MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Dec 23, 2017 20:27:43 GMT
I did a big project yesterday of tackling our "dumping zone@ in our kitchen - the place I stack bills and paperwork and everything else. This is the 'after' of just the counter top - before it was covered in clutter. But what you don't see is the the big drawer on left was a junk drawer - I went to the container store and it is now completely organized too. The cabinet on the left holds random supplies and it is now organized too. Well done! It's a beautiful space. Have you read the book The Sunday Basket? It is a fantastic system for keeping paperwork contained and at bay.
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Post by threegirls on Dec 23, 2017 20:33:24 GMT
I just finished going through toys with my youngest daughter. I had been hanging onto a box of fake food with plastic plates and tea cups. She hasn't played with the stuff for probably two years but I hung onto them. I loved being a part of her dinners and tea parties. She ran a "restaurant" complete with cash register. She would play cook, server and cashier. I pulled the box out and the memories flooded back to me. She glanced at the box and without hesitation said, "donate it." It went in the donation pile.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 23, 2017 22:06:15 GMT
I just finished going through toys with my youngest daughter. I had been hanging onto a box of fake food with plastic plates and tea cups. She hasn't played with the stuff for probably two years but I hung onto them. I loved being a part of her dinners and tea parties. She ran a "restaurant" complete with cash register. She would play cook, server and cashier. I pulled the box out and the memories flooded back to me. She glanced at the box and without hesitation said, "donate it." It went in the donation pile. I get It! I nearly cried when I donated the little shopping cart my grandchildren played with. I still have the kitchen set.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,736
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Dec 23, 2017 22:13:18 GMT
I've progressed even more. Last week I went through my clothes in my bedroom. I tossed anything stained or ripped, I made a donate bag for useable clothes, and put aside a stack of really nice things that don't fit anymore hoping I can sell them on ebay or thredup. So everything in my closet fits and I like. That's a first!!! I also found four pair of pants that I forgot I had -- I didn't wear them because they need hemming. I'll take care of that this week. Next week is my Kids Rooms and Bathroom zone, and conveniently both kids are home. I'm trying to clear out my DD's room since she doesn't live here anymore.
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PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,749
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Dec 23, 2017 22:14:27 GMT
Darn. I forgot about this thread and it's damn near 2018. Isn't that when I was supposed to start?
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
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Post by mlana on Dec 25, 2017 7:01:15 GMT
We’ve been working hard around here since DD moved back home from college. She put her stuff in the garage and took back her room which my mom had been using while DD was away. Mom started using the bedroom in the basement again, but we could tell she wasn’t happy being so far away from everyone. Our grand plan was to move my craft room into the basement, DH into the smaller guest room (all he does is sleep in there) and Mom into the larger guest room (she’d have space to have a reading char in there.)
DD cleaned out her closet and cubbies and we took 8 very large bags to Goodwill. She still has too many clothes for the huge space she has AND she still has half of my garage covered. How the hell did she get most of this in her room at college?!
I cleaned out DH’s room and just about lost my mind. He had 3 pairs of new sneakers he had never even taken out of the box and he had just told me he needed to order new ones. He’d just thrown things on top of the boxes and never bent down to pick it up. GRRR. I gathered 6 - yes 6 - bags of pure trash out of his room. Since his stroke he worries about falling over when he bends down, so he doesn’t - bend down. If something fell, he just pushed it aside. Has the man never heard of a trash can? Now that we expect DH to start dialysis by summer, he will be staying in the larger room so he will have room for the peritoneal machine and it’s supplies. I am going to have a BATTLE keeping it clean enough to be safe for him.
I cleaned out my closet and made everyone either take what they had dumped in it back or donate or throw it away. Once there was only my stuff in it, I was able to get rid of a lot of things I had held on to from when DD was still home. I gathered all our snorkeling gear and may eBay it closer to Spring Break season. I also found where a mouse had discovered our late dog’s treat stash. Not fun cleaning that up. I threw away several bags of things that were too well used to donate, but there was very little trash. LOL PHEW! That would have been embarrassing after I had such a fit over the amount in DH’s room.
I had started clearing out my room earlier this year and had gotten interrupted and what I had boxed up had never been put away properly. I insisted DH and DD help me and we got it all taken to the proper floor and put away. Everyone keeps marveling at how large my room now seems to be. I was able to use a recycled cubbie unit to store some of our medical and CPap supplies, which is awesome. The shelf had been there for a while, but the boxes waiting to go to the basement had been blocking it.
DD and I cleaned out my office/school room and made her an area where she has a desk of her own. She will be working remotely at night occasionally and needs a space where she can Skype. I bought some cloth bins so she can make the book shelf behind her desk look somewhat uniform and professional. the best part of all the decluttering has been that DD has been dusting and vacuuming as we’ve worked! My allergies and asthma have taken a dramatic turn for the better.
I hung a sheet of metal on the side of my oven cabinet and I’ve been making a magnetic spice rack out of it. I’ve bought 4oz hexagonal jars and glued very strong magnets to the tops and I’ve been putting my spices into them as the glue cures. I have more of some spices than will fit in the jars, but I’ve gotten a sealed container that I can store the excess spices in and refill as needed. I also found some metal strips in my craft room as I prepped it to be moved. I’ve glued several of them to the bottom of the cabinets over my counter. I can stick my magnetic spice jars to them when I’m working on a recipe I’ll also use them for the spices I use the most and want to have at close hand. Both spice racks are looking really nice and I’m pretty excited to finally have decided how I want to display my spices. My current method works, but now that DD is home and cooking with me, it takes up too much space.
So, I have a long way to go, but I’ve started the journey. I should be done just in time to sell the house. LOL
Marcy
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Deleted
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Jun 3, 2024 7:09:19 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2017 7:27:53 GMT
GREAT thread! (I just found it). We've lived in our cramped 3/2 apartment, which was large enough, but we accumulate "stuff". We were there for 4 years and just moved this past weekend. We decided to organize and declutter all at once (crazy, I know). I can't tell you how much I threw away! We're able to put clothes and furniture, etc. in front of the garbage area for anyone to pick through. I've found some GREAT items there! This time we were all throwing things out, thinning out our stash! I'm even looking to sell my china, etc.......... for the right price.
Feels good to move into a new apartment and have everything organized and clean. I hope we all could keep it like this!!
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Dec 25, 2017 14:46:44 GMT
I started the year with great intentions, but didn't get much stuff decluttered after January. Will we continue this in 2018? or start a new tbread? Either one is fine with me.
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Post by Linda on Dec 25, 2017 15:46:21 GMT
I started the year with great intentions, but didn't get much stuff decluttered after January. Will we continue this in 2018? or start a new tbread? Either one is fine with me. I think a new thread would be best - that's what we did when the calender switched from 2016 to 2017
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 25, 2017 20:03:36 GMT
I started the year with great intentions, but didn't get much stuff decluttered after January. Will we continue this in 2018? or start a new tbread? Either one is fine with me. I think a new thread would be best - that's what we did when the calender switched from 2016 to 2017 Definitely a new thread! There was debate last year on doing a year long thread vs doing a monthly thread. Either option is good, but it is nice to look in just one spot and see what I have accomplished during a year (at least for me). While I did this year's thread, I am happy to hand the reins over to anyone who is interested and doing it. As for my decluttering, well let's just say I got a bit distracted this fall and nothing much happened. I hosted a big group the Tues before Thanksgiving, so all the boxes of mom's papers, my boxes of photos and papers to sort/file/scrapbook, as well as some boxes of eBay cr@p got hidden in the guest room. It was a nightmare that was just easier to shut the door on and walk away! On Friday I did get most of the stuff moved back to my study, so I am ready to start work on that this week. There is still lots of stuff to deal with in the guest room, but at least I can get in there and work now. DH is off until the 2nd, so I'm hoping to pin him down one afternoon and go through all the framed pictures and artwork that fill a huge corner in there. Since the remodel we have not rehung a thing and that needs to happen. I have a feeling that there will be several things donated as well. Then there is the issue of the hangar. We have about 1/4 of a 40'x40' hangar filled with house overflow. If the weather cooperates, there will be at least one run out there to clear out and donate things. A few more things will come back to the house. While I am happy with what I accomplished in 2017, there is plenty of room to do more decluttering and purging. I am also realizing that I am ready to let go of more, things that I wasn't ready to part with earlier this year. I'm tired of my stuff owning me and dictating how I use my home. Time for a serious change!
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Post by Linda on Dec 25, 2017 20:14:09 GMT
While I am happy with what I accomplished in 2017, there is plenty of room to do more decluttering and purging. I am also realizing that I am ready to let go of more, things that I wasn't ready to part with earlier this year. I'm tired of my stuff owning me and dictating how I use my home. Time for a serious change! Yes- it's certainly an on-going process and each time I go through a room, there's more I'm willing to let go of. My big decluttering goal for 2018 is the shed -and hopefully getting DD11 and DH to declutter some of their stuff
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Post by anniefb on Dec 25, 2017 20:55:52 GMT
I have done a few rooms in 2017 but there's always more to do. In the new year I want to have another trawl through my wardrobe and get rid of things that don't fit or look good anymore. The last black hole to do is the craft room and I'm planning to get rid of random bits and pieces I hauled out for my December Daily album as soon as December is over.
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,736
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Dec 25, 2017 20:57:42 GMT
While I am happy with what I accomplished in 2017, there is plenty of room to do more decluttering and purging. I am also realizing that I am ready to let go of more, things that I wasn't ready to part with earlier this year. I'm tired of my stuff owning me and dictating how I use my home. Time for a serious change! Yes- it's certainly an on-going process and each time I go through a room, there's more I'm willing to let go of. My big decluttering goal for 2018 is the shed -and hopefully getting DD11 and DH to declutter some of their stuff I agree! I redid my master closet early in 2017 -- it was an enormous job and I am so pleased with it. My second pass this week yielded three bags of things that I was iffy on the first pass, but realized I hadn't touched them or wanted to wear any of it since January. It was so much easier this time around. My motto for 2018 is going to be: Keep chipping away.
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Post by bigbundt on Dec 25, 2017 22:49:14 GMT
I was feeling kind of accomplished this year... and then Christmas morning happened. SO MUCH STUFF! I've been shuffling empty boxes and toys all day. Now that we've been in our house for almost a year, I feel more confident in what we can use or not so I'm hoping I can plow through the house again early next year. The kids sales are in March so that will take care of a lot of kid clutter. We are mounting our TV above the fireplace soon and that will make the layout in the living room much more open and functional because it will remove our large TV unit. That will be relocated in my craft room for storage. But really, I just hope to make a dent in things before the kids are out of school for the summer because NOTHING happens when they are around.
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Dec 25, 2017 23:29:49 GMT
While I am happy with what I accomplished in 2017, there is plenty of room to do more decluttering and purging. I am also realizing that I am ready to let go of more, things that I wasn't ready to part with earlier this year. I'm tired of my stuff owning me and dictating how I use my home. Time for a serious change! Yes- it's certainly an on-going process and each time I go through a room, there's more I'm willing to let go of. My big decluttering goal for 2018 is the shed -and hopefully getting DD11 and DH to declutter some of their stuff I have experienced the same. I'm not sure if it's stuff I wasn't 100% on letting go of or if my eye & desire of what to keep is changing. Probably a combination. Decluttering has been quite a process for me. It's been years because: 1. You might need stuff one day was pounded into my head. Thus, there was no guidance in how to eliminate stuff as I go along. 2. We only had the one child. I was poor growing up. So, my kid wanted for nothing. 3. The CFS & Fibro hit when he was 6 years old. I could barely take care of him. And, he received all the energy I could muster. Therefore, the house went to crap. 4. I wasn't diagnosed & treated for Fibro until he was 14. It's been a trial and error process. I'm thinking it has taken approximately 10 years to get to where my house is almost clutter free and company ready within 10 minutes. There was many periods of having to start from the beginning because I was incapable of doing all but the bare minimum, which was the stuff the would keep us healthy--clean kitchen, clean bathroom, sheets changed. So, the 3 day clean out with the storage room is huge. Anyway, I have tossed things that don't work properly or clothes that don't feel right or things that I simply do not like. Recently, I had the epiphany that this must be how normal people feel regarding stuff. 2018 will be a year to refine the stuff. I already have a list of things that I am ready to send out the door. Linda, Just keep going. They will jump on board. My son would go through his stuff occasionally. However, 2017 was the year of huge changes from them. Your daughter might need some guidance. My son was completely overwhelmed with his room. We went through it together. He made all the decisions. I would ask questions and keep him focused on what was before him. After, he was thrilled with his room. He told me he was so overwhelmed with his room & had no idea where to start.
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Post by Linda on Dec 26, 2017 2:37:44 GMT
MsKnit - like you, I didn't grow up learning how to downsize and get rid of things...my mum has a 4 bedroom house with attic and garage and utility/storage room jam-packed full of stuff...her stuff, granny's stuff, gr. granny's stuff, gr. Auntie's stuff... and I was poor when my oldest was small...welfare and food stamps poor...I kept stuff because if I needed it again, I couldn't afford to replace it - we're weren't much better off when my middle was born, we were working poor where the paycheque was shorter than the month. We're not in that situation anymore but it's hard to get rid of that mentality. And DH grew up dirt poor and didn't have much and I think that's the root of it for him...and he's overwhelmed now with all he has and it paralyses him. I've worked SO hard with my kids to teach them the skills we didn't learn - how to get rid of things we've outgrown or no longer use or are broken, the idea of one thing in, one thing out and so on...it took time with the older two, the little one isn't there yet and it's hard when she says 'but Daddy...' because I don't want her thinking that's okay but I also don't want to speak negatively about her dad to her. we'll get there...one item at a time...I've been working on this for 7 years now...I have a lot less stuff and so does DD17...DH, on the other hand, is still accumulating and so is DD11. We've cut back a TON at Christmas though and that's helping a bit.
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Dec 26, 2017 14:26:14 GMT
MsKnit - like you, I didn't grow up learning how to downsize and get rid of things...my mum has a 4 bedroom house with attic and garage and utility/storage room jam-packed full of stuff...her stuff, granny's stuff, gr. granny's stuff, gr. Auntie's stuff... and I was poor when my oldest was small...welfare and food stamps poor...I kept stuff because if I needed it again, I couldn't afford to replace it - we're weren't much better off when my middle was born, we were working poor where the paycheque was shorter than the month. We're not in that situation anymore but it's hard to get rid of that mentality. And DH grew up dirt poor and didn't have much and I think that's the root of it for him...and he's overwhelmed now with all he has and it paralyses him. I've worked SO hard with my kids to teach them the skills we didn't learn - how to get rid of things we've outgrown or no longer use or are broken, the idea of one thing in, one thing out and so on...it took time with the older two, the little one isn't there yet and it's hard when she says 'but Daddy...' because I don't want her thinking that's okay but I also don't want to speak negatively about her dad to her. we'll get there...one item at a time...I've been working on this for 7 years now...I have a lot less stuff and so does DD17...DH, on the other hand, is still accumulating and so is DD11. We've cut back a TON at Christmas though and that's helping a bit. My goodness, yes! The mentality of what if I need it is so hard to break. My husband grew up learning what "good junk" was. That was a level that I wasn't aware of. LOL! He takes stuff apart to keep the screws, bolts, and what not. His parents kept what seems like everything. Dad(IL) has outbuildings. When one would be full, he would get another. Amazingly, he knows where stuff is. (I needed barbed wire for an art project. Dad had some. LOL!) Boggles the mind. Fortunately, my son is not sentimental at all. He will be one of those minimalists that only owns 100 things. It is hard to see him toss things I would keep. I did rescue the little bowl he made in middle school. Otherwise, I let him do his thing and cringe a little. Though, I am learning from him. He has been a huge reason I have let a fair amount of this stuff go. DH & I are facing quite a job when we have to clear out Mom & Dad's house. I don't want that for my son. Therefore, when he says toss something, out it goes. I did tell him as we were emptying out the storage room, that some things I just can't let go of (yet?). And, I hope he doesn't mind too terribly having to deal with them later. I am hoping that we (DH & I) have turned a corner of not accumulating. We learned that the garage is not good for storing anything you wish to use again. I think that was helpful for my husband. Plus, the sheer amount of stuff that went out in that dumpster was eye opening. Last night, when DH & I were discussing what we would do today, he mentioned not going shopping because we don't want to bring anything in the house unnecessarily. *happy dance* All we can do is keep going.
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Deleted
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Jun 3, 2024 7:09:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 12:43:01 GMT
Dh cleaned the garage yesterday! I'm not sure how much he actually donated or threw away, but I can get into my chest where I store some linen and it looks so much better. Meanwhile, I was in kitchen getting rid of some stuff I don' t use to make a space for my red dishes dishes I have b een accumulating from thrift stores this year.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 27, 2017 16:48:06 GMT
I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning out the pantry and spice drawers. Filled up a trash bag full of stuff that was expired or not going to be used. A few things that were unopened and unexpired went into my donation bag. It's always a good feeling to have things freshly organized! I also went through a stack of things I have to list on eBay and realized that 3 of the things were not worth the time to list, so straight to the donation bag for them as well! One of my goals the coming year is to whittle down the piles of stuff I have accumulated for eBay. Some of it is thrift store treasures, while other stuff is from around the house.
After I go drop off the property tax payments, I plan to do a little more purging of the eBay stuff and then make a plan of action for my sewing room. I have managed to accumulate more stuff this year and it is becoming claustrophobic. Time to declutter and organize in there again! The weather is miserable here, cold and rainy all day, so it's the perfect day for this!
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 27, 2017 17:21:24 GMT
Dh cleaned the garage yesterday! I'm not sure how much he actually donated or threw away, but I can get into my chest where I store some linen and it looks so much better. Meanwhile, I was in kitchen getting rid of some stuff I don' t use to make a space for my red dishes dishes I have b een accumulating from thrift stores this year. Pretty! Are those cotton bolls in your vase? We don't see those here in MN, LOL.
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
Posts: 4,218
Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Dec 27, 2017 20:07:51 GMT
Dh cleaned the garage yesterday! I'm not sure how much he actually donated or threw away, but I can get into my chest where I store some linen and it looks so much better. Meanwhile, I was in kitchen getting rid of some stuff I don' t use to make a space for my red dishes dishes I have b een accumulating from thrift stores this year. Pretty! Are those cotton bolls in your vase? We don't see those here in MN, LOL. I just saw those at either Hobby Lobby or Michaels last week.
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Deleted
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Jun 3, 2024 7:09:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 21:32:31 GMT
Pretty! Are those cotton bolls in your vase? We don't see those here in MN, LOL. yes, dh picked them out of his cotton field here in West Texas.
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Post by alexa11 on Dec 27, 2017 21:51:26 GMT
I got rid of the 20 yr old philodendron from the top of fridge today and repainted wall where it had attached itself. I'm working on my craft room now. There's just so much stuff and I really don't know where to start. I don't make mini albums anymore to sell, but I still have a few loyal customers who request something several times a year. I honestly wish I could get rid of all of it and not do any more custom work, but they pay me well...
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 28, 2017 11:58:26 GMT
yes, dh picked them out of his cotton field here in West Texas. That's so awesome!
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 28, 2017 12:07:14 GMT
I would totally love to jump back into this thread and back into decluttering in 2018.
2017 has been a year that went off the rails. Losing a job. Gaining a job. Kids and their medical stuff that I could not foresee. A leaky roof that dumped water straight into my bedroom closet.
Currently my bedroom looks like a bomb went off in it. Roof's fixed, but the clothes are all higgledy piggledy.
Why do I have two huge brown tableclothes in my room that were used for two hours almost two years ago? And why can I not let them go?
I need to sort through my socks & underthings and trash overly worn items. More than once this week (!) I have put on a sock to take it right back off again & toss it when I find there is a hole in the heel or toe.
My biggest decluttering-related goal for 2018 is to make my room feel more like a retreat than a dumpster fire. It should be my escape. It should be the only place where kids' stuff isn't overflowing and I can take a normal breath. I deserve at least that much.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 28, 2017 13:54:49 GMT
LavenderLayoutLady You absolutely deserve a retreat. Make it off limits to the kids and their stuff!
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,736
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Dec 28, 2017 14:04:36 GMT
yes, dh picked them out of his cotton field here in West Texas. How cool!! He must love you very much to plant an entire field of cotton for use on your pretty table (wink).
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Dec 28, 2017 20:17:15 GMT
According to an article I read in PureWow today, it is time for us to move on from Marie Kondo-ing our homes and take the next step of Swedish Death Cleaning! Seems it is the latest cleaning trend sweeping (pun not intended!) Scandinavia. Funny thing is, in the past year I have found myself switching gears from just organizing my stuff, to getting rid of things I know I will never use and that my daughter won't either. It's been the by product of clearing out my parents' home after they both passed. I have gotten rid of so many things that I know they hadn't used in years and didn't care about, but never bothered to get rid of. Some of the things were kept for my sisters and I, but in reality none of us wanted the stuff nor had room for it. One thing I did the last few years of mom's life was encourage her to sell things and enjoy the money. So glad she did because it was less for me to deal with. I am now starting to do the same thing with my collections and stuff. I suspect the book will do well because the Baby Boomers are now between 53 and 71. We are dealing with the belongings of our parents, trying to downsize for retirement ourselves, and many (at least amongst my friends) are coming to the realization that our kids don't want our stuff. The book in case you are interested: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Dec 28, 2017 20:48:35 GMT
So, I totally did it this morning, right after jumping off the thread here!
Only my things live in my room now.
And I tossed so much stuff. no regrets at all.
A few books that I have no intention of reading are out for recycling.
Clothes that I've held on to because they are "too good" to toss, but haven't worn in a long time, are gone.
Those brown tablecloths? Gone.
I was kind of brutal, but I'm sick and tired of walking in to my room, and just seeing "things to do."
I want to start the year off right.
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Post by Linda on Dec 28, 2017 21:42:37 GMT
well done LavenderLayoutLady! I need to downsize our Advent/Christmas books - I have an overflowing BIG tote of them - but my youngest is 11 and they only get read during the 4 Advent Sunday celebrations now (and this year, somehow we skipped one) and we only read 1 or 2 each Sunday so I don't need 50+ choices. I need to pick my absolute favourites (which, let's be honest, are the ones I choose to read anyway) and pass along the others. I've already put a small Nativity into the donation bin - it was a gift and given with love but it's not my style and someone else will enjoy it more than I do. I've also put a wooden Christmas house with toys into the donation bin - it was fun for small children but I don't have small children any longer.
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