Hint: there's not really a leaf blower in that box.
I started getting twitchy the day after Christmas...just too much *stuff* out around here! I think the piles of new toys bestowed upon the girls by well-meaning grandparents just made the situation worse. During naptimes, I've been stealthily going through toy bins in the addition, weeding through stuff that hasn't seen the light of day in months. I have a nice pile of toddler sized clothes in the girls' room that needs to be cataloged before I can stuff it in the donate box as well.
As for my own closet...I went on a huge clothing binge a few years ago and donated dozens and dozens of pairs of pants, sweaters, tops, you name it. I came to the conclusion that not only was I no longer a size 6, a lot of the outfits were dated. There were hundreds of dollars worth of clothes that got sent to Salvation Army. I don't have nearly what I used to on my side of the closet, but it's feeling stuffy again...time to purge!
I noticed that my cabinets were starting to feel a bit cluttered. When I took a closer look, I saw that I had a whole pile of mugs that hadn't been used in ages. And I do mean ages. T rarely drinks coffee at home, and no one mama needs 256 mugs to make mochas at home. So I did some editing. These guys didn't make the cut:
I've learned that when you start feeling claustrophobic and you know you need to get rid of some stuff, it's best not to over-analyze. If it hasn't been used or worn in a year, it's gone. I've been tossing things right and left...and it feels so good!
My cabinets are thanking me, and I hope to soon receive a note of thanks from the family room...once I sort through the top layer of Christmas gifts that are still strewn every which way.
{Have you started any New Year's decrapification (to borrow from Sarah)?}
You sound like you are on a roll, how about hopping on over here and purging my cabinets and closets?
ReplyDeleteMegan
I need to purge -in a big way. Hope I find the energy, soon! thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDelete-Trish
Isn't it funny that "decrapification" is just exactly the right word? Of course, all our stuff wasn't "crap" when we first got it. It was valuable stuff. I need to get better about getting rid of stuff that USED TO BE valuable to me. Time to let my cupboards and closets breathe, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes!!!! I hope to be right behind you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder- I should really do some decluttering today while the hubby is on a business trip! That way he won't be around to argue with me about how we really need to keep 17 skuzzy 10-year-old oven mitts!
ReplyDeleteNothing feels better than a good purge - of home stuff that is. We did a big round before Christmas. Yay for you!
ReplyDeleteI am in a constant state of "what can I get rid of?" lol Drives husband nuts sometimes, but it makes me feel so much better to get rid of all the extra crapola that we just don't need. I went through my kitchen right before Christmas and realized that I had 6 sets of measuring spoons. Is that not insane?! Now I have one. lol
ReplyDeleteWe actually started cleaning out before Christmas! My hubby and I purged our closet of probably three big garbage bags of clothes that all got donated, and I cleaned out all the baby clothes Eli has outgrown to donate too. Now I just need to get busy on the toys!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I desperately need to do this! Our closet rod actually collapsed a few weeks ago because of the weight of crappy old clothes. Sad, but true. I need to take a cue from you and decrapify!
ReplyDeleteI have been doing some purging in our home, i dropped off a truck load last week to goodwill. seems everyone had that idea bc stuff was overflowing from the donation door. I am about to tackle the front closet... it will be a tough one considering it has sentimental things like our lettermans and my wedding dress.
ReplyDeletei got new dishes so i cleaned out the old ones and put the new ones in, but that's as far as i got-i have so many cabinets, closets and drawers to clean out-i need some motivations!
ReplyDeleteMy husband swore me a solemn oath a couple months ago that the basement would be cleaned out by the first of the year. He's not quite done...almost...but lots and lots of crap that we have been moving around from house to house for the last 15 years or so is gone. It's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am in constant "purge mode," and yet stuff still piles up. For me it's decorating stuff...I need to buckle down and get rid of extra knick knacks :)
ReplyDeleteGood job!
Whew Amanda!! Andrew and I just did this together and my goodness we had an ENTIRE carload, back seat and truck FULL of things. It's insane!! We donated it all too! Felt so good to cleanse ourselves hehe Happy New Year love bug xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhew I am looking forward to starting that process soon. I start a couple boxes and they are "saved" for the annual yard sale I do with my girlfriends in the spring!
ReplyDeleteI've been purging, too. It's pretty refreshing. I should do my mugs, now that I think of it. =)
ReplyDeleteCleaning out feels so good! I hope that you accomplished a lot and that your leaf blower box is full and in your car to be dropped off at SA.
ReplyDeleteYeppers! I have been purging and will continue with it today. This whole week probably! Ha!
ReplyDeleteLove the process!
Hugs
SueAnn
Oh my gosh, I totally have! It crept up on me and I woke up one day and all I saw was CRAP! So, I'm throwing away/getting rid of 1 item a day ... at least! And anytime I get something new, I have to get rid of something. I'm so tired of SO MUCH STUFF! Here's to decrapification!
ReplyDeleteMy husband says I am the OPPOSITE of a hoarder ... that I give away or throw away way too many things. I can't help it! I love to purge our house of all the stuff we don't or can't use. Perhaps that's a compulsion in itself! I don't know. But I do know that without me, my three kids would be buried under 11 levels of crap. :)
ReplyDelete