bar in my 2nd closet that I don’t use for clothes, as my 1st closet is huge! I drape all my scarves over the unused bar. That way, they never get wrinkled and the stack can’t topple over!
Hi Erin – what a great idea! I am absolutely going to try draping the scarves!!
Thank you,
Ameena
HOLY COW! That was a ridiculous amt of shoes. Yes, I officially love you! hehe… You’re so lucky to have a helper. My closet is atrocious.
hey! oh my gosh your so fashionable! im loving all the shoes and clothes(: xoxo soph
Wooooooo, you got a lot of shoes girl :D.
You are so super organized. Martha Stewart beware!
You have such a good little helper!
You have some gorgeous shoes!! It is so obvious you live in California!! 🙂
Haha, you got her trained well! Want to come and organize all my stuff? 🙂
I am so jealous of your shoe and Indian clothing collection.
Ok – first of all Maya is the cutest thing ever.
Im so jealous of your closet. When I lived with my parents I had this great closet that I didnt appreciate, and my clothes were all sorted by color and everything too.
Now I have one closet in my entire place. Thats it. One. And its tiny. My clothes are so squished together I cant even flip through them.
I love organizing my closet too! I do the color coded thing as well, and also get annoyed when my sweater pile topples over. I think I will do as you did and just hang them – so much neater!
You are my inspiration for a clean closet…not inspiration enough for me to actually do the work, but definately inspiration enought to WISH I had the motivation and organizing skills it takes to create a clean closet master piece!
Maya is so cute! Hee hee.
I LOVE organizing my closet. I don’t have quite as many clothes though, so it is probably a bit easier! Hangers have to match, certain colors and types of clothing have to be together.
Is there a way to hang the scarves? Or roll them up somehow?
wow mamma…you got a lot of shoes… 🙂
One of my favorite blogging friends sent me your post this morning (Catching my Second Wind). I also did a post on organzing today…you are much more of a micro organizer than I am. I like an organized home but am not where you are at. I want to be just like you when I grow up…lol! (I am 43…)
I see lots of shoes that I want! Wish I could get my closet to look like that. 😉
Yay for closet organizing! Mine needs it… bad bad bad. I’m like you, usually i’m OCD in that everything has to be in it’s place. But lately i’ve been lazy.
Love your shoes!!!! and so jealous of your big closet!
i wish i have a spacious closet like yours. 🙂
i love your shoes. you remind me of our Philippine celebrities, they just have lots of shoes and stuff in their closets. 🙂 cool!
Ameena, you have inspired me yet again! I am going to tackle my closet tomorrow not leave until its organized. I use the same hangers that you use and they seem to save so much space, don’t you think? Love the pictures of the tidy closet 🙂
Hi Shahbano –
Those velvet hangers are THE best for saving space. But I’m sure your closet is already a masterpiece!! You are way too organized to letting anything fall by the wayside. 🙂
Love Ameena
wow!!! I love your shoe collection… so nice u have taste girl 🙂
classic meena!!! i never read this one, love all the pics, ok please promise you’ll put some pics of the bathroom as well and talk about the best room in the house;)
XOXOX
wow – that closet organization is perfection!
omg.. your baby girl is too cute! now i want one! 🙂 and this is coming from someone who is scared of getting fat and just scared of taking care of a kid. she’s so cute!
My God, I think we are twins! I said the exact same thing about having kids…and now I say it about having a second one. 🙂
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is that closet or a wardrobe master bedroom……..!!!!
that’s a lottttttttt of beautiful footwear …..!!!!! and pretty Indian dresses ……. and your adorable daughter ….. and I’d put scarves in hanger …… and now I wanna go shopping so bad 😥
p.s.: i love how you’re bringing Maya up. i’d like to teach small but important things to my future child/ren too.
Thank you Nisha. 🙂 Scarves in a hanger? Not sure why I didn’t think of that. Such a brilliant idea!