Teens Only | I'm Back and I'm Not a Hoarder

Greetings reading friends. I apologize for my absence, but alas, I've been somewhat distracted lately. 

Earlier this week I had the great fortune to hear Henry Rollins speak. This guy is really amazing. He's done everything from fronting the punk band Black Flag in the 80s to hosting radio shows to appearing in the second season of "Sons of Anarchy" to being a very compelling speaker and activist today.

What struck a chord with the librarian in me was Mr. Rollins' talk of being quite the archivist -- or rather, a person in charge of a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people. During his music/band days, he saved everything: posters, notes, everything! Why? Well, because no one else would, but also because he knew then (and now) how important that stuff is.

Got me thinking. In this very digital age in which we find ourselves, how much paper stuff are you saving? Please do not think I am advocating hoarding. I am not a hoarder! I am not!

But saving some of that special stuff will really mean something some day. 

My friend Marvin saves all the tickets to baseball games he's attended -- and smart guy that he is, can probably tell you the score of each game, who pitched, and how many double plays there were! 

My BFF Isabella saves a lot of stuff too, except she can't remember what the stuff is from. Case in point: The other day she came across a record album (before CDs, my young readers). It was by a Bay Area band. She had no idea why she had the album, when we ever heard that band play, etc. I had an inkling of a memory, but was able to call an old friend (thanks Eric) to give us date, time, and the whole line-up of bands. This is definitely a memory from a special time.

Again, do not become a hoarder. But those events that mean something to you now? They'll mean a whole lot more to you in the years to come...especially if you're sharing it with a dear friend.

My advice? Save some small token of those special events. And, as Henry Rollins would advise, make a note of the date, who was with you, what you felt. Oh, you're going to thank me one day.

Get a small acid-free box to store these mementos in. That's another thing I learned from Henry Rollins.

Trust me. Someday you'll open that box and your heart will jump with the memory of something really special.

And if you're looking for a little more inspiration on this, check out Nate Berkus' The Things That Matter. Trust me.

Until next week, be well!

Teens Only | Pardon This Personal Question

What does your bedroom say about you? Are you a 15 year old living in a room with walls covered in pink fairies or blue and red trains? Is the floor of your room barely visible because it's covered in clothes, school stuff, and other collections from your day-to-day life? Do you share a room with a sibling? Do you avoid going into your room until it's time to go to bed because it's just not fun or relaxing?

Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. It should be the place where you go to relax, think, read, dream, breathe, and feel inspired.

I know it can be tough to do a major makeover of your bedroom. How many of us have $5,000...or even $500....to really re-do our sleep space? But I've learned a few tricks that might help you make some changes in your bedroom that will make it a place you can really enjoy...and be proud of!

I check out decorating books from the library and write down ideas. A couple of my favorites are:

Super Suite: The Ultimate Bedroom Makeover Guide for Girls -- by Mark Montano -- has some cool ideas. And even though the title says it's for girls, I think guys wouldn't mind black and white poster headboard idea.

Another favorite is Nate Berkus' Home Rules: Transform the Place You Live Into a Place You'll Love. Nate's the famous designer guy who has made over rooms for tons of celebrities, including Oprah. And even though I can't afford many of the things he does, I still get great ideas from his books. Many of his ideas can be modified and done very economically (that means, on the cheap!).





I also check out websites like Pinterest for ideas. Basically, I'll take ideas wherever I can find them!

And then I get creative. I check out local thrift stores for prints, bed linens (wash them or have them professionally cleaned first), and I also rummage through my house to find things that might work better in my bedroom. (Just ask your parents first, of course.) Oh yes, I also go to garage sales! I save up my money if I need to purchase something new. I look for sales. I have a very specific idea in mind and then I wait until I find exactly what I want...on sale....and try not to get impatient when the room of my dreams doesn't come together in one day!

I shared a bedroom with my 2 sisters until I was 15. I know your pain if you're still sharing a room. Even if the only space that is yours is the few feet around your bed, you can still make it your own.

Of course you need to have a discussion with your parents. But even if all you can do is a good cleaning/organizing of your space, do it! You'll go to sleep each night in a much more relaxing place, and you'll wake up truly refreshed and ready to face each day.

So here's to restful sleep in your own little sanctuary!