[Jenny's Crib] From Dark-Hole-of-Storage-Room-Doom to Organized Closet [Before and After]

I have a confession. I moved into my two-bedroom condo over two years ago and I STILL hadn't finished unpacking. I still had six big boxes of random things covered with construction dust stuffed in the dark hole of see-no-evil storage room doom second bedroom. I just shut the door and lived my life.

After two years of letting my things hibernate and two bathroom and a full kitchen remodel later, I was finally ready to use my space for exactly their intended purpose.

From Project Portfolio

Step 1: Clear out the 2nd bedroom fake storage room of doom and make it an ACTUAL bedroom.
Step 2: Sort, Purge, and Categorize all my homeless stuff while my mom helps deep clean the bedroom. (Thanks, mom!)
Step 3: Crush extra boxes and kick out the donations and trash!
Step 4: Set up my real storage closet to do its job!
Step 5: Enjoy the new storage closet almost every day to live an awesome life!



I wish I had photos of my sad 2nd bedroom when it was the storage room of doom, but no. I probably did not have the strength to stomach the shame.  Thankfully, I managed to squeeze six big boxes and more of random unorganized stuff, neatly and reasonably into my spacious storage closet.

This storage closet is centrally located by the living room and dining room.  It's the perfect spot to keep all the things I need for my entertaining, hobbies, outdoor activities, cleaning supplies and household projects.

From Project Portfolio

Scroll down for photo of my summer 2011 "storage closet reveal"!

Where are the random places around your house that you've turned into storage? Where are the nooks and crannies that have taken on your random things? Storing tupperware in the oven?  Clothes on the treadmill? Toys in the never-used tub? Please comment and let us know!

From Project Portfolio

From Project Portfolio

Awesome Sauce Discount: Get Your Old Photos Scanned & Digital! [DailyCandy Deals]

Little Jenny in Taiwan: What my inner child looks like.
(Also the source of my CreativeLife podcast logo)

Old photos and media are often the most-time consuming and tedious things to organize.

Why?

Believe it or not (cough. cough. kids born after the year 1992), we once had to take photos on film and get them "developed" so we can actually see the results! 

Sitting there with dusty boxes representing a lifetime of trips down memory lane is fine for like fifteen minutes, but really?  Do you want to stick each 3 by 5 inch sheet of little Timmy blowing out the birthday cake and Nana squeezing the life out of your auntie through your home scanner?

I think most people would rather get a root canal.

That's why you hire professional organizers like me! OR you get professional photo scanners like El Segundo-based ScanDigital or San Diego-based PhotoBin!  

I did.  I actually got myself a discount deal for using ScanDigital from Groupon last year.  I'll save THAT experience for an upcoming blog post. There, I'll explain the BEST strategies for getting the MOST out of your scanning deal.

Side Note: And I would say, most of the time, I would refrain from using these prepay discount deals because they tend to sit there like the gift cards your Auntie thought you'd use but is just taunting you from your junk drawer collecting dust.

Because I had it done, I have these little gems ready to use on my computer!

Dad (Right) and his army buddy. REEEAAALLY old photo

I had a stick-out-the-tongue phase, I guess.

Photo scanning is like seeing the dentist for a cleaning; You know you should do it, but you always put it off for fear of the potentially painful experience. Getting old photos digitized is ALWAYS at the end of my clients' home organizing to-do list. That's why getting a discount for this service is a real value.  

When I saw this DailyCandy Deal for PhotoBin pop up in my inbox, I had to share. I'm not getting ANYTHING from the company but it is my duty to spread the love for hiring OTHER people to do the stuff that's important but pretty tough to do.  You have until Monday, August 15th to get this deal. Enjoy!

DO YOU HAVE AN EXPERIENCE WITH DIGITAL SCANNING SERVICES? ARE YOU THE FAMILY HISTORIAN? PLEASE COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW! 
No. Really. Do it.  Just click comment below. It's easy. I'll totally read it. And it will help me write that next blog post about getting the most out of using a scanning service. Thank you!

Say it with me: "Sometimes outsourcing is okay."  Get a professional to do it. (Image via PhotoBin Facebook Page)

The Offer$39 for $99 Worth of Digital ArchivingGo for the basic Value Kit 500 (a $99 value), which includes scanning of up to 500 printed photos for perfect digital preservation. You’ll receive a postage-paid box and packing materials to protect your pictures during transport. With a quick turnaround, the PhotoBin pros will digitize each one on your choice of CD or DVD. Got pictures out the wazoo? Use the Deal toward the Value Kit 1000 ($189). - DailyCandy Deals website