There are 115 days until my 50th birthday. I have decided that what I really want to give myself is a decluttered home : ) I want to be intentional about it and focused on the goal.
Welcome to the 115 Day Countdown !!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Been "out-of-it" as far as working on decluttering : (
Pulled out my Hope for the Helpless Messie book this afternoon. It's written in The Twelve Steps format.
Asked hubby how my clutter was affecting him TODAY. He said it wasn't ...wasn't affecting him anymore than any other day. He admitted he has clutter too but I have much more.
I told him that I am affected by my own clutter and I need help. I need him to help me and work alongside me. I asked if we could come up with some rules (guidelines) regarding this. He was all for it. His number one was: stop buying things! His number two I would not accept (to not buy anymore Banker's Boxes).
I added two rules to the list: No one can be FORCED to get rid of any one something and We will converse with"gentle words" while working together.
Then I organized our colored pencil drawer. I took all the contents out, threw away the pencil shavings that were in the bottom, separated the very short pencils and placed them into snack size baggies. (Throwing them away was not even an option for me) I rubberbanded the grease pencils into one bunch and put everything back into the drawer.
Hope to be able to report that I did SOMETHING else ...
Pulled out my Hope for the Helpless Messie book this afternoon. It's written in The Twelve Steps format.
Asked hubby how my clutter was affecting him TODAY. He said it wasn't ...wasn't affecting him anymore than any other day. He admitted he has clutter too but I have much more.
I told him that I am affected by my own clutter and I need help. I need him to help me and work alongside me. I asked if we could come up with some rules (guidelines) regarding this. He was all for it. His number one was: stop buying things! His number two I would not accept (to not buy anymore Banker's Boxes).
I added two rules to the list: No one can be FORCED to get rid of any one something and We will converse with"gentle words" while working together.
Then I organized our colored pencil drawer. I took all the contents out, threw away the pencil shavings that were in the bottom, separated the very short pencils and placed them into snack size baggies. (Throwing them away was not even an option for me) I rubberbanded the grease pencils into one bunch and put everything back into the drawer.
Hope to be able to report that I did SOMETHING else ...
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Catching Up
I moved the tall bookcase (that was in front of the fireplace) into the entryway, opening up space in the dining room. It works for now.
I've been concentrating on keeping the table clear (when not in use) and keeping the kitchen cleaned up at night (since it opens up into the dining room). That's about all I CAN do in this room for now.
Got to get back to taking baby steps to dig out of all this clutter. Somewhere along the way I forgot about my January challenge (to myself) to get rid of 5 items a day. Do I have ADD? If I don't write it down and read it on a daily basis, I don't even remember what I was doing/working on.
Went shopping at several Goodwill stores with my daughters today. They have 50% off everything every other Saturday. I don't buy anything unless I can use it NOW and I have a PLACE to put it. This is a big step for me. I let myself feel the joy in discovering a great deal, a beautiful or cute thing, a good organizational tool, or something that brings back fond memories without having to buy it.
I've been concentrating on keeping the table clear (when not in use) and keeping the kitchen cleaned up at night (since it opens up into the dining room). That's about all I CAN do in this room for now.
Got to get back to taking baby steps to dig out of all this clutter. Somewhere along the way I forgot about my January challenge (to myself) to get rid of 5 items a day. Do I have ADD? If I don't write it down and read it on a daily basis, I don't even remember what I was doing/working on.
Went shopping at several Goodwill stores with my daughters today. They have 50% off everything every other Saturday. I don't buy anything unless I can use it NOW and I have a PLACE to put it. This is a big step for me. I let myself feel the joy in discovering a great deal, a beautiful or cute thing, a good organizational tool, or something that brings back fond memories without having to buy it.
Monday, January 18, 2010
When Hubby Had a Day Off
Hubby told me he wanted to get the second computer TODAY. We talked about where to put it, in this room that had no space available. I knew that some things had to go. I was willing to let go ... of some of them. I told him he could just throw away the aluminum buffet burner set. He said, "No! It's new!"
Yes, some parts of it were new, and some were old. I told him that I didn't care if he threw it away. He said, "no!"
He brought the new indoor grill we recieved as a Christmas gift (it's still in the box) into the kitchen. He asked if I wanted to use it sometime. "Yes," I answered, "I want to use it sometime."
He looked around for a place to put it. Of course there wasn't any place. As he looked, he found more of the buffet burners and more new inserts for it. I thought it was hilarious that I had some in a cupboard and didn't know it. He didn't.
Hubby opened the one door upper cabinet and laughed when he saw what all was stuck inside of it. At first he put it all back inside and closed the door. Later he returned to the cabinet and took everything out. I saw him carrying a silk plant in a basket and some silk flowers I use in my spring decorating, through the kitchen. I asked him where he was going with them. He said he was going to put them in "the room."
"The room" is our converted back porch that is not air tight. Things get dirty and dusty out there if they are not covered up. He must have read my expression. He said, "you can always clean them later." I entered "the room" to get something out of the freezer and saw that the whole room was grower smaller and smaller. I had to get out quick, I was becoming clasustrophobic!
He moved the Banker's Boxes that were neatly stacked in two columns (with the labels facing outward) into a clump right in front of the breakfast bar (kitchen counter area) where our phone is.
The dining room chairs are up against the bar stools on one side and almost to the humongous corner desk on the other side.
I won't be able to deal with the close quarters in this room for very long. Will have to see what I can do to make some changes .... tomorrow. There's always tomorrow.
Yes, some parts of it were new, and some were old. I told him that I didn't care if he threw it away. He said, "no!"
He brought the new indoor grill we recieved as a Christmas gift (it's still in the box) into the kitchen. He asked if I wanted to use it sometime. "Yes," I answered, "I want to use it sometime."
He looked around for a place to put it. Of course there wasn't any place. As he looked, he found more of the buffet burners and more new inserts for it. I thought it was hilarious that I had some in a cupboard and didn't know it. He didn't.
Hubby opened the one door upper cabinet and laughed when he saw what all was stuck inside of it. At first he put it all back inside and closed the door. Later he returned to the cabinet and took everything out. I saw him carrying a silk plant in a basket and some silk flowers I use in my spring decorating, through the kitchen. I asked him where he was going with them. He said he was going to put them in "the room."
"The room" is our converted back porch that is not air tight. Things get dirty and dusty out there if they are not covered up. He must have read my expression. He said, "you can always clean them later." I entered "the room" to get something out of the freezer and saw that the whole room was grower smaller and smaller. I had to get out quick, I was becoming clasustrophobic!
He moved the Banker's Boxes that were neatly stacked in two columns (with the labels facing outward) into a clump right in front of the breakfast bar (kitchen counter area) where our phone is.
The dining room chairs are up against the bar stools on one side and almost to the humongous corner desk on the other side.
I won't be able to deal with the close quarters in this room for very long. Will have to see what I can do to make some changes .... tomorrow. There's always tomorrow.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Today was an interesting day for me. My husband decided that TODAY was the day to bring another computer into our house. On top of that, he found a corner computer desk (got a screaming deal on it) . The interesting part was that all of this was going to be moved into our dining room.
Our dining room has a table and chairs, a china cabinet with a hutch, a very heavy display shelf (from a store remodel), a two drawer file cabinet, a one door upper cabinet (which is sitting on the floor) , two bookcases and our dog's food and water bowls. ALL of this was in the dining room BEFORE he brought in the massive corner desk unit.
I am delighted to be able to use my computer (which is now also in the dining room) out in the open where everyone is. It's wonderful to be part of the family again as I type away.
One of the bookcases is up on the fireplace now (which is in the corner of the dining room) and the other one is in front of the fireplace. Our table is barely accessible and I can deal with that today. Tomorrow will be another story. If the phone rings it will be very hard to answer it (to reach the phone, that is).
I am happy to oblige my husband and daughter in this undertaking. They have been patient (for the most part) with me and my numerous ideas in the past.
Almost forgot to mention the Banker's Boxes that are in this room as well. I am thankful that hubby was ok with them staying here TODAY.
Our dining room has a table and chairs, a china cabinet with a hutch, a very heavy display shelf (from a store remodel), a two drawer file cabinet, a one door upper cabinet (which is sitting on the floor) , two bookcases and our dog's food and water bowls. ALL of this was in the dining room BEFORE he brought in the massive corner desk unit.
I am delighted to be able to use my computer (which is now also in the dining room) out in the open where everyone is. It's wonderful to be part of the family again as I type away.
One of the bookcases is up on the fireplace now (which is in the corner of the dining room) and the other one is in front of the fireplace. Our table is barely accessible and I can deal with that today. Tomorrow will be another story. If the phone rings it will be very hard to answer it (to reach the phone, that is).
I am happy to oblige my husband and daughter in this undertaking. They have been patient (for the most part) with me and my numerous ideas in the past.
Almost forgot to mention the Banker's Boxes that are in this room as well. I am thankful that hubby was ok with them staying here TODAY.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
A Day in the Life of a Hoarder
Today was 50% off everything at Goodwill stores (occurs every other Saturday). I went to one to have a look around. Found hubby a large glass mug to drink his rootbeer in. I also came home with a book, three picture frames, a framed scripture verse and a picture I bought for my grandsons.
Washed and put the mug to use right away. Stuck it in the freezer, just like they do at A&W restaurants, before pouring the soda in to it. Two cans didn't quite fill it. Maybe it's a bit too big of a mug. But I got it for half off.
Pulled the three picture frames out of the bag and took them to my dining room. I noticed immediately that they were not the right size for the photos I thought I'd put in them. Uh oh, well, I put them back into the bag for now and set them in a box.
Started reading the book. It's facinating! Will be a good resource for our journey to health and weight loss. Except the part I read about how drinking diet soda actually increases your risk for obesity. That's what we drink. Diet rootbeer. Uh oh, now I'm thinking about the GREAT BIG glass mug I just bought hubby and how it takes at least two cans of DIET soda to fill it up ...
Set the picture for my grandsons against the wall. I'll drop if off for them tomorrow or the next day. Set the framed scripture verse next to it. The colors and the frame will be perfect somewhere in our house. Just have to fugure out where. In the meantime, it will be right here so I can see it all the time and won't forget that I have it.
Like the bagged items I found earlier today. One of them was even in a Goodwill bag! It was rather thrilling to find them : ) almost like I saw them for the very first time. Sigh, they could have been forgotten where they were for a long time. Guess it's a good thing I dropped a ring on the floor and couldn't find it. I had to dig around in all the stuff that was around on the floor. Who would've thought that in this battered box, under a pile of clothes, would be several bags of treasure!
Washed and put the mug to use right away. Stuck it in the freezer, just like they do at A&W restaurants, before pouring the soda in to it. Two cans didn't quite fill it. Maybe it's a bit too big of a mug. But I got it for half off.
Pulled the three picture frames out of the bag and took them to my dining room. I noticed immediately that they were not the right size for the photos I thought I'd put in them. Uh oh, well, I put them back into the bag for now and set them in a box.
Started reading the book. It's facinating! Will be a good resource for our journey to health and weight loss. Except the part I read about how drinking diet soda actually increases your risk for obesity. That's what we drink. Diet rootbeer. Uh oh, now I'm thinking about the GREAT BIG glass mug I just bought hubby and how it takes at least two cans of DIET soda to fill it up ...
Set the picture for my grandsons against the wall. I'll drop if off for them tomorrow or the next day. Set the framed scripture verse next to it. The colors and the frame will be perfect somewhere in our house. Just have to fugure out where. In the meantime, it will be right here so I can see it all the time and won't forget that I have it.
Like the bagged items I found earlier today. One of them was even in a Goodwill bag! It was rather thrilling to find them : ) almost like I saw them for the very first time. Sigh, they could have been forgotten where they were for a long time. Guess it's a good thing I dropped a ring on the floor and couldn't find it. I had to dig around in all the stuff that was around on the floor. Who would've thought that in this battered box, under a pile of clothes, would be several bags of treasure!
Mind Clutter
Whenever I look at the whole picture I am overwhelmed with what needs to be done. I can't allow myself to dwell on how far I need to go. Got to stay in "one day at a time" mode. One baby step after another.
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