Purge 2015 February Declutter or 100 Items [Archive]

lessisbest

2-1-15, 12:20pm

We're snow and ice bound today, so we gave ourselves 30-minutes to come up with 100 things.

Destined for:

Food Bank (they take nearly any kind of good used/new kitchen items, including pans, along with food):
-28 (unused) hand-knitted dishcloths
-2 pizza pans

Goodwill:
1 large candle
3 (new) razor blades
2 pr. sweat pants
1 pr. pajamas
1 watch

Mission:
50 bars of soap (purchased cheap and some were free)

Recycling:
1 plastic case

Trash:
11 items beyond use and can't be recycled

Brother:
2 books about sourdough baking
____________
Total: 102

Azure

2-1-15, 12:25pm

Starting February with 5. A disintegrating rain stick in the trash. A shoebox in the recycling. A collage style picture frame in the Goodwill bag. And 3 more articles of clothing put aside for the next free clothing give-away. I wish I had an off-site location to take them to but right now they are still in the house but I count the clothes as gone because I have emotionally let them go and they are all together in one location.

kib

2-1-15, 2:49pm

I'll try to be in this month for 100 things either gone or traded for something I actually want. I feel like I'm getting low on totally useless junk, but I do have quite a collection of not-quite-right.

Countdown

100-96: bag of rags towels, gave to DH as one time shop towels. Come on, Kib, even rags wear out eventually.
95-89: 7 books sold to Bookman's.
88 - donated styrofoam cooler
87 - donated small woven basket
86 - donated knitted tchotchke
85 - donated potpouri burner
84 - donated hoodie that never fit right
83 - ill fitting bra
82-81 - 2 outdated cookbooks
80 - cork board with corner broken off into garbage
79 - another book donation
78 - sold a sweater that makes me look like a dowdy grandmother
77 - unattractive 10K shirt

Float On

2-1-15, 3:15pm

I'm going to go through drawers this month.
Hit the endtable drawer in the living room this morning.

1-2 random pen caps (not matching any pens)
3-4 cheap pens I don't like
5 pencil without an eraser
6 rusty nail clipper
7 odd little plastic bit (no clue what it was a part of)

all these items to trash

rosarugosa

2-1-15, 5:44pm

I returned a pretty sweater I bought at Talbot's after the holidays. I realized that as pretty as it was, I have plenty of pretty sweaters and I would really prefer to have my $55.00 and sliver of closet space back. So minus a point for buying it in the first place, then plus a point for returning it I guess. I can't do much about the waste of time and energy, but at least I don't do this sort of thing very often.

cdttmm

2-1-15, 9:45pm

2 dog toys beyond repair to the trash
1 cracked beyond use coffee mug to the trash

3 TOTAL

Float On

2-2-15, 8:07am

I went through 5 kitchen drawers and only came up with:
8. plastic tube of red pencil lead
9. small box of toothpicks
10. another pencil without an eraser (pet peeve)
11. comb

Bedroom drawer
12.-19. various dark nail polish (new goal to just use light, natural colors)

libby

2-2-15, 11:19am

The back of my little vehicle is packed with books I no longer want. I had a library set up in a spare bedroom full of books I barely looked at. They are gone and wow what a feeling of relief. Off to the thrift store to donate them..

kib

2-2-15, 11:57am

Had a thought here ... unless I have something new to say, I'm just going to keep editing my original post and adding items to it, easier to keep track that way.

wren

2-4-15, 8:14pm

Decluttering and reorganizing the pantry:

This month I decided to make space in the freezer and pantry by eliminating some of the oddball ingredients that we seldom use. We will be having some 'creative' soups using odds and ends that were frozen in mason jars. Dh has agreed to use up the partial jars of dry foods like dates, poppy seed, sesame seed, etc. from the bulk store (I used to put them in granola). He has taken over our baking; fortunately, he likes to experiment with recipes.

I'd also like to simplify the collection of spices and cooking herbs. I just counted 41 different jars, but only half are used regularly. So I won't refill the seldom-used ones when they are empty. If I want one of them later, I can buy a tiny bit at the bulk store.

This might not gain much pantry space, since I also have homegrown medicinal herbs and seeds stored. But it might pare things down to what's essential.

ejchase

2-5-15, 2:23am

56 items of my daughter's (clothes and books she's outgrown) to her cousin.

ejchase

2-5-15, 7:10pm

#57. A sock without a mate - into the trash.

Azure

2-5-15, 7:23pm

Eleven assorted items gone. Magazines to work or recycling. Head massager in the Goodwill box. Three spit-up trays from the hospital - gone.

Azure

2-8-15, 1:02am

Orphan plastic lids - 32 of them lol - gone. At least 3 sump pump owners manuals. Got to remember to take out the old one when we bring in a new one hehe. A 2 year old calendar. I always keep the previous years calendar so I can look things up on it if I need to. I think this is the earliest I have ever thrown out the 2 year old one.. Couple of old church directories. Some road maps and and extra phone book for this year. All gone.

ejchase

2-8-15, 2:49am

Chicken lady

2-8-15, 6:35pm

for me right now, it's less about how many out and more about trying to reach "more out than in" today I did that. dd needed some stuff for a project she's doing with kids and I gave her two bottles of glue, a roll of masking tape, and enough "useful" saved cardboard to fill the passenger seat of her car. I also took her half a dozen of her books that have been living in my house. Nothing came in. since it's sunday, not even mail.

Azure

2-8-15, 8:55pm

Today I put 8 pieces of clothing into the donation bag & 1 into the rag bag. Two vases into the Goodwill box. Cleaned out some coupons & other paperwork.

Float On

2-8-15, 10:40pm

20-25 Office organizers
26-27 suit feeder and pole for bird feeders
28 was working on turning over my garden and my old pitchfork broke. My husband will never get around to repairing it so it'll go in the flea market. Someone will buy it and replace the handle.
29-39 about 4 years worth of of bird and bloom and log home magazines
40 kiln mold
41-45 purse, jacket, pants, shirt
46 framed pencil sketch (given to us by an artist friend and I just never really liked it) going in the flea market booth
47 DH found an old film projector in the trash...it's going to the flea market booth
48-58 several pieces of jewelry going to flea market booth (edited because I found more jewelry, most of this is artist made, we did way too many trades at art shows)
59 plastic storage box (shoe size/pull out drawer)
60 cutting board (I don't need 3, will try 2 for awhile)
61-71 children's books (had some good memories going through that pile)
72-82 children's themed plates, bowls, and the ever popular boot cups
83-87 more nail polish and hair clips
88-90 cleaned out under my bathroom sink and got rid of 3 hair products I didn't like

Chicken lady

2-9-15, 6:14pm

23 more empty boxes and a cloth bag out. 3 dolls in. (if anybody minds me writing the "ins" for any reason, just say so and I'll stop.)

ejchase

2-10-15, 12:18am

#59. Returned a book a friend of my daughter's lent her.

#60. Returned a book I borrowed from my daughter's preschool teacher.

Chicken lady

2-10-15, 8:34pm

3 cardboard boxes and 4 hangers out. Nothing in.

Float On

2-11-15, 8:04am

#58. A broken picture frame into the trash.

I know it seems ridiculous to list it, but for some reason we were thinking of trying to repair it. Finally realized we weren't going to after having it around for a YEAR.

I don't think it's ridiculous at all. It shows you are making decisions. I have a few things that have been "waiting for DH to get around to fix" and well......he's not going to do that. If I find them....I'll toss them or let someone else fix them.

Float On

2-11-15, 8:09am

Nothing in.
Yes, it's ok to report when you have something come in or not. This is about our journey of making decisions about what is important in our lives and we should be careful about what comes in. I actually bought a few items of clothing this last week with some money my parents gave me for my upcoming birthday. I choose wisely and I've removed that many items from my closet (I just didn't report those things here on my list since it evened out).

Chicken lady

2-11-15, 4:12pm

I've been trying to keep track of the in and out on an actual list since the beginning of December. So far there is a lot more in than out (mostly due to Christmas) but I am working on it. I don't track short term consumables. I've been crossing out things that match (for example I got slippers for christmas and threw the old ones with holes in them away.) but so far if it doesn't have an exact match it stays on the list.

today - bag of bubblewrap out, nothing in.

ApatheticNoMore

2-11-15, 4:40pm

I've been keeping track since January, more outs than ins but not as many as you'd think. Was up to about 18 net outs last I counted (but did I count the latest book I got Saturday as an "in", huh? I forget ...).

But really I don't even know that the goal for me was ever to own massively less as I've never owned that massively much to begin with (it's obvious if you see the types of things I get rid of - completely pathetic - like shirts with 20 holes that I still double checked to see if I could mend since I don't' have many shirts). It was more just to motivate myself to get rid of the things that require WORK, you know effort and so on, to get rid of. Like things that have to be disassembled first, or taken to the electronic waste disposal place, or sold, things that I need to come up with a unique means of disposal like that for. Because those are easy to procrastinate "ugh, it requires some work, I can't just throw it away or something, I'll do it later ..."

Chicken lady

2-12-15, 4:27pm

I do have a ridiculous amount of stuff - for example, I have a basket of clean laundry in my room that cannot be put away. well, it could be put away if I annexed one of the two closets belonging to people who are away at college, but I don't think that's the right direction. And this summer they will move back in. I have 9 pairs of jeans. I can wear jeans to work, but only two of those are in good enough shape. The others I wear at home to work on the farm. But they will eventually wear out right? So it's hard to get rid of them. What if I run out of work jeans before the "nice" jeans have to be replaced? - ug!

Thursdays are my trash/recycling days. So, I try to focus on those areas. I don't count paper, it ebbs and flows, but the recycling bin is full. Also threw out three bins from my old fridge i've been using for barn storage but they were cracking. I have to do stuff like that on Thursdays so they get picked up before I change my mind/think of a new use and rescue them.

Tomorrow's list will be longer because I have a goodwill pile to drop off. Nothing in.

Onyons

2-13-15, 5:54am

I have been trying to downsize my entire house and live on less. I have been doing so since 2010. I have gotten rid of about 60 percent of my household goods. I had ten occasional tables in a two bedroom house! I am now trying to get to the next level. I got rid of the following:
- Old and duplicate spices and condiments.
- Downsized my dish towels, bath towels, bath sheets, and pillows. Including decorative pillows on the bed.
- Got rid of all my steak knifes, downsized kitchen utinsels I rarely used or never used.
- Cleaned out the sock, bra, and stocking drawer.
- Downsized my books, and magazines.
- Been scanning in papers and transferring them to CDs.
I will go throw all of these items again just to make sure I did not miss anything durning the first pass.

Float On

2-13-15, 8:20am

I have been trying to downsize my entire house and live on less. I have been doing so since 2010. I have gotten rid of about 60 percent of my household goods. I had ten occasional tables in a two bedroom house! I am now trying to get to the next level.
I will go through all of these items again just to make sure I did not miss anything during the first pass.

Hi Onyons and welcome! Great job on purging 60%.
Feels good doesn't it? What started your journey in 2010? Do you have a "next" plan or goal.

I love the fact that it's getting hard for me to find 'extras'. I'm having to make hard decisions about things I still like.

Chicken lady

2-13-15, 12:03pm

Float on, if you don't mind sharing, why are you having to make hard decisions about things you still like? What is the goal? (Learning about other people's approaches to stuff helps me reflect on mine)

the goodwill stuff is in the car but not gone yet, but I dropped three big wallpaper sample books at the preschool this morning.

Float On

2-13-15, 1:05pm

Float on, if you don't mind sharing, why are you having to make hard decisions about things you still like? What is the goal?

I just get bogged down by stuff. It really weighs heavy on me. My nature is to travel through life lightly. At one time in my life I led 10 day packpacking trips in Colorado. At another time in life I worked in a adventure camping ministry where we lived in canvas tents on platforms. I feel much more free with a simple lifestyle. I'm married to an artist who holds onto and collects....really nice stuff but just way too much of it for someone who is happy with not much. We're about to celebrate our 25th anniv and over the last 5 years I've felt a real pull back to simplicity and minimalism after 20 years of collecting with my DH. So there is stuff I've liked but in my effort to "get simple" I'm looking at everything. I really don't need 10 gold wire-wrap bracelets when I really only wear the gold/silver one. I don't need 12 pair of earrings that friends have made when I only wear 3 pair.

Something I need to be brutal with is shoes. I love shoes. I have a lot of shoes. But I've been watching my wearing habits this winter. I started out with all the winter shoes in my closet and as I've worn them I've moved them to 2 baskets (big one in the corner for boots and tray basket under my dresser for dressy/casual shoes). There are still 2 pair of boots in the closet and 8 pair of shoes in the organizer that I haven't worn at all this winter. By the middle of April I really need to decide if I'll keep them another season or will they go?

We're also considering downsizing next year after the boys leave for college. If we end up selling and renting something smaller for awhile I do not want to pay to store stuff. I'd rather let someone else get use of things.

Chicken lady

2-14-15, 9:23am

Thanks float on. I have a lot of shoes too. well, I have a lot of everything. My goal is to fit comfortably into my house and be able to put everything away and be able to find anything in only a few minutes.

Here is yesterdays goodwill list. Actually there were more things, but I don't keep track of items exclusively under the control of the other people in this house, because I'm the one with the problem, and I don't want to fill their space.
out:
3 prs of tights
9 dolls
7 dish towels
2 pr. jeans
doll shoes
flip flops
1 pr. dress shoes
1 pr. socks
pencil case w/10 mechanical pencils
6 books of postcards
3 notepads
phone/address book
3 valentine decorations
5 ink pads
24 assorted notecards w/envelopes
3 books
christmas stocking
2 skirts
1 pr. shorts
plastic storage container
thermos
canning jar
candle holder w/candle
13 hangers
coat
ring binder

In:
1 doll

the thing I'm most proud of yesterday is that i talked to the drama teacher at lunch and someone had just given her bags of clothes and accessories for costumes. She showed me some ideas and then said "this bag is all going to goodwill. unless you want any of it." and I said "no, but if you want me to drop it for you, I'm stopping on my way home." and she was pleased. And I put the giant trash bag in my car, and I wasn't going to look at it, but then I decided to go ahead and add the items to my donation reciept, and I touched every item and then I donated all of it. (it isn't on the list above.)

Sue

2-14-15, 10:07pm

2 dress (long) wool winter coats, a kate spade bag, pair of mens dress pants, table runner and cloth mats and napkins, swimsuit coverup. We just dont live that executive lifestyle and these items sat in my closet and storage spaces unworn and ignored, day after day. So, someone will come across them at the salvation army and put them to good use, hopefully! Out they go in the a.m.

Ali

2-15-15, 8:48am

This weekend I've sorted a box of craft books and magazines to gift (advertised now on Facebook so I'm hoping they'll go before dinner time) and added some tops and scarves to my current charity bag. I've half filled a rubbish bag with, well, rubbish from the various places I've cleared out. The biggest thing was also the smallest thing, a box that had a dried flower in from my dad's funeral almost 30 years ago. I figure that flower isnt what I should remember him for or by.

Float On

2-15-15, 10:29am

Welcome Sue and Ali. Ali, I liked how you said "the biggest thing was also the smallest thing..." that was probably a turning point in your decision making, wasn't it? Sue, you said "we just don't live that......" also a turning point.

Ali

2-15-15, 1:28pm

Funny thing ... After I wrote this I had real doubts about putting this flower in the bin. So I took the flower out of the box, crumpled in my hands and sprinkled it in my back garden. Underneath the flower was a necklace he'd bought me for my 16th birthday ...

edited to add ... Yes, a turning point :-)

Ali

2-15-15, 1:38pm

Sue, I've recently donated a pair of shoes. They were very expensive and I loved them .... But so painful to walk in that I couldn't even wear them in. I realised that I kept them out of guilt .... They've gone now :-)

Chicken lady

2-15-15, 2:00pm

Ali, I love your flower story. I had a bouquet that I kept from the wedding of a young woman I love like a daughter. I dried it because it was beautiful and everytime I looked at it I remembered the wonderful wedding and the joy on her face. Unfortunately the short version of the story went joy, tragedy, resignation, abuse, despair, divorce.... And one day when we were burning brush I grabbed the flowers and threw them on the fire and let the smoke carry off my wishes that she find that joy again in her fresh start.

I'm so glad you didn't lose your necklace, and maybe now you will think of your dad when you enjoy the garden.

ApatheticNoMore

2-16-15, 5:20pm

Sold a guitar to a pawn shop. Yea I know they are supposed to be a ripoff and all but. I literally had 3 guitars and I almost never even play!!! It was completely ridiculous. One real nice acoustic electric which I kept, that acoustic electric which I pawned and a beat up classical guitar (which I suppose I might replace some day or not). Like usual how I ended up with this stuff I'm trying to get rid of is a long story, the guitar I pawned I paid for, but the nicer guitar my mom gifted me although I ended up giving her a small amount of money back because I didn't want her bankrupting herself on gifts that just suddenly appear out of nowhere.

So one out. I guess I'll count 2 ins - 2 male-female adapter things for amplifiers. I also have two amplifiers neither which I paid for, I thought one didn't work so was going to get rid of it, but testing them, they both seem to work! IF they continue working, I guess I'll keep them both - I can live with that. Adapter things bought from a soon to be closed radio shack half off.

ApatheticNoMore

2-16-15, 5:43pm

Downsized my dish towels, bath towels, bath sheets, and pillows. Including decorative pillows on the bed.

I specifically put myself on a one household item (not clothes or books, household items) a month spending "diet" to counter my recent towel and blanket obsession, so I can convince myself "you know you probably need replacement blender parts or to replace barely working can openers more than more towels". I know I'll probably buy more towels sometimes :), but at least it puts some kind of limit on it. I was under a lot of stress (work related) so I started wondering if they were "security blankets" and "security towels", hmm, hmm ...

Chicken lady

2-17-15, 7:49am

I've been snowed in and trying to keep the fire going the last few days. added two valentines - one from my mom and one from my daughter, and subtracted a pile of old yellowed paper - the cheap kind you practice letters on in Kindergarten.

Apathetic no more, I make a "buy" list. If I see it at the thrift shop and it's on my buy list I can have it. Or if somebody asks me what I want for a gift, or if there is a great sale or it becomes a "need" - like right now, black heels are on my "buy" list, but I don't have to go anywhere I would need to wear them in the forseeable future. right now the only things I buy for me without having them on the list are dolls for my collection and things I can use in my pottery class (I'm the teacher) I'm not ready to fully address the doll collection problem yet.

ejchase

2-17-15, 10:19am

So interesting to read here the systems everybody has for managing their input and output ...

#61. old cookie sheet

Ali

2-17-15, 3:09pm

Today I sorted through my trunk full of photos. I threw away lots that were really dark or out of focus. I threw away some that were of my eldest son and I in our previous life with his dead beat dad (I've kept some, but we don't need many reminders of him) .... I've also sorted all those that I inheirited from a photographer friend who worked on the local newspaper where I grew up, they are going to the museum as they are interested in them for their social history museum. I plan to go through them again.

Chicken lady

2-17-15, 5:58pm

Ali, you are working some difficult areas!

Today out - a big bunch of dried cattails and a cardboard box.

In - an award certificate that arrived for my son and is now on my fridge and a plastic container. Technically the container was already here, but it came with food and now it is empty and in the basement.

ejchase

2-18-15, 12:11am

#62-63. Two of my daughter's toys that no longer worked.

#64-66. Three items that my SO's son left at my sister's house, which she mailed to me after he returned to college and which had been sitting in a box on the floor of our bedroom for 6 months (after I forgot to give them to him in person at Christmas!) - in the mail to him, finally!

Ali

2-18-15, 3:39pm

Chicken lady, my "thing" is that I struggle to let go of anything with a sentimental value. Everywhere in my house is tidy and organised .... you'd never know that I have a lifetime's worth of memories hidden away here (mostly in the attic!) alongside things I've kept out of obligation (I have photos of people I've never even met that I inherited). I've been reading the Kon Marie method of decluttering and this has really helped me let go of things.

sweetana3

2-18-15, 4:54pm

Got rid of two huge bags of computer pieces and parts and cables. Even hubby could not believe how much had accumulated. Gave away a big box of mysteries to another woman who will read and pass them on. Used another box of stuff as white elephant bingo prizes and did not bring anything home. Now to address the clothes in the closet that I did not remember owning.

sweetana3

2-18-15, 4:56pm

I am not going to buy her book but found some gems to think about in the following list:

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15733/10-ways-to-declutter-your-home-and-life.html

Chicken lady

2-18-15, 5:49pm

Ali, sentimental stuff is only one of my "things" but it's the hardest.

Sweetana, that was interesting. I'm currently working on step 1. I'm not sure how I feel about step 2, and by step 3 I was arguing - It conflicts with my lifestyle, which I will be the first to confess is outside the norm.

All I got rid of today was a few bits and pieces to trash and recycling, but I have started the goodwill pile again. I can't count it until it leaves because I can't be trusted not to reclaim it. Nothing in.

ApatheticNoMore

2-18-15, 6:37pm

Yea, we had the conversation on the second point before, "joy" is a very strong word to use for things (you are not the things you own ... wait I'm repeating myself), even though fine one likes some of their possession, sure, that's true enough. Maybe one should just ask: "do I like this thing?" And of course: "do I use this thing?"

I had an old sweat-stained t-shirt that I would wear on the weekends. But it became a barrier to going out, because in order to do an errand or see a friend, I would have to change into something less embarrassing. So I would just stay home. When I freed myself of this t-shirt, in a way, I was saying "yes" to life.

seriously for reals? You had that much trouble changing your clothes? I've heard of fear of change, but fear of changing one's clothes is a new one. Or maybe your expectations of "going out wear" were just too high. I sometimes change clothes like a girl changes clothes .... um I mean several times a day in and out of loungewear on the weekend. Of course if you don't go out because your an introvert, your burned out and need down time (that introvert trait again), you vant to be alone, or your social phobic, well yea. I felt like this was telling me not to own pajamas, because I have pajamas and yet I don't wear them to the supermarket.

I have problems with #4 How many books I read a second time, not that many, but is anyone's answer really none? Don't people have a handful of books that are like good old friends to turn to? And doesn't anyone go back to old books and find insight? And does anyone really not read some of their books even if it's a while since purchasing them?

Of course if one decides their bored of a book and really not interested in it anymore then I'd get rid of it. What's on my list of books to get rid of is a bunch of books I didn't even buy (already got rid of one, oh and a book I did buy that was not well sourced, and completely conspiratorial - ugh go away, I hoped to learn something from you but ...).

Chicken lady

2-18-15, 6:54pm

Yes! I am an introvert! And I am wearing a t-shirt full of holes and questionable jeans. Today I have been in and out of the barn many times, I have cleaned, I have read, and I am about to do evening chores. Then I will shower and put on a "nice" outfit and make dinner for my husband. Tomorrow I will wear "work clothes" and go to work. Unless we get another snow day. In which case I might wear these clothes again. I like to change to go out. And I like wearing clothes I can throw away if I catch them on a gate and rip them badly, or deliver a baby animal and get very dirty.

I read my books again. My mother in law remembers everything she ever gave me and visits it.

Chicken lady

2-20-15, 6:53pm

So to try to un-derail this thread,
out - a handful of recycling and a wall map
in - a vase and a frog tin. both bought for the discount candy, but I know I'll save them. not my best day.

kib

2-20-15, 7:43pm

ANM:

I had an old sweat-stained t-shirt that I would wear on the weekends. But it became a barrier to going out, because in order to do an errand or see a friend, I would have to change into something less embarrassing. So I would just stay home. When I freed myself of this t-shirt, in a way, I was saying "yes" to life.

seriously for reals? You had that much trouble changing your clothes? I've heard of fear of change, but fear of changing one's clothes is a new one. Or maybe your expectations of "going out wear" were just too high. I sometimes change clothes like a girl changes clothes .... um I mean several times a day in and out of loungewear on the weekend. Of course if you don't go out because your an introvert, your burned out and need down time (that introvert trait again), you vant to be alone, or your social phobic, well yea. I felt like this was telling me not to own pajamas, because I have pajamas and yet I don't wear them to the supermarket.

Funny, but I can actually identify with this. I have a cardigan that I bought years ago overseas. It's really warm and it makes me feel ... romantic (not sexy, just fanciful) like at any moment I might go roaming the moors, redhaired countrywoman hiking the heaths in the chilly gloaming and so on ... but when I look at myself in the mirror in it, I see a disheveled nut job who really shouldn't be allowed out, more like Annie Wilkes than Anne of Green Gables. Sometimes the inner Colleen wins, and I just stay home. >8)

nswef

2-20-15, 8:38pm

Oh Kib, you made me laugh. I too have a ragged sweater that is not fit for public wear. I love the idea that you feel so adventurous in it, until you look in the mirror. I do change my clothes to go out in public, if I look too disreputable. Most of my house clothes are wearable for the store, library, etc. but not for meeting people for lunch.

JaneV2.0

2-20-15, 11:05pm

The ratty old sweater must be a "thing." I have one that is brown, oversized, nubby and slubby, and probably makes me look like a baby sasquatch. I collect my mail after dark.

Chicken lady

2-21-15, 8:40pm

Out - one pair of worn out boots. Nothing in.

Ali

2-22-15, 10:21am

I spent an hour in the attic today. Into a bin bag went all the cards from my wedding, from when we moved into our first house 16 years ago and various birthday and Valentine cards. Some beakers from Disney. Some photos that I inherited. An old plastic suitcase and a beautiful, broken wooden bowl. I put some pictures ready to go to charity. I rediscovered the curtains and bed throw that my mum made when my youngest was born (he's now 18). These are still perfect so I took a picture to show one of my pregnant friends and she loves them so they are now parcelled up and ready to go to her.

Ali

2-22-15, 12:47pm

Another visit to the attic this afternoon as my eldest wanted to collect a guitar from there. He's taken two (so only three left) and a box of camera equipment. My husband threw away a bin bag full of training notes from when he was in the military and I chucked away two bags full of my old school books. I also found a tapestry frame to go to charity. I feel sooooo much better :-)

Ali

2-23-15, 1:57pm

I caved this afternoon and "rescued" one of my eldest sons baby bottles from the rubbish bag. He's 26.

Float On

2-24-15, 8:27am

91-100. I've been complaining about not having time to find 10 more items to meet this month's goal. Bless his heart, DH left me a stack of 15 CDs with a love note that said "I love you enough to give up some music and help you reach your goal." This is a big thing...separating DH from any music is not easy to do even if he's saved the tunes on another device.

Chicken lady

2-24-15, 11:13am

Ali, don't beat yourself up. This is why I don't minus things until they are actually gone, I feel bad if I rescue them.

Set the bottle aside and think about it for a while - is there some way it can become part of active storage/display in your home, be "memorialized" another way?

Float on,that was sweet of your dh.

JaneV2.0

2-24-15, 1:20pm

I filled another garbage-sized bag for charity--this time with wool items I don't want to care for. Now that the car is full, I suppose I should make the trip...

Ali

2-24-15, 1:58pm

Chicken lady, my plan is to reduce the amount of sentimental things I keep and to have them somewhere to be appreciated rather than hidden away in the attic. This was the only thing I have rescued, apart from a small duvet type thing from their Moses basket. I rescued that from the rubbish bag and put it into the bag I have for the local dogs re-homing centre.

I gave a paper mâché craft book to a friend at work today. I'd still like to reduce the number of books we have but The Mr isn't too keen.

ejchase

2-24-15, 2:00pm

Azure

2-25-15, 7:21pm

I caved this afternoon and "rescued" one of my eldest sons baby bottles from the rubbish bag. He's 26.

awwww. They'd be nice vases, maybe?

Ali

2-26-15, 1:42pm

Oh my goodness Azure ... What a fab idea. It's decorated with yellow so would be perfect for my favourite flowers, daffodils :-)

Chicken lady

2-27-15, 6:22pm

Put some marbles in the bottom - daffy's are top heavy.

Out - two books, a bunch of plastic utensils, and a small stack of teaching materials.

In - One scarf.

Teacher Terry

2-27-15, 6:57pm

Chicken Lady, I had some big collections: antique teapots & glassware & porcelain dolls. Gradually I either sold all but a few of my favorites or donated them to be used in silent auctions for good causes-raising $ to help with a kid's cancer treatment, etc. They were too nice for thrift stores but this way I was able to part with most of them. I will give some really nice things to thrift stores like almost new clothes, etc but could not bare to do that with these items.

JaneV2.0

2-27-15, 10:27pm

Car emptied; new pile started. One day I'll be finished.

Is that a haiku? Close enough.

Chicken lady

2-27-15, 10:43pm

I had a really good time wandering around school during my break passing on posters, borders, study guides, activity books.... They were the last of the last box of teaching stuff I used or thought I might use homeschooling my kids but know I won't use in the teaching job I have now. Everything else has been sorted and shelved or filed for future use, or passed on.

i am a collector and like to be surrounded by my "stuff" but I am currently "right sizing" - if I can't enjoy it, there is no point in collecting it. My collections are limited to specific spaces in the house. You will see me add and subtract dolls for a while though. My grandmother's collection was divided and I got a lot of the "residuals". I am slowly letting go of ones I don't want - in some cases mine that were played with hard and I now have the same doll in better shape, and in other cases there were sets my cousin and I played with as kids and split up in the estate and I am filling in because I would like to have the whole set. There is a lot of emotional baggage to work through.

The scarf is actually intended as the liner for dd2's easter basket.

Jane, I like your poem.