In Search of a Clutter-Free Summer

Memorial Day — the unofficial start of summer— has come and gone. If you’re anything like us at The Organizing Blog, you probably used the long weekend to plant some flowers, take a bike ride, visit with friends and/or have a cookout. Fine pursuits!

But do you know what can make one’s enjoyment of those pursuits (and most others) even better? #Organization! A #clutter-free environment knows no season — and it can provide you with the #clarity you need to truly live in the moment.

Think about it: A cluttered space demands attention. Maybe you waste a lot of time looking for things among the stacks of papers, piles of laundry and dusty gewgaws. Or maybe wrangling all that #stuff leaves you with little down time.

Summer is a great time to get those things under control. With good weather and a few hours each week, you can conquer that #clutter — and enjoy all of the seasons to come.

Start with the #garage. Has that #space attracted a lot of stuff that doesn’t have a home elsewhere ? Go through it and ask yourself why you hide #junk there and if you’ll ever really need those things again. Weed out what you don’t have a use for and set it aside.

Along the way, fine-tune your storage of the things that do have a purpose — even if that purpose is occasional, such as holiday decorations. Sort “like” items into labeled bins and boxes that you can find and access easily without a lot of hunting. Shelve or stack them thoughtfully, and you’ll be creating new space!

Next, do the same for the basement. Organizing your below-ground space likely will have the added benefit of helping you keep cool while you work. Set aside the things for which you don’t have a purpose or can’t find a place, and put them in boxes and bags.

See that growing pile of #junk? Slap some price tags on those things and have a quick #garage or #yard #sale. Or click though to ClothingDonations.org to arrange a #free #donation #pickup. You’ll be #helping the nation’s #veterans and be ready to enjoy the rest of the summer #clutter-free!

Observing Proper Memorial Day Flag Etiquette

On #Memorial Day, American #flags should be raised “to full staff briskly, then lowered to a half-staff position, where they will remain until noon,” according to the Farmer’s Almanac. If you wish to volunteer to place small flags or wreaths on the #graves of those who served, contact the local chapters of #veterans organizations such as Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion or Daughters of the American Revolution. “The ritual of visiting family graves and memorials was never a morbid tradition,” the almanac says. “Rather, it was an annual act of #remembrance, as well as a chance to clean and decorate family memorials.”

Make Memorial Day Meaningful

While most Americans see #Memorial Day as an excuse to kick back, cook out and watch a parade, make time to remember those who gave their lives in service, the Wounded Warrior Project says. Pay tribute to their memory by flying the #flag or placing flowers or wreaths on deceased service members’ graves. When it comes to #thanking a #veteran, remember that the holiday is reserved for those who lost their lives in conflict, so ask living veterans to have a “meaningful” Memorial Day and/or say the name of someone who made the ultimate sacrifice, the project says. “You can even say, ‘Today and always, I’m remembering [veteran’s name].’” #MemorialDay

Be True to the Red, White & Blue

#Memorial Day is a great time to break out the patriotic red, white and blue decorations, says The Pioneer Woman, including #flags, wreaths and bunting. To observe the original spirit of the holiday and honor those who served, do a patriotic reading such as “In Flanders Fields” — the poem that inspired the wearing of poppies. You might also write letters or send care packages to active-duty members of the military or lay a wreath on a grave at the local #veterans cemetery. And to celebrate with a #cookout, try baking a red-white-and-blue trifle for your family. #MemorialDay

The Origins of Memorial Day

#Memorial Day originated spontaneously in celebration of the end of the Civil War in the spring of 1865. The nation’s bloodiest conflict ever, the Civil War led to the establishment of the first national cemeteries, and tributes to the fallen soon followed. Waterloo, N.Y., is recognized as the official birthplace of the holiday, History.com says, since it hosted the first communitywide event in 1866 and decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Thanks to Gen. John A Logan, a veterans advocate, an annual commemoration — christened Decoration Day — was established in late May 1868. #MemorialDay