Closetology

Wuhoo! I won! Kinda of...

I subscribe to a newsletter by Jackie Walker, http://www.optiondressing.com/about.html, author of the book, "I DON'T HAVE A THING TO WEAR, The Psychology of Your Closet."

AnyHOO, she said that the first five people that sent her a story about wanting to change their lives through their closets would received a complimentary “Closetology” CD! How cool is that? Her newsletter, The Dr. of Closetology, is fun and I always learn something.

I can't wait to get the CD. She said it's on it's way but I don't know if she meant by plane, train, or automobile since I didn't give her my address. Hmm....maybe I need to ask.

I told Jackie she needs to come here and join in the fun. She could tell us all HOW to "fix" our closet problems!

How Cool! Sounds interesting, because I can go shopping and then the next day (especially if I'm feeling fat) I will try on a gazillion things and never feel like I look good!

Let us know what's on the CD when you get it, k?

Congrats, JJ.

Dr. of Closets? Boy could I use some help there.

Don't you just admire organized people? I do. And...I want to BE one. Someday....sigh.

I love closets...I've spent lots of years in older houses with limited space...not even enough room for the closet CD in my current house!

Yeah, JJ!

I've heard of these houses that have closets - broom closets, coat closets, closets in the bedrooms......I always thought it was some sort of myth, a legend, a dream......

sigh.....apparantly, closets were not in style in the late 20's when my house was built by the Finnish people who settled in this area....(are there closets in Finland???)

In my next life, I'd love a house with a walk-in closet in the bedroom, and place to store the vacuum, mop, etc. etc....

I suffer seriously from closet envy....

Evie,
In Europe, or so I understand this, there are very few closets because the housing was AND is, taxed on the space, including closets, so that's probably why your house didn't include them as well...European influence? I once had a 9x12 closet. It was a dream; unfortunately, the marriage wasn't.

I guess you could say I have organize envy! We all have somepen...eh?

Evie, I wish I could send you one. We have lots here. Mind you, they're all crammed so full you can barely see inside of them. But for you, I'd pull every thing out and leave it all piled up on the floor just to help you deal with this closet envy thing. I've had similar envies, so I know what you're dealing with. This is an especially tough time to not have a closet. Where do you hide your Christmas gifts???

That's cool, JJ.

I live in a condo. Closet space is limited, but my "stuff" is not. The spare room, which is now my office/closet is small and on an inside corner so it has no window. (It can't be listed as a bedroom for that reason) I also had no closet originally. The room is about 10x9. I had my son build me a closet that goes the width of the room on the back wall. It's a big closet, but I put clothes in it and tons of other stuff. Sometimes I amaze myself at how much I cram into it. No one can help my closet problems. The bigger the closet, the more I'd put in it.

Louisa

Louisa, does this mean you are tax on the space if it is a bedroom? We are NOT taxed that way here in Bama.

In Europe they have free standing wardrobes instead of closets in most apartments etc. I watch House Hunters on HGTV and they have also gone Internatinal so you get to see the homes, apartments, condos there etc. and most are closet free. I have a ton of closet space in everyroom but lack the clothes to fill even one comletely. I hate shopping and tend to keep my clothes untl they become collectors items, LOL

Our house was built in the 50s and they must have had much less stuff back then too. We hardly have any closet space. We've taken over part of our oldest son't closet when he's away at school. It's always a pain when he comes home for a few weeks or the summer because we have to shove everything back in our closets. I don't know why I have some thikngs dry cleaned because they get wrinkled all crammed in the closet.

And while I'm whining, I might as well tell you that we have small bathrooms too. Lots of our friends who have moved to newer homes have huge bathrooms with sunk-in tubs, glass door showers, lots of counter space, etc., etc. Wahh. Should I stop crying now?

But you know what? I still love old houses because they have so much more character, and they are built better.

Dotsie does the word REMODEL ring a bell? I have the items you mentioned above, large bathrooms with sunken tub and glass walk in showers but I would remodel if I had a home I loved but needed more room and if lot size is an issue, build up, thats what my sister in Colorado just did. Or have you seen how a dark basement can be made absolutely beautiful and functional?

ya I have a small bathroom too - but I'm not complaining because this small bathroom has an old claw foot bathtub that I absolutely love - they just don't make new bathtubs like that

Eagle - I've developed very clever hiding spaces over the years - corners of the house that no one ever looks at

I've invited Jackie, the woman at Closetology, to join us and I think she's going to. Boy can she shed some light on our problems. She's just terrific.

Oh, "closet"-ology. I thought from the forum title it was close-ology and wondered what it was all about. And now I know. It is what all women want. A room for our things.

Our closets are okay in size, but we simply have too
much stuff! In 2007 I plan to weed out alot : )
Cindy

I hear ya Cindy. I've already started. I have too much STUFF. And this doesn't translate into valuables, either. It's just stuff. Too many books I'll never read (over 500) too many nicknacks, too many pieces of clothing I'll never have on my bode again (when did I EVER wear a 10?)...and such as that. I'm weeding out...I'm throwing, giving, and packing away. I've thought seriously about getting some of those bags that you vacuum the air out. Just so I'll have more space. Have any of you tried them?

One thing I failed to mention is that Jackie is not just about your closet. She is a motivational speaker and she teaches about the importance and significance of how you dress. She has a CD called Proportion Politics that says, clothes do not make the person. According to her, it's bringing the structure of your body into harmony with your inner self through how you wear your clothes. This workshop CD delves into the psychology of dressing as it relates to the expression of self-image.

How cool is that? So there's MORE than what meets the eye on this web site. I just love hanging out with intelligent people...I'm SO hoping it will rub off. Osmosis...teehee..

I'v just donated some books and knick-knacks to the white elephant table at the day center's silent auction this week. I've decided that if I can throw out or get rid of a god sized bag of "stuff" a week, instead of trying to power clean and get overwhelmed, I might accomplish something. I'm a clothes hound though and a pack rat. It will never work. But, it will make room for more "stuff."

Louisa

Books! How do you decide which ones to get rid of? I have so many and I can't part with any of them. And it's weird because I recall Mom being the same way, but I didn't get it back then. When we were cleaning out their house, I wanted her to get rid of all of them. Now I get it.

I'm a book horder too. Any available space in my house has books on it. My shelves are double and tripled with books. They overflow.

But, I don't want to give any of them away. I like my books.

Every year I go through my closet and remove clothes I haven't worn that year. I bag them up and donate them. I do the same thing with my husband's clothes.

I have teddy bear stuff everywhere.. I mean EVERYWHERE. And even boxed up because I can't fit all of it out in the house. Did I mention I collect teddy bears?

When I bought this house back in 1981, there were 2 things that sold me: 1. the vaulted ceilings; and 2. LOTS of closet space.

And closets are definitely like purses -- the bigger they are, the more stuff you put in them. And you never have enough room, no matter how big they are. I think it's a law of physics -- junk expands to fill all available space.

nature abhors a vacuum

same goes with time - ever noticed how when you finally "free up" time, something comes along to fill it?

I'll never forget the day my girlfriend and I were sitting at her mothers kitchen table when her mom, then in her 50's, said to Patty my friend. "You know I was at Dorries last night and she was crying and asking God why, why, she was just a mess." I asked her what was the matter and she said, "Oh Mary, my Anthony has come out of the closet after all these years, no wonder he never had a girlfriend."

Not knowing what she was fussing about, I patted her on the shoulder and told her I had to go home now and start dinner, and then she said, "please don't tell anybody." I said of course not.

"What could I tell somebody. Well really, what was wrong with him anyway, how long did he stay in that closet and why did he go in there in the first place and imagine any girl wanting to be shut up in some closet with her nutty son?"

My friends mom was a bit behind the times as you can see by her answers. Patty my friend and I laughed so hard we were literally rolling on the floor floor in hyterics. You should have seen her moms face when we were finally able to explain what coming out if the closet meant....

She just looked at us then she said "Oh my" shook her head and made the sign of the cross while saying, "mamma mia closets are for clothes, not for fancy boys coming in and out of them."

JJ, I missed this one first time around. Congratulations on your big win.
I wonder what she'd say about someone who runs around in blue jeans, baggy sweatshirts and sneakers all the time?
I sure could use some closet, dressing and organization advice.
Mostly though, I think my problem is too much time spent on the computer and not enough time spent putting things away!

Hear! Hear! I mean HERE...HERE....me, too. Dotsie and I were just talking about Jackie yesterday. I have GOT to call her and invite her in here. I bet she could give us all some really great advice!