2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

DundeeDoll

we had to move out of our office as the pandemic hit and everything was boxed up. My 2 boxes have been in my new hot desk office - as it was hot desk i wasn't sure if i could unpack my stuff. ops manager has said yes so have this morning spent my 23 minutes emptying half of one of the boxes (they are huge). i have also ordered ends for the book shelves - there are 3. 

Dfw38

Thought I would strike while the iron is hot and went and tackled another 🐸.  Picked up photo frames for dcs gallery wall prints I have ordered (bargain @ asd@) and 2x lampshades from b&m for ds room and mine. I have had real decision fatigue with the lampshades (I hadn't got any the last time I had decorated the bedrooms - about 5 years ago) but I bit the bullet and picked 2. A grey one for ds and a cane one for me. I got the kne for the girls room months ago so apart from curtains (aaargh! More decisions!!!)  And photos for their gallery walls I think I have everything I need. 

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

No joy in only having one container full of mini soaps, shampoos, shower gels etc BUT I did swap out the biscuit tin for a fancy rectangular lidded box from packaging corner & the tin is now washed & added to cs bag which is filling up nicely although contents won’t be added to numbers until I visit the CS 🙂 Sorted out contents of HF box & put away fridge items in kitchen fridge because I had the space 🙂 DH did notice the bathroom tidy up when he got back 👏 M definitely getting stronger but is determined to be to be as fit as she can be before going back to her office. HR wanted her to make the journey into work for a return to work assessment but she politely declined 👏 Although she has been off work for 5 weeks, 3 of those weeks were spent in hospital so I think HR were jumping the gun a bit 😞 She gave DH another bag of items for his next Tip trip. Dinner was the first of the HF meals linguine in a creamy chicken, bacon & spinach sauce with a side of rocket drizzled with balsamic 😋🤤 Wudupa.  Paid the milkman before going to bed at about 4:00 a.m. - half an hour earlier than yesterday 🙂

466 - 468 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, large cardboard box - recycled 

469 Kitchen detritus binned 

Tuesday is a very misty day probably only noticing this because I was up & dressed by 8:30 a.m. I have my first cuppa and my only plan so far is to catch up on the cheerleading as I am 30 posts behind 😥 It is now 9:30 a.m. & I have just taken a cup of coffee upstairs for DH & made sure he is awake 😉 He has a trip out planned & needs to be on his way by 11:00 at the latest - first to drop off his motorcycle jacket for a zip replacement & then onto the garage to drop off the motorbike for its MOT. He is also going to the barbers for a haircut although I never understand why he has it done when the weather is cold 🤔 It is 11:00 a.m. & DH has just set off in the freezing fog 🥶 

Crazycatlady2 , I forgot to underline the word you 😉 Surely hubby should have hoovered out the footwell 😉

Wednesday2000, yippee to roof being fixed 🙌 hopefully you will notice an immediate improvement in room temperatures🤞 Well done on filling a CS bag & getting DH to deliver it 👏 Fingers crossed that the decorator finishes today 🤞 and good luck with your 7 box declutter 🍀

Siebrie definitely decluttering - reducing 9 boxes to 7 boxes 👏

EnergyShifter hope you enjoyed your evening 🙂 Great news that both the lawnmower & the floor lamp have gone on to new lives 👏 Shame about the dress 😔

Excellent decluttering short_bird 👏

weenancyinAmerica, 2 treadle machines - I think I am now doubly jealous of your brother-in-law 🙂 I am sure I could find room for one of them 😉😉 Do you still have the quilting frame, as it would be a lovely reminder of your dad & your 3 years of travelling round the country 😊 I cannot express how happy I am that you have managed to finally get your female roommate to help with the decluttering/tidying - 23 minutes a day is a good foundation upon which to build her skills 🥳  One medal 🏅 is on its way for YOU for your perseverance in encouraging her to help out 😊 Excellent decluttering of clothes 👏 I can perfectly understand your reluctance to part with well made clothing - seems to me that the quality of practically everything has been going downhill for at least 30 years ☹️Perhaps Sashiko might be employed to save your favourite T-shirts 😉 The reason you slept well is probably a combination of no boiler noises & a cooler night time temperature 🙂 Frugal gardening - love it 👩‍🌾 

QueenJess, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it felt to declutter the bathroom 😉 It would have been even better if I could have decluttered some of DSis’s toiletries as she has more than me & DH combined 😞 Unfortunately she gets bored with products & has loads of different part used face washes, shampoos, conditioners etc 😥  Great work tackling both scary cupboards 👏 I also like the ‘tiny decluttering’ 🙂 but as you say it is only really possible once you have done the ‘big decluttering’ ☹️

Brie, thanks for the link 👏 Just had a look - my favourite was Ice Castle 😊 I was astonished that there were so many intricate patterns 🙂 Love the idea of the men sat around in a quilting circle following the designs created by the women 🙂👏

vulpix, what a lovely memory of your Grandad 😊 Did you inherit his skills? Sorry to hear that you got rid of your treadle sewing machine 😔 could have been that it was taking up too much space or that it was very heavy 😞 Very impressed at your quilting skills vulpix  & agree with QueenJess “that looks fab!”  Your design doesn’t look simple, looks very complicated & intricate 👏

nu1isit?, at least you have tried sewing 👏 The last time I did any proper sewing was 50 years ago 😱although I can usually do neat repairs & can sew on buttons 😂 Excellent decluttering & well placed to reach your target 👏

Florenceem oops to the sandals falling to bits 🙊 Good decluttering 👏 and just noticed your ‘no spend days’ keep up the good work 🤩 

Loved both your shoe stories Soontobeoap 😊 especially the one about your friend’s husband 😂Excellent decluttering - even if you are not allowing yourself to count it just yet 👏

Fayolle, serious quilt envy indeed 😉 I have visions of you typing so fast that there is smoke coming up from the keyboard 🙂 Excellent decluttering 👏 Knitting needles are very useful as plant supports 😊 I am just nipping to the TLC Carriage to have a slice of ginger cake 😋 

Excellent use of your 23 minutes DundeeDoll 👏 & how marvellous that you are looking forward to your next 23 minutes 😊

Sorry to hear that you have a houseful of sick children, charlies_tribe 😔 Sending ‘get well soon wishes’ for all three. Great decluttering 👏

Dfw38, what your DH doesn’t know can’t hurt him 😂 Although I must admit to a frisson of excitement at hearing about his reaction when he realises what your plans are 😉😅 Delighted to hear that the decorating is going well & that the revised paint colour of dusted fondant has been met with approval 😊 Perhaps lime crush picture frames 😉 Thanks for the sleep reminder - I really must try to keep up with the cheerleading 😉

bit_by_bit, so very sorry to hear that your DS (& by extension you) has lost touch with his first 2 children 😞 I have nothing but admiration for you in keeping the lines of communication open & hopefully ensuring continued contact with your grandchild 🍀 Thanks for the reminder that the more we declutter the easier it is to keep our homes clean 👏 What a great wombling find 🙂 Thanks for the sleep reminder 😉

I am only 12 posts behind now, so will have a short break for coffee & another sort out of packaging corner which has got messy again 😔

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 469/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Suffolksue

creeping back in 
I have been trying and failing to do 23 minutes /day 
but I have managed a bit 
have painted the shower room walls  ,I did the gloss last summer just before my cardiac adventures,
trying to work out how to do the ceiling 
this morning I spent at least 23 minutes in the garden cutting back a very overgrown shrub which I think is dead .No way I can get it out but my gardener will manage it easily when she returns in a couple of weeks 
I must have got rid of some stuff as several bags have gone to the CS and a lot has been binned 

Round  I now have an MMAS bag too ! Feel v grownup.
going to declutter some hair this afternoon .

must admit I get overwhelmed when I read of all your exploits 
in awe of you all.

GrannyKate

My good intentions to start the day with my frog were derailed as I had to walk past the jigsaw puzzle and was diverted for an hour.  I also ate the last of the chocolate digestives.

211 Frog done and sent off as required.  Agreed and will go to committee tomorrow. 
212 Committee papers printed and ready to go
213 Small frog from another group also dealt with and sent off (23 minute froglet)
214 Lots of emails deleted - only one thing left in inbox which needs actioning

Waiting for something being dropped off then I am going to M&S as I have a voucher and need new undies.  Will pop into Mr T, Post office for stamps and CS with things I have already counted out.  

vulpix

Hiya chums, what busy bees you all are as well as dealing with all life throws up too. Hats off to everyone decluttering whilst going to work and also with children at home.

 I do hope you have converted an ally weenancy. You have reeled her in with the promise of 23 minutes effort at a time. Dundee doll we are forever in your debt for that idea.

 Thank you for the kind comments about the quilt. I always have a project on the go and am usually looking for a recipient to give them to. What a good idea to raffle things off for charity. I always feel that my makes are not good enough though we do have an annual sale for charity at craft club. I met bit by bit as she mentioned here that she was collecting blankets for a maternity hospital in Africa and I contacted her with the offer of some I had made. I must have made at least 24 in the end,as I could make 2 a month. I made a lot of hats too with the scraps.  I am crocheting a granny square blanket in Autumn colours at the moment,no idea what I will do with it. I am determined to use up my craft stash. Of course I still have the fabric for new curtains still sat in a black bag on the sitting room floor.

 I imagine I got rid of the treadle sewing machine on a clean sweep. I get rid of furniture on quite a regular basis. As we are now I am quite happy with furniture that I have,but I do like to ring the changes. ATM there is a pine tall boy and a Scandi looking rocking chair waiting for some attention. I am waiting for direction from DIL as to how she wants them finished as they are going to her. I also have some cast iron bench ends that I have resprayed waiting for me to attach some wooden lats to make a seat for the garden. I think all this is diversion tactics from house work. I don't have a housework routine and cba with it. Just keep chucking bleach down the loo and daily washing up is as much time as I spare !

 Vx

wort

@Dfw38 could you use a tester pot of lime crush to paint some picture frames ? Or a square on the wall to hang frames in? So you don’t see too much Lime crush!

I went for a muddy walk so wore a pair of jeans I had relegated to garden wear , they are now in the recycling as they were a bit too low rise, I’m sure they weren’t before!! 

Beautiful quilt Vulpix.

Go to bed Mrs Sd .x

MadamMim2013

Woweeeee, those quilts are beautiful!😍
My aunt creates wonderful quilts too, a favourite of mine being a fold away one in a hues of sage green, it becomes a pillow for storage!
I have cross stitched many things (not for many years though..) yet that’s the end to my talents crafts wise, my sister picked up her talents from our mum, it seems to have bypassed me.. or perhaps I’ve always been afraid to use my artistic side more freely as was always told I was no good at it..🤔
Anyhooo…Have a bag of goodies waiting by the door to head off to the CS, have been slowly adding all week..
Also a rather large heap to go to the tip (waiting on car return.. see below ⬇️)
Will also be decluttering £££ later as car is having service and MOT..🤞🏼 for a pass please..

Hugs, kind and sparkly thoughts for those in need, I can spare a small spoon if required then I’m out myself.. honestly shattered today!

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

One & a half hours later (now 12:57) & I am back 🙂 I hadn’t realised how messy packaging corner was & how ‘generous’ I was to ‘Justin’ last time I sorted it out 😂 I have been quite brutal this time around PLUS I found a treasure - a beautiful pair of curtains still in their wrapper 🤔Packaging corner is now beautiful to behold 😍 & my decluttering number is on a steady upward trend 👏 I have filled a large carrier bag with bubble wrap & a couple of paper bags for CS - not counting yet until out of the house. P.S. I think I forgot to mention that I also sorted out one of the baskets from the under sink cupboard in the kitchen 😉

1:30 p.m. DSis is having a bath & DH has just phoned - jacket dropped off, bike dropped off & now he is having a fried breakfast & coffee before getting his hair cut & then hopefully picking up a newly MOTed motorbike 🤞 see below not an MOT visit 😉

2:00 p.m. I stopped for a while & did the shredding & am now having the last of the hm soup & some almost stale bread for lunch 😉

470 - 482 Paper packaging, 6 cardboard boxes of various sizes, 6 lots of cardboard packaging - recycled 

483 - 492 Small bag of detritus, 7 used padded envelopes, 2 lots of polystyrene packaging - binned 

493 - 496 Four lots of paper packaging shredded for worm bedding

Now back to cheerleading:-

Good decluttering Keiths_Mum 👏 Good luck deciding how to proceed with the last of the paperwork 🍀

Excellent decluttering short_bird 👏

Good luck with your search for new sandals skogar 🍀 Shame you couldn’t put your clothes in with OH’s washing ☹️ Well done on decluttering cardboard boxes 👏 for some reason they are able to hide in plain sight 😅

Nice post EnergyShifter 😊

TC77, So sorry to hear that RL has been a bit much & overwhelming recently ☹️ Well done on Sunday’s decluttering - every bit helps 👏 Excellent decluttering of frogs yesterday 👏 One medal 🏅 winging its way to you 🙂 Sorting the photos from 2014 sounds like it will be a joyous experience as it is always lovely to be reminded of very happy times 😊

weenancy, why do institutions/companies always make it such a chore to speak to a real life person 😖However, your persistence has paid off 👏 & you now have your course on mobile technology to “look forward to” 🤔😉 If anyone should treat themselves to some time in the TLC Carriage it is you 😊

Liverpool_Anne, it is so annoying when you lose a post especially a long one & twice 😖 (hence my writing everything in notes & copying over 😉) You have been busy & done some excellent decluttering 👏

Well done on dealing with 4th 🐸, Dfw38 👏 Nothing wrong with taking the time for a considered decision 😊

GrannyKate, absolutely nothing wrong in pottering & doing a jigsaw especially whilst you are still recovering 😊  The frog is on your radar so we all know you will deal with it 👏 You should definitely count items that go in your bin 😉 

mehefin, I always count myself very fortunate to know skilled crafts people & what a lovely thing for your neighbour to do 😊 Are there any pictures of her exquisite quilts? I might never make a quilt but I can admire the work of others 🙂 Excellent decluttering 👏

DundeeDoll, good luck getting your office boxes decluttered 🍀 I am so pleased that I never had to work in an office where hot desking was brought in 🥳 (An abominable practice in my opinion - designed to stress people out by getting them into the office earlier & making them take their laptops etc home with them each night. Huge apologies all round for going off on one 😔) 

Excellent work on 🐸5, Dfw38 👏 I love both the lampshades 😊 Good luck with choosing curtains 🍀

Now, now SuffolkSue wagging finger emoji. You are honing your skills & will soon be able to consistently find time for your ‘daily 23 minutes’ 🙂 Excellent decorating & gardening 👏 

GrannyKate, you were working your way up to dealing with your frog 🙂 Excellent work dealing with frogs + electronic decluttering 👏 Enjoy your expedition to buy new undies ☺️ 

Lovely chatty post vulpix 😊 and thank you for sharing your life with us 👏 DundeeDoll’s ‘daily 23 minutes’ is definitely a game changer 🥳 especially as the 23 minutes can be split 🙂 Your makes are definitely good enough vulpix & hopefully we can boost your confidence enough that you realise this 🤞 Personally, I say more power to your diversionary tactics - you are a craftswoman extraordinaire 😊and I agree that bleach down the loo & washing up done is quite enough housework - apart from the occasional flit around with a feather duster to remove the cobwebs 🤣

wort, great ideas re Dfw38’s ‘dilemma’ over her daughters insistence on lime crush 😬 That’s one way to decide what to declutter 😉 I am starting to think about going to bed 🥲 the plan is to be in bed by3:30 a.m. at the latest 🤞

MadamMim2013, everything crossed for an MOT pass with NO advisories🤞       I think we must be sisters, MadamMim2013 - I was always told I wasn’t artistic BUT I never let that stop me at least having a go 😉 If you can find the time, I think you should take up cross stitching again & let your artistic juices flow 😊

All caught up with the cheerleading so will find another corner to tidy and/or a teeny frog to deal with 😉 DH has just phoned & is on his way back. I got the wrong end of the stick - the bike was taken to check a fault 😉

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 496/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Florenceem

I had a low decluttering day yesterday but been better today.
Decided to have a day off from SA as I will be there tomorrow and on Thursday I have a Glaucoma check at Opticians. Been asked to babysit on Friday  - I will be sleeping there to save expense of a taxi home.

Day 7 - 

Shower Gel Bottle

Uniform x 13

Colour Catcher x 2 

Suitcase

Face Mask x 6

Sticker x 3

Bag of Biscuits

Plastic Card

Battery

Paperwork

Biscuit Tin

Clean Up Wipe Pack x 5  

 Up to 57   (28) RT 799