12.30.2012

Post-Christmas fall out

I succeeded in not getting a bunch of clutter for Christmas! People respected my wishes and got me very little in the way of presents, opting instead for long visits over food and a bottle of wine. (a MUCH BETTER gift in my opinion)

Over this last few days some things were inevitably added however, so some things had to be removed.

3 large Coca-cola glasses added = 4 miscellaneous drinking glasses removed
High quality pressure cooker added = entry level quality pressure cooker removed

Also removed:
- 2 cotton bath mats (I don't need 4 now that I only have 1 shower!)
- more books (there are always more books!)
- 6 boxes of incandescent Christmas light strings (New, still in the box) that were left from the previous home-owners.

I challenge you to take a few minutes to see if anything you got for Christmas can completely replace something you already have. And if so, I challenge you to pass the older item on to another person that can use it.

12.22.2012

More Sentimental Attachments

These are really beautiful books. Full of detailed illustrations and layered with notes, textures and other tactile pleasures (opening envelopes, feathers, glass beads and ribbons)
 
But as pretty as they are, I have poured over them enough times to know that I have gotten my money's worth out of them and it's time to let them go to another appreciative fantasy reader.
 
They are listed online for a reasonable price and already one has sold!
 




12.19.2012

Inside, Outside, Upside-down

 
It's a snow day here, the weather outside is slopping down some heavy, wet flakes (too wet to be fun).
 
A great day to tackle an indoor challenge. We have guests coming into town, the mmost logical thing to do is ask both boys to share a room and set up the guests in the big-boy's room. HOWEVER, he hasn't even finished unpacking all the way yet, and his room is simply a mess.
 
I have my work cut out for me.
 



By noon, I had made serious headway!



Not perfect, but MUUUUCH better!

12.17.2012

GOAL#27 - Letting Go

I LOVE vintage Fisher Price Little People.

I really enjoyed collecting them for my children to enjoy (and my nieces followed), and my love for them hasn't faded just because everyone has outgrown them.

BUT leaving them stored in mystery boxes is no good to anyone. Displaying all of them isn't an option for my house either.

Decisions had to be made... which ones are special enough to me to stay... which are okay to trust to new families?

GOAL #27 - Seperate the Precious from the Neglected in my Vintage Fisher Price Little People collection. Then sell the excess.

Process:

Step #1: Find and sort all the Fisher Price. Decide what is good, what is special and what there are too many of.

Step #2: Take photos of and list the ones I have the heart to part with. Grouping them logically for lot sales.

Step #3: Find a way to honour the remaining toys.

Verdict: I still haven't found a few of my favourites... basement? Shed? I know they are somewhere, but they are hiding (are they scared of being cut?), the photography was fun (now I have a digital record of my toys too) As for the selling part -- Wow that went fast! Within an hour I had several emails from other vintage FP enthusiasts! One lady came and bought everything I listed at full price with the request that I email her if I have any more to sell. I have found an appropriate place to display the house (oh how I wanted a house like that as a kid).

(dream house displayed in the laundry room)
 
-------
 
And all the ones off to a new home...










 

A bunch of sizable toys are cleared from the premises!

Picture Update

4 more shirts are removed, good quality but "not quite right"

A box of miscellaneous goodies for the thrift store

Too small kids riding gloves for sale

Another pair of too small kids riding gloves for sale
 
 20 books in a childrens's series (sold for $20)

I took a box of the better stuff to my friend in Courtenay that sells stuff online for fundraising.

12.05.2012

Goal #26: Breaking Eggs

Billable Hours: the life blood of the self-employed.

Having many clients is great because all my eggs aren't in one basket. But how do I know when there are too many baskets?

It's come to the point where I have to decide who I will let down, and which deadlines I need to miss. Not a great thing to do. Obviously the least appealing people to disappoint are my family (after all they are who I love the most), even if they don't pay me (LOL).

GOAL #26; Decluttering a client so I can do my job better.

Process: Things that were weighed in the decision:
Job satisfaction - do I love the work I do for this person?
Potential life of client relationship - a one-off design or a long time client?
Wage per hour - less per hour means I have to work more hours away from my family!

What "basket" could I afford to drop to break the least eggs? Which client do I have to disapoint?

Result: The answer was more obvious that I cared to admit. Though I enjoyed the work (technical/schematic drawings) at an intellectual level and the employer is a great guy that had guaranteed a trickle of hours from now until forever, the hourly wage is about 1/3 what I charge for my design time. And so I was always putting his stuff off in favor of the higher paying, creatively stimulating stuff.

It weighed on my conscience being late all the time. I wasn't pulling my own weight, and it ate at me that I was letting the team down repeatedly... I COULD do a great job, but I wasn't.

I called my supervisor (a friend) and she counselled that I let myself go so that the company could find someone more available. Honestly I thought she would try to talk me out of it. OUCH. The boss took my decision a little harder than that and seemed genuinely disapointed that I was leaving. We agreed that I would call when I had more time (at least that bridge isn't burned). And he took away the tool belt, plans, binder and laptop computer that came with the gig. (less stuff! a bright side!)

Now I am juggling less baskets and my workload does feel lighter.

Chipping Away at it

I bought some new clothes in a weak moment, and my "one-in-one-out " Rule had to be inforced!
 
 Plastic embroidery canvas that I have to admit I won't use
 
 A book that the kids have outgrown (one of dozens that I have unloaded lately to the school)
 
 Pillow shams that are too dark for my new bedroom
 
 Games that I thought the kids and I could play together, but we didn't
 
 Really uncomfortable ear buds
 
Toys I sold on-line this week ($10)!

11.21.2012

Goal #25 Christmas Glamour

Background: Years ago I figured out that the house was nicer the whole year long if I limited Seasonal Decorative items to one place, and even better, one container. A large antique steamer trunk that was my Grandpa's.

A couple of things have changed recently.

#1: Moving from a new house means different architecture for decorations. The biggest differences are no more stair rails, and no mantle... all the goodies that always were wrapped around the railing or perched on the mantle need to be reconsidered or eliminated!

#2: The kids are older, therefore the decorating can be for an older audience... less cartoony polar bears and smiling snowmen for example... thanks to us moving and having so different surroundings this year, the quiet removal of the less-dear items should go smoothly.


Goal #25: Review Christmas decorations and edit before December 1st so the charity thrift stores can still sell them this season.

Process: Pull out EVERYTHING from the Christmas chest. Think about where each item will go in this house and whether it is appropriate for the new dream asthetic. Immediately pack them for the thrift shop.

Results: The pictures speak for themselves!


 

11.14.2012

Goal #24 Sentimental Clutter

Time to admit it. They brought me a lot of joy... they comforted me in less-happy times... they brought a smile to my lips many times...
 
But NOW it seems they are invisible, and I resent the chore of cleaning and displaying them.
Hopefully they will bring happiness to the next person, my experience of owning them is done, and now I must let go.
 
(Very ornate ink dish from a dear childhood friend)

(Tea figurines from my childhood)

(My best, favourite - and last- china unicorn from my former collection)

(Collectable Wizard crystal figure... my mom got it as a growing up present over 2 decades ago... alas, he's not my style anymore)


Bye Bye old friends. I will remember you fondly. I release you without regret.

11.13.2012

After the Flood (cabinet flood that is)

Along the same sort of line as the make-up clean out, I tackled some lotions this week.

This task was thrust upon me as a drain leaked in one of the bathrooms and flooded the cabinet. I had a box under there that I hadn't dealt with since the move (out of sight out of mind), and the soggy cardboard bottom forced the timeline!

Honestly I thought I had dealt with all the toiletries before the move, but my definitions of "valuable" seem to have changed over the last few months.... it's fine to admit that something that was once precious isn't precious in this new life/time/place.

Since I did not miss the box of creams and lotions, I was able to effectively remove all but one nice container of lovely high quality bath salts (that I actually had looked for earlier this month). All the others, no matter how luxurious or pretty smelling hit the bin with no regrets. It's funny that last Spring when I went through them that I felt the need to hang onto those... back when bathroom cupboard space was at a premium too.

After hubby fixed the leak (he is a very handy guy), I took the opportunity to containerize what was left under there, so if there is a leak again, it will be easy to clean up AND so that like items are together for easy finding!



(note the empty container under a container - I'm proud of that)

11.04.2012

Picture Proof

From one of my favourite declutttering websites. 365lessthings
 
Monday – Declutter something from a bedroom. (this is more than one thing technically)
 
Tuesday - Declutter something from your kitchen. (tiny tart pan from my husband's Grandma's kitchen supplies that we inherited 20 years ago)
 
Wednesday - Declutter something from your bathroom.


Thursday - Declutter something from your living room. (2 more books I will likely never miss)


Friday - Declutter something from your dining area. (from the random-pretty-things drawer in my china cabinet - a simple, glass, clip frame that never got hung)


Saturday - Declutter something from your basement, attic or garage. (old camping clothes)



Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. (a stunning, daringly styled top that I've held on to since before kids! I always thought I'd make a throw pillow with it, it's time to admit to myself that I won't)
 
 
AND ONE FOR GOOD LUCK.... mittens that no longer fit my kittens.