2013 Declutter & Organize Thread[{locked}]

[grits]

I just found enough stuff in the linen closet to fill several boxes to ship off. I had forgotten I already had it. It will get rid of clutter, and is $50 I don't have to go spend. Yaaay!

[Deleted]

Welcome (back) Kjto!

And welcome (here) to HappyScooter!

JenPen thanks! I know I've seen that acronym around but all I could think of at the time was Private Investigator LOL.

Moos congrats on hitting (over) 100!

Saving, I'm waiting for you to figure out the photos so you can explain it to me.

Dogmom, sending good thoughts to your friend and your DH.

It has been snowing a lot here. We were out of firewood so on the way back from Goodwill, I decided to pick some up. It was MUCH cheaper to load loose wood up in the car than to buy it in bags, so I paid for half a cubic metre. Loaded it INTO the car, came home, texted DH to ask if he and his friend could help unload it. No answer. Our woodpile is WAY at the back of the house. It's not a big plot (about a quarter acre, slightly more) but it sure feels bigger when the wheelbarrow is full and it's uphill.

I made five trips from the car to the woodpile, gave up, and went inside to get my pocketbook to go to the local market before it closed. There was DH, saying, I was wondering where you were! The house is so quiet, where is everybody?! I'm afraid that I did what the French call "busting a cable" LOL.

Between the basement, the woodpile, and pushing a car up a VERY steep hill with DH last night so we could get home during the snowstorm, I am totally physically exhausted.

I took a nap this afternoon after tutoring (I usually tutor on Thursday nights but my student was sick) but I am still literally shaking with exhaustion and not feeling well.

PS JenPen, yes, I teach English at a prestigious business school here, in a five-year Masters program. My background is in print journalism. I worked in print journalism for 23 years, my company moved in 2008, I then had a 1 3/4 hour commute each way. In 2009 they offered a payout to people who lived over an hour away. I grabbed it, took a year off, and was lucky enough to reincarnate as an English professor. I am not permanent staff though, I think I'm an adjunct professor. I teach mainly (but not only) second-years. I LOVE my job, and I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky to have started a new career at 50! The downside is, my salary is variable, it depends on how many hours I teach. 

[Deleted]

OK, question.

As I've said before DH has half the basement storage shelves, which he shares with the paint stuff and his tools. I share my half with all four kids and the pantry and the luggage.

There are still a few (3?) boxes on the floor, but now they are mine / ours. So even though I'd slated it for next winter, I'm tempted to do "my" half this winter.

But I'm really not sure. Y'all know me well enough to know that I tend to get obsessive, and I really am totally physically exhausted.

Also, DS1 comes home tomorrow till around 15 Feb. That would give me a break, and I have much less marking second semester. But, I am also trying to find additional hours elsewhere.

I really can't whether to do my half now or just leave it till next winter (ie Dec / Jan).

If I do decide to do it now, it can only be once DS1 leaves mid-Feb, which would give me time to recuperate physically. Plus, my half goes MUCH quicker, since I do it every 2 or 3 years. DH's half took 7 days of work. I used to do my half in 2 or 3 days. 

Any thoughts?

[Saving4Norway]

Jan 19, 2013 14:48:08 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Lol Norway. What I did was open a free photobucket account and upload my pics from the desktop to an album. Once it's uploaded you'll see sharing links. You want the one that starts with "img" just paste the link in the reply box.

There is also an image icon you can use and paste in the direct link to your image from photobucket.

I haven't heard of "Photobucket" - I already have accounts at Snapfish and Walgreens. Are those the same kind of deal? I'll go root around and see if I can find something with an ".img" If so, I'll give it a shot. What's the worst I could do? Crash our thread? Oh yikes! 

[grits]

debthaven2, rest until you feel better. You have made huge progress. When you feel better, you can tackle the last of your half.

[Deleted]

Thank you Grits

I always just "bounce back" the next day but this time it's just not happening.

[kjto1]

debthaven - I vote wait for next winter.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 19, 2013 18:11:54 GMT -5 Waffle said:

Hello Kjto. Welcome (back).

Didn't get anything done so far this weekend.  But washing bedding is once again in my immediate future.  DD started throwing up at 315am.  Joy. 

I'm at work for a couple of hours, then I'm going home to pound out laundry. 

Prayers that DD is done throwing up and no one else starts please! 

[Deleted]

Ouch Beth, hope it's over now!

kj, me too, lol. Even though I am feeling much better today.

I did one more thing in the basement today. I got DH's art portfolios and some artwork we haven't put up off the floor and onto a shelf. So there's even more floor space!

DS1 should be home in an hour or so, so that's that.

[dogmom]

Beth, good luck! Welcome HappyScooter.

When I was dusting the our bedroom yesterday, I kept looking at the jewelry box that I move each time I dust...and dust the top of. I went through it yesterday/today. I'm not a jewelry type person, and besides a couple of nice items that I wear maybe once or twice a year, it was pretty much, um, nothing I wanted anymore. So, the absolute junk got thrown away, the "trendy" cute things I asked DS if DN (she's 13 and a girly girl ) would like. If she thinks DN shouldn't get them, then they will be added to the donation bag. Some things just went to donate. Really nothing worth selling. It didn't take up much room, but gosh, there certainly seemed like there was a lot of it. Not sure how I want to count that on 2013/2013..

[Deleted]

Dogmom I'd count the individual items, I think (or count 1 for a pair of earrings).

DS1 is home. He is VERY happy to have another drawer in his dresser! He was SHOCKED at the storage room! He said, "Wow, how did you get (DH) to finally do it?!" LOL

DS2, who moved back home in June, is moving out next weekend. A few boxes of his bedding / dishes / pots and pans will move out with him. (His boxes are neatly piled up in a corner though.)

[startsmart]

Today has been über lazy! One thing not on my list was fixing the candle holder from my grandma - the glass globes were insecure and always falling out. A bit of modeling clay and it's secure now! 

I can't get my computer working now that the mouse track pad is broken and still can't be without it for a week. Arg! Here's the updated list from my iPad  

This Week:

Sand the ENTIRE guest room ceiling until it's smooth 

Patch rough spots on the ceiling

Sand again

Dust off the fan, the ceiling, walls

Take down the AC vent and clean it (repaint or replace)

Buy 2 gallons of ceiling paint at Home Depot

Pick up a new vent so I can...

Replace the AC vent in the main bathroom

Paint the ceiling in the main bathroom

Buy a new MDF shelf to replace the bathroom shelf that's broken

Paint the guest room ceiling 

Clean the ceiling fan

Touch up blue wall paint

Caulk the seams of the baseboards - about 1/4 done b/c I ran out of caulk

Clean up the drop cloths - moved outside and beaten once. still need to run through washer

Steam clean the guest room carpet 100%

Clean the guest room blinds

Wash the window

Re-hang the blinds

Rotate the guest room bed frame

Move in the bookshelves and restock

Move in the file cabinet

Wash the curtains

Rehang the curtains

Rehang the lights

Bring in the mattresses and remake the bed

Rehang the pictures and mirror

Sweep and mop the hallway

Sweep and mop the kitchen/dining

Steam clean the living room

Steam clean the master bedroom

Clean out my car

THEN I can: 

Catch up on laundry - working on it

Sort box of clothes in the guest room (donate/consign/keep)

Call consignment shop to find out what season they're taking

Go through hallway and consign 3 jackets/vests

Iron and hang up clothes going to consignment

Add 10 DVDs to trade-in on Amazon

Finish sanding and spray painting bench "arms"

Flip bench frame and sand/spray paint the bottom bars

Re-hang cabinet doors in the bathroom

Paint 5 more cabinets in the bathroom and add vinyl

Replace the last shelf in the bathroom cabinet - paint and add vinyl

Find all pictures (closets, baskets) and do a major sort

Send all family pictures home with Mom

Organize my photos into scanned/not scanned

Check my stock of paint leftover from projects and find a better way to store it in smaller cans

Trade in books in Sacramento

[constanz22]

No major decluttering this weekend. I did load all the cans and bottles in my car to return tomorrow. My car is FULL. Haven't decided how I'm going to count this yet...
I also pulled everything off my spice shelf, threw out a few things I knew were old. I haven't put them back yet cuz I'm trying to think of a different space for them. The cabinet they are in is very deep and I have a heck of a time finding what I need. Not sure where else they could go though...
Cleaned out the fridge...ton of food wasted, as usual.
Did a few loads of laundry.
Changed bedding.
Just the usual cleaning, dishes, picking up.
I think I'm at 87/2013

[busymom]

I just spent the last 2 hours trying to purge DS's closet. Now I know why he never had enough hangers. There were at least a dozen or more hiding underneath all of his "stuff". I got rid of broken toys, games with pieces missing, etc., & filled 2-30 gallon garbage bags. The bad news is, I'm not done yet.

[Deleted]

Constanz, can you put the spices in a box or on a lazy susan at the front of that deep cabinet? Well done on the cans and bottles! I don't get the counting business. Why not just count them all? There are X items out of your house, so to me, you should count X.

Busymom, great job!!! It doesn't matter if you haven't finished yet, you'll get there!

[startsmart]

I'm so tempted to keep lounging about since the dogs are finally calm. But I do need to finish spray painting the bench so I can reassemble it. Okay I've motivated myself to finish that and throw another load in the laundry.

Edit:
Second load of drop cloths are in the wash
The bench frame is finally painted and drying
Already primed the bolt heads so I can reassemble the bench

Yesterday I also managed to wash the dogs and do some landscape work in the front yard. Roses got cut back and I have been pulling out the bad grass in the front yard so I can re-seed.

I think I only have 76 projects in the works now...

[NastyWoman]

I would like to start decluttering, but reading what all of you are doing is just so overwhelming. I did take 3 big black garbage back full of stuff to GW a week ago, but that's about it

[Deleted]

Joss!!! Welcome!!!

There is NO reason for it to be overwhelming, my friend. Some of us have more time than others, more energy, more stuff, whatever. Sometimes we are busier so we do less, and sometimes we have more free time and we do more.

We ALL work at our own pace, and encourage each other!

WELL DONE on the three bags! That's a fantastic start!

Pick a room, pick one place or project in that room, and post a modest goal. It doesn't matter if you get it done quickly or not, as long as you eventually get it done. And if you don't, that's OK too.

[startsmart]

Joss- welcome! Don't be intimidated, feel free to jump in with whatever time and energy you have

Maybe try getting started with a single drawer or area. If you spend 15 minutes a day you'll see progress in just a few days! In addition to decluttering many members also track "regular" tasks like laundry and cleaning because we find that keeping up on everyday chores can help reduce the overwhelm when it comes to larger goals.

[redwagon]

You guys are all rock stars. I had a rather unproductive weekend. Ran a few errands, shoved some antibiotics into my cat who has been peeing all over the house, cleaning the carpet as a result, and some shopping with DH and the babies today. Woo. But the house is feeling more organized lately, so that's nice. Instead of putting off doing stuff I've been telling myself "Just do it now" and it feels much better. No more passive aggressive battling with DH over who is going to empty the dishwasher, take out the diaper pail bag, etc. So that's progress, I suppose!

[moosmommy]

I got my room and DS room cleaned and everybody's bed stuff washed and put back on the bed. I already met my next goal of 50 items with a trip to donate today. So I would like to get 50 more by next Sunday which will be 200 items. 163/2013

[moosmommy]

I miscounted 168/2013

[Waffle]

44/2013

Here's what I got accomplished this weekend:

Wrap ebay sold items.
Go to Post office (Sat. morning).
Spend at least 1 hour cleaning/organizing ebay room.  Actually spent about 2 hours on organizing.
Call Kodak for help - hopefully they can get me to the point where my computer and printer "talk" to each other again.  (I'm dreading that call - the last time I called I think I was on the phone with them for about an hour). - No,  I just keep putting this one off.
Declutter master bedroom (won't take long - I haven't been letting the clutter pile up - there are just a few stray things here and there).
Vaccuum
Submit Indiana sales tax (on-line) form.  - I had all my info ready and I tried, but I have to wait until the state sends me some sort of access code before I can use their system.
3 loads of laundry
Added 8 items to my ebay store.

I've got places to go tomorrow after work, so I'm not going to make a Monday list.

Welcome, Joss!

[startsmart]

Okay,today didn't end up being totally lazy!

I stained the wood organizer in my bedroom, just waiting for it to dry
Spray painted the end caps and bolts for the bench, the last piece I needed before reassembling
Started cleaning the second bathroom vent
Cleaned up a few new jars with goo gone and spray painted the lids
Covered an ugly box and filled it with DVDs that don't fit on the shelves

This week I also need to seal the boards for the bench - forgot that it's going to take 3 coats and then it'll be protected in the rain.

Happy decluttering all!

[kjto1]

Jan 20, 2013 20:42:01 GMT -5 redwagon said:

You guys are all rock stars. I had a rather unproductive weekend. Ran a few errands, shoved some antibiotics into my cat who has been peeing all over the house, cleaning the carpet as a result, and some shopping with DH and the babies today. Woo. But the house is feeling more organized lately, so that's nice. Instead of putting off doing stuff I've been telling myself "Just do it now" and it feels much better. No more passive aggressive battling with DH over who is going to empty the dishwasher, take out the diaper pail bag, etc. So that's progress, I suppose!

My DH and I used to be really good about "we'll get to it later."  Finally a couple of years ago, I announced that "this is later!", and explained to DH that we are running out of time!  He and I are really good at procrastination.

[sheilaincali]

Everyone is doing great.  You all deserve a pat on the back.  It's hard to compare each of our individual results to each other because we are all at such different places in our lives.  Don't get discouraged if someone seems more motivated than you or seems to be getting rid of more stuff.  I know personally- it's my slower time at work so I'm here pretty much exactly 8 hours a day.  Plus I only have one 14 year old who doesn't ever make a mess so no little ones to chase after. 

That being said- we FINALLY tackled the pots and pans and the utinsel drawer. Plus a few other spots in kitchen and in the laundry room.  Collected 81 more items that are now at GW. 

Updated:  264/2013. 

I finished a few small craft projects I had to do at home and pretty much chilled out all weekend.  It is super cold here in Minnesota right now (-9) when I left for work this am.  Saturday morning was nice but Sunday was cold  

I did get the CD's organized.  DH and I are music junkie and have a very strange assortment of CD's.  So I went through the CD drawer and made sure they were all in their proper cases and alphabetized them, got rid of any duplicates or ones we didn't want anymore (part of the 81 items noted above).  Still need DH to look through the drawer because there are probably a few more we can get rid off.  Especially since he has uploaded nearly all of them to our iTunes account anyway.  But he's anxious to get rid of them because we lost our iTunes catalog once and he's afraid of it happening again. 

Today's List:
2 loads of laundry
finally pick up the paint for the master bathroom
organize the pantry

Not a big list but I'm at work until 4:30 and the Boys leave at 6:00 for their league play at the Den.  I tend to lose motivation as soon as they walk out the door on league night.  Only night I really get the house to myself. 

[startsmart]

Shortened up my list My computer is behaving for the moment but if it goes haywire I'm back to the iPad.

To do:

Touch up blue wall paint in the guest room

Caulk the seams of the baseboards in the guest room

Wash the last 3 drop cloths
Fold all the drop cloths and put them away

Sweep and mop the hallway

Sweep and mop the kitchen/dining

Steam clean the master bedroom

Catch up on laundry - working on it

Call consignment shop to find out what season they're taking

Iron and hang up clothes going to consignment

Add 10 DVDs to trade-in on Amazon

Paint 5 more cabinets in the bathroom and add vinyl

Replace the last shelf in the bathroom cabinet - paint and add vinyl

Find all pictures (closets, baskets) and do a major sort

Send all family pictures home with Mom

Organize my photos into scanned/not scanned

Check my stock of paint leftover from projects and find a better way to store it in smaller cans

Trade in books in Sacramento

I'm also trying to get things set up to meet some colleagues in San Francisco this weekend so I need to focus more on work this week. Hopefully these last little clean up projects will be good filler in the evening but not all consuming!

[grits]

I am sick. I need my lungs and sinuses decluttered.

[Waffle]

Oh, Grits, I'm sorry you're sick, but your post really made me laugh.

[Saving4Norway]

Hi Everyone! I'm happy to see you're all rockin' it like usual. Debt take a break and enjoy your time with DS. Knowing you you'll get around to cleaning up your couple boxes well before next winter. It'll happen when it happens. Grits sorry to hear that you're down for a bit. Hang in there. Welcome to our new posters. My advice, start with some small goal and keep us posted about your progress. And keep it small at first. Don't use Start as a measuring stick. She's part Wonder Woman.

I have a couple goals for today. I know they're really simple but with having to take the puppy out every 2 hours for the last 4 days has kinda shot my mental capacity. I go back to school tomorrow and I'm afraid his little area in the house will be a total disaster.

Today:
Take a shower
Pick up pics at Walgreens (bonus - take dog in car with me for test drive)
Gather stuff for Puppy kindergarden (5pm)
Gather stuff for Sons of Norway meeting (7pm)
Make it to both events relatively on time