Tag: free

Sort Your Clothing According to the Season

Posted on by Jordank

In places with variable weather — and especially those with four distinct seasons — one must adjust their wardrobe to match the atmospheric conditions. That means keeping a variety of #clothing of different weights to wear for different purposes.

Even if you live in a place with relatively steady temperatures, you’ll need to prepare for variations in heat and humidity. Or perhaps you vacation in another climate — going skiing or to the beach, for example. You need to have different clothes.

Most months, you know what to expect and which clothes to have close at hand. The problem is when the another season’s clothing is getting in the way of the current season, making it difficult to put together an appropriate outfit.

Sorting your clothing by season is a good way to keep your wardrobe #organized, How Stuff Works says: “There is no good reason your heaviest winter sweater should take up residence next to a summer tank in the prime real estate of your closet.”

Rotate your clothing by season to make better sense of your wardrobe. Start with your shoes, sorting them by season and purpose. Return only the current season’s to your closet or shoe rack, with the most frequently used at the front.

Do the same for clothing. Review each item for fit and wear, sorting it into at least two piles (hot and cold weather) or a pile for each season. Then sort those piles into everyday clothing, special-occasion clothing, clothing to #donate and clothing to #trash.

Return only the current season’s clothing to your closets and dressers; off-season clothing can be stored safely in (labeled) plastic bins. Where you put the bins is another question, but getting off-season clothing out of the way will streamline getting dressed.

Sorting clothing into seasons will also help you reduce your overall inventory by helping you discover which items no longer fit or don’t match your style. Put those times in a box or bag and contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #donation #pickup.

You’ll be glad you did. Whether you’re getting ready for a new day or a special event, you’ll no longer have to hunt for the appropriate items to wear!

How to Shake off Your Winter Hibernation

Posted on by Jordank

The trees are budding and the first flowers of #spring are starting to pop up — depending on your location, sometimes through a lingering snow. But you may still struggle to get energized for the warm weather, having been in human “hibernation” through winter.

“Humans cannot actually hibernate, but in the coldest months of the year, many of us are drawn to something similar,” writes Katherine May in Wintering: How I Learned to Flourish When Life Became Frozen. “We want to batten down the hatches, preserve our energies, lay on fat.”

Now, it’s time to shake off that hibernation and meet the sunniest months of the year head-on. You can shed that winter weight, tackle long-overdue warm-weather projects and reinvent your outlook for the rest of the year. Here are a few ways:

Move your body. You don’t have to start training for a triathlon, but any activity that gets your blood circulating will help you snap of the winter doldrums. Get off the couch and commit to move every day, even if it’s just a short walk.

“Moderate exercise will release endorphins that encourage you to move a little more next time,” says Optimi. “If you can be outside when the sun’s shining, all the better. Sunlight provides a variety of health benefits you don’t want to miss, including creating your own supply of immune-building vitamin D.”

#Declutter and #organize. Not only can #decluttering get you moving, it can also lighten the psychological load of a crowded, chaotic space. Simply having less #stuff to gather dust will make it easier to find the things you do like and streamline your home life.

Contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup, and that extra #junk will be out of your life for good. Your mood will brighten knowing that #donating lightly used goods helps fund programs benefiting the nation’s #veterans.

Deep-clean. They don’t call it spring #cleaning for nothing. Shake out the rugs, wash the windows and scrub the baseboards. A #clean, fresh-smelling and bright home is a more pleasant place to be; it will put the spring in your step and may even inspire you to let some fresh air in.

Whatever gets you moving, socializing and planning again after a long winter is fair game. Just know that you no longer have to bundle up, huddle on the couch and binge Netflix. Spring has sprung, so go out and take advantage of it!

The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras

Posted on by Jordank

Mardi Gras — a.k.a. Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday — is the final day of the Carnival festival season. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a penitential season of abstinence and sacrifice.

Mardi Gras is the “last hurrah,” in effect, before 40 days of abstinence from foods such as meat, eggs, dairy and alcoholic beverages. Most people are familiar with the local fish fry on Fridays, held to serve Catholic families and others abstaining from meat.

Observant Christians also often pick an indulgence of their own to give up. Similar to a New Year’s resolution, such personal challenges might mean eschewing alcohol or sweets, or trying to break a bad habit such as smoking or gossiping.

Whatever your faith, the Organizing Blog suggests that you spend the season abstaining from #clutter. It will be a test of your will, to be sure, but you will be better off and maybe even a bit more righteous if you can do it. Here’s how:

Cut the clutter. Over the next 40 days, dedicate a set amount of time to #decluttering and #organizing a space in your home. As little as 10 minutes per day spent rearranging a drawer or shelf can add up to real improvements over time.

Avoid spending. If you want a real challenge, simultaneously abstain from buying anything new; any attempt to #organize will be easier if you don’t add to your #stuff. If something urgently needs replacement, vow to eliminate twice as many like items as you bring in.

Exercise charity. Set aside any castoff clothing and household items that might have some useful life left in them and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. Quality, lightly used goods will be resold to benefit programs that help the nation’s #veterans.

Today, celebrate! Have a paczki, a big bowl of gumbo or an adult beverage. Tomorrow, make good on your vow get rid of #clutter and get #orgnaized. By the time Easter rolls around, you and your home will be unburdened by excess #stuff.

Shop for Fitness Gear at the Thrift

Posted on by Jordank

Want to start a #winter #workout routine to stay fit even in when the weather is bad, but don’t have any suitable gear to wear to the gym or pool? The #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org are a great place to shop for lightly used sweats, shorts and other athletic gear, as well as exercise equipment. Start a routine, and you might just drop a couple of sizes! Then you can contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup to get rid of those ill-fitting clothes for good. Somebody might be able to use them, but not the fit new you! #ColdWeatherFitness

Stay Motivated to Exercise

Posted on by Jordank

Motivation is the first challenge when attempting to stay fit in the #wintertime, says Colorado Advance Orthopedics, especially if you’re used to staying active outdoors. Make workouts part of your weekly plan and set a goal for the number of days a week you plan to exercise. Set times based on when you’re most likely to exercise based on your rhythms, or target a minimum number of days or hours to create a flexible routine. And make your exercise fun! “Exercise shouldn’t be a chore. You’re much more likely to stick with your routine if you choose activities you enjoy.” #ColdWeatherFitness