KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Beate

When I was at my friend's house recuperating after surgery, I noticed how much clutter affects me these days. I used to be of the live and let live school, but this big chaotic house really got to me. I was put into the son's room, which had masses of clothes lying on top of a dresser and bookshelves with double-parked books. The staircase had clutter on every step and small shelves were blocking the way everywhere. And everything was accompanied by a faint layer of dust! I did not find this restful at all, and while they are lovely people, I went home after one night. I might still have to revisit a few areas, but generally my flat is clean and tidy, with ordered bookshelves and wardrobes. Makes me proud at what I have achieved!

In other news, while the "mouth cyst diet" might have lost me a few pounds in weight, I can't really recommend it - too painful!

GreyQueen

:T Well done on the mortgage, clutterfree!

Been busy at work but kondo'd a book to the chazzer on the way home and am halfway through reading another one which will likewise be added to the next donation bag which will then itself leave.

Am continuing to kondo bits of me, lost two pounds in two days and people are starting to remark on it. Low carbing is such an easy way to lose weight, totally painless. And I'm eating (85% cocoa) chocolate most days as well.

Kondo'd a birthday card to a pal last night, one of five newly-bought cards I got last weekend - another will go out early next month.

I have bought myself a pair of sandals, the first I have owned for many years. They are pink and grey and outdoorsy-activity type. I am wearing them around the flat right now.

Amusingly, I nearly bought these two weeks ago for £25, swithered, went back to shop and they were gone, went back today and they had them in my size but reduced to £19. It was a sign, I tell thee, a sign.

Now all I need is some warm and sunny weather or I'll be wearing them outside with socks on.:rotfl:

MMF007

Great news Clutterfree! :beer:

Well done GQ on kondoing another 2lbs! Although I am not craving sweet things I have enjoyed stewed rhubarb with sucralose as a sweetener and whipped cream as an occasional dessert as part of the low carb efforts. Glad you got the sandals, at a good price too! Hope you are not being followed by all of Brian's disciples :rotfl:

I'll be kondo-ing some money tomorrow as my car trye has a darned big screw in it, picked up from some careless s** not clearing up properly. Oh well, better to find it now rather than the morning I am due to set off down the motorway.

Have a joyful evening. , The birdsong is so lovely here this evening, I am just enjoying that and shall be indulging in some reading before bed.

Igamogam

New coffee machine is rubbish. :mad: Going to send it back. So much for updated technology. Glad we haven't given the old one away yet!

Igamogam

I agree GQ low carb so is great,easy and faff free. I don't miss the carbs at all but don't beat myself up if I decide to indulge:D Just easing myself back into it after a few weeks when I didn't bother and feeling better already :j

mothernerd

Did a lot of heavy stuff on Monday including building the 'wood store' using the garden table, bread trays for the base (so everything is 6" off the floor) and a plastic tarpaulin. Moved/ tidied lots of other garden things so there is a big space for mixing and or dumping rubbish (still hoping a skip is on the agenda at some point).

This left me very fragile yesterday. I did what I could but made sure it didn't involve bending. Today I am feeling better but still very tired. DS3 says he will help me tomorrow but said I must rest today. Don't think he has any idea how much there is to do.

Since late afternoon I have done nearly 200 items - many are still in the house but counted just to get myself motivated. Every item hung up, put away, binned, found a space for has been counted. Two big loads of wood have gone into the store (stopped the first time when I started going dizzy from bending down and forward).

This has left more room in the kitchen. Still more to go in but the 'store is looking to be a little Aladdin's cave. Last thing I put in was a couple of metal tubes (wardrobe rails?). Saving these until I have done the painting as I found 1/2 size sticks (rather than broom handles) useful for painting in restricted areas like stairs. If not needed they would go in the recycling.

I would have liked to have done more but very pleased about keeping going in less than optimum conditions.

mrs-moneypenny

Wow mothernerd you were busy! It must feel great to have achieved all that but don't wear yourself out. It didn't all arrive in a day so you are allowed to pace yourself a bit and have some rest.
I'm kondoing a couple of bras today they lost their wires in the wm so are neither practical or joyful anymore.
Found a few little bits to add to the CS bags and have some sewing to do today so that will use a little fabric up.

Have a joyful day all

GreyQueen

Afternoon all.

mothernerd, good grief, that's a lot of work, please don't make yourself ill by working too hard. We need to take care of ourselves as well as take care of the Stuff. Tomorrow is another day, and all that jazz.......

Haven't done anything more than go to work and buy some herb seeds and loo rolls (deathless glamour, my life, lol) but have decided to have a potter-around-at-home evening.

I'm rather weary and feel that it would be a mistake to go allotmenteering tonight, but I have a notion to haul my clothes off the 3 ft hanging rail and go through them.

Some have not been worn for Some Time but are of classic cuts. My weightloss won't be sufficient to get back into some of them for a few more months yet, but I feel it's time to re-familiarise myself with what I have up there, and arrange it in a more orderly fashion. I will also play around with the coat-hanger setup.

Once I can fit all my clothes, I will have some hard thinking about whether they are all needed or wanted or flattering - until I can actually wear them it's mostly an academic exercise. I'm not wealthy enough to just jettison the lot and start again, but I intend to be more mindful about acquiring clothes and spend less time shopping at ThisleDew Booteeq.

Oh, and another thing picked up by a freegler, must try and find something else to offer up, I like giving things away.

Mum has surprised me today by telling me she has been doing Stuff (i.e. organising) in her bedroom. I asked anxiously after the BCofD, concerned that she may have organised the excess into there and ruined my work from last bank holiday, but apparently it's still fine.

I shall be relieved when I have checked it out with my own eyes, of course.

Have a lovely evening, and keep those kondo-tales coming. GQ xx

GreyQueen

:j OMG, one small leap for womankind - I have found two pairs of formal black trousers that I can fit into!

OK, one is a 20 and the other an 18, the size 14s (LTS 14s seem to be 16s ifswim) will be a while away from usage but it has solved a wardrobe problem.

Am trying on my smarter clothes and it'll be a while before I can get into either of my two best skirts, but I seldom wear skirts anyway, these are just classic black styles that can go anywhere semi-formal. And my Planet size 16 longline jacket fits, yippee!

I should add that when I weigh about what I ought to, instead of that plus 5 stones, I take a 16 on the lower body and a 14 on the upper half.

Oh, this is so joyous, I just had to share. Back to the wardrobe tryouts..... :rotfl:

mrs-moneypenny

Well done GQ, I can feel your joy through my iPad.