2024 Organize & Declutter

[debthaven]

Empire the P.A. there are SO many options to deal with coats and shoes these days! The last two items I gifted my DD (who lives in a 1BR apartment) were a coat rack, and a small bench/shoe rack. finnime just bought a mural coat rack too.

There are SOOO many options these days!!! I don't know if you have an Ikea nearby, but they are great for that sort of thing. Amazon has a lot of options too, but you need to do your homework if you're buying online.

Well done for tackling a new project! 

[startsmart]

My day so far has been puppy time, nap, puppy play, nap, outing, nap and Lincoln is sleeping in my lap again. He did so well last night and slept through for 8 hours!

To get some things out of the house I am sending a stack of batik fabrics to another quilter to use. They’re sending me some of the fabric that I need so the only cost is postage.

A friend is coming over for tea tomorrow so I want to clean up the living room and temporarily move the kitchen cabinets out of the way.

[Empire the P.A.]

Feb 1, 2024 16:02:51 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Empire the P.A. there are SO many options to deal with coats and shoes these days! The last two items I gifted my DD (who lives in a 1BR apartment) were a coat rack, and a small bench/shoe rack. finnime just bought a mural coat rack too.

There are SOOO many options these days!!! I don't know if you have an Ikea nearby, but they are great for that sort of thing. Amazon has a lot of options too, but you need to do your homework if you're buying online.

Thanks! Yes, I want to get to Ikea to look for storage bins for the odds and ends that need corralling. If I could just get the rest of the household to cooperate in placing stuff in the proper place and not just dropping things wherever.   

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 31, 2024 18:54:00 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Thank you all! It ended up being a very good day!

Meet Lincoln: imgur.com/gallery/rMoGv73

Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!!  

[Iggy aka IG]

As I've mentioned before, one of the things I appreciate about this thread is the fact I learn things.  I didn't know that they were called a mural coat rack.

A snowstorm is headed this way.  We've been rather lucky compared to last winter (we received a total of four and a half feet at our house), and we definitely need the moisture.  I fueled up my truck yesterday and will pick up a grocery order after work today.

ETA:  I remembered what I wanted to ask everyone.  I know places are different, but what birthday specials do your local businesses offer?  It's my birthday month and I am looking for ideas.  

[debthaven]

Iggy aka IG that's what they're called here, in English. I hope that's indeed what they're called in the US LOL. 

Yikes on all that snow! 

It's late here. I took out the vacuum and took one couch apart to vacuum inside. DH scolded me for doing it so late. Then he took the vacuum from me and did the other couch LOL.

[Iggy aka IG]

debthaven, yes, it seemed to translate successfully.  

Having pre-assembled work outfits really is convenient.  I put do more on Sunday's to-do list and this time I'll add accessories to them.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

[busymom]

Awkward question of the day:  does anyone else here have trouble throwing out old bras?  Maybe I hate to do it because they're so expensive, but I just bought several new ones, and now I have to force myself to toss the ones that are less than useful.  (I also have trouble getting rid of fancy dress clothes, so the amount of money spent just may be my problem.)    

[TheOtherMe]

I have only ever had one fancy dress in my life.  It's hanging in my closet.  I wore it once and I can't get rid of it.  

No, I didn't get married in it and I didn't wear it to a wedding.  I wore to see the grand opening of a classical music performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  Paul McCartney wrote the musical.  It was also the day I saw Paul at his house and he asked my friend about me.  Never had to stalk Paul again.

[lurkyloo]

Feb 2, 2024 15:33:04 GMT -5 busymom said:

Awkward question of the day:  does anyone else here have trouble throwing out old bras?  Maybe I hate to do it because they're so expensive, but I just bought several new ones, and now I have to force myself to toss the ones that are less than useful.  (I also have trouble getting rid of fancy dress clothes, so the amount of money spent just may be my problem.)    

TMI and off-topic:  I have a couple of no-show pullover bras that I only wear to in person meetings.  I was less than pleased to find that the older one is now so stretched out that when I adjusted the straps it made the girls pop under…the other is new and has the other problem of slightly too tight and too v-neck making the girls pop over.  Former effect discovered early in the meeting, latter discovered after returning from dinner and drinks.  At least I was wearing a cardigan?

I also have a stack of older bras that I really need to throw away 

[soupandstew]

I've got a whole drawer of bras, most of which don't fit.  Some (most) too small, others too large.  I'm guessing that my reluctance to part with them is due to both $$ spent and smaller sizes I probably won't get back to.  

[debthaven]

I started wearing pullover bras during Covid, but I kept a couple of underwire bras for dressing up.

busymom maybe aim to get rid of one or two for now? Then over time if you see you don't wear the old ones, it'll get easier to get rid of them.

[TheOtherMe]

The morning is not off to a good start.  I was up way past my bedtime last night watching my Buffs beat Washington State.  I go for my chai this morning and I spilled it on the kitchen counter.  No help from the cats.  This is totally on me.  So I paid for a chai and it ended up on the counter and floor.  All cleaned up now.

[finnime]

Sorry about the chai, TheOtherMe.

[TheOtherMe]

I missed my chai but not enough to go back and buy another one.  

I know have the arrival time for tomorrow's removal of DN3's furniture from the basement.  I will be so happy when this is over and it's only my stuff in the basement.

[debthaven]

Sorry for the chai but yay for the basement TheOtherMe ! It's been a long time coming!

[TheOtherMe]

Feb 3, 2024 19:18:15 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Sorry for the chai but yay for the basement TheOtherMe ! It's been a long time coming!

It's been 4 years since it was brought here and was to stay about a year.  I am so ready to have it gone.

One helper wanted to do it an hour earlier, so now I will have to get early to get myself ready and go get my chai.  It's okay.  I will do it to get that stuff out of my basement.

[raeoflyte]

I still have my goal tracking calendar but I decided to set up a bullet journal too. I'm combining work and personal so we'll see. But that feels simpler. I really need to see a list of things done in both worlds so I'm hoping that helps.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feb 2, 2024 15:33:04 GMT -5 busymom said:

Awkward question of the day:  does anyone else here have trouble throwing out old bras?  Maybe I hate to do it because they're so expensive, but I just bought several new ones, and now I have to force myself to toss the ones that are less than useful.  (I also have trouble getting rid of fancy dress clothes, so the amount of money spent just may be my problem.)    

YES!!!

Even when they don't hold up anything at all! 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

DH and I loaded up our utility trailer yesterday. There was random, broken, dilapidated stuff left by the previous owners and some large items we'd broken over the last 18 months. We also had three palates to get rid of from a brick order last spring. DH is off to the this morning. 


I'm going to clean parts of our main/living room couch with my new handy dandy portable shampooer. We'll see how that goes. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Goals set on January 2: 

For January,
I need to
Put away all of the winter decorations (this will happen at the end of the month)
Solidify cleaning lists for each room area of the house
File the Pile
Set up my new camping trailer
Complete at lest 30% of the kitchen cleaning list
Clean garages #1& #2

I'd say I'm more than half way through creating the deep cleaning lists. Part of the challenge is we have a 3,950sf house, another 1200sf of outdoor living space, a 400sf garage gym, and five garages. That's a lot of lists to make!!!

[moneysquirrel]

Things have been about normal.  Did several loads of laundry yesterday.  Dishes are also done and up to date.  

I have started going though some of the storage areas and continue to find a few items to add to my donation bag.  

startsmart -- Love the new addition to your family.
Knee Deep in Water Chloe -- Congrats on the new job! 
TheOtherMe -- So happy that the basement will be all yours again.

[TheOtherMe]

The basement is mine and belongs to me and the cats!!!!!

[debthaven]

 TheOtherMe

[finnime]

Yeah! TheOtherMe

[TheOtherMe]

Cats are not very happy about it.  All of "their" stuff is gone.  They don't understand it didn't belong there.  It's been there since I brought them home.  They will have to find new hiding places because they had so many with all of that furniture.

[debthaven]

Are you going to get the organizer in now TheOtherMe ?

[startsmart]

Today I successfully made soup but the rest of the day has been slow. I have the last 3 doors for the bottom cabinets to finish and put back on and then I can work on the top cabinets. About halfway done so I’m hopeful I can get this done by the end of Feb!

Lincoln continues to be adorable and goes back and forth between hyper running around my room and napping on me. He’s getting better about going outside but I had to remove everything from under the bed (sheets mostly) because he sneaks under there.

[TheOtherMe]

Feb 4, 2024 17:56:29 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Are you going to get the organizer in now TheOtherMe ?

I am waiting until my return from Toronto.  

We will work on the kitchen.

Of course, the Toddler just told me I am not invited to his birthday party?   

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Thing have tough in rukh-land.....took my critical cat into the ER vet again last night. He was admitted, needing oxygen, IV fluids and antibiotics. Did not stablize much over night, and tests revealed both FIV and FelV, and so even if he rallied after a few days in intensive care, his life expectancy was very short with high susceptibility to infection and eventual cancer. As is, they said he could arrest at any moment due to his respiratory condition. So I drove back and stayed with him while he was put down. He was distressed and struggling at the end, which broke my heart. He got a bit lively with the pain meds and all the oxygen.

Internet says the FelV does not live long even on fabric, so just going to let the secured room rest for a few days, then start cleaning up. The secure ward and the rest of the house is kind of a with visiting my mother evey other day and spending 3 or so hours/day with the sick kitty.

I struggle to know if what I did at any stage of this was the right thing to do. I just have to greive him and move on. And pay off the hefty credit card bill.

Glad I was super cautious and kept up universal precautions.

So my attic is an infectious disaster, but leaving that for a bit and will get on with my usual household chores.

For today:
Wash throws
vacuum couch and pillow
Do dishes/clean kitchen just a big tidy/quick wiping

That is about all I can manage for today.