2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[Iggy aka IG]

(Most) freezer items have been transferred.  I made more room in the kitchen freezer baskets by tossing a few items and removing the two organizer bins.  I gave the bins a good scrubbing and will use them to organize summer tops on a walk-in closet shelf.  Stored on their sides, it will be much easier to select a top for work.  Now to organize my "play" clothes....

[Artemis Windsong]

May 24, 2023 15:53:35 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 23, 2023 18:04:49 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

I had so much fun writing stories in the past.  I was in a couple of writing groups.  I saved a lot of materials.  I am passing them forward to a friend's daughter.

The sorting and organizing for her took about 3 hours.  So much better than heading them to the recycler!

The dictionary of flowers is hard to give up.

I am just reading the end of this thread. Why are you giving up this dictionary?

I hadn't looked at it in years.  The young ladies Dad is a flower lover.  I'm sure he'll check it out.

The book that has the flower dictionary is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

[TheOtherMe]

May 25, 2023 10:31:51 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

TOM do you have a shower chair? No need to worry about falling if you stand

Yes I have a chair.  I still worry about passing out and falling.  

ETA:  I had my bathroom remodeled and the tub removed and replaced with a handicapped accessible shower.  I've got the seat and I've got the grab bars.  They won't help if I've passed out and am lying on the shower floor.

[debthaven]

Friday
- bottle bank
- gas
- firewood

Got a bunch of local errands done. 

We've been waiting three weeks for the window guys to clean the new windows.  Today my cleaner came over with my friend's window squeegee to clean them. Of course I paid her for the extra time and tipped her. Now that I know what she likes to use, we'll get one.

ETA: We bought the same window squeegee, so now we have one too. 

[moneysquirrel]

Updating:

May 22, 2023 15:58:05 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

This Week:
* Laundry -- Caught up for now but I will need to do another load or two before my trip next weekend
* Dishwasher -- 
* Place hold mail for next weekend
* Craft show Thursday
*Pack for craft retreat -- next weekend -- Started
* Work on ongoing projects -- 1 crochet and 2 beading -- Ongoing
*Mail off the taxes for craft shows -- Checks written -- post office run later today.

I will run the dishwasher at least once more before my trip.  Also several loads of laundry.  Waiting for a few bills to hit my account so that I can clear them off as well.

Only a few last minute items to add to the luggage before I leave -- only taking carryons so process is easier.  

Once I return from this craft retreat I should be home the rest of the summer.  Time to complete all of the unfinished projects  --
the 3 have have currently in process as well as the 5 I will be coming home with.  Plus any other I want to try.  I will also reopen my etsy shop.  I have it on vacation until the middle of June and then will be adding items to it on a regular basis for a while.  I don't sell a lot online but need to keep a presence.  

Off to change clothes so that I can run some errands.  Can't go out wearing my "can't be seen in public attire".  
Til later.

[debthaven]

So pissed off ... here Netflix is stopping the sharing of passwords. We always paid for the most expensive plan so we could share with all our kids, but apparently those days are over.

I get an email from Netflix today saying that the account holder has confirmed that the main household has a Xiaomi smart TV and a PlayStation. Um, we have neither. Turns out that's DD's ex M. 

I bumped both of M's devices off, then bumped ALL the devices but mine off and changed the password. I gave the new password to DH and the 3 younger kids. We'll see what happens next (DS1 has his own account.) Netflix used to advertise, "sharing is caring" but now they're cracking down on that here.  

I can't believe DD's ex has been using my account even though they broke up 18 months ago, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT HE CONFIRMED TO NETFLIX that HE was the main household!!! Talk about balls the size of Texas. 

[plugginaway22]

😳👎

[debthaven]

I've already chosen a cheaper Netflix plan. If they really do crack down, I'll go cheaper yet.

DS2 and DS3 thanked us for all these years of Netflix and said no worry, they'll get their own accounts. I considered paying to add DD to our account but then decided not to because I don't trust her not to share our password "just this once" or "just with X/Y/Z." I'd rather treat her to her own account, if she really can't afford it. I can't always trust her judgement.

DD starts her new job next week. Fingers crossed. Thankfully she sounded better today than she did a few weeks ago. 

ETA: It's perfectly normal that DD shared the password with M while they were living together. I'm NOT blaming DD for the fact that M is still using it 18 months later. That's all on him.

[debthaven]

In other news, the painters haven't been around much this week. They say they'll finish on Monday. We've been paying the contractor's bills very promptly because they've done more than they've billed for, but there's still a "punch list". The contractor says they'll finish that on Monday too, but I'm not holding my breath. I won't pay the final bill till EVERYTHING is done.

But it's the final stretch!!! We will be SO happy not to have workers arriving at 8am every day!

[Iggy aka IG]

Happy Friday everyone!

The bins I've been yapping about won't work for shirts as they aren't tall enough, so I'm using them for purses and wallets.  And there was so much beef DH had to borrow freezer space from a neighbor.

I'm wrapping things up for the 3-day weekend here in the states:
-Had lunch with a friend
-Went to the post office
-Went to the dollar store and bought a few organizer bins for the camper and a few other items
-Dropped off the banner I didn't get to last week
-A friend had other business here in the building, so I gave her the onions then, which saved me a stop

Next:
-Do a few service requests here at the office
-Fill out thank you cards for the gift card mailing (I send them to clients as referral thank yous)
-Water plants, do dishes, change the outgoing VM, put the sign on the door

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.  

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG Marie Kondo has a way of folding tops smaller that might work for those bins. I don't fold my clothes that way, but my DS3 does now. Just a thought. 

PS: I am NOT a huge MK fan, but I know my DS3 likes the way she folds clothes. My toilet brushes or kitchen sponges don't exactly "spark joy" but they're very useful, so I'm keeping them anyway LOL. 

[TheOtherMe]

I don't have Netflix, but I keep seeing on the news that the same thing is happening here with sharing of accounts.  I am guessing my sister lost her access to Netflix.

[debthaven]

TheOtherMe yes this is happening in different countries. 

I just think my DD's ex should have been happy enough to have enjoyed Netflix for free for the past 6.5 years, instead of seeing their email asking who the main account holder is first and pretending it was him.

What an asshole.   

[TheOtherMe]

Totally agree that the ex should have been off years ago and not confirming that he is paying the bill.

[Sharon]

I took to today off work so I could have a good long weekend to try and catch up.  Today I worked in the yard for several hours.  I got rid of 4 hoses of various types/lengths etc.  They had been coiled around the bottom of a standing faucet that is in the yard with weeds growing up all around them.  They are gone, gone, gone and the weeds were pulled.  I also dug up some volunteer prune trees and trimmed back a hibiscus bush.  Even though I was out there for several hours I didn't get very far down the flower bed but what I got done looks good. 

After I came in from working in the yard I did some work on my file cabinet and managed to clear out about 3 inches of paper.  It has all been shredded.  There is more work that could be done there but it was a good start.  I also got all the waste baskets emptied and garbage taken out.

My garbage can is very full and pick up day isn't until next Wednesday.

[startsmart]

I have been making progress outside and have a friend coming to help me reset the greenhouse in a couple days.

So far I’ve:

- planted the 3 vegetables I had indoors
- planted a new hosta
- pulled a TON of weeds in the backyard
- mowed most of the backyard
- began cutting out the hedges which died
- moved the bricks for a side pathway & found a tiny frog!
- spread the egg shells in the garden to help tomatoes grow
- washed about 20 glass insulators and moved them back outside
- picked up trash that blew into my yard
- spread the top soil in the yard low spots
- string trimmed the backyard
- weeded half the front yard


I still need to move the arches in the back and mow the front to see a big difference but it’s happening, little by little.

[Sharon]

Today was a low key day but I have done several things inside the house.  I knew that I was going to have at least one of my DGS's this afternoon if not both of them. 

Changed the sheets on the bed

Cleaned the bathrooms

Got the kitchen clean and hand washed some items

Did 3 loads of laundry and got it folded and put away

Finally added a lightbulb to the empty socket in my closet and changed out the old curly fluorescent light that hardly put out any light.  It's amazing how much better that space is with light.  It is a very small walk in closet in my bedroom that is used for storage.  I put my clothes in the other closet in the room.

I also cleaned out my travel cosmetic bag.  I had some shampoo that had leaked so took everything out and wiped it all down good, threw some things out, replenished some items etc.

[TheOtherMe]

Today's goals are small because of my leg.  Take a shower, which zaps my energy for a few hours and deal with the cat box.  

[startsmart]

I think you ladies would enjoy this story!

I have been catching up on laundry and yesterday did 2 bath mats, a new set of sheets and an electric blanket which I’ll never plug in. The laundry goes to the kitchen fainting couch before I fold and put away.

Yesterday I also cleaned the laundry room really well so there’s been a lot of lint flying around.

This morning I was HORRIFIED to find a tiny mouse when I went to pour the dog’s food, and worse the cat just sat there and didn’t kill it! I even started my video because I just knew it would move and the cat would pounce.

Finally I poked the mouse with a fly swatter and y’all … it was a ball of lint I was telling the cat to kill 😂

[debthaven]

LOL!!! startsmart 

[debthaven]

This is the third of 5 relatively easy weeks. I'm only teaching 3h this week, plus an all-day department meeting on Thursday. I have to go into Job 1 twice this week but I really can't complain about my schedule these days.

DH's close friend and her DD just announced they are coming for three days in July, so yet more guests LOL. (I could say no, but DH NEVER says no to my friends visiting. Plus I really like them.)

ETA: I'm not thrilled about teaching only 3h this week. But I only teach some people every other week. A lot of the ones I teach every week are away these days, either on vacation or at academic conferences. This is typical for late May/June, but lighter than usual.

[TheOtherMe]

Now in recovery mode from shower.  I wish I could just enjoy my shower again instead of fearing it.

[debthaven]

I hope you're getting a bit stronger every day TheOtherMe . 

[TheOtherMe]

Some days I think so and some days I don't think so.  

Thank you for caring

[debthaven]

 TheOtherMe

I know your niece is there for you. Could you phone or text either her or a closer neighbor when you get into the shower and back out again? 

[debthaven]

I just stripped the guest room bed to wash the sheets in preparation for my friends arriving for 3 nights next Saturday (one of the couples we went to Brittany with). Unfortunately there will be a lot more of the same for the foreseeable future.

Since I'm not working much these days, I'd rather do it myself than ask the cleaner. 

ETA: I found a set of old bedding and remade that guest bed, so it's done now!  I still have to do DD's bed tomorrow, but that's a single bed so it's easier.

ETA2: I also hid the second set of pillows. DS1 and DDIL like two pillows each, and we indulge them. Guests don't need two pillows each. I'm not running a hotel.

[debthaven]

DH is complaining that we still haven't put the LR or DR curtains up. I said, it's easy! We have the curtains, all you need to do is measure the windows, buy the curtain rods and put them up.

I want to spend the summer curtain-free. I know the measurements, but I'm not the one who wants the curtains up. If DH wants the curtains up, he can measure them and decide we need to buy the curtain rods. 

At that point I'll need to ask my friend A to sew the panels together in pairs. (We need 4 panels per window rather than 2, since they're huge windows.) A is quick and she offers very reasonable prices. Sewing is her hobby, so she's very happy to give her friends "mates' rates".

I'm betting that's not going to happen anytime soon, because I think DH can't be bothered. Which is just fine with me.

ETA: ALL the BEDROOM curtains are back up. Also, I got the LR/DR curtains on sale, 30% off.

[TheOtherMe]

May 28, 2023 17:02:19 GMT -5 debthaven said:

 TheOtherMe

I know your niece is there for you. Could you phone or text either her or a closer neighbor when you get into the shower and back out again? 

I don't know the phone numbers of my neighbors.

My niece is so busy and leaving on vacation on June 10.  I don't want to bother her then if I don't have to.

That's why I am going to look in to getting someone to come out to help me.

[debthaven]

That's why I am going to look in to getting someone to come out to help me.

That sounds like a good solution TheOtherMe.

[jerseygirl]

May 28, 2023 16:59:59 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Some days I think so and some days I don't think so.  

Thank you for caring

Have you asked your doctor for visiting nurse and home health aid to come couple days/week for a few hours
Aid can help you bathe dress get groceries clean bathroom and bedroom