2018 Get Organized & Declutter Your Stuff

[debthaven]

It's lovely that you have such great relationships with your niece and nephews TheOtherMe .

Update: 17/22 boxes done. Me, DS1, DS2, DD done. DS3 and I will do his 5 boxes next time he comes home (probably in March). 

DS2 pulled out his school boxes tonight since he knew I was working on them. He got a huge kick out of going through the school stuff from his childhood.

Nothing planned for tomorrow except for school prep and rest. I am VERY happy that project is (basically) done. I hope I can still manage to walk on Monday.

[TheOtherMe]

I enjoy those adults.  They don't like to be called kids.  I lived too far away to get to know them as children, so living here has been a blessing in that regard.

My friend who has issues with the mail also fights with her HOA a lot, usually because of things she would know if she picked up her mail.  Last I heard, they now email her.

[Sharon]

I have started gathering things for taxes.  Mom and I went to the home show that they are having in our area this weekend.  They had a lot of vendors this year with some really good booths. 

Now I need to get busy around my place. 

[debthaven]

Catching up with laundry. I always forget about laundry when I'm doing a "project".

I labelled the boxes. I also put the 2 Christmas boxes on "my" shelves because they were difficult to access on DH's shelves.

[chapeau]

I’m trying really hard not to be annoyed at a Christmas gift DH and I received from one of his relatives. The relative went to an estate sale for a fairly well known (locally) person. She told everyone before her post-Christmas open house that she had bought us all something from the sale.
She bought everyone furniture! Furniture! Who does that?

We got a love seat. It’s probably very nice (I haven’t seen it yet, I missed the open house, and we haven’t been able to make arrangements to pick it up from her house yet). But I’m just aggravated. She hasn’t even been to our house in 4 years! It’s very generous of her, and she didn’t have to get us anything, and I know I sound horribly ungrateful, but...

So this weekend I’m trying to figure out where I’m putting it. I have graph paper and a tape measure out. Sadly, my immediate reaction when DH texted me the photo and asked where I wanted to put it turns out to be anatomically impossible. 😇

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 13, 2018 18:49:08 GMT -5 chapeau said:

I’m trying really hard not to be annoyed at a Christmas gift DH and I received from one of his relatives. The relative went to an estate sale for a fairly well known (locally) person. She told everyone before her post-Christmas open house that she had bought us all something from the sale.
She bought everyone furniture! Furniture! Who does that?

We got a love seat. It’s probably very nice (I haven’t seen it yet, I missed the open house, and we haven’t been able to make arrangements to pick it up from her house yet). But I’m just aggravated. She hasn’t even been to our house in 4 years! It’s very generous of her, and she didn’t have to get us anything, and I know I sound horribly ungrateful, but...

So this weekend I’m trying to figure out where I’m putting it. I have graph paper and a tape measure out. Sadly, my immediate reaction when DH texted me the photo and asked where I wanted to put it turns out to be anatomically impossible. 😇

That is definitely an odd gift. I cannot imagine buying a piece of furniture for anyone except my children. And in that case, it would only be because they specifically told us what they wanted. 

Maybe think outside the normal spots for a love seat. Can it go in your bedroom? 

[chapeau]

Jan 13, 2018 18:52:26 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 13, 2018 18:49:08 GMT -5 chapeau said:

I’m trying really hard not to be annoyed at a Christmas gift DH and I received from one of his relatives. The relative went to an estate sale for a fairly well known (locally) person. She told everyone before her post-Christmas open house that she had bought us all something from the sale.
She bought everyone furniture! Furniture! Who does that?

We got a love seat. It’s probably very nice (I haven’t seen it yet, I missed the open house, and we haven’t been able to make arrangements to pick it up from her house yet). But I’m just aggravated. She hasn’t even been to our house in 4 years! It’s very generous of her, and she didn’t have to get us anything, and I know I sound horribly ungrateful, but...

So this weekend I’m trying to figure out where I’m putting it. I have graph paper and a tape measure out. Sadly, my immediate reaction when DH texted me the photo and asked where I wanted to put it turns out to be anatomically impossible. 😇

That is definitely an odd gift. I cannot imagine buying a piece of furniture for anyone except my children. And in that case, it would only be because they specifically told us what they wanted. 

Maybe think outside the normal spots for a love seat. Can it go in your bedroom? 

I would love to put it in my bedroom, but I think I’d have to lose my dresser if I did. Old house, queen size bed. Between the forced air registers, the cold air returns, the weirdly sized windows, I’m considering putting it back to back with the love seat we already have, facing the fireplace in the family room. I think I can get one of the chairs from the family room into the bedroom instead. It clashes with the curtains, but I’ve been wanting to reupholster that chair anyway.

Mom asked if I wanted any furniture this year, and we talked about storage for the dining room (I want a cabinet for my sewing machine and supplies, since I do all of my cutting and most of the sewing at the DR table) but couldn’t find anything I liked. Talked-about furniture is fine. Surprise furniture really isn’t.

[Lizard Queen]

Surprise furniture is pretty nuts.

[debthaven]

I agree, chapeau , that's really odd. I wouldn't appreciate a gift like that either.

Does it go with the decor or your house? You have young kids ... do you have a playroom?!

DH's mom was a hoarder. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer (many years ago) she decluttered as fast as she could so DH would have less to do (he is an only child). Of course there was still TONS left (some of which ended up in our basement, to my chagrin).

Since her death and clearing out her house, DH will only gift comestibles or books to any adults outside our immediate family.

My very close friend A brings a gift every time she comes over. I avoid clutter, and although I adore her, we don't have the same taste at all. I've given away most of her gifts but I feel I have to keep a few for when she comes over.

If you really can't find a place for it, then pass it on. Maybe invite her over so she sees it first, and then pass it on? If she hasn't been to your house in 4 years, I wouldn't feel the need to keep it if I didn't like it, just in case she comes over one day. But I probably would invite her over to see it before I got rid of it.

[dee27]

When I was cleaning out the drawers, I found a copy of the letter I set to the company that collects city taxes in 2013. I have not worked anywhere since 2010-11, yet the company keeps asking for the same info about my wages despite the fact that I am retired. I have sent the company a copy of the first two pages of my federal return, but every year the company disregards that information. Pensions and SS are not wages and are not taxable at the city level.

[CCL]

Jan 13, 2018 19:32:40 GMT -5 dee27 said:

When I was cleaning out the drawers, I found a copy of the letter I set to the company that collects city taxes in 2013. I have not worked anywhere since 2010-11, yet the company keeps asking for the same info about my wages despite the fact that I am retired. I have sent the company a copy of the first two pages of my federal return, but every year the company disregards that information. Pensions and SS are not wages and are not taxable at the city level.

I wish we didn't have to pay local taxes on our pension income.

[Sam_2.0]

Family room is all purged of crap kids have room to play and the non-baby friendly toys are in the basement. Whew! I am exhausted.

[debthaven]

That looks great Sam_2.0 !

Peter Walsh's Day 14 of #31Days2GetOrganized – SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES – Spare juicer? Extra coffeemaker?? If this sounds like you, then this is definitely your challenge!

Get rid of any duplicates or any small appliances you don't use.

[whoisjohngalt]

Jan 14, 2018 3:52:29 GMT -5 debthaven said:

That looks great Sam_2.0 !

Peter Walsh's Day 14 of #31Days2GetOrganized – SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES – Spare juicer? Extra coffeemaker?? If this sounds like you, then this is definitely your challenge!

Get rid of any duplicates or any small appliances you don't use.

Or....you can buy another teapot, like I did last night.  There is a "tea" store that is going out of business and everything was 75% off and I got a really nice, very heavy, brew your own tea, tea pot.  We do use those type of teapots, but I already have two plastic ones.  I should probably get rid of at least one of them.....  And yes, debthaven, I do remember how you got rid of whole bunch of old tea last year


My husband was very receptive of going through our master bathroom last night and throwing away crap.   I found an unused pregnancy test that expired in 2014 - that should tell you all how long it has been since we looked in those drawers!

[whoisjohngalt]

Jan 8, 2018 21:46:30 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

If I missed someone else posting, my apologies for a duplicate.

Day 8 of #31Days2GetOrganized – SPICES – If your herb and spice cabinet hasn’t been declutter in years, then this is the challenge for you. Add some SPICE to your organizing life by showing these babies who’s boss!

I know everyone moved on, but I am going through "spices rebirth".

I decided that I don't want to have spices in plastic bottles anymore, but the cheap ass that I am, I can't throw away the ones that I already have, so I will be replacing them as I use them with spices in glass bottles.

I did threw away a LOT of spices in Jan of 2017, so hopefully this process won't take me long bc theoretically I should only have spices that I am using.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 14, 2018 9:12:42 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Jan 8, 2018 21:46:30 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

If I missed someone else posting, my apologies for a duplicate.

Day 8 of #31Days2GetOrganized – SPICES – If your herb and spice cabinet hasn’t been declutter in years, then this is the challenge for you. Add some SPICE to your organizing life by showing these babies who’s boss!

I know everyone moved on, but I am going through "spices rebirth".

I decided that I don't want to have spices in plastic bottles anymore, but the cheap ass that I am, I can't throw away the ones that I already have, so I will be replacing them as I use them with spices in glass bottles.

I did threw away a LOT of spices in Jan of 2017, so hopefully this process won't take me long bc theoretically I should only have spices that I am using.

Moved on...no, never. There's no moving on. Maintaining the house as a tidy and de-cluttered space is perpetual and cyclical. Besides that, tasks like the spice decluttering, I add that to the deep cleaning list for that zone. I'll take care of it this weekend because that's my deep-cleaning list zone for the second week of the month.


Off the top of my head, I'm going to throw out the Orange Zest. We bought it years ago, used it once, and its just taking up space. I cannot fathom it is even zesty anymore. I wonder how many more I can discard. 

[startsmart]

Last year I bought a few dozen glass bottles at a shop online and then moved all my spices over so they're uniform size and shape and fit in the spice drawer really nicely. I have clear labels on the outside and then just refill when it gets low. There's a tupperware of overflow in the pantry because I don't need 7 small jars of cinnamon from one big bottle I've had for ages. 

Now the only spices I regularly buy are for steak marinade and a few from Trader Joe's. Anyone else love "everything but the bagel" seasoning?! It's amazing.

[chiver78]

it's finally done!! yay!

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2018 15:21:01 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

it's finally done!! yay! [img src="http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/smile.gif" alt="" src="//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png" class="smile"]

That looks so good!

[debthaven]

It looks great chiver78 ! Well done!

I did NOTHING today. It felt great.

Back to my full schedule tomorrow, so no more house projects for now. Very thankful to be teaching 22h/week instead of 24.5h/week like last semester.

[stillmovingforward]

Very nice Chiver!

I have done nothing around the house this past week.  No decluttering at all.  But I am in the mood to do so.  I finally started to work on my quilt after a week off.  Surgery sucks!

[debthaven]

I hope you're feeling better stillmovingforward and that it was nothing serious.

[debthaven]

I decided that I don't want to have spices in plastic bottles anymore, but the cheap ass that I am, I can't throw away the ones that I already have, so I will be replacing them as I use them with spices in glass bottles.

whoisjohngalt Same here lol. My spice shelf is organized but there are different brands and containers. I buy glass bottles but DH often buys huge quantities of spices in plastic tubs, which sort of drives me nuts, because although we do use a lot of spices, there's nothing we use that much of. 

Your post about the teapot made me laugh, because I want a new teapot too. DH drinks industrial quantities of tea, but we have one tiny teapot, and one huge one. They are always both out. I want a medium-sized teapot so I can put the two others away except when we need a big or small one.

It's like The Three Little Bears ... this teapot is too big, and this teapot is too small. I want ONE teapot that's just right LOL.

[debthaven]

www.ikea.com/fr/fr/catalog/products/80265647/

We use the lowest of these shelves for spices. Glass bottles in front, plastic tubs (refills) in the back. We have two of these units, one in each corner. We also bought a third, took it apart, and added a top shelf to both.

ETA: Edited because I put the wrong link.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[stillmovingforward]

Debthaven:  I'm doing ok, thank you!  It is serious but we're still not sure how serious.  But I had to burn a week of vacation/sick days and that makes me crabby.  I want to travel, not lay on the sofa!  I should hear in the next week or so how serious it is............

I'm really glad I did a dedicated declutter last year of the living areas!  That makes it easier to move around, find things, and give me a better feeling of freedom.  I didn't get to the storage areas though.  But those are on my list for this year!

[dee27]

Jan 14, 2018 17:30:51 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Debthaven:  I'm doing ok, thank you!  It is serious but we're still not sure how serious.  But I had to burn a week of vacation/sick days and that makes me crabby.  I want to travel, not lay on the sofa!  I should hear in the next week or so how serious it is............

I'm really glad I did a dedicated declutter last year of the living areas!  That makes it easier to move around, find things, and give me a better feeling of freedom.  I didn't get to the storage areas though.  But those are on my list for this year!

I hope you find an easy solution. I hope you feel better very soon.

[finnime]

stillmovingforward, hope all turns out well, and that you heal quickly.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 14, 2018 17:30:51 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Debthaven:  I'm doing ok, thank you!  It is serious but we're still not sure how serious.  But I had to burn a week of vacation/sick days and that makes me crabby.  I want to travel, not lay on the sofa!  I should hear in the next week or so how serious it is............

I'm really glad I did a dedicated declutter last year of the living areas!  That makes it easier to move around, find things, and give me a better feeling of freedom.  I didn't get to the storage areas though.  But those are on my list for this year!

Hope all turns out okay.  Healing thoughts. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Excuse the banana peel that DH tossed in there while I was purging. These are the ten spices I just tossed: 
Exp 2012 Vinegar (not actually from the spice cupboard)
Exp 2014 Steak Rub
Exp 2016 Another Steak Rub
Exp 2007 Lemon Pepper
Just never use it  Orange Zest
Exp 2015 Garlic Salt
Exp 2014 Paprika
Exp 2012 Celery Seed
Exp 2010 Beef Granules
Just never used it again Morton's Meat Tenderizer
 





So, we still have a lot of spices, but we do use these: