2015 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[Robert not Bobby]

Forgive me folks, I have not read the thread...but this is something I care about.

Now, if you go into my office, I have the last five years work stacked at the back of my desk...it is a big desk (and they said we were going to be a paperless workplace?). If you come into my home, some might say I'm a minimalist. The point is, I like clean lines and don't keep more than I need...of course there are some, many, objects dore...most are sentimental.

I hate clutter.

For people who suffer from this affliction, maybe...anytime you bring something into your home that will stay there, take something out and put it in the trash, or give it away...you might make someone happy.

[debthaven]

Is this your weekly free advice, Robert? 

We hate clutter too ... that's why most of us don't have much of it. And many of us have extremely well-ordered closets, shelves, drawers, pantries, etc. 

How about if you're not interested enough to read the thread, you become uninterested in posting on it? I've noticed you get bored during the weekend and go aimlessly "wandering" on threads you don't usually post on. Again, feel free to post WITH us, but that's not what you're doing.

I went back to my exams ... just 19 essays left for tomorrow!  So I will definitely finish these before picking up the next batch on Monday!    

Folded laundry, emptied the dishwasher again.

We're planning to get our Christmas tree tomorrow. 

This week's marking - 59 finals/125
Fri - Class A: 20 essays
Sat - Class B: 20 essays, 59 Vocab, 59 Grammar
Sun
- Class C: 19 essays

+ Edit DS1's last essay

[debthaven]

Since I'm still up and it's the end of the year I went through the medicine shelf in the kitchen. There wasn't much to throw out there but I condensed and reorganised it. Then I did the kids' medicine drawer and threw out a bunch of expired stuff. I would have done ours (DH's and mine) but DH is asleep. 

I have enough antimalarial pills and mosquito spray (for clothing) for an army, between DD's 8 months in Asia and our trip there last summer. I don't really know what to do with it. We are invited to dinner at our close friends in a week. She's a doc at the local hospital, she works in the same building as the tropical medicine dept, and I know she's good friends with them. So I will either ask her for suggestions or just bring everything to her. 

The antimalarials are the kind you're supposed to use if you're there long term (more than six months), so none of us would ever use them. Everything is left over from DD's time there and our trip there last summer. I would really prefer somebody use them rather than just throw everything out. I'm hoping my friend will take them and that somebody in the Tropical Medicine dept will make good use of them. 

[debthaven]

This week's marking - 59 finals/125
Fri - Class A: 20 essays
Sat - Class B: 20 essays, 59 Vocab, 59 Grammar
Sun
- Class C: 19 essays

+ Edit DS1's last US grad school essay


Whoo hoo!!! Done!

(until tomorrow when I pick up the next batch of 32!)

Today will be spent doing laundry and getting /decorating the Christmas tree. 

[busymom]

I actually wore a face mask when I was cleaning out my parent's garage. There was stuff in there that hadn't been moved in decades, & when I started finding dead mice & mouse droppings, I figured I'd better try & protect myself. Your sore lungs are a red flag that something was off. Are you allergic to mold, possibly? My other thought is asbestos, although I don't think that'd make your chest hurt right away...   

DS & I are off to church. Then I've got to figure out what needs to be worked on first this afternoon.

[Blonde Granny]

Yesterday I merged my bathroom cabinets with items in DHs linen closet. So now, 4 bottles of Listerine (each opened and half full), enough of my toothpaste to last at least 5 years, 3 -500ct Ibuprofen, 1 - aspirin, 8 bars of bath soap in different brands and varieties (dh wouldn't use shower gel).

The guy who has done a lot of jobs for us in the past will be here tomorrow morning to put the glass shower doors back on.  I also have checked out replacing the front door as it's all glass.  I feel too exposed to leave it that way, as anyone walking to the door at night can see me watching TV.  I've found some wonderful beveled glass designed with frosted glass that would work, but need to get a price on something first.  There is also a side light panel that would have to be replaced.

It's raining here now and supposed to be that way the rest of the day, I'm sure I can find myself enough small things that I need to go through to keep me busy.

I discovered when my son left last week he took ALL of the remaining tools DH had, didn't even leave me a screwdriver or hammer.  Went to Lowes to look for some type of set, thinking it was Xmas and all, they had one for us girlie girls, and is a pink and black bag, 18 different necessary tools (all in pink of course) but it was only $29 so I bought it.  At least now I can tighten a screw or hammer in a picture hook.

on edit: thinking about that glass door and side light, I could save myself hundreds of dollars or more if I just bought a sheer door panel curtain and had the guy install that tomorrow on both the door and side light.  Oh YM, what have you done to me?

[debthaven]

DH and I went to the garden centre to get a tree, and DS3 and I decorated it. :-) Unfortunately the garden centre across the street closed down last year. 

While I was there I found a small cedar-scented candle for the gift exchange at my school Christmas party (cedar = not girly). 

They just started selling Yankee Candles at the garden centre, I know you guys have posted about them in the past. Unfortunately we were in a rush and there were no prices on them. 

[busymom]

Yankee Candles are spendy, but the scents they have are SO much better than the competition that they are my one little indulgence.

I've decided to begin writing Christmas cards.  We send out so many that there's no way I'll be done in a day, but at least it'll be a start.

[debthaven]

Busy I'm lucky because DH does the Christmas cards. ;-)

I did laundry and ran the dishwasher twice. It was so nice to have the Big Boys here for the weekend (they stayed over last night so they could vote today.)  

Tomorrow I'm teaching from 12-3.30, then picking up my next batch of finals. Since I've already marked 3/4 of them, I am much more relaxed now.  

Wed I go back to the dentist to start the last round of crowns. I have NOT missed having weekly visits to the dentist.

Thursday I'm going to the main campus for a meeting / Christmas party (i.e. very long day). Fri DS1 is having laser surgery so I'm meeting him at the clinic and bringing him back home, then his GF arrives in the evening. So it would be nice to have these exams finished by Thursday. We'll see. I did 59 exams in 48h this weekend (a record for me!), so 32 exams in 48h should be easy. 

I have to step up the Christmas shopping! I have DH's and DS1's GF's gifts, but no gifts for my kids yet.  

[Deleted]

THE GREAT TOY PURGE OF 2015 HAS BEGUN!!!  

I'm getting bored with the clothes and with Christmas coming up, I wanted to scale things back.  We have two more totes for Dad's house, and a big bag going into the garbage.  Mostly I've been sorting though.  Tote with cars/trucks, tote with Fisher Price Little People, tote with big Legos, tote with little Legos...  They were a MESS (still are).  Everything was just piled together in many totes.  I don't know what to do with the things he's outgrown.  If I should keep them for when little kids come or give away.  I don't know.  I know I'll be happier with them sorted though.

[debthaven]

MPL I might keep just a few old favorites for kids who come over, but I'd purge most of what your son no longer uses.

[Blonde Granny]

I've been working on the pantry today.  In the past I bought those great looking XOX storage containers, and frankly they just don't hold a seal very well. I emptied all of them, got rid of the no longer any good food, washed them and have them in a sack for a local thrift store. I'm staying with Lock & Lock.

I found a package of strawberry jello that expired in 04-04 (yes, 2004) Imagine...I tossed it out.  Anything I knew instantly I would never eat has been removed. I seldom drink soda, and I have 4 opened 12 pk that I have to eventually either drink or get rid of.

This seems like a never ending job to declutter his things, but I swear I'm making some progress.

[plugginaway22]

Have been reading, not posting lately. I would be like you Blonde Granny, sooner the better to de-clutter, purge and arrange everything my way if I lost someone.
(And very sorry for your loss.)
But I have a friend who has still not emptied her late DH's closet and drawers, or even begun to pack it up after about 5 years!  She says she will when she is ready. It would not be a comfort to me at all.

[debthaven]

Blonde Granny I've read some other threads of yours and you have done a LOT! 

Here we go again. Please feel free to ignore but it really motivates me to post my progress.

This week's marking - 32 finals
Mon
32 Grammar, 32 Vocab
Tues
Class A: 16 Essays
Wed
Class B: 16 Essays

[Blonde Granny]

There is a passage in a book I recall: I will not dwell in the past, nor wish to close the door on it.....

I'm 71, I have a life of my own to live now. My past was full of love from DH, but as he made his transition to another life, I also have to make my transition. If all I do is wail and sob about my current life and this loss of DH, I will have no happiness or enjoyment in the years I have left.

I'm sorry for your friend, but we all grieve and do things differently, This is now my house and my life and I intend to move forward.

btw: I just finished cooking 5# of bacon that was in the big freezer....at least that job is done.

[Chocolate Lover]

For those keeping score, everyone I had to deal with this past weekend survived, myself included!

Not much more decluttering going on, except money towards Christmas gifts.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hi friends, 
I don't really have time to update other than to say I did spend Saturday at the MFH. I'll update that thread maybe tomorrow. 
Sunday, the girls and I baked almost all day. We ended up with two dozen banana nut muffins, three dozen oatmeal cookies, three dozen sugar cookies, four dozen chocolate chip cookies all packaged into 20 cute little gift bags for the girls' teachers. 

I'm ridiculously behind on grading, but as of about 30 minutes ago, I am prepared for teaching this week. That's good since it's now after school on Monday.  

Tonight, DH went to DD #2's observation class for dance. (It's the last week of fall term, and parents get to sit in on the classes.) I'm taking DD#1 to college financial aid night--um, yeah, that starts in ten minutes!

I hope to be back soon. I trust you're all doing well as I've not had time to read the last couple of pages.

Chloe 

[debthaven]

Chloe I would love to see an update on that thread! 

This week's marking - 32 finals
Mon: 32 Grammar, 32 Vocab
Tues: 24 Essays
Wed: 8 Essays

Emptied the dishwasher, doing laundry.  

[snapdragon]

I finally got started and have a batch of cards to be mailed out this morning.

Tonight's List:

Vacuum the house
Do 1 load of laundry -- this includes folding and putting away
shred some junk mail

[busymom]

Ok, since I was here last I completed writing our annual Christmas letter. I try to trim it back to one page, so I don't bore people.   I have only now begun to actually write up the cards.  This WILL take several days.

Oh, and I "decluttered" some more money today, just like Chocolate Lover, as I did more shopping to prep for Christmas.

[Sharon]

My house is utter chaos at the moment.  I am hanging out in the bedroom where the computer lives to hide from the mess.   I need to get busy and finish decorating the tree.  Once that is done then I can get the furniture moved to it's normal Christmas tree positions.  Right now the couch is sitting in front of the TV.  Then I can finish my wrapping and get the wrapping paper out the living room.

[debthaven]

Sharon, I saw that your kids got the house. Congrats to them! How exciting!

This week's marking - 32 finals
Mon: 32 Grammar, 32 Vocab
Tues: 24 Essays
Wed: 8 Essays

 

I actually have one more exam to pick up next week, but I'm considering myself done. I still have to calculate the marks and put them in the spreadsheets but that's nothing.

Now I can start decluttering Shitepile and my Christmas list!

- Shitepile
- send health insurance papers to HR
- wrap gift for school Christmas lunch
- grocery shopping
- make salad for school Christmas lunch

[Blonde Granny]

I have a small artificial Christmas tree in the attic (boxed up) and a plastic bin full of decorations. I'll have the guy coming this afternoon to check the leak in the roof get the tree down for me, and that along with the decorations will be given to the local thrift store.

I think I'm getting down to the end of what I need to get rid of, but  will take another look at some kitchen drawers as there may be some more things that will never be used.

[debthaven]

I'd like you ladies' opinion on something. 

DS1 asked for things for the new apt for Christmas. It's a 2BR apt but it will be modulable: initially it will be a 1BR apt and a studio and they will move between them depending on how long they are here for. I was going to start with dishes then see what else I get depending on cost. They are absolutely not the fancy china type (and my wallet isn't either). If I go with something basic and tasteful, how many place settings would you go for? I'm thinking 12 is too many, 4 is too few. So I'm thinking six or eight? Which one do you think? 

I know they have a starter kit at Ikea but I wanted something a bit nicer than that. 

[wvugurl26]

I like eight. I guess though they might be sold in sets of six.

[debthaven]

Yes at Ikea it is indeed by 6 ... I think I prefer 8 as well.

I may go to the mall this evening and see what the other stores have. The thing is the Ikea prices really can't be beat, I could get them a lot more if I go with that (i.e. glasses, cutlery, etc). 

I also feel a bit odd buying them dishes ... what if his GF doesn't like them? I have no problem with them exchanging them. I'm also thinking maybe HER parents are going to get HER the same items. Too bad we can't work it out between ourselves LOL. I guess it doesn't matter as long as what I buy can be returned or exchanged. 

ETA: I had an idea ... I'm going to tell his GF that I was planning to buy dishes, what color would DS1 prefer? That was she can tell me what they both like and she'll know what I'm planning to get.

ETA2: I wrote to her. :-) I got her a set of good table knives, and DD just bought DS1 a blender. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Way to go on the marking Debt!!! My DS plans to move out soon as well. There's plenty of furniture and such to hand down thanks to Mom's hoarding but I thought I would get him supplies also. Except I was thinking along the lines of cleaning stuff and all that junk no one thinks of.


busymom, I decluttered more money last night, but I think I'm done. Well, there's a couple of small things for the niece and nephew and DH wants to get his mom something small (I disagree, she's shown her true colors lately).  

[snapdragon]

Dec 15, 2015 11:17:39 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

I finally got started and have a batch of cards to be mailed out this morning.

Tonight's List:

Vacuum the house
Do 1 load of laundry -- this includes folding and putting away - I got it on the bed so it should count. 
shred some junk mail

I got started last night. I hope to keep the ball rolling in threes.

Finish laundry

Clean kitchen floor

Put up little tree

[snapdragon]

Dec 16, 2015 8:55:17 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I'd like you ladies' opinion on something. 

DS1 asked for things for the new apt for Christmas. It's a 2BR apt but it will be modulable: initially it will be a 1BR apt and a studio and they will move between them depending on how long they are here for. I was going to start with dishes then see what else I get depending on cost. They are absolutely not the fancy china type (and my wallet isn't either). If I go with something basic and tasteful, how many place settings would you go for? I'm thinking 12 is too many, 4 is too few. So I'm thinking six or eight? Which one do you think? 

I know they have a starter kit at Ikea but I wanted something a bit nicer than that. 

Do they have laundry hook ups? Could you do laundry detergent, dryer sheets, bleach inside a basket or something like that?

I see you got knives so that is good --- how about a nice cutting board?

[saveinla]

debt,

How about an Ikea Gift card, so they can buy what they want?