I have had a huge breakthrough. I few weeks ago I gently asked DH that if one Sunday afternoon he would help me go through his closet.
Yesterday was the day!!!!
We went through everything that he has and threw out anything that was horrible, stained, torn or just plain yuck. We threw out two garbage bags full of clothing. We rearranged his closet and it looks really nice. He needs just a few more pairs of socks, a pair of work trousers and that is it. I am one happy girl.
Did all the kitchen yesterday. It did not take me as long as I thought because I cleaned the pantry a few weeks back and gave that a good going through. I did come up with just a few little things to get rid of but really not as much as I thought.
Had to check in and report this because I'm so darn proud of myself:
I just let go of 90% of the paper recipes that I spent YEARS clipping out of magazines and carefully putting in files and binders. Times have changed and I get most of my recipes online now or out of very specific cookbooks. I have my one big recipe binder with my 4x6 cards in it for the true winners. The rest I will now keep in Evernote.
Yep - I let them go. Gobs of them. About a trash bag full! Then I super fast took out the recycling so I couldn't change my mind and go dumpster diving to save them!
Also go a couple boxes off to Goodwill. More boxes getting ready. (But they contain electronics - which as SO hard to figure out what to do with!!)
Cindylouwho, job well done. I am still a slave to recipe books even though a have a huge board on Pinterest full of recipes, so times certainly have changed.
I think that I need a whole mental shift. I have spent months cleaning my house and getting rid of clutter. Today I was at the mall and all I could think of "i must buy STUFF for the kids stockings". Now the stocking stuffers are normally junky, fun type things, so essentially more clutter!!!!!!! UGH the cycle continues.
I decluttered my pantry and a few cupboards. I got a few things into more logical locations Monday, I reorganized my hutch cupboards... I didn't get rid of anything just moved things around so that I can reach them better.
Have been spending 20 minutes on decluttering paper every morning while sipping coffee (no decisions - just pitching). Amazing how much I am getting through. Trying not to be impatient and spend longer than that. (Because then I'll burn out).
I managed to declutter my desk drawer this week by tidying a couple items every time I opened it. That wasn't so bad. What other drawers do I have....?
I have a bag of old yarn that I will either let the LCs take or drop off at the thrift store. I emptied on whole tub from the craft room. Only that might stay in the house is the tub itself.
I found three pieces to a table loom that I will toss if I do not find the fourth piece. It might be hiding on top of the closet.
So if I do another tub tomorrow I'll have more room and less clutter than today.
Great job everyone.
I am really beginning to see the difference in my own home with the stuff I have.
DH and and I will eventually move into our farm house which has 5 rooms. Not 5 bedrooms, 5 rooms. So most of the stuff that we have in this rather large house we live in now will have to go. I am aware of this and trying to scale back now.
The only big declutter job I listed for the month was my back patio. Still not done, but I'm off tomorrow and that's on my to do list. Besides being hot, I had to work a ton this week, so it got put on the side burner. But I am going to get er done tomorrow!