2019 - Organize Your Life & Declutter Your Stuff

[mollyanna58]

Everyone is doing so well!  Keep up the good work!

Went into the attic and poked around a bit. Discarded some boxes and something that may have been foam insulation at one time.  Brought down a nice little watercolor my nephew did a few years back, and will hang it downstairs again.

[debthaven]

I can't do much during the week these days so my only goals are keeping up with kitchen/laundry and working on lines.

I get 39 essays this week but won't be able to mark them before the weekend. 

A very happy birthday to your dad TheOtherMe ! I hope today went well for all of you.

[debthaven]

Question for TheOtherMe or bean29 or anyone else who regularly does bookkeeping (online or otherwise).

Now that I'm caught up, how often should I plan to do Quickbooks? DH does the billing himself. DH said once a month, so I'm thinking the last Fri of the month, since I don't teach on Fridays.

DH doesn't have many expenses. There are several monthly bills for software/hosting/QB/bank fees. There were more bills in Oct when DH made DS2's room into his office, but those are dealt with now. I'm guessing about 15-20 items to enter/reconcile per month, including CC payments. I'm thinking a half-day should be enough to do that. Am I right? 

I'd appreciate any advice.  

[TheOtherMe]

debthaven  It doesn't sound like the bookkeeping is high volume.  With 15-20 items on the expense side, once a month should be fine.  Just don't get behind.  When I did bookkeeping for CPA firms for much larger businesses, we often only had the information sent to us once a month.  Since DH does the billing, I'm guessing the income gets entered in to QB at some point.

[TheOtherMe]

We had a nice time with dad to celebrate his birthday.  He surprised me because he knows his younger sister's 90th birthday is tomorrow.  The place where we went sings to the birthday person if you want them to.  It's usually just kids, but dad likes them to sign to him.

I did get to meet DN3's girlfriend and son.  I absolutely do not get what dad's issue is with her.  She has is certified to teach social studies and special ed.  Since the residential facility will be sending it's students to the public school next year, both she and DN3 have to apply for positions in the school district.  DN3 does want to stay with the kids with behavioral issues.  She doesn't care if she ends up at a middle school or high school.  

The little boy is 2.  He was very interested in a tractor ride there.  However, all he wants to do is sit in it and use his imagination.  He's afraid of it when the ride starts and won't stay on it.  He likes DN2 because he shows him big tractors.  Right away, he wanted to play with great niece.  She gives him a lot of attention and they said she plays with him.  Her older brother isn't interested.

Introverted me had quite enough of people in two hours.  That place was packed with little kids and birthday parties.

[Malarky]

I have had a most successful cleaning and decluttering day.  Friends were supposed to come for the Patriots game but icy roads are keeping them home.  I'm not really disappointed.  Now I won't have to cook.  DH and I can have leftovers, which we have plenty of, and the house will stay clean.  Not that they'd make a huge mess, but there's always cleanup after hosting any event.  

Mudroom/Laundry Room:  All shoes, boots, and coats properly stored in the closet.  My work bag and purse packed and ready for                                          work tomorrow.  Shredded all the papers that I've been stacking on the shredder. Laundry counter                                                cleared of all clutter-keys, sunglasses, water bottles, gym locks etc.

Bathroom:  Cleaned, up to and including hard water spots on fixtures.  Bathroom closet cleaned and organized.

Kitchen:  All counters clutter free with the exception of 4 bills I will pay tomorrow. Finally could actually eat at the kitchen table.  It               had become such a dumping ground. It was covered with my work stuff, mail, DD's school papers and a bunch of just                   little crap.  I tossed most of the miscellaneous things.  Not sure what they went to or who they belonged to but it wasn't                 anything I need.

Dining room:  Dusted and vacuumed.  The last of the Christmas linens put away.  Tweaked the tchotchkes a bit.

Living room:  Removed all the clutter that shouldn't be in there.  Dusted, vacuumed.  Removed the ottoman that we don't need
                    since we replaced a couch with two recliners.  The cat used to treat it like her own personal piece of furniture but                           doesn't seem to use it since we got the new chairs and she insists on sitting on us at all times.  I'll put it on the curb                     for free when the snow melts.

Hallway:  Upstairs landing and stairs swept.  Hall cabinet neatened and dusted. Runner and rug vacuumed. 

I also managed to put out another full bag of clothing and linens with the recycling on Wednesday.  DH even contributed a couple of items.  

I think I'm on top of the Peter Walsh challenges.  Except the junk drawers.  I don't want to clean the junk drawers.  

[debthaven]

Thanks so much TheOtherMe ! You know me, I won't fall behind, except occasionally by a week for finals. Yes DH enters the bills himself. Up to now he has been creating them on his computer as usual and THEN entering them into QB. I'm trying to get him to just do it on QB but a) it's out of my hands and b) I can't do his billing.

I'm so glad your Dad had a nice birthday and you all had a nice day together!

Wow@imaslacker you did a LOT today! Be proud and enjoy the evening!

[TheOtherMe]

As you have figured out, your DH could bill from QBs and save you a step!  

I'm probably in the doghouse because I didn't go to sister's house after the restaurant.  I needed to be with Lucy and not a bunch of people.

[wvugurl26]

I'm currently hating on staples. I am tackling the files. I need a few new folders and I'm sure I have old ones that are no longer needed. I had all the maintenance records for two cars ago. And the receipts were stapled to the service record. Dang staples!

The ceramic christmas tree went to the basement. The lights finally came down and are drying. It kept raining or snowing on them.

And I'm ignoring DH who is advising to do it tomorrow. We have way more than a day's worth of work so I need to keep plodding along. I'm trying to deal with all the random piles of paper.

[Sharon]

I finally got the vacuuming done and did a grocery run.  At lunch I made a big mac and cheese casserole since DD and DGD are going to spend tomorrow night at my place.  We can just nuke however much want and we will be good to go.  DGD tends to get hangry in the evening so with a late dinner having one that is all prepared will be a plus.

My lunch is all packed for tomorrow and will be going over to Mom's soon for the evening.

[TheOtherMe]

In her later years, mom put up only a ceramic Christmas tree.  That was it for decorating.  Sister has put it up at dad's place every Christmas since mom died.  This year, he says it's pretty and he wants it to stay up.  So it is.  If it makes him happy, that is an easy way to give him some happiness.

[countrygirl2]

The place is pretty clean.  I have the end table next to hubs to declutter.  His dresser inside and outside, is an eyesore.  

The  Christmas tree is still up but that's it.  

I did get in the garage and vac up some of the sawdust and stuff so that is better, won't track in the house.  Next is vac in the basement, he has a mess down there.  But not saying much, he is sanding in my sewing room he is building out, so wouldn't be very nice to complain.  It will be so nice, he also has the door up and trimmed out. Now he is looking to put in a duct outllet in the room for me.  It is already way warmer in that room with the wall he put in and insulated.

I do need to put away an inflatable that is in the garage, was letting it dry.  And I have a little music carousel to put away also.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 19, 2019 17:33:24 GMT -5 paynointerest said:

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.

Yikes! I've never had that many in one year! Of course, I live in the rural PNW. We don't tend to have more than 60 kids in a graduating glass. When I had 180 students, I was teaching eighth grade, so there weren't too many letters to write. I tend to personalize all of mine, but at more than 20 I might be using a template!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 20, 2019 18:09:53 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I'm currently hating on staples. I am tackling the files. I need a few new folders and I'm sure I have old ones that are no longer needed. I had all the maintenance records for two cars ago. And the receipts were stapled to the service record. Dang staples!

The ceramic christmas tree went to the basement. The lights finally came down and are drying. It kept raining or snowing on them.

And I'm ignoring DH who is advising to do it tomorrow. We have way more than a day's worth of work so I need to keep plodding along. I'm trying to deal with all the random piles of paper.

Okay...I couldn't figure out why you were mad at Staples the office supply store. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 20, 2019 18:17:50 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

In her later years, mom put up only a ceramic Christmas tree.  That was it for decorating.  Sister has put it up at dad's place every Christmas since mom died.  

My MIL only puts up either a ceramic or wooden tree. It's painted and fits on one of her living room end tables. 

I foresee being that way myself. 

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 20, 2019 20:27:33 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 20, 2019 18:09:53 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I'm currently hating on staples. I am tackling the files. I need a few new folders and I'm sure I have old ones that are no longer needed. I had all the maintenance records for two cars ago. And the receipts were stapled to the service record. Dang staples!

The ceramic christmas tree went to the basement. The lights finally came down and are drying. It kept raining or snowing on them.

And I'm ignoring DH who is advising to do it tomorrow. We have way more than a day's worth of work so I need to keep plodding along. I'm trying to deal with all the random piles of paper.

Okay...I couldn't figure out why you were mad at Staples the office supply store. 

Same

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 18, 2019 11:27:56 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Regarding deep cleaning chores for January. I have 42 on my list. I’ve completed 12. Since it’s already the 18th of the month, I need to step up the pace there.

It's 5:34 on Jan 20, and I have 21 completed of the 42 deep cleaning chores on the January lust. DD did help, so that's nice. 

[mollyanna58]

Went through the spice / baking cabinet, and got rid of all the old stuff: 23 items gone.

I have also been working on the piles of paper on my desk; recording, filing, or discarding.  It's getting easier to find the computer speakers at the very back of the desk. 

[imanangel]

Jan 20, 2019 21:09:23 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Went through the spice / baking cabinet, and got rid of all the old stuff: 23 items gone.

I have also been working on the piles of paper on my desk; recording, filing, or discarding.  It's getting easier to find the computer speakers at the very back of the desk. 

This is the black hole in my house. I am afraid to clean out the spice cupboard. I should probably do it soon....

[sheilaincali]

It was crazy cold here this past weekend (supposed to be colder next weekend). We didn't leave the house on Saturday at all so we did a few projects around the house. Yesterday we left to run errands and drop stuff off at the dumpster. My work has a large dumpster and a big cardboard recycling container. We pay a flat fee and with it being winter most of our employees are off so it's pretty empty from week to week. I've been taking full advantage of it.

We hauled a full load yesterday and I have another smaller load in my car now- I just need to drive to the dumpster area and unload. I'd have done it when I first got here but they were still plowing the parking lot.

Threw out 53 items so at 248/2019. We cleaned out the mechanical room. Used furnace filters, random cardboard boxes, trash, etc. It's a good sized room and when we moved in it became our "storage room". It needed to be gone through. I still need to go through the individual boxes/totes but all of the trash is out. It's crazy how much random cardboard we accumulate.

[TheOtherMe]

I will be taking out the trash tonight.  A winter storm is supposed to be here by tomorrow mid-morning.  I'm not taking out the bins.  I'm going to just take trash in bags.  Probably two bags.  I have some broken down cardboard boxes that I'm also taking out.  I'm not going through another round of trying to get the bins back in the garage on black ice.  

I have two goals today.  I did manage to clean out my coat closet of all the coats that no longer fit or that I hung on to for some kind of sentimental reason that I no longer fail.  Hoping to do the Paul McCartney side of the t-shirt closet.  The items won't be going anywhere until Thursday when I take them to Goodwill.

[TheOtherMe]

I talked to DN1 last night about his visit with Grandpa.  He can give me and the rest of the family more perspective than anybody else because he doesn't see Grandpa very often.

He said he was shocked by the decline in Grandpa's mental capabilities.  He also said he doesn't think he can see Grandpa again.  I get that.  I can barely do it myself.  He asked me if I thought Grandpa should be living alone, so I told him the details. 

[mollyanna58]

Jan 21, 2019 10:23:25 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I will be taking out the trash tonight.  A winter storm is supposed to be here by tomorrow mid-morning.  I'm not taking out the bins.  I'm going to just take trash in bags.  Probably two bags.  I have some broken down cardboard boxes that I'm also taking out.  I'm not going through another round of trying to get the bins back in the garage on black ice.  

I have two goals today.  I did manage to clean out my coat closet of all the coats that no longer fit or that I hung on to for some kind of sentimental reason that I no longer fail.  Hoping to do the Paul McCartney side of the t-shirt closet.  The items won't be going anywhere until Thursday when I take them to Goodwill.

I love the idea of someone having a "Paul McCartney side" of the closet.

[TheOtherMe]

My house is decorated in Paul McCartney.  

As I've finally reached adulthood, the collection is starting to disappear and no more is being acquired.  

[megaptera]

Jan 19, 2019 9:58:30 GMT -5 megaptera said:

Jan 18, 2019 21:39:24 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

Adding two loads of laundry to the list. So for this weekend:
1. Declutter/organize DS2's room. 
2. Organize pantry.
3. Two loads of laundry.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Whoa, you guys move fast here. I like it. 

Not bad this weekend. 5 loads of laundry and the pantry done. DS2 and I went through his clothing and decluttered/organized it, but we still need to work on the rest of his room. I knew we wouldn't get it finished over the weekend.

This weeks goals:
1. Vacuum the stairs.
2. 3 loads of laundry
3. Clean all bathrooms.

I'll probably add to the list as I go. I don't like to commit to too much at a time. 

[nikiz628]

This Week: 

Regular Weekly Household To Do's
Clean out the fridge
Clean bathrooms
Dust/Vac/Mop
Clean the Kitchen
Laundry
Pay Bills/Balance Checkbook
Grocery Store
Take Recycling to Recycling Center



Extra Household To Do's 
Make an oil change appointment
Make dental cleaning appointments for both kids
Clean out/Organize the kitchen pantry
Clean up/Organize under the kitchen sink (yikes)
Clean up/Organize the craft supply cabinet
Decide on Valentine's for DS1's class party

[paynointerest]

I took a break from work to get rid of some paperwork that has been sitting in a book shelf that has been around since the late 90s and that I don't need anymore.  It is a start...there is a lot more to go!

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

• Clean out misc items drawer (far left)
  
• Clean out and organizing baking pans cabinet
  

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

Recycle / shred unneeded papers (phase 1)

[startsmart]

I had a good weekend with good weather and am still loving our blue skies and mid-50s weather. This morning I had 23 clients on a call at 8am so early start to my day! I have one more call coming up but then need to finish writing an article due to the magazine today.

I’ve been catching up on laundry and dishes and still need to finish going through my magazines.

I did see the bed cover for the dog’s pillow this weekend and started on the burp rags. And the book is updated through chapter 8 and I can knock out the 9th chapter after I finish the article.

[TheOtherMe]

It's too windy out to take out the cardboard for recycling.  Think only one trash bag will go out.  It does have a few items in it for decluttering.

I am dreading taking that bag of trash to the end of the drive.  It's sooooo  cold.  

[debthaven]

We're expecting snow tonight and tomorrow. If I can't get to school I have to make up my classes so I hope I can get there. It takes very little snow to paralyze transport here.