2016 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[busymom]

Hi Kids! We had a big change in plans due to poor traveling weather (we stayed home). But, we had plenty of food here, so we did have a nice Christmas, just a little different than we'd originally planned. And, we're STILL getting heavy rain, which is unusual for December, so I don't want to think about what driving could be like tomorrow.

Hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas!

[debthaven]

I hope you all had a good Christmas!

We had a lovely time! DS1 and DDIL left for their honeymoon last night, DH and I drove them to the airport.

DS2 is staying at home for now because he has rented his sublet. He and his GF are back from their travels, they both need to find jobs now, and may then get an apt together.

The food is all put away (there's WAY too much ...). Tonight we are invited to a Boxing Day dinner with DS3 at our best friends' house, where we share our leftovers. (Boxing Day is a UK holiday, the day after Christmas. It's when the wealthy landowners would offer "boxes" of food and gifts to the people who worked their land. It's still an official UK holiday today.)

Then it will be back to eating from the fridge / freezer / pantry.

I have a couple of gifts to return (for the kids) so at some point I will have to brave the mall again.

This week
- prepare second semester binder Mon
- switch DR and kitchen tables back Mon
- pharmacy Mon
- Shitepile Mon
- bottle bank Tues
- laundry Tues
- return 2 1 gift(s) Mon
- mark 2 papers
- plan new course (ongoing)

ETA: In the end DH and DS3 wanted to go to an exhibition today, so we went. Tomorrow should be a quiet day at home.

[plugginaway22]

Ours was also very enjoyable!  Sitting here sipping coffee and enjoying the tree and mess of presents still under it.
We are going to a brunch today, but after that, nothing scheduled.  Happy holidays to all!

[moneysquirrel]

Had a great Christmas with family and friends.  This is an off week and very little is planned.  I can use one like this where I can sit back and just do what I feel like doing.  There will be some needed things that I should do but I can do them as I wish if I want.

Just sitting looking at the foggy morning and having a cup of tea.  I woke up late for me this morning and I guess that I needed the sleep.  Need to get myself moving soon.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Good morning!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Boxing Day!

We've already been to Wal-Mart for the post-Christmas 50% off decorations & gift wrap sale. 
We've taken everything Christmasy down and have it all in piles in the kitchen. It still needs to be packed up. We should be done with that by this evening. I'll be glad to have all of it out of the house. At some point, it becomes too much for me and feels like clutter. 

[startsmart]

Aside from getting a few things at the grocery store I think I'll be staying in today. It's cold but dry outside and I'm enjoying the coziness at home  

I am working on some client projects that should keep me busy this week and hoping to go visit my grandma by the weekend.

I'll start up the 2017 thread in a few days for those joining in again  

Here's my new list for the rest of the year: 
ship box to K
finish book ornaments 
take donation to Goodwill 
take magazines to assisted living home
go through papers in the office (all on one shelf right now) 
write new client website
make cioppino
mow the front yard


I picked up the final few things to make crab cioppino tomorrow and I'm super excited! One of my favorite meals but expensive so I don't make it very option. I realized, belatedly, that I never really ate lunch/dinner yesterday so this will be my holiday meal. 

[debthaven]

This week
- prepare second semester binder
- switch DR and kitchen tables back
- pharmacy
- Shitepile
- bottle bank
- laundry
- mark 2 papers
- return 1 2 gift(s)
- plan new course (ongoing)

[moneysquirrel]

This has been a relaxing time.  Currently working on two loads of laundry --one in wash and other in dryer.  House looks de-cluttered at least for the most part.  Still going through things a little at a time and making decisions as to the future of said items as I find them.  Have an old piece of luggage slowly being filled with items to be donated.  The luggage will go as well. I hope to get a few errands done today but waiting for the fog to lift.  Yes we have it again.  This time of year we get it often.  I am just glad that this week I do not have to leave home as early as I will next week when school starts up again.  Decided to come up with a list for this week but not sure if a lot of items will come off of it.  A lot requires me to update files and I am sure that those will happen if not this week than at least by next week.  

Home/Personal

-Sam’s run
-Shred old documents
-Car Wash -- Today -- Renew Gift Card for it as well
-Craft Shop – need to pick up a few things while prices reduced -- today ??
-Update this year’s Excel and close it out. -- Saturday
-Set up and review 2017 Budget in Excel -- by Saturday I hope
-Set up 2017 craft show excel document -- by Saturday by the latest

School (hopefully done sometime during break)

-Ignore emails as much as possible

Crafts

Start new project for me -- started
Decipher pattern for future project – ongoing
Start baby gift -- crochet

I did recycle an unused teacher planning book into a beading/craft log for 2017.  Now I have to see if I can keep up with it.  Good intentions does not always inspire me to follow through.  Would really like to keep track of this just for curiosity sake.

[debthaven]

I did a massive, 4.5h clean-out / reorganization of my "Teaching Shelves". I lit a huge fire but there was so much that I put Stuff in the recycling bin too.

The problem is that there's also Other Stuff on those shelves. The bottom shelf (there are 3) is full of photo albums and files, since those shelves are right near the filing cabinet. There is also a small pile of boxes from electronics on the middle shelf (ie phone, camera). I need to figure it out.

ETA: I managed to move some of the Other Stuff and create more room!
- I fit all the Photo Stuff in the Photo Cabinet. It's not super neat but the photos are my retirement project.
- I put the empty electronics boxes in the basement.

So:
- top shelf = for my main job 
- middle shelf = for my new job + books
- bottom shelf = books + "overflow" files

I'm very pleased! I've ALWAYS been unhappy with those shelves. This should work better: there's more room, and it's organized better. The next step would be to get a taller filing cabinet (for those overflow files) but a) money and b) aesthetics.

The basement is messy again but after fighting about it for so many years, I've given up. The house is decluttered, we don't have an attic or a garage, so if the one basement storage room gets messy, it is what it is.

[naughtybear]

I have learned this year that unless I have no clutter then I have mess. So everything is going and it will be brutal. I will keep a few things that are sentimental to me but no clutter will be following me to my new apartment.

[debthaven]

Track your progress here Naughtybear ... there's no time like the present.

[debthaven]

Still to do
- get bathroom bulb 
- return gloves  NO NEED!
- return / replace photo frames
- plan new course (ongoing)

I bought 3 wrong-sized frames for DS1's wedding photos, but I wanted to put the photos out for Christmas, so I used 2 of them anyway. Thankfully they were cheap, but I need to bring back the last one I didn't use and get two that are the right size. I also have a second pair of gloves to return. Unfortunately the thought of more shopping is giving me palpitations.

I'll get the bathroom bulb tomorrow, that's local/easy.

ETA: SCORE! DS2 wants the gloves, so no need to return them!

Also, DS2 sort of moved out of his sublet. Since he had to empty out his clothes (but not his furniture) he was inspired, so today he finished going through his clothes and shoes here. He's had most of those things since HS (he's 28), so most of it went into the donation bin. I'm washing the items he wants to keep before they go back in the closet. He'll be living between here and his GF's apt. They'll be looking for an apt in a few months. 

[Iggy aka IG]

ATV club bank deposit-Done last Thursday
Deliver baked goods to three different neighbors-One given last Wed AM, two on Saturday afternoon
Spruce up for family on Saturday-Done
Bake red velvet cheesecake-Done

Dropped off my truck this morning to have the transfer case repaired under warranty, and the tires balanced.  Picked up Monday afternoon.  There is a flaw in a tire making my truck vibrate at a certain speed.  I need to go back to Big O for resolution.
Found a 50 cent loaf of bread at WW this AM which will be perfect for our overnight Christmas French toast. Made the French toast Saturday evening.

I have goodie bags and cards ready for the mail delivery people here at the office and at home.  Done
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New list:
Take down decorations Monday
Deep clean the master bathroom I've been yapping about forever
Start packing
"Encourage" our realtor to start marketing our home, though I heard through the grapevine the people who own the house we put a contract on are now going to build a house?  So, no rush for us to sell apparently? 

[debthaven]

So DS2 finally went through his closets for the first time in at least 5 years (some of you may remember me complaining about that!) Since they're relatively empty now, I sprayed against the clothes mites in his closets AND all the other closets. I'll probably spray again this week, and then I'll put out the cedar things I bought.

I wanted to exchange that photo frame today but I was too lazy to drive 1h round trip. DS3 and I played Monopoly instead.

[startsmart]

Yesterday was mostly good and productive (with the exception of some family drama which made me very upset for a couple hours) and I got a ton bagged up for donation today. 

My assistant also filled out her legal paperwork for tax info since I paid more than $600, the CA limit, and took home a stack of magazines I was going to donate. 

Today I am hoping to get the donations dropped off, write the client website, go pay my car insurance and not have a meltdown.

Here's my new list for the rest of the year:
ship box to K
finish book ornaments
take donation to Goodwill
take magazines to assisted living home
go through papers in the office (all on one shelf right now)
write new client website- halfway done
make cioppino
mow the front yard


ETA: ALSO I need to wash all the bedding for my youngest dog who decided to sneak onto the table while I was in the other room and eat the crab shells after I had cioppino for dinner. Yeah. I had to pour hydrogen peroxide down his throat to make him throw it all up. Never a dull moment around here. 

[WholeLottaNothin]

I am so close to my 1,000 items, I think I may actually be able to do it this year. I am planning on going through my closet tonight to see what I can get rid of. I have too much stuff that I don't use and it takes up too much room. I need to go through toys again too. The boys were spoiled at Christmas this year, and it is overtaking the house. Wish me luck!

[moneysquirrel]

Still taking it somewhat easy.  Getting a few necessary chores and errands done in addition to the ones I listed.  Got another load of laundry finished as well as mopping of the kitchen.  Have been doing some beading and hope to get a some more done this week.  I did get to do the Sam's run this morning.  I really need to plan the trips on a more regular basis.  Today's trip was expensive but I have stocked up on a lot of items needed as well as a lot of snacks for lunches.

Updating my list:

Dec 27, 2016 10:04:55 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Home/Personal

-Sam’s run
-Shred old documents -- Continuing 
-Car Wash -- Today -- Renew Gift Card for it as well
-Craft Shop – need to pick up a few things while prices reduced -- today ??
-Update this year’s Excel and close it out. -- Saturday
-Set up and review 2017 Budget in Excel -- by Saturday I hope
-Set up 2017 craft show excel document -- by Saturday by the latest

School (hopefully done sometime during break)

-Ignore emails as much as possible  

Crafts

Start new project for me -- started
Decipher pattern for future project – ongoing
Start baby gift -- crochet

[startsmart]

Well I probably won't hit 1,000 items this year but I did get my insurance payment dropped off, donated to Goodwill and the assisted living home, checked my PO box and got started on the laundry.

I need to find some energy and then I'll either tackle the rest of the client website OR the paperwork in my office. 

2017 thread is up! ymam.proboards.com/thread/51545/2017-declutter-organization-thread

Mods, please don't lock this thread until Saturday or Sunday as some people will continue to track 2016. But if you're ready to see 2016 in the rear view mirror on to the new thread! 

[busymom]

One of my goals for the next year is to "declutter" part of myself.      I do need to lose the weight I "picked up" after Mom passed last year. DS & I did some mall walking both yesterday & today, so hopefully I'll get exercise back into my regular routine again.

I went through a pile of magazines in my bedroom, & got rid of most of them.  There used to be a place around here that took old magazines, but not anymore, so into the trash they went.

I was mostly caught up on laundry 2 days ago, but the pile is getting big again, so I'd better work on it tonight.  I'm debating whether or not to take one more walk after dinner...

[naughtybear]

Geez my kids stuff was gone the days following when they moved out.

[plugginaway22]

Not here!  My 3 adult kiddos still have things here.  Only one of their bedrooms has been completely re-done into a nice guestroom.  They joke about their 'shrines' when they visit.  
I'm not saying I don't want to do it, but knowing what to save and what to pitch is paralyzing.

[Sharon]

Dec 28, 2016 21:23:51 GMT -5 plugginaway22 said:

Not here!  My 3 adult kiddos still have things here.  Only one of their bedrooms has been completely re-done into a nice guestroom.  They joke about their 'shrines' when they visit.  
I'm not saying I don't want to do it, but knowing what to save and what to pitch is paralyzing.

DD still has stuff here.  I keep strongly hinting about getting some of this stuff out.  

I decluttered one Christmas tree tonight.  The tree is down and the branches are cut off the trunk and in the yard debris bins for next weeks garbage pickup.  I also swept the porch etc so I don't track needles back into the house.  I also swept the main amount of needles off of the carpet so I don't clog the vacuum.  I will save the vacuuming, moving the furniture and hiking the totes back up into the attic for another day. 

[debthaven]

My two older boys went away to college but I kept their rooms for when they came home. So, I don't have a need for them to completely clear out their rooms. I use DS2's room as an extra guest room but as long as it's neat and there are a couple of shelves free in his closet (which is the case), it's fine. I'm very happy when he stays over.

DS1 is a humanitarian aid worker, so he always worked/lived abroad. Now he and his wife are living in the UK where she's back in school. When she's done with her second Masters, they'll go to the US for him to get his. They did buy an apartment here earlier this year but since they're living in the UK, they've rented it out. I think it's stupid to keep their apartment empty all year for their occasional visits. Better for them to rent it out to pay the mortgage, and stay here when they visit.

DD still lives here, although she's planning to move out soon. DS3 just started university in the UK so he comes back regularly too.

This is my kids' childhood home, and DH and I still live here. If we downsized, obviously I wouldn't get a new place with bedrooms for my adult kids. But we have room and we're happy when they come to stay.

I WOULD like to redo DS2's bedroom (and ours too), but there's no money for that now anyway. Both rooms need painting and new carpet (they are the only rooms which still have carpet.)

[zibazinski]

DD actually went through some of her stuff while she was home and I have two huge garbage bags full of clothes, shoes, and jewelry to take to Goodwill today. Since I bought most of the stuff I'm taking the donation!

[zibazinski]

Dec 29, 2016 2:56:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

My two older boys went away to college but I kept their rooms for when they came home. So, I don't have a need for them to completely clear out their rooms. I use DS2's room as an extra guest room but as long as it's neat and there are a couple of shelves free in his closet (which is the case), it's fine. I'm very happy when he stays over.

DS1 is a humanitarian aid worker, so he always worked/lived abroad. Now he and his wife are living in London where she's back in school. When she's done with her second Masters, they'll go to the US for him to get his. They did buy an apartment here earlier this year but since they're living in the UK, they've rented it out. I think it's stupid to keep their apartment empty all year for their occasional visits. Better for them to rent it out to pay the mortgage, and stay here when they visit.

DD still lives here, although she's planning to move out soon. DS3 just started university in the UK so he comes back regularly too.

This is my kids' childhood home, and DH and I still live here. If we downsized, obviously I wouldn't get a new place with bedrooms for my adult kids. But we have room and we're happy when they come to stay.

I WOULD like to redo DS2's bedroom (and ours too), but there's no money for that now anyway. Both rooms need painting and new carpet (they are the only rooms which still have carpet.)

Smart kids

[zibazinski]

Dec 29, 2016 2:56:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

My two older boys went away to college but I kept their rooms for when they came home. So, I don't have a need for them to completely clear out their rooms. I use DS2's room as an extra guest room but as long as it's neat and there are a couple of shelves free in his closet (which is the case), it's fine. I'm very happy when he stays over.

DS1 is a humanitarian aid worker, so he always worked/lived abroad. Now he and his wife are living in London where she's back in school. When she's done with her second Masters, they'll go to the US for him to get his. They did buy an apartment here earlier this year but since they're living in the UK, they've rented it out. I think it's stupid to keep their apartment empty all year for their occasional visits. Better for them to rent it out to pay the mortgage, and stay here when they visit.

DD still lives here, although she's planning to move out soon. DS3 just started university in the UK so he comes back regularly too.

This is my kids' childhood home, and DH and I still live here. If we downsized, obviously I wouldn't get a new place with bedrooms for my adult kids. But we have room and we're happy when they come to stay.

I WOULD like to redo DS2's bedroom (and ours too), but there's no money for that now anyway. Both rooms need painting and new carpet (they are the only rooms which still have carpet.)

What's under the carpet?

[debthaven]

What's under the carpet?

Cement, unfortunately. But DH likes having carpet in our bedroom, and it's the cheapest solution for DS2's room, which is the downstairs master.

[plugginaway22]

My 3 kids bedrooms have carpet over 1940s hardwood that needs to be refinished.  When we moved here it was cheaper to carpet than have the wood all redone.  But now when the rooms get done I will expose the wood.  When we ever decide to sell and downsize, buyers will want the wood floors.

[wvugurl26]

I have stuff at my dad's I need to go through. He's a solid 7 hours away from me though. It's 5 to see grandma and I usually never make it past there. There are some Christmas ornaments I would like and stuff. There's no way I make it up there before that goes down. And for all I know, the girlfriend's stuff went on the tree not his.

[startsmart]

I don't have a big enough box to ship K's gift so that might get pushed back to January. Still working on the ornaments (I have 18 to do) and I won't be able to focus on my office until Saturday. 

I do need to pack for the quick trip to see my grandma tonight.


Here's my new list for the rest of the year:
ship box to K
finish book ornaments
go through papers in the office (all on one shelf right now)
write new client website- halfway done