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Figured new year - new thread!
I actually had a purchase/purge. The stove top reflector pans I found a while back at the thrift store did not fit the stove. I put those in the donation box, went a purchased ones that fit, and threw the old ones into the garbage! (Couldn't put new pans into a dirty stove top, so it is now clean and shiny!
When I was putting away all the Christmas decor and getting out the Winter decor, I found another burlap garland that I used to put on the mantle. I had gotten rid of all the others months ago. Must have missed that one. It is gone now as are the stocking holders. They scratched the heck out of the TV stand and weren't heavy enough to hold up the filled stockings.
I opened a cupboard today and became cranky at seeing the hundreds ( I am not kidding here) of teabags, about half of them are Rose hip, the other half is – I don’t remember. And then there were more boxes of very old Rose hip tea that I know have not been touched since the last time I threw some of them out. And then there are smaller boxes of other herbal teas so I took half of those and pitched them.
these are all from the Swiss relatives who insist on giving us armloads of crap. The gifting train usually works like this:
someone from Switzerland arrives usually to the Twin Cities and drops many things off to DH’s sister in the Twin Cities. That sister distributes the giant haul among all American relatives. I don’t remember which haul these latest teabags were from, but they’ve been around here for years. DH does not drink them. I drink maybe 3 cups of tea per year.
the last batch of stuff included a big wheel of very mild cheese they use for dipping. I am indifferent to that cheese. DH does not eat it. We do not fondue. But I obidiantly cut up that wheel into several sections and while I ate a bit of it, most of it sat in the freezer until I pitched it about a year ago. It really has too much unnecessary calories for even our dog.
The only food items that at one time we’re appreciated from the Swiss relatives were Lindt chocolate bars, but that was like 30 years ago. Now we can get Lindt bars anywhere. And now with his food allergy, DH cannot eat chocolate. I don’t need more than little bits of chocolate.
and then, in addition to the food stuff, there is always some sort of tacky souvenir with cows on it. Always the damn cows.
ugh, make it stop.
so I snuck two cow items and a crap ton of teabags out into the garbage today. Put them under cat litter. That way, they will be sure to go to the landfill.
We cleared out some old expired foods from the cabinet. It wasn't a comprehensive effort, but that will come soon.
Today is my last weekday off before I go back to work Monday. I just went through the three drawer plastic cart thing I use for storage at my LR desk. Threw out a bunch of stuff - bits and boobs, cables no longer needed, tons of it. Also put aside a ton of pens, post its, and the like to take to the office to share. Stocked up too much and I now use a different type of pen so glad to have them gone. Much more organized. Found my correct library card. I had two older ones but I couldn’t find the new one. I compared numbers on Libby app to determine valid one. LOL. Going to do more.
Decluttered a pair of jeans I had in a drawer but never wore despite them fitting. Put them on today and remembered why I never wore them. Very uncomfortable. Also got rid of a set of fireplace accessories, an ash bucket, and two fire starter logs.
Thanks for starting this, I didn't see it happystuff!
We decluttered medicines and supplements by expiration date. Illuminating, plus opened up some space. Also spices, but I don't think they go bad, just lose potency.
Had to buy new tylenol and ibuprofen, and husband is now convinced to stop buying those giant sizes at Sams Club/Costco, so I think we are making progress in this department.
It turns out I did have Mace I could have used in the fruitcakes. Damn. I went to four stores and it was in my cupboard all along. Lesson learned.
I decluttered a pair of shoes. I have a hard time with decluttering my indoor shoes, because they will look fine on the outside, but be uncomfortably worn on the inside. I also think the trend towards memory foam insoles expedites that process. They may be very comfy, but they don't last, and I haven't had any luck sourcing good replacement insoles. I find that I have a harder time in general finding shoes that are a perfect fit, and that results in me holding onto shoes for too long, or buying shoes that aren't quite right. I also wonder if I've read too many wartime stories of people trudging through the snow with their feet wrapped in rags, so I'm afraid to let go of my shoes, lol.
Totally agree with this post, rr! Need a new pair of sneakers, but since I haven't found the "right" pair, I'm still in the older ones - which are starting to hurt my feet. Sigh...Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
ya, this is me! (and not just shoes, lol) I have a wide foot, refuse to spend much money on most shoes, hate shoe-shopping, and don't like replacing things that aren't totally shot. I've had good luck with the gel insoles. I also use the really cheap foam ones, I tend to layer new ones over the old. I've been known to fill holes in the insides of cheap shoes with that expanding foam stuff, too. Shoes do have to be comfortable, but I'm generally able to make that happen with my cheap fixes. Recently I've had problems with ingrown toenails and dh insisted it was because of my cheap shoe habit, but the podiatrist said it was not, it was due to old trauma (likely many many times being squashed by recalcitrant horses back in the day, lol)..BUT I did purge a pair of rubber boots that were more leak than sole.Quote:
I also wonder if I've read too many wartime stories of people trudging through the snow with their feet wrapped in rags, so I'm afraid to let go of my shoes, lol.
"more leak than sole" - I love it!
One thing about shoes is that an ill-fitting pair can cause actual painful damage to your feet, unlike a shirt that doesn't fit well, for example. I got a corn from a pair of sandals many, many years ago. It was so painful; I remember that the sheet brushing against my foot in bed caused me pain. This was at a time in my life (the young and foolish years) where medical intervention was never sought. When I finally went to a podiatrist, he took care of the problem quickly, easily, and inexpensively, and I couldn't believe I had suffered needlessly for so long. It made enough of an impression that I have a zero-tolerance policy for any shoe discomfort, no matter how expensive the shoes might have been.
I do keep some shoes that are still comfortable but decrepit-looking to wear to Clay School, since that's a pretty messy place.
Once I get home from work, I plan on going through our files and getting rid of all bills and unnecessary paperwork that accumulated Jan-Nov 2025. Fresh start for 2026! Mostly utility bills, old car insurance paperwork, etc.
I've been through a regime of foot problems. At one time two podiatrists both proposed surgically shortening three toes on each foot to correct hammer toes, as I was hardly able to walk far Fortunately it was right at the start of the pandemic and all non emergency surgeries were cancelled. I got expensive orthotics, but then browsed all of the insoles on Amazon, and there are a lot of varieties. I bought all new shoes a half size larger and an Amazon sourced insole design that helps and is not expensive. My humble opinion is that the insoles that normally come with shoes are hit and miss for foot comfort and there are a lot of foot variations. My design has a hard sole and a relatively high arch. The podiatrists offices both had a display of "Superfeet" insoles that the commonly recommend over the counter and are not nearly as expensive as custom insoles.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
Probably an unnecessary long story, but there is something to say for shoes and insoles that fit and won't cause foot problems or fatigue. In my ordeal there seemed to be some who claim knee and back problems can be traced back to poor fitting shoes, although I can't testify to that. I hiked 5 miles today with no issues, other than maybe indulging in too much food over the holidays.
Four hats, 2 pairs of socks, 3 pairs mittens, and a three season coat donated to the local mutual aid group.