2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

2. Sort out sleep patterns - target bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 9:00 a.m 

3. Deal with mail & email on a daily basis

4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter

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

Thursday is a damp miserable day & still quite dark at 11:30 😔 DH is currently in the bath but has received a message from DSis. The current thinking is that she will be well enough to send home at 17:00 🤞 DH will be heading off soon with a few bits for her. DH left at 12:15 fortunately the rain had stopped 🙂

Excellent work on the sales florianatwobob 👏

Great decluttering Brie 👏

Excellent decluttering Mrs_Money _ Penny 👏

TC77, sorry to hear that RL is interfering with the decluttering 😔 Hope you are OK 🙂

Great work dealing with the council tax frog flamingo747 👏 & good luck with whatever decision you reach re the pile of toys 🍀

Dfw38 thank you for your kind wishes & the flowers 💐 Great work by you & DS sorting out the under stairs cupboard 👏 Very sorry to hear that DD1 has had a tough day at school - lots of gentle cwtches coming her way 🤗 

retiredinfrance, thanks for the kind wishes 😊 Nothing much you can do about the lack of red cars but you could start a one woman campaign to get scones recognised as a delicious tea time snack 😂 Your new system of decluttering sounds ideal 👏 Everything crossed that there is good news from the consultant & DH’s foot has started to heal 🤞

Happy Birthday QueenJess 💐 🎉🥳🎂 (same day as DSis’s son & no she didn’t send him a card although I did 😔) I know that you have said that you are considering doing nothing so please, please spend at least some time in the TLC Carriage today 🙏 Hopefully - DS & DD will be on their best behaviour today & DH will be cooking you a romantic dinner 🤞 More excellent decluttering 👏 

London_1, great news about the asking price being ‘upped’ 👏 Whatever happened to having a clean & tidy house without the need for ‘dressing’ 😉 Although very handy that you have a DD who is an estate agent 😊

Pitlanepiglet, absolutely no need to apologise for not keeping up 😊 Hope you had a nice few days away 😊 Keep up the good work & well done OH for sorting  the workshop 👏

Excellent decluttering ilovetea 👏

Excellent decluttering TC77 - you are definitely on a roll 👏 Sounds like neither  DD1 or DD2 will recognise the place when they visit 😊 Also very well done on disposing of more frogs 🥳

Liverpool_Anne, hopefully OH will recover quickly from his tooth extraction especially under your tender ministrations 😊 Excellent decluttering 👏 Thanks for the 💐 & hope today’s eye test goes well 🤞

Florafauna, I feel cold just thinking about a snow day 😉 Now that you know when the house is going on the market, I hope that your house hunting goes well  😊

Dfw38, so sorry to hear that DD1 is still struggling 😔 Sending more cwtches 🤗 & a fervent hope that you can get some help in place soon 🙏 Sounds like DS is not only a super helper but that he thoroughly enjoys decluttering 😊 Thank you for your kind thoughts 👏 I have to confess that I would sooner cheerlead than declutter 😂 

Fizz2015, fingers crossed that you are the chosen candidate for the new job 🤞Your current job sounds very stressful 😥 & your employers sound very short sighted - surely it is more cost effective to make sure that your current employees are happy rather than having even more vacancies to fill when they start leaving in droves 🤨 Sounds like you need a break, so am very pleased to hear about the mini break in Wales 😊 Fingers crossed that the weather is kind 🤞

daisy_1571, thank you for DH’s star 🌟 I think the main reason he hung around was to make sure that she stayed in hospital as she was actually being quite obstreperous 😔 

Wednesday2000, please try to stay as dry as possible even though you have to go out 🙏

dND, I am leaving everything to DH as he seems to have the knack of not annoying my DSis 😉 Confession time - much as I love my DSis I do find her very hard work & she probably feels the same way about me 😉 Cheerleading is my escape 😊 

However, taking on board that I really should do some housework, I have vacuumed downstairs & tidied up a bit 😉 Only had to empty the hoover when I had finished - so semi regular vacuuming is doing the trick 😂 DH has just phoned - DSis has been moved to a ward but has no bed so is sitting in a comfy chair - they needed her room in A&E.  DH has also been polishing his halo - 2 good deeds - someone dropped a £5 note on the bus & a lady dropped a glove when she was sorting out her stuff at the hospital 😇 

~FlowerPot~ well said 👏 The only good thing to be said about a bad weather day is that it does concentrate the mind on finding things to do indoors 😉 Hope you managed to get your accounts done 🤞 Very sorry to hear that your dog managed to find the only bit that you hadn’t quite managed to clear away when you sorted out the drain 😔 Good luck with your new approach to reading books 🍀 I have a great deal of empathy as if I have a new book to read & get into it I do absolutely nothing until it is finished 😂 I am even worse if it is a series of books 🙊 

Lovely post Siebrie 😊

GrannyKate, good luck dealing with frogs 🍀 Weather watching is so distracting  - if it is raining you keep watching in the hopes that it will stop & if it is sunny you can’t get anything done indoors because you want to be outside topping up your vitamin D 😅 Fingers crossed that the weather improves so that your unexpected trip to Sheffield will be a more pleasant experience 🤞

QueenJess, hopefully DS will get started on some of the colouring especially as he insisted on keeping them out 🤞

Siebrie, like it 🙂

bit_by_bit, another wonderful song 🎶 The song was a one hit wonder by Zager & Evans called “In the Year 2525” - for me each verse is a revelation 😉 Sorry to hear that yesterday was “rubbish” 😔 Good luck dealing with BiL & SiL finances this afternoon 🍀 Hopefully BiL thinking that a POA is a good idea will translate into getting the paperwork sorted asap 🤞🙏 If you can make some progress then I think you should mark this down as decluttering 😊

Lovely supportive, cheerleading post vulpix 😊 I will pop round later for a bowl of leek & potato soup 😉

Except decluttering Florafauna 👏 Hope the snow doesn’t cause too much disruption 🤞

All done & about to have the last of the hm soup 😊

MrsSD: I AM A ⭐️ - 🥇 🎖️ 💐 🌟 🏅 💐 🎖️ 💐 ⭐️ 💐 💐

DH Awards: 🏅 🌟

DSis Awards: 🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 218/2024

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00 

Crazycatlady2

Hope sis is doing ok Mrs salad dodger..  sorry I sometimes get confused if it's yours or hubby's sister...doesn't matter I guess

Today I went out in shower for my hair cut and called in Tesco for birthday cards and also came out with a lunchbox, 2 pairs of jeans and a storage basket 🤣

Chilli was yummy and some left bug be quick cos it won't last long....I used my crimpit to make a wrap with some in for lunch..  best thing I've bought for ages that is

Good luck with house photos etc london1 

London_1

Happy Birthday  @QueenJess Hope your day will be as good as mine was, us Aquarians as lucky people

Well the nice young man from the EA came and took the photos and did the video so I should get it late today or tomorrow morning and it will go 'live' online tomorrow.

I must admit I wasn't over keen on the 'dressing' stuff, but as DD said as its going online you don't want photos of the family online etc, plus I must admit it just didn't look like my sitting room when she finished.

 Lots of boxes of odds and ends were stashed in the boot of my car and now the EA has gone I can put all my stuff back where I want to. Its only apparently for the video it has to look very minimalistic 

Found some more bits to declutter tomorrow so I'm taking the rest of the day off apart from putting my bits back where I like them to be.I must admit it did look ever so much bigger when she had stripped it of personal items photos etc

.But I don't think I could live minimalist as to me its not homely it just looks a bit bare and sterile, but apparently its what EA like, as it means potential buyers can see where they can put their items

The sale board goes up tomorrow as well He seemed to think it shouldn't take much trouble to sell because of its central position I did feel a bit sorry for him as he had to go down the garden to do the photos and video and it was tipping down ,but I suppose its part of his job. Nice chap though I gave him a towel to dry off and a hot cuppa so he soon got warmed up again once he dried off

Onwards and upwards chums 

JackieO xx

Florafauna

Hello everyone, sending love to you all including the struggling children. Also v glad to hear the Salad Sister is coming home today. I've just sat down after another big decluttering and cleaning session. Like @London1, we are trying to make the house a little less personal looking.
The additional stuff removed is:
quartz heart 
Bird hanging
Plastic glass
Cocktail sticks
Ironing board
Cat hanging 
Desk tray
Cuddly toy
Cardboard box 
Glass jar
Remote control 
Coat
Lampshade 
Skirt
Copper etching set 
9 books 
Wadding
Glue sticks
Glue gun
7 badges 
7 plastic folders 
Coffee table 
5 sewing patterns
Roll of twine
Fabric
4 bags of brass rings
Lace
Vintage sewing machine

Sitting on sofa now, no more decluttering planned today

QueenJess

London_1 said:

Happy Birthday  @QueenJess Hope your day will be as good as mine was, us Aquarians as lucky people

Lots of Aquarians ended up being famous writers (Charles Dickens, Jules Verne to name a couple).  I've fancied it myself a few times and I'm pleased to see that I have managed to pass on my love of books to DS.  The teachers at parents evening on Tuesday said it was very unusual for a child to be good at both English and maths rather than one or the other, but that's always been me despite my family being very much maths and science based (and the whole of DH's family are maths based people too).  I did both at A level

Thanks for everyone's birthday wishes.  I have been partially lazing about doing nothing today, although it feels like a bit of a non-entity day really.  Will open some presents when the kids are back, but DH and I went for a nice meal yesterday because I opted to go to my usual gymnastics class tonight as I love going, so I need to eat early (and soon actually).  I got very irritated yesterday at work with annoying people who have messed up some stuff I did 4 years ago and made perfect and very easy for them.  It's the same old story... there is constant inertia and nothing happens unless I do it myself.  This is really nothing to do with me anymore and isn't my problem, but I feel like I should look at it because someone else that I like has asked me to help them as they are frustrated with the same thing and it's making their role hard.  The more I looked at it the more annoyed I got and given I only have 7 days of work left, my ability to deal with this stuff has taken a nose dive.  They've also neglected to do something needed for tomorrow and so I have to log on later so I can see where/when I need to be in a meeting tomorrow morning.  It's just apathy/laziness and I'm fed up of it.  Can't wait to leave!

Sadly it hasn't put me in a good mood today and I am just feeling utterly overwhemed with the stuff again.  I know I've made massive improvements over the last few years and it's better than it's ever been.  I also know that I have young kids and so there will be a merry go round of stuff in and out as they grow.  However, I just feel like I am as far as ever from the point where I don't spend far too much time everyday dealing with this stuff.  The decision fatigue is real and it is basically just me.  I just ranted about it to DH for ages, but I started to feel like it was just me being strange, but he isn't dealing with "the stuff" all the time.  It shouldn't feel like it's such a huge bit of my life.  He has said he will try to start using the charity box system I have in the cupboard when he sees things to go.  Not sure what else to do apart from keeping going with a bit everyday until I've reached the "right" level of stuff for me.

Anyway, apologies for the rant, but it just all gets too much sometimes.  I know I'm going in the right direction, but it is definitely a long slog.  I needed to pull the instructions out for DS's cot as we plan to turn it into a bed at the weekend for her and it isn't as logical as you might think from memory.  Whilst I was there I went through all the instructions and managed to reduce them from two files to one file and also put all the TV/DVD etc instructions in the drawers under the TV where I would likely look for them.  I also boxed up one lot of stuff for charity and another box of books I will get £10 for (the charity box in the cupboard was too full again, but I also had a look through DD's books at the same time).  So actually on paper quite a bit more gone, although I still think there's a lot of work to do.  Found even more activity stuff DS decided he wanted earlier and so will aim to get him to go through it and check he actually wants it all still as the drawer is overflowing now.  I also checked the "gift" drawer and found a Lego set to list online.  The drawer is no longer overflowing and I can fit the spare crafting things in there which I bring out when the kids are bored.

Physical:
2 - old router and plug not working (recycled)
89 - manuals/receipts for stuff I never use/won’t need (recycled)
1 - Lego set (eBay)
24 - DD books (Sold/charity bag)
3 - packaging reused

New Total = 3,010

First decluttering target reached!

No tidying today because it's my birthday and I hate tidying.  Also no cleaning for the same reason!

weenancyinAmerica

Yeah - sunny out. Cold though - only 8C. Supposed to be very windy this afternoon instead. Today I am going to the FamilySearch Center with a friend and spend the day researching in Chesterfield looking for her ancestors. Then she takes me out to lunch, before driving me home. Di wants to go to a city meeting tonight. If she still does, I will need to take her as she still can't drive. It is okay with me. Tomorrow is taking G and Di to doctor's appointments. So I will be getting in a lot of reading time. And I will be dropping a load of candy bars off at the library as a gift from the Friends of the Library. Will be celebrating the Lunar New Year this weekend as we have a lot of Vietnamese here. Parades  on Saturday. Special lunch on Sunday with a fashion show of outfits brought from Vietnam. We have an area called Little Saigon near us and also an area called Little Arabia only a few blocks away. Sunday is a big day here - the Football SuperBowl when everything seems to come to a standstill (even the crime rate goes down that day). Roommates are already getting ready for cooking their specialties so I know there will be plenty of food here (there are always leftovers too). 

Mrs. S_D - Hope DSIS is home soon. Sounds like your hospitals are as bad as ours. Not enough rooms for everyone who needs one. But the food sounds better than here. Unless you ask for something to eat, they don't feed you even if you have been there eight or nine hours (or more). Then it is usually a turkey sandwich, nothing else.
  

London_1

Golly the speed of life with the internet I just had the photos and video through and once I'd seen them and replied the EA said no problem its going 'live ' in ten minutes and it really has  ! ! !  can't believe how quick things move today, but they are super efficient EA's and the chap is really good at his job, even if he did get a bit wet 


JackieO xx

flamingo747

I can't be the only one absolutely desperate to see JackieO's house online  

Not much decluttered, though I wish junior Flamingo would stop decluttering stationery at school, I'm going to have to start buying more to replace it! Mostly I have just tidied and cleaned today

Happy birthday QueenJess
Hope DSis gets well soon MrsSD

Floss

flamingo747 said:

I can't be the only one absolutely desperate to see JackieO's house online  

Me too - am very nosey!

Brie

Pleased that the big BIY shop took my returns without a fuss.  I had the receipt for 2 items and one had the packaging this side of shredded when I purchased it.  The third item I didn't have the receipt but the nice (almost as old as me) chap said no problem and gave me a refund for the first 2 and a credit note for the third.  Unfortunately they didn't have the other things I needed to buy so will go to a different shop over the weekend and pick up the new bin and toilet seat.  (not to be used together....)