Plastic Bags

While we try to use reusable grocery bags, inevitably, we end up with a bunch of plastic bags from various stores.  I hate to throw them in the trash, so keep saving them.  Perhaps many of us do that, as last week I observed a co-worker bring in a gigantic bag full.

(My bag lady has a pleasing shape at the moment…not too many plastic bags)




We tend to forget about the ever-increasing mound of bags.  The little "bag-lady" bag holder gets fatter until she looks as though she'll burst!  You probably have a place for them to go, but in case you don't, here are some suggestions:

1.  Some grocery stores have bins outside their doors for plastic bags.  Load your stash into your vehicle for the next time you go to the grocery.
2.  Neighbors who walk dogs and are diligent to scoop the poop need a steady supply of bags.
3.  Our PTA is collecting bags to weave into waterproof mats for the homeless in our area.  Who knew that could be done?  Many of us donated our collections to that cause.

Try to speak softly and carry a big stick bag so you can avoid plastic carriers, but if the inevitable few slip into your home, find a worthy spot for them elsewhere.

The Party is Over

We tend to collect party paraphernalia through the years:  party platters, bowls, streamers, flags, banners, and more.  Today's encouragement toward decluttering and simplifying is to think about how much space those party items are taking up.  Maybe something is faded or cracked - let it go.  Perhaps you have a banner or leftover goodies for "Over the Hill!  40!" even though no one in your household will ever cross that bridge again.  Rarely do we we reuse specific-themed party items.  Clear out some space for items you want to keep and employ regularly.

Project Piles

Today I am cleaning off the entire ping pong table that has been covered for six weeks.  I had to organize and gather craft materials for a four week kids' class and it was easier to just keep everything out in plain view for the preparation and execution of the hands-on materials.

To plan projects often requires us to spread out all the components.  It's OK to have those piles if they are serving a purpose and have a time frame.  Sometimes making a "mess" IS the simpler way.  Once the project is complete, be sure to sort and organize the leftovers, stashing them away for the next round.

Does It Fit?

I'm leaving our closets for another topic today.  Something for us to analyze as we walk around our homes or offices today…

One of my children has a roommate who probably doesn't read my blog or care.  For weeks, the person put a roll of packing tape into a small drawer in the living room.  The problem was, the drawer wouldn't shut with the large roll in it.  My child would try to shut the drawer in passing, and find the tape.  Putting it up on top of the end table to shut the drawer didn't help for long.  The next day, the tape would be back in the gaping drawer.  This went on for weeks until someone else hid the offending tape in the oven mitt drawer where it fit AND the drawer would close.

Yesterday, in desperation, I shoved something large into my school cabinet and hurriedly shut the door before anything could fall out.  The custodian sat there, laughing at me, warning me to not let a child open that door or an avalanche would ensue.

Basically, if a door or drawer won't close, we have too much stuff in that space.  We can rearrange items, put them in a more suitable place,  or just declutter the space.

Old Shoes

I used to devour a newsletter some of us subscribed to entitled "The Tightwad Gazette."  We all had young children, chose to be stay-at-home-moms, and were trying our best to spend less.  One article I remember was on tennis shoes, or sneakers depending where you live.  She had a three-year cycle for those shoes.  She would watch for great sales and buy a new pair each year.

• New pair became her out-in-public shoes
• Recently replaced pair became her around the house or outside pair
• 3rd oldest became her grunge work shoes--gardening, mowing, etc.

I will note here that she owned very few other pairs of shoes.  It was a good plan and kept the newest shoes cleaner and better looking.  She didn't hang onto the former garden shoes.  

If there are any old shoes hanging around that have seen better days and you don't use,  feel free to get rid of them, leaving space for the shoes that serve you well.

Favorite Color

A few years ago, a student said to me, "I know your favorite color!"
"Oh, do you?  What is it?"
"Black!  I know because you wear it a lot."

Gulp.  I had to think on that one and look through my closet.  She was right.  Many of my pieces were black based.  Though I definitely don't want to be known as a Goth teacher, my wardrobe isn't a bad thing.  When your closet has a dominant neutral color, all the extra pieces coordinate!  For example, a black skirt or black slacks can go with any top or sweater.  If you feel overwhelmed with too many clothes, scale back on pants or skirts to a favorite neutral:  khaki, brown, black, or navy.  Accessories of trendy, popping color don't take up much space.  Blouses and shirts can mix and match with the neutral, giving you many more outfits with fewer clothes.

Something to think about as you weed out excess clothing.

By the way, my favorite color is actually pink.

Everything in its Place

When we had a house full of children, space was limited.  My dresser held things besides my clothing for lack of any other space.  Now that they are grown, we have rooms with only furniture.  There are entire open closets and dresser drawers if I want to spread out my clothing/accessories.  (In our war to simplify, this can be counterproductive…out-of-sight, out- of- mind-dangerous.)

Look in your dresser.  Are you keeping jewelry in drawers where you could store clothing?  Would placing more clothes in drawers make your bedroom look neater and less cluttered?  Where could the jewelry, stationery, books, tools, or whatever go that would be a more logical space for their purposes?

Again, pulling everything out of our drawers makes the clutter visible and lets you evaluate more carefully. I found a large baggie with extra toiletries residing in one drawer of my dresser.  Those items can go where they logically belong, a bathroom or guest room.

Attachment Issues?

 I've held onto three skirts for 23 years that I hardly ever wear.  Hard to believe, right?  Sad, but true.  Here are my reasons:

1.  Nostalgia - my husband bought two of them for me after my daughter was born
2.  They are well made in a classic, timeless style and are amazingly well preserved
3.  I like them

Why not wear them?   Bottom line --- they don't fit as well as they did.  Occasionally, after months of self-disciplined exercise and correct eating they have fit, but then they inevitably "shrink." Perhaps I'm keeping them as motivation?

If you have pieces of clothing in this nostalgic, I-want-to-be-this-size-again-thinking, you're not alone.  The question I have to ask myself is "What is the worst thing that can happen if I let them go?"  Someone else can definitely get more use out of them than I do.  I can afford new skirts.

Evaluate some of the articles of clothing you are hanging onto.  Ask yourself why you still have them.  Can you donate them without any interruption to your life or happiness?  I'll be right with you in this evaluation process.

Clothes with Tags

An extended family member of ours had a reputation for being a clotheshorse.

The single-word term "clotheshorse" describes men and women who are so passionate about clothes that they maintain unusually large wardrobes of the latest, most stylish clothes; will never willingly appear in public in unstylish or outdated clothes; and will often change into many different stylish outfits during a single day.  [Wikipedia]

I remember seeing the closet which took up an entire wall, filled with just her clothing.  The scuttlebutt was that there were pieces in that closet with the price tags still attached, unworn!  

Here are some things I just don't understand:

• Thrift stores or yard sales sometimes sell new clothing with the original store tags still attached.   
• Watching people on HGTV complain about how little closet space the new homes offer
• Having clothing you never wear and then holding on to it
• Causing problems in a marriage by overspending on things you don't use

I know I'm a bit extreme in my quest for a more simplified existence, but really…how many outfits does a person need?  If there are articles of clothing hanging in your closet with the tags still attached, please use them, or realize this life lesson:  we all make mistake purchases.  It's OK to let them go.  Sadly, we cannot recoup the money spent. 

More about a more manageable closet tomorrow...

Planbooks, Lists

I threw out three lesson plan books.  These are large spiral bound books that we teachers write our daily plans upon to keep our thoughts straight.  I'm now typing plans into an on-line program that I keep pulled up on an iPad at my desk.  Keeping the old plan books was a safety net of sorts.  I knew if I ever had brain freeze, I could look back and see my ideas from the past.  Rarely did that ever happen (the looking back, I mean…the brain freeze still occurs with alarming frequency!)

Not everyone keeps lesson plan books, but we often keep lists, pocket calendars or organizers from the past.  Is there anything like that you're saving for a "reference" that you've never referred to?  Think about throwing it away.

Organized Bill Pay

With the advent of on-line bill pay, paying bills on time should be a no-brainer.  Recently, however, I've noticed that if you pay through your bank, you have a curfew time on the due date.  For some companies,  you have to click "pay" by 7 PM for it to count that day.  Not that long ago, midnight was the cutoff.

I learned the hard way.  It wasn't that the e-mail bill wasn't staring me in the face every time I logged into my e-mail account.  I just figured I had time…why rush things?  At 8:30 PM on the due date, I logged in to pay that bill and realized it would be late.  Big frustration!!

A good plan is to just schedule payments soon after the bill arrives.  Go into your account and click the date you want it paid.  The money won't come out of your account until that date.  You can then forget about it and not worry about late payments.  It is a way to be organized and thus simplify your life.

Little by Little

Besides getting rid of clutter, being more organized can definitely simplify your life.  I find that saving all housework for one day is overwhelming.  It rarely gets done because I just can't bear to spend that much time cleaning.  Years ago, I found it easier to do a cleaning rotation.  For example:

Mondays:  dust, dust mop, wash linens; wipe sinks, toilets
Tuesdays:  laundry, showers and bathtubs
Wednesday:  vacuum, dump all trash
Thursday:  wet mop kitchen, bathrooms
Friday:  nothing!
Saturday:  dust mop, wipe bathroom sinks, toilets

When my kids were home, they each had to choose a two chores after school from the list (which also included unloading the dishwasher.)  Because there were more people in the house, touch up cleanings were more frequent in certain areas then.  I picked up the chores they didn't choose.  It taught them to clean, plus I had help.

I've found others who like this round robin style of cleaning.  It's just a little every evening and doesn't take more than a half hour of time.  You're also never rushing around to clean EVERYTHING if someone calls and wants to stop in for a visit.

Some people choose a room per day to clean.  Think of a plan that works for you, but be sure to HAVE a plan.

Everything Under the Kitchen Sink

All of us have places we'd rather not go…mine is under a kitchen sink.  I've seen so many jammed with cleaning supplies, the trash can where liquid has splattered on the cupboard walls…gross, old items shoved to the back that haven't seen the light in years.  I feel sorry for plumbers.

Here's an idea for today.  Pretend the plumber is coming to fix your kitchen sink.  Pull out everything in preparation, as though he's going to have to stick his head and shoulders in there.  Look through all you pulled out.  Does it really need to go back in?  Sort through it.  Wash the cupboard walls if needed.  I have a handled bathroom tote I keep under the sink that stores all my cleaning supplies in one spot.  I would recommend some container so that when it's filled, you know it's time to stop buying additional cleaning supplies.  

Once everything necessary goes back under the sink, work at keeping it neat so that you can easily find what you want to use.  A future plumber will thank you.

House Plants

Today my son is liberated from caring for Alfred, his roommate's peace lily.  It has been a "thorn in the flesh" for Chris.  His roommate has been working out of the country since September so the task of keeping Alfred watered and alive fell on Chris.  At one point, he thought he'd accidentally killed it from having it out on the balcony and forgetting to water it.  There was a mental plan to just purchase a new one and replace it with Alfred II if Chris's negligence left an empty pot.  Alfred triumphed, however, and rejoined the land of the living. His roommate returns this weekend and will assume care of the plant, never realizing how close it came to decimation.

I have two peace lily plants, one of which is looking a bit sickly.  While I really enjoy gardening, keeping house plants isn't my forte'.  It pricks at my conscience often…"Have you watered the plants?"  Peace lilies at least let you know when they're thirsty by drooping.  They reward your attention with an almost immediate perk up of the leaves.  Part of my partial attraction to them is they were gifts from our church for the passing of family members.  But, even with that sentimental attraction, I have made a plan.

Our custodian's wife once rescued one of my school plants destined for the incinerator as the little "lucky bamboo" was languishing.  In subsequent months she continually reminded me of how it was flourishing at her house.  With her success rate, I have made a plan to give her one peace lily this coming week.  She will nurture and care for it far better than my time and interest in it will allow.

This is a long tale to let you take a look at any house plants that you really don't have the time for or interest in anymore.  Craigs List is a great option to find a person who enjoys caring for plants and would welcome a free plant.  Simplify your schedule and unload the lucky bamboo or peace lily!

I Just Don't Like It

Today a bubble bath ball went into the donate bin.  I just don't use those soothing flakes in the tub…just my preference to not have to scrub rings off the tub, sometimes you need to rinse off the bubbles... so many reasons for me.  I received it with other niceties in a gift bag.  Seems like the two years I've held onto it are tribute enough to the gift giver.

If you come across an item you've been keeping "just because," don't feel pressured into keeping it.  No one will know if you slip it into the giveaway box!  Free yourself from excess, one item at a time!

Noticing Clutter

We all know people with low and high thresholds of pain. Some complain for days about a hurt toe; professional football players will play with concussions, broken bones, or sprains without seeming to be affected.

In my observations, some people also have a high threshold for clutter. It's not that they LIKE how the house looks, how difficult it is to find things, or that they keep buying duplicates because the originals are buried somewhere. They tend to be rather easy-going people that can overlook it. I feel that our "Simplify: one per day" method is a good fix for them. It builds a habit of looking for clutter in the house. I really hope we have all gained that particular habit these couple of months and that it can continue. 

Today I will attend to a pile of papers. Why? Because they have been sitting unobtrusively in our kitchen and since I'm paying attention today, I noticed it's time to take care of that clutter.

Digital Clutter

There are hidden pockets of clutter, unseen by anyone but us.  One such culprit resides in the e-mail inbox.  I feel almost as overwhelmed when I see a full e-mail box as when I see a cluttered attic.  Several professional organizers' books and articles have helped me with this.  They suggest checking your e-mail at set times each day, not constantly getting distracted by incoming messages.  At those appointed times, they recommend deleting junk e-mails immediately, skimming then responding to timely ones that need an answer, and less important ones, skim and file.  Limiting my times with e-mail helps.

I prefer to keep ten or fewer e-mails in my inbox.  Most of those are from people I must take more time to write back or appointments I need to remember.  Seeing that subject line daily is a reminder for me.

Consider decluttering your e-mail inbox and breathe a sigh of relief when you see only a handful waiting for you!

Donation Centers

It's one of those perfect endings for all the characters…taking unwanted or unused household goods to a donation center.  Goodwill puts people to work with the proceeds from donated goods.  Salvation Army uses their proceeds to help the needy.  Hospice Thrift Stores use the funds to help families in  sad, difficult situations.   Hospital Thrift Stores use their funds to help further the personal outreach of hospital care.  Habitat for Humanity sells our old cabinets, paint, and household hardware to help people attain home ownership.

My mother and I took a load to a donation center yesterday.  We had a box of old electronic cables and remote controls,  a box of various plumbing hardware, and some old lamps that worked but weren't in mint condition.  I figured the lamps would be accepted, but wasn't positive they would take the electronics or plumbing items.  They took it all with a smile.  We were thrilled to be rid of the items cluttering up the shed, some handy person will get a great deal on plumbing supplies or lamps, and more people will be helped in the grieving process.

Sometimes looking at your clutter with the attitude that it could help others is a way to "let it go" as the song trills.  What can you donate to make others' lives better and alleviate your own clutter?

Color Me Beautiful

Does anyone remember this phase American women went through in the mid-80's? "Color Me Beautiful" was a home party of sorts where you held up color swatches to your facial skin and determined which made you shine and which made you look death-like.  You could then buy a purse pack of your colors to take shopping and avoid any clothing that washed you out.  I was a winter, according to their analysis, which meant cool colors, bold blacks, reds, fuchsias.  No tan, yellows, or oranges.  It was a bit freeing to limit my choices to items that would enhance my beauty…(humor intended.)

There have been times along the way I have rebelled.  I now own a mustard colored sweater, but avoid the inevitable comments of "Are you feeling alright today?" by using a navy scarf  around my neck.

Do you own any pieces of clothing that wash you out?  Do you feel less attractive in that outfit?  Are there articles in your closet that you pass over time after time?  Think about why you avoid wearing that piece.  Maybe it's time to let those shirts, dresses, or jackets go.  Last week I was given a free t-shirt with a logo that I love but…it's yellow.  DEATH LOOK!  I've decided that I can use it for my prize box at school instead of on me.  Some blond or red-head child will enjoy glowing in that yellow shirt.

The Calculator

As an elementary teacher, I am a little wary of calculators.  It's an effort to have children memorize nowadays when information is at their fingertips, and there's an entire debate on that issue.  I will rant one time:  children need to memorize math facts!!  EVERYTHING in math goes easier if they have those sums and products tucked away in their brains.  Ok, I'm done raving.

At home, we've had our share of calculators.  Our kids used graphing calculators for high school math. Banks give them away for free (or used to).  They're handy for lots of adding or balancing the checkbook.  In the last five years, however, haven't they become a bit passé?  Smart phones, iPods, iPads, computers all have calculators.  Do we need free standing calculators?

Look for a family with a high school student or a math teacher who could use that extra graphing calculator.  Goodwill could pass the old Texas Instrument one on to an older person without technology who might have forgotten his/her math facts (fat chance…the older generation was much better at mental math).  Consider what you can rid from your stash today that is no longer needed.

Money Out of the Deal

Decluttering and simplifying can be profitable.  With eBay and Craigs List, there is a wider reach toward potential buyers for your unwanted goods.  I've had many sets of craft stamps sitting unused for probably five years.  It was a fun phase, but they were taking up space and I didn't see myself using them anytime in the near future.  I listed five sets on Craigs List and sold them within two days of listing.  It felt good to declutter and get some cash.

The Mirror

My mother-in-law has the best mirror in the world.  It's a full length looking glass, and when you stand in front of it, your size reduces by probably 20 - 30 lbs!  As I was enjoying that brief respite from my normal poundage, I thought about how that can apply to decluttering.

Seeing a slimmer view of ourselves is motivating to eat right and exercise.  What if you could see a room without all the clutter?  Would it motivate you to get rid of stuff?  It might be a good exercise to remove everything from one side of a room, stand back, and admire it.  The clutter might be easier to toss.

Accumulated Lip Treatment

I threw out an old tube of lip gloss today.  I've never liked it;  it's like a sugar scrub for lips.  You squeeze it on and  sugar crystals adhere to your lips stuck in the gloss, truly a weird and annoying sensation.  I kept it for so long because it's half full and was pricey.  (If you lick your lips, it IS sweet, perhaps a benefit.)  Think about your collection of lip balm:  how many are old, how many are needed, how many you can throw out.