2019 - Organize Your Life & Declutter Your Stuff

[startsmart]

We got a break in the rain this weekend, which is good because the leak in my roof opened up again and dripped water on my dresser. This morning I stripped my bed, rotated the mattress and swept underneath since there was everything from water bottles to dust bunnies hiding out, next is washing the pillows, pillow cases and comforter before bed tonight.

I have been working a bit in the lounge plus did 2.5 miles on my bike (easing back into it!) but need to tidy up a lot around here. 

I've also decided to cancel my storage unit since it was meant to be a short term thing and it's been a year. That gives me less than 2 weeks to get everything moved out by the end of the month so I need to go over today and do the first load home. I have a full spreadsheet of all the things that are in storage so by my count I have 85 boxes to move. I believe most of it will fit into the garage since I've cleaned up out there a lot and in my lounge closet. Of course, I'm going to go through things (again) and keep downsizing but I think this is good. 


List this week was abysmal, there's a lot of shit going down with work right now so I'm trying to reclaim my week for the things I need to be doing. New list is below: 


1 Finish chapters 4-6 of my book 
2 Write down quotes from last year’s books
3 Take donation to goodwill 
4 Cull magazines
5 Finish scanning loose pictures
6 Touch up front door paint
7 Begin planting bulbs

New List

1. Finish chapter 4-9 of my book
2. Drop off donation at Goodwill
3. Touch up front door paint when it won't rain for 12 hours 
4. Begin planting bulbs in the front yard 
5. Move 10 boxes from the storage unit home
6. Consolidate family photo project into one box/container 
7. Shred papers and recycle them 

[TheOtherMe]

I did 2 of the 3 things I wanted to do.  Probably kicking the other one to tomorrow.

Sister called, wanting to know where dad was born.  Talked to her for a bit.  I told her that he said he can't see the aspirin he bought.  She wants him to make a decision about doing the procedure.  She did not take it well when I told her that he is not capable of making a decision.

Hope my niece can get through to her.  

[paynointerest]

Jan 17, 2019 11:46:21 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 17, 2019 9:33:11 GMT -5 gs11rmb said:

If your sister says no then I think it's time to call in a social worker.  I understand that your sister wouldn't deliberately do anything to hurt your father but her lack of action is turning neglect into abuse.

I don't know where to look for a social worker.  

After talking to niece, it sounds like sister is in denial, but that denial is neglect, imo.

Yes, it is quickly on the way to abuse.

I was in his apartment today.  Things are not going well in the apartment.  It's apparent he's not taking the eye vitamin recommended to slow the progress of macular degeneration.  He bought aspirin and asked if they came in a bigger size because he can't see them.

He hasn't asked to buy circle work puzzles in weeks.

He loves to watch Iowa Hawkeye basketball but he doesn't remember to watch them, even though he cuts the sports television listings out of the paper every morning.

Yes, I came home and cried again today.

TheOtherMe:  I can only imagine how hard this must be for you and your family.  My suggestions for finding a social worker who can help you would be to call your dad's primary care physician or nurse and they will be able to give you the name of a social worker who can help with your case.  Another option is to check out this website:  www.aging.com/social-services-for-the-elderly-how-can-i-get-help/

[paynointerest]

Update --

Today I cleaned out one of my bathroom vanity cabinets and threw out some items that were many many years old.  I'm also working on recommendation letters.  I have a total of 23 to write and I have 13 left to go.

[debthaven]

paynointerest

I also have to write recommendation letters but mine are probably less important than yours, since I am just an adjunct. Mine are usually to recommend a student for a study abroad program. Most exchange programs require letters, a few just require a form to confirm the student's language level.

I write about 20 letters a year. I have a template that my boss gave me when I first started. I personalized it, but now I use the template and adjust it depending on the student. Three of the four paragraphs are pretty standard, but one paragraph is more personalized.

So I would suggest creating a template for those letters with parts that are easy and a more personal paragraph.

I would be happy to share mine to give you an idea, but I don't think it would help you create yours with what you do. But it might help give you an idea of what to do to create a template and make your life easier going forward.

Hope this helps.

[TheOtherMe]

Thank you paynointerest   

[debthaven]

So, big news here. One reason I refused the new car was that I still hadn't used my Christmas present from DH.

I used it today. I booked a flight for the US!!! I spent the last month asking DH to go with me, he said he didn't want to spend that much. I said, no problem. You buy my ticket and I'll buy yours! He said no, it's too much money, and this is MY present to YOU, so out of the question for you to pay for anything.

We finally sat down today to book my flight (I FINALLY got my final schedule on Thursday). Flights were MUCH cheaper than DH imagined, so he's coming too!!!

I'm so excited!!!

[busymom]

That sounds great, debthaven!  Hope you all have a great time.



I haven't popped in here much, as I really haven't much to report.  However, it looks like I've "decluttered" more weight.  No, I haven't been anywhere to weigh myself.  But, I can now get on a pair of pants that I wasn't able to get on since before our move.  

[TheOtherMe]

I'm excited for you debthaven and wish I lived on the East Coast.  

[debthaven]

busymom do yourself a favor and order yourself a scale. If you're tracking your weight it's good to have a scale at home, and they don't cost much.

And thanks!

[debthaven]

I do too TheOtherMe!

[Malarky]

Jan 19, 2019 18:10:07 GMT -5 debthaven said:

So, big news here. One reason I refused the new car was that I still hadn't used my Christmas present from DH.

I used it today. I booked a flight for the US!!! I spent the last month asking DH to go with me, he said he didn't want to spend that much. I said, no problem. You buy my ticket and I'll buy yours! He said no, it's too much money, and this is MY present to YOU, so out of the question for you to pay for anything.

We finally sat down today to book my flight (I FINALLY got my final schedule on Thursday). Flights were MUCH cheaper than DH imagined, so he's coming too!!!

I'm so excited!!!

Are you going to be in that town we have in common?  Or relatively near?  I'd love a brief meet up while you're in the neighborhood.  

[debthaven]

I'll be in Arlington. I'd LOVE to meet up.

Know that if it doesn't happen this time, it will definitely happen in summer when we come for longer. 

ETA: Malarky my friend from your town recently moved to Boston (downsized).

[startsmart]

Update: Got 13 boxes home from the storage unit and organizing them in the living room for now. 

The pillows are just about done in the wash and my comforter is next. SLOWLY getting things back in order around here. 

[countrygirl2]

It's better if I can just find those drapes, they are heavy and lined for winter.  Thank goodness she has cellular blinds or it would be cold in there.

Still more layers help.

[nikiz628]

H and I worked 10 hours on our old bathroom today.
Minus a few tiny little touch ups, etc IT IS FINISHED!!! Finally!!!

We need to hook up the drain and install one piece of corner trim still, but I can start decorating the new shelves and giving it a good clean now! I never thought this day would come. 😂

[Sharon]

This afternoon fizzled out.  The neighbors were removing a very large oak tree and I got side tracked watching them out the window.  Since the best view was in the office/sewing room I did do some work in there, at least started peeling back some of the layers on the tables.  I have way too much fabric and too many unfinished projects.

ETA: I also finished cleaning out an old purse and threw it away.

debthaven that sounds like a wonderful Christmas present and so glad that DH will make the trip with you.

[paynointerest]

Jan 19, 2019 18:04:19 GMT -5 debthaven said:

paynointerest

I also have to write recommendation letters but mine are probably less important than yours, since I am just an adjunct. Mine are usually to recommend a student for a study abroad program. Most exchange programs require letters, a few just require a form to confirm the student's language level.

I write about 20 letters a year. I have a template that my boss gave me when I first started. I personalized it, but now I use the template and adjust it depending on the student. Three of the four paragraphs are pretty standard, but one paragraph is more personalized.

So I would suggest creating a template for those letters with parts that are easy and a more personal paragraph.

I would be happy to share mine to give you an idea, but I don't think it would help you create yours with what you do. But it might help give you an idea of what to do to create a template and make your life easier going forward.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the offer debthaven!  I have been writing these for the past 10 years and so I have a good template and old letters that I can draw from.  It is interesting that I've been in this job long enough that a student comes through and reminds of a student I had 3-4 years ago so I pull that letter and use some of the words from that.  I do personalize the letters and try to make the slightly different from one another since many of the students are applying to the same programs.  Even with my templates, it still takes me about 30-45 minutes per recommendation.

I'm happy that you are getting to come to the east coast to visit your family!  Safe travels.

[paynointerest]

I decided to organize my t-shirt drawer tonight.  I only threw out one of my shirts.  I have the rest of the t-shirts organized so that each one is easy to find in the future.

Home Office

Shred documents that are over 10 years old and no longer needed
Organize my tax documents
Clean off my desk

Home Kitchen

Focus on making meals that use ingredients that have been sitting in my cabinets/freezer for a long time

• Use the lentils/split peas
  
• Use frozen meat that have been in freezer for almost a year
  
• Use frozen mixed veggies, throw out old veggies
• Use rice noodles
  
• Use sauces 
  

Get rid of cooking items that I don't use anymore

Work office

Throw out papers that are over 5 years old that I will never read again
Shred old exams cluttering my file drawers
Organize my files related to the program I direct -- throw out any unnecessary paper work

Organize the files on my desktop computer

Home (misc)

Recycle magazines that I have not read in years
Organize photo albums and donate or throw away albums that are not filled
Donate books that won't be read or are no longer needed

Organize the linen closet

Organize my t-shirt drawer

[Malarky]

Jan 19, 2019 18:43:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I'll be in Arlington. I'd LOVE to meet up.

Know that if it doesn't happen this time, it will definitely happen in summer when we come for longer. 

ETA: Malarky my friend from your town recently moved to Boston (downsized).

I work in Arlington two days a week!  Definitely would like to see you if it can be arranged.

[plugginaway22]

I have been on a roll with this bad weather keeping me home.  I have 2 large garbage bags full of clothing to donate.  Also filling a box with odds and ends: new candles gifted to me that I cannot tolerate the scents, an old cheap set of stainless flatware that hasn't been used in years, a set of curtains, 2 ceramic dust catchers, cutesy Christmas serving pieces that are not used, etc...

Rearranged the pantry to see what we need to use/get rid of and what I need to buy.  Have forgotten baking soda on the last 2 grocery trips!

[debthaven]

This weekend (updated)
- Quickbooks

It took me 3 hours but I was able to import the new file and catch up. This has been going on for 2 months.    Hopefully it will go faster going forward.

 

nikiz628 can we see photos?!

[paynointerest]

Today's accomplishment was I threw out (or will be donating) kitchen utensils that I have replicates of, that are broken, or I don't use. I used the frozen veggies to make a big batch of vegetable beef soup and I now have lunch for 4 days this week and some soup frozen for a "quick" dinner when I don't want to cook.  I also threw out some very very old peanut butter.

Home Office

Shred documents that are over 10 years old and no longer needed
Organize my tax documents
Clean off my desk

Home Kitchen

Focus on making meals that use ingredients that have been sitting in my cabinets/freezer for a long time

• Use the lentils/split peas
• Use cans of northern beans
  
• Use frozen meat that have been in freezer for almost a year
• Use frozen mixed veggies, throw out old veggies
• Use rice noodles
• Use 4 bottles of sauces 

Get rid of cooking items that I don't use anymore

• Organize the "all purpose" kitchen utensil drawer"
  

Work office

Throw out papers that are over 5 years old that I will never read again
Shred old exams cluttering my file drawers
Organize my files related to the program I direct -- throw out any unnecessary paper work
Organize the files on my desktop computer


Home (misc)

Recycle magazines that I have not read in years
Organize photo albums and donate or throw away albums that are not filled
Donate books that won't be read or are no longer needed
Organize the linen closet

Organize my t-shirt drawer

Throw out old toilets

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 20, 2019 11:54:38 GMT -5 debthaven said:

This weekend (updated)
- Quickbooks

It took me 3 hours but I was able to import the new file and catch up. This has been going on for 2 months.    Hopefully it will go faster going forward.

 

Now that it's set up properly, it should be faster.

[imanangel]

I just cleaned out my bathroom vanity.    I did it mostly because I REALLY WANTED to go buy a new skin care regimen. I get a bug in my butt every so often to go buy new stuff because I get bored with the old stuff. Well, I decided to go clean it out and see just how much money I have wasted on buying new stuff when the old stuff was just fine.....Needless to say, I won't be going to buy new stuff today, and I won't need to for several months. I tossed anything expired, dried out, funky smelling, or just looked gross.  I organized what I have. Some things are better for my skin during the winter and some for the summer. I also tossed some things that were still ok, but I hated what they did to my skin. 

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh’s 31 Days to Get Organized Challenge:


Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.

Day 2 - Shoes. Gather all of your shoes up from your closet. If they have dust on them, don’t fit, etc, put them in your donate bin. Only keep shoes you love, wear, and that fit you well.

Day 3 - Home Safety. Being organized is not just about closets and files, it's also about ensuring the best life for you and your family. The New Year is a great time to check smoke detectors in your home. Make this your 10 minute challenge for the day and make your family a little safer in the process!

Day 4 - This year’s challenge Mantra is “No more later” aka stop procrastinating. Today's challenge is to contact someone, preferably by phone, that you’ve been putting off. It could be a friend, family member, for more coworker, etc, but do it today!

Day 5 - The Junk Drawer.

Day 6 - Holiday Decorations. The holidays are over and it's time for the decorations to come down.

Day 7 - Bathroom cabinets! Pick one bathroom cabinet, and get rid of anything too old, expired or you don’t use, and put everything away in its proper space.

Day 8 - Plastic Food Storage Containers.

Day 9 - Hanging Clothes. In his video, he says that anything that has dust on it needs to go.

Day 10 - the mail. If you have mail pretty much all over your house then today's the day we're going to get that sorted out.

Day 11 - under the sink.

Day 12 - Clear out old magazines, catalogs, flyers, etc.

Day 13 - Gift wrap

Day 14 - space underneath your bed

Day 15 - Getting the fridge & freezer organized.

Day 16 - "The Lower Third Technique"! (For those notmwatchint the videos on Facebook, it’s basically to take a stack or pile of clothing and focus on the bottom 1/3 of the stack, as you’ll likely find you can donate most of that part of the pile).

Day 17 - Bills & Receipts.

Day 18 - back in the kitchen dealing with the cupboard that holds your cups and mugs.

Day 19 - Today I challenge you to tackle just one small area of your garage... it's all about just getting started!

Day 20 of #31Days2GetOrganized has us back in the kitchen with a challenge about keeping flat surfaces clear. You know how I feel about clear counter tops... today we'll be tackling those bad boys! #CounterTops #KitchenOrganization #ItsAllTooMuch #LetItGo

#31Days2GetOrganized

[tcu2003]

Yesterday, DH and I went through some of the kitchen cabinets. We purged some coffee mugs, reusable water bottles, shot glasses, and other miscellaneous glassware. I tried convincing DH we don’t need the margarita glasses we haven’t used in probably 8+ years, but he’s convinced in a few years when the kids are older, we’ll use them for us again. I disagree, but he did agree to move them to the cabinet above our fridge that neither of us can reach, so at least they’re not taking up valuable cabinet real estate down low.

[tcu2003]

Yay for getting to see your DS, DDIL and the grand baby soon debt!

[dogmom]

OMG Wow!  Just checked in.  You guys totally amaze me.

Debt:  YEA!  Hope you have a wonderful trip here.

Theo:  I am so rooting for you woman!  And sending a virtual hug for all you have been going through.

I've been rather random on my efforts.

Yesterday, snow shovel...8".  DH and I really moved a whole bunch.

While still warming up:

Organized two shelves of pantry.

Changed linens.

Four loads of laundry, done.  (still more, but I think there are only two loads left)

Wiped down counters and cleaned cook top.

Sorted two dresser drawers.  Five items of clothing for donation.

Dusted one bookshelf, came across a couple books that are in for donation.

Cleaned the bathroom.

From Iggy's thread about flu items, I did go through our "medicine" cabinet.  Washed out, outdated items removed for disposal.

Thank you all for keeping me motivated.

[countrygirl2]

I need to hit the cabinets and closet in my laundry room, just a bunch of junk in a lot of it.  The rest kitchen stuff. But I have lots of towels and things that could be bagged up so more room for more kitchen stuff.


I asked hubs to put up the curtain rod in the guest bedroom.  I had repaired the walls when painting and fixing efforts others did.  He will put them up where there is a header to fasten into.


I need to vacuum again, its because I need to in the garage so it doesn't track in don't know what the temp is, last time I looked was 16.  But hubs said the garage stays around 42 here at the house, so I can.


I have been washing our bed linens and blankets, have a lot of different ones but generally just wash what I have and put them back on.