:bravo: Good Post! Lots of great questions!

Rachel, it's Friday...so I was expecting you. Now you've got me motivated to "put my shoes on", get my timer and do my 5 and 15. Let me know what new inspiration you have. I wish I could have been at your presentation....sounds right down my alley!

BTW-I mentioned music as a motivator. I shifted some tunes on my ipod calling them "cleaning/inspirational". It really helps me accomplish my projects faster.

Lexxiss: I pulled out my IPOD and completed the cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping done. I would have loved to have you in the meeting. We teach psychological flexibility for the mind. Wanted everyone to know where anxiety originates from and we all suffer from it from time to time.

We are finally going to get a big rain tomorrow. I may work on my son's walk in closet that is full of lots of stuff that has been ignored for a long time. As Peter Walsh might say...Does the clutter in it make my butt look big? The answer is yes, it is quite overweight. !!

I checked most off my list...the bed is upstairs anyway. I was finished by noon and I was happy once I said "enough". I must admit that the "durings" are not always my favorite and so when I start to wither I put on music and find a stopping point. Today it was putting away my tools and then picking up in the office...putting away my laundry. It did feel good to "finish" my work in the bedroom for the week, since FL chores are very light during the weekend. There were a few things that weren't perfect yet I already remembered I'd revisit this zone again in about a month....

I'll move the dining room table out of the living room tomorrow. I need to be to work at 530am.

onebyone, best wishes for your market day!

Sunday and the week ahead
 

Hello!

I'm focused on the clean up this week in my apartment.
Workwise, I have only one long on-going project to do, no other deadlines that I can recall (yikes). I believe this is a good week to spend the majority of my time cleaning up and clearing out. My motivation is the new furniture I now know we can afford. I mentioned my discovery to DH re:cheap funiture people are getting rid of and he, right away, mentioned a friend at work with a truck, as in "I wonder if he would help us if I bought him a case of beer?". So, in this very concrete way I know DH is "in". This is good.

Lexxiss How can I possibly thank you for the well written organized (not cluttered!) post you wrote about questions to ask as I make my plan for my clean up? Thank you. I will print it out and as I follow it, and answer it, I know my own plan will form. I appreciate the thought and energy you sent my way by setting that down here in cyberspace (does anyone call this internet thing that anymore I wonder??)

helpingrachel Your talk sounded fascinating to me as well. I spent a good chunk of my late teens to early 20's coming down from full blown agoraphobia to a functioning whole human being on my own. I truly know and understand the levels of fear and anxiety one can experience and how much of an illusion they are when challenged! Anyone out there helping anyone else deal with this stuff has my greatest respect and support! I laughed too as I read I find the visuals in that sentence hilarious for some reason this morning. I cannot imagine how big my butt is right now!!! Funny.

Time to go. Have to get on with things. I may start to formulate that plan with step one: clear off the white board of all the other to-do lists that have come and gone!!

Bye!

Onebyone: I am here to support you and encourage the process of change. I understand the frustration, lack of focus and need for others that are working a plan with like minded goals. I may take a picture of my office to let you know my biggest disaster area. I sit in my clean and organized dining room to write or create power points. I am ok with the creative mess there but know that I can create a better organized space one day. Just a space at a time, daily upkeep and new progress as it fits in the overall plan.

Thanks for laughing at my joke. About the space being overweight, it is true. I chuckled about that as well.


Lexxiss: Could you share with me your smoothie recipe? I am going to switch over to a go green smoothie for my morning meal. I am researching recipes and looking for a mixer or I may use my current blender to see if It will hold up. I have to start tasting a few before I invest any extra money if I am to buy a good one.

Hello!

onebyone, great news that your DH is supportive of your furniture acquisition! Also great that it's helping inspire you on your week ahead! BTW-I forgot to mention I found two donation centers in Denver with buff guys who empty out my vehicle...I don't even need to get out of the car. It is sometimes really helpful to me knowing all I have to do is get stuff in the car.

Rachel, I wish I had any "before" pictures. Sometimes now it is hard for me to remember how it used to be.
Smoothies: Mine has developed over time and could probably be "more tasty" but it works for me. I don't like eating/fixing breakfast and so nutrition and carrying me through are most important. I use a vitamix and make for 2.
~apple and 1 other fruit (or berries)
~ginger root
~carrot
~kale
~cucumber
~beet
~non soy protein powder
~greens powder

I made small progress forward, although I'm really trying to remember FL encourages slowing down on the weekend. With my work schedule I don't really have a weekend, anyway. I got the dining room table moved back which made me happy. Today will be maintenance as I work.

Lexxiss: :p:D;) Vitamix envy! I was planning on similar ingredients and loved to see that you were using non-soy powder. (thyroid) I have some choices on the green powder to add from my nutrition store. I am ready for a change and more importantly energy. I am planning on increasing my alkaline veggies. Your shake is loaded with them, good for the inside and out!

I am in need of basis upkeep after a busy workday or weekend. I am doing laundry and a fly by of picking each room up. No big mopping or vacuuming as I did that on Friday.

Working on a presentation on committed action and values. Here is the quote that I am using...."The journey between what you once were and who you are now is where the dance of Life really takes you. -B.
DeAngelis I am pretty sure this is where our 1-2-3 Dance of Life comes in.

We don't always need pictures as we have that in our life stories and if the change matters, we know where we came from. Look at your weight loss! I have changed in my life more in the past 10 years, when I began to really focus on what was/is important to me. Just because I have something "cue" up in my head, doesn't mean I have to believe it. I like the quote, don't believe everything you think"! Giving myself space and shifting to "my observing self" helps me to see the big picture and what is "workable" for me. That movement is the very thing that gets me going and moving toward what is functionally important.

OneonOne: Wishing you a great week with loving action toward what is needed to manifest in your life. You are one creative being! I love your pictures that you posted on the other thread.

Blessings on your Monday!

Claiming My Space *Intensive* Week: day 1
 

Hi!

Already noon, and I need to have lunch before I launch into my project for the day: assembling the Martha Stewart 16 cube shelving unit in the lviing room.

ARC for this project:

1. This shelf will go a long way to "normalizing" the view from the outside of my apartment into my space. This is important as the landlord walks by my window several times a week and I like curtains open and I do not want hassles from him re: condition of the apartment. That's a BIG motivator believe it or not. People regularily look into my place. It always feels embarassing and/or shameful and I no longer need this in my life. Some days I don't care but the feeling always returns. I don't want to worry about it anymore. This is sooooooooo similar to carrying extra weight on the body and being in public! The feelings of being judged. Very similar indeed.

2. more storage space for my stuff

3. another cleared out area

4. slowly giving my apartment a bit of style

5. accomplishing another task off my to-do list

6. taking charge of my space

7. taking action

8. surprising DH when he gets home

9. creating a clean calm space

10. actively working toward my winter oasis

I've attached 3 jpgs for you: the space as it looks now (my before), the box with the shelf to be assembled, and my to do list: full of the baby steps to get this job done today.

Will update with photos and text later today.

update - picture worth 1000 words
 

Update: posted an after/in process image of my space, cleaned and ready for the shelf. Now to tackle maing the beast.

Update #2 - 2 hours later - I am ready to throw that &!@#ing thing in the trash. OMG I HATE THIS DESIGN!!!!! Every little shelf is attached to the vertical panels with those little pegs and then there are these lock things that lock in metal bolts and some reach, some don't. Some wooden pegs go deep into the shelf holes and don't hold the shelf up at all, some won't go in at all and TWO BROKE OFF! On top of this, when you attach one shelf, ALL the others shift and lose their place and if you push them all in tight then there isn't enough leeway to get the next shelf in until you pull it apart a bit and then all the shelves come out of alignment again. Such a STUPID design.

I especially hate it cause everything is all over and I am super-frustrated and then DH will come home and put it together and then he'll get the satsifaction of having assembled it, not me. ARGH. He's definitely going to shoo me away as I am so fed up with the thing.

Ok. I'm just watching a soap for a half an hour. Will try again after once I calm down.

update#3 I am no further along with this stupid shelving unit. I give up. Hoepfully Dh can wrestle it into submission. 6 hours and counting for this thing...

update#4 a mere 8 hours later, and it's done. what a piece of crap design it is, but it still looks nice and clean up. DH, as I said, had to rescue me on it but really we both had to work together to get it made. And you can't use their instructions at all., except for what piece goes where. the actual construction cannot be completed the way the instructions are written.

Martha Stewart, :nono: shame on you for putting your name on this product, and if you actually designed it like that, no wonder you were incarcerated. :rollpin:

Only two more items on my to do list for today: a sinkful of dishes and clean up around the left side of the futon. Off to finish up.

onebyone, credit for persistence AND for acknowledgement that it is only together due to teamwork between you and DH. I fully understand....I have a set of dresser drawers in a closet of similar quality. After I had them all put together (as instructed) the bottoms kept separating and all the clothes would fall down to the next level. Finally one day I pulled it out...all apart and glued the cr*p out of each drawer. It doesn't do it anymore. Sending you supportive thoughts for day 2 of your clean up week.

Rachel, Happy Trash Day! Thanks for another great quote. Yes, the movement, for me, is very important. Any small movement takes me forward.

Me, going to take care of some of my basics before work this morning. My DH is pretty depressed right now and I'll keep moving forward but have to say I'm getting pretty bummed myself. He's 3 months out from his injury and sprained his ankle late last week. He's back to being immobile and my buzzing around doing everything isn't helping the mood. I didn't let it affect my eating yesterday and just went to bed early.

Onebyone Hugs sent your way for making a plan and then to having a junky piece of crap furniture derail your focus. I hope today you find more peace in the process of doing what is important. Whatever that may be.

Lexxiss I am sorry to hear of your husband's injury. We as humans want to feel competent doing something each day and sometimes when we are sidelined by illness or pain...depression can begin to set in. Sending healing thoughts to your DH. I think it is empathic that you are conscious of what you get done in front of him. Finding the right balance at home and in marriage is a continual balancing act.

I am working on maintaining today. Will peek my head into fly lady for some good ideas. I too have a dry erase board that I use to write down daily and weekly projects. I am hoping for forward motion today as when I left the house yesterday, I left small messes. I ended up at the Doctor for a UTI infection and it sidelined me last night. Just didn't feel like picking things up. Back in the saddle today or as John Wayne says..."courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway". I am not scared to death of my messes but I certainly can let them get me down if I look only at the mess. I am looking at the "horse that I need to ride to do the next thing today". Gitty Up, Chorehorse!

Saddlin' up the chorehorse - day#2
 

Hello!

Day 2 - today's decluttering goal: to have a clean/clear floor in the whole living room area.

*credit* for following and completing yesterday's plan
*credit* for creating a plan for today
*credit* for persistance

My overall goal has formed: to have my apartment look "normal" when you look in my front window.


This seems like kind of a co-dependent goal, like I am allowing others to dictate their needs/perceived needs onto my life. It's not quite so, because as a tenant, and not a home owner, I am at the mercy of my landlord and his opinion of how I am maintaining his property. If it gets out of hand then I have to deal with his flack. I do not want to deal with this and it interrupts my day to day life. Also, he will be coming in soon to turn the air conditioning off (the control is in a locked plexiglas box in our hallway) and when he was in turning it on early this summer, he was upset at the state of his precious plastic wood floor, which, months later, *I* am still fuming over. So, coaches, this is a real issue for me. And it's not the first time. I have had a history of landlord run-in's. At close to 50 years of age, I want to just put that horse behind me.

I'm going to go put up a painting.

(yay!)

Will update later. Thanks for your continuing support. On to day #2

PS. my butt's a bit smaller due to my efforts yesterday. I went from 252 to 249 overnight :carrot:

It sounds like you want to be a good steward of your home and the things in it.
If reducing clutter and clearing space will reduce negative feedback--that is a good goal to have.

I love that you lost weight in your physical being and in your apartment. Yay and credit for you!

Part 2/Day 2 -- it gets worse before it gets better.
 

Everything's upside-down. yikes. I'm just taking a bit of a breather.

My out of town friend came with her 7yr old daughter and we went or coffee, for 3 hours, and then when I got back I sure didn't want to start anything.

But I have.

And it looks like I have my agenda for tomorrow. Interesting how this whole apt. clean up is just like everything else, once started, the next step appears. I need to remember that cleaning up is not a mystery, or magical, or out of my reach. You just start and keep at it.

Right now I have the area to the right f the futon clean, the area in front of the tv clean, the left side of the futon is clean and I just have to pull the futon out and deal with the stuff underneath. Then I need to start putting thigns into place. BUT... I did an extra thing. I moved my wall o' boxes in the bedroom to put the new-found 1960's desk in there and instead of piling the boxes on top of it, as my sister suggested, I think I will move them into the living room, in front of my new shelf so I am *forced* to deal with them tomorrow. This way I get my tv set up in the bedroom, which I miss and love, especially in the winter months, and the bedroom is on its way to being my winter oasis, and my task of cleaning the living room floor is still completed. There may be things in those boxes that would go on my new shelves, as well as stuff for the dining room work space -- so it's all closer to where it's going to live anyway.

It makes for a marathon day tomorrow, but with my friends' visit I got off light today.

I've eaten more today than in the last week, but not offplan. I did find three tracking booklets so that's really great. I'm filling one out for today's intake. I've been slack with that.

OK that's my update. Time to finish up in the living room.

:cheer: Cheering you on, onebyone! I find, too, that it does get worse before (or AS) it gets better. Kudos on your accomplishments, so far, and glad to see the scale is cooperating.

I didn't have much time this morning, but washed and put away the dehydrator which was on the kitchen counter. I noticed last night a very small thing which helps me in a big way. After I used the pizza wheel on our healthy pizza I took it right to the sink and washed it. I know now from experience how much more time consuming it becomes when I leave it for the morning.

Have a great day! I'm off to work.

ETA-I started thinking about some simple joys in "finding things". I have found things that hadn't been seen for years. Several years ago we had to buy my DH another "wetsuit" top when I was sure he already had one, purchased in Key West. Now he has two because the original did eventually show up. Now we have a place for both of them.

:carrot::carrot::hug:I am cheering you on as well, OneonONe. It is progress not perfection.

Working a quick one hour on house and then off to work for the day. My reward is to come home to a nice clean house and cilantro lime chicken ready for dinner.

Have a good day!

unexpected reward on Day #3
 

Hello Decluttering Coaches

I just got an unexpected reward directly related to my clean up efforts. My little, thin, deaf, rescued cat from Key West, Looloo, just played, very enthusiastically, with one of the toy mouses that have resurfaced. Since the whole of the livingroom floor is clean and clear, I watched her run, chase, catch, and toss that pink furry mouse into the air, then hunt it down and do it again and again. Caesar, my other cat, who is very playful, and I both watched Looloo with big big eyes, not believing what we were seeing! So great. I forget that as the floor gets cluttered, the world for my cats, who live at that level, shrinks. This little event has given me a needed boost as I woke up today feeling discouraged.

Today's weight is higher. I feel like I can't deal with today's tasks. I feel overwhelmed (again) and today I feel tired. So much done yet so much to do. Why is this realization triggering a "you'd better just give up then" :devil: response? Like I need to make things harder than they already are. Really.

I have my to-do list for today. It's all baby steps. Today's work will bring me 3/4 to my goal of a "normal view when you look in my front window". I've added an additional, related goal, to have the view when you stand in the front doorway, like when the landlord comes to drop something off or whatever, also appear normal. This is much more difficult as the hallway holds all my market stuff: tables, stock, display boards. But, perhaps, as I deal with my work space I will be able to create a dedicated storage area for my market stuff.

Update #1: Finished just over half of my to-do list. I even did an extra sinkful of dishes. *credit* *credit* I am now faced with the mess on top of my work table and the mess beneath it--which is worse: 4 big shopping bags of stuff and 3 big boxes of stuff. 2 boxes I have separated out, and they sit on my clean living room floor for now. They are stock for etsy sales. And there are 5 more items: market stock in 2 rubbermaid bins& 1 garbage bag, one shallow box with stuff to sort through from day 1 of my clean up, and a box of art supplies that is now full, from the last 2 days of clean up. I don't really have anywhere to place them. They should go in behind the work table which won't be dealt with until tomorrow. I have to remember THIS IS NOT PERMANENT--BECAUSE THEY ARE SITTING THERE DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE FAILED TO CLEAN UP MY SPACE> I AM NOT DONE YET. * credit for the reminder* back later.

Must go. Must start. Will update later.

update#2: ok I figured out what my problem is with the table. I don't liek that it's so open underneath. It means that you can always see what's going on in that work space and that means it has to always be left pristine and that I know is not realisti given the natuer of what I do. And the *pressure* to keep that up, becasue it affects the whole of this view from the outside window looking in, is too miuch for me. So, my sister suggested I move the table under the window and then I thought yes!:carrot: table under the window with the 3 sets of drawers (narrow) facing into the space so from the living room you can't see what's happening on the floor. Plus I get to look out the window. I may even be able to move my filing cabinet over to there which is where it should be.

Maybe I'll settle for making the switcheroo today and then sorting out the details tomorrow and Friday. It just might re-energize me to see that real change happen.

geez. so much writing, posting, and relating of such mundane events. I feel self-consious being so "needy" with all this stuff. I have to remember, I have never managed to get my place in order ever. I need the help, and I do not need to feel ashamed about it. While I picked up many a skill that others may never possess, I did not learn this cleaning house one. THANK GOODNESS there are kind folks out ther ewilling to help and support one such as I along the way. *credit for admitting my weaknesses and asking for help*

onebyone, I did not learn the cleaning the house skill, either. As I write (and think) about that statement it broadens for me a bit. I guess it broadens because at the point I'm at in this journey, after doing the major haul-out, it is more than just "cleaning the house". For me, it is about retraining/teaching my brain to think differently about my "space". It's learning to differentiate between what I really "need" and what no longer serves a purpose it my life...then learning how to let go, which includes the exit from "my space". Then I learn about keeping my space "clean"...on a daily basis instead of the once a month plan. I am still very much in the learning stage.

Our house was pretty cluttered growing up. The living room was immaculate but the kitchen was piled very high (as I remember) and if you tried to open a closet it was like an avalanche. One of my first "cleaning" memories is of stacking phone books on a chair trying to do dishes. I must have been pretty young. My mom is 91, and it's still not her priority but it can be mine. Apparantly, the kid who was standing on phone books to do dishes wanted a cleaner and more organized space. Now I am an adult and I can learn these skills one step at a time. BTW-I'm also very good at other things, too.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to get back here yesterday to say, "right on"! I was just so tickled to hear you mention how your decluttered floor had such a positive effect on the kitties, especially Looloo. I forget, too, that our animals have such a different view than we do.

I'm sure you are tired, but you are moving forward in such a positive way. I hope you have a good day today and I look forward to hearing from you.

Me....we traveled over to our "pool" house last night. DH is not doing well and I'm just trying to see what we can do to help. I do have time to observe. This used to be the more organized and cleaner house. Now, after all the progress I have made forward on the East side, this house is the one that is more cluttered. DH isn't very mobile and so after we go to the pool I might just hop into some decluttering activity over here.

Good Morning --Ladies:

OneonOne: What good thought processing on what works, why it works and how to take action to give it meaning that works for you. I am glad you are sharing this process with us. Thank you for making the thread as I would be all alone in attempting to make changes to my space. I love your problem solving with your desk and supplies. You know those things are needed so asking "What will be best for accessibility and function?" is a great question. What about putting velcro around the desk and adding material to hide the boxes or bins underneath. Just a thought.....

I had a day of doing nothing yesterday. I fought with guilt for awhile since I had a down day. I woke up with a very sore throat and wasn't reacting to my meds very well. I needed to just be and finally realized that I could let myself chill. It was a gift.


Lexxiss: Glad you are having time to connect with hubby and going to your "pool" house. I love that you have your "Own my own space" glasses on when you go over there, with some thoughts of decluttering AFTER the pool. Hope you enjoy time with hubby and pool.


I realized for me, that having my home in the best shape is important to me. First to have the peaceful feeling and as silly as it sounds it has been such a joy to go to my closet and know exactly where my casual, work and funky clothes are. My Master bedroom has stayed as clean as it was 2 weeks ago. I am also glad that it is happening in such a supportive and encouraging way with this thread. Like my weight, I am not ignoring it. Even when I start the change it is ok to see things getting worse than better. It's fun to have a new vision on how things might serve me better, than me serving my things/not knowing where something is, wasting time.

I am studying how to embrace meaning and values in life. Freud has the pleasure principle focus, Adler has the power principle and Victor Frankl has the Meaning principle. Asking myself these days, what is bringing meaning and value to my life and how that ties into being resilient.

Off to clean kitchen and work at 11. Blessings on your days, ladies.

And it's day#4...
 

Hello Decluttering Coaches

So, I was *credit* doing the walk it out workout on the wii fit as the answering machine got a call from DH's mom who is going to attempt to drive over tomorrow she says. Why tomorrow? I ask myself as DH is at work. Does she just want to visit me?
:(
Ugh I say.
Then the other part of me went "holy cow you sure read that right, getting your living area together this week. man. Now it doesn't look half as crazy as it did at the beginning of the week." BACKGROUND INFO: We moved here in April 2011. We have not invited DH's mom over yet. I said to DH this week "it's really bad we haven't done that." He seemed clueless. We've been to her place lots. I said, "we should have your mom over for a bbq this weekend or go to 1000 Hotpot (a restaurant near us) with her." So. I need to be at leace with the fact that this is the best I can do. It's far from normal but it's cleaner and more spacious and Oh well. So. She can come. I would rather keep working as my schedule for September gets busier and busier. I'm going to wait to call her back when DH gets home. I tink I'll be "out for the day".

I've discovered now that my first two weeks of October are even spoken for and get this, my ONE xmas craft show, that I just applied for, is in conflict with a trip to Miami for Art Basel Miami.

It seems that every special event that I want to go to is in conflict with a selling opportunity. I am going to Miami as it's the showcase of the art that's being made internationally right now, and it should be super-inspiring, but i can't believe it conflicts with the Toronto craft show.

Well, there's an aside. If I had made my to-do schedule for the events I have to be at I would have known that before I applied and would not have spent the $5 getting my application in. Oh well. This is on today's to-do list now. *credit*

Back later.

update#1 on my lst for today was dealing with the oversized moving box that said "craft" on the side of it. My stomach just knotted up even thinking about that box. I moved it to that space, oh, a year ago? BIG box. I went through it. Some stuff got tossed, others kept and aren't really away yet but it's ok. The box itself I was going to break down but have decided to fill it with DONATIONS! I had a smallish half-box from Costco for that so I emptied it into the giant box and that makes me feel good. I soooooo want to fill that giant box up to the brim and say byebye to it and its contents. :dancer:*credit*

I also had 5 full size permanent grocery store shopping bags to look through and 3 reg size boxes. I've done all of it. :dancer:*credit* It's not perfect, not everything is away, or in it's place, if I even know of a place for it, but I feel certain that there is a place. I have lots of poorly used drawers: 30 in fact and 5 double sized drawers, plus a dedicated Martha Stewart 16 cube shelf, the underneath of a microwave cart and a whole pantry, all available to me to store my stuff. :dancer:*credit* It's the large canvases and the rolls of paper that stump me but I think it's like how I was with a lot of this stuff: I get hung up on things that when I finally face them are *poof* nothing. I am learning to trust myself more and to see that I do have an idea of what to do with my stuff. I am not hopeless at this at all.:dancer:*credit*

A plus is I have re-discovered recent (1-2yrs) work that I can put on etsy to sell. :dancer:*credit*YAY! And I found some craft material to make these other things that I want to sell online so all is good. I turned my worktable to the side btw, so it's under the window, which I love and it's made all the difference to that space for me. If only I could take down the hanging light fixture. If it was my place it would be gone. However. I'll live with it.

I'm also now on my last load of dishes. :dancer:*credit* They will be completed tonight.

I hope all is well out there with you guys!

Oh, I did call DH's mom and his aunt and uncle are in town on the weekend and want to get together and they all want to travel up here we are to visit me at the farmers' market and to see my stuff at the Hillary House site, which is near the market and then they want to go to the tea room for tea. So, really, I should be flattered. They all support my artwork and take the time to go and see it. Nice. I invited MIL over but said maybe not wiht the gang but later on. She was very happy. She's very kind to me and not pushy at all. So :dancer:*credit* for facing things--even though I did find myself eating soup over the stove because of this. yes, it's true, but I stopped :dancer:*credit* and dealt with it head on. It was better than overeating and wrecking my foodplan. It is ALWAYS better than overeating and wrecking my foodplan. Thank goodness I get that now. :dancer:*credit* for that for sure.

Wow! onebyone, dancing with you! :dancer: I'm so happy reading your post. I'm on my way to DH's TBI support group picnic so don't have but a moment now. I think it's just great that you're making progress, feeling good and that you felt comfortable to invite MIL...yet she might have to decline. Right on. Later....

:cb::cb::cp::cp::cp::cp::cp::cp::cp::T Way to go OneonONe! What determination and progress. Yes, You do know what to do!!!!!

slow chore day today
 

Decluttering Coaches, Hello!

I just *credit* finished all the dishes. It's not perfect perfect as their are cat dishes that are still dirty, but the whole cat food area needs cleaning so I consider that another, separate, chore...and so back to, I just finished all the dishes! *credit*

I haven't made a to-do list today. I think I'll still do that, but I am not really cleaning or organizing anything else today. I have to be up at 6am for the farmer's market tomorrow morning so I need to re-connect with my market stock and maybe attempt a couple of new, small paintings for the market. I want to make sure I pack the car tonight and not leave it for the morning.

I just want to make sure I leave a clean kitchen before I go to bed tonight.

Thanks for the support this week. I have a *really* good handle on this whole front room space now. I even feel like I'll be able to work in here over the winter which was really bugging me that I didn't feel that way about my space.

Must go. Have a fantastic day/evening/weekend!

Hello!

onebyone, best wishes at the market today!

Mom and I just got back over the hill and I'm drinking my green smoothie and checking in.

I went to the T-get yesterday and got my favorite cleaning solution x3...one for each bathroom...and found some nice brushes. My new "habit" is going to be trying to keep bathrooms clean on a daily basis. I have to head to work now but am excited to come home and get started.

Happy weekend!

Hi Ladies!

Credit on supplies and completion of tasks. I am out at our cabin on the Platte River and enjoying the beauty of nature for the weekend. It is easy to keep this place in shape as we don't have the excess clutter that is in town.

Relaxing and maintaining is my goal this holiday weekend.

Hope the market is a good one for you and your bathrooms sparkle.

fly-by
 

Hello.

I noticed tonight that my market supplies, which usually are painfully strewn all around my apartment, now seem to be not so much in the way and even though they aren't all put away, they aren't taking up all the space. I don't really get why that is except I guess when I decluttered and made my floor clean, I really made space and I must have made a lot cause like I say, it seems to be able to hold my amrket stock. So *credit*

Wow. Completely wiped out. Must go. Hope all is well with y'all!

Sweet!

This morning when I finally had the opportunity to look around I was just amazed at how quickly "things" start to slide. I just had enough time to unload the car and get ready for work and "stuff" just ended up wherever. I did a survey of each room:
~laundry/cat room-bicycle in the middle of floor
~office...laundry not put away, stack of books/mags/undealt paperwork/stuff to go downstairs
~dining room-lawn chairs headed towards basement in middle of floor
~kitchen-new cleaning supplies all over counter
~bathrooms dirty
~living room-little piles accumulating
~bedroom-CLEAN!!

I was a little frustrated at first and started s-l-o-w-l-y picking up. Remembering FL, I set my timer for 15 minutes. Amazing, the pace picked up...bike outside, lawn chairs to basement, laundry put away. Downstairs bathroom cleaned....paperwork sorted/filed/tossed.

IT TOOK 20 MINUTES! I have to persist. After that, I sat down and paid some tax bills (not yet due) but they are now done. I will file them NOW.

I have to persist and maintain my losses.

Now I'll go enjoy my morning coffee before work and will commit to the accumulated pile of books/papers on coffee table. (after work)

the de-cluttering continues
 

Hello

Very tired this Sunday morning. Had an early day and a late night last night.
Such a gorgeous day. Makes me want to swim in a lake. Little to no chance of that today.

I was gripped with *fear* about this coming month a few minutes ago. I still haven't made my schedule for all the events coming up, which will then break down for me all the work I need to get done and the type of work that needs to be done. In september I always think "oh, good, the busy summer is over" and then I realize "uh... NOW you REALLY get busy" as the schedule gets crammed with fall and xmas sales. For me though, I get to take off and fly away for at least a week at the end of November. So that's an excellent endpoint to my artistic year, and will surely set me up for next year.

So, for brain-dcluttering and fear reduction I need to get that schedule made.

As for today I have to do the to-do list as there are some things I really need to do or my work of last week will unravel. The kitchen is the top of the list. I have dishes to put away and I need to make a goal of removing whatever is on the kitchen floor so it is free and clear. I want a clean open kitchen by the end of the day. Maybe I can take some time to begin organizing my workspace more closely like one of my sets of drawers, the table top, or the cube shelf along the wall. We'll see. could also use some time off.

ok. I'll be back later.

Just got some inspiration from DW: she's ready for my pile of stuff from our trip to get put away and for my pile of stuff on the kitchen table to get put away.

Now, the trick is to figure out where, LOL.

Welcome home, BBE! :lol:

onebyone, great that you acknowledged the need for a little bit of progress on a day when you also needed some time off!

Me, glad I picked up yesterday...I felt much better in my space when I got up this morning. I attacked several procrastination projects which involved getting into my files and finding the "manuals" for my kitchen faucet (needs fixed) and for the electric cat box which needs to go away, manual included. credit for finding both.

It seems FL skipped Zone 1 (Entrance, Front Porch, Dining Room) and jumped into Zone 2 (Kitchen). I've decided to follow her lead and work in the kitchen this week. I am going to reorganize drawers, and purge in the process.

My thought this morning as I shuffled my "stuff" into it's proper place was this;

Even though there may be "room" for everything IT IS STILL about BEING HAPPY WITH LESS. I want to spend 1/2 hour when I get home today and purge again, starting under my kitchen sink.

Have a great day.

Into the home stretch of this fall challenge
 

Hello :wave:

Well the end of the summer is this month. A few more weeks. I feel good about where I am at so far with this decluttering challenge. I would like to make it a priority to get more stuff out of here and donated or tossed. This requires me to go through my stuff. It's better as the "moving my stuff" is kind of done for a while. I don't feel a need to do any more of that kind fo work. *credit there for sure. Now it's zeroing in on what I am using, what I need to keep even if I am not using it right now, what I really want to keep and then "all the rest" which is the stuff I can get rid of one way or the other.

My schedule is tight now until December so I need to keep my decluttering projects short and to the point. But if I do them daily I can maintain what I have done in my marathon week of decluttering and I can advance the goal of an oasis-like environment of creativity and relaxation. Actually, I need to change my goal as the "looking normal from the living room window is pretty much achieved-at least as far as I want to take it right now. No towers of boxes and no clutter all over the floor. It remains clean and clear. The kitchen is clean as I write this no dishes in the sink-none on the counters. Everything that was dirty has been washed. The floor is clear. And DH did the cat area for me on Saturday. It looks great. He also organized the cat food cans which is great as we have been in a weeks long experiment trying to figure out what our Looloo cat likes to eat. She is inscrutable that cat. So far, Nature's Choice Venison and Pea is her hands down favorite. Venison. hello? A Key West stray who loves venison with peas. This is why we are experimenting cause you just never know...

*credit* alos for finally doing my to-do list. Some aprts are better than I thought, others worse. I do have lots going on and I have to make lots to do a good job at these events. My first big one is the opening of my joint show and my tea paintings in the same building. That's on thursday. After feeling totally discouraged, several times, for several reasons, instead if giving up I pushed forward. now I'll see what the return on my efforts will be. My show partner confessed to me today that she could not get herself to invite her list of friends or email whatevers to our show opening. This upset me greatly but it is her decision. It floors me how short-sighted people are. This was after the show organizer emailed to ask if it would be ok if she didn't come to the event as she had a wedding she'd like to go to and could we look after it. But not suggestion that she'd find a replacement for herself. And in discussion with my art show partner about this the other artist said "Oh we can handle it cause you know no one's going to come."
Well, why are we bothering then? Why did she do it? And yeeah, if she doesn't send email's out or tell people about the show, yeah, no one will come. So I sent out 50 invites and we'll see who shows. I am expecting 10. But before I got so mad, I was expecting 0 but it's one thing for me to think it, another for me to take it in from someone else, someone who is supposed to be my ally. And then to have the show organizer ask to not be there too. Another big Why Bother to me. Everyone complains that these spaces are no good, don't work, people don't come and when an attempt is made to try to change that people don't follow thorugh on their end of things. yesterday I was so upset at "the lack of professionalism" that I was fuming, and then I thought, everyone's a volunteer. Can you expect that from volunteers? I don't know. I am a professional, full time artist and it looks like there is indeed a big difference between being a professional and someone who makes things part-time. But then don't complain about the lack of sales or the poor attendance. People can't have it both ways. And you don't get good results without putting the time and the work in.

hmmm. Goes for de-cluttering and weightloss as well.

And on that tricky observation I will move along. Thanks for listening.

OneonOne: Glad you are happy with the decluttering progress you have made at home. How frustrating it must be to do your part and not to have others pick up their part.

Lexxiss: I am with you on following FlyLady this week. My Kitchen is the dump zone and I intend to follow the daily tasks to get it back up to speed. Only makes sense as this is where I spend a lot of my time when I am here.

Out and about Thursday and Friday. Going to Doctor for Thyroid and Menopause symptoms. Setting up my 50 year old well check.

Hello!

Rachel, any special kitchen projects??

onebyone, if I lived closer I would come to your opening. Great that after you "fumed" that you recognized that the only person you can change is you, whether it be in art stuff or weightloss. Yay for thinking through your plan now through December. BTW-I am having very good results with the FL 15 min/day declutter (and 5min. hotspots). I wear a timer around my neck and do it every morning (otherwise I'll procrastinate it later) and I'm amazed how quickly things are improving.

Last night I thought I was too tired to do under my sink, as I had planned. While I was cooking my dinner...staring at the pan....I thought why not just do it and I did. It took 5 minutes. I pitched some stuff, moved stuff I rarely use into the basement pantry and washed the bottom before reorganzing. credit.

This morning I took advantage of my early morning energy to get a few kitchen drawers cleaned out (onebyone, I believe you have the same rainbow plastic drawers). I'm really trying to remember to save enough time so I don't leave more of a mess than I started.

Oh, BTW, been meaning to mention several things...
Rachel, once you asked me who is responsible for "our" space. I never answered. It is me. I can't make DH change, although I'm noticing the longer I do and talk about it he is getting better. Today on the phone he said he was doing small cleaning things like me and had washed down the washer/dryer at the other house, where he's at now.

Oh, just in general....I have always been agitated about DH trimming his beard/moustache over the mirrors and leaving all the hair. I got a big surprise during FL bathroom week when I washed the bathroom floor. It hadn't been done for awhile and it was lots of my long curly dark hair. Boy was I amazed! Now that I know that I'm being very much more careful about how I brush my hair and I'm making a commitment to sweep more often.

That's all....

Soooo good to hear your feedback Lexxiss. I wiped out my sink after I use it. I am the Oscar to my husband who is the Felix. He has been patient with me, is complementing me on my efforts to change my messy ways. I am surprised at how some things are staying organized and clean.

My refrigerator is on my list this week. I want to clean off the shelves and then go thru the freezer to see what I really do have. I am cleaning the top of the refrigerator which is a catch all. Then whatever Fly Lady commands, I am following!

I showed up at my appointment 2 hours early today. My inner Fly Lady kicked in and I washed my car, cleaned out the inside of my car, Cleaned my purse, and made a return list for things that need to go back to the store. I have one box ready to go to goodwill and will continue on.

OneonOne: glad you can vent here and then continue to do what is BEST for you. I agree with Lexxiss, I would come for a tea and artist encounter with you.

Rachel, great job dealing with the car when you found you had some spare time. I'm really finding that the whole FL timer thing has got me doing extra little things here and there AND especially noticing how short of a time most things really take if I just do them.
I used to be oscar and DH was felix....however I think I am really starting to notice that through my persistence I am starting to see a change in the wind. I have started to notice that my DH is quite a collector, but in less public areas....his shop :fr: and his two personal closets. I've decided that they are "none of my business". I'd rather focus on all the public areas; LR, DR, kitchen, TV room, BR and baths AND especially my office/personal room, which has all my clothes and other personal stuff. I have started simply taking his items which get left around the house and leave them on his desk. His desk seems to get cleared off and I don't see where it ever goes. His desk and two closets are in an upstairs corner that no one else ever sees (including me).

I had a personal success to share this evening. I was thinking I'd go over and stay w/DH next W-TH-F, but have to take my mom to an eye appt. DH and I talked and decided he'd come over and get me tomorrow AM so I could have 3 days at the hot springs. I decided to cross a few things off my list tonight. 60 minutes of my life:
5 min-cut up chard and put in the dehydrator
5 min-wash off top of refrigerator
10 min-take down my pretty stained glass fixtures in kitchen/wash/reinstall
My original intent was to simply clean under the refrigerator. Once I had it moved I could see all the cat hair/dust inside the mechanical stuff in the back. I got my tool kit (didn't used to have one), took off the back and proceeded to clean it out really well. There was lots of cat hair twisted up in the fan.
After I finished that, as long as the little vac was out I did all the edges in the kitchen and 1/2 bath, then cleaned out the lint trap for the dryer.
40 more minutes total.
The best news is that I did my refrigerator last month AND KEPT IT CLEANED OUT.
So I will wash my floor in the am and be done with Zone 2 for this time. :dancer:

I am really growing as I persist with this process. I am finding someone inside that I didn't really think existed.
Thx for listening :)

Love to hear your progress. Isn't interesting in how procrastination and lack of action has to do with time and not making a decision. Your night is empowerment at it's best! Enjoy!

wish you could come for tea too :)
 

Hi!

No extra decluttering today. I do have a dishpan in the sink, full of hot soapy water, into which all today's dishes are going. We are just getting ready to eat dinner and all those dishes will go right into the hot water so I can get them out and done before bed. It's late now, almost 9pm. But I am partly responsible as I decided to batch cook some diabetic friendly "magic rolls" so it's time well spent. Part of planning ahead, and with the hot soapy water, I'm ready for the clean up too.

I did catch myself accepting the notion that we have "breakfast dishes" everyday. I have never thought of us as having breakfast dishes, such a mundane everyday kind of thing. But we do. Almost everyday. And now that I accept it, I plan for it. It's all good.

I sent out 54 invites to my art opening. Between us, I don't even think that the shows have anywhere near my best work BUT it is good work and it is my work, and it is using the facilities to the max, which is never done here. I have heard back from 5 people, one who said she'll be there. So if she's the only one, there will be four of us and that's enough for a party!

Any suggestions for food I can bring to the event? Does anyone have a favorite party recipe or suggestion? Something that always goes over well at potlucks?? I'm all ears.

Thanks for all your good wishes btw. I'll raise a glass to you guys for sure.

I'm embarrassed to say that I'm pretty sure I've taken this picture before -- for a decluttering thread we had a couple of years ago. It's the balcony off of my study and over the sunroom. Really, one of the most interesting places in the house. So, how did it get turned into a storage room? Time to do something better with it!

My vision: a relaxed reading space

I moved the stuff from our vacation from the floor to the bed in the morning, sorted a bit, and put it back on the floor before going to bed last night.

There just gotta be a better way than to shuffle and shuffle removing one item at a time, LOL. But, by my standards, it's progress.