2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[startsmart]

I got the price back on my newest window purchase today and it was at least half the cost I thought it would be! Now I’m excited to get it here and installed. Plus I’ll put in another order in February so they can roll in more frequently from the shop.

My goal in 2023 is to finish the second floor windows (9) and the first floor (3).

It’s freezing cold here and was supposed to snow again but ended up being sunny and windy. For the next 2 weeks I’m going to attempt to eat at home and from the pantry to make space in my freezer/shelves. Later in the month I’ll have plenty of time to eat out during my trip.

[snapdragon]

Tonight is the following -

Clean dishes and counters to be ready for making scones Thursday

Have a list for packing and start pulling clothes for weekend trip

Charge the battery bank and my hand heaters

bring the flattened boxes from the trunk inside the house

hand wash swimwear that I got so it's ready just incase we go swimming at the pool.

[debthaven]

The cleaner came back today. It makes such a difference! 

The second light is much brighter, but we need to see it when it's dark outside. The suspense ...

This week/weekend
- haircut/Thurs
- mark 4 papers

Job 2 is off for three weeks so I'm on a reduced schedule till March, but I'd like to get the marking out of the way. 

PS The new light isn't quite as bright as the old halogen, but it's fine.

[snapdragon]

Feb 1, 2023 11:12:05 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Tonight is the following -

Clean dishes and counters to be ready for making scones Thursday

Have a list for packing and start pulling clothes for weekend trip

Charge the battery bank and my hand heaters

bring the flattened boxes from the trunk inside the house

hand wash swimwear that I got so it's ready just incase we go swimming at the pool.

I got a good deal done so here is tonight:

Make Scones

do battery banks

get clothing for weekend ready along with a few "extras" which I have started rounding up.

[Sharon]

I have Friday off from work and will be heading to Mom's for the weekend.  I have a long list of chores/shopping that needs to be done while I'm there.  Right now I have a load of laundry going.  This week has had a lot of errands and appointments.

[finnime]

I replaced the battery on my laptop last night. Now I need to declutter the old lithium battery. Also need to declutter the spent cordless drill, which also has a rechargeable battery. I replaced it with an excellent DeWalt impact drill. I didn't know before now that impact drills could be used as regular drills, but this thing is great.

And, I fixed the chirping fire alarms. I replaced one outright, pushing the wires for it into the ceiling hole since the new one was not hard-wired, but has a 10-year battery. The other two in that small space at one end of the house needed new batteries and they got them.

I need to do something about the pile of cardboard boxes on the back deck. I can bring them to the recycling center on Wednesday mornings or continue to chip away at them, discarding them every two weeks. The problem with that latter approach is that more keep arriving.

Franklin the Dog got groomed yesterday. I found a groomer very near by who is excellent and reasonably priced. He looks great and no longer smells like . . . dog!

I'm going to keep filing. Papers everywhere. And I need to file some pictures I had printed, and frame others for hanging.

Life goes on.

[snapdragon]

I tried a new recipe on blueberry scones and they are alright. I really am missing my cookbook. They are edible and I am taking them to spread the love around. I have never used fresh fruit before so that was a challenge. The other part is for me I needed more liquid than the recipe called for so I had to do some tweaking.

95% of my packing is done and I am leaving work early so I can collect and load everything in the car.

[debthaven]

Good luck with the chores/errands Sharon ! 

Safe trip snapdragon !

finnime we had too many boxes too. I just had a fun hour burning a bunch in the fire pit . Do you have a fire pit?

I didn't get the marking done today but we went to an appt, out to lunch, and then we stocked up on firewood.

[finnime]

We don't have a firepit, no, and the fireplace is not set up for actual fires. So, recycling it is.

[TheOtherMe]

I have too many boxes, too, but I'm not going to the garage to cut them up while it's this cold.  

I'm going to miss recycling week because of my aunt's funeral so no rush to get them broken down.

[debthaven]

I'm so sorry about your aunt TheOtherMe . Do you have to travel far for the funeral? 

Another bad day of strikes planned for next Tuesday ... so we're allowed to be on Zoom again!  This is TOTALLY unprecedented at Job 1. We have a new Head of Bachelor Programs, and he's much more easygoing about teaching online than his predecessor, since he taught there for 10 years before being promoted, including during Covid.

This said, I don't want to be online every week, so I'm hoping the strikes stop, or at least that they switch up the strike days. If there are more Tuesday strikes after next week I'll ask to switch my class to another day that week.

But for now I'm enjoying the break. We are encouraged to do hybrid classes, ie those who can get to school should. But once the students hear they're allowed to be online, the teacher is very often the only one at school! If they won't make the effort, why should I? Plus hybrid classes are horrible, I'd rather we all be on Zoom.

There are also strikes in the gas refineries, so for the past few weeks I've been topping up my gas tank on my way home from Job 2 on Wednesdays, even if it's 3/4 full. The new car uses bioethanol, which isn't sold everywhere.

[finnime]

DH is taking a couple of graduate courses at the University of Edinburgh. Their professors and instructors are going out on a 3 week strike after next week for better pay. They are leaving their classes well prepared, though.

[debthaven]

They went on strike a few years ago too finnime ... DS3 was still in college then. I remember he told me they had prepared their classes in advance and they were still reachable by email if a student had a problem. I'm glad your DH can still enjoy his classes. 

The UK is a mess right now, between Brexit and inflation. 

[debthaven]

Just to clarify, we do NOT have a built-in fire pit. DH's best friend brought his over for DH's 60th birthday party nearly 7 years ago because it was very cool that evening. We had never seen one before. DH loved it, so I got him one for his next birthday. 

I'm a bit of a pyromaniac so I love it lol. It's fun when friends come over, and it's useful for getting rid of boxes and papers. As a teacher I have quite a few papers to get rid of after every school year.

This isn't the exact same one we have but it's very similar. I got ours from Amazon.

www.therange.co.uk/outdoor-living/fire-pits-chimeneas-and-outdoor-heating/fire-pits/firepit-bowl/?position=7&s=16168#16168

They accidentally included the grill with it, which I hadn't ordered. When I enquired about sending it back, they told me to just keep it. So ours also serves as a second BBQ. It's not an ideal BBQ because it's low, but it does come in handy sometimes!

 

[TheOtherMe]

It's about a 3 hour drive.  My cousin called and the family did go with their original plan of Sunday for visitation and Monday for service.  She's going to let me bring home photos to scan!  That made me happy.  

Now I need to find the ones I had ready for the cousin's reunion.  I know I boxed up everything when the cleaners came after the bathroom was done.  Flash drives are cheap so I can put them on another flash drive.

[anciana]

Feb 3, 2023 8:49:22 GMT -5 finnime said:

I replaced the battery on my laptop last night. Now I need to declutter the old lithium battery. Also need to declutter the spent cordless drill, which also has a rechargeable battery. I replaced it with an excellent DeWalt impact drill. I didn't know before now that impact drills could be used as regular drills, but this thing is great.

And, I fixed the chirping fire alarms. I replaced one outright, pushing the wires for it into the ceiling hole since the new one was not hard-wired, but has a 10-year battery. The other two in that small space at one end of the house needed new batteries and they got them.

I need to do something about the pile of cardboard boxes on the back deck. I can bring them to the recycling center on Wednesday mornings or continue to chip away at them, discarding them every two weeks. The problem with that latter approach is that more keep arriving.

Franklin the Dog got groomed yesterday. I found a groomer very near by who is excellent and reasonably priced. He looks great and no longer smells like . . . dog!

I'm going to keep filing. Papers everywhere. And I need to file some pictures I had printed, and frame others for hanging.

Life goes on.

Have you thought about asking on Nextdoor or neighborhood Facebook group, if one exists, if anyone is interested in taking those boxes? I often see requests for boxes as people move and all of a sudden need quite a few.

[finnime]

That's a great idea, anciana, but these are not moving boxes. Rather, they are boxes from shipments from Amazon and the like, that contained items large and small needing protection. I did buy a new utility knife to cut them into 1' squares for discarding.

[startsmart]

My goal this weekend is to get the office and living room and kitchen kitten proof and then slowly introduce them to the rest of the house. The plan was to wait until they’d been fixed so there’s no spraying but that was delayed.

Mostly I don’t want to cats to sneak upstairs where the walls are a mess and get stuck in the ceiling or something. Plus it means the dogs and cats sharing space so they have to get along.

I am working away at my next quilt, it’s close to 50% done with the top. I am also cutting fabric from recently shopping and getting that put away so I feel zero guilt stopping at quilt shops on my road trip.

I am sharing a space with a college friend during the wedding weekend and we confirmed the Airbnb for the wedding and I booked another hotel so now the first 5 nights of my trip are set, nights 6 & 7 are pending, night 8 is confirmed.

[moneysquirrel]

TheOtherMe -- Sorry about your loss.  Wishing you safe travels.

debthaven -- Happy that you could zoom classes but I know that I prefer to be in person when teaching.  It is so much easier to read body language to see it the student "got it".

startsmart -- You as usual are an inspiration. Wishing you safe travels as well -- not sure exactly when you are planning to hit the road.

finnime -- Have you checked with local schools to see if they want any boxes for art classes or for play props and settings?  With the school budgets the way that they are supplies that are free are ususlly welcomed.

Sharon -- You also are going on the road so I hope you also have a safe trip.

Things for me are about the same.  Maintaining progress as much as possible, adding a few items to the donation box and pretty much just keeping up with things.  I am continuing the process of restocking some of my best sellers at the craft shows so I have been busy on that front.  Continuing to work through my materials on hand but also adding a few more items to my must buy list.  I am trying to limit that list so trying to only add items that I am going to use in the near future is the goal.  Good thing is that this is also forcing me to think outside the box in order to use up several items that are not my usual go-tos. Trying to get as much done as I can before the several craft retreats I have scheduled begins as they usual result in several unfinished projects and I am a finisher.  

This is the slow time of year for me craft show wise.  Also I am not adding items to the Etsy shop as there will be several weeks that I will not be able to ship out orders if any came in.  I will be putting the shop on vacation during those weeks and see no point in have several items expire during that time.  I will let the ones there expire as scheduled until I am ready to relist items.  That way I will only have a couple of active ones when I close for vacation and then I will begin listing items on a regular basis upon my return.  I did have a sale this morning there and shipped it out so that the buyer can get as much use out of them as possible. Little progress but progress.

I got a call earlier this week that the shutters will be installed within the next week or so.  Will be glad to get those done and off my list of house items. Most of the other items are small at this time.  Beginning to save for the tub to shower conversion but may put that project off until 2024 or 2025. 


Time to get a few things done so need to sign off for now. 

[TheOtherMe]

I am happy that I got a hotel.  The funeral itself is at 10 AM on Monday.  I live a minimum of 3 hours away and there's a lot of 2 lane highway on the route.  

Weather forecast doesn't mention snow, so I should be okay.

[Minnesotagirl7]

Hello everyone! I've never posted in this thread before, but I am all for tracking and being accountable for those small tasks around the house that I need to get done. These have been on my to-do list for a long time. I'm hoping tracking them here will help me finally knock them out!


- Clean stain off my desk
- Organize kids' toys
- Clean and sell extra vacuum
- Make camping reservation
- Clean basement furniture
- Dentist appt for the kids
- Make doc appt for me
- Pull credit reports
- Clean and sell old car seats

[debthaven]

Welcome Minnesotagirl7 !

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 28, 2023 13:53:24 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Hello Everyone - I have not been doing any decluttering lately. Just been trying to keep up between work, home and friends has been hard. But the house is clean and we always keep up with the paper clutter, so there is that.

We are getting plantations shutters for our windows - moving from blinds, which are almost 15 years old. We had 2 people come and give us a quote and its not too different. We are going with the one who is going to give us vertical blinds for the patio for free, so that will be happening within the next 4 weeks. We have paid half of the cost and hope there are no issues.

We have also asked the contractor to come and give us a quote for the second bathroom work - this will be smaller as we are not removing the tub - just resurfacing the tub, changing the glass doors probably and replacing the vanity and the toilet.

DH's Brother may be coming for a visit with his family in March or April, so DH is hoping to get the work done before then. I am not so sure, but hoping for the best.

Does anyone know how to not get stains off quartz countertops? There are some water stains
on our countertop and I wanted to see if anyone has any ideas.

Hope everyone is doing well.

I had stains on the bathroom countertop in my previous house (just sold it in February 2022). I don't know what material it was; I do know it wasn't granite. It drove me nuts that I couldn't get the stains off.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[moneysquirrel]

Welcome Minnesotagirl7!  Adding items here has helped me in the past to get things off that never ending list. 


Knee Deep in Water Chloe -- Welcome.  Glad to see you.  How is the research going and when are you hoping to finalize that large paper project that you are working on.through?

TheOtherMe -- Glad you got the hotel as well.  That way you will have your own space and can travel as you want.

So far Today:

*I am in the midst of doing laundry again.  Both loads are in machines. 
*Got the outdoor plants watered this morning.  Not sure if I can save some of them. 
*Reorganized the freezer.

Upcoming -- this week and/or next:
*Classes -- 2 Tuesday, 1 Wednesday, 3 Thursday
*Need to prep a flowerpot for painting.
*Mail card to L
*Schedule appointment with cardiologist for summer. (Regular checkup but need to get a new one as my former one retired.  Will try to stay withing same group as all my records are there.)
*Water Bill
*Book two excursions. (I haven't decided on any others as of yet but I do know I want to do these two.  Figured I would get these booked and paid for early.  Plus I have partial credit for two.)
*Sign up for craft show -- (Show is in December but we can reserve our location by signing up early.)
*Continue work on restocking popular seasonal items for the craft shows. 
    >Christmas -- 6 earrings (Already did 6 of different style. And have enough of other styles.)
    >Thanksgiving -- 6 earrings (Other style has a few left.)
    >Halloween -- 4 to 6 earrings (Other styles have enough left.)
    >Pirate -- 1 pair
    >Several Bracelets and Pins
    >Several simple necklaces (Aiming for 6 at least.)
*Utility Bills -- three should come in within the next two weeks.
*Check craft supplies and start a shopping list of things I need to restock.  (Have been trying to use up my supplies but certain ones are getting to the end and those I use pretty regularally. I should have enough to get most if not all of that to-make list done but will be close on a few of them.)
*Card for A
*Doctor appointment on February 13. 

Some of these items will be quick to get done.  Others will be here for a while.  

    


 

[Sharon]

I'm home and unpacked.  We had a good time for Mom's birthday.  I also did a lot of shopping for things that I can't find in this area and got almost everything on my list.  YNAB is also caught up for all the purchases made this weekend.  I just need to pay a few bills and get those into YNAB and we are good for a few days.  The dishwasher was ran before I left on Friday so I need to get it emptied this evening and maybe do a load of laundry.

[Minnesotagirl7]

Excited to have made some progress (sort of). Added two tasks and completed two tasks.    But at least things are getting done! I have a new storage system for the kids' toys, but DS was home sick today so I've been tending to him. May head downstairs after kids are asleep and get started on it. 


- Clean and sell old car seats
- Organize kids' toys
- Clean and sell extra vacuum
- Clean stain off my desk
- Dentist appt for the kids
- Make doc appt for me
- Get stone estimates
- Make camping reservation
- Clean basement furniture
- Vehicle tab renewal
- Pull credit reports

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe, sorry about your loss.

Welcome, Minnesotagirl7.

The co-birthday party came and went over the weekend.  We had a houseful of people.  I think DH is over entertaining for awhile, LOL.  It was fun, however.  I made a veggie tray, cream cheese-based dip, a popcorn, yogurt pretzel and caramel snack mix, and cupcakes and frosting from scratch.  The other birthday girl and her DH brought pulled pork, buffalo chicken dip, chips, and sausage they processed themselves.  A third set of neighbors brought several boxes of Girl Scout cookies.  Leftover cupcakes and cookies went to work with DH this morning.  

Also over the weekend:
Watched my college BBall team lose
Picked up the party chaos
Scrubbed all toilets
Put fresh towels out in our bathroom and the kitchen
Swiffered the sticky floor (both adults and children spilled beverages)
4 loads of laundry, including sheets
Refilled the Keurig, PTs, and ice trays
Planned this week's suppers
Boiled eggs for the week and processed fresh produce
Juiced several oranges and froze half into a mold to transfer into a baggie.  Afterwards I gave the juicer a good scrubbing.

[TheOtherMe]

My aunt's service is over.  It will be on YouTube sometime this evening.  I have grabbed all of the photos off the internet.  I won't keep all of them.  It makes me said that there are so few photos of my dad's family as kids.  

I also got the photos off the internet on my remaining living uncle's ship page from WWII.  

My basketball team got a road sweep this weekend.  I see they are ranked 25 this week, but they have beaten 3 teams ahead of them.     They beat those teams for a reason.

[startsmart]

I inadvertently began cleaning the bathroom floor last night (splashed water out of the tub) and need to catch up on dishes in the sink. I did meal prep Sunday and have not done all the cleaning.

Frustratingly, my hip is super sore and I’m sitting to heat it and let the pain pills kick in when I’d like to be either in the bike or walking around.