Cords Be Gone!

Behind the dark recesses of our TV, was a mess of cords and cables that may have given one nightmares of being strangled! Hopefully, in the not so distant future, there will be electronics without cords. But until then, it's a challenge to make sense of all those cords!
I tackled the mess thanks to a few tips I saw on Pinterest, and  I was successfully able to tame our cord clutter behind the TV.

Before

After

 Better!  Ahhhhh:)

A little hard to see the after photo. I mounted the 2 power strips to the back of the entertainment center. Labeled all plugs, removed cords that were not being used, and after plugging in each item I looped the excess cord with a twist tie. Now I don't dread looking back there or fear a fire!

Don't let organizing tools become clutter!

On an episode of Hoarders, a lady's a room had stuff piled to the ceiling.  Much of her stuff was junk, however, she also had WAY too much ORGANIZING stuff. She couldn't even organize the stuff because the organizing stuff was in the way. Crazy! It's been a long time since I saw that episode, however I think of it every time I go to our basement to see my stock pile of organizing bins.

Why do I hoard storage containers?
1. They didn't work for that situation but they might for the next.
2. They are great tools to sort with
3. You never know when you will need to grab a stack of containers to empty a room.
4. If I get rid of it I will need it tomorrow.
5. I think I am an addict....

How to make the decision  ... how many is too many to keep?
This is a personal decision, and really depends on how close to the end of your organizational journey you are, I suppose.  If I was completely organized and our household was just my husband and I... we probably wouldn't need as many empty containers. Who am I kidding, I'd still try to find a way to keep them.

What I can do to encourage me to let a few go?
Our daughter is moving again, and will need containers for long term storage. Many of these can go to help her.
I want my storage room to be nice looking, so any containers that are not the same size and shape take up more space on the shelves/floor so those can go.
As I send things to good will or salvation army, donate the container with the stuff.

If they do not stack/nest they do not stay:)

TIP
How to not have too many in the first place? Follow the advice of the organizers... don't organize until you purge. After you purge, group like things together, plan the space, then purchase containers or re-purpose old ones for the space.

Here is my start:
A contained area of stacked/nested containers, and a pile to go:) Its a start... but a few more should go!

Take 2

My family sometimes calls me OCD... I often think I have ADD. What a combo, your thinking? Well those things are really not true, just over used terms we use to incorrectly describe people. Some people truly have those disorders/ailments/gifts. I, however, am simply a control freak with the habit of being a procrastinator. Yes, I can admit it ... can you? Admitting you have a problem is the first step to fix it. Why the title "Take 2"? This is my second attempt at this blog to try to get organized... still pretending...and procrastinating. As you can see, I started posting here in 2007.I have accomplished many organizing tasks since then.  My children are getting older... Our oldest moved out, another graduated, and my baby is in her last year of middle school. All these life changes bring new organizing hurdles and accomplishments... or opportunity for accomplishment:)  I plan to share my accomplishments as I achieve them to keep motivated, and maybe help out someone else along the way.I think a fresh start will help. Maybe:) Here goes nothing!