My Secret Organizing Tool

One of my favorite organizing bloggers recently purged and organized her book and magazine collection. Her rule for purging books was simple – if she didn’t plan to read that book again, it went in the “donate” pile! I purged my book collection about a year ago, but I’m sure it could use another one soon.

She also mentioned the large volume of magazines she receives each month – many of which she doesn’t have a paid subscription, they just appear in her mailbox. I’m in the same boat, receiving at least 6 magazines a month but only having subscribed to 3. I don’t know where they come from! I love magazines, so I end up with piles of them all over the house.

The most logical solution for pairing down magazines is to go through them and tear out the pages with articles you want to keep. I’ve done that for years, resulting in folders stuffed with random magazine clippings. Not super helpful or very organized.

Here’s my secret organizing tool for magazines – Pinterest. If I find an article, recipe or decorating idea I think I’ll want to reference later, I look it up online and then pin the image from the magazine’s website.

For example – last week I found an old December issue of Southern Living. I tore out the pages containing the instructions for these adorable Festive & Fun Mason Jar Snow Globes, and then paused because I had no idea where to file it so I’d remember to make them in December. I googled “Southern Living Mason Jar Globes” and found the exact article. Now it’s on my Christmas board, the magazine clipping is in the trash, and there’s one less random paper in my office!

If you struggle to win the magazine clutter war, grab your magazines and your laptop and start pinning!

P.S. My sister is away celebrating her 1st anniversary, so I gave her the week off from blogging. There won’t be a style post tomorrow, but she’ll be back next week (looking tan and refreshed, I imagine!).