2016 Declutter and Get Organized Thread

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh's #31Days2GetOrganized Challenge:

1. Set up a donation center (bin, basket, garbage bag, etc.) in your home and add 5 things to it
2. Look in your closet for the pair(s) of shoes that is most covered in dust, and add it to your donation pile. (He also mentioned the 80/20 rule where you wear 20% of your shoes 80% of the time.)
3. Pick any single room in your house and tackle the floor. Get every single thing that doesn't belong on the floor of that room off the floor, whether it is toys, books, clutter, etc.
4. Unmentionables - go through your unmentionables drawer, and get rid of at least 5 items that you don't need/love/wear because they're stretched out, don't like them, etc.
5. Bathroom - choose 1 drawer, cupboard, or shelf, and go through all of the lotions, makeup, medicines, etc. Throw away anything that is out-of-date, and items you do not use.
6. Kitchen plates and bowls - go through the drawers, cupboards, etc. that have plates and bowls in your kitchen, and get rid of any orphan plates and bowls that don't match, no one knows where they came from, you don't use, etc.
7. Emotional clutter - think of someone you have fallen out of touch with that you would like to reconnect with; initiate contact with them, whether that is by phone, email, or in-person.
8. Books - spend 5 minutes and gather books from wherever you have them all over your house and put them into one please. Apply the rule of 5 - if you're not going to read those books, or you're past loving them, pull 5 out that you can let go of, then another 5, then another 5, and so on, until you're happy with what you have left, and they can fit on a bookshelf somewhere.
9. Take down and put away all of your holiday decorations, but before you put them back in storage, go through them all and get rid of anything you don't use, need, or want.
10. Kitchen small appliances - if you have duplicates of appliances in your kitchen, get rid of one and add to your donation. Also, if you have any appliances that you don't need, don't use, or don't have space for, get rid of that and add to your donation pile.
11. Outdated Media - choose of 3 areas (VHS tapes, record albums, cassette tapes); VHS tapes - get rid of ones you can let go of, and ones to be digitized, put in the car and take them someplace today; record albums - if you're not listening to them, get rid of them, or download the digital album first if that helps; cassette tapes - again, let them go, and download digital files if you need or want to
12. Office - pick any 2 shelves in your office and go through them; get rid of anything you don't need or want
13. Secret Cupboard - choose one cupboard that you don't want anyone to see into, jump in and clear it out; get rid of stuff that doesn't belong
14. Phone books - go through your home and find any phone book (and catalogs, while you're at it), and get rid of them; it's the digital age, so phone books and catalogs need to go

[tcu2003]

Jan 14, 2016 13:43:09 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Peter Walsh's #31Days2GetOrganized Challenge:

1. Set up a donation center (bin, basket, garbage bag, etc.) in your home and add 5 things to it
2. Look in your closet for the pair(s) of shoes that is most covered in dust, and add it to your donation pile. (He also mentioned the 80/20 rule where you wear 20% of your shoes 80% of the time.)
3. Pick any single room in your house and tackle the floor. Get every single thing that doesn't belong on the floor of that room off the floor, whether it is toys, books, clutter, etc.
4. Unmentionables - go through your unmentionables drawer, and get rid of at least 5 items that you don't need/love/wear because they're stretched out, don't like them, etc.
5. Bathroom - choose 1 drawer, cupboard, or shelf, and go through all of the lotions, makeup, medicines, etc. Throw away anything that is out-of-date, and items you do not use.
6. Kitchen plates and bowls - go through the drawers, cupboards, etc. that have plates and bowls in your kitchen, and get rid of any orphan plates and bowls that don't match, no one knows where they came from, you don't use, etc.
7. Emotional clutter - think of someone you have fallen out of touch with that you would like to reconnect with; initiate contact with them, whether that is by phone, email, or in-person.
8. Books - spend 5 minutes and gather books from wherever you have them all over your house and put them into one please. Apply the rule of 5 - if you're not going to read those books, or you're past loving them, pull 5 out that you can let go of, then another 5, then another 5, and so on, until you're happy with what you have left, and they can fit on a bookshelf somewhere.
9. Take down and put away all of your holiday decorations, but before you put them back in storage, go through them all and get rid of anything you don't use, need, or want.
10. Kitchen small appliances - if you have duplicates of appliances in your kitchen, get rid of one and add to your donation. Also, if you have any appliances that you don't need, don't use, or don't have space for, get rid of that and add to your donation pile.
11. Outdated Media - choose of 3 areas (VHS tapes, record albums, cassette tapes); VHS tapes - get rid of ones you can let go of, and ones to be digitized, put in the car and take them someplace today; record albums - if you're not listening to them, get rid of them, or download the digital album first if that helps; cassette tapes - again, let them go, and download digital files if you need or want to
12. Office - pick any 2 shelves in your office and go through them; get rid of anything you don't need or want
13. Secret Cupboard - choose one cupboard that you don't want anyone to see into, jump in and clear it out; get rid of stuff that doesn't belong
14. Phone books - go through your home and find any phone book (and catalogs, while you're at it), and get rid of them; it's the digital age, so phone books and catalogs need to go

Previously done: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
Completed since my last update: 11

To do: 3, 8, 12, 13, 14

I'm slacking this week due to travel and some evening plans.  Hopefully I can catch up this weekend, as I'm traveling again next week.

[moneysquirrel]

Jan 10, 2016 22:11:24 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Hope to complete this week:


School:


Run off tests for 6th -- done
Correct 7th quizzes -- 121 done
Correct 6th test --  80
Correct 5th project -- 65
Correct 6th project -- 80
Rubric for 6th test -- done

House:

Maintain past progress -- ongoing
Keep up with the routine chores -- ongoing
Organize table linen storage


Crafts: I think I will keep the same goals as last week.

Crochet at least 4 rows on afghan

Finish one stringing project

Start a new beading project. -- done

I did manage to complete everything this week but all the new grading will begin in earnest this week so I am not sure if I can maintain this schedule.  

Making some progress.  Will try to knock out as much of the grading tomorrow so I won't have to spend all weekend doing it.  I do have a planning period tomorrow so I should be able to at least make a start on some of the tests and perhaps a few of the projects.   Need to sign off so I can maybe I can make progress on something.   

[Martivir]

I realized this said something about my previous attempts to declutter and organize. I have totes. I have totes inside of totes. I have lids to totes I no longer own. I have totes with no lids because at some point I probably tossed them because I thought I no longer had the tote for it. I containerized my carp because it got it out of the way and out of mind. And I ended up with piles of totes of carp instead of just general piles of it. I have half full totes of college papers, totes with just a few things at the bottom but don't seem to go to anything in particular. I have totes of kid's toys, baby toys, craft junk, stuff that was designated donate three years ago. I have boxes too. Mostly boxes with DONATE written on the side with what ever marker I could find in the mess. And I tried to organize them. Couple of items here, couple tossed in there. You wouldn't think that I got rid of a ton last year. 

[Jaguar]

I'm finding so much stuff that I looked for earlier and now it's all right here with me, lol

[Wisconsin Beth]

Dd will be making her First Communion in early May. I have 3 months to get my house in order before having a crapton of guests for the party afterwards.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Stayed at work until 6:45 last night. Grade print-outs took awhile. 

Happy Friday, everyone!

[busymom]

Jan 15, 2016 7:56:16 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Dd will be making her First Communion in early May. I have 3 months to get my house in order before having a crapton of guests for the party afterwards.

     Could you rent a room at your church for the after First Communion party?  That's an option available at our home church.  We've used that option ourselves, just to reduce the amount of stress. 

   

      Still trying to coordinate an appointment with the 2nd contractor who does floors.  His current job is running late (due to the homeowner adding on, every time he's close to being done).  Hopefully tomorrow, or early next week we'll finally meet.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Probably. Right now I'm trying to use this as motivation.

[startsmart]

I am so tired and sore and nearly burned out this week. 

Dogs went off to the kennel for 2 nights while I went on location for a photoshoot except 1 dog ended up at the emergency vet and their kennel after getting bit and needing stitches (in his eyelid- OW!). 

I went for a massage at a practice with great reviews the night before my shoot and it was so terrible that I have bruises and my skin is sore to the touch. I'm icing my back now and will rotate with heat tonight. Thankfully I'm home now for at least a week, my car is getting new brakes, the dog is healing and I have zero plans this weekend! Whew. Oh, except decluttering more junk! 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 15, 2016 20:18:20 GMT -5 startsmart said:

I am so tired and sore and nearly burned out this week. 

Dogs went off to the kennel for 2 nights while I went on location for a photoshoot except 1 dog ended up at the emergency vet and their kennel after getting bit and needing stitches (in his eyelid- OW!). 

I went for a massage at a practice with great reviews the night before my shoot and it was so terrible that I have bruises and my skin is sore to the touch. I'm icing my back now and will rotate with heat tonight. Thankfully I'm home now for at least a week, my car is getting new brakes, the dog is healing and I have zero plans this weekend! Whew. Oh, except decluttering more junk! 

Deep tissue, therapeutic massage can be quite painful. Were you going for a deep tissue or a relaxing massage?

[spartan7886]

I'm beginning to thing I still belong on the slacker thread, but I (ok, we)'ve made some progress.

I'm almost done with my original three goals from last week:

1. Put Christmas stuff away
2. Assemble desk.
3. Fund Roths and rebalance. Vanguard was down tonight, so rebalancing will have to wait.

No progress yet on the baby registry. Next tasks to add are rearranging all the newly built furniture in the combined office/guest room and finish replacing old crappy hangers in my closet with new nicer hangers I got for Christmas.

[busymom]

Ok, I FINALLY got an appointment with the contractor. It'll be Sunday, which I'm not thrilled about, but this project has waited long enough, so I want to get things rolling. Pray the temps are warmer than they're forecasting (-33 wind chill).

[debthaven]

I had a long list of work-related tasks but I managed to do them all on Fri and Sat mornings.

I spent Fri afternoon with my widowed friend A. She finally seems a tad better. I'm going back this weekend with my split pea and ham soup which she likes. Her son is spending a few nights a week at home so the evening company is less urgent. I only have one rehearsal this week so I'll spend an evening with her.

The painter is coming at the end of the month to repaint the LR ceiling.

The house is looking good, which surprises me given that 3/4 kids are living here right now lol. DS1 goes away for a month at the end of the month. When he comes back he and his GF close on their new apt. They are welcome to stay here while it gets fixed up but he said they may rent a place in town for at least part of the time.

This weekend I'm going to check out the latest Peter Walsh challenges and make DH do his night table "overflow basket".

ETA: The other night I went through my bathroom cupboard. I got a bunch of skincare products I won't use as Christmas gifts, both this year and last. DD took one set. I'm going to either take the rest into work or give it to my nurse friend who works in a retirement home. But there were two big boxes, so I've got much more room in there now!

[Saving4Norway]

I'm taking a huge gamble posting this for fear of Murphy's Law.

<whispering> DH and I have plans to (finally) tear out the 30 (1985? - 2015) year old carpet out of the kitchen today. I've been waiting for this day since we moved into this house 20 years ago! We have decided we want to lay down cork in there next but we haven't bought it, yet.

[debthaven]

I surprised DH by bringing his basket down. He was thrilled (not).  It worked though ... two hours later, a bunch of (finished) Sudoku books are gone, the newspapers from 2012 have been put under the fireplace, and the basket is nearly empty, ready to be filled with more crap. 

Next project for DH is his half of the bathroom cabinet. Too bad I can't bring that downstairs too. 

ETA: I did DH's half of the bathroom cabinet. Emptied, shelves washed, things sorted (I threw out a LOT) and reorganised. 

[dogmom]

DH does realize that we have too much paper clutter (yea) and he spent (because he chooses to do the shredding) an hour and a half from last weekend. He has about the same amount of time this week. I went thru a desk drawer.  P.S. Chloe, I did read the link you posted, DH did not.  Thanks for the info.

On the cleaning front, he was nice enough to hang the insulated curtains in the mud room and dining room/kitchen.  (we are expecting some really cold temps) 

I've been sorting through a couple of cabinets in the kitchen.  (The one under the kitchen sink) and the one that holds some small appliances... I will be adding to the donation bag.

[Deleted]

My lists are not nearly as impressive as all of you but I'm not ready for the slacker thread yet! I'm keeping up on my regular housework, which for me is an accomplishment in itself. On top of that I got the room downstairs painted, which I did end up doing mostly myself. And when I put the Christmas decorations away I took the chance to organize that closet. That's an extra a week. I will be happy to keep up that pace. This week I want to replace the hand rail going downstairs with one 12 feet long, the current one is only 8 feet. The hardest part of the projects is actually going outside in the cold to buy it.

[Jaguar]

I started on the picture boxes......This will take a lot of time. UGH !


But it will get done !

[Deleted]

Jan 16, 2016 10:45:16 GMT -5 Saving4Norway said:

I'm taking a huge gamble posting this for fear of Murphy's Law.

<whispering> DH and I have plans to (finally) tear out the 30 (1985? - 2015) year old carpet out of the kitchen today. I've been waiting for this day since we moved into this house 20 years ago! We have decided we want to lay down cork in there next but we haven't bought it, yet.

Carpet in a kitchen? You poor thing!

[Ombud]

Salvation Army did not show up yesterday. Rescheduled for 2/3, 2/4, 2/5 so that they'll make it one of those days. My porch is piled high (10×6×4) so I asked DS to help me take stuff to TEEN CHALLENGE THRIFT STORE today & he agreed after he unloads his truck. So that's hopefully happening today. Will have to wait for Salvation Army to get beds

[debthaven]

Besides doing the basket and letting me do HIS half of the bathroom cabinet (I don't mind that as long as it gets done), DH also fixed the light in the downstairs half-bathroom.

He's on a roll lol.

[startsmart]

It wasn't a deep tissue massage, it was simply shitty. I've had a lot of experience in massage after a car accident and my good friend owns a practice so I know this woman was just an ignorant idiot. I'm still in pain 3 days later. 

I think I just figured out what was causing the error messages on my washing machine. It's been off since my dad was here on New Years to help me stack the dryer on top. Ran maybe one good cycle and then error msg after error msg. Yeah... he told me he turned both water taps back on and didn't. So frustrating, I've been fighting with these damn machines for weeks and have loads and loads stacking up and it's something so simple! Just solidifies the fact that my dad can't be relied upon and reminds me of all the things he said he was going to take care of but doesn't. When I get my car back today I'm going to pick up an ax to work on the wood he left all over the front yard after we took out a tree. 

You know when you just need like, a day when things are good and it's not one problem on top of another? I need five of those. In a row. 

Today's goal is going to be to get through a couple loads of laundry and clean up around the house. It's not too bad yet but I don't want things to get worse. 

If I can find a good vacuum for the house I'm going to replace the one I got on Craigslist last year that is falling apart. Anyone have a recommendation for a vacuum under $400 with great attachments for pet hair? My mom bought me a completely unnecessary steam vac for Christmas that I wish I could return for something useful. 

[Deleted]

I have a Mielo I love.

[Saving4Norway]

Jan 16, 2016 10:45:16 GMT -5 Saving4Norway said:

I'm taking a huge gamble posting this for fear of Murphy's Law.

<whispering> DH and I have plans to (finally) tear out the 30 (1985? - 2015) year old carpet out of the kitchen today. I've been waiting for this day since we moved into this house 20 years ago! We have decided we want to lay down cork in there next but we haven't bought it, yet.

It's done!!!

[debthaven]

Yay Norway! 

[Ombud]

GS1's room away from dorm & my office are finally done. If I could move piano, the music room would be done too

[debthaven]

You must be thrilled to have your house back after so many years Ombud. How are you going to move the piano? 

[Ombud]

debthaven, GD1 & GS2 will be here Mondays so the 3 of us can move it. I just cannot by myself. I'll be down to family room very soon

Plan is / was to repair all damage then attack family room which I intended to do in 2008 b4 they moved in. Carpet is 25 yrs old needing replacement but that room is completely open to kitchen / breakfast room (no walls ... old style open concept, outside of bedrooms / bathrooms / laundry I only have 2 rooms: breakfast - kitchen - family room + living - dining room)

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Good morning!

We seem to have been running a bit askew this week. There's been a bit of stress regarding my prior job. When there's a bit more clarity, I'll update that. Both girls have had way too many things going on and it's just been treading water for all four of us. Yesterday, we spent the day in a city two hours away while both girls went to a robotics tournament, DD#2 went to an audition for a summer dance camp, DD#1 needed new running shoes, DD#2 needed new pointe shoes, and we went to Costco. We also had breakfast with friends, bought the robotics team lunch, and had to get marscapone and lady fingers to make tiramisu for DD#2's birthday this week--those ingredients are not available where we live.  We left home at 7:30am and returned at 11:00pm. There was a nice storm yesterday morning, and the  power had been out the entire day in our county. I'm glad we missed that.  

Tomorrow is a day off for us--MLK. DH does have a dental procedure at 9:3,  which isn't a big deal for most people, but it's pretty traumatic for DH. 

 Sunday & Monday plans include

putting away the groceries from Costco
deep cleaning both bathrooms (girls will do theirs) Girls want to earn extra money, so DD#1 is cleaning their bathroom, and DD#2 is cleaning our bathroom
grading papers (half done)
lesson plans
pay the and have the girls pay their bills
laundry--at least eight loads (DH will do most of this)
screen saver on DD's phone
Three Four Project Graduation communications
change sheets
change the flag (rained all day...not a great excuse, but it's all of I have!)
deposit one check--assuming it's in the mail box IT'S NOT IN THE MAIL 
deposit a second check or call the company that was supposed to send it to us if it isn't there IT'S NOT IN THE MAIL EITHER 
menu planning for the week
mop floors (eh, I swept, but didn't mop)
update YNAB with yesterday's receipts (uggh--we spent a lot yesterday)
set up classroom for the week (well I guess that's tomorrow morning)
Dog's flea, tick, heartworm meds (Oops, I didn't realize we were out. I will go to the vet tomorrow to pick it up.)
Birthday card for my sister & DH's niece
hotel reservation for February
Spring Break weekend trip
sew ribbons and elastics onto DD's new pointe shoes
wrap DD's bday presents while she's at dance class
send cards to my aunt and to DIL