2017 Declutter and Organization Thread

[TheOtherMe]

I did get through the box of Beatles magazines.  It wasn't just magazines.  There are two t shirts and a Beatles plate in the box.  Will have to look at eBay to see if any have any value.  I'm disappointed that more of the things I have are not selling so far.  Might be best to just let them be donated.  

Divided magazines in half as I have too much recycling this week to get rid of all of them.  Second half will go out next week.

[Sharon]

TheOtherMe how about if you made lots of the Beatles stuff, put some of the less valuable stuff with something of more value.  This way you have few numbers of things to manage when putting them up on e-bay and hopefully you have more sales because people are thinking they are getting more value.  Hope all that makes sense.

I raked leaves yesterday and starting pruning the berry vines, both yard debris bins are full - goal met.  There are still quite a few leaves on the trees and I still have the boysenberry vines to prune.  Then I will need to train the new growth for both the raspberries and boysenberries.  Boysenberries are stickery so I always have to wear leather gloves when working with them.

[dee27]

Nov 12, 2017 17:25:02 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I did get through the box of Beatles magazines.  It wasn't just magazines.  There are two t shirts and a Beatles plate in the box.  Will have to look at eBay to see if any have any value.  I'm disappointed that more of the things I have are not selling so far.  Might be best to just let them be donated.  

Divided magazines in half as I have too much recycling this week to get rid of all of them.  Second half will go out next week.

Before you donate the items, look at specific Beatles' sites like this one: www.icollectbeatles.com/.

Also, check with a local music store to determine the value and how Beatle items are selling.

[TheOtherMe]

Thank you.  I will look there and other places.  I'm in a small town so don't have access to music dealers.

[startsmart]

I'm still working on my November list: 

-sort through all the storage stuff in the bathroom to sell/donate/keep
-box up the books and random stuff on the kitchen table, label and move boxes to the closet
-clear enough space on my bed to work on clothes (moving papers around)
-work on 5 categories of clothes and sort to keep/donate
-bag up spare pillows for the attic
-empty red duffle bag
-caulk window sill in office
-caulk beadboard patched in bathroom
-go through magazines to donate
-swap quilts in the guest room
-continue clearing out my bookmarks (in web browsers)
-pack up some kitchen items and move boxes to closet
-touch up paint on the garage door and trim


The only thing I got accomplished this weekend was the garage door paint touch ups. I do need to price the things I'm taking to the holiday consignment shop next week. 

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 12, 2017 20:09:20 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Thank you.  I will look there and other places.  I'm in a small town so don't have access to music dealers.

We have a huge flea market here and one of the vendors had albums galore. I told him what I had and he put me in touch with a collector. He has since passed away but I guess the purpose of this post is ask around, you never know who knows what these days. And then again there is always the internet 

[TheOtherMe]

There is a record store in town.  It isn't very big, but I should go talk to him.  Just might put me in contact with a collector.  One item is too new and will never have any major value.  One of my nephews gave it to me as a Christmas present.  Mass marketed Christmas ornament in the last 5 years.  I was hoping somebody would like it on their tree, but so far, they don't.  

The record store in Des Moines that does sell memorabilia has a problem at the moment.  It's owner has some legal difficulties.  I know the musicians go there when in Des Moines.  Joe Walsh saw a Beatles item that he thought Ringo might like.  Turned out he did and bought it.  Record store owner delivered item backstage to Ringo at a concert in Omaha.

[Lizard Queen]

Just a flyby.  There's a baby pantry at church, with requests for very specific things.  Haven't been able to go to church much at all lately, since I have to babysit my mom at the same time, but DH dropped off about 50 items, plus a potty chair which they apparently were in great need of and we hadn't been able to sell at multiple garage sales.  The thing was completely unused, except to stick toys in it.  Both my kids took forever to potty train and are large for their ages, so outgrew it before they could actually "go" in it.

[snapdragon]

Nov 10, 2017 10:44:03 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

I am putting up a small list for this weekend.

1 - put up last set of insulated drapes.  

2 - clean BBQ and get all the patio stuff back out side and not in the dinning room.

3 - put up the solar light over by the garbage area.

4 - put dryer lent cover back on building E.

5 - take out trash and anything I have shredded.

6 - remake the bed.

7 - fold and put away laundry.

I came to the realization that I need a taller straight ladder (not an A frame) and a handyman for the 2 outside items. The light needs to be on a building and not inside the garbage area.

I also vacuumed and did laundry and dishes.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 12, 2017 15:42:23 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

Why do we get sentimental about things?  I still have some Christmas decorations we bought for our first tree that I need to depart with.  I guess maybe it is just the memory of how excited the kids and I were to pick them out.  They are only things....they are only things...

And, I find it difficult to get rid of clothes.  Not items such as my wedding dress, Raiders jersey, etc., but things which I really shouldn't have a problem donating.  Example:  I have a light blue zippered sweatshirt and also a dark blue one of a different brand.  (A Danskin-won't that help me work out more effectively?  Ha.)  A friend gave me the latter.  I've never worn either.  It's been 4+ years.  So, after contemplation, I put the light blue one in the donation bag (which is in my truck to drop off today-yay!) and decided to keep the dark blue one.  My reason for keeping that one are it's because it was a gift, and I already feel guilty about donating something prior the same friend had one of her friends make for me (a poncho-so not my style or size).  Now I'm thinking why not donate both, since it's chilly outside, someone else might appreciate the extra layer, and again, I've never worn either.

Sigh...

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 31, 2017 12:25:52 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

[snip]

Return dishes from the Halloween party to a friend
Egg cartons to chicken owning neighbor
Return empty mason jars to neighbor #2, bake something for her beforehand as a thank you
Switch out summer for winter clothing, which leads to:
Fill the rest of the trash bag with clothing, then donate
Home office:  Shred paper, organize 10 years worth of photos
Reuse small poster frame from here at the office-fill with a few of the above or ?
Measure dining room windows.  Is there enough leftover material from our wedding be turned into curtains?

Continue exercising.  Been averaging 3x week.  Failed this last week.  Exercised yesterday.

Kept caught up with dishes, did 5 loads of laundry Saturday (2 of these are DH's uniforms), added 7 tops to the donation bag which is now full so I put it out to my truck, had DH move our dresser slightly to the right so our vacuum would fit between the wall and it, vacuumed and Swiffered the main floor, dusted our bedroom, and cleaned the master bathroom vanity, toilet, mirror and window.  I then had a mini spa day yesterday.  If you've never done this, or it's been awhile, I encourage you to do so.  You deserve it!  After exercising, mine consisted of a mini pedicure, foot and hand sugar scrub, and a 3-step facial. 

[busymom]

Our church usually has a toy drive for the local battered women's shelter, and I actually have something from their wish list.  I've got several coloring books that my kids never touched that are still in perfect shape, and an untouched box of crayons.  It's only enough to fill a Target bag, but hey, it helps the kids, and it's out of my house, so that's a win-win.     (Anyone else besides me still have a bunch of craft supplies from when their kids were growing up?)  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 13, 2017 12:25:09 GMT -5 busymom said:

Our church usually has a toy drive for the local battered women's shelter, and I actually have something from their wish list.  I've got several coloring books that my kids never touched that are still in perfect shape, and an untouched box of crayons.  It's only enough to fill a Target bag, but hey, it helps the kids, and it's out of my house, so that's a win-win.     (Anyone else besides me still have a bunch of craft supplies from when their kids were growing up?)  

I purged our craft supplies this summer. It made me sad.

[taz157]

Nov 13, 2017 14:13:49 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Nov 13, 2017 12:25:09 GMT -5 busymom said:

Our church usually has a toy drive for the local battered women's shelter, and I actually have something from their wish list.  I've got several coloring books that my kids never touched that are still in perfect shape, and an untouched box of crayons.  It's only enough to fill a Target bag, but hey, it helps the kids, and it's out of my house, so that's a win-win.     (Anyone else besides me still have a bunch of craft supplies from when their kids were growing up?)  

I purged our craft supplies this summer. It made me sad.

Too bad I don’t live closer. My DD is in the crafting stage and we would have loved to have it.

[azucena]

Nov 13, 2017 14:21:00 GMT -5 taz157 said:

Nov 13, 2017 14:13:49 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I purged our craft supplies this summer. It made me sad.

Too bad I don’t live closer. My DD is in the crafting stage and we would have loved to have it.

I sold our little red wagon on a fb swap site this weekend. That made me sad - how can we be past the wagon stage?! But we totally are, DD5 didn't use it all summer and I kept banging my shins on it in the garage.

I unpacked 3 boxes in the office - gave up on waiting for DH to do it.  It's the one room that isn't unpacked from our move in June.

Tonight I need to finish putting up shelves in the hall storage closet.  The shelves have been in the hallway for several weeks since I bought them off the swap site.  That along with fixing slides in a dresser must be completed before I host Thanksgiving.  I think I found the correct parts for the dresser online and can go pick them up at Home Depot this week.

[tcu2003]

I’ve been lurking for months, doing a little here and there, but nowhere near what you ladies are doing. This weekend I went through the 6/9M baby girl clothes and packed up an overflowing tote full of winter/cold weather items for one of my coworkers. Tote delivered today, so yay for some baby stuff gone!

I’ve also got a stack of newborn and 0/3M girl stuff to bring in for another coworker. She volunteer at a soup kitchen and homeless shelter, and she said there are 3 pregnant women who they are belong and she soon. One is having a boy, one a girl, and one won’t know until baby arrives. I’m also going to go through the baby boy stuff I have, by DS was born in June, so I’m unsure if any of it will be seasonally appropriate.

Baby steps.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Sore throat started yesterday. Full blown cold today. Not much done other than surviving my work day.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

www.theonion.com/tips-for-getting-organized-1820077835


Hahahahaha!

[azucena]

Nov 13, 2017 23:40:08 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Sore throat started yesterday. Full blown cold today. Not much done other than surviving my work day.

Ugh me too. I know I jinxed myself because just last week I was thinking, huh it's Nov and I haven't had the plague yet. Then, DD5 started in with a stuffy nose and I knew I was a goner.  After I picked her up yesterday, I climbed into the middle seat in the van, unbuckled her and we just snuggled because we both felt lousy. DD9 wanted to stop for ice cream and we were both like no, must go home and put on jammies now.

[TheOtherMe]

Checked eBay this morning.  5 of my items will sell.  That now includes the two most valuable items.  Hoping the final price is higher than the starting bid.  Time will tell.

[debthaven]

DH called insurance. They FINALLY received the adjuster's report TODAY. They say we should receive their answer by the end of the week. I know I've said that for weeks, but this time THEY'RE saying it.

This week
Home
- Shitepile
School
- organize D groups X 3/Mon
- Group 1: 20 papers/Tues
- Group 2: 17 papers/Fri
- Group C: 4 group reports/Sat

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG I can't remember if I mentioned this, but the adjuster ended up going off on sick leave without ever writing his report (6 weeks later). So in the end his boss did it. It's been nearly eight weeks since the adjuster came.

 

[startsmart]

Yesterday I managed to price and label the items going to the consignment sale tomorrow. I have a few more things that are "maybe" but feeling good about getting things out of the house.

My dining table is filled with boxes I'm in the midst of packing but I 100% need to write down what's in those boxes and label them before putting them up in the attic. Thankfully when I get boxes in the mail they have a lot of packing material because I'm working on glassware from the kitchen and don't want anything to break. 

I did get a lot of clean up around the house done yesterday because I needed to stay awake for work. Started yesterday at 8am, finished at midnight, up for another call at 8am (that was cancelled  ) and it'll be a long few days until our launch wraps up.

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 14, 2017 11:18:44 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Iggy aka IG I can't remember if I mentioned this, but the adjuster ended up going off on sick leave without ever writing his report (6 weeks later). So in the end his boss did it. It's been nearly eight weeks since the adjuster came.

 

While I understand people get sick (when I go down w/ my asthma, I'm out for about a week), a 6-week turnaround time is so not acceptable.  Perhaps it's a culture difference, but not only I as the agent would be all over it, my client would be having a hissy fit.  From what I've experienced, insureds start squawking if they don't initially hear from an adjuster after 2 business days.  And, frankly, I don't blame them.  They pay a lot for insurance and should expect superior customer service when it comes to claims processing.

Good luck, Debt.

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG you make me wish I had an agent ... they're not at all common here.

Finished today's marking. I got out very early today (1.30 instead of 5.30). I get out early next Tues too. I think it's to make up for the parent-teacher conferences both Fridays till 9 pm. 

Off to do some laundry.

I hope you feel better soon Knee Deep in Water Chloe and  azucena

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 14, 2017 12:21:26 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Iggy aka IG you make me wish I had an agent ... they're not at all common here.

Finished today's marking. I got out very early today (1.30 instead of 5.30). I get out early next Tues too. I think it's to make up for the parent-teacher conferences both Fridays till 9 pm. 

Off to do some laundry.

Thank you.  And sorry for my abrupt ending to my last post as I had a client come in.  I wish you had an agent, too, Debt.  One of the things we do (or should) is advocate for our clients when appropriate.  We go through the phone tree hell, sit on hold, figure out billing issues, etc.  After all of this stress for you folks, I hope it has a favorable ending.

Good job finishing the marking.    I actually woke up on time today, and emptied, refilled, and started the dishwasher, hand washed several things, wiped down counters, and emptied the garbage.  My future self will thank me when I come in with a month's worth of groceries tonight. 

[debthaven]

My future self will thank me

So this Iggy aka IG! Same here with the marking and laundry ... I have to force myself but I'll be happy when I don't have to spend too much time on the weekend doing it. Good for you!

[dee27]

Nov 14, 2017 11:18:44 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Iggy aka IG I can't remember if I mentioned this, but the adjuster ended up going off on sick leave without ever writing his report (6 weeks later). So in the end his boss did it. It's been nearly eight weeks since the adjuster came.

 

I hope it is good news!

[debthaven]

So finally some good news around here! My DS2 has been looking for an apt to purchase (he's 29). He fell in love with one about two weeks ago, made an offer, and his offer was accepted! But he was in the last few weeks of his "trial period", and no bank here will give you a loan if you're on your probationary period and you don't have a "permanent contract". DS2 being DS2, he didn't bother to tell the owners that lol.

The HUGE client DS2 has been working with finally signed a contract on Fri, so his agency surprised DS2 with his "permanent contract" today, a couple of weeks early! 

I'm so happy for him! Plus, it means that all the furniture that we've been storing for him (he's been staying with his GF since he gave up his sublet) should eventually leave our house one day! Even more cause for celebration!  We'll probably still be stuck with his drum set though.
I am SO happy for him! I can't wait to see the apt! It takes 4-6 months to close here. I'm so excited!!!

[TheOtherMe]

Congratulations to DS2, debthaven

A couple more of my listings have bids now.  They all end before noon tomorrow.  Will be interesting to see how this plays out.  Hope everyone pays quickly and I can get them mailed.  I will be going in the hole on one item after shipping and eBay/Paypal fees.  Not on the others.