2019 - Organize Your Life & Declutter Your Stuff

[TheOtherMe]

I am such a dingbat sometimes.  Notice I said sometimes! 

When I bought trash bags to go in the kitchen, I mistakenly bought the 30 gallon bags instead of the 13 gallon bags.  I've ordered the correct size and they will be here Wednesday.  

Since it was only half full, I went through the cupboard with all plastic containers and lids and tossed everything that was stained, misshapen, that I haven't used since I lived here, lids that have no matching containers and containers that have no lids.  That didn't fill the bag, so I started on the laundry room cupboard until it was full.

So, I did make progress today.

[debthaven]

Haha great progress TheOtherMe !

nikiz628 I loved your other bathroom so much, I'm still waiting to see photos of this one.

I am a dingbat some days too. I keep putting things in the washing machine (even adding detergent) or the dryer, and then forgetting to turn on the machine. It's not like me but it's been happening increasingly often.

I just can't wait till this play is over. I don't know how many of you remember Debra Winger. She is an amazing actress who retired young and only comes out of retirement occasionally. Her last film (IIRC) was Osage Orange County.

I resemble her physically, so every time I do a play I joke that after this play I will retire for several years.

I don't know why I do this to myself. I REALLY wanted that small role.  

This said, DH and I  were talking the other day, and we realized that very few actors/actresses suffer from dementia. That was an interesting observation.

[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 - has us back in the kitchen with a challenge about keeping flat surfaces clear.

Day 21 of #31Days2GetOrganized - Books (Don't start screaming yet)! This is always an emotional topic! I love books too but if your books are never going to be read and are covered in dust, perhaps today's the day to deal with them. You can do this! #Books #ItsAllTooMuch #LetItGo (In the video he basically says to make sure every book has a place on a bookshelf, and if they don’t all fit, then you need to declutter).

#31Days2GetOrganized

[debthaven]

I think I am finally ready to part with a bunch of my books. But, I know that DH (who has hoarding tendencies) would LOVE me to free up space on MY shelves so he can put HIS books on MY shelves.

That stops me LOL.

[countrygirl2]

After the doc tomorrow and buying paint in the city think I will start working on cleaning in the furnace room.  I keep all my Christmas decorations back there and I need to get rid of some of them.  Need to sort and clean things.  There is a whole shelving unit in there with supplies from the  people that built the house.  They need gone through.

[TheOtherMe]

The cleaning company that I hired to clean my house put on FB that they are once again completely booked and have a wait list.

I am so lucky I got a permanent spot in 2 months.  They come Friday and I can't wait.  

[CCL]

Jan 21, 2019 18:02:09 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Haha great progress TheOtherMe !

nikiz628 I loved your other bathroom so much, I'm still waiting to see photos of this one.

I am a dingbat some days too. I keep putting things in the washing machine (even adding detergent) or the dryer, and then forgetting to turn on the machine. It's not like me but it's been happening increasingly often.

I just can't wait till this play is over. I don't know how many of you remember Debra Winger. She is an amazing actress who retired young and only comes out of retirement occasionally. Her last film (IIRC) was Osage Orange County.

I resemble her physically, so every time I do a play I joke that after this play I will retire for several years.

I don't know why I do this to myself. I REALLY wanted that small role.  

This said, DH and I  were talking the other day, and we realized that very few actors/actresses suffer from dementia. That was an interesting observation.

I wonder if that comes with memorizing so many lines? Maybe it strengthens those parts of the brain or something? Or maybe has to do with being more artistic, in general?

[startsmart]

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

[ohmomto2boys]

Dumpster was delivered for the 1/2 bath remodel.  
I removed all the trim in the basement from when we had a wall removed last spring - opened up family room to kitchen.  Pitched the mantel from the remodel to the fireplace.  Pitched the glass/metal door to the fireplace (new one is being installed 1/30).  We have about 50 bricks in the garage.  We are allowed to add these to the dumpster, but have to wait to place them on the top of the other materials.  Need to do a walk-thru the basement with DH this week to see if there is anything else we can put in dumpster.  I am scheduling the pick-up for Friday.  
Can't wait for the bathroom remodel to be done this week.  The tile, vanity, sink, and all the extra materials have been in different rooms in our house for a month.  It will look a lot less cluttered when those items are put in the 1/2 bath.

[debthaven]

I wonder if that comes with memorizing so many lines? Maybe it strengthens those parts of the brain or something?

CCL that was our (uneducated) guess.

That's so exciting for the remodel ohmomto2boys ! Hope it goes quickly!

[Iggy aka IG]

Back from being out with pneumonia!

Y'all are doing such a fantastic job!  debthaven, regarding your Quickbooks question, I also do accounts payable once a month.

Thank you for taking the time to post the PW, tcu2003.

Regarding books, since Hastings is no longer around to sell books to, whether for store credit or cash, I drop them off at the library.  They really seem to appreciate them, and it makes me feel less guilty.

During my time off I learned ours is a kitchen peninsula, not an island.  Ah, the things we learn watching HGTV, LOL. 

I also learned during my days off there is a woman's shelter a few towns away in need of "real woman size" clothing.  This makes me more motivated to see if I have anything left to donate.

I managed to keep up with the dishes, and use up various odds and ends in the freezer/pantry while out.

Oh, and the CO situation?  DH turned off the heat, since that is the main thing generating the CO (he set up space heaters).  The new water heater will be installed Wednesday, and then the new boiler comes next.  Happy early birthday to me!     Currently, the boiler heats up the water, and DH wants to separate them out.  We discussed an on demand water system, but it's not in the cards at the moment.

Adulting is fun.    Thanks for being here, ladies.

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG so glad you are feeling better now! I saw it on FB and I hesitated whether to mention anything here or not.

So the new water heater will resolve the CO issue? They're sure?

[Iggy aka IG]

debthaven, thank you.

And, it's the boiler which is leaking apparently.  So, a new one will hopefully resolve this issue.  (Currently there is no water heater with our system.  I am not sure how boilers work to heat water to the house, as I am still learning.)  The current boiler's date is 07/22/96, when the house was built.

We've had an HVAC guy AND a boiler specialist look at the system.  They are both stumped.  I am looking on the positive side in that at least our PITA system is teaching old timers a thing or two, LOL.

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 21, 2019 11:48:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

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.  

This made me giggle. Since I know you're retired and older than me, there's hope yet that I'll grow up.

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG we have a tankless on-demand boiler/hot water system WITH a small hot water tank.

Since we have 3.5 bathrooms, the HVAC guys decided to add an optional small hot water tank.

When it works it works very well. Unfortunately the brand was badly chosen and we have problems with parts going out, but that is that particular brand, rather than the sort of installation, if that makes sense.

We have been 12-14 in the house for big events like DH's 60th and DS1's wedding, and have never run out of hot water.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 22, 2019 15:13:09 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Jan 21, 2019 11:48:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

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.  

This made me giggle. Since I know you're retired and older than me, there's hope yet that I'll grow up.

I am having a difficult time with the t-shirts, so maybe I haven't reached adulthood?  

[nikiz628]

debthaven- As soon as I finish decorating the shelves, I will definitely post pics just for you! 

[TheOtherMe]

Iggy aka IG  Here's to you feeling better.  Hope the heating, water, CO problem gets fixed very soon.  

[debthaven]

TheOtherMe you've decluttered a LOT. If you want to keep the t-shirts, you should keep them.

Can't wait nikiz628 ! You guys did such an amazing job on the last one.

ETA: Iggy aka IG TheOtherMe just curious, approximately how many entries do you have per month?

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 22, 2019 16:22:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

TheOtherMe you've decluttered a LOT. If you want to keep the t-shirts, you should keep them.

Can't wait nikiz628 ! You guys did such an amazing job on the last one.

What I did during my massive closet clean-out last fall is fold/roll my concert shirts ever so lovingly (thin material 30-35 years old make for very fragile garments) and put them into a medium size plastic tote which resides in the top of my closet.  A picture was posted on the 2018 Organize thread (and below for reference).  I also have a tote each full of Harley and Raiders tops which I refuse to rid of. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 22, 2019 15:51:26 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 22, 2019 15:13:09 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

This made me giggle. Since I know you're retired and older than me, there's hope yet that I'll grow up.

I am having a difficult time with the t-shirts, so maybe I haven't reached adulthood?  

I can't give you any grief there, I still have part of a much smaller collection I amassed 20ish years ago, but the VHS tapes did go in the trash before my last move, they were too degraded to save. (Lots of bootleg videos and all kinds of other randomness)  I bet it's all on YouTube at this point anyway.

I say keep them if they make you happy. 

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 22, 2019 15:13:09 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Jan 21, 2019 11:48:14 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

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.  

This made me giggle. Since I know you're retired and older than me, there's hope yet that I'll grow up.

 Yep, my son keeps thinking the same thing about me! I'm a lost cause but lovin' it. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 22, 2019 16:22:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

TheOtherMe you've decluttered a LOT. If you want to keep the t-shirts, you should keep them.

Can't wait nikiz628 ! You guys did such an amazing job on the last one.

ETA: Iggy aka IG TheOtherMe just curious, approximately how many entries do you have per month?

I don't use Quickbooks, but I do Accounts Payable for the office once a month, and input into Excel personal and business receipts as they come in throughout the month.  Accts Payable are 6 accounts monthly, plus quarterly taxes and liability insurance payments.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 22, 2019 16:32:34 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Jan 22, 2019 16:22:04 GMT -5 debthaven said:

TheOtherMe you've decluttered a LOT. If you want to keep the t-shirts, you should keep them.

Can't wait nikiz628 ! You guys did such an amazing job on the last one.

What I did during my massive closet clean-out last fall is fold/roll my concert shirts ever so lovingly (thin material 30-35 years old make for very fragile garments) and put them into a medium size plastic tote which resides in the top of my closet.  A picture was posted on the 2018 Organize thread (and below for reference).  I also have a tote each full of Harley and Raiders tops which I refuse to rid of. 

I think you are right.  My concerts with Paul started in 1990 and ended in 2017.  So some are old and fragile.  Towards the end, I was no longer buying his official t-shirts.  A friend of mine made us t-shirts at the silk screening place where she worked at about 1/2 of the cost and said what we wanted them to say.  

I should have kept the one I bought that was Paul on the front and the Backstreet Boys tour dates on the back.

I have some Elton John/Billy Joel Back to Back shirts that I can't part with either.  I think the totes are a good idea and that is the route I will go.  I no longer wear the very old ones because they are fragile and I can't let them go.  

I can keep letting the bootlegs go.  A lot of the VHS tapes are gone.  I haven't come across the rest yet but when I do, I know they aren't worth keeping.  

[CCL]

Working on my pantry today. Took everything out, so now my kitchen's a mess lol.

[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 - has us back in the kitchen with a challenge about keeping flat surfaces clear.

Day 21 - Books (Don't start screaming yet)! This is always an emotional topic! I love books too but if your books are never going to be read and are covered in dust, perhaps today's the day to deal with them.

Day 22 of #31Days2GetOrganized has us dealing with the Linen Cupboard. Towels, sheets, blankets and more! Decluttering and organizing your linen cupboard is our challenge today. Let's hear how you do! #Linens #ItsAllTooMuch #LetItGo

#31Days2GetOrganized

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I knocked two household paperwork tasks off my list today! Yay me for not procrastinating on those any longer?

[startsmart]

If you wanna know how my day went, I drove to the storage unit to get another 10 boxes, stuck my key in the lock and... it broke. Literally the metal key snapped in half. So that was fun. Since the manager of the storage facility sold me the lock a year ago they cut off the old one and gave me a new one free. 

I did manage to bring home 12 full boxes + a stack of unused boxes I had tucked away there. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 22, 2019 22:35:06 GMT -5 startsmart said:

If you wanna know how my day went, I drove to the storage unit to get another 10 boxes, stuck my key in the lock and... it broke. Literally the metal key snapped in half. So that was fun. Since the manager of the storage facility sold me the lock a year ago they cut off the old one and gave me a new one free. 

I did manage to bring home 12 full boxes + a stack of unused boxes I had tucked away there. 

Ugh, annoying, but yay for persevering!

[NastyWoman]

Jan 22, 2019 13:33:27 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I wonder if that comes with memorizing so many lines? Maybe it strengthens those parts of the brain or something?

CCL that was our (uneducated) guess.

That's so exciting for the remodel ohmomto2boys ! Hope it goes quickly!

That begs the "what came first question". Does memorizing so many lines truly protect the brain from aging/forgetting? Or is it the result of self selection? In other words do the people who have been involved in theater and who start experiencing memory loss just slowly bow out of participating?

I guess the closest conclusion we can truly draw is that those who actively participate are either not suffering from memory loss or they are in the early stages and have found ways to cope.