2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

shabbychic12

Still on the declutter train and tbh haven’t been derailed too much. Little and often seem to work but things are actually leaving shabby towers never to return and l couldn’t be happier. x

mfwin2019

Had some time when I arrived home from work today so spent my 23 minutes cleaning and tidying the bathroom storage drawers. 
Everything came out and drawers cleaned, then all storage baskets cleaned and put back.
Any unstarted items have been removed and put on a shelf in the wardrobe so that all of the started items are used first.
It should be a while before we need to buy any more, I was surprised how many hotel type little started bottles we had but luckily nothing needed to be binned. 
Hoping to get back to the decluttering at the weekend. 
Hugs to all that need them

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@Millie2008_2 I have B12 jabs every 12 weeks. It does make a lot of difference, I still have a drop in energy from about 7 days before my jab and a few days after but nowhere near as bad as it was before I started them. Glad you are getting treatment. Hugs

@SecondStar the only packing tip I would give you is to not make the boxes too heavy, by the time you have moved a few around it is exhausting if they are heavy

@joanie the door handle will magically appear when you are ready to leave the TLC coach I got stuck in there for a while last year

@Dfw38 I know several friends who have fallen out with siblings over issues connected to parent's money or property. It is a very emotional time and people are often struggling with their own feelings and usually take it out on those other family members. As long as your Dad is getting the best care he can try not to let siblings upset you , hugs

@Vulpix, I love that you are getting that book repaired. Books are a real struggle for me to move on.

I am up late as I got sucked into a film about a family trying to escape east Germany to the west in a home made hot air balloon. It was in German with subtitles so I had to concentrate and put my knitting down . It was based on a true story so logically I knew it must have a happy ending otherwise the film would never have been made but I got so caught up in their trials and tribulations I was on the edge of my seat . So today I have had a quick whizz around the bedroom, the living room, cleared the coffee table again, found a few hand gels that have been corralled near the front door so OH can use them in the car when needed, (driving instructor and still wiping the contact points in the car after every pupil as well as wearing masks), cleaned the bathroom, took some time for some self care. I also caught up with the SS programme. I liked that they went back to check but I think it would be better to go back after a longer time. I liked the carpenter as well but overall I think I prefer the NK version, can't put my finger on why exactly
I also asked OH if there was anything I could do to help sort out the pile of stuff in the hall waiting to go back in the car boot. There are several bags of stuff and 3 boxes. I just suggested there might be a better way to store it and wondered if I could look out a box or file or something. No suggestions were forthcoming but the idea has been planted. Some progress has been made though as OH sorted a huge bag of xmas presents and they have been moved upstairs from the lr 3 items have been designated for the cs, when I have a few more or I am going in that direction I will take them. I also sorted out some money stuff connected to my nephew's footie ticket that was in danger of turning into a frog.
So
216 bedroom recycling bin emptied
217 bathroom rubbish bin emptied
218 self care
219 money stuff

Take care everyone
219/2023

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with daily mail immediately 

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

7. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

I did get dressed & spent 10 minutes shredding brown paper & paper bags for DH whilst he shredded vegetable peelings with his new toy 😉 The worms are now enjoying a new supply of food & the excess peelings from three partially filled bird food sacks have been emptied into the compost bins 👏 The 3 empty sacks have been binned together with some plastic packaging & cardboard packaging has been recycled. The only other thing I did was some knitting 😉 Dinner was the last of the HF meals - Sticky Hunter’s Chicken with garlic & thyme gratin & roasted broccoli. DH washed up 😊 & I dried & put away.

355 - 358 Kitchen recycling, cardboard packaging, drinks cans, cardboard box - recycled 

359 - 364 Kitchen & lr detritus, plastic packaging, 3 empty bird food sacks - binned

Lovely chatty post Liverpool_Anne 😊 The donated wood will save you some money but it would have been nice to have been asked 😉 Excellent living room decluttering & well done on clearing floor space 👏 Hopefully you can persuade OH to make a start on their pile of ‘stuff/clutter’ 🤞Frog progression can always be counted even if you only spend 10 minutes, let alone 2 hours 😬 

weenancyinAmerica, I was curious as to what honeydew melon colour looked like - a lot less lime than kiwi crush 😉 That was a very busy Monday & you got a lot done 👏 Tuesday was just as busy 👏Sounds like the husky has calmed down a little if she was in the house for a  couple of hours whilst you were writing your book 🙂 You are a marvel - helping others with their Family History research, learning Spanish, learning a bit of Vietnamese, writing a book all whilst continuing your decluttering - 🤩 I am so impressed that one Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 😊 A very cosmopolitan street - 8 languages in just 20 houses

GrannyKate, better the  extra prep work before laying the flooring 😉 Lovely colours GrannyKate 🙂Shame about going slightly over your grocery budget but flights to Iceland are expensive 🤣Congratulations on almost reaching your £100 target & yes you should count the PB win 👏 Good luck finding your new notebook 🍀 Not sexist at all, just descriptive 🙂

stellata, you must get so much joy sitting down to dinner using your finest crockery & your ceramic handled cutlery 😊 It took me 25 years to bring the canteen of cutlery we received as a wedding present into daily use 😉 All the other cutlery, apart from 4 teaspoons & a ‘misappropriated’ butter knife, were donated to a local mission who provide breakfast for the homeless 🙂 Good work in the bathroom 👏 Hope you had a lovely lunch with your friend 😊 

Wednesday2000, maybe an animal shelter will take the three cushions 🤞

You have been very busy, Brie 👏 Surely not procrastination merely waiting for the most opportune moment 😉

Excellent decluttering Millie2008_2 👏 You are definitely on a roll🙂

Sorry to hear that you are feeling overwhelmed QueenJess ☹️ but well done on persevering with your reorganisation of your DD’s bedroom. The interim mess will soon be gone & hopefully DH will agree to your disposal of at least 2 of the 3 pieces of furniture 🤞 If your DD doesn’t like her room perhaps I can move in 😂 although I am certain that she will enjoy all the space to play especially if she has a friend visiting👏😊

Excellent decluttering ilovetea 👏 Good luck with decluttering your craft stash 🍀

Thanks nannywindow - I agree my DH is royalty but I have a hard time convincing him of that 😔 Sadly at the moment I am not quite keeping up but I will persevere & catch up 🙂 You & DH have been extremely busy & have got so much done 👏 I especially like that 7 bags of stuff has been reduced to 3 bags 👏 One medal for each of you 🏅🏅as encouragement to continue the good work 😊

Excellent decluttering Liverpool_Anne 👏 & I especially approve of the rather sneaky disposal of takeaway containers 😉

You might have been busy working nu1isit? but I am seriously impressed with your decluttering of your wedding suit 👏 Now we have got you & your DD watching NK we will have to get you watching Stacey Solomon - Sort Your Life Out 😉

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏

Dfw38, I think the colour is so bright that curtains closed & lights off is not enough - you also need to be wearing a blindfold 😂 Hopefully by the time you move DD1 will have outgrown her love of kiwi crush 😉 Meanwhile I like your compromise of painting one piece of furniture 🙂

bit_by_bit, love that word ‘stupendous’ 😊 Excellent decluttering 👏 So sorry to hear that DS1’s relationship has broken down ☹️ A difficult time for all concerned but especially for your grandchildren 😔 Your love & support of DS1 & the children will be invaluable over the coming months 😊 Crikey, doesn’t time fly - it seems like only yesterday that your in-laws went on their cruise 😉

Great decluttering Ginmonster 👏 Not just rude but ignorant 😖 Perhaps you can donate the toys to a CS - less hassle 😉

Excellent & eclectic decluttering regnbue 👏 Well done on reaching 264/500 - one Gold Star ⭐️ on its way 🙂

Dfw38, very encouraging observations for QueenJess 👏 Excellent decluttering 👏 - 7 miles must be a huge number of steps 🤩 Love the idea of ‘Frog Freeing February’ & you will still be adding to your decluttering numbers 😊 Thoroughly enjoyed the SS programme & I rather like that they do Not have a designer 😉

Excellent work on the sales stellata 👏  and good luck with future sales - it all builds up 🍀

Florenceem, I hope it was just the recipes rather than actual dried eggs 😉

So sorry to hear about your MiL, vulpix 😢 & I hope MrV is coping - sending hugs to both of you. That is good news about your DM 😊 Great decluttering 👏 

Excellent decluttering retiredinfrance 👏 Sometimes there is just too much choice & paint colours are no exception 😉 & I think white is a step up from magnolia 🙂 Random wandering is definitely working for you as you are already well ahead of your one a day 👏 What a lovely gift to DS 😊

Keiths_Mum, I also liked the house doctor especially when she managed to convert the most reluctant declutterers to her methods 👏 I think she was a genius 😉Excellent decluttering of Box 6 👏 (I have bookmarked Aurikaterina & will investigate when I have a bit more time 😉) I also hate having my photo taken - not so bad in group photos as I try to hide at the back 😉

Off to bed now as my cocoa has made me feel sleepy 🙂

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐

DH Awards: 🥇 

Decluttering Target 2023: 364/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

GrannyKate

I de cluttered the first set of workmen - floors laid and joinery repaired or replaced. It does look nice after 5 months of uneven concrete. I treated myself to new floor mat and a larger bin.  Some may recall a while ago I got rid of my large bin when I got maggots as living on my own.  After 9 months of 'lodgers' I need a larger one again.  Gone for very cheap plastic - easy to clean. Old one out. Started a new 'partially used' note book - can't find the one I meant to use but it will be lurking somewhere. Some frogs hiding in the paperwork to do today.  Decorators expected as well.

151 Floors and joinery finished - workmen took all their waste etc away with them
152 Notebook finished up - onto another one from stash
153 Scanning done for DS2 and sent to DS1 who will help with next lot of legal stuff
154 Kitchen door mat - one in one out
155 Kitchen bin - one in one out

Hugs to all who need them. 

@vulpix which town is the bookbinder - I have an old family bible with a damaged spine - on my to do list.

Radish72

@Brie - I do have white vinegar in the utility room that I use for cleaning purposes, think my brain was " in this stuff is just for chips" mode so out it went, but the butter idea sounds fab

Tarragon update - we now only have 2 full jars, can't believe BF might have disposed of it

Hugs to all that need one

Moorviews

Declutter Days 19-25 Trying to declutter back and joint pain with some success thankfully. I found some Dead Sea salt in my sort out of the bathroom cupboard so I have been having a daily hot soak, also gentle daily yoga sessions. With regard to not just saving things for best, I’m using the nice toiletries up, rather than saving them for the home spa or pamper sessions that I actually never have. I’ve been getting rid of lots of random things around the house but I’ve realised that this doesn’t work as well for me as focusing on one specific area at a time. It’s as if I can’t see that the items have gone, whereas if I can look at a neat, decluttered cupboard, drawer or surface I get the sense of accomplishment that I seem to need. So, it’s back to my original plan of one area per day. 

Like everyone else, I have been enjoying the thread and also the NK and SS programmes. 

@Dfw38 - It’s an awful situation and I wish you strength in dealing with it. You have your integrity which is something to be very thankful for. 

@grandmanerd - well done for finally getting the sale through, hopefully that will be a weight off your mind. 

@QueenJess - I well remember what it was like to be dealing with children’s stuff and bedrooms and feel like I am reliving it with you. It does sound like you are really getting there though and will soon be able to enjoy the results of your labours. 

@joanie - I hope that the TLC carriage will soon have worked its magic. I was a few days in there myself, relaxing, enjoying the scenery and reading. 

Wednesday2000

I tackled my "wardrobe of doom" yesterday. It is the back wardobe that has become a dumping ground! I took everything out and rearranged all my shoes and boots and slipper boots onto the shelving. I have 22 pairs of footwear. That might not sound like a lot to some people on here, but that is the most I have ever had in my life! I tried to wear a pair of navy blue skecher type trainers yesterday, but it is too cold for trainers and I put on a pair of boots instead when I went out to Aldi.

I did get rid of one pair of slipper boots actually, so 21 pairs left. They had got badly stained, I think from my black leggings and they looked pretty rough and so they were binned.

I was left with a unused shoe rack and I wasn't sure what to do with it. After looking around it fitted perfectly under my newish console table I normally keep in the hallway. It is in my living room at the moment as we are still getting our house decorated. I keep my keys, rings and necklaces on the table so I remember to take them when I go out. I will now use the racks of the shoe rack for things like gloves, scarves and my current slipper boots so it is all nice and tidy instead of leaving them in other places around the house. I will go and look for boxes I already have to keep it all on the shelves.

I have decided what pictures to get rid of. I am going to keep the personal pictures I want in an Amazon tube with the other pics I have and I am going to roll up the spare xmas wrapping paper too so it all fits in the one tube. I will be left with one picture that I will donate. It is a painting of somewhere in Cornwall and it is quite pretty, but I just don't want it. I think I will be left with at least one picture frame.

I am going to tackle the boxes on top of the wardrobe this weekend. There are 7 of them!

So really all I have decluttered so far is the slipper boots, the picture of Cornwall and the picture frame/s, but I feel a lot more organised.

Oh yes, I did throw away an Alice style hairband as it was almost falling to pieces. We did eat down some of the freezer food too as we did buy new food from Aldi. I want to start doing some batch cooking next week as my husband is back to work so I will be cooking for one again. It will probably be (vegan) spag bol and soup.:)

vulpix

Hola, 

 Had a call this morning to say MIL is being transferred to a general hospital. She has sepsis. 

 GK, you have waited such a long time for something to happen. It will be so nice when it is finally finished. The bookbinder is in Buxton. They are called Scriveners. It is a  secondhand book shop too on 5 floors. A great place to visit if anyone is in the area. They have a website and a fb page. They will also post. 

 Almost there with the bungalow sale grandmanerd. What a marathon it has been. 

 DFW, been there got the medal when my Dad died. I hope things ease. ❤️

 I remember the house doctor. Excellent advice, dreadful voice. I prefer NK programme. SS feels more for younger people. A lot more hugging and crying. 🤣

 Sold the cat house we made. Fomo doesn’t use it since we moved here. 

 Vx

Liverpool_Anne

@Vulpix, hope the mil recovers well with proper nursing. I am always suspicion of sepsis as it makes me wonder about the quality of care after a friend's Dad walked into hospital for some treatment and ended up dying of sepsis from bed sores. She sued the hospital and won, giving the money to her Dad's favourite charity. It was not about the money she wanted to try to stop it happening to someone else and the conclusion was nobody should be dying from bed sores in this day and age, it was just bad nursing. Hugs