2022 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[TheOtherMe]

I like Christmas decorations.  It's the only holiday I decorate for.  I plan to start this week.  They live in 3 totes in the garage and not all are used every year.  

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Wow - glad I hesitated and thought this through a little more!


So - I found this absolutely perfect runner for the hallway, but it was only 10' long, and my hallway is 12.5. I was pondering about how to do this. As I was measuring and wondering would 10' be ok? should I get 2 7' and overlap? this had appeal as the hall was not a straigght shot. about half way thought one wall stuck out about 4" into the hall and then also was open on the other side of it with the stairs. Still the rug was 2.5' and that could got he whole way with the wood edge of the floor falling in differently in the two halves. Another options was to get the 10' runner and do a 2x3 at the end of the hallway....so I am measuring and pondering it all when suddenly it hit me that the attic door opened out into the hall - unlike all the other doors! Can't go in because the stairs start right there.

And it is already scrapping the floor! Duh! I could get 2 2x3 to put at either side. Attic door is int he center, but of course was hoping to cover up the super worn floor finish in the middel the most!

#crisis avert.....

[Rukh O'Rorke]

although....my current bedspread might be a bit light for the deep dark of winter......

[Sharon]

I think that countrygirl2 changes out her curtains for red ones in the winter.  That would add a nice bit of color during the winter and red could easily take you into March.

I usually start decorating for Christmas over Thanksgiving weekend.  I enjoy outdoor lights so it will be interesting to see how my lights fit on my new house.  Last year since I moved in during December I just threw out a couple of mesh lights over a couple of bushes and called it good.  This year I hope to get lights up on the house and possibly some bushes also.

Today was leaf raking day, via the riding lawn mower.   We had that big wind storm last Friday evening and I had a lot of leaves down.  Mowing them was an easy way to get a lot of them up off the lawn.

[debthaven]

oh - maybe I was unclear? I was only talking about throw pillows for the couch, not bedroom/bedding.

Sorry Rukh O'Rorke I misunderstood. 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 8, 2022 11:07:47 GMT -5 debthaven said:

oh - maybe I was unclear? I was only talking about throw pillows for the couch, not bedroom/bedding.

Sorry Rukh O'Rorke I misunderstood. 

No worries! It was me, I'm sure!

[debthaven]

Done at school for the week. Book Club at A's tonight. WFH tomorrow. 

This weekend
- mark 35 papers 

[Iggy aka IG]

I prepared for L's arrival this morning.  I did dishes, cleared off the main and bathroom counters, put several small appliances away, and yesterday morning emptied the garbage.  L brought up the subject of her cleaning my office in town, something we discussed earlier this year.  I told her I'd ponder it, especially considering inflation and the apparent 2023 upcoming recession.  When the latter happened before, the first thing I cut from my budget was housecleaning.

Been trying to balance office tasks with sprucing up the place.  Yesterday I tended to several plants and moved some around. Included was the very tall, hand-me-down faux plant a friend recently gave me previously owned by his uncle, which I put in front of the large lobby window to serve as a type of barrier from looky-loos.  Our building is near 100% capacity now and there's much more traffic.  I also wiped off two handprints from the lobby wall that I'd been eyeing for weeks as well as the lobby windowsill.  Let's just say we had a change in office building cleaners, and the new person isn't as detailed.  

[startsmart]

So very tired with all that’s come up in life lately. The election is done so that gives me back a bunch of time! My mother has surgery today for cancer so that’s at the forefront of my mind.

In addition to client work being weird lately, I have some decisions to make about where I want to spend my time in the new year.

I am close to my goal of assembling the entire quilt for my friend’s wedding which I’d like to take to the quilter in December. I know I can get through the last section this week if I don’t get distracted by the Christmas table runner I’m making at the same time.

[TheOtherMe]

I think I added to the clutter in my house today.  I hit up Etsy.  

I also think I am going to renew Ancestry.  I don't want to completely stop what I am doing.  

[debthaven]

I hope your mom's surgery goes well startsmart . 

[azucena]

Nov 9, 2022 17:43:08 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I think I added to the clutter in my house today.  I hit up Etsy.  

I also think I am going to renew Ancestry.  I don't want to completely stop what I am doing.  

It makes you happy and keeps you busy, so makes sense to continue.  I know you mentioned focusing on certain details of the research you've already done, but you can always step back and do that part when you're ready.  Keep going with what you find engaging. 

[debthaven]

TheOtherMe I agree with azucena . Life is short. I'm sure you can both declutter/process your findings and continue on Ancestry. 

[Sharon]

Today I worked on mowing the pasture.  The grass is so long.  We are freezing at night but as long as it is above freezing during the day I'm going to keep trying to get as much done outside as I can.

ETA: Yesterday was garbage day and I picked up a box of drawer/cupboard pulls that had been left here and tossed them.  They hadn't been used in almost a year so out they went.

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 9, 2022 18:46:40 GMT -5 azucena said:

Nov 9, 2022 17:43:08 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I think I added to the clutter in my house today.  I hit up Etsy.  

I also think I am going to renew Ancestry.  I don't want to completely stop what I am doing.  

It makes you happy and keeps you busy, so makes sense to continue.  I know you mentioned focusing on certain details of the research you've already done, but you can always step back and do that part when you're ready.  Keep going with what you find engaging. 

It does make me happy and like I accomplish something.  I need to set aside a minimum of one day a week to scan.  If I could do that for a few hours one day a week, I could watch the piles of scanning go down.  

I also need to organize what I have so I need to set aside another day for that until it's organized.  Then I can figure out what else needs to go.

[TheOtherMe]

I have enough cardboard in my garage from the bathroom remodel that it will take me at least all winter to get rid of all of it and my usual recycling.  

They only pick it up every other week.

[azucena]

Theo - you might try posting the cardboard for free on local fb sites. Lot of people use it for crafting.  My husband loves big pieces for his preschool classes to imagine with.

[seriousthistime]

azucena, excellent idea!  I have some huge wardrobe boxes that would be good for building forts and such.  I'll post them on NextDoor. 

[TheOtherMe]

Nov 10, 2022 9:30:13 GMT -5 azucena said:

Theo - you might try posting the cardboard for free on local fb sites. Lot of people use it for crafting.  My husband loves big pieces for his preschool classes to imagine with.

But I live in a town of 2000 and people don't want to drive out here and, no, I'm not bringing free stuff to people.

[azucena]

Nov 10, 2022 10:36:16 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Nov 10, 2022 9:30:13 GMT -5 azucena said:

Theo - you might try posting the cardboard for free on local fb sites. Lot of people use it for crafting.  My husband loves big pieces for his preschool classes to imagine with.

But I live in a town of 2000 and people don't want to drive out here and, no, I'm not bringing free stuff to people.

ah, I forget how rural you are.

[debthaven]

Week over!  DH and I went out for lunch, then I took a nap. 

This weekend
- mark 35 papers

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Today was the cleaners day. Had everything in pretty good order, only had to wake up about an hour ealier to get it all sorted out. I have a standing 8:30 am meeting, so need to get everything done before then. I changed my time for the cleanerstil later in the day, so i never hve to wake up early for that again! 

After the cleaner left, I had a work setback, so just started decluttering to take my mind off it. Went through 3 boxes and winnowed it down to about 1, although some stuff was just put organized into similar stuff and bot out the house, may be ousted at a later date. But had a good amount of garbage and recycling and started a new giveaway collection.

Was feeling a bit accomplished when there was a bump on the fron porch, and I find 3 boxes of "stuff" out there for me!


One from vitacost, so small, but then got a bunch of cat food and my new curtains. The new curtain rods came a few days ago and went into the clutter room. Put them into clutter room closet today.....

I was almost quit the cleaners when I realized I'm spending 720-900/month on them. And the job isn't that great! They just wipe, no quality control if there is something not picked up by the swipe. But I so desperately need that pressure to reset each week.

wondering about going back to the 60/hr person, trying again on the open market, or investing in autovac/mop combo. I'm such a malcontent!

[debthaven]

Rukh O'Rorke that's expensive but if it's helping and you can afford it, maybe it's just the price to pay to get things more manageable? You can always revisit the question once you are happier with the status quo.

This weekend
- mark 12 34 papers/Fri

Marked 22 papers today. Was getting a headache so I stopped.

[finnime]

Rukh O'Rorke, if I were you I'd both invest in a robotic vac/mop and look again for another cleaning service. That's more $$ than I'd be willing to pay for a less than stellar job. JMHO

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hi, friends!

DH left on Wednesday for a conference and won't be back until Sunday afternoon. I have today off as it's a US federal holiday. I am hunkering down in my house to work on my dissertation. I have 13 chores/tasks to work in throughout the day--not including going to the chiropractor. 

The work on our kitchen is close to being done. Then I'll get to actually set up the pantry and new drawers in a more permanent fashion. 

[debthaven]

Good to "see" you Knee Deep in Water Chloe ! 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nov 11, 2022 7:09:14 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Rukh O'Rorke that's expensive but if it's helping and you can afford it, maybe it's just the price to pay to get things more manageable? You can always revisit the question once you are happier with the status quo.

This weekend
- mark 12 34 papers/Fri

Marked 22 papers today. Was getting a headache so I stopped.

Thanks, yes I agree! Although at that level, I'm not sure I really can afford it! But for now, I need to keep it in place to keep me on track. I don't want to lose the progress I've made, and I need those regular outside forces to keep me on track.

As I mentioned, the home renovation thing is on the horizon, and no matter which way I go, clearing things out is necessary - which I would have very limited time to do if I'm doing all the mopping and scrubbing. I'm still pretty limited!

I do alway feel much freer after cleaning day. I've gotten out all the garbage and recyclying, everything put back, and then I do usually feel like digging into something extra like yesterday because it seems possible to make progress! Rather than feeling overwhelmed and defeated.

Also work has been pretty brutal, 2 more weeks of that and then things will continue to get easier at work through EOY.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

well, end of Nov have 2 rukh inc porjects coming in! Hate the extra pressure, love the extra money

[debthaven]

Rukh I think that finnime 's right ... you can always try to find another cleaner. This one does seem to be very expensive. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Thinking of your mom and you, startsmart.

I did it.  I finally tended to my side of the walk-in closet.  I turned on the oldies channel, put on comfy clothes and went at it.  This was just a spruce up and change tops out session, not a full-blown purge.  The last time I did the latter, it took several hours.  Yesterday took about 20 minutes:

-Hung up slacks
-After I did the above, I noticed a pair had mud on it, so I sent it down the laundry chute.
-Sent two pair of too big for me slacks and some comfy sweatpants down the chute to be laundered before putting into the donation bag.
-Later I put a shout out on my FB page asking if anyone is in need of the gently worn items above and I may have a taker.  She's going to check with a co-worker and get back with me.
-Removed sweaters from the storage tote, put summer tops into the tote, and put the sweaters on the shirts shelf.
-While doing the above I said out loud:  No more shopping!  At least for tops anyway.  I also scolded myself for being so sloppy as many shirts are now wrinkled. #firstworldproblems
-Threw away two bottoms which are beyond repair to be donated.
-Found a missing sock and sent it down the chute.
-Relocated 2 scarves
-Extra buttons from new garments will go into my sewing tin.
-Put a scarf along with a handy "different ways to tie it" guide into the donation bag.
-Somewhat organized the jewelry shelf.  I still need to relocate the majority into my Caboodle which I posted about how long ago...?

Later DH found one of my earrings on the floor.  

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.