I don’t typically make New Year’s Resolutions, but there is definitely something about the New Year that simply begs for a fresh start….  I love ‘new’, ‘clean’, ‘organized’ – and I am rarely adrift in any of those categories.

But sometimes, my sanity demands it.  I’m about to let you in to my home.  Worse….into my bathroom.  I hope you are ready.

Rock bottom of disorganization slams me squarely in the face when I can no longer locate my favorite mascara, the bubble bath I desperately need to use, the small containers of shampoo to take out of town and that perfect nail polish color.  Keep reading – you will see why I couldn’t find a darn thing.


This was the bathroom closet…..


And this was the ‘catch-all’ drawer…..

Between these two locations – I simply couldn’t find anything. Half the items were expired, never opened or both.  And honestly, I needed to feel as though I was in control of something.  So, my solution was THE GREAT BIG PURGE.

And it was a MESS as I was doing it.  My husband was frightened. And so were my children.  But as I systematically moved from one spot to another, deciding what to keep and what to toss, I felt small pieces of stress lift individually from my shoulders.


The mid-purge chaos…..

As I aimed for the trash bag with yet another half-used, out-of-date container of moisturizer, I felt stronger and more in control.  Silly?  Maybe. But, true.

  • And when I was done, I had the satisfaction of:
  • Drawers that could open
  • Space that allowed me to FIND what I was looking for
  • The understanding of exactly what I owned
  • A pile of never-opened items to donate

Just look:


The organized closet….


The organized drawer….

If you are unsure when to pitch those beauty items and when to keep them – I’ve got the answers right here from my friend Romy….

Now that I can feel the benefits of the purge, I’m deciding which room or space to tackle next….

Good luck with your quest for mental health and organization!