2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

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

Back to writing in notes after 36 minutes 😉 Have done some more shredding for worm bedding - where does all this packaging paper come from 😬 Also pottered a bit in the kitchen & bagged up knitted items for a CS visit. DH will be going out shortly for today’s training walk - fingers crossed the rain stays away 🤞

Fizz2015, very sorry to hear that you have had such a stressful couple of weeks at work 😔 What with that & the news about your MIL, DD & nan, I highly recommend a visit to the TLC Carriage as soon as possible. Hugs & healing wishes for you & your family.

Lovely supportive post Dfw38 😌

Madbat60, sounds like a beautiful send off 😊 & having fantastic funeral directors means that day can go as well as these things can. Hope you enjoy your dress making - not what I would call pottering 😉

Well done on more out than in wort 👏 Not sad at all wort - decluttering & tidying in the work place has always struck me as far easier than decluttering at home 😉 almost therapeutic 🙂

Wednesday2000, sorry to hear that you have also suffered from being bullied 😔 I agree that “bullies are pathetic people” but they cause so much long lasting damage 😔 He probably does recognise you & is hopefully too ashamed to acknowledge you 🤞

coconurtaler, I cannot remember who it was (lost in the mists of time) that first mentioned ‘Rooms of Doom’ but it is often a great description of a particular room in the house that has been used as a dumping ground whilst decluttering the rest of the house 😉 There are also ‘cupboards & drawers of doom’ which are a good place to practise one’s decluttering skills 🙂 Catching up on the thread can be your reward for doing some decluttering 😉😅 Perhaps the 23 minute method might work for you. Remember the day to day decluttering & tidying is just as important as the decluttering projects 😊👏Good luck with your kitchen expedition 🍀

A lovely supportive post vulpix 😊 Poor Fluffy trying to make friends with Fomo & being rebuffed 😔 I laughed out loud when I read about Fluffy’s biscuit eating demonstration - MrV was so lucky 😂  That really was an unexpected declutter - poor wee thing 😔 Road being resurfaced - whatever next 😉 You will miss the craters 🤣 not 😉  Wow, you are going to be extremely busy 🤩 Just reading about all your plans for the day made we want to go & lie down 😂 Good luck 🍀

charlies_tribe, sorry to hear that your children are taking it in turns to be ill or under the weather 😔Seems to be a lot of it going round ☹️ Well done on getting DD2 to assist you in decluttering her room - she probably thought it was a small price to pay to stay off school 😉 Excellent decluttering 👏Fingers crossed that it doesn’t take you & DH too long to finish decorating the boys’ room & that you can at least make a good start on your bedroom 🤞 Hoping that you can give DH at least one day off out of his 2 weeks at home 😉 

Soontobeoap, I cannot believe that the courtesy car is still nowhere to be found 😖 If I remember correctly you have a letter from the insurance company confirming that you should have one 😔Decluttering is definitely more difficult & slower when you have to walk everywhere 😔 Perhaps DD & DGSs can be trained to tidy up after themselves 😔 & will be rewarded with a happy, smiley you 😅

Another page done, so will reward myself with another 23 minutes of pottering 😉

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 557/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

SecondStar

Can’t wait for the day when I can rock up to this thread and tell you all that the transfer of deeds / equity has been finished, and I’ve officially decluttered my ex.

Not this day, unfortunately!

Muddy_Walker

Big hugs for those who need them and want them..otherwise a friendly wave in the distance 😘😘😘
I have spent 2 hours on my sinful shelves and oicked out a family of frogs…..
Some rubbish is binned but this is what is going to the cs:
15 books
3 postcards
1 large mug
3 hats
2 baseball caps
5 photo frames
i do have my jewellery to sort out and a heap of paperwork but that’s all in one area now not dotted about the place.
I’ve got “like with like” and even sorted 3 drawers too.
I recycled a stack of magazines and cards as well 😜
Dog 2 came up a couple of times with red ball and now he’s sweetly blinking at me as a new load of treats have arrived and he wants them…..dog 1 couldn’t care less as she now has red ball and is lying on it….

Muddy_Walker

Charity shops…… I took a bag of clothes into a cs in town yesterday carrying it through town and it was heavy. The woman in the shop was very rude saying she couldn’t possibly take the donations as they had to go round the back and there was a huge sign on the window….. then her manager came up and said the same thing although she was a bit more polite about it…that they’d been doing this since the pandemic blah blah blah. I looked at all the people in the shop and just looked at these 2 - they did take the donation (just this once) …… no I didn’t read the sign  as there was a billboard in the way and was on a mission!!!!!
Dont think there will be any more donations there….
Having not taken anything to a charity shop for several years is this the case with all of them? Take stuff round the back? 

I wasn’t expecting everlasting gratitude but certainly not rudeness!!

oceanspirit

Been in the TLC carriage following a tooth extraction that didn’t go well.  Healing slowly now - OH enjoyed me not being able to talk.

Have decluttered some more paper and nearly 100 unread emails.  Have been catching up with laundry over the weekend - was behind with this prior to tooth extraction then two weeks not doing any has meant pile grew further.  Two more loads tomorrow and will finally be caught up.

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

Was away for 2 x 23 minute sessions before coming back to writing in notes. More pottering in the kitchen + swept the floor; completed my completion entries form, read & passed the  magazine to DSis; took in a couple of parcels for DSis. It took the 2 of us 5 minutes to breakdown the ginormous delivery box so it could fit in the recycling wheelie bin 😥 DH got home at 3:30 p.m. having done nearly all of his 6,000 steps 🥳  DSis came down a few minutes ago with a bag of detritus from her room together with even more bubble wrap which I have appropriated for the CS (will count when delivered) 

558 Large cardboard box recycled 

559 - 560 Large bag of non recyclable packaging, bedroom detritus - binned

What a marvellous post MadamMim2013 😊 That teacher really should have known better than to join the bullies 🤬 The P.E. teacher should have been making the bullies run laps after giving them a dressing down 😖 However, as several people have joined you in saying “it has made you the fine, strong person you are today”😊 Excellent decluttering 👏 and I hope you have at least taken photos of all that lovely clear floor & the garage space 😉 I nearly choked on my coffee reading that your boys “seem to have eaten the toilet roll this week” 🫣

Excellent decluttering by you & your mum DundeeDoll 👏 Hopefully the builder will visit soon & come up with some good ideas for using the outhouse 🤞 Maybe you can offer the tumble drier to a charity - although with the cost of energy nowadays it must just be Tip bound 😔

Excellent work by both you & MrV, vulpix 👏 Not yet started to drizzle here but it is very dark ☹️ Good luck with getting rid of sooty (dust) & maybe sweep as well 🤣 Sorry 😞 

Well done on taking time for a bit of TLC GrannyKate 😊 You mean to say you haven’t found the ‘Jigsaw Puzzle’ Room 😉 There is a whole stack of jigsaw puzzles in there including quite a few Thomas Kinkade puzzles (personal favourite 😻) Excellent decluttering especially munching the large frog down to tadpole size 👏

Excellent decluttering short_bird 👏 and well done on your progress clearing floor space for the carpet cleaner 👏

Great decluttering Florenceem - still 2 days ahead of target 👏

What a wonderful way to declutter MIL’s handmade cape Brie 😊 I have bookmarked Macklemore’s Thrift Shop - otherwise I can see myself going down a rabbit hole & getting further behind on the cheerleading 😂

Love the shoe story coconurtaler 😊 puts me in mind of a wedding we attended many moons ago. DH was best man & whilst getting dressed realised that the new shirt he had just bought needed cufflinks 😱 So we turned up at the venue & he had to run off to purchase cufflinks - much to the concern of the groom 😅 who didn’t breathe until DH was back 😂 Excellent decluttering 👏 & I like it that items have a box to themselves which incorporates both potential selling and jumble 🙂

bit_by_bit, I was in tears reading about  Dfw38’s experiences of bullying (not that it helps) Sounds like both The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme & the volunteering were a great antidote to the bullying 🙂 The trouble is bullying is so damaging that it takes forever to recover 😢 Well done on at last being able to dispose of the mouse inside 😊 Excellent work getting the upstairs visitor ready 👏 I doubt your Canadian guest will even notice 😉 Hope you have a lovely time ☺️ 

EnergyShifter, sorry to hear that you had to leave the TLC Carriage earlier than anticipated to assist DS in resolving holiday issues 😔 I can just about remember the days when you could pack a small bag with essentials, get to the airport with passport & credit card in hand & pick a destination 😉 Now that everything is sorted I think you should have a hot toddy & retire to the TLC Carriage 😊  So very sorry to hear that you were also bullied at school EnergyShifter 😔

Another page of cheerleading, so another 23 minutes of pottering coming up - probably dinner preparation as I have just noticed the time 😉

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 560/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

EnergyShifter

I managed to get up in time for the 8am Mass this morning which I haven't been able to do for weeks!  The rest of the day has very chilled.  I helped DS think through his holiday clothes (& managed to encourage him to declutter a few bits) then accompanied him on a trip to TK Maxx ( I didn't buy anything!!!) . 

When we got back I got him to go through his stuff from the loft - it was actually lovely to see him enjoy going through them - a real  trip down memory lane.  And he managed to get rid of a fair amount of stuff.  So now all of his memory stuff fits into 2 stacking bins which is reasonable.  

Tasks:
0

IN (running total 40)
0 

OUT (running total 222)

223. Huge pile of papers DS
224. Football programme and various tickets
225. Folder
226. Shirt DS (too big)
227 & 8 - 2x shorts DS too (too big) 

MrsSD - Yes, I remember those days too !  Super-cheap flight if you left it to the last minute ! - Thanks for your words of support.  I don't know how you manage to keep up with the cheerleading but it is most appreciated x

Deb4

Hi Everyone this is my only 2nd post as I can't keep up and RL is busy but the decluttering is still going well.

I did say I was going to do something new every month which I am January was to learn to play chess. I downloaded a app and it is going well I'm doing a bit each day, February is trying and bake so far I have done some chocolate croissants and I've made some homemade bread which was very nice.

My decluttering so far

8-10 bag, slippers, shoes = bin
11-15 toiletries = bin
16 magazine = recycling
17-18 items sold 
19-23 Frame, toys, clothes = CS
24-26 Pens, tape measurer = put in the right place
27-29 Rubbish out of toy box = bin & recycling
30-34 Clean out kitchen cupboard = bin
35 Pop - give to dad

I do have a lot more to add I will do that later 

Hope every has a good week
     

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

Last post sent 4:58 p.m. & back writing in Notes 5:44 p.m. so 2 x 23 minute sessions. Most of the vegetables are prepped + last of the May birthday cards written. Will start cooking about 6:30 🤞

Wow Liverpool_Anne you were non stop busy on Saturday even after a disturbed night 👏 What a horrible job - unblocking blocked drains would almost certainly be assigned to my DH 🤢 unless of course he had accumulated hundreds of Brownie points 😂 What a serendipitous find - a large cardboard box suitable for craft stuff for school 😊 I imagine your initial reaction was ‘why couldn’t this box be empty 😉’ but how joyous that it was chock full of ‘Treasures’ Excellent decluttering of cellophane wrapping 👏 - so gratifying when the thought comes that you can get more when it is required 😊 One medal 🏅 coming your way 🙂 Such wonderful & eclectic treasures 🥳 Shame about the squashed ‘pretty’ box but serendipity struck again - you not only decluttered the contents but then also braved the Room of Doom. Outstanding decluttering in the Room of Doom - worthy not only of 👏but also a Gold Star ⭐️ which is on its way 🙂 You might have got distracted from dealing with the washing but the result has been stupendous 🥳👏 You should definitely reward yourself with a bit of time in the TLC Carriage- just so we can bask in the glow of a successful declutterer 😅

QueenJess, sorry to hear that you are still suffering from the cold & ear infection ☹️ Time spent in the TLC Carriage will hopefully help you recover 🤞 Well done on managing some decluttering even whilst feeling so unwell 👏

Excellent decluttering Muddy_Walker 👏 and I see you are building good habits by doing decluttering tasks regularly 😊  Not buying junk food is not ‘tight’ - hopefully if enough people do this the food companies will at least consider not reducing sizes & not increasing prices just because a butterfly flapped it’s wings in the Rain Forest 😖 - I can dream can’t I 🤣 Definitely a drum roll🥁 - evicting a whole family of frogs - good luck 🍀

Great cheerleading vulpix 😊 Excellent work on both the cleaning & dealing with so many frogs 👏 Very MSE ditching the landline but rather sad about the motivation behind it 😔☹️ I am really hoping that once you are completely happy with the room, you will feel able to post a picture 🙏 

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏

That is half a page more of cheerleading but now have to start cooking dinner. I hope to be back later 🤞

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟

DH Awards: 🥇 🏅

Decluttering Target 2023: 560/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Floss

I took 2 bags to my chazzer of choice today - one grey pair & one black pair of blackout curtains, a pair of sheepskin slippers that I don't get on with, and several sweaters decluttered from my wardrobe. I also added a chunky cardigan & 2 bits of costume jewellery that I have never worn.

However, I did come home with a signed limited run print of a beach in Pembrokeshire for my landing art collection, the most recent Ruth Jones book & a coral, fine merino wool sweater.