The “Great Closet Clean-Out of 2011”

I cleaned out my closet last night.  And my dresser for that matter.

Between my semi-annual need to purge EVERYTHING in my house (I blame my OCD tendencies), our upcoming move and my recent weight-loss (again, yay!), I figured it was time.  I had wanted to wait until I lost the last five pounds, but I was running out of pants that fit…

This is what I came up with:

  I love cleaning things out.  There is just something about de-cluttering something, anything, that brings me great joy.  It’s is so cathartic it isn’t even funny.  If I ever slip into depression, all you’ll need to do is hook me up with a hoarder and tell me to go to town.

Here is the “pants” section of my closet:

  All of those hangers had had jeans or other pants on them.  They don’t fit anymore!  (And to be honest, the three in the middle you see hanging here are too big, but not falling off yet.)  I packed away the best of them (for, God-willing, I gain the good kind of weight that begins to come off 9 months later…) and will donate the rest to Goodwill.  I found some great Gap and Nine & Co. jeans and pants yesterday there, so I’ve been able to re-populate some of my closet with size 8’s–HOORAY!

  *A moment about Goodwill:  Before you write it off and think you’d never shop there…give it a chance.  Obviously, some Goodwills are better than others, but you never know what you’ll find.  I have a friend who has gotten multiple pairs of Lucky jeans for herself and her family, and there are tons of Gap, Banana Republic and J.Crew gems out there just waiting to be discovered.  The trick is to go often (up to a couple time a week) and get to know your store.  Once you know where your size is in all the sections, it doesn’t take long to buzz in and see what treasures are waiting.  You would not believe what some people give away, with the tags still on them!

  I do have two pairs of dress pants I may try to get altered.  I just can’t bear to part with them (they are almost brand new since I never wear them) and one of them has a matching blazer.  And I did have some great pants…a pair of Lucky jeans (tear) and some J.Crew khakis…  It’s almost sad.  Until I put them on and am in shock at what a difference 10 pounds makes.  And I guess I’ll just have to replace my favorites 🙂

(In case you’re a pessimist and think I’ll just put the weight back on…think again!)   I’m pretty determined, self-motivated, and I can’t wait to change my goal in Livestrong to “maintain,” instead of “lose.”

  For Goodwill:

  Yay for purging!