Shoe Boxes

I am taking two shoe boxes to school today for kids to use in projects.  It's amazing how an assignment is assigned five days prior and suddenly it comes to child minds, "Oh, I don't have a shoe box and should ask."  Anyway, that's another issue. 

I'm advocating that you find a local teacher friend through which you can simplify.  There are times like these I wish I could ask someone for any extra boxes, juice can lids, toilet paper rolls, hangers, old magazines, etc.  Teachers (creative ones) often need these items in bulk for projects.  This clears out things for you and helps our education systems.

In and Out

Someone in my family stepped on our old scale to weigh in.  In contrast, stepping on the wii showed the relieved weigher a ten pound difference.  We decided it was time to buy a new scale.  I am giving away the old scale.  Hopefully someone underweight will buy it at the thrift store...

Walls

Walls are locations we overlook in our decluttering.  There are two aspects to walls:

1.  We breeze past them daily and don't pay attention to what it hanging on the walls.  Is it time to get rid of an old plaque or picture, framed cross-stitch, etc?  I had two pair of candles hanging from a decorative hook.  A couple years ago I began hanging necklaces on that same hook.  The candles became buried under jewelry.  I "found" them recently and put them in the giveaway bin.  No need to keep those old things.

2.  Walls can also be a way to declutter dressers, table tops, etc.  Hang those photo frames on the wall instead of having them all over the top of an end table.  It makes dusting SO much easier and gives a cleaner look.  Hang a decorative basket on a wall to hold mail instead of having it pile up on the counter.  Hang jewelry on a hook on the wall to declutter your drawer or top of your dresser.

Take a fresh look at your walls. 

Direction to Look

Check the top of your desk.  Is there anything you can throw away?

Dream Fulfilled

Most people wouldn't count getting an attic cleaned and organized a dream fulfilled, but if a task has been nagging at you in your mind, finishing it definitely feels like having a dream fulfilled!

What area has been bothering you about your home?  Choose one spot.  Just jump in with both feet and "git-er-done!"  It really feels good and  simplifies your mind.  Have you had a goal you've thought about for years and never gotten around to doing it?  Just start.  Even if everything isn't in place at the beginning, it will simplify your head to just do it.

For years since an acquaintance told me about her Iditarod Dogsled Race unit she taught each year at school, I have wanted to create it and use it as a springboard for weaving in all my subjects for those two weeks the Iditarod runs.  This year I finally did it and I couldn't be more pleased!  It feels good to finally accomplish what's been nagging me, and the students and I are loving what we are learning.

So, think about this simplification idea in terms of a location in your home OR a goal you've had that has never been begun.  It's worth starting.

Sock Sorting

I had a friend growing up who was somewhere in the middle of nine children.  One time at her home, our task was to sort and pair up socks before we could play.  "How bad can it be?" my young mind cheerfully pondered.  We walked into the dining room and there was a MOUNTAIN of socks piled onto the table.  I was flabbergasted! 

One organizing tip I recently picked up from clutterdiet.com was about sons who can wear socks in the same size.  She suggested buying the same size and color for both children, such as sport socks.  That way, sorting is done minimally and it doesn't matter which person gets which socks since they're all the same!

Promotional DVD

Have you ever received a promotional DVD from a company?  It seems so wasteful to toss it, even if it's not something you will watch.  We got one on the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Disposing of that seemed almost like a sacrilege!

The key is, they are promotional DVDs.  They only hit highlights.  Throw it away!