My experience with a professional organizer

After my first call to Beth, The Closet Queen, more than three years ago, I finally got the courage to hire her. That's how nervous I was about the whole process. I kept telling myself I could do it alone, I could organize just as well without spending the big bucks. But, in truth, I am a procrastinator. I rationalize about keeping things... you might know the dialogue that goes on in my head - "I will use it in a few years. It was a gift from my mom. My daughter made that when she was little." All of these arguments can be valid at some point, but I need to learn to reduce the amount of these items to the very most important to me. Everything can't have equal value.

Beth called on Monday to confirm our appointment for Wednesday. She charges a client for cancelations so this was the point of no return. I confirmed with much trepidation. Now, I really went into panic mode. I had to organize before the organizer could come over. Like cleaning before the cleaning lady comes.

Tuesday night, my daughters were asked to visit a girl in the hospital and play music for her. This request came unexpectedly, so that meant I was on my own for making the house look presentable for early Wednesday morning. (The boys can often do more damage than help.....(although I have to say my 14 year-old son is doing a good job at mopping these days.)

I wanted to start on the toy room because what good is a toy room if the contents are inaccessible? If a child cannot even get into the room to play, what kind of childhood is that? I'm including "before" photos in this post that were taken last year. I had cleaned it up on and off since that time, but never to the extent that we did yesterday. I took out a lot to get rid of and some I threw out in this morning's trash. Yay for me!!

Eventually, I want to put a guest bed or futon in this room for times when Kayla brings home a friend from college or we host a missionary.

You'll notice boxed furniture in here...we bought an eat-in kitchen set for 12 a year ago and that is our extra table and chairs for when the children are too big for bench seats and/or if we need extra seating in the future. I had already put the huge boxes into the closet which gave me much less room in the closet for toys (which isn't a terrible thing btw).

"Before" pictures (taken last year - I didn't take any "before" photos yesterday) I know it looks bad, and it depressed me everytime I looked at it. Believe me, it doesn't take long for a room to become this messy when there is too much in there.

When Beth arrived, I started showing her a bit of the house and told her of my anxiety. I started tearing up because for a long time I've felt like a bottle whose contents are succumbing to the pressure and is about to bubble out in an explosion. She promised me the process wouldn't be bad but, instead, fun. I was counting on it. I was praying it would be so.

We got to work right away. Beth moved fast and kept us on track. We began with books - I sat and she handed me books to divide into piles of Keep, Get Rid Of, and Trash. I, keeping in mind I'm paying by the hour, made the choices rather quickly. It's amazing how procrastination goes out the window when money is involved. My husband's hard-earned money.

"After" photos, a couple items have been placed on the shelves that don't belong there. You'll have to ignore those. And, that cylindrical object on the third shelf is a rock tumbler.

The closet with the boxed chairs inside. Toys are much better arranged. A few months ago, Kayla put some of the most used games in the coffee table drawers in the family room. That's why you won't see all of them in here. We used to keep VHS tapes in the drawers but we got rid of the majority of them.

I love how now my children are able to sit in there to play a game or read.




Toys that had been forgotten are being played with again.

After finishing the toy room, we moved to the kitchen cabinet that hold our plates, mugs, bowls, and saucers. It also holds our coupons, medicines, bandaids, miscellaneous supplies that I like to have closeby like tape and scissors. But, with all this in there, it was a mess. I can't believe what a difference it is having it cleared out and organized. The tape and scissors were moved to the secretary desk. The coupons were culled and expired ones thrown out. Same with medicines.

I had to leave to pick someone up at the airport when Beth still had a small amount of time on the clock. She kept working with my daughter, Stephanie. They finished the cabinet and moved to the secretary, organizing the pull-down section better. They got rid of yellowed stationery and I don't know what else. I was already gone and I trust them with that area. It looks a whole lot better.

It was a good experience, one I hope to repeat again soon, possibly in my bedroom and closet. Beth is professional, doesn't talk too much, keeps the focus on organizing and she even brings her own label maker. Thanks Beth.