KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

[Deleted User]

Charis wrote: »

Some of the threads, buttons and tools are older than me, heirlooms, and they kindle a desire to start making things again if I ever find a place to buy fabric. I am a relic of a bygone age

Do it Charis, just start with maybe a patchwork or applique cushion, you will be able to incorporate several of those items. There is a new sewing thread on mse, it is very helpful indeed. I am heavily into crafting and it has been a life saver since my husband died and turned what could be loneliness into being alone but content. I am learning new crafts, wood carving is one and weaving will be next. I have a full kit bought in a sale of something called kumihimo, it is japanese braiding. No idea how to do it but it looks fun and is something I can do sitting down indoors. It really is good to have new things stacked up for whatever happens as life does change

Your kelly kettle posts make me feel guilty. I had to delve into a garden storage box yesterday and there is a kelly kettle, with rust appearing around the edges. I am going to rescue it today and will de-rust and polish it, then pack it properly

I need a (relatively) rest day today, thumb is feeling somewhat swollen although my overnight splint rescued my wrist. I need to do garage tools, so will simply start sorting, ready to move into their new space tomorrow. Trouble is that I am storing a folded bed base for dd in the garage, hope it is taken soon.

GQ, how do you cope with allotment clothing? I have all sorts of `would be good for the allotment` clothes, bendy trousers, tops for all sorts of weathers, hats, scarves etc. I see those fitted wardrobe adverts on tv and have to laugh. Mine are full, all wardrobes and there is only me but I do have a lot of `house` clothes and `carving ` clothes and that one time I had a cruise clothes. I like the clothes I have left but far too many and don`t mention my nightie drawer, like GQ, one whole drawer but I won`t be throwing any more out, just not replacing

GreyQueen

Hi kittie, gotta be brief as am getting ready for work.

Lottie clothing is demoted casual clothing; cheap active wear trews (approx £12 a pair), shirts which have seen better days. Have to keep arms covered due to being very fair-skinned. Battered old sun hat in summer, battered old fleece beanie the rest of the time. Fleece waistcoat for underneath anorak at this time of year.

Clothes are in and out of the wash constantly so often don't get put away but otherwise are kondo-folded into drawers. And not ironed, of course.

I could do with a dedicated Gardening Duds Drawer but haven't got one spare.......... :rotfl:

VJsmum

OH has finished painting the kitchen diner :T - the diner part is a restful green colour and is currently empty.

He said "doesn't it look nice without all the clutter" :T

It's soooo tempting to leave it empty :rotfl:

It only has a table and 4 chairs and a tall slim bookcase - but the sides have microwave, toaster, bread bin on them. I did have a container of dud batteries on the side, but they have now gone to supermarket recycling with a vow to do that every time one goes (yeah, right). There was a container of odds and s0ds (we don't have one of THOSE drawers but did have THE CONTAINER). it's now been emptied and another vow to not do that again, but to process the stuff (receipts, pens, erm, erm do you know, I can't even remember what...)

I am hoping the clutter will be kept down now that i have moved into my kondoed office. Paperwork is still an ongoing battle in here (as are the dratted photos), but it is all away now so I can live with it. We will have to remove stuff as we see it from here on in, I think.

I have shredded some P60's that are over 12 years old. Please tell me that's OK....

tibawo

I am pondering this morning as what is the difference between used possessions and clutter? I now subscribe to the clutter thread as well as this one as a double whammy to get things moving.


I am interested to read about the lottie stuff as I am now top of the waiting list and my friend who has one tells me there are a few that have notices stuck to them that they are about to lose them. it is something i have never done in my life before so will be a new learning curve.


My jobs this week are to get the next batch of ebay on and stuff that sold yesterday posted. all the cds downstairs to where the dvds were ready for when i have the next batch of time!

Siebrie

DH was staying at a friend's place, discussing a possible new side business venture, so I took dds to 1kea for an hour's play in the indoor playground, and dinner. While they were playing, I did a quick tour to see if they had any small desks to fit in the guest room, for dd1 to make her homework. I saw a few laptop tables and makeup tables that would fit, sent pictures to dh, and then decided that we just need to clear out the study (!) so she can work there. She is only 8 and there is not much homework, but she is very easily distracted.

I did buy a shoerack (Tjusig) to replace one of the shoeracks we had that are really too small (not deep enough) for their purpose. The shoes kept falling off, or behind them, and they are wobbly. New shoerack is already put together and filled with dh's shoes. He has about 25 pairs, I have 7 (+3 at work), dds have 2 each. The old rack is now in the garage housing the shoes we don't use that often: rubber boots and hiking boots.

I've also removed 3 ornaments from the sideboard. One will go to the kindergarten for their annual tombola.

I'm happy that I made some progress, as I'm feeling a bit down at the moment. I don't know why, maybe lack of sunshine, lack of iron, just general feeling of bleurgh.

OS_QS

Working through my Kondo checklist in an odd (but logical?!) fashion! I think of areas of the house that is causing me or hubby stress, then kondo it! So yesterday I completed my ‘tops’, sorted the paperwork and also sorted through the toddlers toys/stuff. Previously I would have tacked things on a room by room basis, but I now see the merit of gathering everything and sorting through the categories in one go….the paperwork and baby stuff were fine examples!

Although it took me forever to collect all the baby’s stuff from all over the house and collate in the playroom. I sorted through it, and luckily I’m not too sentimental, and now have a massive bag of things for the local children’s charity shop, and a pile of equipment / expensive things I’m going to try selling on gumtree first. This is cluttering up the guest bedroom, so need to action this pronto, or hubs will get annoyed at the mess and will send the whole lot to charity.
Wee one now has a playroom that has certain toys out, certain toys in the toybox and also a toybox in her bedroom. Our Livingroom is now toy free and so is the kitchen J

Also gathered all the paperwork from over the house and put in the study, then hubby went through it, (he’s more ruthless at shredding than I am!) and I filed away the remainder yesterday morning.

I was feeling very good about my weekend’s work , but hubby had a mini melt down this morning because there wasn’t room on the hall table to place a few items he was taking to work. Woops, although to be fair I had just placed the wee one’s nursery bag, his hat and gloves, and my lunch on it so we could all grab as we left the house! Honestly feeling a bit deflated L I thought he’d be happy at the clearing out / reorganising / streamlining that’s been going on, but he just seems to be focussing on more areas that need my attention. So my list is ever growing…. I will need to keep at it, perhaps focus on areas that he will notice – pre-empt his requests!

maryb

You should tell him this evening how it made you feel. He'll have simmered down and will probably feel remorseful. Then get him to agree what should be a priority. Then if something else bugs him you can point out that he agreed you should focus on xyz first. You are not an unsatisfactory employee to be made to feel small so don't let it make you feel you and you alone need to do better

monnagran

OSQS: I don't usually post on here but when I read what your DH did this morning I just couldn't resist.

I had more than a few episodes like this in the early days of my marriage and soon learnt how to deal with it.
Don't argue or justify yourself, just take everything they say and act on it to a ridiculous extreme.

For instance - When he complained that I was spending recklessly the pitifully inadequate housekeeping allowance I had and belts had to be tightened, I agreed enthusiastically. The first economy I made was to cancel his newspaper.

When he complained about washing drying on racks in front of the fire, (no central heating or tumble driers in those days) I sent every last handkerchief to the laundry and presented him with the bill.

When one of the children didn't quite eat all his vegetables we had a tantrum of epic proportions because "it was good food and was not to be wasted."
The next meal consisted of every single item that he absolutely hated. When he announced that he wouldn't eat it I said that it was all good food and was not to be wasted. Actually, he then threw the plate at the wall, which impressed the children no end.

I know that I am a nasty, manipulative, vengeful person. But it worked more than offering excuses and apologies did.

I would suggest that tomorrow you put yours and little ones things in a box and put it in the hall on the floor somewhere. Preferably somewhere that he has to step over it.
If he complains point out that he now has a beautifully clear table top for his own things.

I will now take myself off and work on my being-a-nice-person exercises.

x

[Deleted User]

I did the big initial garage sort out soon after my husband died and am doing the second one today. There is nothing big to remove and none of it is emotional. I have been through all the hundreds of screw, bolts, washers etc and loads have been removed. I kept the small and medium sized screws and a few of everything else but I am never going to be drilling and bolting into concrete. Anyway, all is sorted in the department, I have tiny `really useful` boxes screwed on the wall and I have labelled them with a sharpie pen

I am tripping over stuff, like that bed base and 1/4 tonne of bags of pellet fuel. I won`t know myself when they have been removed. So far so good. A couple of big boxes yet to sort through, the type that holds all that `just in case` stuff, corner brackets, cable ties, the stuff that men don`t throw away. Ordered a couple more small plastic tool boxes, to label and store on shelves tomorrow. Those big ones are far too big and heavy. I`ll have to try and re-home them

Got to go, just found a large container of chocolate raisins and if I stay then I will eat too many. Ok when I am busy, I don`t get that mouth hunger which is my downfall

OS_QS

Thanks for taking the time to post a reply, monnagran and maryb; I know when I get home it will all have been forgotten – it just took me by surprise as he’s not normally like that and I was so pleased at my efforts! Not making excuses for him, but I think me pulling everything out from the depths must’ve pushed him over the edge – but you have got to break eggs to make an omelette!!!

Monnagran, I think your response to each situation was brilliant – you in no way come across as a nasty, manipulative, or vengeful person, just one who quietly proved her point whilst demonstrating that it was he that was being unreasonable. Love it. Unfortunately, the extreme here would be to bin everything and leave everything bare, however I think he would actually prefer that!!! I need to think carefully on how to act / react…

Firstly though I will find out what is actually bugging him. I know he doesn’t agree with me working full time, and worries that this will have an impact on the little one, and I know things aren’t as tidy as they were when I was on maternity leave, but selfishly I need to work!! I did read in some reviews on the Marie Kondo book that some one Kondo’d their husband!!! I’ll give him a hug and see if he sparks joy!!!!

On a plus, I started uploading my ads on gumtree, so hopefully once all the photographs have been taken, I will store the stuff up the loft until they sell. My to do list is to Kondo my shoes. This will be a nightmare task as I have big feet (9!), so all shoes are expensive or ordered in special. Unfortunately i broke my both my big toes a few years ago, and don’t think they healed properly, so they really ache now, especially in high heels. I need to be firm – anything that is uncomfortable or I haven’t worn in a few years I will donate to charity. Hopefully some other big-foot will get enjoyment from them!!!