2022 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 10, 2022 16:44:29 GMT -5 debthaven said:

The ONLY exception to that is my ski outfit ... which I haven't used in 20 years.   I will probably never use it again, but a girl can dream, right?!  

Completely OT, but Iggy aka IG , Knee Deep in Water Chloe and anyone else who likes word games ... have you discovered Wordle? DH and I are hooked! It's very simple and clever, and there's just 1 word per day. 

I haven't.  Is it an ap or....?  I like the one word per day idea as I would spend less time on it, LOL.

[startsmart]

Finally got my laundry done today - I went yesterday but it was packed so I waited since no one else here wears a mask. Only glitch was in one load the tide pod didn't open fully so the "clean" clothes had blue goo everywhere. I ran the load again which worked but delayed finishing by 20 min. Now I'm unloading the car and putting everything away. 

After the big snow storm in Virginia last week stranded people for 27 hours I decided to restock my car with emergency food. I have a case of water out there plus granola bars, trail mix, olives, almonds, some candy and napkins/utensils. Has saved me from a hangry moment more than once and everything is shelf stable for years. 

[Lizard Queen]

Can someone please forward some motivation over to the mitten state? I'm deep into learned helplessness ATM, or most of the time lately. 

[debthaven]

That's a really good idea startsmart , to keep food in the car with winter coming! 

No Iggy aka IG it's a website. I would find it difficult to do on a phone, I do it on the computer. The creator refuses to create an app, and he refuses to program it to do more than 1 word per day, because ... he doesn't want people to spend hours on it!!! He's a software developer from NY who created it for his partner during lockdown. 

Here is the link: www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/

Apparently it's been around for about 7 months but only recently went viral. I saw it on several people's Facebook, that's how I learned about it. DH is hooked too, and probably DS3 too LOL. 

Here's a recent article about it:

edition.cnn.com/2022/01/08/business/wordle-internet-game-explainer/index.html

[anciana]

Jan 10, 2022 17:16:06 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Can someone please forward some motivation over to the mitten state? I'm deep into learned helplessness ATM, or most of the time lately. 

Hey, Lizard Queen, I heard that laterbloomer had some extra but it might have been used up or claimed by others by now. I know I can't find any at the store, already checked with friends. But, if you're really in a bind, you can probably have mine. I think I have gotten my use out of it by taking down all of the Christmas decorations last weekend and I might be done for the month. Good luck! 

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 10, 2022 17:25:10 GMT -5 anciana said:

Jan 10, 2022 17:16:06 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Can someone please forward some motivation over to the mitten state? I'm deep into learned helplessness ATM, or most of the time lately. 

Hey, Lizard Queen, I heard that laterbloomer had some extra but it might have been used up or claimed by others by now. I know I can't find any at the store, already checked with friends. But, if you're really in a bind, you can probably have mine. I think I have gotten my use out of it by taking down all of the Christmas decorations last weekend and I might be done for the month. Good luck! 

Thanks, I need it. Our Christmas decorations are still up, and no one else in my house is inclined to take them down, but after the 3rd day straight of school cancellations, they are inclined to make other messes in my path. I might be winning if I can get them put away by the end of the month.

[Opti]

Jan 10, 2022 16:44:29 GMT -5 debthaven said:

The ONLY exception to that is my ski outfit ... which I haven't used in 20 years.   I will probably never use it again, but a girl can dream, right?!  

Completely OT, but Iggy aka IG , Knee Deep in Water Chloe and anyone else who likes word games ... have you discovered Wordle? DH and I are hooked! It's very simple and clever, and there's just 1 word per day. 

Had to google to figure out how to play.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 10, 2022 17:22:06 GMT -5 debthaven said:

That's a really good idea startsmart , to keep food in the car with winter coming! 

No Iggy aka IG it's a website. I would find it difficult to do on a phone, I do it on the computer. The creator refuses to create an app, and he refuses to program it to do more than 1 word per day, because ... he doesn't want people to spend hours on it!!! He's a software developer from NY who created it for his partner during lockdown. 

Here is the link: www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/

Apparently it's been around for about 7 months but only recently went viral. I saw it on several people's Facebook, that's how I learned about it. DH is hooked too, and probably DS3 too LOL. 

Here's a recent article about it:

edition.cnn.com/2022/01/08/business/wordle-internet-game-explainer/index.html

Thank you, debthaven!  At first I thought it was called WordIe, LOL.  I went to today's word link and successfully guessed today's word.  

[nidena]

Whew!  I'm tired.

I even did all my laundry so I could ensure I was touching everything.

49 items in a box for Style Encore/Clothes Mentor
35 items in a box for my friend
29 items in a box and a bag for Goodwill
7 items set aside for my cousin

Everything fits in my closet and chesser and I even have room in my chesser for more which, to me, means I need a smaller piece of furniture in my bedroom and not that behemoth.

In any case, I need LITERALLY no new clothes unless I get the job at Bath & Body Works and then I'll just need some white tops.

Oh, I mentioned bras in an earlier post.  I have bras that date back to 2015.  I have, easily, $3000 worth of bras, considering the average bra NOT BOUGHT AT TARGET, KOHL'S, OR JCP cost $65.
Sizes 36FF & G; 38F, FF, G , & GG; and some 40F.  

[Sharon]

Today I worked on cleaning the front room windows inside and out.  There were so dirty.  They still need some work but it was a little too cold outside for cleaning windows but they are so much better.  The inside had hand prints way to far up to be young children and what I suspect is dog slobber.  Since I was out there I also threw away two pieces of garden statue things that were in that front flower bed.  One was this resin log with two turtles on it and the other was this deer statue.  My yard is full of this kind of stuff and that just isn't my style.  There was a pole in the flag pole holder that had nothing hanging from it, it is now also in the garbage can.

This past week I had put one of my bookcases in the living room and filled it with the books that always reside there.  DGD was over Sunday evening and going through the books, so I decided to swap out the boxed up childrens books that were in the guest room closet for the books that normally reside in that bookcase.  The kids will get more use and enjoyment out of those books and if I should decide I want to read the other books I can get them out of the closet.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 10, 2022 16:44:29 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Completely OT, but Iggy aka IG , Knee Deep in Water Chloe and anyone else who likes word games ... have you discovered Wordle? DH and I are hooked! It's very simple and clever, and there's just 1 word per day. 

I wish my dad was still here.  He loved word games.  Of course, the computer would be a challenge.

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 10, 2022 17:22:06 GMT -5 debthaven said:

That's a really good idea startsmart , to keep food in the car with winter coming! 

No Iggy aka IG it's a website. I would find it difficult to do on a phone, I do it on the computer. The creator refuses to create an app, and he refuses to program it to do more than 1 word per day, because ... he doesn't want people to spend hours on it!!! He's a software developer from NY who created it for his partner during lockdown. 

Here is the link: www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/

Apparently it's been around for about 7 months but only recently went viral. I saw it on several people's Facebook, that's how I learned about it. DH is hooked too, and probably DS3 too LOL. 

Here's a recent article about it:

edition.cnn.com/2022/01/08/business/wordle-internet-game-explainer/index.html

Well, a pox on your first born for posting this.    I love word games. In fact had Tug of Words recorded the other day from the Game Show Network. Just stumbled across it when searching for something else. Different concept but still words. I am glad it is limited!! I will be playing on PC in between playing Text Twist 2 Untimed when killing time!!

[nidena]

I also filed away eight months worth of paperwork.  

[finnime]

Now, I've got to check out Wordle. It sounds right up my alley.

In other decluttering news, I've offloaded my old curtain rods and hold-backs that had oak leaf finials and don't go with the new decor, plus 5 more bags of trash and a smallish metal rack with 3 shelves. Real estate agent coming tomorrow. Cleaning person came yesterday--she does stellar work, scrubbing and polishing everything until it gleams. She's done most of the windows and deep cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. I'm going to have her come every 2 weeks, then weekly when we get the house closer to being on the market, in March we think.

I'm going to check out Decluttr. I have 2 moving boxes filled with CDs. I'm also planning on going Marie Kondo on my clothing, so I can get rid of the Ikea closet I have. I really don't need or want half of the clothes I own.

[nidena]

Today is a day for taking a brand new, never worn, bought in 2020 Lands' End jacket to a local charity, then returning some chisels that I thought I would use but didn't to Lowe's, followed by returning some never used makeup to Sephora in JCP.  Sorting the paperwork yesterday helped me find the receipts.

I need to also stop by a bank that keeps sending statements to the former owner of my house--the house she sold to me 18 months ago.

[TheOtherMe]

My family that moved to Toronto never bothered to go online and change any addresses.  Once the forwarding notice expired, some mail was forwarded by the new owner with increasingly angry notes.  Finally stopped sending them altogether.  

I think all of their accounts now have my address, but I can't tell you how many times I had to tell them to get stuff changed.  The last one was a few months ago and it was a notice that was going to both addresses to confirm this was their current address.  

Yesterday, I received DN1's new state ID from this state.  He didn't like not have a US ID.  When he got his Canadian driver's license, they took his old one from the US.  On the day before he was leaving, he went to get his driver's license.  The old one had been expired and he has to take the written and driving test again.  Driving test has to be scheduled and they couldn't do it that afternoon.  So the basic ID card is all he could get.

[nidena]

Yeah, I get all kinds of mail for her but I know it's because the forwarding notices expire after, like, 90 days.  I just feel like she might actually WANT her bank statements.  Though, this one is thin so it might be an acknowledgement of change of address.  In any case, I'll take it to the bank and let them open it to look up her account # to input the note in the system.

[TheOtherMe]

Since they are in Canada, they have me opening their mail so they know if they can handle from a picture or me scanning it and emailing it.  If it can't be done that way, I mail it to them.  Like the photo ID has to be mailed.  

I am sure she would want the bank statements.  They have always used online bank so that was easy to change.  I do get called Olga whenever I make a deposit to their account.  

The new owners forwarded a letter from Jehovah's Witnesses.  It did look like a personal letter.  Guess what they told me to do with that.  

Anything they do that they are paid with in US dollars and the payor won't use direct deposit comes to me and I deposit the check.  

[moneysquirrel]

Welcome to all new posters on this thread.  Welcome to the family.

I am getting a slow start this morning.  Reading through the last few days of post shows me that all of you have been very busy bees. 

I have been making an effort to get some exercise every day.  Mostly using some YouTube videos as the weather has been icky and not giving good vibes.  I do miss the exercise classes that I took through the program that I volunteer as a teacher but they won't restart until the end of the month.  I needed to do something now.  Seems to be working ok for me and I hope to continue with some of these videos as well as the classes that I signed up for.

I am getting some things done today.  Ran the dishwasher this morning early and currently doing a load of laundry.  I plan to work on that necklace repair this afternoon.  I love creating things but not so much repairing but it needs to be done so I will make the effort to start the process later today.  I am also trying to create another design and need to make a prototype to see if my idea will work.  I also need to check my inventory and see what I have to make.  Inventory had been updated but I haven't looked at the areas that I need to beef up.  I think that I may be losing one of the shows that we have done the last few years.  There seems to be some changes coming to that venue that may cause them to not have the show.  I also have to make time to take several pictures of items and work out descriptions for items already in my inventory.  


debthaven -- Glad that you are back in action.  Thanks for the link to another work puzzle.  I will check that one out.

**I already do several puzzles everyday.  For those of you with AARP membership there are several puzzles that give you points each day.  You can then cash in those points for gift cards.  I have lots of points but a lot of the choices are not available to me but I have cashed in some over the last year.  More than paid for my annual membership.**


Sharon -- you are making great progress in unpacking and disposing of things you don't want or need.
finnime -- You are doing well at packing up in order to make the wanted move and to get the house on the market.
laterbloomer and startsmart -- both of you are knocking things off your lists.
Blonde Granny -- Glad that you are feeling a little better.  Take care of yourself.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 10, 2022 18:28:01 GMT -5 nidena said:

Whew!  I'm tired.

I even did all my laundry so I could ensure I was touching everything.

49 items in a box for Style Encore/Clothes Mentor
35 items in a box for my friend
29 items in a box and a bag for Goodwill
7 items set aside for my cousin

Everything fits in my closet and chesser and I even have room in my chesser for more which, to me, means I need a smaller piece of furniture in my bedroom and not that behemoth.

In any case, I need LITERALLY no new clothes unless I get the job at Bath & Body Works and then I'll just need some white tops.

Oh, I mentioned bras in an earlier post.  I have bras that date back to 2015.  I have, easily, $3000 worth of bras, considering the average bra NOT BOUGHT AT TARGET, KOHL'S, OR JCP cost $65.
Sizes 36FF & G; 38F, FF, G , & GG; and some 40F.  

This is outstanding!  And I love the fact you were thoughtful when deciding where the items are going.  (Years ago, I stopped donating to a certain local thrift shop, after seeing the huge pile of clothes on the floor in the back of the store.  Despite the fact I no longer want a particular garment, doesn't mean I stop respecting it.)

[Deleted]

Over on the What Are You Doing Right Now? thread someone suggested I come visit folks here.  We've been decluttering since last fall and I'm currently working on kitchen cabinets.  I was pretty cocky about not really finding much stuff there that I didn't need but I was majorly wrong.  Years ago I read a saying that you should stock your kitchen for the way you really cook, not the way you wished you cooked.  Today I found a lot of stuff from back in the day when I dreamed we would be entertaining a lot.  So I'm saying farewell to the 10 cup coffee maker, multiple cheese platters and cheese knives, huge casserole dishes, and much more of that sort. I have more kitchen cabinets to do and I'm sure I'll find more unwanted treasures there as well.  Then it's on to the pantry which might be embarrassing. 

I'm really inspired and motivated by the goals and tasks everyone is working on here!  

[nidena]

soupandstew, don't feel bad.  My closet, for many years, was made up of clothes for a lifestyle that I wished I had or thought I'd have again.  I've gotten more realistic the further I get from my 20s and 30s.  lol.

In other news, Clothes Mentor bought half my stuff and paid me $114.  I took the other half to Style Encore 30 miles away (and near the Costco that I stopped at on the way to renew my membership) but they passed on everything.

That was all after the jacket drop-off at the local non-profit, the chisel return to Lowe's, the makeup return to Sephora, AND a stop by the flooring store to pick up LVP samples to plop on the floor to see which I love most.

Last month, my original #1 became #2 and I picked a new #1.
Today, that #1 got replaced with a new #1.

I'm really glad the measuring guy made the suggestion.  I still love the (now) #2 but the new #1 has more depth to its color.

Tomorrow, I need to tackle the cat domain.  Again.  These darn cats!  Why can't they learn to clean up after themselves

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hi! This I'm trying to get application materials organized. 
I'm almost done with DH's resume. 
I need to gather the letters of recommendation that I already have for me plus ask for three more. 
Then, I need to complete DH's application file for one job and look at another one. 
I have one job to apply for this week. 

(We're struggling with which areas of the state to consider moving to.)

[Opti]

Worked on my hall closet today and recycled several cardboard boxes. Have one shoebox that I haven't broken down yet. Might make it a temp skinny pig home. Will decide later. Managed to shrink a pile of papers etc. by the bed, but it is not entirely gone yet. Still, it is less than half the size it was, so that's something.

Still ongoing the great paper file and recycle. 

[Empire the P.A.]

I shredded old paperwork/statements today. I hold on to that stuff way too long. I haven’t finished with the filing cabinet but pretty happy with the progress I made. 
I bought too much stuff (mostly small kitchen appliances/tools) over the holidays. I need to purge stuff not buy more! 

[Opti]

Jan 12, 2022 1:18:17 GMT -5 Empire the P.A. said:

I shredded old paperwork/statements today. I hold on to that stuff way too long. I haven’t finished with the filing cabinet but pretty happy with the progress I made. 
I bought too much stuff (mostly small kitchen appliances/tools) over the holidays. I need to purge stuff not buy more! 

Me too on the statements. I would like to go through my file cabinet in an orderly way, but I've just purged three full files recently because they were out of date or no longer valid.

[nikiz628]

Living and dining room have been deep cleaned! Christmas was taken down, I rearranged my furniture, purchased a new rug and coffee table, and even got all the walls washed. I bought one of the O Cedar Spin Mops with the fancy bucket and it has been a game changer. I had all the walls and trim done in minutes! The mop water was absolutely disgusting. 

The kitchen is ALMOST finished. All cabinets have been cleaned out and organized. The fridge and freezer were cleaned out and organized as well. I just need to clean the cabinet doors and walls and give the floor a good mopping. 

I have also finished DS1's room. All his Christmas was taken down, we went through all his clothes/books/games, organized everything and deep cleaned. I just need to shampoo his carpet and that room is officially done. 

Rooms left to go: 
DS2's bedroom 
Bonus Room Upstairs
Our room (which will be an undertaking because its become the catch all for things Ive removed from other rooms that need sorted/tossed/moved elsewhere) 

Then the basement and garage..... 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I also packed two more boxes yesterday.

[catsareme]

The pile of paperwork on my desk is two-thirds gone (shredded most, filed some).  Cleaned out a batch of old statements from the file cabinet.  Why, oh why, do I keep so much stuff for far too long?  Next up, the paperwork pile sitting on the futon.  

[catsareme]

Jan 12, 2022 9:20:15 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I also packed two more boxes yesterday.

I have to remember even a snail makes progress....