February Decluttering Challenge! - Page 3

[spring978]

Can I jump in here?I am a hoarder by nature and since the birth of our youngest 18 months ago my house has gotten totally out of control.

I need to takecharge and I need some kind of accountability so maybe this will help if not maybe one of you canpoke me with a big stick Seriously its time to take my life back.

Goal 150 items Feb 2008

25/150

[scrapadoozer]

Decluttered/cleaned most of the coat closet. I have one more shelf to tackle but I'm getting there!

226/300

[mamababamba]

I envy all you counters, I just can't get myself to that space. At the same time I am sure enjoying looking out from my computer at some open space. Even though ds got out all sorts of stuff yesterday because he could now find it, I put things away before going to bed and woke up to some nice space once again. Having these few days and lots of momentum is helping. DH has been really sick this winter and is appreciating my decluttering as a way to fight back!

For today: crush more boxes, load truck, deliver donations, declutter kitchen counter. So far I have 6 boxes of donations, four dining chairs and the Kangaroo Climber heading out the door. I did create one file box of misc mystery box stuff yesterday and will have to continue to hold myself accountable to putting that stuff away. Mystery boxes are definitely my downfall.

[anthasam]

While I'd love to count the 8 boxes of tissues we've used this week while we were all sick, I won't :

I did manage to sell one baby item. This week should be much better.

11/200

Oh, I've added some stuff to the donate pile, but I'll count it after DH brings it over.

[Turquesa]

What an inspiration this thread has been. It couldn't have come at a better time!

And yes, I'm in!

[proudmamanow]

I'm in, we're getting ready to try to sell our house and new babe is arriving within weeks. :

So put me down for 300 items!! I'll be back after I start tonight!

[clothdipemomof2boy]

I am in but need to go low so 200 is my goal. Any other time I dont get that goal. I am starting late but oh well. I am really going to try.
thanks this threads are my motivation.

[scrapadoozer]

Cleaned off the dryer & went through my mail holder thingie. 28 more items gone!

254/300

[mikaela]

We started out slow, but made some real progress this past weekend. I made a flick'r album for this month too, as I did in December: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikaela...7603906206541/. Documenting the progress really motivates me So here's my update:

• Maintain clear living room and dining room tables [ONGOING]
• Finish painting the crown molding in dressing room [DONE!]
• Clean out and organize cabinet in dining room and shop for a new, more useful credenza [DONE!]
• Paint and hang doorbell cover [DONE!]
• Caulk and paint crown molding in dining room [DONE!]
• Organize workbench in the basement
• Go through and reorganize boxes in basement [DONE!]
• Get rid of or put aside for spring yard sale 100 items [ONGOING - I'd say we're at ~40 so far]

Purchasing a credenza happened *way* faster than I thought it would. Technically, I've been looking for the past two+ years; every time I go to the thrift, I look. I just so happened to stumble across one in the right style, in decent condition and at a fabulous price this weekend. Sweet!

[mamaof6]

I also NEED to jump in on this challenge, but am so overwhelmed with all that I need to do that I struggle with getting anything done. My added problem is that I promised the kids we would have a garage sale and they could sell their stuff, but I am feeling like I just want to get rid of it fast. Right now I have two rooms in the basement full of boxes that need to be gone through. And I keep adding to it. So I'm torn as to what to do. Do I honor my promise for the garage sale and stress myself out, but make the kids happy. Or do I just donate and throw, which would make me happy, but disappoint the kids. Any thoughts out there?

Regardless of what I decide I definitely will be coming here everyday and hopefully posting that I'm getting something done. I'll add my goal after I've had some time to think.

Jill

[anthasam]

I recycled 8 coloring books that DD doesn't use anyway. I listed a bunch of stuff on our local for sale sites. Hopefully, that pans out.

I'm also scheduling a clothing/shoe/stuffed animal pick-up for next week. My goal is several bags for them.

19/200

[anthasam]

Me again!

1 icky pad from inside DD1's old moses basket
1 questionable painted wooden puzzle
cleaned out fridge and freezer -- calling this 10 (I forgot to count)

31/200

[scrapadoozer]

In the midst of deep cleaning/decluttering DD's room. 45 items purged so far!

299/300

Almost there.

[shimmer]

My goal this month is to clean out the entire kitchen. I'm lucky...we have 23 cupboards/drawers. So, lots of space for storage....or to collect junk.

Today I cleaned out 9 drawers.

77 garbage/recycling
95 plastic bags to take to soft recyling
32 Goodwill itmes
6 items returned to other people

That's 210 items today alone!! I can't wait to do more!

[timneh_mom]

Originally Posted by thewaggonerfamily

I want to be in. I have a lot of issues so I need some hand holding. I see peoples neat and tidy decluttered homes or talk of doing a room a week and I feel overwhelmed. I'd be doing really good to get through a room in a month. And if I do do that the stuff from the other rooms re-migrate in there. My goal is a black garbage bag full of Goodwill stuff a week at least and an equal amount of trash. Honestly I could easily do a bag a day for the stuff I have, but it seems I'm always sitting and nursing or cleaning up one 3 & 5 yo mess while they are making 3 more. <sigh> Please tell me there are other people lurking who don't have it all together and are overwhelmd by stuff. I know I have the skills, I just organized my mom's 10x12 sewing room that was shoulder high with stuff and a 1 foot path to the closet. My dad had just dumped stuff in there during my mom's illness (she died in Dec). The unfortunate thing (and good, but bad in the decluttering sense) is probably 1/4-1/3 of that is coming here in March when we are up there for her memorial service. I already brought a tote of yarn, knitting, crocheting and tatting stuff and a tote of fat quarters (All really nice stuff I will use eventually) There is still bobbin lacemaking and scrapbooking stuff that will come in March. Not only that, but this summer when dh nearly died and was in the icu there were issues with my mil coming and cleaning. (Talk about humiliating! So there is a bit of emotional bagage with this, so any help, cheerleading, etc would be helpful. If you made it this far, thanks for hangin with me.

Oh goodness, yes I'm here lurking, just trying to get some momentum. I've got a 3 year old and 1 year old tomorrow!! and I just can't stay on top of it all. I think my issue is that I don't have places for everything and my other issue is keeping too much stuff around. I have also been nonstop sick since DD was about 3 months old... had mono and since that's been gone, we've caught every little viral thing that we contact it seems!! So I've got a LOT of work to do.

I don't know if I'm up for the challenge at the moment (DD has croup now and I'm not feeling that good myself) but I'll definitely check back in. Maybe I can be inspired!

It sounds like you had a rough year...

[scrapadoozer]

14 more items gone!

313/300

[Gumby]

I'm freecycling some buttons and beads (amongst other things) and I'm really tempted to count each button and bead individually. I think there would be 500

[mikaela]

Originally Posted by spring978

I need to take charge and I need some kind of accountability so maybe this will help if not maybe one of you can poke me with a big stick Seriously its time to take my life back.

You rock, lady!

[mikaela]

Originally Posted by Gumby

I'm freecycling some buttons and beads (amongst other things) and I'm really tempted to count each button and bead individually. I think there would be 500

[mikaela]

Originally Posted by scrapadoozer

14 more items gone!

313/300

Sweet!