The Challenge-Are YOU Up For It?? - Page 3

[Manonash]

Originally Posted by BrandiRhoades

So part of me hates just to give all of that up, but OTOH, I feel that I want to remember DC and the things they did, not the afternoons I spent tearfully taking pictures. I read once in a book on simplicity that many people spend more time preserving memories than making them. One group of DH's family is like that. They told us that they have 3500(!) pictures from a 12-hour labor & delivery. How could Dad have been really "in" the process at all? He was taking pictures constantly! They're extreme (I hope), but I don't want to be like that. I watch them, and so much of their lives are staged. I don't believe I've seen candid shots of them; they go to elaborate lengths to make everything *look* as if they were having fun. The end resul (from my perspective) is that personality is lost in all of the memory-capturing.

I kept a pair of undies too The pics I take of her belongings don't take me very long. I have a box of what I want to photograph and put them on my kitchen island (it's black, so it makes a good backdrop), and go through them. It'll take me a about 10 or 15 minutes. I don't take pictures of everything that goes out, just things that give me a pang but I don't want to keep. It's really not all that much. I know what you mean on spending more time preserving memories than making them.

I am so ready to get started on this. I'll probably be starting on the 27th.

[treespeak]

I'm in! I've been decluttering for the past year, and there's still work to do. I feel like I'm shedding my skin. My vision is that every single item under my jurisdiction will contribute to my BEST LIFE NOW. As part of my five-a-day purge, my goal is to pare down my personal possessions to 100 items. That'll include things like clothing, personal care items used by me exclusively (not the family toothpaste/shampoo) books, items on my alter etc. It won't include things used by the whole family, like dishes, cookware, linens, pillows, furniture etc. When I have time, I'll post a few decluttering tips by Brooks Palmer, author of Clutter Busting. Check them out if you need a little inspiration!

Cheers!

[Peppermint Poppies]

Well, I started early, yesterday.
4 items gone .... 3 pairs of old maternity knickers from when I was pregnant with DS. They're so stretched and out of shape that I don't wear them anymore. And a bra where all the elastic has 'sprung' out in little spaghetti strings everywhere. And it's about 3 sizes too small for my nursing breasts.

Tally: 4/100

[Kailey's mom]

Count me IN!!!!! 5 a day, not a problem

[workjw]

I'm in! This will be my first MDC challenge. I'll be a few days behind b/c I'll be out of town until the 1st, but this is exactly what I need!

[sky*hawk]

Wow! There are some great ideas posted already! I'm so excited! I've decided to put a big box in the back of my station wagon and put 5 things in it everyday to get rid of. When it's full, I will take it to the Goodwill where I can designate for the Center for Women and Families which is a shelter for women and children trying to get out of abusive situations. I already have about 15 books in there but am only counting that as one item (I have so much to get rid of it's crazy).

So 1/100 so far. Will really start tomorrow...

[simple gifts]

Count me in. I'm on semester break from college, and my entire plan is to clean and declutter. I better hit way more than 5 items a day!

[MamaBug]

Originally Posted by BrandiRhoades

Shonda, I struggle with what/how much to keep of our children's items. I have kept a few sentimental items - things they wore home (we had hospital births) and some cute clothes they wore a good bit.

I also - to add to the emotional side of this - had my house burn down when I was 8. Most of my baby pictures and reels of film (ah, the old days) are gone now. I think that snapped much of my sentimentality away - or at least makes me fearful when I think of it. Though I didn't care so much about baby pictures at 8, I did care about other things in the house, especially trophies I'd won.

Anyway, we are definitely doing the 5 things a day challenge, and we're going to try to get rid of 2,010 items in 2010. I figure either we'll get rid of tons, or our entire house will be clutter-free.

Brandi my house burned down when I was 19....I was home when it happened....I wonder if that is why I am such a pack rat....I too mourned the loss of the trophies as well as other things the could not be replaced...we were fortunate that most of our photographs made it out...but my mother hardly ever took pictures which is why I take way too many now....though not as many at 3500 of one event! ....who has time for that?

I am totally in! I am going to keep a box in the garage and when it is full I will drop it at goodwill....I have started early as I will be out of town for a few days the first week of January. Made a big bag of clothes to donate...probably 25 items....this is going to be awesome!

[Peppermint Poppies]

Tally: 25/100 (I decluttered my knickers drawer, and oh my goodness .... so much to declutter!! I guess I can slack off for a couple of days now )

3 bras; 12 pairs knickers; 1 belt; 1 bikini top; 1 bikini bottom; 6 pairs socks; 1 pair shoelaces

[lucifugous]

Originally Posted by mommaof3boz

ABSOLUTELY paper counts. Paper is one of the worst cluttery things possible. You decide if you want to count every piece or count it as one or whatever.

Originally Posted by Gray's Mommy

I count every 10 pieces of paper as 1. It motivates me to recycle more paper

I will do the same. For a stash of unsorted papers that will be kind of a hassle to go through and I think 1 item = 10 sheets is perfect!

Originally Posted by ParisApril

I started early! The kids and I went through all their dolls and we decided they would keep their favourite 5 dolls and 10 are going to the second hand store and 3 dolls are going to Grandma's house.

Can I count the 10 give away + 3 take to Grandma's house dolls in my total?

I think the three can count of you want them to! If you want to set the bar higher or it was relatively easy, maybe they could just count as one day's worth of decluttering.

Originally Posted by Manonash

I'm getting really excited about this.

I used to be such a packrat, and now I'm mostly recovered.

Originally Posted by Manonash

She's too young to really tell me I want this and not that, so I am getting rid of some stuff without asking, but it's only stuff that she never has used much (which is most of it).

Same here... I think it is totally fine if it's something that sits unused! If you've decluttered to your heart's content in other areas and want to get her stuff down more, you could always try this method: Put something up and away and wait a few months. If it hasn't been requested, it's already forgotten and can be easily disgarded! No clue who should get the credit, but I think I read that method on a thread on here, as a way of eliminating clothing that won't be needed.

Originally Posted by BrandiRhoades

I have kept a few sentimental items - things they wore home (we had hospital births) and some cute clothes they wore a good bit. I also admit to keeping (to his future embarrassment, I'm sure) some of DS's first "big boy" underwear. They're just so adorable!

That is funny. I bet I will be hanging onto some undies too in a couple years! I have a beautiful hatbox that I find doesn't really work for items that need to be accessed daily. I decided it is a perfect place for those favorite memory-filled outfits, and a good size limit for me.

Originally Posted by treespeak

my goal is to pare down my personal possessions to 100 items.

Wow I do not think I could do that! Kudos!


Well just a reply from me for now. I am starting "today" (the day after Christmas) but yep I'm still awake from last night so nothing to report yet. Whole lot of ideas brewin, though!!

[Elecampane]

I've never participated in a challenge here before, but count me in. I am hoping to take down the Christmas decorations today and tomorrow so I think my five things will probably come from doing that for a couple of days.

I'm excited! My tiny house is out of control.

[lolar2]

I'm in.

[Gray's Mommy]

Current Total update!

I'm starting with the laundry room, then kitchen & hopefully one child's bedroom today.

So far 144 items are gone from my home:

3 ugly candles half burned
3 holders
1 toy
2 vac. tools to a vac. we don't own anymore
1 soap nut box
1 dog system wire
1 broken light bulb
1 crayon holder (broken)
1 book light package
1 chewed up magnet
1 food processor direction book
1 stand mixer direction book
1 mr. boston's drink book
1 broken lint roller
1 expired suntan lotion
1 expired bug repellant
1 bag of hairnets (from an old old job)
1 black baseball cap
1 bag plastic gloves (from the old job)
1 bathroom trash can lid
****************************************
6 empty playdoh containers
11 pieces of old children's artwork
10 items from pantry cleaning
1 straw purse with a hole
1 Halloween treat holder
8 burned out lightbulbs (was saving for a craft project that won't get done)
*****************************************
4 pet brushes (we only use one)
3 dog training clickers (we only use one)
1 dog chewed dustpan
1 ripped beyond repair shopping bag (found way at the bottom of the pantry)
14 old rags (I kept the "good" rags)
2 purse size lotion bottles
12 pieces Halloween candy (found in bottom of drawer)
1 package opened goodie bag bags--just a few left
3 really old soap dyes
1 broken soap mold
1 lid to baby bottle
1 Tupperware drink container (lid doesn't stay on well)
*******************************************
1 rusted baking pan
1 Kitchen aid accessory (spill catcher thing)
25 unmatched food storage lids & containers
1 bow
1 birthday candle
6 expired pet meds
4 really old herbal meds
************************DONE FOR THE MOMENT****************

[hteb83]

Yep, count me in too!

I think I'll start with my clothes this afternoon

[boogiemonster]

Originally Posted by treespeak

As part of my five-a-day purge, my goal is to pare down my personal possessions to 100 items.

I'm really interested in this. You should start a thread for it.

[boogiemonster]

Oh, and I cleared some stuff out of the medicine cabinet last night before bed, so I'm counting them: 5/150

[treespeak]

Originally Posted by Gray's Mommy

I'm starting with the laundry room, then kitchen & hopefully one child's bedroom today.

So far 62 items are gone from my home:

8 burned out lightbulbs (was saving for a craft project that won't get done)
*****************************************

Rock on Gray's Mommy! Especially love that you let go of the future craft project. I have lot's of "unfinished project clutter" that weighs me down. I think I'm afraid of not expressing my creativity, but in truth the old stuff I save for projects zaps any real creative expression.

[Gray's Mommy]

I'm really embarassed about the amount of damaged stuff that was hiding in my cupboards & closets. I really had no idea there were still there
I haven't cleaned these areas out in over 18 months, so things were just "collecting".

I'm so happy my 2 1/2 year old is so busy playing with his presents from yesterday...talk about perfect timing!

[treespeak]

Hey, hey goodbye: 93 items out the door to trash/thrift shop/library bookshop. Surprisingly quick and easy.

clay veggies for future craft project
ginger capsules
old coloring book
fire hat
8 clothing items unused or outgrown
2 pair underware
2 pr. socks
Rudolf cd set
jingle bell box
stocking
silk poinsettia
Santa figurine
string of lights
Christmas sign
Christmas bag
3 gift bags
2 scrunchies
3 rubber stamps
7 cookie cutters
9 acrylic paint tubes
hat
28 books
broken comb
4 frames
3 incense holders
7 toys
ornament

[treespeak]

Originally Posted by boogiemonster

I'm really interested in this. You should start a thread for it.

Just saw this. There's a web site that talks about the idea of 100 or fewer personal possessions. I'll try to find the link, and perhaps start a thread.