In this first month of simplifying, I've gotten rid of a lot of little things. As I'm decluttering, I'm also rearranging, making the remaining items look neater. When out shopping, my simplification mindset has kept me from buying some unnecessary items. It's been encouraging with all of you on board, hearing of your successes. Now on to another month!
Today I threw out some special dog shampoo the breeder gave me in Nov. of 2009 for our dog's skin problem. It was in a mason jar and already diluted with water, so it probably isn't that potent anymore. Gone!
Whitney's coat from elementary school...cute little LL Bean fleece lined jacket...purple and teal...I'm guessing Brandon will not be wearing that. Whitney's coat from middle school...Kristin's skirt from 9th grade...(my girls are 24 and 28)French/English dictionary; German/English dictionary; Spanish/English dictionary; Italian/English dictionary (no one here ever took Italian...no one here is related to anyone who is Italian...and 3 bags of books...all going to Goodwill TODAY - if I can get out of my driveway! Where do I get all this stuff??????? It is nice to see progress and I can feel my view of clutter changing...slowly but surely! It's a great day to simplify! :o)
ReplyDeleteWow! It's been a month already. When I began this journey it was just to "check in on the blog every now and then", I didn't think I had something to toss or give every day. Boy was I wrong! Now, I've changed the whole way I think about "my clutter". I don't let the mail remain on the dining room table anymore, I deal with it when I get it. I look at something, say the corner of my kitchen counter, and think "that doesn't need to be that cluttered", and then in a matter or minutes I've cleaned, tossed and rearranged. It's that easy. I've gone from a skeptical believer to a true follower :)
ReplyDeleteToday, I'm tackling the LARGE number of mugs we have in this house and putting them in the "give" box.
Thanks, Heidi, I'm ready for another month. Bring it on :D
My family thanks you, Heidi. I have had a vertical bookshelf (stack of books) underneath my side of the kitchen table for I don't even want to guess how long. After taking 4 bags of books out of the bookshelves for Goodwill, I now have space for those books - where they belong. Yeah! I have weeded my way through 3 bookcases and one craft shelf. I've tossed and bagged! woo hoo
ReplyDeleteI got rid of a bunch of mail order catalogs that I got before Christmas... L.L. Bean, Lands End, Plow and Hearth, Oriental Trading Company, Offenbachers, and a few others. While it is more satisfying browsing through a catalog you can hold in your hands, virtually everything can be viewed and ordered on-line.
ReplyDeleteI don't think my problem with clutter is over-buying - it is having a hard time getting rid of things that I or someone else spent their hard earned money on. I don't like to be wasteful or unappreciative.
Two philosophies vie for my allegiance. First, I adhere to "If in doubt, throw it out" especially when dealing with food, medicine, or other consumables. I can also easily dispose of damaged or worn out clothing. For many things however, I consider my mom's post-depression, WWII rationing era mantra "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." I end up hanging on to things that could be repurposed or used later.
I know that my garage is filled with things that need to be cleared out. One item a day won't do it, but what I've noticed from the followers of your blog is this. Some days, you only have time to get rid of one thing but other days a whole drawer or shelf or closet can be gone through and organized. So, Heidi, your blog is helping us stay on track and keep simplifying as a priority.
Susan, you have some good points and I, too, struggle with "mom's mantra". I am also a very sentimental person. If a book has no name in it and I really don't need it any more, I have no problem putting it in the Goodwill bag. However, when I open a little book and it has the crooked, early printing of myself or one of my children, it goes back on the shelf. I did take a Sharpie upstairs with me today and got rid of a few gift books. I feel so guilty! I found a book I gave to my parents in 1975. Apparently my mom gave it back to me. It got 'Sharpied' and went in the bag. I just tossed every home-made cassette tape that I have ever owned. I don't even have a cassette player anymore and EVERYTHING is accessible on line whenever I should happen to need it again. Usually I pick one theme rather than one item. That helps! Yes! A big thanks to Heidi! :o)
ReplyDeleteListed an item on ebay that was brand new - but not wanted/needed. I, too, appreciate that fact that some days there's time only for one thing - but this project/habit/idea puts me in a place that certain areas are getting cleaned out here and there as time allows. My house could probably stand to lose 365 things per month vs. per year...but either way - I am moving in the right direction! Thanks again, Heidi! :)
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