2024 Organize & Declutter

[TheOtherMe]

I am a cat lover and if I see cats in the window, I do wave and talk to them from the sidewalk.  I know I'm weird but I don't find that behavior to be strange.  He's probably a retired guy who doesn't have enough to do.

My mom was a really nosy neighbor and she didn't think the neighbors knew, but they all did.  She did catch some kids breaking in to cars and called the police who were able to get there in time to catch them in the act.  She got an award for that, so that only encouraged her.

She couldn't understand why the neighbors across the street would call to see if their lights were on during power outages.  Across the street was on a different line and always got power back later.  

She knew everything that happened in that neighborhood.  That was her biggest adjustment when she moved in to independent living.  

My aunt and uncle had a duplex built next door.  Mom got quite upset when they put up a privacy fence around their patio.  I told her that they knew she watched everything.  

She really didn't think anyone could see her peering out her windows.

[finnime]

I think I inspired DH to declutter his clothing, too. He pointed out a pile he's done with of things to be donated. Then we'll have enough room for a little while anyway.

We've been busy readying for the first art and craft fair we'll be in, in mid-March. There's a lot of work involved but then the rest of the season/year should be much easier, as we'll have all the equipment needed in place, ready to be loaded into the car.

Back at it.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Feb 26, 2024 14:02:50 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Is he good looking?

I find this weird, jersey! I don't even know, never looked at it that way. And don't want to!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Feb 26, 2024 15:09:08 GMT -5 startsmart said:

On the plus side, this morning I picked out recipes to make and built a meal plan for March. Accounting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks, I have the full recipes printed, shopping list made and what I need to make and when. It's also on my calendar. I am splitting the groceries into 2 trips so I don't need to cook everything at one time and also remembered that end of March is Easter so eggs *should* be going on sale. 

wow - that is organized!!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Thanks all! Appreciate the advice and perspective!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Have a decent start at the decoration gathering for the April 6th party. I am trying to not spend money on things I can only use once. For example, I found chargers with a lemon pattern. They’re adorable, but when else would I use those? They’d just add to the clutter right? Right???

DH and I disagree on whether we should cater or not. I don’t think we should. I think our tipping point is 25 to 30 people, and we shouldn’t be beyond 30 people. DH just wants to have it catered with hor d’oeuvres and tapas. But that doesn’t make sense to me because that stuff is way easier to prep than full dinner.

[CCL]

Chloe, I use either white or wood for parties. That way they can work with any theme or occasion. Then I purchase disposable things like napkins, decorations, etc with my theme. Less clutter and less expense.

Lately, I've started using leftover napkins and disposable plates and cups, if I have them, until they are gone. No need to keep them for next time. I can always buy more if needed. We were using Christmas napkins til a couple weeks ago. The grandkids thought it was great lol.

Your lemon theme sounds wonderful.

[Iggy aka IG]

Chole, I've started utilizing the Dollar Tree when it comes to holidays and entertaining.  I used to go to a dollar store back when, and then looked to Walmart, but the Dollar Tree seems to be less expensive.   Holiday themed paper products, inexpensive decorations (this year I bought a set of adorable joined horizontal 3 hearts for our front door), and holiday treats and small gifts.  I just checked their website for lemon items, and they have tasteful looking 21" artificial lemon fruit stems.  They also have cute lemon printed dinnerware, but the blog is several years old, and it says it may not reflect current product availability.  Or since adding to clutter is a concern, maybe buy the chargers you found and buy just yellow napkins, etc. to go with?  Regardless, it sounds like fun!

I was up at a decent hour today, went to Walmart then bought dispenser water.  We didn't receive much snow this morning, though I'm keeping an eagle eye on the weather. If it starts to snow heavily, I'll grab work and dash home.

[azucena]

And while you're at dollar tree, don't forget to stock up on cards. I try to do that a few times per year to keep a good stash - bday, thank you, thinking of you, sympathy, wedding, etc.

[Iggy aka IG]

Feb 27, 2024 13:54:48 GMT -5 azucena said:

And while you're at dollar tree, don't forget to stock up on cards. I try to do that a few times per year to keep a good stash - bday, thank you, thinking of you, sympathy, wedding, etc.

  I think I mentioned before, but recently I bought several BOGO sympathy cards and a $1.25 Valentine's Day card there. 

[startsmart]

Okay, I’ve been procrastinating on cleaning out my freezer and fridge this month and want to get it done today. Will someone (kindly) kick my butt? Lol

[moneysquirrel]

Feb 27, 2024 14:09:10 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Feb 27, 2024 13:54:48 GMT -5 azucena said:

And while you're at dollar tree, don't forget to stock up on cards. I try to do that a few times per year to keep a good stash - bday, thank you, thinking of you, sympathy, wedding, etc.

  I think I mentioned before, but recently I bought several BOGO sympathy cards and a $1.25 Valentine's Day card there. 

Also gift bags and tissue paper for stuffing those bags as well.  

[moneysquirrel]

Finally got the dead plants from the freeze thrown out.  Emptied a lot of flowerpots as well as trashing a few that were cracked/broken.  I have been meaning to do this for a while and finally got around to it. I still have a few plants to move outdoors and some that need to be repotted. Another day for those.

Hoping to run a few errands tomorrow after I get my hair cut.  Classes on Thursday, and plan to go to the church's fish fry on Friday. Hope that the weekend continues to be lowkey as planned.

Take care all! 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Feb 27, 2024 14:17:33 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Okay, I’ve been procrastinating on cleaning out my freezer and fridge this month and want to get it done today. Will someone (kindly) kick my butt? Lol

closest i could get....

[startsmart]

Feb 27, 2024 17:22:31 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Feb 27, 2024 14:17:33 GMT -5 startsmart said:

Okay, I’ve been procrastinating on cleaning out my freezer and fridge this month and want to get it done today. Will someone (kindly) kick my butt? Lol

closest i could get....

Lol I did the freezer (easier because it’s nearly empty) and then cleaned the litter box and the sinks. So only the fridge left to do tomorrow.

Lincoln had finally calmed down, he is 5 mo tomorrow and in a stage where if he can’t see me he barks incessantly.

[TheOtherMe]

He needs his mom.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Hi there!  Good job, start and moneysquirrel!  (The system is still not allowing me to tag people....?)

We received not enough snow yesterday afternoon to even mention.

I am "working through" a few things so I've been trying to keep busy.  Last night I baked John Wayne casserole for supper, flax seed muffins, and a few dozen pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  The latter were to use the rest of the pumpkin frozen last fall.  I didn't have enough chocolate chips, so with a rolling pin, I pounded 7 or so Ghirardelli dark chocolate squares which were given to me for my birthday.  Perfect!

This morning, I finished the plethora of dishes, cleared off the vanity, swept the kitchen floor, emptied three garbage cans, tossed the now dead birthday tulips, and watered the plants.  L showed up and we chatted awhile.  She knows how much I love to cook and because it smells so good, told me I'm not allowed to cook supper in the slow cooker while there, LOL.

The plan is to kick butt here at the office in order to take this Friday off.  

[jerseygirl]

Deck under the window bird feeder is a mess. Lots of unwanted seeds discarded under window. And pile of feathers from a bird -mourning dove? Eaten by a hawk? Cat?
Case of wine from WSJ needs to be put into wine rack in pantry

Still like looking a pantry organized with the can holders
Need to organize the boxes of cake mix, pancake mix etc
Need to start another container for goodwill
Looking out to backyard - awful! But that will need to wait till April

[startsmart]

The wind last night was terrible! I had gone out to move a glass topped table which was a good decision because my pool blew over (it was on its end for cleaning and is 8’ tall standing up) and it just landed on the wood table I moved to try and stabilize it. Estimates were 40 mph gusts and we went from 80° to 20° and snowing in about 12 hrs.

Today I’m taking a lazy day in bed and have managed to have a cat + puppy near each other without fights. I don’t have much energy so I’m just reading and resting today.

[wvugurl26]

The lint trap has been bugging me. I got it fully cleaned out today. Getting the recycling gathered up for trash night as well. Little steps forward today.

[debthaven]

I caught up on laundry today. The cleaner came, but she'll be off again next week for her grandson's baptism (in another European country).

I've been SO lazy these days! Lots of reading and Netflix. At 64, I don't feel too guilty lol. 

Work is finally ramping up! I'm doing 9/10 hours next week, and still going in just one day. 

[NastyWoman]

I am totally lacking in motivation - I just don't "wanna". So new approach for the last couple of days: I set an alarm for 30 minutes and work at decluttering for that period only. I do get rid of things this way but slooooooowly. Today I found a pen case that I could not even remember so I decided to check what was in it tonight to up the numbers of tossed items. Well that was a bust -> just two pens out of several dozens were dried up. I may need to consider giving them away. The only other option would be to open a store since I have so many/much pens, pencils, paper. 

[debthaven]

NastyWoman if you have a friend or neighbor connected to a nursery or primary school, they would probably be happy to take them.

[finnime]

We took delivery yesterday of the new to us antique round oak dining table to replace the also antique drop leaf table. DD wants the drop leaf for her kitchen, so that will work. She lives next door. I had been planning on discarding it since no one in the Buy Nothing group expressed any interest. So one table decluttered. I'm counting it even though another took its place.

Dropped off bags of DH's clothes for donation.

Working really hard on decluttering web site. Also, google drive which is 80% full now.

[debthaven]

Nice that the old table stays in the family finnime . 

[Iggy aka IG]

Feb 29, 2024 4:34:29 GMT -5 debthaven said:

NastyWoman if you have a friend or neighbor connected to a nursery or primary school, they would probably be happy to take them.

Several years ago, I donated stickers, medium sized spiral notebooks, etc. to a 5th grade teacher neighbor.  More recently, I donated empty binders, binder clips, insurance swag including pens and pads of paper, two wall mount brochure holders, etc. to my pre-school client.  He told me he was going to put puppets in the brochure holders.  

[startsmart]

Okay fridge and freezer are done (pretty well clean + empty lol) and tomorrow I pick up groceries in the morning and then start meal prep March.

I also washed my hair today which is a chore without hot water but I’m getting better at it. I do need to give the puppy a bath tomorrow too. He likes to come sleep on my back leaning over my neck and whew, smells like a dog!

I have one more mile to do on the bike this month to hit my goal!

[azucena]

It's Friday again so laundry day again. Why do my peeps insist on wearing clean clothes? Should confess that I didn't finish hanging up the huge pile from last week so we've been living off of it. Bball tournament games tomorrow morning but need to complete that chore afterwards.

[wvugurl26]

I don't know where all this laundry comes from. We generally wear one outfit per day.

Mini kitchen win last night. I saw on Pinterest awhile ago storing cupcake liners in a mason jar. I tried it but even with wide mouth jars they wouldn't fit.

I saw a similar size container last night in the cabinet that I don't really use. I grabbed the jars again too. Turns out they do fit if you remove the plastic things intended to help them keep their shape.

Now my liners are neatly stacked by season and I can see what I have at a glance. Before they were jumbled in a gallon ziploc and falling out everywhere.

I need to figure out where to put the jars now. DH was not excited like I was. I'm really trying to better organize my hobby stuff so I remember I have it and use it.

[debthaven]

Why no hot water startsmart ? That's hard, especially in winter.