2020 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[TheOtherMe]

Going to work on my resume tomorrow and apply for the WFT job with the State Auditor's office.  If I hate it, I will quit.

[finnime]

Good for you, TheOtherMe!

[tcu2003]

Dec 19, 2020 16:42:37 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Dec 18, 2020 13:07:18 GMT -5 busymom said:

Hi Kids!  I just wanted you to know that the Rachel Jones (Nourishing Minimalism) chart for 2021 just magically appeared in my emails, and I printed it off, and am looking forward to more decluttering in the New Year.

Right now, I am seriously distracted, between Christmas prep, and the fact that our house "down South" WAS supposed to close this week, but due to more delays, it looks like we won't be able to complete the closing until next week.  I just want to have that house sold.  

What is this chart? Are you posting it here? Is tcu2003 going to post the Peter Walsh challenge? So many questions have I. 

Ha! I haven’t even thought that far ahead, but yes, I’m game for posting it! I need some motivation to start the year off well in the decluttering/organization space, and that usually does the trick.

[debthaven]

That's great TheO!

Thanks TCU! I'm feeling too disorganized right now ...

[bean29]

I was trying to change my closet around, but DH nixed 90% of what I wanted to do. I have the parts here from Home depot, so need to return them. Eta: DH did pull some clothing out to Donate to goodwill though.

Spent a few hours at DH’s office yesterday. He had about 10 old printers there that I got him to take to goodwill. He also had about 10 years of old toner cartridges that we took to office Max.

Also broke down cardboard for recycling cart. I have way too much to do, but if I don’t spend some time there, he may never clean out his clutter, and he has a lot of it!

I mentioned before that our freezer on our basement refrigerator froze shut. We unplugged for a few days, now have completely empty and I have to call someone for service. Forced clean out. Lol. DH vacuumed the back, it was sealed and he said there was not much there, and he wiped down. (I sopped up liquid and washed the towels Saturday). He plugged back in yesterday.

[chiver78]

my parents came down yesterday morning, with a full (borrowed) van full of stuff for me. I now have a big wheelbarrow, and a number of yard tools including a pickax (?!) in the shed, and a Boston rocker in my basement theater room. I didn't realize they had two, my sister had already taken the one I knew of. very happy about this development

Dad and I also hung the big tv downstairs. I set up the space later on, with everything but the sectional half that's still in the living room. the other half of the room is a shit show, but I'll get through it all eventually. baby steps! I need to look at space heaters this week, for sure. pups and I tried to watch The Sound of Music down there last night, but had to abandon for cold. I had the heat jacked up 10 degrees higher than normal, and it didn't help. 

[bean29]

Chiver:  your room looks nice!  Are basements common there?  I live in the Midwest and basements are common here, but the frequently tell us that they are not common in other areas of the country.

I have an electric throw I use by my sofa.  You could try that in addition to the space heater you are looking for.

We have a space heater with the oil in it in my DD's bedroom.  It is the last room on the heat run and it is much colder than the rest of the house.  It heats the room up very nicely.

[TheOtherMe]

Do you need a pick ax?  

When I have used basement rooms, I've always had to supplement the heat.

[chiver78]

bean - basements are very common, but not usually as finished space. this room is about 1/3 of the footprint of the house, which is an excellent bonus space! 

TheO - I have no idea what I would use the pickax for, but I'm sure I'll be happy to have it if a need arises.

[Sharon]

Dec 21, 2020 11:58:23 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

bean - basements are very common, but not usually as finished space. this room is about 1/3 of the footprint of the house, which is an excellent bonus space! 

TheO - I have no idea what I would use the pickax for, but I'm sure I'll be happy to have it if a need arises.

My parents added a wall heater in the basement with a thermostat.  It has worked very well and looks better than a space heater. 

[countrygirl2]

You can divert some heat to the basement. There was to much to ours so hubs sealed some of the ductwork. But he left both ends open a bit. It stays around 65 down there, when I go down I have 2 different heaters I can turn on. One that looks like a little fireplace with a blower in the big room. Or one of those square wooden ones in my sewing room. Doesn't take long to heat up the sewing room. If he finished the main room and opened the duct in there and closed the ends would be fine. 

Also he insulated the outside basement wall of my sewing room and is also going to do that in the bedroom buildout. I want to partition the ends off so they will stay cooler. On one end I want no heat so my canned goods. And so my potatoes and onions won't rot down there. I doubt he will do it, but would sure add value to the house.

I just tooke 2 big piles of cookbooks out of my bookcase in the office. I sorted through 5 shelves, have one more. They are going, many were not what I thought they would be. 

Next the big hutch in there, full of office stuff and junk. I'm also lightening these pieces of furniture making them easier to move. A back rest, a tablecloth, I'm moving on!

Hubs a year or so ago, redid our closet, it had lots of wasted space. He moved a cabinet to the end, fastened on the wall. Put in double rows of rods, took out wood and put in heavy duty steel ones. The he cut boards to go all the way around the top for shelving. And put them under the top hanging goods, he checked the height to give us room for storage there. Now all my blankets from all the closets are clean, in bags, and stored up top and there is still some room. The big cabinet is for my shoes and purses, top shelf for hubs stuff. We still have a box of purses on the floor I need to go through them and weed out. But the closet is clear and easy to access. Plus tons of hanging space and storage. He utilized it all, it is super.

[Iggy aka IG]

Knee Deep in Water Chloe, I do use a calendar.  I like your idea of walking around during your break.

bean29, holy smokes what a huge undertaking in your DH's office!  Nicely done.

Good luck, TheOtherMe.

I baked for hours on Friday, and made my first yule log Saturday, which was also an all day task.  Things went well, though my fudge didn't set up, and my body still hurts from standing for so long.

A few family member came over yesterday for smoked ham, au gratin potatoes, a Secret Santa exchange, etc.  My grand nephew to be, due in March, is now apparently 2.9 pounds. 

Taking last Friday off, and days off this Wednesday through Friday.  Based on the 125+ email and 7 voice mail I have just from being out Friday reinforces my choice of getting the heck out of here for a few days.  In the past, holidays would come and go and I would regret the fact I didn't take more days off.  My clients need to chill, and will survive without me.

Other things accomplished over the weekend:  Laundry, a ton of dishes, meal planned, put away the Sam's Club haul DH brought home, scrubbed 3 toilets, went to two neighbor houses to drop off homemade goodies, watched the Raiders lose AGAIN, cleared out several DVR hours, read, and ate too much.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

[TheOtherMe]

Your clients will survive without you Iggy aka IG

I received an email from the State Department that my passport renewal is being processed and will be issued in 10 to 12 weeks.  They received it on October 19!  If it takes 12 weeks, that means it will have taken 5 months to renew the passport.  

Good think the border between the US and Canada is closed.

[countrygirl2]

I had a note that they received hubs passport at least a couple months ago. We haven't seen the new one, getting a little concerned.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Dec 21, 2020 10:54:49 GMT -5 bean29 said:

Chiver:  your room looks nice!  Are basements common there?  I live in the Midwest and basements are common here, but the frequently tell us that they are not common in other areas of the country.

I have an electric throw I use by my sofa.  You could try that in addition to the space heater you are looking for.

We have a space heater with the oil in it in my DD's bedroom.  It is the last room on the heat run and it is much colder than the rest of the house.  It heats the room up very nicely.

They're not common on the West Coast. 

[saveinla]

2 bags of paper went out today. More boxes to be broken down - next step is to clean the patio and see what else can be thrown away.

Goal is to spend 15-20 minutes a day the next 2 weeks and see how much can be done.

[debthaven]

Good for you for taking time off Iggy aka IG ! 

DS1/DDIL/E are going to DS1's Dad for lunch today. I'll use that time to wrap presents. 

My house is a mess but it's a happy mess lol. 

ETA: Wrapped all the gifts I have (still waiting for 1 to arrive). Also did some paperwork. All caught up now except for DH's QuickBooks which I'll do next week after the kids leave.

[TheOtherMe]

Dec 21, 2020 17:12:37 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Your clients will survive without you Iggy aka IG

I received an email from the State Department that my passport renewal is being processed and will be issued in 10 to 12 weeks.  They received it on October 19!  If it takes 12 weeks, that means it will have taken 5 months to renew the passport.  

Good think the border between the US and Canada is closed.

Received another email last night.  Passport will be here next week.

My theory is they did the work yesterday and everything updated on the same day.

Now Open the Border with Canada!

[bean29]

Dec 21, 2020 17:12:37 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Your clients will survive without you Iggy aka IG

I received an email from the State Department that my passport renewal is being processed and will be issued in 10 to 12 weeks.  They received it on October 19!  If it takes 12 weeks, that means it will have taken 5 months to renew the passport.  

Good think the border between the US and Canada is closed.

I need to renew mine, I don't know if I should buy a ticket overseas, then go to MN with DD to renew, or just pay for expedited passport.  I should have it though.  DH kind of wanted to go to Mexico next week.  I have too much going on to go anyways, but I really should be able to travel.  Also DD would like to go somewhere next week.  I told her I will get away for a few days if she wants, but we have to travel domestically. (We can fly standby for free- she just picks a destination with a lot of open seats).

[TheOtherMe]

I am not going to be flying anywhere until I am vaccinated.  

If the border to Canada opens up, I will be driving to Toronto for an extended visit with the great nephew.  I guess I will see his parents, too.  

[startsmart]

Just dropped my truck at the shop and hoping that the bill isn’t too high 😬 they’re starting on it tomorrow so I may get it back this week but it might be next week if parts have to be ordered.

I spent my morning downloading files from a software service I use so I could delete the plan and save $40/month. I’m also downloading hundreds of photos from iCloud to my computer since that is full and I don’t want to upgrade my account (it would only be $2/mo more but still).

It’s my goal to only have pictures from 2020 on my phone and everything else backed up.

The house is looking really good and I am hopeful that I can get the dishes cleaned up and make time for cinnamon rolls this week. Hopefully!

[startsmart]

Merry Christmas everyone! If you’re not celebrating I hope you have a nice weekend of relaxation.

[debthaven]

Thanks Startsmart!

Merry Christmas to all of you. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I haven't done a year's worth of prepared monthly deep cleaning lists for the last two years; I decided to do them for 2021. I'll have them ready to go for next week. If we're having a 2021 thread, I'll try to remember to post them. 

[startsmart]

That sounds intense Chloe! I will probably start the 2021 thread on Monday, lots of people are off next week so we can kickoff with new goals then!

[moneysquirrel]

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!  

[Sharon]

Merry Christmas everyone.

[chiver78]

please ignore the shit show of a counter in the foreground. that's on my to do list this week. lol... seeking some decorating advice after a conversation with my sister earlier today. I had already been kicking around this idea, and then she offered up completely unprovoked the exact same suggestion - my dining room set has been a constant in my life and entertaining, for over a decade.

I took this picture standing in front of my stove. I have been thinking about turning the back left into a formal dining room and keeping my huge set. I have hardly been upstairs since setting up the basement space. would that be weird to walk into a dining room? the wall with the TV is 9ft, so I could easily center my table on that wall. I would then take the space in the back right and make it a little reading nook, small cafe table.

my thoughts are that I do not need two tv spaces, and this way I wouldn't end up needing another tv, either. I'll still move the one in the pic outside in the spring, but I can just patch up the wall nice and clean. I'm still figuring out the flow of this house, and how I will use all of the space. just not sure about walking straight into a dining room as being weird.

thanks, and merry Xmas! 🌲

[TheOtherMe]

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

[debthaven]

We had a wonderful Christmas. Hope you all did too.

Chiver I don’t think walking into a dining room would be weird at all! Maybe because that’s how it is in my house lol. I like having a dining room even if we usually use the kitchen table.

We only have DS1/DDIL/E for Christmas every other year, so of course those years are special.   This trip me has just flown by, they leave tomorrow.   Happily DS3 is here for another week.