2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[debthaven]

lol NastyWoman ! Enjoy your family!

[finnime]

Decluttered 14 holiday cards and 4 packages at the post office yesterday, plus wrapped DH's and DD's gifts before they see them. Next is to wrap gifts for DSis's YDS's family, who we will not see on Christmas since his wife has a command from her paretns to join them.

Also yesterday made the BEST bird's nest cookies. They are fantastic.

Today I go back at it, clearing and cleaning up and stowing away things from photography work and shows. Bought some underbed storage containers for out of season clothing that I need to fill, too.

[Sharon]

We are slowly emerging from the other side of our huge project, last week I worked 70+ hours.  My house is severely neglected and disgusting.  I have kept up with the dishes but that is about it.  Today I hope to get the bathrooms cleaned and start wrapping presents, provided work is calm enough that I only have to work 8 hours.

[debthaven]

Wow Sharon that's a LOT of hours! Hope things calm down. 

I just dropped a big bag of CDs and DVDs at "Goodwill". I wasn't sure they'd take them, but they did.

The local supermarket had a new display of picture frames. I got one for DS3's diploma, which means we don't need to go to Ikea before he arrives on Friday! 

I also went to the post office to pick up a package for DS1. 

I received my schedule for next semester today. I'll be teaching at school 1 day/week (very occasionally 2), and WFH 1-1.5 days/week. So 2-2.5 days/week compared to 3 last semester.

[startsmart]

Yesterday I dropped a huge box of donations and a tv at goodwill and it feels so good to have that out of my truck! Then I recycled light bulbs at Home Depot and bought new outdoor lights for the backyard. The bulb had started to fritz and it was like a disco every time I turned it on.

I did a fair amount of grocery shopping and got most everything put away last night. My strategy of cleaning the house Sunday so it was really nice when I got home with bags of stuff really helped!

After I put away groceries, I put together a puzzle and watched a movie.

Today’s goal is to hand sew the binding on at least one of the two quilts I have to do. These are quilts #8 & #9 for the year and if I can I’ll finish up #10 too.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Good morning!
I have this week and next week off of work. 
I have a non-work list of 27 chores. However, that doesn't include deep cleaning that really needs to be done. 
Also, I have two job applications I need to complete this week.
Also, I keep remembering things I forgot about, so the list of 27 will increase.
Also, I'm "resting" because that's allowed, right?

[debthaven]

Also, I'm "resting" because that's allowed, right?

Yes Knee Deep in Water Chloe it's absolutely allowed!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I spoke too soon!

Luckily was scanning my email for any messages from my RI clients and sure enough, something popped up from one of them! This is the client where I've sometime not got back to her because I missed an email and they've been a little bit testy about that. I worried they might not come back to me, although mid-project I am very attentative, I just sometime forget to look for message throughout the year as I only have one project with them and then I'm done with them for 9-10 month until the next one starts up. But sometimes they come to me for bits and pieces as part of preppring for the next stage. I need to get a new email set up for my businesss, but in the mean time it is going to my 25 year old email that is full of 1-2-300 garbage emails per day so I have to consciously check for them. When they were upset before, I've apologized and urged them to text me if they don't hear from me right away, but they don't! But luckily - I was scanning one last time before end of year!

So, I had to do a little bit of work today, just checking a few files, mock up some sample data for a new report format and make sure it worked. This is NOT paid work either, just some prep for a project next year. So my 2 weeks no work serenity was disturbed.....

Everything was cleaned yesterday, But not really great, and then the usual evening, etc. so just need to tidy up, a bit of spit and polish, and pick up my most darling daughter from the airport.....

Maybe a bonus coffee first?

[Iggy aka IG]

Dec 19, 2023 12:16:26 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Also, I'm "resting" because that's allowed, right?

Yes Knee Deep in Water Chloe it's absolutely allowed!

[Iggy aka IG]

startsmart what beautiful table runners!  The polar bears are so cute.

debthaven glad you are almost finished with shopping.

It sounds like everyone has been busy and preparing for days off.

I'm finished with Christmas gift and food shopping.  I just need to pick up French bread and a few other last minute food items Thursday.

We had the sleepover Saturday and phew!  Respect to you moms, grandmoms and aunts.  DH and I were tired by the time they left Sunday and my kitchen looked like something blew up.  We had a blast, however, and the neighbor girls now want to have a sleepover.  We scheduled something for mid-Jan with all three four kiddos.  I may need your support, LOL.

Lately:
~4 loads laundry
~Filled and ran the dishwasher 3 times
~Made one of three Christmas treats thus far

[wvugurl26]

The table runners are lovely startsmart.

I'm working on cleaning up my desk area today. It is painfully boring and not fun at all. Why on earth I have return receipts from Dec 2016 I have no clue. I know they were kept to make sure the return properly posted to the credit card.

I'm continuing to fill boxes and bags for Goodwill. Both recycle bins will be full Wednesday night. And DH will question why on earth we have so many bags of trash.

I'm hoping to get the kitchen/dining area clean enough to allow me to do some fun things later this week as I'm off until after Christmas.

[moneysquirrel]

Good evening all!
Been trying to keep up with the thread and with all that been happening.  I have been meeting up with friends for lunch recently.  It has been a while since I have been able to visit with a few of them so it have been nice that we were able to meet up for a bit before all of the family committments begin.

Activities/Goals for the rest of year:

* One last monthly bill
* Doctor appt -- Thursday
* Christmas with DS and family-- Friday
* Christmas eve gathering with friends
* Christmas day with DB and DSis (and their families)
* Continue with setting up 2024 spreadsheet.

More later.  Night all!

[debthaven]

I have great news!!! My insurance has reimbursed the 2.2K they owe me for the bridge! What an immense relief!!! They ordered payment so it should be in my account by tomorrow.

startsmart I went back to see the table runners. They are indeed beautiful! 

ETA: And the money is in my account!!!    

[azucena]

Yay debthaven for keeping up with some difficult adulting. Glad the ins co paid out. I think you earned yourself a small percent 'finders fee' for something fun.

[debthaven]

azucena great minds think alike lol!  

I spent all afternoon waiting for packages ... after they came I went to the supermarket, the pharmacy and the small appliance recycling bin. I also wrapped a few more gifts.

Left to do
- printer ink
- I's gift

[Iggy aka IG]

wvugurl26 excellent job and focus!
That's great news, debthaven!     And I agree with azucena.

moneysquirrel, glad you have been visiting with friends.  Relationships are so important.

It's the final stretch before vacation!  Yesterday I mailed as many calendars as I had postage for, and the rest should go out later this week.  I lined L out this morning.  Next up:

-Pay two end of the month bills
-Tonight go to the neighbor's and finish DH's gift
-Tonight make two types of cookies
-Lunch with a friend Thursday
-Coffee with a friend Friday
-Wrap gifts Friday night
-Saturday dinner, games and presents with the neighbors
-Sunday make overnight French toast for Christmas

'Tis the season.  

[TheOtherMe]

Good job debthaven

I have to go to town this afternoon to pick up a prescription and a grocery order.  I was pleased to be able to get an order I could pick up today without a fee.

[Sharon]

Yesterday I did pick up most of what we will need for this weekend at the grocery store.  There will probably be another quick trip for something that was forgotten, seems like that usually happens.  I also started wrapping presents and got almost half way done with that. 

[TheOtherMe]

No more going to any stores until after Christmas.  I'm done.  I couldn't believe all of the people at the 3 places I did pick ups.   Definitely  Christmas traffic, especially in the parking lot where there's a Target, a grocery store and the UPS store.  Cars were parked in all kinds of places where they didn't belong. 

[startsmart]

I finally finished the binding on quilts 8 & 9! Now I need to tackle the backing for quilt 10 which is not something I’ve done before. I have 10 days to get that one done but once the back is pieced it should just be a day to quilt and bind it.

Tomorrow is winter solstice! I am looking forward to longer days.

[TheOtherMe]

The beginning of more light in our life.

[Sharon]

Today I got the rest of the presents wrapped except for DD's that still needs to be made.  The 3 oldest grandkids are getting remote control cars so Grandma had a little fun today making sure they all worked, and putting the batteries in them etc so they would be ready to go out of the box.  I also got the family room, dining room, and kitchen vacuumed.

[debthaven]

LOL at Grandma having fun with the remote-control cars Sharon !

I'm off for two weeks.   I go back on 5 Jan (WFH).

Waiting for DH to get back with the car so I can get the last two gifts from their pickup locations. We got DGD's last gift yesterday. 

ETA: I took DH out for dinner last night to celebrate getting reimbursed. 

[nikiz628]

I am still alive. I blinked and 2023 is wrapping up. I've still been working on decluttering and simplifying my home- its a big goal for 2024. I hope everyone is doing well. I am going to try and scan back and catch up on at least the more recent posts today. I've missed you all. 

[debthaven]

Nice to see you again nikiz628 ! 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Of the 27 non-regular chores I had on my list, I've completed 11 of them and started 8 of them.
I've re-written the list this morning because (a) it makes me feel better   when I re-write lists and (b) it needed some re-organization and prioritization. 

However, it now has
Six errands for today
the 11 in-process tasks
14 non-regular tasks
Plus I really should do some deep cleaning

I have, however, napped each day this week!

[Iggy aka IG]

Knee Deep in Water Chloe good for you and napping.  

As TheOtherMe mentioned, the parking lots and traffic are getting busy!  I am thankful I bit the bullet and stopped into Walmart this morning because a client told me this afternoon, he went a short time ago and it was so nuts he left halfway through his list.  Wow.

I finished DH's gift last night and set it aside to dry and will pick it up tomorrow.  Inspired by Pinterest and a few friends who know DH, it is a two-tiered key "rack."  The lower piece of wood has different types and size screws to hold key rings, with a decorative deer shed on the left.  I wood burned DH's last name into the top, smaller piece of wood.  The two pieces are chained together.  All material was recycled.  I didn't get to the baking.

Lunch with my friend today was lovely.

Now, on to a few service items, and the dang calendar project.  

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG that sounds like a beautiful gift! Another hidden talent lol.

I picked up the last 2 gifts. We still have a few left to wrap.

I submitted my last medical bill of the year to insurance (I hope!). It's only 40 euros, but I wanted to wait until they reimbursed me for the bridge. I'm traumatized! I'll have to re-register with them in January, ugh. 

DS3 arrives tomorrow. There was an impromptu Eurostar strike today. It created havoc, but happily it's over. Whew! DS1/DDIL/E/I arrive after Christmas; it's her parents' turn this year.

[TheOtherMe]

It's over in one day?  I'm glad it's over.

I would be traumatized over the insurance, too.

[debthaven]

Yes ... basically the government had to cave because of the number of people travelling back and forth for Christmas, so it was resolved quickly. 

Yeah about the insurance.   I don't trust them to do the paperwork before my next doc appt in February, but that's 220 euros rather than 2200, so I won't be completely freaking out ... just a little lol.