Declutter Day 35

Today has been a fairly good day for decluttering. I have several meetings this week (inservice training for teachers), so I have someone coming to my home to sit with my little one. I've decided instead of dusting so many things that it is time to get rid of some of those items. Here is what I've decluttered today:

• small basket that I really didn't like
• baby photo albums with no pictures (I got several of these and never used most of them - sending out to someone else to enjoy)
• books that we no longer read or enjoy
• decorative pillows that seem to be thrown on the floor all the time - we tend to just move them out of our way to sit down - who ever thought a couch needs 4 pillows? - where do you sit??
• sugar container that doesn't match our kitchen
• clothes that no longer fit (I didn't have to dust around these but I'm sending them out anyway)
• kids table and chairs set - we bought our 5 year old a real desk a few weeks ago and he loves it - he'll be starting kindergarten this fall and needed a "big boy" desk

So I think I'm getting back on track. These items will be taken to our local church thrift store tomorrow and be out of here.

Declutter Days 32, 33 and 34

This week we have been camping out at our old place because my son loves to go to Vacation Bible School at his grandmother's church. We are also planning a vacation for July. So I combined these two activities and have been decluttering the camper. I worked on it for three days (just in the afternoons). Here is the progress that I was able to make:

Day 32 (Tuesday, June 9):

• went through all the bed linens and organized by size
• pulled out all beach towels to be laundered
• removed heavy blankets (we won't be needing those at the beach in July)
• removed trash from under the main bedroom bed (these were items that had been used and we were saving the packaging for some reason??)

Day 33 (Wednesday, June 10):

• trashed old food and drink items from storage areas in the eating area (closed in benches provide storage) - these were out of date for too long
• organized bathroom storage cabinet (this is a small area and has to be kept neat and tidy or nothing fits - which is where it had gotten)
• decluttered toys from top bunk bed and under the bottom bunk bed
• organized toys that would be staying in the camper into bins
• replaced folding chairs (we had these in the car for t-ball games) and folding table under bottom bunk bed

Day 34 (Friday, June 12):

• decluttered kitchen cabinets
• trashed more old items that were out of date
• started a list of items that will be needed for trip in July

I didn't take any pictures because most of these areas are small and you wouldn't have been able to tell much about them. I did find a picture of the camper that we had taken earlier so I put it in.

I still have several areas to go through, but at least this has been started and won't require so much time right before we go on vacation.

5 Things I Can Live Without Thursday

Is it Thursday already? With Vacation Bible School and swimming lessons this week, we have been on the move (literally). Of course, the two are 40 miles apart and we have been commuting back and forth. It's been a great week, just busy.

This Thursday's 5 Things I Can Live Without is centered around cleaning out my car (since that is what I have been concentrating on lately). Over at Organized Junkie, this month's task is the organize those vehicles.

Here are the 5:

1. toys, toys and more toys (who ever came up with the idea that toys in the car was a good idea??)


2. crayons (THEY MELT IN THIS FLORIDA HEAT!!)


3. junk mail - yes, I have been housing it in the car to keep it out of the house.


4. shoes, shoes, and more shoes (these, just like the toys, seem to multiply in the car).


5. jackets and sweaters (I don't even remember the last time we wore these this year. Why are they still in the car?)

Join in and list your 5 Things. Since Mr. Linky doesn't appear to be cooperating today, just leave a comment with your link.

5 Things I Can Live Without Thursday

I have been so busy this week with the end of school that I almost forget about my new meme. Join me today for 5 Things I Can Live Without.

1. All the packing materials that seem to come with just about everything (especially toys). I hate having to throw out so much stuff just because I bought something. I have really started looking at how much packaging and excess materials something has before I buy it.
2. Sand - we have had a good bit of rain the last few days (which I'm not complaining about). My complaint is all the sand that damp feet bring in that has to be gotten rid of on my laminate floors. Some days I feel like all I do is vacuum.
3. Ants!! They came in when it was dry and now they are coming in when it is raining. We haven't left any food items out, but they are still everywhere. I even have those tiny, sugar ants in the bathroom. What could they possibly find in there with sugar? The toothpaste?
4. Using my dryer everyday. I have found that I can do this by using the drying racks and clotheslines. Even on rainy days, I can dry clothes inside and not have to use the dryer. Yippee!! This will be good when that electric bill for all the extra air conditioning comes in.
5. Dusting! I know, I know! You really can't live without this, but it was a nice thought. You know to never have to dust again - heavenly!!

Now link up and join in. Share your 5. (Hopefully, Mr. Linky is happy today!)

Declutter Day 31

Tonight I was able to go through several stacks of junk mail, bills, statements, etc. and get some filing done. I worked on getting the master bedroom finished as well. We've finally gotten all the furniture in and set up. So I spent some time lining the drawers and putting away laundry. I also hung a clock that I had bought and never really decided where it should go. It was just taking up residence in the spare bedroom, but now it is hung in the master bedroom and I love it! Hopefully, tomorrow I can post my master bedroom pictures.

Earlier in the day I had a meeting at which I arrived about 15 minutes early. It was raining really hard, so I didn't want to get out of my car until the rain slowed down or stopped. I decided to use that time and a plastic bag that we all seem to have too many of to gather up the trash. When I got back to my work, I threw the bag away. My car isn't completely decluttered, but all the trash is gone.

All in all, today has been a good day for decluttering!

Work On It Wednesday - Do It Now List

Sometimes decluttering and keeping things organized and straight can be very overwhelming. I tend to forget how a short period of time can change an area. So I made what I call a Do It Now List. This list is just a list of tasks (that continually need to be done and take less than 10 minutes). It hangs on my refrigerator. It includes things like:

1. Pay a bill
2. File something
3. Put shoes away
4. Declutter a section of a drawer, cabinet, etc.
5. Play with child (fun things need to be on the list, too)
6. Put away some laundry
7. Fold some laundry
8. Put a load of laundry in washer
9. Wipe one counter
10. etc., etc., etc.

I don't get hung up trying to clean an entire area. I just do the next thing on the list. You can create your own list with checkboxes (or if you email me I'll be glad to send you mine). I've found that breaking it down into smaller chunks makes it more doable for me. I don't spend time procrastinating about everything that needs to be done. Instead, I'm actually doing something. Plus looking at all those items that I have checked off gives me a real sense of accomplishment. When the list is completed, I put up another one and start all over again.

This really works for our home. To see more Work on It Wednesday, visit Organized Junkie. There are some great ideas there.

Declutter Day 30

Tonight was the last t-ball game of the season and we've almost reached the end of our school year, so I'm hoping to get more decluttering done. I need to make a list of all the places that still need some major decluttering and pick one place per day.

Today I was able to go through the stack of papers that Boo brought home from school (it was more than a stack - it was actually a paper sack full). We pulled out the items that we wanted to save and put the others aside to go to grandparents for their refrigerators or walls or whatever.

I also got my purse and wallet decluttered. It didn't take much time, but it was past due so to speak. Now I know where my library card is and where my movie rental card can be found. I thought I had lost those two items.

See why it's important to declutter? You never know what you may find. Personally, I'm hoping to find money stashed somewhere that I have forgotten. A $20 bill would be nice to find tucked away somewhere. I think I'll go check my wallet and the side pocket of my purse once more just to be sure that all the spaces have been decluttered and clean.