2021 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[laterbloomer]

March 7th 2020 I was highest bidder on a one year family membership to the local YMCA. March 15 2020 we started on our long series of lockdowns. So today I finally initiated said membership but I got them to switch it to a one year enhance individual membership with pool privileges. So to get my money's worth out of this I need to get in at least 2 visits a week.

[startsmart]

On my way to my next client meeting and today has been ROUGH. My phone had a software update and even though it worked fine yesterday, it stopped working entirely today. While I was driving to a different city and trying to navigate. I did manage to get the dogs to the kennel and to my destination okay (lots of time driving around lost) and tried to get the phone working. It wouldn't update without the network and internet and neither were working. Now it's updated but will only do certain tasks on certain wifi networks. 

Which is so annoying before a trip when I use my phone to schedule an Uber, figure out where I'm going, check restaurant hours, text friends and check emails. None of which was working for me today. 

Since T-Mobile couldn't figure it out I'll try the Apple store next when I get to New York. SUPER annoying and frustrating day. That said, no decluttering over the next week while I'm in the city! 

[debthaven]

Have a great trip Startsmart! Good luck with the phone.

[seriousthistime]

Tasks in progress:


--dining room shitepile/filing and recycling (in progress)
--complete a survey (I'm part of a nationwide study)
--make a real dinner (pasta and meatballs maybe) (made two real dinners)
--finish kitchen reorganization
--plant the begonias
--evite for baby shower
--make and freeze soup

This is a social weekend. Tonight I have dinner out with friends, followed by a lovely walk.  Tomorrow I'm getting together with another friend for pizza, wine, and stories about her recent trip to Greece.  

For an introvert, this is probably too much socializing. 

[TheOtherMe]

seriousthistime   This introvert could not do all of that in one weekend  

startsmart    Hope you get the phone figured out.  

[debthaven]

Today was gruelling ... in the theatre from 10.30 am to 5 pm. Poor DH is still there working on the set. 

This weekend:
- mark 22/32 papers/Fri+Sat
- mark 10/32 papers/Sun
- file DH's company papers

I managed to mark 11 more papers when I got home. I should finish tomorrow (I have NO other plans). (1 paper seems to be 86% plagiarized ... I need to show it to my boss but I'm not marking it for now.)  

Laundry is in the dryer. 

seriousthistime that's a lot for me too. DH thrives on that, me not so much ... We often argue about how many social activities we do. My preference is none, his is all of them, so I usually compromise on 2 max. DH works from home, but I work with hundreds of noisy students! 

PS Not sure I mentioned this ... the nurse took every other stitch out on Friday instead of all of them because she felt the incisions weren't ready. She told me to buy Steri-Strips before she comes back tomorrow.  

[TheOtherMe]

debthaven  Niece-in-law had a student cheat on a stat test.  She thought she had written in own test but it's on one of those online sites.  Student got all answers correct, which nobody does on stat exams.  However, it was in the part where you show your work that she caught the cheating.   There were errors in that part on the site that he copy and pasted from.

It's in the hands of the dean now.

[debthaven]

Yes TheOtherMe ... I've already emailed my boss about it. 

First-years are convoked to a disciplinary council, but they don't get expelled (unless it happens again). She might be suspended for a week or two (which serves as a lesson to the others ...)

PS Please don't quote me on this because I may end up deleting it.

Good for you laterbloomer ! I hope you enjoy the membership! 

[debthaven]

This weekend:
- mark 32/32 papers/Fri+Sat+Sun 
- file DH's company papers

Finished the marking! DS2 is coming for lunch and I have a Zoom rehearsal this afternoon.

Short work week because Thursday is a holiday. Goals are keeping up with work/kitchen/laundry/dishwasher and getting through Play Week.

PS The nurse removed the stitches but put on Steri-Strips. She comes back Tuesday. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[debthaven]

How are things going Knee Deep in Water Chloe ?

[laterbloomer]

1. Paint the inside of my bedroom closets and the armour I've set in there.
2. Paint the wooden spindles on the half wall between my kitchen and hallway.
3. Pick up picture frames at dollar store for ISO's family pictures. - bought, now to print pictures
4. Wash living room rug.
5. Recover kitchen chairs - 6 of 8 done

[toomuchreality]

Nov 4, 2021 10:23:15 GMT -5 anciana said:

Thank you all for the suggestions! We're still mulling it over so any and all ideas are welcome!

moneysquirrel and nidena, I though about getting an XL twin bed originally, it would make the most sense right now as it would fit the best size wise and would serve a purpose for a long limbed teen. The issue I had with it was that he probably wouldn't take it with him to college or afterwards, and we wouldn't get as much use out of it at home after the initial 2 years, so a queen would make more sense short and long term.

CCL, I've been looking for a while around here for a used frame and headboard and, unfortunately, I am coming empty time and time again but that was (and still is) definitely the first avenue explored.

Lizard Queen, I don't think any of the beds I am looking at would be necessarily longer (except for the XL twin). My though was that he could spread out, or sleep diagonally without having his limbs hang over the edge if the bed is generally bigger, even if it's only wider.

debthaven, I've seen how much your kids come and visit and all your changing of the bedroom arrangements. My hope is that our kids will visit and we will have space for them and their future families That is why I am definitely leaning toward a queen bed now and dealing with it afterwards as it seems to open more possibilities later. We already have the twin beds and would prefer not to get another one. Before covid we used to have guests come and stay with us quite frequently, friends and family, so we hope once things normalize a bit more, this will continue. 

Thank you all for helping me think this through and being my sounding board, I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and ideas! 

When I bought my queen size mattress and box springs, they ended up throwing an adjustable metal frame in, for free. I figured I could get a headboard later. (Footboard can't be attached because mattress hangs off the end)

[startsmart]

Hey all! New York has been great so far (no sickness is my new, very low bar!) and today kicks off the work portion. It was really fun to see the NY marathon yesterday and all the excitement. There were bands, choirs, DJs and lots of screaming people with signs.

I hung out with my boss for a bit at the park with her kid and then had dinner with my supervisor late so it was a half working day!

When I’m at my Airbnb relaxing I have been watching hoarders to get myself motivated to clean the garage when I get home. They put all the episodes on YouTube and the 10-20 min ones are the best - one story, no fluff or drama & just the before, process and results.

[TheOtherMe]

Hoarders makes me feel like my home is spotless, which it isn't.

My basement feels like hoarders to me with all of my nephew's stuff in it.

[anciana]

Nov 7, 2021 21:52:14 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Thank you for the idea, toomuchreality ! Last week DH actually came up with the best idea, that we should get a new king size bed for us and give the kid our old queen one. It's a fantastic idea except DH might take too long to find the bed he likes and in the meantime we just wait. I'll keep looking for suggestions for him and send him websites to look at, but can't do much more.

This past week I rearranged few things in the garage to make it a little better, and I will keep an eye out to do even more as it is pretty tight now but need to work out a plan for the next project. I think I have it, a smaller area that'll be doable and yield a good return on motivation for the big and scary basement that needs to be done soon, lol.

[debthaven]

That sounds like a great idea anciana ! I hope your DH chooses one quickly.

The dressing with the Steri-Strips came off today so I called the nurse who was supposed to change it tomorrow. She said to go to their evening office hours.

This week’s nurse said no more Steri-Strips, just keep the incision on my palm covered, but let the one on my forearm breathe.

So progress, no more nurse! And just 3 more PT sessions!

PS I wear a gauze ‘sleeve’ on my forearm so the incision can’t get dirty. And so people are careful not to bump into me …

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Nov 7, 2021 12:25:01 GMT -5 debthaven said:

How are things going Knee Deep in Water Chloe ?

Decently. Thank you for checking. 

[azucena]

Also thinking about you and your DH, chloe.  I hate what covid has meant for you guys.

I've been following Minimal Mom on youtube.  Most of her videos are short and to the point.  She has some good ideas about minimalism that I find relatable.  Thought others here might like her.

I posted on the moms thread that I got inspired to clean out my closet packing for my first work trip.  She made a point about mental clutter that comes from having clothes I dislike or don't fit but hope to get back into.  I don't need that negativity in my life.  Plus someone else should benefit from the work attire before it goes out of style.  Filled two garbage bags because it's been way too long since I've purged.

Have been working my way thru the kids' bins downstairs.  I have ample closet space to store things, but I'm learning from DD13 that once girls hit about 11-12 they have their own styles and won't wear just everything.  DD9 has always had her own style.  Plus, she's a petite body type whereas DD13 matured early and currently wears a women's six.  4 yrs between them but multiple, multiple sizes.  So I went bin by bin from her current 7/8 size to women's small and culled the herd.  My goal is at most one bin of summer and one of winter for sizes 10/12 and 14/16 and I got rid of 18/20 because unless DD9 changes dramatically they will never fit.  Will be making a large donation of school uniforms including all of the shorts/pants as DD9 is skirts only and that won't change.  Also only keeping 7 school uniform outfits for winter and spring bc I know that's enough.  Only keeping essentials for play clothes bc I suspect DD9 will want to shop for her own.  We've found a nearby resale shop for tweens/teens that DD13 loves, and I just need to recognize that we can absolutely afford it.  I'm not clothing 5 kids on a farmer's paycheck like my mom was.

Finally feeling slightly motivated to get projects like these done.  But, can I just say that I'm resentful that DH hasn't a care in the world about their clothes?  Even when I ask him to help lift totes and things, he acts bent out of shape.  He literally has no idea how much effort it is or how much money I've saved us thru my methods.

[finnime]

Speaking of clothing, I threw out this morning a stuffed full hamper of old stray sheets and towels, miscellaneous clothes form DS's younger days and a lingerie bag full of old pantyhose that I recognize I will never ever wear again. I remember buying them on sale by the dozen.

Today: top of refrigerator, kitchen counters and kitchen shelves need severe editing. The kitchen will be painted in 2 weeks or so, and that requires accessing walls and ceiling.

[TheOtherMe]

Had to go in my office yesterday.  It's still in the process of being organized.  

I saw a box of used mailers from when I used to trade CDs.  I paid to move those.  Those went in today's recycling.  Why I have kept them for 12 years I have no idea.

I did find the 8 mm movies I want to have transferred to DVD.  I had paid for a service to do it but hadn't sent them in.  I was going to send VHS tapes, but since I found the 8 mm movies, I sent mostly film to be transferred.   Can't wait to get these back.

[moneysquirrel]

Nov 9, 2021 9:03:40 GMT -5 azucena said:

Also thinking about you and your DH, chloe.  I hate what covid has meant for you guys.

I've been following Minimal Mom on youtube.  Most of her videos are short and to the point.  She has some good ideas about minimalism that I find relatable.  Thought others here might like her.

I like her videos as well.  Also check out Cas from Clutterbug.  Also on YouTube.  Stay to the end as she usually adds a funny story.

[moneysquirrel]

Continuing with the usual.  The roof and fence are done except for one gate.  Still need to write the checks for them.  Patio cover still in waiting mode.  The guys secured it a little so that it would be a little safer.

Knee Deep in Water Chloe -- Sending good vibes in your direction.

Hope all are doing well.  Have more comments but need to sign off now.

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 28, 2021 17:37:51 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Great job, dannylion !

And, speaking of mice, I heard it in the wall/ceiling last night after supper while I was "on the can."     So, I went and got DH, who grabbed a step stool and some of the new mouse attractant and put it up in the attic crawl space.  Which, of course, happens to be in our walk-in closet along with our clothes.  I am so over it.

Started sneezing here at the office Tuesday afternoon, and woke up with a full on head cold yesterday.  I triple checked symptoms to ensure they don't coincide with The Virus.  I'm thankful I had already planned on taking tomorrow off.

Have a fantastic weekend, friends.

Hi there!

In true Iggy fashion, my "head cold" was actually allergies which segued into my asthma.  I've had both since birth, and it continues to be frustrating as an adult.  Went to the doc last week, and am on the last day of prednisone.  Been up since 2 this morning. Fun times!  I finally gave up, got out of bed around 5, and took the opportunity to clear out some things from my phone, organize the pantry, inventory canned goods, update the grocery list, empty the dish drainer, trim my fingernails, etc.

Oh, and the mouse has been dealt with.  

[TheOtherMe]

Here's to no more mice this fall, Iggy.

I keep hoping these two cats will keep mice at bay.  Fingers crossed.

[debthaven]

I’m glad most of the work is done Moneysquirrel!

Hope you feel much better soon Iggy!

Very late tech rehearsal tonight, up at 6 tomorrow for my long day + PT after work.

Thursday is off here so we have an afternoon dress rehearsal instead of an evening one. Play opens Friday.

I found out today that I won’t know till the very last minute if I have that extra class or not. Y’all know how patient I am…

I’m thankful because some of my fellow cast members are working all day on Friday (opening night), and I’m off that day.

I’ve been sleeping very badly (which is rare for me) so at least I can catch up as of Thursday. I feel immensely grateful for that!

[startsmart]

New York continues to be awesome - great weather and very productive working days! Tomorrow I have mostly to myself and meeting a colleague for dinner.

Working on my winter to do lists so I can get things done at home and in my business.

[debthaven]

Semester countdown: 12/15 weeks done!!! Just 3 weeks left! 

(I'll still be working after that, but much less because my regular classes will be over.)

[TheOtherMe]

The cleaning lady comes on Friday so I've started my pre-cleaning and getting rid of the clutter.

I didn't have her last month because I was in Toronto so it's been 2 months and is greatly in need of cleaning.  I am getting a bit too much help from Maddow and Amelia.  I am also resisting just putting things in the room that has been decluttered.  Nothing is going there.

The office is still a hiding place that we have to tackle again in December.  I canceled this month because I wanted to pay off the Toronto trip without incurring interest.

[debthaven]

Good for you for continuing to keep that room clear TheOtherMe , and for continuing to tackle your office in December! Just think how great those rooms will look by the new year! You’ve made SUCH fantastic progress!

I'm behind on laundry again but I'll do a load tomorrow. 

Today my PT said I shouldn't still have a bandage on the incision 19 days after surgery. He said "Go home, relax, then use sterile tools to clean it. I promise it'll look a LOT better, and you'll feel better!" I had one pack of sterile tools left, so I did it (after a drink for courage!)

I'll spare you the gory details, but he was right!!! It looks SO much better! (I thought the nurses who came here every 48h were supposed to do that, but hey, it's done!)