2017 Declutter and Organization Thread

[saveinla]

We went through the coat and shoe closet and decide to give away a bunch of stuff and re-organized the closet.

A small table top oven along with a small table it was sitting and a few things that are not used anymore in the kitchen have been given away and I have moved some new pans and other stuff that I use in the space that was vacated.

We also trashed a bunch of old receipts that we had kept on a car that was totaled. Next to tackle is the stuff that needs to go back to the store, but I want to wait after Christmas to that, since the stores are packed right now.

[startsmart]

I had a great time on the trip Hosted 3 separate "meet ups" with clients from a program over 7 days, plus had dinner with the smoking hot model who made me want to move to London 

The sites were lovely, Ireland was a blast and I had so much fun seeing the family and catching up. I did catch a cold last weekend and I'm still working to kick it. I am catching up at home, got a load of mail including a jury summons, finished Christmas shopping and working on wrapping everything up and restocked the kitchen. 

Unfortunately, I'll have some house guests on Saturday so I do need to clean up this week and plan lunch. 

[debthaven]

This week
Mon
- pick up DS1's gift
- mall for DD's gift
- grocery shopping
- bottle bank
- pharmacy
- take papers to RE agent
Tues
- recommendation letter LM
- pick up DS2's gift?
- pick up baby's bed?

The items with ? mean they haven't been delivered yet. I also have to go back to the mall at some point.

 

[Opti]

My organizing desires right now are far outweighed by my organizing abilities right now because I am sick. Because I've been home so much  not sleeping, there are lots of things I want to get into basement storage and things I'd like to finally organize. Including finding out if my old Christmas tree in basement storage suffered water damaged and should be tossed, or whether its basically OK. Its in a cardboard long box, a 7 1/2 ft old style tree, no lights integrated into the branches, and heavy. I don't feel well enough to open it piece by piece especially since I realize today is the last good day to send Xmas cards out to my family several states away if I want them to receive them b4 Christmas.

So tomorrows organization task is simply some Christmas cards in addition to my scheduled food pantry time.
Glad it will be better weather today.

[Blonde Granny]

The box in my garage has some occupants in it: 1 handbag bought year ago and never used, 1 Fall pumpkin embroidered hand towel and 3 unused Christmas hand towels.

My plan is to continue putting items in that box until our community garage sale in May 2018.

[busymom]

Ok, I DID buy the stocking stuffers yesterday.

Today, the contractor cancelled on my AGAIN.  But, his other kid is sick, & he's taking her to the pediatrician, so, been there, done that.  He hopes to be here tomorrow.

So, today has become baking day.  I'm making 2 pies, & they're in the oven right now.  I might also wrap a present, or two...  

[Opti]

Got back from the food pantry and the 50% off clothing sale down the hall. Ended up with two Coldwater Creek pieces in royal purple. A long stretchy velvet dress and a 3/4 sleeve top w/ velvet burnout perhaps? Now to unpack my trunk, put things away and make lunch which will be some of the roast chicken with the last of the stuffing I made.

Then Christmas cards. My one sister's card just arrived, so I'd better get cracking on my cards & card designs this afternoon. Hopefully I can get some to the post office tonight before the regional one closes.

Busy, Happy baking day. I hope to bake later this week.

[busymom]

Totally jealous, Opti!  I LOVE Coldwater Creek!  The last time I bought something of their brand was when I needed a dress for a special occasion.  

The pies turned out well, & are cooling right now.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

We are home from our long weekend. Everything is unloaded and put away. Here are my goals for tonight. The list on the right needs to be done this week.

[atlantapenny]

Dec 16, 2017 1:37:08 GMT -5 busymom said:

Dec 15, 2017 22:47:18 GMT -5 atlantapenny said:

I normally lurk but wanted to say they may not do the actual cremation there.  I know our vet will send the pet out to be cremated and then they get the remains back, so you pick up your loved one at the vet vs driving to the crematorium.  Unfortunately I know this as our two year old cat passed away after a tough illness this past August, and I was the one coming in to pick her remains up.  I was so glad I didn't have to drive across town to get her, on top of everything else.

      I'm sorry you lost your fur baby at such a young age.     There's always room for more, if you'd like to join us here in decluttering.  

That is very kind busymom!  I've done a great job (for me) of decluttering this year, inspired by this thread and some other blogs and boards I visit.  My problem is that I am very sentimental about pretty much everything.  I've donated so much stuff that my husband is impressed and we now even have an almost empty guest closet, but I still have some problem areas.  Pretty much each bed has a bunch of underbed storage boxes full of things that I am torn on parting with and with them being hidden they are out of site, out of mind.  Realistically, I know that as I approach age 40 I am not going to pull out the box of 20's party clothes to go out in (plus I doubt they fit), but still.  I cringe at the idea of getting rid of them.

[TheOtherMe]

After about a month of windy night before trash days, the trash and recycle bins are brimming and at the curb.  I consider that a win.  I was able to put out some boxes that I have been afraid would blow away.

[Sharon]

Please feel free to ignore my list but I need somewhere to keep track, I am so far behind getting ready for Christmas this year.

General Stuff
    Get out Christmas dishes
    Get out good silver
    Get tables from Dad
    Start thawing turkey 12/19- Decided to move this up a day since it is a 21.5lb bird
    Make stock 12/23
    Make Stuffing 12/24
    Plan Menu
    Invite People
    Neighbor goodie plates (x3)
    Hairdresser goodie plate- To be delivered tomorrow
    Wipe down the pack n play
    Move sewing machine etc to the office

Baking Stuff
    Make Divinity by 12/19
    Fudge (chocolate and peanut butter)
    Rocky Road (maybe)
    Pumpkin bread
    Frosted Sugar cookies

Presents
    Mom
    Finish up Dad
    Wrap

Clean
    Vacuum
    Dust
    Bathrooms
    Scrub floors
    Clean Oven
    Clean Stovetop
    Finish decorating tree and get ornament tubs out of living room

Feeling more in control this evening.  Having the shopping done and the presents wrapped is a huge weight lifted.  The dinner will come together and if the house isn't perfectly clean, oh well. 

[debthaven]

This week
Mon
- pick up DS1's gift
- mall for DD's gift
- grocery shopping
- bottle bank
- pharmacy
- take papers to RE agent
Tues
- recommendation letter LM
- mall for DH's gift
- mall for DS2's GF's gift
- pick up DS2's gift?
- pick up baby's bed?

I got a lot done yesterday.

I'll go back to the mall today for gifts for DH and DS2's girlfriend. I'm hoping to finish the gifts today, although I'll still need stocking stuffers. I'm teaching one class tomorrow morning, then coming home with the last 41 exams.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Today’s goals

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 18, 2017 21:45:34 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

After about a month of windy night before trash days, the trash and recycle bins are brimming and at the curb.  I consider that a win.  I was able to put out some boxes that I have been afraid would blow away.

Nothing blew down the street, there isn't other's people trash in my yard today and my bins are back in the garage.

I never through a wind free trash day could make me so happy.

[busymom]

Well, it's been an interesting morning.  DH forgot the recycling inside the front door.  I didn't spot it until the recycling truck had passed our house.  So, we get to keep it for 2 MORE weeks.  

The contractor called off again.  He's been dealing with sick kids since late last week, and now HE's the sick one.  Maybe tomorrow, but I'm not betting the farm on it.

My cards are done, including those I'll be handing out to relatives in person.  Unless, of course, I get cards in the mail from anyone I didn't send one to.     AND, the gifts are now wrapped.  After the 22nd, then I can decorate the house.

[Iggy aka IG]

[dee27]

Dec 19, 2017 13:09:49 GMT -5 busymom said:

Well, it's been an interesting morning.  DH forgot the recycling inside the front door.  I didn't spot it until the recycling truck had passed our house.  So, we get to keep it for 2 MORE weeks.  

The contractor called off again.  He's been dealing with sick kids since late last week, and now HE's the sick one.  Maybe tomorrow, but I'm not betting the farm on it.

My cards are done, including those I'll be handing out to relatives in person.  Unless, of course, I get cards in the mail from anyone I didn't send one to.     AND, the gifts are now wrapped.  After the 22nd, then I can decorate the house.

The flu is sidelining a lot of people even in my state where the flu usually hits harder in January.

[busymom]

Dec 19, 2017 14:07:05 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

      That is simply BRILLIANT!   Plus, the bonus is, I won't have to do laundry until after Christmas.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Dec 19, 2017 16:05:33 GMT -5 busymom said:

Dec 19, 2017 14:07:05 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

      That is simply BRILLIANT!   Plus, the bonus is, I won't have to do laundry until after Christmas.  

I'm thinking about doing this, too.  Neighbor guy coming over to help DH with something this Friday, which requires laundry room access.  Must camouflage the skivvies...

[debthaven]

Tues
- recommendation letter LM
- mall for DH's gift
- mall for DS2's GF's gift
- pick up DS2's gift?
- pick up baby's bed?

Today was NOT productive.

I'm also pissed off at school. They gave me 5 new first and second year classes out of 5, which means I have 100 new names to learn (learning names gets harder for me every year). Plus, I gave the schedulers 6 free slots on Tuesdays, but told them to only give me 5 classes. Guess what they did.

I know where they "hide" the schedules until they send them to us, so I sent them a nice, chirpy email "reminder"  that although I gave them 6 available slots on Tuesdays, I also specified not to give me more than 5 classes per day. We'll see. The first-year scheduler is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. You never know which one you'll get, so I decided to send an email to her and the second-year planner. I get along very well with both of them, so I'm guessing they just zapped my note (even though it was in caps and highlighted in yellow ).

Also, I was supposed to pick up my last exams after 10 tomorrow. I have a class from 9.30-10.30, so perfect, right?! Tonight we got an email saying the Studies Department is running late, so we can only pick up the exams at 1. Which means I get to hang out for 2.5h. I guess I'll go to the local mall and try to pick up a few more gifts.

ETA: The only good thing about the new classes is that they are a bit smaller, so I have 10 fewer first- and second-year students, ie 82 instead of 92. 

[TheOtherMe]

Hope tomorrow goes better for you, debt.

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 19, 2017 14:07:05 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Now THERE'S an idea. I forgot to do last week's laundry so I have enough in the corner to do this with.

[startsmart]

I finished the 24 burp rags, I have another 8 cut for sewing but the fabric is bunching like crazy and driving me a little nuts. I'll keep working on them tomorrow.

December Final List: 

Donate magazines to local assisted living home
Take a donation to Goodwill
Pickup items not sold at holiday boutique 
Add 24 photos to my big canvas
Pick up groceries for weekend cooking 
Clean up the kitchen 
-scrub counter tops 
-clean out the fridge and wipe down shelves
-wipe down sink, microwave, stove
Vacuum
-office
-living room
-bedrooms
-hallway
Organize bookshelf in living room
Make up the guest room 
Put away the vacuums
Finish putting away clean clothes 

Food to prep: 
Breakfast casserole
Cinnamon rolls 
bacon
Crab cioppino 
rice
crispy green beans

[debthaven]

Left this week
Home
- pick up baby bed/Wed
- send DS2's papers/Wed
- call ground survey people/Thurs
- doctor/Thurs
- DH's gift
- DS2's GF's gift
- get second gift for DS2
- pick up DS2's gift? just found out it won't be here before Christmas
Marking
- Wed: 21 papers
- Thurs: 18 essays
- Fri: 18 Vocab + 18 Grammar
Finals: 129/147 done

In the end the exams were ready early, so I didn't have to hang out at the mall. I stopped in at one store and got some stocking stuffers. Also, the planner said she would change those courses after Christmas break.

[Iggy aka IG]

It's supposed to be a mellow time of year here at the office, and, much to my chagrin, it's been quite the opposite.  I'm still waiting for quotes, VM is piled up, and have several other things to do before taking off for vacation.

I did finish baking and assembling goodie pails (charming, small, metal pails found at Walmart) last weekend.  As of this morning, I have delivered/mailed all but one.  I did dishes at 6:15 this morning and packed for an overnight trip tonight.  I have so much on my mind I forgot to bring both my breakfast AND lunch and forgot to start the dishwasher.

Last night was drinks and appetizers with a small group of client friends.  Tonight is dinner with dad and the rest of the family.  I'll clean house Saturday, have mom and the family over Sunday for prime rib with trimmings and a present exchange, make overnight French toast, then collapse Christmas morning with DH.

Cannot wait for days off. 

[debthaven]

Good luck Iggy aka IG ! You'll get it all done.

I'm not sure I can blitz these exams because I still have too much Christmas shopping to do, plus a doctor's appt tomorrow. If I'm home they're my priority, but at this point I won't stay home to mark, if that makes sense.

[moneysquirrel]

Updating: 
     Continuing to shred papers, gather materials to donate, recycle and trash. 

Dec 17, 2017 12:38:53 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

December To-Do List:
Some repeats and several new items.

*Declutter top of BR dresser == my normal spot and it has gotten packed again.
*Work on 2018 Spreadsheets
*Exercise -- maintain or improve on attendance
*Continue to collect things for former colleagues -- Won't see them until January to drop things off
*Family and Friends Get Togethers
*Christmas Cards -- About 6 left to write
*Update Etsy shop --  Photos and write-ups to do. Hope to get a few more uploaded soon..
*Car Insurance --  Charged to CC -- will pay as soon as it shows up online.
*Craft Show SpreadSheet -- finish up and send to my booth partner (half done)
*Wrap presents
*Mop 
*Vacuum
*Crochet -- working on another scrap afghan -- aim is at least 2 rows a day.  Needs @ 75 rows and I have about 30   44 done already.
*Bead daily  -- new project plus continue work on the one I am remaking. Ongoing
*Maintain what is organized already
*Make cookies ??

[empress of self-improvement]

How late is too late to put out Christmas decorations? I have been incredibly lazy this year. I got the boxes out of the crawlspace and put them in my way but so far all I have done is taken out a 40-something year old Santa thing and hung it on the front door. Oh, and took my Coke bear musical tree thingy out. That's it. I can do the laundry tree, no problem. Just need to find the tree topper. Winnie-the-Pooh as an angel, in case you were wondering.

I did my Christmas cards at work. Not like there's a shortage of downtime. I just need to go buy 5 presents and I can be done. My company is giving us hams so that's been scratched off my grocery list. The one that hasn't been written yet. Blurgh

[busymom]

No contractor again today, so I'm trying to do other things.  I did a big grocery trip today, although I'll still have to make a last-minute stop, most likely on Friday.  I baked cookies tonight too, so try & keep DS out of the Christmas goodies.  

It's never too late to put out the Christmas decorations, empress of self-improvement.     I can't put mine up until the 22nd, when I'm sure the siding guys won't be replacing my siding.  But, I'm already thinking ahead of where to put up different decorations.  I need to do things a bit differently, with all the stuff off the wall & on the floor. This won't be one of those years of the perfect Currier & Ives Christmas, but we'll be fine.