2020 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[empress of self-improvement]

Decluttering my kitchen at the moment, aka eating lunch. Then continue shaking the crumbs out of the toaster before I pack into the cellar. I realized that i use the toaster oven more so off it goes. I got the poptart bodies out but there are still crumbs. Also packing up my Keurig for now since my sister gave me the 2 in 1 coffee maker I wanted. Mr. Coffee is hitting the trash since I think rust is the only thing keeping the warming plate together.

[chiver78]

I just came back from meeting someone from a Buy Nothing group. she took my dish packing foam sheets and some yarn I picked up from the summer rental that K was going to pitch. I'd said I would find a home for it. I'm waiting on responses to line up meeting times for the heavy duty banana crates, and hopefully more boxes if I can unpack more by meet time.

[startsmart]

Couldn’t sleep again last night so I ended up learning how to replace light switches at 3am. It is what it is. I did the first one this afternoon by daylight and didn’t electrocute myself so I’m calling that a win. Saving money on an electrician is a nice bonus. I bought the electrical components months ago so it’s essentially a free project to finish. Only 12 more to go on the first floor and then I’ll move on to outlets.

I am in the midst of making a long ass to do list since I am going to be home for the next 6-8 weeks with no truck.

[saveinla]

Emptied 2 small shelves in the kitchen and threw away some things - organized what is left so that it is easier to see and use. I am calling it a win for today.

Since my goal is to only relax these 2 weeks - anything I get done is a bonus

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday break or at least relaxing!

[chiver78]

M and mooch are coming back tomorrow, we will be moving the other half of the sectional downstairs and setting that up permanently (I need to call Stanley Steemer for a solid cleaning, now that it is in place) and we are going to mess with bringing up the dining room. set to see what it looks like in the space. I can't wait to see what this is going to look like.

[nidena]

Well, where I had a drip-drip-drip leak at the spigot to the washing machine, there is also a pinhole leak.  It's about a foot above that spigot and the size of most showerhead holes.  I tried to wrap it with a tape I got at Lowe's but to no avail.  However, instead of running down the wall and saturating the cinderblocks in the basement, it's now also dripping into the bucket that I put there for the drip-drip-drip leak.  The bucket got filled in less than 12 hours.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Dec 26, 2020 12:39:42 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Decluttering my kitchen at the moment, aka eating lunch. Then continue shaking the crumbs out of the toaster before I pack into the cellar. I realized that i use the toaster oven more so off it goes. I got the poptart bodies out but there are still crumbs. Also packing up my Keurig for now since my sister gave me the 2 in 1 coffee maker I wanted. Mr. Coffee is hitting the trash since I think rust is the only thing keeping the warming plate together.

Just out of curiosity, why keep the toaster and the Keurig? 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Dec 26, 2020 20:09:36 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

M and mooch are coming back tomorrow, we will be moving the other half of the sectional downstairs and setting that up permanently (I need to call Stanley Steemer for a solid cleaning, now that it is in place) and we are going to mess with bringing up the dining room. set to see what it looks like in the space. I can't wait to see what this is going to look like.

Tangentially--it sounds like you and Mooch are able to be friends again now that you no longer have the previous living arrangements. Yay?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Yesterday, I balanced all of our accounts and set up our January budget. DH and I also cleaned up the outdoor Christmas decorations yesterday. 
I flattened all of the cardboard boxes yesterday, so that part of the disaster of my bedroom is a bit better. 
I need to cleanup the gift wrapping paraphernalia today. 
I also have some more pages in my note book to create to prepare for this year. 
I'm going to put away the  indoor Christmas decorations. Some of the decor is just winter as opposed to Christmas, and it'll stay up through January. 

[startsmart]

I'm giving myself until January 6th to take down, organize and store all the holiday decor. I find that I really like it up and then after new year's I switch to wanting more simplicity. 

I've finished the first of my 10 quilt tops and started on the second one, so far it's relaxing and fun and not stressful so I'll keep up as long as that remains true. 

I have also finished replacing 4 of the light switches and have 8 more to go, I'm taking it slowly since one screw has been a total PITA and refuses to come out. I'm attempting to cut it off now. 

Over the next few months I'll have a lot of home projects to do, which is good because my truck isn't drivable right now and I am going to wait before making the decision to fix it ($$) or replace it ($$$$). I'm glad that it's easy enough to walk to "town" but so far out of distance includes the real grocery store, the post office, most restaurants and the larger stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, etc. I predict I will be saving a lot of money, if I don't turn to online shopping. I predict there will be a time when I'm forced to make hard choices in order to get fresh produce, toilet paper and dog food... 

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 27, 2020 12:28:24 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Dec 26, 2020 12:39:42 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Decluttering my kitchen at the moment, aka eating lunch. Then continue shaking the crumbs out of the toaster before I pack into the cellar. I realized that i use the toaster oven more so off it goes. I got the poptart bodies out but there are still crumbs. Also packing up my Keurig for now since my sister gave me the 2 in 1 coffee maker I wanted. Mr. Coffee is hitting the trash since I think rust is the only thing keeping the warming plate together.

Just out of curiosity, why keep the toaster and the Keurig? 

Backup. Well, the Keurig anyway. I have the bad habit of breaking things at the worst possible time. If i don't get coffee in the morning, it will make for a very unhappy empress. I probably will unload the toaster. Anyone want to buy a 10 year old Cuisinart toaster?

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Happy holiday, y'all!

I will definitely be rejoining this group for 2021. I'm really struggling with focusing and developing goals however so where I start I'm not sure.

One thing I want to do is to really differentiate between regular chores, and a much-needed whole house decluttering. 

and of course - the paperwork/mail is an ongoing issue. I threw it all in a big box for thanksgiving. still haven't started going through any of it. Of course, much more has wandered through the door since then.

The saga continues...

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Dec 27, 2020 14:24:32 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Dec 27, 2020 12:28:24 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Just out of curiosity, why keep the toaster and the Keurig? 

Backup. Well, the Keurig anyway. I have the bad habit of breaking things at the worst possible time. If i don't get coffee in the morning, it will make for a very unhappy empress. I probably will unload the toaster. Anyone want to buy a 10 year old Cuisinart toaster?

a crumby toaster sounds like a delight for a passing mouse....

[debthaven]

Ouch sorry about the truck Startsmart. 

DS1/DDIL/E! left today.  I'm so happy and grateful to have had them here for 12 days.  

After they left DS3 vacuumed the downstairs. I did laundry. The 3 beds they used have fresh bedding again. (DD has a trundle bed and E used both beds lol). I'm on the last load of towels. 

DS1 and I reorganized the first basement room (his former bedroom) last week. They took a big chair they were storing here, so that room is looking much better.  

One of DS2's gifts (a board game) was all squashed when it arrived, so I need to return it. (I got another one at the mall.) And I'm behind on DH's books, but I'll catch up this week.

I go back on 4 Jan but I'm on a reduced schedule until 18 Jan. 

This week
- back up computer/Mon
- return Amazon package
- pharmacy
- DH's Quickbooks

[empress of self-improvement]

Dec 27, 2020 14:44:01 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Dec 27, 2020 14:24:32 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Backup. Well, the Keurig anyway. I have the bad habit of breaking things at the worst possible time. If i don't get coffee in the morning, it will make for a very unhappy empress. I probably will unload the toaster. Anyone want to buy a 10 year old Cuisinart toaster?

a crumby toaster sounds like a delight for a passing mouse....

Looks like all the crumbs are gone. I washed the crumb tray and I also used a toothbrush to scrape it out. Then put it in a plastic bag. If a mouse is stupid enough to show up in my basement, the cat will have it dispatched of in no time. As long as she doesn't leave it on my bed as another one did. Asshole.

[chiver78]

Dec 27, 2020 12:30:15 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Dec 26, 2020 20:09:36 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

M and mooch are coming back tomorrow, we will be moving the other half of the sectional downstairs and setting that up permanently (I need to call Stanley Steemer for a solid cleaning, now that it is in place) and we are going to mess with bringing up the dining room. set to see what it looks like in the space. I can't wait to see what this is going to look like.

Tangentially--it sounds like you and Mooch are able to be friends again now that you no longer have the previous living arrangements. Yay?

yes, and yes yay. I miss my old friend, and have always said that throughout all his assholeyness. his day to day drama is no longer my problem.

[debthaven]

and of course - the paperwork/mail is an ongoing issue. I threw it all in a big box for thanksgiving. still haven't started going through any of it. Of course, much more has wandered through the door since then.

Rukh O'Rorke , DH used to do this. I would refuse to go out on NYE until that year's mail was completely gone through. I don't know how many years we'd start on the 29th or 30th of Dec, and arrive late at our best friends' house for NYE, barely speaking to each other. 

Now we do it once a month and it takes 30-60 min. That's just DH's personal and company mail. I handle EVERYTHING else. I do mine once a month too and it takes 30-60 min. 

There ARE better ways ... but you need to find one that works for you. Nothing worked for DH until I got a small filing cabinet with vertical files at Ikea. It lives in the office niche off the LR, next to the desk, with the printer on top. If we had had an office I might have gotten a bigger one. We have two pretty matching baskets on the desk for incoming mail (also from Ikea).

I don't know if you're just venting or if you want advice. IF you want advice, don't let "junk mail" make it into the house. I get the mail and put the crap straight into the recycling bin, so it never even makes it into the house. 

I think you have a big house ... the easiest way (imo) is a filing cabinet. They're not very s.exy but they're efficient!

PS This is what DH uses. I use a vertical file drawer in the adjacent desk.
www.ikea.com/us/en/p/erik-drawer-unit-w-2-drawers-on-casters-white-30151808/ FYI the vertical files are sold separately. We keep our printer paper/ink/hard drives in the top drawer.

[TheOtherMe]

Junk mail does not make it in to the house.  I pass the recycle bin on the way back in the house so I drop it off then.

FaceTimed with baby today.  He is so happy and making so many sounds.  Brightens my day to talk to him and I'm happy they indulge me.



ETA:  I backed up the computer today.  I had not done that for a month.

[debthaven]

*Debthaven adds 'back up computer' to this week's to-do list*

[chiver78]

sorry in advance for big pictures. we moved the sectional, M sustained a hand injury, but she will live. just a flesh wound. I love the open space upstairs, I forgot how big it actually is without the oversized half sectional in the middle of everything! and I am coming around more to the formal dining room idea. I do love that set. however, I don't think I love this sectional with the TV where it kind of has to go down here in the basement. I'll see how I feel in the coming weeks, but I might want to sell it and downsize this thing, or reorient a different sectional. I can't spin the existing, it would actually impede entry into to the space.

the big tv pic was taken, sitting on the connection point of the sectional. it is so off center, but I don't really need to fix it immediately since I don't need all this seating with covid and nobody going anywhere. so I have time. 🤷‍♀️ also, say hi to my golden retriever. 🙃

the 2nd pic, I took from the kitchen, and made sure to grab both boundary corners. the wall with the TV on it is just over 10', the entry wall on the far right is just short of 9', the long wall with windows is about 16'. my dining room table is 40x60" without the leaf. I think I can definitely center that the long way on the windows and it would look nice.

I'm going to dismantle the table and move up everything but the top, bc awkward for 1 person, before M and mooch come back whatever night this week. if this move is what I do, the bar will end up downstairs and other pieces will move around upstairs. and the little cafe table I just bought will get sold.

[debthaven]

chiver78 I think the sectional is perfect for downstairs, and the table will look great upstairs. 

That "music chair" you bought ... do they make a loveseat too? That could be perfect for upstairs. Or else either a black or white one (probably black with the dogs).

Just a thought. :-)

PS Couldn't you just recenter the downstairs TV? I do realize you'd need to relocate the switches but it probably be cheaper than buying a new sectional.

[chiver78]

I'm not sold on this sectional here, it just feels off. idk. previous homeowners had a sectional here, and it isn't like I'm going to have a butt on each cushion any time soon to whine about having to crane their necks. 🤷‍♀️ I'll see how I feel as I use the space more.

the music chair is a barrel club chair, thats the only size. it isn't terribly comfy, but I feel like I can break it in with use, at least the seat cushion. that would go in the reading nook where the cafe table is now. maybe another small chair and a lower little coffee table setup to finish that space, idk. the music chair could also go in my master bedroom as an accent piece, bc that room is quite large. so I do have options. the only thing I know for sure is,if the dining room set stays, that cafe table goes. anyone need a cafe table?

[chiver78]

and no on re-centering the TV. its a reclaimed wood wall with an inset space for theTV. this tv us almost exactly the size of that inset. and then the French doors are about a foot to the right of the TV.

[debthaven]

I agree that it's better to take your time and see how you use the space before buying anything else. 

[Sharon]

I've been following along but haven't felt like chiming in much for the last couple of weeks.  The kids got me a small TV for the RV and they came up and installed it today.  I was going to get rid of the trailer because I hate trying to back it in places.  I don't use it as often as I would like because I don't want to back it in.  DD seems to have grand plans for me staying at there place frequently once they move.  The thing with that is that DSIL will back it in for me.  She has already said that she wants me stay for a few days after the baby is born. 

Today I also took the tree down and the outdoor lights.  I never go in the living room and had only turned on the lights on the tree maybe 3 times.  I enjoy the outdoor lights but one string had quit working and today was a gorgeous day so I took them down.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Oh,chiver78,  I think I forgot to answer that our dining room table is at our entry way. 
If you want i can post pictures, but if you're not interested that's fine too. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I threw out three old t-shirts yesterday. I'm oddly proud of myself. It's hard for me to to get rid of clothes. I just keep telling myself I can use them for something, but I have so many. These were not able to be worn in public. 

[chiver78]

Dec 27, 2020 20:50:37 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Oh,chiver78,  I think I forgot to answer that our dining room table is at our entry way. 
If you want i can post pictures, but if you're not interested that's fine too. 

yes, please! Empress texted me some entry dining room pics too, but it still kind of feels weird to me....even if I've gone upstairs a few times since they left and have seen the wide open space (tge music chair is out of the way, accentuating the open space) and I feel like it might work. thus whole house is laid out strangely, this is part of the problem.

[Lizard Queen]

Dec 27, 2020 14:42:14 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Happy holiday, y'all!

I will definitely be rejoining this group for 2021. I'm really struggling with focusing and developing goals however so where I start I'm not sure.

One thing I want to do is to really differentiate between regular chores, and a much-needed whole house decluttering. 

and of course - the paperwork/mail is an ongoing issue. I threw it all in a big box for thanksgiving. still haven't started going through any of it. Of course, much more has wandered through the door since then.

The saga continues...

Right there with you. This is the story of my life.



chiver78. As far as a  dining room  near the entrance,  and think its fairly common, actually.  I've often seen smaller round  tables in grand foyers with a big vase of flowers on it.  So, I wonder if  you got a round vase with flowers for the  center of your table if that would look better to you.

[CCL]

My dining room is near my front door. I've got a table with 6 chairs in there. There's just an archway dividing it from the entry. I like it that way.

I've been slacking on the decluttering