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Post by Linda on Jan 31, 2024 18:56:37 GMT
Totally agree. This is one that will take weeks for me. Only weeks? š¤£ seriously? I've been working steadily on photos since 2020 and 4 years later...I'm still working on them |
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Post by dewryce on Jan 31, 2024 22:44:17 GMT
Sort through pictures - any duplicates to give away, bad pictures.I have to laugh that there is only one task dedicated to this! Maybe your photos are all over and need to be gathered together instead. If so, grab a box and start walking around collecting them. Or go through the photos on your phone. Totally agree. This is one that will take weeks for me. Yeah, itās going to take me ages. So instead, I will be putting away photos. When I take one out for whatever reason (scan it for someone, consider scrapbooking, etc.), or one is given to us (Christmas cards included in this) I put them in a small drawer where the rest of my photos are stored. (I also have one for memorabilia) So Iāll put these away and try and sort through the set of photos they belong with for duplicates and bad photos. |
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Feb 1, 2024 20:22:14 GMT
dh and I went through the top half of his dresser. It is amazing some of the things we keep. I have a box on the go with things to donate. Will enjoy this burst of energy while it lasts. I was Googling and it sounds like our University has two bins to put clothes etc that have holes in them that they send away to be recycled. They might even make money from it. I have enough old shirts for three households so we are set. I am sharing that info with family and friends.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 1, 2024 21:35:41 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Let go of hobby items from a hobby you have outgrown.
Are any of your crafts toxic for you? Do you feel bad when you see them because of guilt? Do you keep them because you feel like you should complete them or keep them, not because you want to? If so, seriously consider donating them. Even if not an entire crafting category, rather just a specific project. Life is too short to do crafty things that we donāt enjoy, let today be the day you let it go!
This doesnāt fall under the outgrown category, but I do have a hobby Iām not sure I can do anymore. Cross-stitching. During the pandemic I purchased 8 sets of cross-stitch ornaments, and Iām in love with them. Mom used to make them for the family so I thought itād be a nice surprise to put in everyoneās stockings. Except my vision has decreased dramatically and I had such a hard time when I tried working on the first one. It was so hard it wasnāt enjoyable anymore. So today Iām going to try it using my lighted magnifying lamp and see if that helps. If not, as much as it will kill me, out they go.
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Post by Linda on Feb 1, 2024 23:36:24 GMT
This doesnāt fall under the outgrown category, but I do have a hobby Iām not sure I can do anymore. Cross-stitching. During the pandemic I purchased 8 sets of cross-stitch ornaments, and Iām in love with them. Mom used to make them for the family so I thought itād be a nice surprise to put in everyoneās stockings. Except my vision has decreased dramatically and I had such a hard time when I tried working on the first one. It was so hard it wasnāt enjoyable anymore. So today Iām going to try it using my lighted magnifying lamp and see if that helps. If not, as much as it will kill me, out they go. (((Hugs))) I had to give up cross-stitching in my early 40s due to vision but I have taken it back up a little since - progressive glasses have really helped me, so has a good around the neck magnifier, good lighting, and accepting that the finest aida cloth and linen isn't where I'm at anymore and that 14count Aida is a better fit for my eyes |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 2, 2024 2:37:36 GMT
This doesnāt fall under the outgrown category, but I do have a hobby Iām not sure I can do anymore. Cross-stitching. During the pandemic I purchased 8 sets of cross-stitch ornaments, and Iām in love with them. Mom used to make them for the family so I thought itād be a nice surprise to put in everyoneās stockings. Except my vision has decreased dramatically and I had such a hard time when I tried working on the first one. It was so hard it wasnāt enjoyable anymore. So today Iām going to try it using my lighted magnifying lamp and see if that helps. If not, as much as it will kill me, out they go. (((Hugs))) I had to give up cross-stitching in my early 40s due to vision but I have taken it back up a little since - progressive glasses have really helped me, so has a good around the neck magnifier, good lighting, and accepting that the finest aida cloth and linen isn't where I'm at anymore and that 14count Aida is a better fit for my eyesAnd I think this is why I will end up giving it up as I much prefer the look of the smaller count fabric. And these are too big to be ornaments in general, so I went down to an 18 or 22 on purpose so I could use them for that purpose. I wouldnāt use cross stitch in my regular decorating so everything I purchased was specifically for this (wanted to be annual) project. I will look into an around the neck magnifier because the magnifying lamp wasnāt convenient to use and the whole process wasnāt enjoyable. |
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Post by rymeswithpurple on Feb 2, 2024 17:15:52 GMT
DH didn't get the job...  |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Feb 2, 2024 19:02:37 GMT
DH didn't get the job... Oh I'm so very sorry to hear this.  It's always such a disappointment to hear no. Hopefully this doesn't stop your DH from continuing to pursue better opportunities though. |
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Post by rymeswithpurple on Feb 2, 2024 19:14:04 GMT
**GypsyGirl** Thanks. He's upset, understandably. He put a lot of time and effort into it (especially since we drove to his interview instead of flying - 4 hours to my parents, 10 hours the next day/day of his interview (5 hours to/from my folks' house), and then back home the day after his interview (4 hours). They said they went with someone with more experience, and I just hope that's the case, because it'd be really sucky if that wasn't the case.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 2, 2024 21:00:31 GMT
**GypsyGirl** Thanks. He's upset, understandably. He put a lot of time and effort into it (especially since we drove to his interview instead of flying - 4 hours to my parents, 10 hours the next day/day of his interview (5 hours to/from my folks' house), and then back home the day after his interview (4 hours). They said they went with someone with more experience, and I just hope that's the case, because it'd be really sucky if that wasn't the case. Bummer. I can see why he would be upset. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 2, 2024 21:03:37 GMT
I am so glad itās Friday. I have a few projects for the weekend and really need to be productive. We are having our bedroom, family room and bonus room painted on the 15th. My mom is also coming next Thursday and staying until Sunday morning. So, I want to do a few decluttering projects in my bedroom (somehow reduce the number of beauty projects and random stuff that ends up on the dresser) and go through my jewelry since I have two necklace racks on the wall. Then I will also finalize paint colors (and hopefully flooring) and do general cleaning. It has been really warm this week and the dog has been tracking in so much dirt. The walls and floors all need to be scrubbed. Itās driving me crazy.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 2, 2024 21:52:35 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Trim a collection.
One thing Iāve read about this that really stands true for us is that when you have a huge collection you notice the whole, whereas if you have a lot fewer items, you notice the individual items. DH used this philosophy to help his final pair down of sports paraphernalia from a huge loft full of items on the walls when we met to one set of streamlined shelves, plus a handful of important nicely framed items on the walls. And it definitely holds true. He really notices and appreciates what he has more now than he used to.
My collections revolve around crafts and holiday decorations, and theyāre doozies! We went through the decorations as we put out and put them away last Christmas so tonight Iām going to concentrate on scrapbook paper. I went through it several months ago but with my newly stricter focus Iām going through them again tonight. Well, at least some of them. Iām starting with a 15 minute timer and will see if I feel like more after that.
Which collection are you going to work on?
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Post by dewryce on Feb 2, 2024 21:54:45 GMT
**GypsyGirl** Thanks. He's upset, understandably. He put a lot of time and effort into it (especially since we drove to his interview instead of flying - 4 hours to my parents, 10 hours the next day/day of his interview (5 hours to/from my folks' house), and then back home the day after his interview (4 hours). They said they went with someone with more experience, and I just hope that's the case, because it'd be really sucky if that wasn't the case. Iām so sorry, and am bummed for you both. I hope a new opportunity presents itself soon. |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 2, 2024 22:04:18 GMT
iamkristinl16 I see lots of 15 minute timers in your near future! If it helps report back to us so we can help cheer you on! This weekend will be a light one house wise for us because we are going out of town tomorrow to celebrate my baby brotherās 40th with him at a hockey game. Egads Iām old  So I need to rest my back for that. The only thing I need to get done before we go is to finish packing all of the items we have designated for donations the past few weeks so we can drop them off while weāre gone. Lots of breakable stuff this time so we canāt just put it all in a box like we usually do. Since yesterday was a bust on the decluttering front for me I went through my linen closet again determined to find something and chose 2 baskets that I still occasionally use to help sort and carry items, but that we definitely have other bins that I use for the same purpose and actually prefer. Gone! eta: Felt the itch to declutter so I went through our upstairs tools box and got rid of some extra tools we thought we might use upstairs but havenāt. And some items we just donāt use. It needs to be cleaned and everything wiped down before itās put back. But before I donate/trash these items I want to let DH take a look. I also went through a guest hygiene bag & box I keep for my mom. It used to make sense to keep so much stuff but she rarely spends the night anymore. And a lot of it is expired. So I was able to reduce it to just the bag. While I was grabbing those I came across my old CPAP machine that was recalled so I took that out of the linen closet because I need to look into what I was supposed to do with that. Cleared half a shelf in the linen closet, yay! I also came across my nail polishes that I never, ever use, noped right out of that decision and shoved it back in the linen closet 
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760 
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Post by mich5481 on Feb 3, 2024 0:51:03 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar: Trim a collection. One thing Iāve read about this that really stands true for us is that when you have a huge collection you notice the whole, whereas if you have a lot fewer items, you notice the individual items. DH used this philosophy to help his final pair down of sports paraphernalia from a huge loft full of items on the walls when we met to one set of streamlined shelves, plus a handful of important nicely framed items on the walls. And it definitely holds true. He really notices and appreciates what he has more now than he used to.Ā My collections revolve around crafts and holiday decorations, and theyāre doozies! We went through the decorations as we put out and put them away last Christmas so tonight Iām going to concentrate on scrapbook paper. I went through it several months ago but with my newly stricter focus Iām going through them again tonight. Well, at least some of them. Iām starting with a 15 minute timer and will see if I feel like more after that.Ā Which collection are you going to work on? When I get back home, I need to go through my blue and white collection. I've picked up a bunch of pieces at estate sales, TJ Maxx, and my travels, and I think I can let some of the estate sale stuff go. |
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by mich5481 on Feb 3, 2024 0:56:20 GMT
I also came across my nail polishes that I never, ever use, noped right out of that decision and shoved it back in the linen closetĀ How long are nail polishes good for? I have some I purchased in late 2019 that I either haven't used or I haven't used since 2019. š³ |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 3, 2024 1:52:14 GMT
I also came across my nail polishes that I never, ever use, noped right out of that decision and shoved it back in the linen closet How long are nail polishes good for? I have some I purchased in late 2019 that I either haven't used or I haven't used since 2019. š³ I donāt know because I only ever get professional pedicures. But sometimes I bring my own polish. I had good intentions when I bought these, thinking I could have DH do them in between salon visits. Thatās happened just a couple of times. Most of mine are that old as well. My plan is to shake them well and try to use them. If theyāre too thick to easily apply Iāll trash them. |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 3, 2024 1:56:06 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar: Trim a collection. One thing Iāve read about this that really stands true for us is that when you have a huge collection you notice the whole, whereas if you have a lot fewer items, you notice the individual items. DH used this philosophy to help his final pair down of sports paraphernalia from a huge loft full of items on the walls when we met to one set of streamlined shelves, plus a handful of important nicely framed items on the walls. And it definitely holds true. He really notices and appreciates what he has more now than he used to. My collections revolve around crafts and holiday decorations, and theyāre doozies! We went through the decorations as we put out and put them away last Christmas so tonight Iām going to concentrate on scrapbook paper. I went through it several months ago but with my newly stricter focus Iām going through them again tonight. Well, at least some of them. Iām starting with a 15 minute timer and will see if I feel like more after that. Which collection are you going to work on? When I get back home, I need to go through my blue and white collection. I've picked up a bunch of pieces at estate sales, TJ Maxx, and my travels, and I think I can let some of the estate sale stuff go. Do you know where they are going to be displayed? You could consider using Danaās method (From a Slob Comes Clean and Decluttering at the Speed of Life) and let that display space be the limit to how much you keep. Put your favorite on the shelf first and when you run out of room you donate the rest. iamkristinl16 I keep meaning to ask if youāve read her book or watched her no-mess decluttering video, I canāt remember if itās been linked here. But you mentioned wanting to do little declutters at a time and not drag everything out of a space. I think itād be perfect for you. Iāll go grab a link in case you havenāt seen it. Here it is. |
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Post by lg on Feb 3, 2024 2:42:54 GMT
Made two listings for some items I needed to declutter and sold one old listing this week - yay! Also majorly destashing my craft items at the moment by actually finishing some projects and forcing myself to use all the prettiesā¦itās hard but I much prefer seeing them in albums rather than tubs. Dd items for her albums that Iām still to use now all fit into two tubs (used to be four!)
I think 2024 will be the year of the finished project for me
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Post by Scrapper100 on Feb 3, 2024 3:19:48 GMT
I have a ton of candles and wax melts as well as some oils snd diffusers. I am working on using up some candles and wax before buying any more. They are stored in multiple places as I use them in several rooms. I am officially out of room. I enjoy scented candles and they arenāt fattening so I am enjoying them.
I am also going through scrapbook supplies. I am going to a crop next weekend and I have a box of stuff to take with me to donate. They also need some notebooks and I think I have a few in the garage to donate to the cause - they use them to organize the donated stickers and such. Will be happy to have this stuff out if the house but I need to purge a lot more.
I need to go through my cleaning supplies. I have some that arenāt my favorites so I am trying to use them up.
We have a plastic shelf in the garage that we need to upgrade. Iām afraid to put anything heavy on it so itās basically useless in the garage.
Hubby is home this weekend so I have a long list of small projects I want help with. Hoping to reorganize several areas and purge some things we donāt need. Nothing big but hoping that several areas will look better after this weekend.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 3, 2024 3:29:37 GMT
Made two listings for some items I needed to declutter and sold one old listing this week - yay! Also majorly destashing my craft items at the moment by actually finishing some projects and forcing myself to use all the prettiesā¦itās hard but I much prefer seeing them in albums rather than tubs. Dd items for her albums that Iām still to use now all fit into two tubs (used to be four!) I think 2024 will be the year of the finished project for me That is a great plan. It feels so good to finish projects! |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Feb 3, 2024 3:34:37 GMT
When I get back home, I need to go through my blue and white collection. I've picked up a bunch of pieces at estate sales, TJ Maxx, and my travels, and I think I can let some of the estate sale stuff go. Do you know where they are going to be displayed? You could consider using Danaās method (From a Slob Comes Clean and Decluttering at the Speed of Life) and let that display space be the limit to how much you keep. Put your favorite on the shelf first and when you run out of room you donate the rest. iamkristinl16 I keep meaning to ask if youāve read her book or watched her no-mess decluttering video, I canāt remember if itās been linked here. But you mentioned wanting to do little declutters at a time and not drag everything out of a space. I think itād be perfect for you. Iāll go grab a link in case you havenāt seen it. Here it is. Iāve watched some of her videos and listened to the book. I think she has some good points but some times her videos irritate me for some reason. I think they are kind of scattered or not to the point? But I will try to listen to that one tomorrow and reacquaint myself with her method. I got the idea a few weeks ago from the minimal mom. I think the video was 30 things to declutter in 30 minutes or something like that. I like that method when Iām short on time or just want to make use of those 15 min intervals. But I also donāt think it is making enough of a visual change for me overall when Iām not focusing ok one room. Doing 15 min tasks in one room throughout the week will work best for me, I think. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Feb 3, 2024 3:54:44 GMT
I also came across my nail polishes that I never, ever use, noped right out of that decision and shoved it back in the linen closetĀ How long are nail polishes good for? I have some I purchased in late 2019 that I either haven't used or I haven't used since 2019. š³ Unopened nail polish can last 5-8 years. Once opened it is good for up to 2 years. |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 3, 2024 5:49:20 GMT
Do you know where they are going to be displayed? You could consider using Danaās method (From a Slob Comes Clean and Decluttering at the Speed of Life) and let that display space be the limit to how much you keep. Put your favorite on the shelf first and when you run out of room you donate the rest. iamkristinl16 I keep meaning to ask if youāve read her book or watched her no-mess decluttering video, I canāt remember if itās been linked here. But you mentioned wanting to do little declutters at a time and not drag everything out of a space. I think itād be perfect for you. Iāll go grab a link in case you havenāt seen it. Here it is. Iāve watched some of her videos and listened to the book. I think she has some good points but some times her videos irritate me for some reason. I think they are kind of scattered or not to the point? But I will try to listen to that one tomorrow and reacquaint myself with her method. I got the idea a few weeks ago from the minimal mom. I think the video was 30 things to declutter in 30 minutes or something like that. I like that method when Iām short on time or just want to make use of those 15 min intervals. But I also donāt think it is making enough of a visual change for me overall when Iām not focusing ok one room. Doing 15 min tasks in one room throughout the week will work best for me, I think. Yah, she isnāt one whose videos I am addicted to. If it looks like itās a topic Iād be interested in I will watch, but otherwise we donāt click. I felt the same way when I read her book. Some really great ideas, but also some that clash with what I need. So I took the great ideas and ran with them, and filed the rest as ānot for me.ā As someone with physical limitations I canāt go put something away as soon as I come across it, I have to save up a small pile and efficiently go from room to room once at the end of the decluttering session. But thatās one of the reasons I think it will work so well for you, you donāt take things out and you donāt have more of a mess if you have too stop in the middle for some reason. I really like that video with Dawn too (there are lots like it, but they tend to be repeating the same ideas). So if I couldnāt do those things right then I added them to my list and have been going through them. Anyway, if you use Dawnās list with Danaās process I think it might work for you. And I agree, if you need the motivation doing one room at a time is a good way to get it. Have a productive weekend! |
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Post by dewryce on Feb 3, 2024 6:01:20 GMT
I went through my shoes and while there werenāt any to give away (I barely have any) I did have one pair I could leave permanently at my sisterās house (no outside shoes but I canāt walk barefoot), and tried on the Walking Cradle boots I have been saving since 2010! I purchased them right before I got pregnant, but I immediately went on bed rest and havenāt been down to that weight since then. They were too tight on my calves. But they fit my calves now!!! And they are too tight on the heel and across the widest part of my foot. Are you kidding me?!? Theyāve never been worn, so Iāll be taking them to a leather shop in town to see if they think they can stretch them enough to be comfortable for me. If not we are going to try and sell themā¦immediately.
I also went through my purses, I donāt have many and theyāve been pared down really well. But I did finally decide to let go of an evening purse I absolutely love but have only used once, if that. It occurred to me that our new phones, especially in their cases, might be too large for it, and they are. So it killed me, but it still went into the donate box. And I got rid of a few long-term travel items. Iāll do the rest of them next week when we are back to working in the bedroom.
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Post by dewryce on Feb 3, 2024 6:04:18 GMT
Putting todayās up early since Iām not sure Iāll have a chance later.
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Recycle electronics you no longer use.
Donāt forget to also recycle the cord(s) for the item, and throw away the warranty or users manual if you have one. Also, make sure you donāt have a box or those annoying bags with spare parts/hardware lying around.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by mich5481 on Feb 3, 2024 15:06:53 GMT
How long are nail polishes good for? I have some I purchased in late 2019 that I either haven't used or I haven't used since 2019. š³ Unopened nail polish can last 5-8 years. Once opened it is good for up to 2 years. Thanks! |
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 3, 2024 17:47:34 GMT
DH didn't get the job... Rats. I am sending out good vibes for a great position soon! |
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 3, 2024 17:50:32 GMT
I was able to get my grandson to go through his closet and purge things that are too small or he does not wear. He volunteered to go through his dresser, too! I was going to try that another day.
We purged 2 full trash bags of nice athletic wear to donate, plus a 1/2 bag to toss.
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Post by natscraps on Feb 4, 2024 1:58:37 GMT
I conquered not 1, but 2 desks!!!!!! I managed to finally get my desk at work cleared on Friday. My āto be filedā bin went back to Thanksgiving which makes sense because thatās when the crap started hitting the fan around here. And today I found the top of the desk in my home office/scrap room. I put all the papers in a giant box to gradually go through but I finally have a workspace!
I signed up to participate in a huge kids consignment sale in April. That will get all the little kid stuff out of the house for good including the crib. DS is 8 lol. Best part is you can choose to donate whateverās left at the end and they deal with it for you.
DH got the last of the Christmas stuff down for me today. Iāll pack it up tomorrow. I gathered a small box of stuff (greeting cards, puzzles, yarn,etc) to donate to some of the ministries at the church where my school is.
Does anyone have recommendations for archival quality boxes to store scrapbooks from the 1950ās in? I want to preserve my momās things properly. I also need the best way to store a 50+ year old baby quilt. I really donāt have anywhere to display it.
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It's always such a disappointment to hear no. Hopefully this doesn't stop your DH from continuing to pursue better opportunities though. 
So I need to rest my back for that. The only thing I need to get done before we go is to finish packing all of the items we have designated for donations the past few weeks so we can drop them off while weāre gone. Lots of breakable stuff this time so we canāt just put it all in a box like we usually do. 
