2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[Iggy aka IG]

Well done, everyone.

I neglected to add to yesterday's post I'm going to stop making to do lists until I address old ones.  Regarding my record no new entertainment goal, DH and I watched then deleted several DVR hours last night.  Also, last night I went through the rest of the non-perishable holiday food on the counter, and it was either divvied up for lunches, bagged and stashed in the freezer, or tossed.  The remaining French bread made for a tasty hamburger bun for DH.

Before L arrived this morning, I cleared off the bathroom counter, disposed of a dead house plant and scrubbed the liner and pretty pot for reuse in our garden this spring, emptied 4 trash cans and took the bag out, started the dishwasher, and cleaned the air fryer basket and stored the unit.  The result of all of this was 500 steps before 8:15, LOL.  Monday, I ran the oven's cleaning cycle and hadn't had time to wipe down the interior.  I mentioned that to L, so we'll see if she can get to it.

[Iggy aka IG]

I just decluttered a desk cubby here at the office and came across an article I saved to share here.  From an industry related magazine, the article is 3 pages long, so I'll summarize a few highlights:

-Of the paper we hold on to, 80% will never be used again
-The average person spends one year of their life looking for lost or misplaced items
-Professional organizer Andrew Mellen shared three simple steps to becoming and staying organized:
1. One home for everything
2. Like with like
3. Something in, something out

He then goes on to list seven "time thieves" which I won't go into here.  For more information:  www.andrewmellen.com

Time to get back to work.  

[laterbloomer]

Did I ever mention to you guys that I transformed my white fridge into a stainless steel fridge using stainless steel paint and tac (sp?) paper? Well I did and I love it. I wasn't going to bother with my stove but now that it's all cleaned up I think it would be worth it. Has anyone here done this or know someone that has?

[debthaven]

laterbloomer you did mention how well it turned out! Sorry I've never heard of anyone doing that besides you lol.

Iggy aka IG very interesting facts!

Sharon my DH prints out sudokus from his favorite newspaper.

Yet more paperwork!!! My old job contracts ended when I retired, and now I have a new ones. Job 1 expedited my new contract so that DH is covered before his surgery.  I sent all the paperwork in today (despite working all day). 

I am already regretting continuing to work! But I had a lovely day with my students who were happy to see me after the break. 

DS3 said, you just need to get back into the swing of things after Christmas break. I'm sure we'll all feel better after DH gets home after his surgery (knee replacement). He was in the hospital for 5 weeks after his grave bike accident in 2011, and we have PTSD from that. 

[TheOtherMe]

I am 90% finished with the things I wanted to do before the cleaners come on Friday.  I'm quite proud of myself.  

Debt, I am sure things will feel better once the knee replacement surgery is done.

[debthaven]

Thank you TheOtherMe. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Ah, the things we shuffle from place to place... This afternoon I tossed my 25-year-old home and office Merriam-Webster dictionary.  

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 4, 2023 18:10:59 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Ah, the things we shuffle from place to place... This afternoon I tossed my 25-year-old home and office Merriam-Webster dictionary.  

Dad still had his two volume dictionary when he died.  We did not keep it.

[stillmovingforward]

Jan 4, 2023 15:49:39 GMT -5 debthaven said:

laterbloomer you did mention how well it turned out! Sorry I've never heard of anyone doing that besides you lol.

Iggy aka IG very interesting facts!

Sharon my DH prints out sudokus from his favorite newspaper.

Yet more paperwork!!! My old job contracts ended when I retired, and now I have a new ones. Job 1 expedited my new contract so that DH is covered before his surgery.  I sent all the paperwork in today (despite working all day). 

I am already regretting continuing to work! But I had a lovely day with my students who were happy to see me after the break. 

DS3 said, you just need to get back into the swing of things after Christmas break. I'm sure we'll all feel better after DH gets home after his surgery (knee replacement). He was in the hospital for 5 weeks after his grave bike accident in 2011, and we have PTSD from that. 

Knee replacement is wonderful! My husband was so happy with his. And cycling was the physical therapist's exercise of choice for him. Which i think your DH enjoys so that is good. I hope you're DH's recovery is as easy as my DH's was ❤

[debthaven]

That's so good to hear stillmovingforward ! Thank you! I'm glad it went so well for your DH! 


I had the appt to get my "green card" renewed this morning, and all is well!!! I have a temporary 6-month card while they make the real one. I am SO RELIEVED!!!

[TheOtherMe]

Fantastic news debthaven

[startsmart]

I organized and dusted the small bookshelves in my office today and they’re looking good except I don’t love how crowded things are. I determined that it’s because I don’t have proper storage for office supplies outside my desk (which is pretty limited). So I found and bought 2 tall shelving units that will go aside my desk for everything I need to store. I’ll rework where the file cabinet and printer goes but otherwise very little disruption.

They’re to arrive next Friday so I have a bit of time. And if I can get 2 yds of nice fabric I’ll cover the back panels which are pretty cheap looking. I did that for my closet build and really liked it.

Next to organize is going to be my desk drawers, there’s a lot of random stuff + dust and dirt to clean up.

[debthaven]

I took a nap this afternoon and slept like the dead. 

We have a quiet weekend planned. The only goal is to keep up with kitchen/laundry/work and get through DH's surgery next week.

I need some quiet after the stress about my papers. SO happy to finally be working less.

[startsmart]

I went ahead and moved the file cabinet today so there’s room to build and place the bookshelves next week. I’m so excited to get these boxes and piles off the floor! I also set up the twin bed upstairs in a bedroom and will continue working up there over the weekend.

Living room furniture got rearranged too and I have a couple bins of glassware to go upstairs. I have re-organized a lot so that when the kittens are allowed out in the living room they do not knock over and destroy anything valuable.

Tomorrow I need to get my phone fixed, return an Amazon item that didn’t work and take the dogs to the vet for shots and nail trims.

[debthaven]

How is your mom doing startsmart ?

Today DS3, DD and I put Christmas away. We put away the lights and ornaments, and DS3 put the tree by the woodpile. The LED seal hangs around through January. 

I also ordered a birth gift for our cleaner's grandson (he's due to arrive any day).
 

[moneysquirrel]

debthaven -- Glad that you got that appointment and that is one less item on your mind.  Great news on the extra from the jobs (even if they were required to give it).

I have been getting things done:

• I was able to fulfill that custom order on Etsy and got that mailed off yesterday.  Due to upcoming travel in the late spring I will not be listing new items in my shop.  I will let things expire (items are up for 4 months and then expire) naturally.  If any are still available I will put my shop on vacation shortly before I leave and reopen and relist items once all travel has been completed.
• General house maintainance -- mopping, cleaning,etc.
• Hair appointment
• Dentist appointment
• Sam's trip
• Laundry -- several loads
• Dishwasher
• Picked up most of the Christmans items.  Still have the tree up but all decorations are packed away.  Nutcracker collection is packed away.  Ceremic tree, other small trees are packed away. 
• Organized several dresser drawers

Still to do:

• Pack away the Christmas tree -- box is in the garage and I don't want to move the car today.
• Pack away the Wreath -- see above reason
• Pack up nativity collection -- I never pick this up before January 6th.  So it will be done this weekend as will the others listed above.

• Begin making items for the spring and fall craft shows -- mainly items that I need to make replacement of plus I want to try some new things
• Continue the process of going through drawers and closets -- will be a several week project.
• Hardware store run -- need to pick up several items but not urgent.
• Many other items to be determined.

I start back to classes the week after next so I will be back to some sort of schedule.  All of this is volunteer based so if sometime comes up as a conflict there is no problem.  The class I teach will end a few weeks earlier than normal due to travel.

Will check in when I can.

[TheOtherMe]

My house is clean.  It looks so good and smells so good.

[Sharon]

This afternoon it was sunny and above freezing so I washed the living room windows inside and out.  My living room has 4 good sized windows across the front and with the sunshine that has been out lately it really showed how much they needed to be cleaned.  We get a lot of blowing dust so the outsides were really dusty and then the inside had dog nose prints and toddler hand prints.  These windows are actually pretty easy to clean.  On the outside there is a brick planter box that runs across the front of the house.  It is really easy to step up onto that planter box from the front porch and then just walk along there and clean the windows.  The inside can be done with the kitchen step stool.

Yesterday I finally found some new sheets.  I'm super picky about how sheets feel and had been having some troubles finding some that felt okay.  I got those washed up this morning so they will be ready to put on the bed tomorrow.  I also ran and emptied the dishwasher

[startsmart]

Debthaven - she’s doing well! 3 more days of radiation and then PT. It’s exhausting, of course, but she and dad are managing.

I did a trip to “town” yesterday to avoid crowds today and I’m very happy with that choice. I got groceries, fixed an issue with my phone, shipped a package, picked up some fabric and had lunch at a favorite spot.

Today I’ve already
- cleaned out the car
- moved some stuff upstairs
- moved lights I bought (on Black Friday!) to the garage
- cleaned stickers off new windows
- cleaned the stovetop
- cleaned all mirrors (only 4 but still)
- started laundry
- watered all the plants (10 indoors)
- put away finished puzzles in secret room
- tidied up the entryway dresser and organizer
- picked up trash that has blown into the yard
- sorted the bench cushions outdoors
- put full trash can out for pickup and moved empty one up to the house
- took out trash

It’s amazing how much I can get done while avoiding other work 😂

I do need to put in a few hours of client work today since yesterday was mostly a wash but I am happy at my productivity levels today.

[TheOtherMe]

You sound like me and my trips to town.  I went in this morning for grocery pick up.  I usually go during the week and am the only person there.  

On a Saturday morning, they had two boys loading groceries and I had to wait for 4 cars to get their groceries before I got mine.

The only change the store made was to the cat litter and I came out the winner.  I had ordered 1 14 pound box of litter and got 2 9 pound boxes of litter.  

[moneysquirrel]

All the Christmas items have been picked up with the exception of some seasonal towels that will be in the next load of laundry or two.  The house looks so empty without all the stuff.  In a few days I will put out the Mardi Gras items.  I don't have as much of them but it helps.

A have an entry table that I put seasonal items on and that is the space that gets most of the attention each season.  Upcoming -- Valentine --Mardi Gras -- St. Patrick -- Easter -- Break until Patriotic-- Break until Halloween -- Thanksgiving -- Christmas. I have the items and I am working on thinning them out each time.  Several Christmas items are in the donation box as I type this. I also broke several earlier this season.

Also got one load of laundry done and the trash out in time for pickup.  Still plan to get some things done in my craft room but decided to take a break to do the wordle and other daily puzzles.

Till later.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

House chores. Need to make my work list also.

[startsmart]

TheO - the closer town is a 30 min drive but it doesn’t have many of the stores I need. So I went to Tulsa (about 2 hrs away) and got it all done in one fell swoop.

I’ve been painting window trim and am halfway done in the living room and got the first coat done on the bathroom then had to distract the kittens while it dried so they wouldn’t play in the black paint.

I’ve been having a good time organizing and cleaning little places. Like my coffee cart was super dusty but underneath was a disaster. I cleaned it all up, organized teas and K cups and tossed some very old loose tea.

I may need to do a “drink tea” challenge because I have so many bags and a client just sent me a box of 48 more for Christmas.

[laterbloomer]

I got the chest freezer defrosted today. Another one of those items that was on my to-do list for way too long. I also got the stand alone toilet paper stand today so I took the one off the wall and filled the holes. I'm waiting for the stucco stuff to dry so I can sand and paint it. Sign of the times, the toilet paper holder comes with a little table top to put your cell phone on. I actually couldn't find one without the table top.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 7, 2023 17:59:34 GMT -5 startsmart said:

TheO - the closer town is a 30 min drive but it doesn’t have many of the stores I need. So I went to Tulsa (about 2 hrs away) and got it all done in one fell swoop.

My "town" is about 25 minutes of driving.  To get to anything bigger I have to go to Madison or Cedar Rapids, each about 90 away.  I only shop in those towns when I am already going there.  

I am a fan of Amazon. 

[debthaven]

So much for a quiet Saturday ... we took DD to the airport in the morning, then took DS3 to lunch and to the Eurostar in the afternoon. The kids have been coming and going since 21 Dec. 

I'm not leaving the house today.

I went through DD's sheets since I bought two new matching sets from Ikea. I put the old ones in the basement for DS1 to look at when he's here in February. I'll donate what he doesn't want.

We're also working on getting 2 more estimates for new windows. DH sent the measures to a second company today, so I just need to get one more.  

I start my new reduced schedule this week ... two days/week at school, one day WFH.    

[Sharon]

I wasted away a lot of yesterday, but did get a couple loads of laundry done and the sheets changed on the bed.  Today I finally made myself work some more on getting the kitchen primered.  The second coat does seem to be covering better.  There is hope that I can cover that turquoise.  I finished what still needed a first coat and got a second coat done on the hard part, up above the cabinets, around the kitchen sink etc.  It has taken me years to learn but finally when I get tired from painting I quit. 

I hope the rest of the house isn't going to require 2 coats of primer.  I know two of the walls in my bedroom will and the guest bedroom will but hopefully not the rest of the house.

[laterbloomer]

I painted the doors on the pantry today. I'm knocking off my small item to do list. These are things so minor I forget to put them on a real list but they bug me every time I look at them.

[finnime]

I feel like I haven't moved at all but somehow most of my to-do list has been whittled away. DH took charge of clearing the office. We started to put together an under-counter cabinet I got from Wayfair, but will finish tomorrow. Also tomorrow, wash the bathroom rug and the towels, and buy a couple of grab bars for the handyman to install. Getting there.

[debthaven]

Third and last company coming for a window estimate tomorrow afternoon.