Stephanie:"I am a freak when it comes to tidy up and clean up!" Newsletter#7 June 2021 story, inspirations, tips, etc...
Hello and welcome!!
Thank you for coming to my page or to have subscribed to my newsletter.
This month I have one great podcast, as well as one books’ tip for you.
Let’s discover together a new story and let’s me introduce you this month to…
YOUR STORY
1.Who are you?
My name is Stephanie Bauer. I create jewelry and also work as a Teaching Assistant Substitute at the International School of Amsterdam.
I started creating jewelry for myself, then friends and family and ultimately, after more than 15 years working in Supply Chain, I decided to dedicate my time to my passion and launched my own jewelry brand, Zoë Trop Belle, in 2014, whilst living in the USA.
Today I continue to pursue my dream in the Netherlands, where I currently live with my 2 children and my husband. Born in Normandy (France), I embrace life through my different adventures abroad and continue to be inspired by life’s journey.
2. Your favourite restaurant (and why?)
De Kruidfabriek by Lute in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam. I love that restaurant for its quality and original mix of different flavors.
3. Your favourite place, where you go often for a walk?
I love the beach. I live 30mn for the coastline, and beaches here in the Netherlands are beautiful! Even more beautiful when the sun is shining, which is not often 😊
I tend to go on Sunday morning, when the weather allows it!
TIDYING UP AND ORGANISATION
1. What is your attitude with tidying up? Enemy or friend?
I am a freak when it comes to tidy up and clean up! So I’d say I am an addict more than anything else! My home must be tidied up otherwise I have a nervous breakdown 😉
2. Would you describe yourself as organised?
I am indeed.
2.a. If so, why? What is your definition of organisation for you in relation to your lifestyle?
It is important for me to have my home and my life organized. This is how I feel comfortable and I suppose safe. I do not have much space for improvisation and spontaneity. I need to know what happens next, where and when… I describe myself as the agenda of the family! When I have to let it go sometimes, I find it very challenging.
2.b. If not, why not? What difficulties do you encounter?
3. What is your favourite room? And why?
I love my workshop/office – this is my ‘feeling good’ place. This is the only room in the house where my husband has no saying about the decoration!!!
4. Can you describe it?
The walls are light grey and pink, with white furniture. I have a corner for my jewelry making and one for my sewing. It is small but I managed to optimize the space to have everything I need.
5. What should be for you the characteristics of a room to feel comfortable?
(decoration, minimalist, flowers, colour, etc...)
It depends which room we are talking about! My workshop for instance, is not minimalist at all, as I put in there all the things I love and that my husband doesn’t want in any other rooms 😊!
Otherwise, I like to have nice objects of decoration, not too much though as my husband is minimalist.
I tend to go with the trend. Even though our home is neat, I make sure it has this cosy feeling to feel at ease. And I always have flowers on the dinner table!
I like the change, so I can change the decoration or move the furniture after a couple of years.
6. What storage / tidy up or organisational advice could you give that you regularly use for yourself/at home?
Optimize your space as much as possible. I used to live in a 400 square meter house in the USA, so I had a lot of space! The more space you have the more stuff you get 😉
When I moved to the Netherlands, I realized that space was a problem as we ended up moving to a 135 square meter house, so optimizing the space was the priority!
I clear the wardrobes and cupboards at least once a year. I mostly give all the surplus that we don’t need anymore to charities.
I tend to emotionally get attached to objects or clothes, as they remind me of something or somewhere. So at first it might be hard for me to get rid of them, but after some thinking, I manage to let it go!
7. What tool/item/object do you particularly use for tidying up?
I tend to use little baskets for a lot of things, such as underwear, but also beauty products in the bathroom.
For hangers, I used a little hook that I put on one hanger so that I can hook another hanger to it to give more space.
In the kitchen, I use small plastic bins in the cupboards, for instance for all the savory snacks on one side and all the sweet snacks on another side. And it’s much easier to pull the bin out of the cupboard and help yourself!
8. What is/are your favourite shop(s) for decoration?
Here in the Netherlands they have a wide range of shops for home décor.
But the one I love is called Loods 5. It’s the paradise for home décor.
It looks like a huge hangar, and sells a wide variety of items, from candles to kitchens! You follow a path labelled from A to Z, and you can find items either made by Loods 5 or by Designers. There is also an area where you have small spaces to be used as pop-ups for designers.
9. Where do you buy your storage items?
Ikea 😉. Their storage items are the best, whether you like it or not, value for money, Ikea remains the best.
10. What is the one thing you absolutely don't use but you can't get rid of it?
And why?
The one that comes to mind is a fluff clipper/depilator for clothes. I have it in my cupboard but never use it. Why do I keep it? Well, because I tell myself that I may need it one day 😊
11. Do you need advice on how to tidy or organise your things?
If so, what is it?
We always need advice! I am sure that I can still improve the way I store things in my house.
💡 Tips: I can advice you to look on pinterest, you can gather lots of ideas for storage and decoration; as well as on the internet shop: onrangetout; they propose more than 1’000 of storage items for all your rooms.
YOUR WARDROBE AND YOU
1. Do you know all the items you have in terms of clothes and accessories?
Believe me or not, yes I do! Why, because I have moved so many times, and had to organize myself to fit everything in that I do know what I have left. Plus I clear regularly so I know.
2. Do you know where to find them right away? Where are they stored?
Yes I do. For most of my tops for instance, I hang them by color. So I know where to find the one I look for based on the color.
💡 Tips: If you have space in your wardrobe, I usually advice to hang the clothes; as you mentioned, because you see straight away the clothes you have. And if you are lazy, it is easier and quicker to store your clothes. So if you have enough space, you can hang a big part of your cloths, not only the tops.
3. How many pairs of shoes do you have?
I’d say about 40ish…
4. Do you wear them all regularly?
Nope 😊 – mostly the ones with heels. Not really my style. Had those shoes when I used to work in an office! But I keep them in case I need them for a special occasion!
5. What clothes do you wear the most? Why do you wear them?
Pairs of jeans! I feel comfortable and it is easy to pair them with any tops. During winter, I wear them all the time. I have a few other pairs of trousers that I would wear for an evening out mostly.
6. Do you use all the clothes in your wardrobe?
I admit that they are a few that I do not. Probably cos I bought them once and thought they are cool but eventually think they don’t suit me.
7. Do you always know which clothes to wear for the different occasions?
The hardest for me is when I go out in the evening and look fancy. Never know what to wear! I have a few pieces for evenings out… I am not a social butterfly, so I don’t spend much on evening clothes. So I play with jewelry mostly to make it look fancier 😉
8. Do you go shopping regularly?
It depends where I am and when. But I admit that every new season, mostly wintertime and summertime, I tend to buy a few new things, mostly when I travel to France (cos fashion is different there than here in the NL)
9. What was the last piece of clothing you bought and when?
A cardigan, last week 😉
10. What is your favourite clothing shop?
I don’t have any, I go with the flow and the love at first sight 😉
11. Are you a cicada or an ant with your clothes, accessories and shoes?
(which means you keep all your clothes or you sort them out regularly?)
I’d say ant! I like to shop. So I like the change. For bags and shoes it is different.
12. Do you need advice on how to tidy or organise your wardrobe?
If so, what is it?
I think I am good.
UPCYCLING - RECYCLING
1. What do you do with the objects and clothes you no longer use?
I give them to different charities, friends or family (when it is something I really like and cannot give away to anyone)
2. Do you have an address for us?
Boomerang is the place I go for charity, in Amstelveen NL.
BOOKS
This month I would like to present you 1 book 🤫:
📚An English book “Asking for a Friend” by Andi Osho
“Three successful Black women star in this funny, honest romance debut. Bestselling author Jemima, 42, can’t shake off her annoying ex. Meagan, 29, is an ambitious talent agent nearly ready for phase three of her five-phase life plan: a relationship. And Simi, 35, is an aspiring actress, freshly wounded from another breakup. The trio swears off dating apps in favour of asking people out in real life, vowing that “no woman gets left behind.” This adeptly crafted narrative highlights real friendships between adult women: The respect that Jemima, Meagan and Simi have for one another’s histories, insecurities and aspirations adds a layer of gratifying weight to this beach read.“
COOKING
Every week I publish my weekly menu suggestions. This enables me:
-To plan the meals in advance.
-To make sure all the necessary ingredients are on my food shopping list.
-To save time & money.
I usually plan the meals / recipes according to our internal organisation and routine. All my current, as well as, my older menus are on my blog page:
TIPS: The Elevate Podcast
From Robert Glazer
I follow the newsletter from Robert Glazer and I discovered recently his podcast.
I can only recommend. Especially the following one.
In the latest episode of the Elevate Podcast, Greg McKeown makes a return appearance to the show with a fascinating new book. Greg is the author of the New York Times bestseller Essentialism, and a world class speaker and leadership consultant who has worked with companies such as Google, Apple and Pixar.
Three Key Things You’ll Learn From The Episode:
1. How to make it easier to do the most important things in life.
2. Simple ways to approach enormous tasks and projects.
3. How to learn and improve with less effort by focusing on the right things.
LAST WORDS
From my motivation monday quote:
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
-Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
I wish you a fantastic month of June. Enjoy every single moment and take care of yourself 🙏🙏🙏
What can I do for you? Are there any topics you would like to read? Would you like to share your favourite recipe or your favourite book?
Would you like to be part of my newsletter and tell us your story? Contact me!!