2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

~FlowerPot~

Florenceem said:

I have plastic carrier bags disintergrating in the ROD - what a mess!
Feel so happy! - found my engagement ring and eternity ring in a bag of jewellery - can't wait to tell Mr F! I knew they were somewhere in the house. That has bucked me up to continue.
I have a Freegler coming to pick up a large suitcase and someone else collecting Covid tests.

yey! I am so pleased for you that you have found your rings, thats a lovely boost that will keep you going xx

Dfw38

Great news @Florenceem! Glad to see your persistence has paid off! 

QueenJess

Ugh.  I know there are always times when people feel overwhelmed and stressed, but this has almost been a week now.  Usually I get over it very quickly and get on with whatever is making me feel bad so it is done and out the way, but I just can't seem to shake it.

I've been analysing myself all morning and I think it is because there has been one thing after another after another and I've had no time to stop and think and collect myself.  DH is working long hours so I get up, DH drops off the kids and heads to work, then I turn on my laptop to work.  I do have a lunch break, then back full on working until the last second when I pick up kids, get DD to bed, DS and I our dinner, DS to bed and by then it's 9pm and I just go to bed knackered.  I hate feeling like this, so need to try and make some time somewhere.  At least I am off today, but am still running around doing stuff, although this is stuff for me that I've put off forever.

This morning I went to the dentist to get an updated referral (as mine was out of date).  Got a lecture about not leaving it as it would have got worse and then went to town to get urgently needed bras (my most detested shopping) and sandals as my feet are so hot in trainers.  Managed to do both and wasn't enticed in by any other shops.  Back home for a late lunch and treated myself to a mini M&S pizza that is in the oven now to have with a mini salad and got strawberries and peaches for dessert later.  Then back to the to do list of things I urgently need to do (like get DS's holiday club booked over the summer) and hopefully getting rid of a pile of stuff that will make me feel better.

I already cleared more of the side in the bedroom earlier as I packaged up the stamps and sent them off to charity.  I'm going to aim to reach 15,700 items today as that should be doable and I just need some order as everything feels like chaos right now.

15,654 - kids toys (Buy Nothing - was in the attic pile, but I realised DD never uses it so it's gone)
15,655-15,657 - packaging (reused)

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

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 ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

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

Wednesday is another scorcher 🥵 temperature is already 26C 🥵 Having gone to bed so late, I woke up about noon 😉 It must have only been a few minutes after DH as he had made my first cuppa of the day 😊 Refuse collectors have been - thank heavens as the wheelie bin had started to smell 🤢 New bin bag in before sitting down with my cuppa. Straight into cheerleading before picking a few things to do 😉

1453 - 1455 Cardboard packaging, 2 plastic bottles - recycled 

Great decluttering QueenJess 👏 are you sure you have enough clothes left 😉 Hope you had a restful night’s sleep 🤞 Good luck finding the missing pieces of Lego 🍀

Muddy_Walker, thanks for such a lovely post 😊 Hidden dragons - love it 🥳 did your love of dragons or your love of Wales come first 😉 I have been very remiss in making my awards 😔 So I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ for putting up with the TB for so long & with such good grace but more importantly for putting TB in your rear view mirror & changing jobs 👏 

TC77, very kind of you to accede to DD2’s request not to have her uncle visiting until after her exams 😊 I take it the reason for DBro’s visit is that he will be helping with DD1’s move into her new flat 🤞I did notice the ‘subtle reference’ to taking more of your dad’s things 🤨 I do miss the wagging finger emoji 😅 

Liverpool_Anne, pleased to hear that the union meeting finally took place yesterday 🙂 although I am annoyed, on your behalf 😉, that not only was it stressful getting the meeting to take place but that now your ‘bit’ has been put on the back burner 😖 Excellent decluttering especially the garden waste 👏 Fingers crossed that you managed a better nights sleep 🤞

Excellent decluttering Florenceem 👏 No wonder you are starting to flag - NINE weeks of not only decluttering but also cleaning, worrying about MrF, visiting MrF in hospital & still devoting time & energy to SA 😩 I am astounded that you are still going 🤩 As to the lack of contact from the Occupational Therapists, it is atrocious 😖 

Floss, Shergar had been my initial thought  😂 

Siebrie, curiouser & curiouser 🤔 Not sure why the orthodontist would mention something that could happen to anyone - overbite or not 🙄 

~FlowerPot~ lovely to see you 👋 Wishing DS2 success in all his exams 😊 You have been busy especially in the garden 👏 Very relieved to hear that you haven’t done any permanent damage to your wrist 😊 Sorry to hear about DD’s hamster 😔 but it sounds like he had a long & happy life 🙂Everything crossed that DD’s visit to school goes really well & that she will be back in school soon 🤞Mars Bar ice creams sound delicious 🤤 

Florenceem, 😬 to the disintegration of plastic bags in the RofD 😬 However celebrations all round that your decluttering has had such a positive result & that you have found your rings 🥳 True treasure & I imagine that MrF will be just as pleased as you are 😊

QueenJess, sorry to hear that you are feeling so downhearted & overwhelmed at the moment 😔Please, please be kind to yourself 🙏 You are way too ‘harsh’ on yourself 😔 - please try to remember just how far you have come & how much you have already done 🙏👏 Take some time to celebrate your successes & pop into the TLC Carriage for a cool drink and/or an ice cream - even WonderWoman takes a rest now & again 😉 Good luck with the rest of the tasks you have set yourself today 🍀

All caught up 👏 DSis is up & dressed smartly so I assume she is going out at some point 😉 DH has made me a 2nd cuppa so I will drink that & then find something to do off my ever growing To Do list 😅

Hope everyone can enjoy the rest of the day whatever you are doing 😊

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

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 1455/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £166.90

QueenJess

Reporting back that I do believe I've finished the wardrobe (although I still need to do shoes and coats in the cupboard downstairs that I can't face yet).  I've also cleared all the sides and the floor except for the jeans which need mending and a top which needs a button sewing on.  Everything else is clear although I do need to repot a plant on the windowsill.  Hopefully it'll let me sleep better with a clear room.

Not sure where I am going next.  It should be DS's room, but I'm not sure I can face it.  Perhaps I'll try and tidy some of the library so I can feel calmer whilst I am working and have a think about some of the books.

15,657-15,658 - medicine box and instructions (recycled)
15,659-15,662 - disintegrated bras (textile recycling)
15,663 - paper box (recycled)

15,664 - top (charity bag)

Edit: this is my stuff obviously... DH will be made to sort his out when we both have time to do it.

QueenJess

This is the dresser in the bedroom. There is only a phone on top of it, but I’m not sure I need it there and am considering taking that away.  There is a bin next to it that I am considering getting rid of as well as we don’t use it much.

Edit: I've now removed the phone and see if we notice.  If not, I will get rid of it.

QueenJess

And with the curtains open. You can see my jewellery box and my pot of make up brushes on the window sill.

retiredinfrance

@QueenJess, think about what you have achieved not what needs to be done. You are doing very well- just look at your totals. 

Actually I don’t think bins are needed . I walk to the kitchen ones means less to declutter. Besides the kitchen , we have a bathroom one and DH has one he says is essential , so he looks after it himself. 

Hugs for anyone who has troubles and keep safe everyone.

Moorviews

I remember my mother saying “twot” in my childhood. I haven’t heard it in years so it has been fun to see it in use here 😊

3 sacks of mainly bindweed have gone to the garden waste at the recycling centre. 

Another go at the craft cupboard has meant that I am letting go of wool in colours which would no longer suit me. Also a rather bulky unfinished craft project which I will never go back to will be binned. I have taken a photo to remind myself that I did it though. Needing the space for other things is incentivising me. A go through my wardrobe meant I binned a pair of stained plimsolls and then collected up some clothing for the CS. They were in a collection for me to think about but they are going now. 

Lovely garden photos @Muddy_Walker
Gosh I have just popped out to get my washing in - bone dry in 2 hours!

Moorviews

@QueenJess - the dresser looks fantastic as a totally clear surface. It shows the beauty of the wood and is very calm looking.