plan
 

Hello

I have a dishpan soaking in the sink and I've washed some clothes and they are in the dryer now.

It's a start.

I want to do three dishpans of dishes today. UPDATE: 3rd load in hot water in the sink. Two loads washed, one drying and one put away.

I want to do three loads of laundry today. UPDATE: 3rd load in washer. Two loads washed, folded and put away.

I want to deal with three boxes in the bedroom, though I am toying with putting the Martha Stewart shelf together. This requires DH and I to do it together so... we'll see where we get on that. I guess my alternate bedroom plan will be the three boxes if we don't agree to assemble the cube shelf. I suspect the stuff in some of those boxes would find a home on some of the cube shelf shelves so I think that should be done first--but really it's 6 of one, half dozen of another you know? UPDATE: I have not even considered doing any boxes and DH is VERY resistant to tackling the Martha Stewart shelf. I may do it on my own sometime this week.

I used to get flylady emails daily. I totaly agree with the clean sink, shined up. I also know that getting dressed to shoes for the day really does make you feel like you "mean business". I just rarely do it.

Addt'l UPDATE: I feel like I have spent the whole day doing household chores Cooking three meals, doing laundry, doing dishes, cleaning veggies from the garden. It makes me feel cranky. My weekends are always all work-the opposite of DH's schedule. Oh well. I need a serious attitude adjustment. Perhaps it will come after our yummy cooked from scratch dinner. And if not, OH WELL, there's always tomorrow.

onebyone, I like your increments of three! I'm really going to give a go with some new habits, inspired by FL...While I do recognize that in the long run her idea surrounding the fact that our clutter didn't happen overnight and it's not going to be repaired overnight either, I think I would like to progress a bit more quickly with some general improvements. While I progress with my general improvements (in 15 min. blocks) I am going to start studying her plan and work some new habits in.

My DH doesn't mind doing things if he has a list. I'm going to make two master lists today-one for my hotspots and another for hotspots for him. He does help create many of the "messes" and one small chore a day will make 7 big improvements a week X2 if I do one per day, as well. I'll post them after I make the list....accountability!

Not sure what to do today. Finished packing my "Senior College Son" and he is off to college 3 hours away.

Our whole family volunteered moving rock and cleaning a backyard yesterday. It was for a home for young women who are homeless and it is faith based. When we finished with that project, we were called to go to another part of town to help with the "boys shelter" as a family of 4 didn't show up. We worked there for 2 hours and one of the church volunteers made the comment that my boys tied the tree brush bundles too loose so we were out of string. Then he proceeded to complain and re-do some of their work. For some reason that just ticked me off to high heaven. Here we are helping out ( volunteer) doing hard work and you have to complain how we are doing it. It must be my maternal mama bear side that flared up.

Thanks for letting me vent that because we did good work as a family and enjoyed the time giving of ourselves. I am glad that I didn't get feisty in the moment as It could have sent my value of doing the project right out the door.

Still regrouping will post next steps later.

OneonOne, great job on completing your tasks. I agree that it is a balance on the weekends between rest and personal chores. I sometimes find myself getting resentful when I do the laundry, fold it and no one puts their clothes away.

Lexxiss: Would love it if you shared your accountability list. It may spur me on to do something. Also, here to listen, watch and cheer you on with your home organization/declutter projects.

I watched hoarding while I ran yesterday. It made me so sick with all the bugs that were on the food and refrigerator. Almost too much. I found myself spraying for spiders around the basement windows. yikes!!

is this change happening or what??
 

Hello.

I just completed a sinkful of dishes. credit. and plan on doing one more today: pots, pans and glass baking dishes. I finished the three sinkfuls yesterday and the 3 loads of laundry too. credit

Today I am moving the Martha Stewart shelf unit into the bedroom so I can attempt to assemble it tomorrow. I need to make some space for it in there. I plan to go through one moving box that's in the bedroom today, and to do one more load of laundry. If it bothers me too much I may try to assemble the shelf but it's a two person job. I don't know how ambitius I am today.

It all feels like a drop in the bucket . I'm feeling discouraged with my progress. I feel like I'm going over the same ground again and again, not really going forward, just barely even staying still. Oh well. I'm still 3 loads of laundry and 4 sinkfuls of dishes further than the day before yesterday. I'll remember that today.

If Anyone Sees The Person Who Painted My Bathtub Let Me Know!!!!!!
 

Yes, onebyone, change is happening. Kudos for moving forward.

Rachel, thanks for venting...I had an incident today which was someone elses' dumb behaviour.(just like your guy) I had to breathe...and breathe...and not take my initial anger any further. I walked away and didn't take their negative energy.

I will report...it was a very busy day. I am committed, and yet, I am nowhere near being able to breeze through the FlyLady assignments, yet I understand that and did my best. I did change my addl. room to the office, which is where her focus is this week. Funny, I had already decided to change before reading...deciding my DH could help clean the TV room AND I really wanted more work done in "my space."

Today, I: (all FL stuff)
~emptied trash cans...
~changed sheets
~dealt with piles on both sides of computer
~dusted cobwebs of ceilings in both rooms
~decluttered for 15 min (actually more)
~did two hotspots

Additionally, I:
~dusted living room furniture (something I was going to originally do BEFORE putting back after carpet install)
~cleared a drawer downstairs for my keys, cell charger, ipod, etc.
~found and dealt with a lingering odor in the bathroom which has been bugging me for weeks now.
IF ANYONE SEES THE PERSON WHO PAINTED THE BATHTUB LET ME KNOW!!!!!!
It's an old tub and a renter painted it :rollpin: to make it look better. It peels away in small pieces and we have a mat on the bottom 'cause you can't stand to stand on it (we only shower would never take a bath yuk). There was mold under pieces of paint and on the bottom of the mat. The good news is that the wall isn't rotting or water is under the dumb linoleum. I had thought that might be the problem.
I peeled off more paint and used the flylady technique for soaking w/bleach, etc. credit credit credit
~I attempted to put the glass back on the bathroom light, a procrastination project. Ends up the reason DH left it off is because it's broken. I started to try some great fix and recognized that my energy would be better used somewhere else.

The bathroom WILL be my next reno, however, not right away. I need to save $$ and recover from the last project.

So, a somewhat long and frustrating evening with many rewards. I had a moment or two where I thought it would be much easier to just bag it and watch TV. I also recognized I would not be happy with myself and would be prone to frustration eating. credit for staying the course tonight. I want this and I know in my heart it takes plain 'ol hard work.

I do think that I'm at a point where doing the FL thing may really help me to identify areas which need improvement/fixing/etc. so that I can get to the point where I can maintain my progress on a regular basis.

I did pitch a bunch of small and insignificant stuff that I just didn't need to keep...extra combs, old lipstick, a vitamix CD, etc., and feel it helps me in my quest to not keep the stuff in the first place.

A major step forward to "owning my space" today.

Lexiss really really great job tackling so many issues! I can picture painting a bathtub, especially if I was renter, cause you can just move on.

Terrible, I know, but I'd want to paint it tangerine orange or tropical sea green or something. Don't tell me they did all that damage just to make it white or beige? Did they? I *really* want to know.

Flylady really focuses you. Glad it's exactly what you need right now.

No house-work on my agenda today.
I can't face it today.
*credit* for knowing "this is not an emergency", and also knowing that I will get back to it.

OnebyOne and Lexxiss: I can't thank you enough for starting this thread and sharing your process with me. I am amazed at the hard work you both have done.

I cleaned 2 levels of the house today. No need for details but I am planning a nap by 4pm. My new project was to bring all my pants from 2 closets into one area and I am trying them on to see size and fit. I have decided if they don't fit or fit into new designated space they are going out the door. I do have 3 sizes to choose from! Yikkes:) Food and exercise is on plan. I am going farther than I ever have on the treadmill with running. I have always hated exercise because of the breathing issue. Hopefully I am changing that up.

Hope you have a great rest of the week.

onebyone, I wish you had painted my tub....it would be a work of art. Sadly, it is off white/white and there is no rhyme nor reason as to the different colorings. Now you know...

Rachel, great that you are downsizing your pants collection. When I went through the closet several weeks ago I couldn't figure out why I had kept some of the stuff. I think that is an indication that I am changing.

Today: I did FL's project, which was washing down the bathroom door and the cupboards (I don't have many). My morning declutter was in the dining room (now our bedroom). It was trash day so I took a run through the yard and found several items that were beyond repair and just sitting around.

After work I was tired but decided to do just a little bit before dinner. The action energized me and I dealt with a hotspot, the kittys space. She has a fenced off area because the pup like to eat her food AND p**p from cat box. I figured since I had the vacuum out I would do the rest of that room and the kitchen. The space felt much better afterwards.

Very tired...goodnight. I am glad you are all here, too.

OneonOne I love how you used "this is not an emergency card". I feel the same way when I started my bedroom project. It will take weeks to get it where I want it. With my work schedule, I have big chunks of time to work on something, then I have to leave it for a few days. As long it is progression the right direction. I refused to do laundry today since I worked so hard yesterday.
Lexxiss says
Today: I did FL's project, which was washing down the bathroom door and the cupboards (I don't have many). My morning declutter was in the dining room (now our bedroom). It was trash day so I took a run through the yard and found several items that were beyond repair and just sitting around.

Thanks for sharing this. I was washing the bathroom door yesterday and said to myself "Who does this?". Then I read your post and had to chuckle. Weigh in date for the declutter diet is Tuesday around here aka asGarbage day!!!

I also went thru the garage and took a bicycle that my son ran over and is not fixable. A microwave from college that had a seen its last day. I also purged every drawer in the bathroom.

I unloaded the area, sorted like items, cleaned drawers and reloaded for a permanent home. One home for everything, like with like and if one thing comes in one goes out. Threw out perfumes that were 15 years old and purged lotions, hair products ect.

I took my son and daughter clothes shopping and didn't buy one thing. I haven't decluttered for about 5 years and I tend to keep things just to keep them. I am overjoyed with the cleaniness and space. My husband is going to be shocked when he gets home Friday as the bathroom was scrubbed, cleaned and organized. Felt good when I woke up today, wanted to hang out in there!

Off to get some work done. When Sam gets home tonight I will start the packing process with him.

Peter Walsh says:

Love what you have,
Have what you need,
and be happier with less.

It was a busy day between work and moving forward in "owning my space". After completion, I walked in the house, looked around and thought to myself, "this is hard work but I must work at it if I want to change my outcome." Checked my emails and had this quote from FL.
"in order to change my circumstance I have to change the behavior that caused it and I can't change behavior unless I change my mind".

Rachel, I notice parallels in our day. I did quite a bit of sorting and purging myself today. I am thinking the simple act of washing down a bathroom door may create a desire to keep moving forward. What do you think?

My "office" doubles as my clothing/personal item area. Last night, I had noticed my agitation at the state of my large chest of drawers. They no longer seemed to be organized right. I decided to go through them all this morning.
I found:
~Items to pitch, mostly my "at home" painting/work clothes
~Items to donate, which will be bagged and out of the house tomorrow
~Items I wasn't sure of how the'd fit. I will try them all on before my thrift store run.
~Items to keep, which are now reorganized and much easier to find.

We've been eating vegetarian and today our local food bank was open. I used to volunteer (pre-job) and my neighbor still does. I placed all meat and cream based soups in a box and set it by my neighbor's car before I left for work. I had meat in the freezer which the guy who helped with my lawn graciously took home. credit.

The yard kid had called yesterday looking for even an hour of work. I knew I would be tired this afternoon (and was) but had him come over anyway. We have a tool corner and I started decluttering. We filled my little toyota with metal(recyclable) and rubble (left over carpet) AND the old bed frame I had hauled off the porch several weeks ago. We went to the dump and it's all gone...he took home $40 and a bunch of meat and my project is done. credit.

For some odd reason, I had cleaned my computer screens last week, so FL chore was already done for today.

I am going to bed at a reasonable hour. I do believe that I will focus in my office again tomorrow morning and get things settled again. There has been quite alot of active moving of stuff the past few days. I would like to find a stopping point for the week so I can feel the new normal, with less stuff.

PS-Rachel, thanks for the quote.

:trampo:

Tomorrow I have to take my mom to a large eye clinic for her monthly appointment.

I just remembered:
Last month I took 10-15 magazines down and left them for "browsing". It felt good that they would have another use.

I haven't missed one of those magazines ALL month!

I was just looking at several different piles of mags today...what to do....

I'm going to go pack them up right now so I won't forget them! I'm going to send almost all of them off and see how I feel when next month comes.

If I really have to read a magazine I can stop by the library.

Lexxiss: I asked myself today what was the story my "indecision and ability to ignore" telling me......journaled on this awhile and then sunk into my new story of "Clarity and Simplicity". I think I was tuned out to these areas and tripping over stuff. I love your mantra "Owning your own space". I am a good support to my husband and my boss, but have been thinking what if I had a "Helping Rachel" in my own life. That is kind of my mindset lately on getting these chores done as I have the ability to do them, but really never had the drive.
I am glad you and onebyone are doing the same thing as it matters to me that I am changing my story with how I live. Good to share advice and adventures.

I love how you share with those around you....it is easier to let things go... what a satisfying trip to let go of those things that were not serving you. We do need help and encouragement. I might share some pictures in a few weeks after boys are off to college and things settle down. I have to admit, I am enjoying seeing less clutter and less to clean!

P.S. Reading the book by Karen Casey "Change your mind and your life will follow". Thinking outside the box for how to change things as the mind that got them that way needs a new groove. Maybe " Stella is getting a new cleaning Groove"!

It is good to share stories and adventures. I am completely alone in this big house but today I have support and encouragement to keep going. Rachel, I do believe the "tuning out" is a very real coping mechanism...whether it be regarding our weight or the clutter in our homes. Pondering on "Clarity and Simplicity", I was able to let go of a few more emotional items this morning.

Just this morning I "noticed" how dirty my beautiful coffee maker was. It was such a $$ investment for us and it makes us beautiful coffee every day. It took me over an hour to clean it and it's now on my "hotspot" list.

As I was choring, I was having a moment of frustration. I thought, "why is this so hard?" For me, the answer is actually very clear. I've collected and purged for years and have vascillated with different levels of cleanliness (kind of similar to my ups and downs with my weight). I am a beginner here...learning to maintain my (item) losses and finding a way to manage my time so that I can walk into each room in my home and "own" it's good feeling.

This is the first day in weeks that I've had to really think some home decisions through. In my office/personal room. I'll update.

ETA-Yesterday I said I would try on 7 clothing items and save or donate. 1-keep 6-donate :carrot:

omg.
 

Hello!

Lexxiss and helpingrachel...

I think you guys are coming to some kind of profound understanding about clutter. I see mental shifts happening, post after post. I feel *honoured* to witness such events. Thank you both for continuing to share your insights--it takes effort to write it all down and press send so I want you to know I am a grateful audience.

And helpingrachel I too appreciate the quote and have made it my new avatar. It applies to weight as much as it applies to stuff. So thanks.

My own efforts are stalled, again. But, again, I have deadlines to meet. I'm all set to binge-work today, I have ideas, went out and walked to the store this morning for supplies *credit* and am getting ready to get to it. I will probably work right until I go to bed tonight but when I install my small paintings tomorro I know it will be awesome. I can *feel* it. *credit*

DH has let me know that I have permission to "order him" to help with stuff around the house. We are moving way more in sync now, working much more like the team of yore. *phew* I say. His "condition" has a silver lining to be sure! Who knew?
:shrug:

So, in terms of decluttering/clean up, I commit to cleaning up after myself today. I can start there, by not making or leaving things worse!

Bye!

OnebyOne: I don't think that when work deadlines are on the horizon, it necessarily is a "stall". Next week I am out at clients for the day and I know that I will not be able to give the focus or efforts on the house that I can do this week. The key for me is to be flexible but not to lose sight of the committed action toward the goal of have a decluttered space. Hope your day was one full of creativity and expression. I love your new Avatar!!

Lexxiss: Hope all went well with your Mother's eye appointment. I love the fact that you realized how important your coffee maker is to you and how it got upgraded to your hotspot list. I don't think I could function without morning coffee, I swear that gets me out of bed sometimes.

I love the breakdown of your clothing purge. Try on 7---only one kept. I have always wondered how much do we really need to have a functional wardrobe. . I am breaking my clothes up by use....I have to wear suits 2 days a week and then casual dress on days from home. I just want to find something when I am looking for it and take the "thought out of it"....like with like.

I like the comparison of diet/food plan to declutter plan. If I don't keep up with daily routines, I will gain back the declutter weight!

Peace, clarity and simplicity sent your way.

I agree! I do, however, have one rule which helps on days when I'm not working on a house project. If an object is in my hand then it goes all the way to it's final destination.
~if I carry a pop can from upstairs I don't leave it on the kitchen counter
~if I open something with a wrapper the discard goes all the way to the trash.
I figure everytime I leave something mid stream it is doubling the work.

onebyone, when your work is finished you'll be able to binge work on your home. I'm happy to hear your DH has offered assistance for two reasons. It did take two to create it and having help is just incredible. My DH has helped lots....(advise-take it or leave it). My DH and I both have pretty strong opinions which are often different. He cleaned out his stuff I do mine but I always ask for help when it's time to load the car or the trash.

Rachel, my ''rules" regarding clothes now....
~must fit in allotted space (closet and large chest of drawers)(no boxes or bags)
~must fit or be super special in a smaller size (one I know I can eventually fit into)
My emotional saves are down to just a few
~my wedding dress (not traditional)
~my Dad's favorite Harris Tweed
~my very expensive inflatible coat for Alaska
~my Mom's 60 yr. old Navajo dress (will never fit me)
Wow! That's it, even I'm surprised.

I persisted today and hauled out a bunch. When I knew time was running short I put everything back in order. credit

Moms appt was fine....time for dinner

Rachel, my ''rules" regarding clothes now....
~must fit in allotted space (closet and large chest of drawers)(no boxes or bags)
~must fit or be super special in a smaller size (one I know I can eventually fit into)
My emotional saves are down to just a few
~my wedding dress (not traditional)
~my Dad's favorite Harris Tweed
~my very expensive inflatible coat for Alaska
~my Mom's 60 yr. old Navajo dress (will never fit me)
Wow! That's it, even I'm surprised.

I appreciate you sharing this. Your emotional saves have so much character and meaning.

I have lots to get rid of that simply are taking space, don't wear, but just haven't made a decision.

Taking the day to regroup once again. Grocery shopping and errand running this morning. Writing a presentation in afternoon. Packing to drive to 2 colleges tomorrow. House is clean and peaceful this morning.

Rachel, yay for a clean and peaceful home this morning. Mine, too. Acknowledging, onebyone, that this has been a long process with baby steps forward....acknowledging and sending support that you can do this, too!

I slept in this morning...getting some needed rest because I work againg tomorrow for 5 days and DH will be back when I return. I was going to spend the day at home but did a regroup also.

I need to go to Denver w/mom (she has a meeting) because I have things that can get accomplished there.
~banking
~go to bead store to get help finishing a restring which has been on my desk for a month
~pick up 2 picture frames for pics which have been on my piano for 3 years (pics of my Alaska view and beach from my home there)
~library-I want to p/u "Does This Clutter make my Butt look Fat" and the other book Rachel mentioned.
~find some rubber bottoms for the chair that is scratching my office floor

Every baby step takes me forward. When I return home I'll still have to do my FL chore (baseboards in bathroom-which are a mess) and get my car unloaded at thrift store.

I know I won't feel like those two things when I get home but I'll do them anyway.

together
 

Hello

Today and yesterday were spent binge-working and now I have 20 - 8"x10" paintings for the tea room to be installed on Monday. They are 10 sets of two, all called Tea for Two. Another reprieve for me but I am done save for the edges and I am solving that with hockey tape. Not painting all those edges this time. Just covering them with tape but I have to find the tape first. That's for Sunday.

So, the kitchen has fallen back down and we have eaten worse because I have not taken the time to cook. Maybe DH will lend a hand. Maybe not. Tomrrow I go to the farmers' market, leave here at 6am back at 2pm and then off downtown to vist the art show where I have 3 pieces of work amongst 600! The show closes on Sunday so I have to go tomorrow and take some video if they allow it and some pictures if they don't allow video.

I'll enjoy that but will be toast by the end of the day.

Thanks L and HR for confirming that I am not "stalled" but "working". :( I can just get so discouraged so very easily. My goal is to have the view from the picture window look "normal" when people peer in, which is pretty much everyday. For over ayear no9w all it looks like is a storage room and a messy one at that. Not even any "real" furninture to be seen.

*sigh*

Someday I'd like to have a grownup house.

Bye for now.

onebyone, I am just constantly in awe of your gift of art and your ability to get hyper-focused...creating more paintings in two days then I will ever accomplish in my entire life. credit! I'd love a snapshot of the tea room after everything is hanging.

I am really confident that you can take your ability/energy to "binge-work" and apply a similar technique to your home. Like with your 20 paintings, it may require several dedicated days, but like your paintings you will have an end result you can see with your eyes.

Me, finished my first week with FL. I did her suggested chores which didn't take much time. The chores seemed to make me more aware of taking care of other things.
Yesterday I bought a $2.84 paint sample (yellow) and painted the old dresser in my office. It's gigantic...was built by a tenant in that room...and would never get downstairs and out the front door in one piece. It looks better now. onebyone, this is my K_ey W_est room. It was painted a bright green and I didn't want to paint. Years ago I found some 6" wallpaper strips which reminded me of the end of the road. It has KW style vegetations, white picket fences and some reoccuring yellow bush..with a yellow border. Now the dresser matches the border.

credit, yesterday I finished every single chore in Denver...forgoing my usual solitary sit down lunch. Today my
~necklace is fixed
~my two photographs are framed
~I have the little felt pads for my chairs.
~I have the two library books I wanted.
My observation when I went into the library, bead store, bath store and craft store really relates to how I got to the space I was (formerly) into.
At each place, I had a mission, but I got distracted at each place.
~at the library, I wanted more books
~at the bead store I wanted to buy either a book or more beads
~at the craft store I wanted to look at baskets
~at the bed/bath store I actually had 4 kitchen sieves in my hand that I was ready to buy.

In each place, I came out with zero...other than what I had gone in for. I have work to do before I read more books, I have plenty of beads (and don't really "enjoy" the hobby (poor eyesight), baskets just store more stuff. I do legitimately need sieves but decided it would be much better to look/evaluate WHEN I can focus on THAT task.
credit
DH comes home this morning. I'll be working.

I did two tasks this morning I'd been putting off. I "felt" like my other stuff was done and I had time. For me, this seems like what my decluttering/owning my space is about.

Oneonone Great job on completing your project for the tea room. I agree with Lexxiss you could transfer some of those skills to home maintenance. I think the good news is that it is within and with some focus could be released for your own benefit/desires. I think having my home in order benefits me the most as I am the main caregiver. I like the feeling I am getting with 6 rooms purged and now what is kept is where the item's home is to be.

Lexxiss Something is in the air! I ran errands yesterday and tried to come home with things that were 75% off but it just didn't happen. This is how I know my thought patterns have changed. It felt really good to have my returns done, new silverware bought (old clean silverware is heading to college with boys). I am impressed that you painted your dresser to suit your decor. I love the southern most point in Key West. Such a quaint area and the beauty is endearing. I love the description of your room. Makes me want to have a beer and conch fritters. (oops, not on plan).

Hubby got home last night at 12 after birds hit his plane and he was rerouted to NY. He came home to find we had all Sam's stuff packed in the garage. Shock for him that we are ahead of the game. He just left to drive to CO. to drop him off. I am leaving in 1/2 to drive a kitchen table to my oldest son, Joe--3 hours.

Lexxiss Let me know what you think of the books. I hope they both have good insights.

Loaded dishes before bed last night and did a fly thru in the kitchen, that was an automatic thought and boy did it fell good to walk down to a clean kitchen.

transferable skills.
 

Lexxiss and Helping Rachel:

Thank you both for encouraging me to see that my super-focused binge work ethic could be transferred to decluttering and cleaning.

You are right of course. I need you two to remain positive for me as I just only feel "surface-positive". The confidence that I can actually declutter and organize and make my apartment feel like a place where I want to live vs. how I usually feel which is this is where I have to live, is still tough for me to maintain and I keep getting derailed. I have started and I have seen a few weeks where I was maintaining my kitchen and I did move my vanity into my closet and I have made some steps: *credit credit credit. I will hang onto the positives to move me forward once I have some time to dedicate to the process.

Very exhausted so I need to just go veg right now. I had a successful market day so that too feels hopeful and *credit for sticking that out as well.

Persistence is such a big key to everything I am trying to achieve. I think I may do a "grand plan" of the thins I want to accomplish on the next year. This sort of thing helps me calm down and focus so I can make some (more) progress.

Bye for now. Great work you two flybabies :angel: & :angel:

Hugs to you OnebyOne! Glad market day was successful. I just drove 6 hours in the rain to take my son the other half of his college things. I am not lifting a finger tonight. It's a marathon not a sprint to change up things. I wish there was liposuction for homes and thighs. Maybe a new groupon idea!

Yes, Rachel and onebyone, this process is not a sprint to the finish. Slow and steady wins the race.
Rachel, kudos for a needed day off!
onebyone, congrats on a successful market!

Well, I have taken the day off, too, after a busy day at work. DH is home and we're watching a show about bears in Alaska. I will finish the kitchen before bed.

onebyone, you mentioned about DH helping. Well tonight we watched at PBS show discussing superfoods (J Furhman). DH is really into nutrition now. So I mention that I should start making the "sauce" and he can make kale chips in the dehydrator while I'm at work. He's like "yeah! Great! Tomorrow?" (My secret: I love the kale chips but don't especially like the time it takes to make them) Solution:(which applies to decluttering) enlist willing help. :lol:

Ok, off to kitchen! Goodnight, friends!

Lexxiss: you seem to have trouble attaching images. If I don't resize mine they won't attach. it may be basic-sorry if I'm telling you something you know- just recheck the size.

Home from the College moving frenzy. Went thru my closet with all my pants. Arranged and tagged each pants by color and size. Frustrated with myself that I only got rid of 3 pairs. Changed my shirt hangers to the soft velvet ones. Gained quite a bit of space. Moved shoes and sandals to my son's closet but want to get rid of 1/3. I am sick of clothing stuff. I have jackets from early 2000. Time for a purge and I need to walk away for a while because I'm not sure how it should look.

Monday...

I'm continuing w/FL. This week is the master bedroom. Interestingly, it is 97% clutter free, and right now it's bed free since we moved our bed downstairs to accomodate DH's knee injury.
MB Story:
Somewhere in my process I got the message that it was important that the MB be a clean and peaceful space and I did a huge transition several years ago. I pulled everything out and started over. I painted the walls/ceiling and put in new carpet.(it's pretty small) We were going to Santa Fe for a fam reunion and I purchased a very expensive silk flower arrangement (140.00) Unheard of for me. I picked new bed linens to match (a very simple pale green quilt) I bought 2 sets of matching sheets and a comfy blanket and got rid of everything else. My only artwork is of Victorian era children with their pets. (I have 3). The clutter never reentered this space. It is perfect, except:
~I didn't paint the baseboards
~I didn't paint the window frames or trim
~I didn't paint the closet
This week I will paint the first two (don't know about the closet)

When I started painting this morning the thought kept running through my mind on how we can take small chunks of time and make noticeable improvements with CONSISTENCY. I timed it....15 minutes and my East facing baseboard is done. Only 3 to go and how long did I procrastinate this??

Rachel, great observations you have on your clothing situation. You are tired of too much and will pause to make a plan. credit.

onebyone, I thought of you this morning while I was projecting. I have a thought...let me know if you'd like me to share...

lexxiss

I bet you are glad that your MB is in the condition it is with a detailed-doable list. Your description of your area sounds peaceful and calm with those colors and flowers.

I sewed 3 buttons on 3 pair of shorts that I had procrastinated on all summer. I was done in 7 minutes and had moved the items maybe 10 times before I completed the task. I so agree with what you are doing, sharing and stating. It can be done, if you break it down in doable tasks and with committed action.

I was glad I was mad yesterday. I woke up refreshed and realized that If I want the "space" and areas to be refreshed, items have to go. I have to work outside the house today, but have a small plan written on what to do tonight. I also have a 30 minute egg timer that I set which has brought awareness to how much I can get done before it is time to leave for work. Funny how one of my biggest statements that I say is "I don't have time".

Weigh in day (garbage pickup) is tomorrow and I need to see what can go that is in the cutter cemetery. More to go to breath new life back into some of these spaces.

phooeyness continues
 

Hi Decluttering Friends

The kitchen continues to get worse again. I feel myself fighting it again. I want to go on strike again. I have to tell DH don't put dirty dishes in the sink that still have clumps of food on them because then they rot in the sink and then *I* have to move the dishes, clear the dishes and then clear the sink all before I can even get to doing the dishes and I HATE ROTTING FOOD so much and DH does this because he is helping me by getting the dirty dishes in the sink.

I am tired.
I don't have much reserve left right now.
DH's condition now requires me to cook for breakfast and for dinner. Like cook everyday. I used to like that. I need to figure out how to do this so it doesn't wreck my whole day.

Sorry for how cranky I am. Eventually this too shall pass.

Rachel, it's trash/recycle day here, too. I don't haul the night before because we have a bear and it's a pain before work.

onebyone, I'm hoping your "temporary" down feelings are passing.

We had an "event" at work yesterday which kind of has me feeling down. The gal who hasn't been pulling her weight didn't show up and blamed it on everyone else. Several of us got mini lectures. It made me feel like I didn't want to be there anymore...am trying to stay positive as we all readjust.

I was feeling deflated this morning but cleaned the kitchen and cat box anyway. It made me feel better. I will try to continue to move forward.

Lexxiss and OneonONe, Hugs sent your way. It can be frustrating when you do your part on something and others aren't pulling their own weight. I like your thought, this too will pass.

Maintain is what I am doing today. I ruined 2 tshirts of my husband's in the wash. May try to fix the marks. Just need to do the basics. I have an all day presentation on Thursday that I need to get memorized.

One day at a time, one step at a time.

Just wanted to say a quick hello here. I'm maintaining my losses today. Yesterday we ended up at Whole Foods for dinner so I did my big veggie/fruit shop which would usually happen on my day off. My morning has been focused on getting everything washed/dried and stored. credit. My old habit was to just get everything in the fridge, which then meant it had to be washed as I used it. I've found it's much more effective to make sure everything in the fridge IS all ready to be used. It's a step forward for me.

Lexxiss, I so agree. I have printed my grocery lists and put them in a plastic sleeve because the truth is, I buy the same things week after week. It takes out the step of rethinking. Yes, I want fresh fruits and veggies each week and there are certain ones that I am drawn to. I am making a black bean mexican chicken salad with lime and cilantro for lunches this week.

What you did and shared is a great move toward household management and eating on plan*** success. Salads will be much easier to fix after a long day of work.

I am maintaining my routines. Credit. I do not have the time to add any projects in this week, too much work. I do have laundry all done, dishes and will be grocery shopping today. All day presentation tomorrow...Friday will re-evaluate.

Rachel, best wishes with your presentation today! Great that you've accomplished an master grocery list. I'd like to do that, too. If I write it on my notepad it keeps cycling through my thought processes until I finally do it.

Yesterday afterwork/pre-dinner DH decided he needed something in the shop. I grabbed my timer and duster. Amazing, in 5 minutes I had dusted the entire TV room (lightly) which FL says can be enough. credit. Today is a day off and I'm going to go finish painting this morning so we can move our bedroom upstairs. Observing....everything stayed pretty organized during this work week.

I added two new habits which seem to be helping;
1. hang up fleece jacket between uses. It's my in/out coat and previously it ended up wherever I felt like taking it off. When I wanted to go outside this morning I found it in my closet in the dark.
2. Keys/sunglasses/wallet in newly cleaned out drawer. It has simplified because when I want to leave those items are all in one place.

Getting ready to make a few moves
 

Hello!

Okay, so... here's where I am at.
I weighed in today *credit* and it's the beginning of my new week. Even though I feel in it to the limit I also discovered something that has made me feel SUPER-hopeful.

On the kijiji website, where people buy and sell stuff, I decided to see if I could find any cheap furniture and here's something for instance that intrigued me:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...AdIdZ406017451

So. This blue leather couch is FREE. Free. I can afford free. Of course I need to round up a mover but you know, I will be able to get this house in order sooner than I thought if stuff like that continues to show up online and I don't know why it wouldn't. It's added incentive to focus on my clean up and the general re-ordering of this apartment.

The other thing is I had the little talk with DH about him leaving his dirty dishes in the sink-dishes he hasn't scraped but has turned the water on so they soak. ICK. He was *meh* about my request, looking at me like what's the big deal, but he's not the one doing the dishes is he? Nooooooo. But this morning his breakfast plate was on the counter. So credit I suppose. But I felt, "less than", like ... and these are my thoughts that flood me... ...and then it just feels impossible. I need to take a break from everything else and just bingework on the house like you guys mentioned. I think I am setting next week aside for that. I want to go into September feeling like something significant has changed in terms of decluttering.

And I'll end this up and down post on a positive note. We have discovered two meals we both like and can both eat and I am going to automate the food plans for us so we can budget better and I can cook or even prepare and freeze meals ahead of time. It's a lot of work in the beginning but it will be so worth it when I need to keep doing whatever it is I am doing and don't have to stop to make breakfast or dinner.

You know, I never did make my master plan and I'm going to do that this evening. I finished 6 paintings today and have 3 more 1/2 done. When they are done that's it for today for my work and I will focus on me and the house.

Thanks again for your support. Bye for now.

Lexxiss a few posts back you mentioned that you had a thought for me about ordering stuff... love to hear it!

Hello!

onebyone, that couch looks nice. Were you able to contact someone about it?

I must admit that FL's 5 minute swiff and 15 min. declutter every day REALLY moves me forward very quickly. In the past two days I have used my timer with both tasks and SEE the difference. credit. I do both in the morning acknowledging that I won't do it later.

Yesterday I struggled through the paint job in the bedroom but finished it. credit. I desperately wanted to walk away from it even though I had less than 1/2 hour to go. Distraction technique: music. I put my favorite music on and it worked magic. I had to think this morning...what was my issue? It was that I wanted to be moving the bed back upstairs instead of painting in preparation. Aha, back to "12 step" program basics, "First things first".

Today, I may, :crossed: have the day at home. I try to keep moving forward with baby steps so today I will:
~ take a pile of blankets/towels and several no longer used cat boxes to the shelter.
~fill (at least) one box and take to the thrift store.
~move the bed back upstairs
~fix a freestanding mirror that has been broken for (at least) a year
~take lawn chairs out of car (from 3 week ago event) and put away in basement

OK, DH is still sleeping IN the bed I want to move. I will try to move forward on other things.

OneonOne: Hope the inspiration of the new couch helps you to make your home exactly how you want it. Good job on your tea room paintings. Do you freelance each week or do you have a set day to prepare and sell your paintings?

Lexxiss: Roll Tide Girl! I am getting behind your momentum today. I have set my timer to get the house back to "normal clean" and then will start on front living room with work boxes. I taught on Anxiety yesterday and the rupture of connection. When we have a "rupture" we create desire (needs/wants) that we try to fill with voids ...foods..... stuff ect....(Pick your filler). When we get grounded back with Self and become present to what is in the now, we decrease anxiety.....All that said, I am finding joy with taking care of what I have. Joy with being home-doing what I am supposed to do. Joy-connecting with what is given to me and holding gently thoughts that might try to derail my tasks at hand.

Accepting what is going to get me to my goals .....peaceful, organized space and not letting "emotional avoidance" derail my goals just because " I don't feel like it".

Happy Friday to all.

onebyone, :df:


As I painted baseboards in the bedroom the other day I remembered that it used to be difficult to find the floor. I had to find the floor before I could paint. (First things first). When I said I was thinking of you, I was thinking of your frustration with the stacks of dishes. I thought, "this is a very discouraging chore, because it just keeps stacking up." My thought was that it might be far more encouraging to focus on some major movement of "stuff"...items that would not keep stacking up again every day like the dishes do. That way, you would have progress that you could see every day, even when there WAS a stack of dishes. (Then you mentioned binge-painting which I thought could turn into binge-sorting)


I really think if you would set aside a week for bingework that your progress by the end of week 1 would be very invigorating.

We do this alot and I find it has helped free up so much time. Occasionally I'll ask DH, "are you still liking tostadas and healthy pizza?" "Oh, yeah!" He says, so I continue. When we tire of one or two of the choices I find something new and OP to automate. PS. It also helps w/keeping the kitchen clean.

How is that coming? I find I need two master plans; :write:
1. What I want my space to be like after I'm done
2. How I am going to best accomplish it


I've been reading P. Walsh again and this paragraph really seemed to summarize the entire process quite well. Peter says,

"What I tell people is simple: You can't fit five cubic reet of stuff into three cubic feet of space. You only have the space you have. If you only bring things into your home and don't take anything out, sooner or later you will have no room. If you don't use, love, and honor something it has no place in your home. Just because someone gave you something doesn't mean you have to keep it. You must respect the limits of the physical space that you have, because if you don't the space can't function and your vision is lost."

ETA-What I liked about this statement was that it was like the "law of physics" AND that it left all the emotion out of the equation....why did I do this....why can't I do this....when will I do this....that chatter was gone. In my mind it got replaced with the new fact, "I have too much...I need to let go now so my space can function and my vision isn't lost. Period."

So, onebyone, I've been thinking it could really be helpful for you to develop a "plan" which could maximize the most space with the least amount of emotional effort. It could be called "the dance" (from FL), which is 1-2-3, 1-2-3 :dancer:
1. let go of "trash", items which don't have another life
2. cut your paper piles in 1/2 by only sorting out recyclable paper, with no focus on organization of stuff you want to keep
3. VIA a "plan"-going through all your clothes (1.keep 2.donate 3. throw away)

Questions:
If you set aside a week, could you take DH to work so you could have use of the car? Would this help the process?

Have you located the thrift stores where you could drop items daily?

What is your recycle situation? Do you have lots of paper that could move out quickly?

What is your "clothes" situation? Do you feel you have to wash everything you're going to donate?

What is your "trash" situation? Do you feel you have lots of stuff that just doesn't have another "life", and if so, can your dumpster handle it or do you need to come up with alternate disposal?

Do you have items that could just be set by the dumpster as freebies? (BBE turned me onto this as he set stuff at the curb. I am amazed at how fast stuff disappears-it's acually fun!)

The reason I asked those questions is because I find it much easier to move stuff when I have the plan for the final outcome. I find it doesn't help me much to sort through all the clothes if I just pile them somewhere else. The final move from the house to the car/trash is what I call "exercise". I also find I don't obsess with eating while I'm accomplishing these tasks.

Anyway....just food for thought. I am always remembering that this is your process. Some ideas that worked for me may not work for you. We are all unique and have different visions. However, I do believe that what we have in common is the acknowledgement that we have too much stuff in too little space and we wish to make progress forward.

:cheer: Cheering you on!