Getting Dressed - This should not be hard!

It's morning, and one thing after the other is happening - phone rings on the land line - it's the doctor/mother-in-law/long-lost friend who just found your number - and your morning just fell behind by 15 minutes. What do you do?
a) reach for your outfit, which is one of 5 that is ready to go - you washed and pressed these days ago
b) iron a shirt while trying to wake up your kids, letting the coffee get cold, and do the makeup in the car
c) cry because you haven't done laundry in days, and nothing is pressed, or ready, and there is absolutely no milk for cereal, the only breakfast food your entire family eats

If you answered A, you are Mary Poppins! If you are B, you are Lorelei Gilmore, and if you answered C, you are Bridget Jones with kids, right?

Well, here is the good news - you can be Mary. This is not hard. Just like with anything else, if you take a little extra time to prepare, you will be ready for anything.

Ok, the first tip is easy - always have 5 outfits ready to go - and have some basics in your closet that make anything work - black pants, brown skirt, basic black shoes, neutral sandals, white shirts. You get it...now just make sure it is all clean.

Second - let's deal with time management - a 15 minute interruption cannot ruin your morning - always give yourself 15 minutes on top of any task or process. I for one, usually get lost in new territory. I always leave 15 minutes early when going to a new place. Just because I am an organizer doesn't mean that I am not directionally challenged. (I just got a GPS on my new Blackberry, so let's see what happens...)

Third and finally, establish a routine - it is your backbone to your day, your week, your life. That way, if interruptions happen, and they WILL, you can fall back on that routine to get back to normal. Bridget Jones probably didn't do her laundry regularly, and it caught up with her. Not that every Thursday has to be laundry day, but once a week should do it - just pick a day and get to it.

-Jill, your new blogger, now that Waunetah moved back to LA! :(

Getting "clothes(er)" to Spring!

Now that the sun has been shining for a few days, it's time to start thinking about those winter clothes you haven't worn yet. I'm sure there are at least 5 articles of clothing that you haven't worn this winter, or maybe even last winter. Ask yourself these questions about those clothes:

• I wore these before, but do I still need them? Do I have something similiar that I enjoy more?


• I loved these ______! Do they still make me feel good when I put them on now?

If the answer is "No," then it's time to let them go. While you're at it, find those 1 pair of shoes or boots that hurt your feet and let someone else enjoy them. Found 2 pieces of jewelry you no longer wear? Pass them on as well!

I know there are a lot of sales taking place right now at stores looking to off-load their winter items, so before you buy anything ask yourself if you really need it. If your winter jacket has fallen apart, by all means take the 75% off and get rid of the old one!

But, if you just want it, then make sure you can follow the "One In, One Out" rule: when you bring One item into your home, One must go out. You can give it to your friend who's always admiring it, or donate it to your favorite charitable organization. If it's stained or otherwise unwearable, please donate it to the trash.

**If you want to really be diligent about it, try establishing a "One In, Two Out" guideline. If you have to find two items to let go of for every new item you buy, you'll definitely begin to evaluate whether you really need that new item.**

Now that you're ready to let go, I've listed a few donation places here for ideas:

• Dress for Success: Clothing for women re-entering the workplace; currrently in need of the following items:

Medical scrubs
Non skid shoes and "Crocs" (larger sizes & wide widths a plus)
Black and khaki casual pants
White collared shirts
Plain colored ladies t's and long sleeve shirts
Steel toe boots
Maternity clothing for work

• Goodwill


• Salvation Army


• St. Vincent de Paul


• Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (multiple locations)

Your local churches and synagogues may also welcome donations to serve the community. Give them a call; they might even pick-up!!

Here's to living with the clothes that make you feel good,