Sometimes a thing is stored too long.
Dry goods that expire in the pantry, or adhesives that dry out for example.
Yesterday I visited that found box of stationary and found that the many envelopes that I had been hoarding for years had all sealed themselves up over the damp time spent in the shed this winter. About 3 pounds of pristine and pretty envelopes rendered useless by neglect. Now they are recycling.
Live and learn.
4.28.2013
4.26.2013
Heading that way
Yesterday I had to go to the bank, and my youngest said he wanted to see that the thrift shop next door had to offer. So I thought "Yay! An opportunity to make a donation!"
I asked my son to follow me to his room and we pulled out all his shirts and I held them up one by one and asked "Keep or Donate?" When he looked like he might be waffling, I gently reminded him that he had lots of shirts and if this one wasn't one he loved that it still would be a NICE thing to donate. After that was done, we went through the same routine with the pants. To show him that I wasn't picking on him, we went to my closet and I let him chose a dress that he thought was "hideous" and a pair of flip flops that are a garish color (he was getting impatient so I didn't push farther). The loot stuffed one of my extra fabric shopping bags (that I was planning to donate).
Banking, donating and browsing was all done efficiently and my son didn't even find anything he wanted to buy (except a bag of candy from the pharmacy next door... so close!).
I think it may be something to consider as a new habit as a compliment to the one-in-one-out rule. Fill a bag for donation before even going to the store, it's worth a try to do it every time.
I asked my son to follow me to his room and we pulled out all his shirts and I held them up one by one and asked "Keep or Donate?" When he looked like he might be waffling, I gently reminded him that he had lots of shirts and if this one wasn't one he loved that it still would be a NICE thing to donate. After that was done, we went through the same routine with the pants. To show him that I wasn't picking on him, we went to my closet and I let him chose a dress that he thought was "hideous" and a pair of flip flops that are a garish color (he was getting impatient so I didn't push farther). The loot stuffed one of my extra fabric shopping bags (that I was planning to donate).
Banking, donating and browsing was all done efficiently and my son didn't even find anything he wanted to buy (except a bag of candy from the pharmacy next door... so close!).
I think it may be something to consider as a new habit as a compliment to the one-in-one-out rule. Fill a bag for donation before even going to the store, it's worth a try to do it every time.
4.20.2013
Nice Mug
It has been a subtle transformation with removal of the excess in my household.
One box or bag at a time - a broken item not replaced, a rarely used thing just disappears, not dramatic at all (except the actual moving house last summer part)
It's funny that lately people keep noticing (for the first time) some furniture that I've had for over a decade -- now that it fits properly. "Is that new? It's nice."
Others are starting to notice that I have "less". Most are comfortable with it, but some folks have interesting reponses.
"Is that ALL your coffee mugs?" More than one friend over for coffee has mentioned the number of mugs we have now. I don't run out of them even with big family dinners, so I'm not sure what they mean. MOST of the time only 2 per day are used, then they are washed. I was thinking the dozen we still have is a bit excessive, but apparently others think we need more.
One box or bag at a time - a broken item not replaced, a rarely used thing just disappears, not dramatic at all (except the actual moving house last summer part)
It's funny that lately people keep noticing (for the first time) some furniture that I've had for over a decade -- now that it fits properly. "Is that new? It's nice."
Others are starting to notice that I have "less". Most are comfortable with it, but some folks have interesting reponses.
"Is that ALL your coffee mugs?" More than one friend over for coffee has mentioned the number of mugs we have now. I don't run out of them even with big family dinners, so I'm not sure what they mean. MOST of the time only 2 per day are used, then they are washed. I was thinking the dozen we still have is a bit excessive, but apparently others think we need more.
(oops, that menu shouldn't be there!)
4.14.2013
GOAL #37 Linen Closet
Finally took my own advice and let go of some of the "baggage" attached to the overflowing linen closet's contents! Namely, resisting the facts these items are past their prime, outlived their usefullness or ruined (no matter how expensive they were). I should use the nicer items that I already have, I need to release the left overs to leave room for the good stuff!
Here is the goal:
To resist the temptation of putting the threadbare, bleached or stained back into rotation (some were very expensive/past efforts to remove them had failed) I made sure to tear them into rags right then and there and put the bags of rags out in the garage for the super messes. And for the excess linens, the local thrift store will be getting a decent bag of donations tomorrow (I seemed to have been hoarding pillow cases for some reason). I had cleared out most of the decorative oddballs (duvet covers and throws) before we moved last year, so it wasn't too outrageous... even still, 2 STUFFED grocery bags of rags and a cloth shopping bag of donated linens made a BIG difference to how tidy and functional the closet is. Its a big improvement with only 15 minutes of work.
On a footnote (pun intended) I brought out the summer shoes and culled a couple pairs that I have decided I don't need anymore. And a handbag that is very cool and well built, but ridiculously heavy so I don't enjoy using it!
Bu-Bye :)
Here is the result! Way better than the over stuffed chaos that was there before.... the striped baskets (that areNOT full anymore) each have a specific theme: 1) twin sheet sets, 2) spare queen sheet set and 3) housekeeping rags
Here is the goal:
- For linens- 2 sheet sets per bed (so there is enough for when company comes), with a maximum 2 pillowcases per pillow and no more than a winter and a summer duvet per bed.
- For bath towels- only the ones in good shape!
- For dish towels- only the ones in decent shape that fit in the drawer.
To resist the temptation of putting the threadbare, bleached or stained back into rotation (some were very expensive/past efforts to remove them had failed) I made sure to tear them into rags right then and there and put the bags of rags out in the garage for the super messes. And for the excess linens, the local thrift store will be getting a decent bag of donations tomorrow (I seemed to have been hoarding pillow cases for some reason). I had cleared out most of the decorative oddballs (duvet covers and throws) before we moved last year, so it wasn't too outrageous... even still, 2 STUFFED grocery bags of rags and a cloth shopping bag of donated linens made a BIG difference to how tidy and functional the closet is. Its a big improvement with only 15 minutes of work.
On a footnote (pun intended) I brought out the summer shoes and culled a couple pairs that I have decided I don't need anymore. And a handbag that is very cool and well built, but ridiculously heavy so I don't enjoy using it!
Bu-Bye :)
Here is the result! Way better than the over stuffed chaos that was there before.... the striped baskets (that areNOT full anymore) each have a specific theme: 1) twin sheet sets, 2) spare queen sheet set and 3) housekeeping rags
Bad Feelings
If you don't have it anymore you can't:
Those are things I know about decluttering.
It is work to remember all these points, especially if you have had the thing a long time,... that's the hardest part, admitting that the item may actually be emotionally toxic.
Have the courage to admit that the time is up with the items that invoke the above feelings: say good-bye, forgive yourself and move forward to more space and a wide open future. You have my permission to give it a new home and toss the 'baggage'.
- Feel anxious about how much it cost
- Feel guilty about never using it
- Feel embarassed that it doesn't fit anymore
- Feel overwhelmed that it hasn't been repaired or finished it yet
- Feel frustrated over having to clean/maintain it
- Feel buried by the space it takes up
- Feel shame/loss/anger over the memory that is attached to it
Those are things I know about decluttering.
It is work to remember all these points, especially if you have had the thing a long time,... that's the hardest part, admitting that the item may actually be emotionally toxic.
Have the courage to admit that the time is up with the items that invoke the above feelings: say good-bye, forgive yourself and move forward to more space and a wide open future. You have my permission to give it a new home and toss the 'baggage'.
4.08.2013
Easy Choice!
While looking for my gardening books, I found a whole box of stuff I don't need. All of it in very good condition, these shirts and hats are going to my favourite charity thrift shop.
4.05.2013
Missing In Action
It was inevitable... I am missing something I feel I need.
I'm pretty sure that I did NOT declutter my favourite gardening reference books... but I can't seem to find them! Since the move and the paring down of books, I guess they could have gone astray. They aren't in the bookshelf here.
There was a box of books under the house that hadn't been opened yet, but the gardening books weren't in there - it had my yearbooks from high school! (I am keeping those until both my kids graduate at least because they think it's funny to look at me as a teen)
In the sheds I found a forgotten box with stationery in it... It will be be edited agressively because the only thing I missed was the geometry set that I needed for the kid's math homework. Thankfully, I resisted replacing it because I KNEW I had one SOMEWHERE!
I wonder where the books are? I really want them to plan my new vegetable garden this year! I need plant pairings and soil preference and planting times for my zone... that's a lot of digging on the internet (pun intended).
Besides, that's half the fun of gardening- sitting with a good plant book pouring over it taking notes and sketching plans! Dreaming of big harvests and the freshest yummiest food.
I'm pretty sure that I did NOT declutter my favourite gardening reference books... but I can't seem to find them! Since the move and the paring down of books, I guess they could have gone astray. They aren't in the bookshelf here.
There was a box of books under the house that hadn't been opened yet, but the gardening books weren't in there - it had my yearbooks from high school! (I am keeping those until both my kids graduate at least because they think it's funny to look at me as a teen)
In the sheds I found a forgotten box with stationery in it... It will be be edited agressively because the only thing I missed was the geometry set that I needed for the kid's math homework. Thankfully, I resisted replacing it because I KNEW I had one SOMEWHERE!
I wonder where the books are? I really want them to plan my new vegetable garden this year! I need plant pairings and soil preference and planting times for my zone... that's a lot of digging on the internet (pun intended).
Besides, that's half the fun of gardening- sitting with a good plant book pouring over it taking notes and sketching plans! Dreaming of big harvests and the freshest yummiest food.
4.04.2013
Putting on the brakes
I've had to slow down my decluttering efforts because of other, more urgent matters. Note I said "urgent" not necessarily important.
Spring has sprung and I had to squeeze every available moment of decent weather to work on the yard. We have "decluttered" a long row of neglected and diseased hedges along the driveway and a tottering cinder block wall in the front. As well we have prepared the veggie plot for the new season and built a better gate for the free-range-chicken-zone of the garden.
With all this yard action I have had little time to think about the other goals that I've already started! So the laundry room still looks much the same.
It didn't help that the freezer decided to die and all the contents had to taken in a mad rush to my sister's freezer. Thankfully my handy husband found the problem and resuscitated the appliance, so we were spared the unpleasant task of buying a new one! I am so lucky we did the freezer challenge in January, otherwise there would have been far too much to fit in my sister's space!
Easter, birthdays and a whole mess of new, demanding contracts for work have also interupted my desire to purge the clutter. The desire is still there, but I can't do much about it right this minute.... oh well.
Don't give up on me, there is more to toss, and more to see.
Small victories like these are still happening:
Spring has sprung and I had to squeeze every available moment of decent weather to work on the yard. We have "decluttered" a long row of neglected and diseased hedges along the driveway and a tottering cinder block wall in the front. As well we have prepared the veggie plot for the new season and built a better gate for the free-range-chicken-zone of the garden.
With all this yard action I have had little time to think about the other goals that I've already started! So the laundry room still looks much the same.
It didn't help that the freezer decided to die and all the contents had to taken in a mad rush to my sister's freezer. Thankfully my handy husband found the problem and resuscitated the appliance, so we were spared the unpleasant task of buying a new one! I am so lucky we did the freezer challenge in January, otherwise there would have been far too much to fit in my sister's space!
Easter, birthdays and a whole mess of new, demanding contracts for work have also interupted my desire to purge the clutter. The desire is still there, but I can't do much about it right this minute.... oh well.
Don't give up on me, there is more to toss, and more to see.
Small victories like these are still happening:
(an empty cabinet that needs to go to a different house...
... it was a hand-made present so it's a tough one to let go of)
PLUS my husband has purged 3 coats and a pair of shoes too!
3.27.2013
I wish I took pictures
I made a deal with my youngest boy this weekend... if he could help with some of MY chores, I would clean his room. After short negotiations as to what chores he'd have to do, he went for it.
So I spent a good part of Sunday tearing into the plethora of bins and containers in his room. It looked waaaaaay worse before it started looking better, but now there is some logic to the containers (all the playmobil in one place, hotwheels in another, for example).
Thanks to all the practice I've had in my own spaces lately, I had great success consolidating and streamlining his storage bins! I put SIX high quality empty bins in the crawlspace (I know I should just donate them, but I will give them some time to prove useless before that). There was a small amount of trash (toy packages) and only a small amount of damaged toys, so I didn't really remove a whole lot of volume. It was just the miss-filed items that were taking up so much extra space. And that accident has been fixed now.
He came home from an outing with dad to a better looking and better functioning space. Oh ya and it was cleaner too. With everything torn out, I could vacuum and dust in the chronically blocked corners... small mountains of dust and pet hair lurked there (ewwww). With less bins now, theoretically it should be easier to clean these corners more often. It's now Wednesday and it's still very nice in there. :)
In other news: 2 weeks ago I gave 4 very large, quality, hinged plastic bins to my sister to help her rotate toys in her kids' playroom.... she has seen my decluttering successes and thought she'd try cutting down the immediate choices for her kids so they could find it easier to put things away and easier to find something to play with. By rotating the toys, old will be new again in a few months, and clean up time should go faster.
It's funny how there is a certain point where too much choice is annoying instead of fun - that's where her playroom had gone to. Nobody wanted to play in there. Now that 4 large totes worth are out of sight, and several more bags were donated or tossed, and even a large piece of furniture was removed, her kids suddenly love their playroom again!
No I didn't pest my sister to do it, she just saw with her own eyes that I have been happier with less, and recognized that it could solve her playroom frustrations to have less too. And I just happened to have a bunch of empty bins (!)
So I spent a good part of Sunday tearing into the plethora of bins and containers in his room. It looked waaaaaay worse before it started looking better, but now there is some logic to the containers (all the playmobil in one place, hotwheels in another, for example).
Thanks to all the practice I've had in my own spaces lately, I had great success consolidating and streamlining his storage bins! I put SIX high quality empty bins in the crawlspace (I know I should just donate them, but I will give them some time to prove useless before that). There was a small amount of trash (toy packages) and only a small amount of damaged toys, so I didn't really remove a whole lot of volume. It was just the miss-filed items that were taking up so much extra space. And that accident has been fixed now.
He came home from an outing with dad to a better looking and better functioning space. Oh ya and it was cleaner too. With everything torn out, I could vacuum and dust in the chronically blocked corners... small mountains of dust and pet hair lurked there (ewwww). With less bins now, theoretically it should be easier to clean these corners more often. It's now Wednesday and it's still very nice in there. :)
In other news: 2 weeks ago I gave 4 very large, quality, hinged plastic bins to my sister to help her rotate toys in her kids' playroom.... she has seen my decluttering successes and thought she'd try cutting down the immediate choices for her kids so they could find it easier to put things away and easier to find something to play with. By rotating the toys, old will be new again in a few months, and clean up time should go faster.
It's funny how there is a certain point where too much choice is annoying instead of fun - that's where her playroom had gone to. Nobody wanted to play in there. Now that 4 large totes worth are out of sight, and several more bags were donated or tossed, and even a large piece of furniture was removed, her kids suddenly love their playroom again!
No I didn't pest my sister to do it, she just saw with her own eyes that I have been happier with less, and recognized that it could solve her playroom frustrations to have less too. And I just happened to have a bunch of empty bins (!)
Align Life with Priorities
I found "extraorganized.com" recently and thought I'd give some of the concepts a real effort.
(My comments are in the CAPS)
What is important to you, at this moment in your life? Over the next twelve months, aim to gradually bring the way you spend your time into alignment with these things. To help identify your core priorities, think about the following questions:
• What are your top five priorities?
FAMILY - HOME - CREATIVITY - MONEY MANAGEMENT - HEALTH
• From a friend’s perspective, what would they say your top five priorities are?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. ANY FRIENDS WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT IN THE COMMENTS?
• Does the way you spend your time reflect either list?
WELL, I WORK FROM HOME SO I CAN BE CLOSER TO FAMILY, AND THAT FORCES ME TO MANAGE MY MONEY CLOSELY, AND MY WORK IS CREATIVE... ALL BUT THE HEALTH THING ARE COVERED THERE. I EAT HOME COOKED MEALS MOST OF THE TIME AND PAY ATTENTION TO MY FOOD, BUT EXERCISE COULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY FOR SURE :)
• Is there anything getting in the way of your priorities? Is it worth it?
SOMETIMES THE PRIORITIES CONFLICT: MESSY HOME THANKS TO CREATIVE ENDEAVOURS, OR LESS FUN TIME WITH FAMILY THANKS TO RESPONSIBLE MONEY MANAGEMENT. OTHERWISE MY REALITY IS INLINE WITH MY PRIORITES MOST OF THE TIME.
BUT IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE PRIORITY IT WOULD BE A SOCIAL LIFE OUTSIDE OF HOME/FAMILY. MY PRIORITIES (AS THEY ARE) HAVE LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I SUPPOSE CREATIVITY AND SOCIAL EXPANSION COULD BE INTERTWINED IF I WENT FARTHER AFIELD FOR MY CREATIVE OUTLET BEYOND MT CAMERA LENS OR COMPUTER SCREEN...
(My comments are in the CAPS)
"Align your life with your priorities"
What is important to you, at this moment in your life? Over the next twelve months, aim to gradually bring the way you spend your time into alignment with these things. To help identify your core priorities, think about the following questions:
• What are your top five priorities?
FAMILY - HOME - CREATIVITY - MONEY MANAGEMENT - HEALTH
• From a friend’s perspective, what would they say your top five priorities are?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. ANY FRIENDS WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT IN THE COMMENTS?
• Does the way you spend your time reflect either list?
WELL, I WORK FROM HOME SO I CAN BE CLOSER TO FAMILY, AND THAT FORCES ME TO MANAGE MY MONEY CLOSELY, AND MY WORK IS CREATIVE... ALL BUT THE HEALTH THING ARE COVERED THERE. I EAT HOME COOKED MEALS MOST OF THE TIME AND PAY ATTENTION TO MY FOOD, BUT EXERCISE COULD BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY FOR SURE :)
• Is there anything getting in the way of your priorities? Is it worth it?
SOMETIMES THE PRIORITIES CONFLICT: MESSY HOME THANKS TO CREATIVE ENDEAVOURS, OR LESS FUN TIME WITH FAMILY THANKS TO RESPONSIBLE MONEY MANAGEMENT. OTHERWISE MY REALITY IS INLINE WITH MY PRIORITES MOST OF THE TIME.
BUT IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE PRIORITY IT WOULD BE A SOCIAL LIFE OUTSIDE OF HOME/FAMILY. MY PRIORITIES (AS THEY ARE) HAVE LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR ANYTHING ELSE. I SUPPOSE CREATIVITY AND SOCIAL EXPANSION COULD BE INTERTWINED IF I WENT FARTHER AFIELD FOR MY CREATIVE OUTLET BEYOND MT CAMERA LENS OR COMPUTER SCREEN...
3.19.2013
GOAL #36 - Entryway/laundryroom
Not a lot going on in the entryway (there is no room to hide bins anyways!) but I do have an excess of reusable grocery bags in the coat closet. I think the eco thing to do is use these extra bags as my donation containers for a while.
The laundryroom is a whole other story. Stacks of bins for shoes, cleaning supplies and other bits and bobs. Here is the starting point....
The laundryroom is a whole other story. Stacks of bins for shoes, cleaning supplies and other bits and bobs. Here is the starting point....
The goal is to to clear off the horizontal surfaces and limit the busy-clutter.
3.07.2013
Away for Good, Away for Now
I put an audio book on and got packing today.
SO FAR...
Away forever - one box of stuff is going away forever
Away for now - going to the crawlspace with "expiry dates" written on them - 1 large box of DVDs and 1 box of books
SO FAR...
Away forever - one box of stuff is going away forever
Away for now - going to the crawlspace with "expiry dates" written on them - 1 large box of DVDs and 1 box of books
(small sampling of stuff going away so far)
3.05.2013
Reality is a mean mistress
I look at all these things around, and am anguishing over how to FIX the lingering piles that are plaguing me.
I want a pretty, clean space. I know that means getting rid of everything that doesn't fit the vision.
I know it, but I have such a hard time DOING it. Cutting the fat as it were is tougher than it sounds as I look at the kid's art and the lego model, the costume sparkly necklace and my yoda figurine on my desk. They are so cute and fun on their own, but all together on my desk it looks messy.
The vision is worth the temporary pain, right?
Once these cute things are put away I will forget about them quickly, right?
I want a pretty, clean space. I know that means getting rid of everything that doesn't fit the vision.
I know it, but I have such a hard time DOING it. Cutting the fat as it were is tougher than it sounds as I look at the kid's art and the lego model, the costume sparkly necklace and my yoda figurine on my desk. They are so cute and fun on their own, but all together on my desk it looks messy.
The vision is worth the temporary pain, right?
Once these cute things are put away I will forget about them quickly, right?
3.04.2013
It's time
I've been saying for a couple years now that I want to own less and be happy with less so I will feel less smothered/overwhelmed by all the stuff.
In the old days, all my stuff was a comfy blanket to keep me warm in uncertain times. Sparse homes made me feel cold and uncomfortable even for a short visit! How things have changed. Now a cluttered home suffocates me and so much of my own things seem to just harbour mess and stress.
That photo of my office area that I posted a while back is a prime example. What's that all about? My blog is "Happy Shiny Me" and that image is neither "happy" nor "shiny", but it is "me" in that place at that time.
That's how I know it is time. It's GOTTA GO. All the books I don't read, papers I don't look at, tools I don't use, treasures that don't mean anything anymore. Movies that I keep rewatching (don't I have better things to do with my time?) I've held onto so much for so long, it won't be easy... I have to be strong, with a clear vision of my end goal - SPACE TO BREATHE - and space to bring new experiences into my life.
So that I don't have any immediate regrets, I will be utilizing the vast empty space under my house as a purgatory for my stuff. Taking a tip from other declutterers I will have boxes taped up with the current date written clearly. If I do not break the seal looking to retrieve something from the box in one year, I am sure I can safely get rid of it. An added bonus of keeping the boxes in the crawlspace is that I will likely try to "make do" without this item instead of going looking for it. And if I can make do without it once, then I can likely permanently live without this theoretical item, right?
In the old days, all my stuff was a comfy blanket to keep me warm in uncertain times. Sparse homes made me feel cold and uncomfortable even for a short visit! How things have changed. Now a cluttered home suffocates me and so much of my own things seem to just harbour mess and stress.
That photo of my office area that I posted a while back is a prime example. What's that all about? My blog is "Happy Shiny Me" and that image is neither "happy" nor "shiny", but it is "me" in that place at that time.
That's how I know it is time. It's GOTTA GO. All the books I don't read, papers I don't look at, tools I don't use, treasures that don't mean anything anymore. Movies that I keep rewatching (don't I have better things to do with my time?) I've held onto so much for so long, it won't be easy... I have to be strong, with a clear vision of my end goal - SPACE TO BREATHE - and space to bring new experiences into my life.
So that I don't have any immediate regrets, I will be utilizing the vast empty space under my house as a purgatory for my stuff. Taking a tip from other declutterers I will have boxes taped up with the current date written clearly. If I do not break the seal looking to retrieve something from the box in one year, I am sure I can safely get rid of it. An added bonus of keeping the boxes in the crawlspace is that I will likely try to "make do" without this item instead of going looking for it. And if I can make do without it once, then I can likely permanently live without this theoretical item, right?
3.02.2013
GOAL #35 Kitchen and Dining
To remove the excess in order to reveal the right amount! That is the goal here. To make the important things stand out and not me smothered by the extraneous materials.
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
― Michelangelo
No place is it more important to me than the kitchen!
Since this is a container challenge that I am going for right now, I won't be tearing into every cupboard and drawer this week. Just the containers that are lurking within. I have baskets that contain mixes, baskets that contain baking supplies, baskets that have "treats".
The dining room is very simple because I don't have too much extra stuff in there.... but I'll do it too.
This mission is to remove the outdated, expired, broken and unloved that don't belong here anymore. (And hopefully to remove a few containers and streamline while I'm at it.)
Progress:
These items I no longer use/want in my kitchen:
Any items removed is good news!
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
― Michelangelo
No place is it more important to me than the kitchen!
Since this is a container challenge that I am going for right now, I won't be tearing into every cupboard and drawer this week. Just the containers that are lurking within. I have baskets that contain mixes, baskets that contain baking supplies, baskets that have "treats".
The dining room is very simple because I don't have too much extra stuff in there.... but I'll do it too.
This mission is to remove the outdated, expired, broken and unloved that don't belong here anymore. (And hopefully to remove a few containers and streamline while I'm at it.)
Progress:
These items I no longer use/want in my kitchen:
Any items removed is good news!
2.26.2013
Peaking
"Where did all this CRAP come from!", my internal dialogue is raging right now.
I know very well where it all came from, each and every piece of debris, garbage and outdated thing.
Packaging is a major culprit for most of western society, I think. Too much all the time and never ending!
Built-in obsolescence is another infuriating offender! Why oh why can't they build things to last anymore! Nothing makes me more angry than spending good money on a new item to find out that it was built to last a season or two. The last few hundred dollars I have spent on my son's shoes, they FELL APART before he got a chance to outgrow them, not cheap knock-off brands either! Total garbage in a few short months. Electronics and small appliances are a source of frustration in this category as well. Toasters and kettles in particular. I want to spend the money on a GOOD one and use it for decades please!
The nitty gritty of my endless rage is - gritty.
Dirt dirt dirt dirt dirt. Dog, cat, kid, yard, dust, fluff, food, MESS!
Never ending, hard to keep even remotely ahead of.
I have "peaked" again with my tolerance threshold...
((((yoga breaths))))
I guess I better get back to war with it.
I know very well where it all came from, each and every piece of debris, garbage and outdated thing.
Packaging is a major culprit for most of western society, I think. Too much all the time and never ending!
Built-in obsolescence is another infuriating offender! Why oh why can't they build things to last anymore! Nothing makes me more angry than spending good money on a new item to find out that it was built to last a season or two. The last few hundred dollars I have spent on my son's shoes, they FELL APART before he got a chance to outgrow them, not cheap knock-off brands either! Total garbage in a few short months. Electronics and small appliances are a source of frustration in this category as well. Toasters and kettles in particular. I want to spend the money on a GOOD one and use it for decades please!
The nitty gritty of my endless rage is - gritty.
Dirt dirt dirt dirt dirt. Dog, cat, kid, yard, dust, fluff, food, MESS!
Never ending, hard to keep even remotely ahead of.
I have "peaked" again with my tolerance threshold...
((((yoga breaths))))
I guess I better get back to war with it.
2.16.2013
GOAL#34 - Office/Den
This is a two week goal... the sheer volume of little things is DAUNTING!
Starting Point.... my office/den is by far the most tragic space in my home for homeless clutter and "one day I might need it" clutter... a lot of sentimental clutter resides there too. Oh ya and the box of things that are heading out of the house usually ends up beside the bookshelf too.
Starting Point.... my office/den is by far the most tragic space in my home for homeless clutter and "one day I might need it" clutter... a lot of sentimental clutter resides there too. Oh ya and the box of things that are heading out of the house usually ends up beside the bookshelf too.
See what I mean?!
I anticipate this goal will be CHALLENGING. But not impossible. Some containers are working... I know what's in them and can find what I'm looking for. OTHERS are mysterious containers of unknown flotsam and jetsam. Those are the ones I will be focusing on.
Some of the more interesting items found in and around my desk area:
- MORE bits and bobs that belong in my hardware bin,
- tape measures,
- sewing items,
- about 20 gluesticks,
- outdated business cards,
- old kids projects that never got finished,
- magazines,
- lipbalms,
- nail trimmers (I have SIX apparently!),
- lotions and
- hair accessories.
Obviously having my office downstairs at the other house made me keep some items "conveniently close" instead of "properly away". In this house, being one level, EVERYTHING is conveniently close even when it IS away, so hopefully that is the end of that habit.
Also: cables for obsolete electronics, software discs for computers I no longer own and other gadget junk. The weird thing is that I thought I already went through these gadget-bins last year! I swear they breed on their own.
The biggest SINGLE item I removed is a monitor that I used as my "toolbar" monitor in tandem with my main monitor. It started acting up a few months ago and now it won't turm on. Buh-Bye! My desk looks so much brighter without it!
More yet to slog through.... I'll post the final results next week.
2.09.2013
GOAL #33 - Living room Storage
Not nearly as intimidating as the bedroom containers!
What lurks inside?
Decluttered from one bin (now for sale online) an old gaming system and the games:
The other containers were okay. One "theme" per container, I can live with that for now.
2.04.2013
Electronic Streamlining
We gave away this perfectly functioning behemoth to family friends who's TV is failing fast and they needed something sturdy enough to hold it too so they got the cabinet by default. (I bribed them to accept my offer with turkey dinner)
Not sure if I can include this in as"decluttering" since the cabinet and TV are being replaced -- then again the new ones are to be more modern and streamlined.
Now if only I could streamline my movie collection - in the dresser on the right of the picture. I really enjoy re-watching movies, and it seems my faves aren't on Netflix (at least the Canadian version).
2.03.2013
GOAL#28 cont... the Pantry Keeps on Giving!
My freezer and pantry aren't even close to sparse yet, and I'm liking the breathing room that has begun in there, (I have room for an ice cube tray now!). So.... the January challenge is being extended!!! (But I will be getting more organic ground beef very soon).
This week's menu:
Fruit Veg, Dairy, Eggs, Bread, Hotdogs, Cereal, Juice, Coffee
The grocery bill has been much lower than usual this month. Of course that can't be sustained much longer, but it's a nice break after cash-heavy December expenses.
This week's menu:
- Tuna Hashbrown Casserole
- Soft tacos
- Sweet Italian Sausage and Rigatoni in tomato sauce
- Buffalo Chicken Strips w/ fresh Yam Fries
- Hot Dogs w/ Saurkraut (I cheated and bought fresh dogs and buns for this)
- Butter Chicken w/ Palak Paneer
- Turkey Dinner (invited friends over for this one)
Fruit Veg, Dairy, Eggs, Bread, Hotdogs, Cereal, Juice, Coffee
The grocery bill has been much lower than usual this month. Of course that can't be sustained much longer, but it's a nice break after cash-heavy December expenses.
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