Photos and Mementos--Let’s Get STARTED!

We had some Halloween fun with our little “80’s Dancer” at the zoo this weekend! She loves to dance AND loves animals, so it was the perfect combo :)

And now for our November addition to the “Year of Clearing”
If you’ve missed the others, here they are:

Jan--Master Suite        May--Kids Stuff          September--The Basement
Feb--Kitchen                June - The Garage     October - Crafts & Creative Spaces
Mar--Family Room       July - Office
Apr--Linen Closet        Aug--Entry/Mudroom

Are old photos and/or mementos one of the categories of “stuff” that causes you stress?

So many of our clients are right there, too.

This category, of course, brings with it tons of emotion and is often the hardest. It’s the reason, as we go through someone’s home, that we say, “Put the mementos and photos together and put them aside until the end.”

We deal with them all together AFTER we’ve built some muscle in the sorting and editing department!

Photos--
​Rough sort your photos into 2 categories--

• The first pile is: the “good” ones.
• The second pile is: the blurry ones, the doubles, the negatives, and the envelopes of wildflower close-ups you thought were so beautiful back in the 80’s.
• Pro tip: If you do not recognize the people, they can go.
• Ok, maybe half are gone, and easily thrown away, they were just trash anyway :)

Now, go through the photos you kept and sort THOSE into 2 categories-- ​.

• The first pile is: photos that REALLY lift your energy, bring a smile to your face, make your heart sing or are special in some way to you.  
• The second pile are photos that are “meh”, just “ok”.
• ***Consider that you may NEVER feel the need to look at that second pile ever again.
• IF you’re courageous, that second pile can also go…If not, box them up with a date, clearly label that they are the “Not So Great Photos” and notice if you ever have the urge to open that box in the space of 6 months or a year--put the reminder in your phone to check in a year.
• You may have to do the photo sorting in “batches” or over a few sessions, but give this method a try, it might be just what you need to make INCREDIBLE progress with your photos!​
• Congratulations, the sorting is done! How will you celebrate? Singing LOUDLY in the shower? Listen to George Carlin--”Stuff”?

Now, what to do with the photos????

• You can scrapbook the best photos, send some off to relatives, keep them in a tub, or DIGITIZE them--there are many local and online options for this step--reach out if you want resources. ​
• After your pictures are digitized, try a fun site like www.mixbook.com to create a custom photo book that can then be printed--the end product is really beautiful and FAR more likely to be looked at then boxes of photos in the basement or moldy albums in a cardboard box.

• If you choose the digital option, ALL the photos can be tossed, yes, REALLY, they can be (only for the VERY BRAVE)! They can always be reprinted if necessary.​

Mementos--
Another VERY emotional category! Buy one plastic bin (or maybe you have some laying around in the basement :) for every member of the family.

Start with yourself. You can keep anything you want as long as it fits in the bin. Done.

You set the example and give a time frame (end of November) to the others.

Explain that if they do not have time, you will do it for them :)

This is hard, remember that the contents of this box should feel like a treasure box of things that created you who you are today. It may contain items that lift you up, make you smile and cause a gush of happiness. It may include small items from your ancestors or milestone memories. As long as it fits in the bin...

Any items that feel like a “should-keep” do not fall into this category. Let your heart guide you in this endeavor. Breathe and enjoy the process!

How amazing will it feel when you’re down to ONE MEMENTO BOX per family member?

AHHHHHHHHH! Heavenly, non?

This is totally possible, Kelly and I will hold that vision for you!

If you want support with this, and we know from experience, it can be a tough category, please reply to this email, we would love to support you!

PS: Your adult children can take their own memento boxes and old photos with them the next time they stop over...

Lots of Love,
XOXO

​CLIENT LOVE:

Really tough times at work these days…”I just want to let you know I’m thankful that my house is put together the way it is right now. I have faith that the good Feng Shui energy will get me through this, with a positive outcome.”
~Anonymous, Madison, WI

PHOTO CREDIT: www.mixbook.com