Advice
Welcome to our advice section. Every week I answer new questions submitted
by readers on Organizing, Image, Fashion and Event Planning.
You can read my "AddSPACE To Your Life!" column every week
in San Diego's “The Coast News" or read the archived columns
below.
E-mail your questions to advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
Pregnancy
doesn't mean looking like a big house
June
is Rebuild Your Life Month. Take the time to add space, make change
and recreate your life!
06-03-2005
Dear
Kathi,
I am four months pregnant and no longer fit into my largest clothes.
I need to buy new clothes but I don’t really know the best items
to buy. I am a size 14 when I’m not pregnant. I would like to
feel pretty, sexy and not simply “big as a house” while
I am pregnant. What can you suggest?
Dawn, Cardiff by the Sea
Dawn,
Shirts and dresses with empire seams just below the breast are very
feminine. They are snug on top with extra room for growth below.
Try an A-line style dress. A-lines generally fit snug around the breast
and flare out at the bottom. You don’t necessarily need to buy
a maternity cut, simply buy it longer than usual so that the front
hemline doesn’t become too short as your belly expands.
There are currently many India inspired tunic tops on the market that
will expand as you grow. Pair these long tunic blouses with wide leg
slacks or pencil skirts with elastic waistbands. Buy these separates
in sizes 16, 18 or XXL and you should be able to wear them throughout
your pregnancy.
You can also combine a long snug fitting T-shirt or tank top with
the popular gauze tiered skirts for a romantic and relaxed style.
A good style for work is a long jersey tunic over a matching long
skirt. It's easy to wear, not too restrictive and fine for formal
and informal offices. Add strappy sandals and glitzy earrings and
you have a comfortable evening outfit.
If you can’t find decent maternity slacks, simply step up a
size as you grow. Cropped pants look nice for the summer months and
are more forgiving than shorts during pregnancy.
Speaking of the summer, when you need to go swimming, you can combine
your bikini bottoms with a large but snug T-shirt. Don’t be
afraid to show a little belly. The pregnant belly has made a comeback
in fashion catalogues.
Pregnant bellies are now considered sexy. This is a time in your life
where you can gain weight and be proud of it. Have fun sporting a
big round belly and enjoy feeling feminine and sexy!
Dear
Kathi,
I am a housewife but my partner is the organizer in the family. I
can’t seem to function in the pre-imposed systems. When I try
to follow my partner’s systems in the kitchen everything becomes
awry. I am constantly wondering where things are when they get relocated.
Should I be using labels each time the drawer contents change? How
can I cope?
Mia, San Marcos
Mia,
You and your partner need to come to terms with who is using the kitchen.
Ideally, the person that creates a system should be the one who uses
the system. If you are organizationally challenged and your partner
isn’t, perhaps you can spend an afternoon together creating
order with a method that makes sense for both of you.
Realize
that there is no perfect system. There is, however, a system that
will function well for all parties involved. Try to store objects
closest to where they will be used. Use the triangular kitchen grid
that I discussed in my column published last January. You can read
this column by visiting http://www.addspacetoyourlife.com/advice01_27_05.html.
If you cannot agree on a system during your organizational meeting,
it might be best to hire an outside professional. A Professional Organizer
will be able to create a system and organizational strategy that works
for both of you.
An outside expert is invaluable when family members cannot agree on
strategy. As a professional, they are not involved with dramas or
past history. They will focus solely on optimum organizational solutions
for your space and what will best serve the household.
Labelling your drawers is certainly an easy way to define what is
stored in each drawer. I use this method when client reorganization
is dramatic. Clients can remove the labels when they learn the new
system or keep them permanently.
If
your partner insists on creating new systems frequently, ask if you
can receive a descriptive tour of the change as it occurs. If you
have an explanation of why things are moved, it might help you to
understand the concept behind the reorganization. This will, in turn,
help you to remember where things are stored.
Organization is never an accident. If you have difficulty staying
organized, keep practicing and devising new methods. With trial and
error practice, you might find yourself developing the perfect systems
for your household. Perhaps your partner will never feel the need
to reorganize the kitchen again!
Please
submit your questions to:
advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
.
San Diego Professional Organizer
Site
Map
