2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[moneysquirrel]

I managed to get caught up on laundry today since the no bending restriction is over.  Also got a few other household chores done this morning as well.  Things are slowly getting back in order. 

Re: craft supplies -- I finished using up all of the supplies of one craft technique.  Decided that I would only repurchase these items when/if I have a specific project in mind. Glad that those are used up and off my list.  Still have supplies for other crafts (other than my beading) that I am also planning to "work through".  Currently have two projects that I am working on.



    

[TheOtherMe]

The no bending restriction was really tough for me after gallbladder surgery.  I couldn't even deal with the cat box.  So it didn't get cleaned every day because there wasn't always someone available but it must have been clean enough.  Lucy didn't use the floor or carpet.  

[startsmart]

I swept, vacuumed and mopped the bathroom today (cat litter goes everywhere!) and then mopped my bedroom too. We have daylight savings time on Sunday and I just know the cats are going to insist on dinner at 5pm instead of waiting for 6pm.

Did a load of laundry today and need to get it out of the dryer. I also scrubbed down the washer and dryer.

I’m on a roll today - I also sorted and put away a bunch of hexagons for my quilts. I’m just about full in the organizers I have so it’ll be time to make new quilts soon.

[Iggy aka IG]

I emptied, refilled, and started the dishwasher last night.  I also did a crapton (yes, I said it!) of handwash dishes.  I know I've said this before, but I loathe doing dishes.  Always have.  I always feel like I'm at the sink for two hours, but it's only 20 minutes (or whatever).  It doesn't help that I love to cook and bake, nor does it help that I don't do dishes daily.  First world problems for sure.  I do love afterward, when everything is put away, and the sink and counters are cleared off.  

[debthaven]

Do you have a dishwasher Iggy aka IG ? I hand wash certain items, but I don't have to hand wash everything ...

Never mind!!!

[wvugurl26]

I also loathe dishes. However, I've found if I do them up that night it's faster and easier. Nothing caked on that now needs to soak off. I have a small kitchen so when the dishes pile up, it takes away from the little space I do have.

I do have a dishwasher but that is mainly used for dishes, silverware and cups.

I have a pile of clothes I need to document for tax purposes then it can go to Goodwill.

[debthaven]

I haven't posted about this because it was causing me too much stress. Sorry, this will be a long post...

DH and his business partner closed their company in late 2017, and vacated their office. DH put all his work Stuff in his friend's F's office. For 6 years, I've been begging him to go through those boxes because at some point the friend is going to sell the office. 

Well, you can guess what happened. The office is being sold and it needed to be emptied. DH has spent 1 or 2 days/week over the past two months going through those boxes, making numerous runs, etc. (The runs were for F's stuff too.)

Of course, DH ran out of time so he brought the last 15 boxes or so home.

He put a few in the basement. I fear he will never go through those. So I told him to put the rest of the boxes in his office/DS2's room. I said, keep what you want to keep, but you can't put anything else in the basement without going through it first. 

He agreed! I set what I feel is a very reasonable goal: going through 2 boxes/week. If he keeps to that, the boxes in DH's office/DS2's room will be gone by Christmas. 

He did 3 boxes last weekend, he needs to do at least 2 more this week.

Alas that was the easy part ... TBC

[Iggy aka IG]

Excellent job donating the clothing, wvugurl26!

debthaven that sounds like a lot of stuff!  Good for you, though, for putting the kibosh on further basement storage and for giving him a goal.  This is my primary reason for purging my office now.  When it's time for retirement, I want no work-related items to worry about.

[debthaven]

So that was stressful but manageable ... and it'll hopefully be gone from the room by Christmas.

PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE THE REST OF THIS STORY!

Then I get into the car the other day, and the trunk is full of something very heavy. I call DH, I said, what's in the trunk? Apparently F's boyfriend S offered DH these super expensive, mega-wonderful-fabulous speakers. 

DH carries them into the house. They're the size of baby elephants. They are walnut. (We don't have dark wood furniture, we prefer light wood.) And THEY ARE ALL SCRATCHED UP.

I said to DH, these have to go. I tried to put them back in the car ... I couldn't carry them! I said, how dare you not ask me or text me first! They may not be furniture, but they are like furniture because they live in the LR. So for the last 48h, we have been fighting more than we have in DECADES. S is Japanese, and DH didn't want to "dishonor" him by returning a "gift". I said, it's not a gift, S freaking DUMPED them on you so he wouldn't have to deal with them. So either you call S or I will. DH called. They were SHOCKED but they said they'll take them back.

F told DH, really, you can't find room for them in your big house?! WHICH PISSED ME OFF EVEN MORE. F also happens to be DH's ex, and I don't need her deciding how we should furnish our house. Plus, their apartment is bigger than our house.

Long story short, DH loaded them up back into the car last night, and things improved. They were finally out of the house! We returned them to F and S this afternoon, despite the storms here. (I sat in a café during the actual return.) Apparently the speakers are worth many thousands. Great!!! So let F and S sell them, or "gift" them to somebody else!

So they're finally gone!!! Now I'm hoping to relax and enjoy the rest of this long weekend. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 2, 2023 13:13:47 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Do you have a dishwasher Iggy aka IG ? I hand wash certain items, but I don't have to hand wash everything ...

Never mind!!!

LOL.  Right?  Last night's handwashing included 2 crystal glasses, a hand-wash only glass, a few coffee tumblers and Keurig reusable K-Cup for today, several large plastic food storage squares and a mixing bowl that wouldn't fit in the dishwasher, the air fryer pans, a non-stick frying pan and knives I rather not put in the dishwasher, 2 sheet pans that say NOT to put in the dishwasher, and 2 wooden cutting boards.  True, it was more than usual because of the Halloween holiday....

Okay, now I'm obsessing, so I'll stop.  

[debthaven]

Unfortunately, it IS a lot of Stuff Iggy aka IG . 

[TheOtherMe]

I am happy the speakers are no longer your problem.  They sound like some serious speakers.

Hope you can get those boxes all out of the house by the end of the year.

[debthaven]

Hope you can get those boxes all out of the house by the end of the year.

One way or another, I will TheOtherMe . ;-)

By the way, we already have EXCELLENT speakers!!! They are smaller, better proportioned, in light oak, and not scratched up at all. 

I know it sounds funny now, but it has been a truly hellish 48h. Thank Gd DH finally got the point. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Nov 2, 2023 13:53:45 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Hope you can get those boxes all out of the house by the end of the year.

One way or another, I will. ;-)

[startsmart]

Today I got rid of two bags of egg cartons which got donated to the food bank. I still have wayyyy too many but I occasionally trade them with vendors at the farmers market for free eggs so I keep them in a stack upstairs.

Tonight I swept and mopped the kitchen, it’s terrible laminate in there which always looks dirty but at least I know it’s clean(ish).

I started 4 challenges on my birthday which I plan to do until my next birthday. 1) make the bed every day, 2) journal 2 pages, 3) do 10 squats and 4) no dishes in the sink overnight. I track them daily in a free app and so far have done every task, every day.

[busymom]

Hello Everyone!  I've been popping in from time to time, and it's nice to see all of the progress you are making.  I've got some busy months ahead, since it's about time to start writing up Christmas cards, and then DD is getting married next year, but I still hope to keep working on our basement to get rid of what we really don't need.  I saw this today, and it struck a chord with me:

[debthaven]

I love that busymom ! Alas DH is still a work in progress. 

I have a few things to do before I go back to work on Monday:
- finalize Job 2 film review brief
- finalize Job 2 final exam brief (I still have time for this)
- find papers in the basement for DS1
- figure out the menu for Book Club on Tues and ask for contributions

Only three more weeks of regular classes left this semester! (The professor/staff classes are independent of the academic calendar, they go all year.)

We each host Book Club once a year.

 

[debthaven]

Last part of the speakers saga ...

DH wanted to check out speakers at the mall. He found speakers he liked but given the price, he was sure ours are better. I told him, don't buy them in haste. Go home, do your research. No, DH wanted to buy them. The store was out of stock, so they were delivered here yesterday.

We get home from the mall. DH gets on the computer and realizes he can fix our FAR superior speakers for 26 euros (there's a thingie that wears out). He orders the parts and watches a youtube tutorial on how to replace them.

Of course DH then decides he doesn't want the new speakers after all. The ones I told him not to order. The ones that arrived yesterday. So today we went back to the mall to return them.

I took DH out to lunch to celebrate, because I was SO happy the baby elephants were gone, and that DH found a solution he's happy with, and that the drama is over.  

DH still has to receive the thingies he ordered, but then he'll replace them and our speakers will be as good as new.  

[NastyWoman]

I totally missed that big storm in Europe on Thursday debthaven . I hope your entire family came through it without damage.
I send an SOS for info out to my family and they have gotten through it ok.


 

[debthaven]

Thanks NastyWoman . There were some downed trees near me, but the coastline got it much, much worse. It was scary but not too bad here or in London. 

[Sharon]

I have spent several afternoon this week getting the family room ready to paint.  There are just a few more outlet covers to remove then I can start with the primer.  My goal is primer today and paint tomorrow.  We shall see how far I actually get.

I've never had a room with so many outlet covers, or stuff that needs patching.  At one point there were speakers on little glass shelves up in each corner of the room.  I took down the glass shelves a long time ago and tossed them.  But each corner has the speaker outlet with the red and black jack.  Then there are two funny outlet things with speaker wires coming out them, down lower, not sure of there function.  Then we had two 1" holes that lead to the outside related to speaker stuff.  The one hole was still packed tight with speaker wires coming in from the outside and the hole right next to it was just a random hole that lead to outside .  The random hole I had filled with cotton balls shortly after moving in, then put some copper wire stuff to fill it on the outside.  Thursday I pulled the speaker wires back outside, removed the cotton balls and got one of those wall patch kits and finally took care of the issue.

[azucena]

In today's episode of how to avoid Saturday morning family chore time, DH planned a 9 am hike with a buddy and invited the girls. Last night, he told me he was surprised how quickly they said yes. Um, yeah bc from 9 to 11 we typically catchup the house.

Meanwhile, jokes on them because I'm doing my chores and then heading to lunch with a friend while leaving them each lists to complete upon their return.

Followed by family flu and covid shots at 4.

[startsmart]

Today’s chores are to change my bedsheets and pillow cases and empty/organize the freezer. I’ve done fairly well eating out of the freezer but I just know there are things which have fallen to the bottom where I can’t see them.

Today is technically a rest day because my legs are still sore from cycling (I’ve done 1600 mi this year) but I will probably do some yoga this afternoon.

We get an extra hour of sleep tonight so I’m sure the cats are
going to be waking me up earlier for breakfast on Sunday.

ETA: got the sheets washed, dried and put away. I swapped them for flannel sheets instead. Freezer is clean and organized and yes I found things I didn’t know I had. I’ll be using that half a frozen banana for a smoothie soon so win-win. I also have a good list now so I can eat from the freezer and make space for a turkey.

[debthaven]

Good for you azucena !

I have a few fewer things to do before going back on Monday:
- finalize Job 2 film review brief  done 
- finalize Job 2 final exam brief done but DH needs to make it look better
- figure out the menu for Book Club on Tues and ask for contributions
- find papers in the basement for DS1

Also, laundry is caught up.

[debthaven]

I had to give my availability for next semester. I was SO tempted to be done. I'm plodding on for one.last.semester, but reducing my hours again.

I'll be at school 1 day/week and WFH 1-1.5 days/week. I'll still have my professor/staff classes, and later, the interviews for prospective students. It should be 10-12 teaching hours/week.

It's fewer hours than this semester or last semester, and the extra money is welcome! 

[Sharon]

The whole family room is primered.  I was really fighting it at the end, but it is done, fingers crossed I'm not too tired tomorrow to paint.

Also today I got the sheets changed, the dishwasher ran (not emptied ), and 3 loads of laundry done.

DD stopped by today and DGS2 had started unraveling his blanket again.   That kid is destroyer of blankets and he absolutely loves them. I could tell she wanted me stop everything and fix it while they ran errands.  I told her no I was painting.  After I was done painting I patched it back up and offered to drop it off, she said no that she would pick it up tomorrow.   This after hearing about it was his favorite and he was really upset about it being taken away.  I know all that, his name should be Linus because of his attachment to his blanket.

[debthaven]

You're such a good grandma Sharon ! Would it be worth knitting him a back-up blankie? 

This week/weekend
- finalize Job 2 film review brief/done
- finalize Job 2 final exam brief/done  
- figure out the menu for Book Club on Tues and ask for contributions/done
- find papers in the basement for DS1/done

I found the papers for DS1, scanned them and sent them to him. 

[jerseygirl]

Found the title for Jerseyguy’s motorcycle he hasn’t used in 20? Years
It’s a desirable model and would sell for $3-4000. But mostly I want to a start to clear out basement
Now need to persuade him

[debthaven]

DH went through 2 more of the boxes in his office/DS2's bedroom. There are 5/11 boxes left. A few boxes were thrown out, a few went down to the basement (DH went through them first.)

It's progress ...

[moneysquirrel]

debthaven -- progress is good.  Glad that you are cutting back on hours -- less commuting and more time to focus on things you want to do.

Sharon -- You are making such progress on getting things done around the house amid all the mending done for the Gkids

Update: 
All of the items that were on last weeks list got done. 
Today I got and additional two loads of laundry finished and the dishwasher is currently chugging away.  Once off the computer I will be working on the flowerpot that I want to paint.  Got the base coat done but couldn't come up with a design -- think it will be a color block one.  I still haven't beaded but need to pick up the needle later this week as I am running low on a few basic designs.  Craft show yesterday was good and I sold a few small items.  I have one more this month and two in December.  


This Week as of now :

*Grocery and errands, Sheets -- Monday
*Medical Appointment -- Tuesday
*Hair Appointment -- Wednesday
*Classes -- Thursday
*Pack Car -- Friday
*Craft Show -- Saturday
*D's birthday -- Saturday

Till later!