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Fall is here, and it’s my favorite time of year.  The new season beckons us to clear the summer clutter and get our homes ready to receive us at the end of a long day or week.  Here are a few items to take care of now so that you can relax and enjoy the changes that fall brings.
Get your pantry ready.  Pantry staples tend to change with the seasons.  Think about skipping the grocery store this week and consciously eat up the summer foods in your freezer and pantry.  Go through cookbooks and recipes and find your favorite soups, stews and casseroles.  On the next trip to the grocery store, stock up on ingredients to help you whip a few of these up when the weather turns chill and you need a quick, warm supper.

Switch your  wardrobe to cool-weather clothes.  Pull your fall and winter clothing out from wherever you store them.  Launder, iron, repair and dry clean anything that isn’t in tip-top shape.  Now is a great time to look at each item with a fresh eye.  Do you still love it?  Is it still in good repair?  If you saw this in a shop, would you choose it?  If the answer is no to any of these questions, pass the item along to your favorite charity.

Freshen up your reading pile.  Just as our pantry staples change in the cooler months, so do our reading materials.  If you haven’t read those summer magazines or “beach” books, you probably won’t.  Recycle the magazines and start fresh with seasonal picks.  If you have several books that you are done with or can’t seem to get interested in, take them to Half-Price Books.  It’s a great way to recycle.

It will soon be coat season, be prepared.   If you didn’t dry clean or wash your coats at the end of last winter, do so now.  (Dry cleaning chemicals are toxic.  When you bring items home from the cleaners, remove the plastic and hang them outside for a day or so to allow the chemicals to dissipate  before you bring them into your home.)  Round up your scarves, gloves and boots and determine if any cold-weather items need to be replaced.  Schedule a time to shop for them. 

Make room for your car in the garage.  Now is the time to put away your gardening supplies, summer toys and hobby items.  Place smaller items in clearly labeled tubs, donate anything the kids have outgrown, hang large bulky items on slatboard or pegboard.

Now that the mundane stuff is taken care of, open up to the possibilities the new season will bring.  Taking a few simple steps to prepare ahead and clear the mind gives space for new ideas and thoughts.  Make yours positive ones!

Jonie Spetter | Professional Organizer | Mind Your Ps & Qs | www.PsandQs.com