2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Soontobeoap

DH had a busy bowls week last week but has been around this week and kicked into the job list I gave him
 He got a few more stamps and the last Christmas cards to post have left the house. He bought up the 3 bags of shoes that we had sorted and put down the shed when we decorated living room and needed more room in the house. 7 more pairs of shoes ditched. If we haven't needed them for 6 months I don't think we will now. Some were my favourites and you could tell by the very thin soles and ropey inner. I do t know why I kept them in the first place.
Counting as half a bin bag.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Sunday has been a crisp, bright day with a high of 11°C (feeling 5°colder) & a low of 7°C When I was clearing out the garage freezer I found some rhubarb & cooked apple which has been made into a crumble 🤤 I have spent the day knitting & watching junk TV. Dinner was leg of lamb, roast potatoes & carrots, green beans & cauliflower 🤤 + I found some lamb gravy in the freezer 🥳 I am not a great lover of lamb but even I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wudupa.

2295 - 2300 Kitchen recycling, completed Sudoku book, booklet, leaflet, cardboard box, drinks cans - recycled 

2301 Kitchen detritus - binned 

TC77, going out with my colleagues is one of the few things I miss about work 😉 although I preferred events organised at other times of the year 🙂 Some great decluttering 👏 Good luck with your clothing sort out, as well as your decluttering sessions with DD1 & your cousin 🍀 You are forgiven for wombling a couple of chairs as you have been so good throughout the year 😊

Green_hopeful, the ‘Lonely Jars’ full of sweeties are lovely gifts 😊

weenancy, I see your roommates are still as inconsiderate as ever 😞 Although I do hope Di is OK & that her dose of flu is short lived 🤞How lovely that your best friend called & you had such a long chat 🥹 Hopefully you put the world to rights 😉 Some great decluttering 👏 Good luck with your Excel exam 🍀

TC77 some good steady decluttering 👏 Very kind of DD1 to offer to help with the decluttering 😊 but please don’t let her bully you 🙏

Liverpool_Anne, what a very busy Friday 🤩 Sealing off post boxes 🤔 what an extremely odd & annoying thing to do 😖 Good luck clearing down the emails🍀

MadamMim2013, excellent work decluttering your “mum’s puzzle mountain” 👏 

Lovely treats for your birthday 🥹 Hope you have a lovely time 😊

Excellent decluttering vulpix 👏 With all that hard work sorting out your new home, I do hope you are finding some time to relax 🙏 Good luck getting your Christmas trees up & decorated 🍀

Excellent decluttering Pennypincin 👏 although a shame about the flower seeds being infested 🤢 

Muddy_Walker,so pleased to hear that the cake was a success ☺️

suzeesu2000, yippee to the raised beds finally being empty 🥳 a medal 🏅 is on its way 🙂 Thanks for the reminder about cheap veggies 👏

Lovely to see you Chocolatedrinker 👋 Absolutely brilliant decluttering 👏 I have been very remiss in making awards 😔 so here goes…….two missing Gold Stars  ⭐️ ⭐️ up to 1180, plus another Gold Star ⭐️ up to 1641 plus a 4th Gold Star ⭐️ for passing your target of 2025 & reaching 2145 - Congratulations 🥳  I am also awarding you Three medals 🏅🏅🏅 - one for using up so many toiletries, one for using up so many candles & the third one for donations to CS & food bank 👏

Excellent work TC77 👏 Sounds like you are getting organised & in recognition of that I am awarding you a medal 🏅 

vulpix, gorgeous picture 😻 

So much for catching up 😔 but I have made a dent at least 😮‍💨 Sleep tight 😴 

P.S. apparently it is my 8 year anniversary of being on MSE - I just got a badge 🙊 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍🥇🥇 💐 🏆 ⭐️🌟💐⭐️⭐️

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️🏅🏅⭐️😇🏅🥇 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2301/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

MadamMim2013

Morning @Mrs_Salad_Dodger congrats on your 8 year anniversary 🥳🥂🎊

Re-set day for me, shopping for us, though not too much, basics and a few items for lunchboxes during the week..
Want to clean out under the stairs today.. it’s bothering e every time I open the door 😬

@Soontobeoap we had a shoe infestation here too 🤣  3 grown men with size 10 feet and far too many shoes/trainers/slippers.. 😱 Asked everyone do a shoe review (even did one myself 🫣) Lots got re-homed, some pairs between each other 🙄🤣 yet it was an eye opener for them, as they’d kept pairs with cracked bottoms/holes in? (now recycled).

Struggling with fluid retention and heart flutters, frustrated and anxious which doesn’t help it.. 
Have a treadmill now (gift from DS1) so will be attempting 10/20 min here and here throughout the day to keep me moving while doing admin.. 
Listening to my fave podcast while planning the day, lunch made for hubster and calendars updated..

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, reasonable day yesterday. 3 LDFPA, handbag sorted and the pile of carp accumulated in it was binned / recycled, bedroom recycling, kitchen recycling, 2 cardboard boxes recycled, the reindeer food I got from the pop up shop was finally put on the bird table rather than sitting on my computer table and getting in the way 😂. I then had a forage in the loft for the wood filler and paint brushes. Now the understairs cupboard is a toilet I am going to have to find a place for the diy stuff to live. I put it in the loft but it's just not practical to have to go up and down every time you need something. The landing has to be cleared to get the ladder down and that is where the maiden is at this time of year, I will have a ponder about that. 2 loads of washing were put  on the maiden after I had put the loft ladder away 😂.
Had a bit of a discussion with OH about meals and meal planning. OH's ideal meal is pie and chips 🙄 which is ok maybe once a week but there are just so many things that I like that OH just doesn't like it can be hard work. Last night I did sweet potato and butternut squash rosti, OH thought it was carrot and initally refused it. OH doesn't eat carrots or any vegetables really whereas I am vegetarian and love them 😂. Further discussion will have to be had 😂.

@Muddy_Walker oh yes Delia's are always good 😁

@regnbue sounds like a plan but things like soft plastic are still clutter if you collect them and then make the effort to recycle them appropriately. I recently saw a video of a lady who saved all her plastic bags, shopping bags, bread bags etc to reuse but had so many you could hardly move in her kitchen for them 😁. I get what you are saying though about wanting to be ruthless and I have faith you will succeed 😁. The book sounds very interesting, might give that a look 😁

@Soontobeoap shoes are quite tricky, they lurk in unexpected places 😂 and you just never know when you might need / want that particular pair 😂. 

@MadamMim2013 please take care of yourself, hugs

Right time for another cuppa and then get something done 😁
Hugs to everyone who would like one

1658 - 1660 LDFPA
1661 handbag clear out
1662 bedroom recycling
1663 kitchen recycling
1664 & 1665 cardboard boxes
Take care everyone
1665/2025

Wednesday2000

I'm having a clear out of my wardrobe again as a local organisation wants donations of coats, scarves etc... and I thought I would go through my clothes again and anything else I don't want can be dropped off to a charity shop.

I went to a soundbath yesterday held in a church. It was really lovely and the payments we made went to a local breast cancer charity. 

I am quite busy this week as I have a class, a show, meeting a friend to go to the cinema and then going on three walks as long as the weather stays good. I will check the weather now as I might not go on all three of them!

There isn't much happening today apart from decluttering so I want to finish one of my library books today as I will be going past there this week to drop it off.

Green_hopeful

Started on our top floor bedroom decorating. The ceiling has quite a few cracks and i was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get them filled nicely but i needn’t have worried because the paint came off, so I don’t have cracks i just need to remove the rest of the paint. Not sure why it just came off but I guess whoever decorated it didn’t mist coat the ceiling when it was plastered. I sanded quite a bit of the very glossy and yellow wood. I am now going to declutter the dust from me. 

Wednesday2000

I finished my book group book and added two coats to the donation bag for the local community centre. I made up a donation bag for the hospice charity shop, including a Christmas jumper. My husband is just taking it now. I will drop the other bag off tomorrow.

Rootle

48/52 - 2 jumpers beyond the point of donating to the bin.

49/52 - 2 tops, unused apron, skirt, scarf, jeans and trousers to charity recycling. 

50/52 - DH's walking trousers to charity recycling. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Monday is a dark overcast day with a forecast high of 11°C (feeling 5° colder due to the northerly wind) & a low of 10°C but still unseasonably warm. DSis is having a bath, DH is in the office having a ponder on a quiz I gave him (borrowed from Countdown 😉) - There are five countries which when written down in capital letters have NO letters that can be coloured in. Please name them. Anyway back to it, I am starting the cheerleading for posts dated Sunday the 14th: 

London_1, thank you for sharing your family with us 🥹 Such a joy to read about DGS Henry’s gf Jade, she sounds lovely 🥹 Sounds like you might have to buy two new hats 😉 A pity it was such a short visit 😔 I will keep my fingers crossed that DGS Jack meets a nice young lady 🤞 Hope you have a lovely time at the U3A Christmas Social 😊 

GrannyKate, yippee to potentially having 2 tables to declutter 🥳 Hopefully DIL will be able to sell them 🤞Loved This “Yesterday started with a literal cat and mouse game as Sox came in with his first mouse.  Pretty little thing and seemed unharmed although probably terrified.  After a bit of a chase I caught it in a teatowel and released it away from the house.  I hope it survived.  Sox was very unhappy and spents hours searching for it.  Seems to have forgotten about it this morning.” ☺️ especially as you managed to rescue the mouse 😇 Just wondering if there are any more grandchildren 😉 DGS4 & DGD4 🤩

Broke off here as the window cleaner turned up. Had a lovely chat with his wife who has now fully recovered from her operation which dealt with a long term chronic condition 😮‍💨 Not sure if I mentioned that when we had the torrential rain it was evident that the guttering at the back of the house needed clearing so the window cleaner is currently doing that. He showed me a photo & the gutter is full the whole width of the house 😟 All done & paid for 🙂  DSis has just gone out to post a parcel - I just hope that the P.O. isn’t too busy as she will come back in a foul mood 🤞

Liverpool_Anne, pleased to hear that you enjoyed the footy - a good result 😊 Wonderful cheerleading ☺️

vulpix, excellent work with the Christmas trees 👏 & hopefully DD1 will have time to help with the last Christmas tree 😉 fair return for a lovely lunch ☺️ Fingers crossed that the weather stays dry for the gardener 🤞

Muddy_Walker, I liked This “……..Dad just leaves her to it……” 🙊 

Excellent decluttering canvascamper 👏 I also noticed (from your signature) how well you are doing on your debt decluttering 👏 a medal 🏅 is on its way 🙂

daisy_1571, I was curious as well 🧐 

QueenJess, so sorry to hear that you have been so unwell 😞 I do hope you are on the mend 🙏 Excellent decluttering 👏 & great work sorting the freezer ready for Christmas goodies 👏 Thanks for stocking up the TLC Carriage - I had a small portion of the hm cottage pie 😋 followed by a couple of melt in the mouth hm shortbread biscuits 🤤 

Pennypincin, nothing cheeky about regifting 😊 & I admire how quickly you are doing it 👏

Excellent decluttering regnbue 👏 and yippee to using up a mousse 🥳 I have made a note of your aims for next year & am looking forward to cheering you on 😊 That book “Die Zero” sounds very interesting 🧐 

TC77, you still managed a good amount of decluttering 👏 

Excellent decluttering of shoes Soontobeoap 👏

Thanks MadamMim2013 ☺️ I hadn’t realised it was quite so long 😉 Love that Soontobeoap’s big shoe declutter prompted you to do your own big shoe declutter 👏 your description of a “shoe infestation” did make me grin 😁 So sorry to hear about your health issues 😔 Hopefully using the treadmill will help you on the road to recovery 🙏 Sending lots of gentle cwtches 🤗 

A busy Sunday Liverpool_Anne & you got a lot of decluttering done 👏 Re the decorating tools, depending on how much you have is there a space in a shed or garage (if you have them) 🤔 My first thought on reading This “Had a bit of a discussion with OH about meals and meal planning. OH's ideal meal is pie and chips 🙄 which is ok maybe once a week but there are just so many things that I like that OH just doesn't like it can be hard work. Last night I did sweet potato and butternut squash rosti, OH thought it was carrot and initally refused it. OH doesn't eat carrots or any vegetables really whereas I am vegetarian and love them 😂. Further discussion will have to be had 😂” was that your OH is a very fussy eater, more like a child 🙊😉 I wish you luck with your ‘further discussion’ 🍀 More great cheerleading 😊

Wednesday2000, how kind of you to go through your wardrobe again to see if you have any cold weather clothes to donate 🥹 The sound bath sounds interesting 🤔 You definitely have a busy week planned so I hope you can find some time to just relax 🤞

Excellent work with the decorating Green_hopeful 👏 I am so impressed that I am awarding you a medal 🏅 What a relief that there were no cracks in the ceiling 😮‍💨 just poor decorating by the previous owner ☹️ 

Excellent decluttering Wednesday2000 👏

Excellent decluttering Rootle 👏

All caught up 😮‍💨 DSis has just got back - only 3 people in the queue at the P.O. but had long waits for buses & at the pharmacy ☹️ She was out for 90 minutes so not too grumpy when she got back 😮‍💨 I will do a bit of knitting before starting dinner.

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍🥇🥇 💐 🏆 ⭐️🌟💐⭐️⭐️

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️🏅🏅⭐️😇🏅🥇 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2301/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

BlueJ94

Evening all! Myself and OH bought radiators for Christmas instead of a main present each.. my room of doom is looking rather chaotic again but thats only due to the fact that he has to rip the flooring up to run pipe through the floor down into the kitchen for the radiator to be fitted! I think OH likes to give me heart palpitations being so close to Christmas 🤣

Not much else happening, I still have my cold two weeeeks later!