KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Siebrie

GreyQueen wrote: »

I had a thought about how to manage the volume of Stuff in my micro-flat; don't automatically replace something which is used up or worn out.

As in, if something is finished, rather than reflexively heading to the shops to replace it, to take a time-out and consider if I really want this particular kind of thing around again. By giving myself a small breathing space, rather than acting on autopilot, I believe I can identify what is actually a need or a want from merely habit.

True! When my jeans started showing parts of me that I only show dh, to the world, I wanted to run out and buy a new pair of jeans. Then I realised that I have another pair in the wardrobe already, plus a gold coloured velours one, plus a dark red corduroy. Those three will be perfect for home wear(ing out), and not until all three have developed holes, will I buy a new pair. This will give me time to look for a model I like in a size that fits (34 inseam is hard to get in Belgium). I do have a new pair of very dark blue jeans for work, but I don't want to wash it very often, and certainly don't want to discolour the knees by kneeling in them when playing with my kids.

Frogletina

I've been looking at my photographs today and have only culled two so far.

I have a real problem with the wedding photos that I have. What do I do with the photos where the couples have divorced? I have four such scenarios in my immediate family.

Some of the photos contain nice photos of other family members, you know, the ones you only see at weddings!

I know I should hold them and see if they spark joy. My daughter looks so pretty in her photos - maybe I could just keep one of her by herself.

At the moment all I am doing is sorting my photographs into their appropriate albums and will be trying to label the older ones for future generations. I will be letting go of some of mine as I don't know who the people are which is a real shame. Some of the photos are lovely - the like of which we will never see again.

frogletina

Floss

Frogletina, I only have one or two photos from my first wedding, but have kept those nice ones from the 2 divorcing brothers' weddings. I figured that the ex-SiLs are no longer part of my life so I don't need to keep photos of them!

[Deleted User]

frogletina, the photos were the hardest category ever but there was no way I was going to just leave then in a large box, for someone else to sort when I pop my clogs. I initially had four boxes in a large wardrobe but my husband, over several months, put many of them on disc after I had sorted them into sub categories in large envelopes, like daughter A, daughter B, daughter A+B, family, Me, Husband etc. This breaking them into groups made it much easier. Each person then got a cd copy, which contained all the groups. This was back up for me, just in case. The only ones I have left in one box now are some very old black and white ones and a few which I could not bear to remove plus my wedding album and a mini scrapbook/album 5 x 7 for each child and a larger family scrapbook, which I love and would keep to the end of my days, if I could only have one thing. The cds are in that box and full back up memory sticks are elsewhere. My new photo frames are marvellous, clear see through with very thin edges, one is 10 x 8 and hold 8 wallet size photos, the other is a double sided folding and similar but is 5 x 7, holds the same number of photos. Just changing frames and reducing the size of photos created a corner with energy. One more folding frame came yesterday and I am filling it with ancestors in black and white today, small pictures. I may well buy one more 10 x 8 for photos of immediate family and me and my husband and wedding day but am still undecided. I might wait and get one small similar frame instead for photos of just me and dh on our wedding day. I will scan pictures from the cds and lay some out and then decide over the next few days. I don`t want to overfill my shelves with frames as just now, it is looking really good and making me feel happy

Had to go out last night but managed to take up another skirt. They were not straightforward, side godets, kick pleats, a back slit, stretch babycord etc but I knew what to do so got on with it. Today I am tackling the long floaty earth-mother skirts and one stretchy dress much more length is coming off. I will puff chalk marks on the dress when I am wearing it as bust affects hem height. Tomorrow I will start on the lined skirts. I am very grateful to myself for having bought a large case of top quality threads in all colours in the past, laid out in rows. Btw, I keep spools and bobbins together with little blue plastic joiners, always ready to use, in an old L n L bacon box and another L n L for a huge selection of machine needles.

Frogeltina, I have a bil, supposed to have been very close to my husband, he never came back from his very long holiday in nz, he goes often and stays with family. Never came to the funeral and never been in touch with me, not once in two years. I have not kept any photo with him in it, he has gone as far as I am concerned. I feel he let his brother down very badly. His own two adult children from his second marriage, divorced a long time ago, never communicate with him and his third relationship is a friend with benefits relationship

Karmacat

Frogletina wrote: »

At the moment all I am doing is sorting my photographs into their appropriate albums and will be trying to label the older ones for future generations. I will be letting go of some of mine as I don't know who the people are which is a real shame. Some of the photos are lovely - the like of which we will never see again.

Is there anybody in the family who does family tree research that you could give them to? They might know who they are, as well.

I have one picture of a particular great great grandfather of mine, born in 1835 - he's on a choir outing on a charabanc in 1910, and even though its only a photocopy (from a researcher in Kansas, believe it or not!) its very precious, and I've taken a very high-res scan

kittie wrote: »

frogletina, the photos were the hardest category ever but there was no way I was going to just leave then in a large box, for someone else to sort when I pop my clogs. I initially had four boxes in a large wardrobe but my husband, over several months, put many of them on disc after I had sorted them into sub categories in large envelopes, like daughter A, daughter B, daughter A+B, family, Me, Husband etc. This breaking them into groups made it much easier.

Older photographs (like the one of my g'g'grandfather above) I've put with the family history research. For my grandparents onwards, they're in decades - and thats been interesting in itself, it looks like during 1935 they started to have a bit more money, and they used it on a camping holiday and a camera.

From the 1960s on, photos of the extended family carry on with the grandparents, and photos of our own immediate family are in a separate folder. And photos of mine (a school trip when I was 14 started it!) in another folder too. No one will care that in 1976 I had a drink in Venice with two other girls staying in a tourist hostel

Frogeltina, I have a bil, supposed to have been very close to my husband, he never came back from his very long holiday in nz, he goes often and stays with family. Never came to the funeral and never been in touch with me, not once in two years. I have not kept any photo with him in it, he has gone as far as I am concerned. I feel he let his brother down very badly. His own two adult children from his second marriage, divorced a long time ago, never communicate with him and his third relationship is a friend with benefits relationship

I feel your pain in that, and my sister's inlaws are very similar. I've kept photos of them strictly with the historical research - for the sake of genealogists in 200 years time rather than any fellow feeling.

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maddiemay

Thank you everyone for the positive thoughts yesterday, my DB (one of the younger ones) came through his surgery and when his wife phoned this morning she was told that he was off the ventilator, awake, and quite surprised to find the op was over:D I have to admit to a few tears of relief when my DM called us, we have been pretty tense since he had an episode just before Christmas, and for more than 5 years (when we almost lost him) the knowledge that he still had 1 aneurysm that could break down at any time has hung over us all.

I did manage some sorting and shredding of the paper mountain yesterday, hopefully a little more today and I also Kondoed some of my mini mountain of nuts, seeds, dried fruits etc into a batch of vey rich flapjack. I have not so much been buying and hoarding baking goods, but not producing very much from it for a while, but increased energy has released my baking mojo, and makes me very happy:D:D

I may treat myself to a little trip into town and a visit to the CSs, but am very good at looking and appreciating things and leaving them on the shelf, might try and fill a bag to take with me too.

LizzieR

maddiemay - great news, bet you feel you can breathe properly for the first time in ages.
Kittie - so I have several long skirts that are now too long and too big due to weight loss, once you've done with your own I could maybe send them over - just in case you miss doing a bit of sewing I have several really lovely long skirts but also need a cull - I know what you mean about the quest to find the perfect skirt! I've been slightly avoiding the long skirt category as I know most of them need to be taken in at the waist and some need to be shortened as I now trip over them! I reckon some will be able to go to the CS as they're not worth the effort (too many panels/gores) given that I still want to lose quite a bit more weight, so would only be in service for a short amount of time. Maybe I'll take a look at the weekend and see about getting the sewing machine out - or encourage my Mum to help me with a bit of sewing

[Deleted User]

wonderful news maddiemay, thank you for sharing. I am sure I wasn`t the only one keeping everything crossed all evening

Haha Lizzie. Its the big in your post that would have me taking them to the cs, hems are one thing but `big` no way, far too much work and you`ll never be big again, will you?

Having a lunch break, everything in one pan as getting engrossed is the best way to lose weight, never thought of food all morning. Finished two tricky ones, crepey types with godets. Next one is stretched on the ironing board while I think. Two layers of crepey nice fabric and a two sided skirt, so would be useful. Just pinned both fabrics together and will be taking the length off from the top as both sides have rolled flouncy hems and any mess would not be hidden. Lots of careful unpicking to do later and generally losing 5 inches in length today

I am wearing a skirt today and feeling very comfy and aerated. No tights or knee highs, just fitflops and consequently also a top that hasn`t been worn for quite some time. Am feeling presentable and could answer the door to anyone. Also testing the skirt length and it is perfect. I decided to hide the big parts of my legs and to leave a flash of a few inches of slimmer ankle area. The skirts are changing my life, honest

[Deleted User]

Really inspired by people who have loved ones poorly, who still carry on. I guess sorting through 'stuff', even 'clothes' is going to evoke memories. Im not even thinking about photos, gawd. Never did that one when I last did Kondo, I did an edited version - lol - the 'can't be arsed version', though this time I have a vision in my head.

I started on my clothes, mostly done, still haven't done that wardrobe. It really does not have much in, as the rubbish at the bottom, bags etc have been culled and I don't have many hanging clothes - a few dresses, etc. I'm more a jeans/shorts tee-shirt person and I have mostly done those. Love the new way I have been folding them, I have rolled them. The items that are going to cause me anguish is my bedding, I have a ton of lovely stuff, I spent a lot on some of it, but i'm not intending throwing too much. Hoping to get this done today. Next category I think will be toiletries - really not looking forward to that one.

maddiemay

Kittie - I must have been thinking of you and your skirts, as when I awoke this morning one of my first thoughts was that I had only worn a skirt twice through the winter (the same one). I mostly wear tunics and leggings/jeggings/skinny jeans or tailored trousers and jumpers and cardi's or fine zipper fleece tops. I have just 1 maxi skirt, and a collection of straight stretchy above the knee skirts, which I wear with brightly coloured opaque tights, I am slim and 5'3" with skinny legs so often match the tights to the tops as I don't feel that this cuts me in 2 (others might think differently :rotfl:) teaming the outfit with long flowing cardi to match the skirt. Having written this it sounds awful, but I do get lots of compliments on my outfits:D

Hopefully DB will be out of ITU very soon and work his way through the wards to the exit so to speak. I love all my siblings, but was much older when the two youngest were born, and having elected not to have children of my own, I do think of them as "my boys".