Tidying up and KonMari

[spotty_dog]

Did my books this weekend, all but a couple of subcategories. Despite having purged books a few weeks ago, I found four paper grocery sacks of things I could let go this time around. It feels so good to have room on the bookshelves to get things arranged logically, and not to feel guilty looking at classic books and textbooks that I "should" study again some day!

My mom was admiring my kids' neatly folded drawers so, a bit nervously since some clothes she's given me have gone out of the house already, I started explaining about the method. She's super interested, and we have made a tentative date to go through some of the things in her storage that are technically "mine"!

[alotofyarn]

I've been behind on my goal of dealing with one stack or drawer per week, so today I organized some shelves in the garage and moved some stuff out of the pantry (infrequently used appliances mostly) and put those in the garage, and then put some stuff that had been accumulating elsewhere in the kitchen (paper towels on top of the fridge, boxes of canned sparking water and bottled water on the counter and table) and put those away in the pantry. A little bit of progress! We'll get this house organized just in time for it to be chaotic again before baby C gets here.

[BonBon]

@BonBon, I see you in a Konmari FB group. Are you doing the method, or are you done? Any thoughts? I'm done with clothes now, but my ILs are coming today so I can't move on to books yet.

I love that group!!!! So many inspiring photos and ideas. We just got started, and I'm doing things a bit out of order just because some things need attention sooner. We did our pantry most recently which made such a HUGE difference! I still have to go through non-food items.

I've started my kids' clothes and that is painful! They have some beautiful things and I'm sad when they don't want them! (ie a gorgeous handknit sweater passed down from older sister.) It's hard for me to let those things go and not pressure them into keeping something just to make me happy, or wearing what they don't want to wear.

Are the ILs still there?

[Phoebe]

I am going to check out the FB group. Clutter makes me anxious!


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[spotty_dog]

I've done some stuff out of order too. The linens were quick and rewarding, and the board games.

I've started my kids' clothes and that is painful! They have some beautiful things and I'm sad when they don't want them! (ie a gorgeous handknit sweater passed down from older sister.) It's hard for me to let those things go and not pressure them into keeping something just to make me happy, or wearing what they don't want to wear.

Yep! I bit my tongue over a few, "That was a gift, you should wear it!" or "That barely fits, are you serious?" They both ended up keeping a reasonable amount that fits in their drawers, and DD actually cycles through her outfits instead of just wearing one until it can stand up by itself, so that is feeling like a win.

Are the ILs still there?

Naw, that was a <24 hour visit. Then my parents and brother came by for <24 hours as well but I went ahead and worked on the books anyway. Now I need to figure out if I can get a tax receipt for donating my books to the library, and I still need to do magazines, gardening books, and cookbooks. Then it's on to miscellany -- I am pretty desperate to do my yarn and fiber stash, and the junk in the kitchen drawers! [MENTION=1768]scrub-jay[/MENTION] has had drawer storage for spices stuck in my head for days now, but then what would we put in the glass-front cabinets, and where would we put the kitchen tools that are in that top drawer? Hrm.

I'm saving some hand-me-down handknits for Sentimental. Those are going to be tough. :\

[Thirteen]

DH did his side of the closet and his dresser last night. Swoon!


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[scrub-jay]

DH did his side of the closet and his dresser last night. Swoon!


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Now that sounds like foreplay... 😂

[BonBon]

I am going to check out the FB group. Clutter makes me anxious!


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Me. Too. Like it seriously messes with my head and I can't think straight. What I love about going on vacation is we typically rent a condo or a house, and it's empty of everything but the necessities. Trying to recreate that in the house...:/

Alison, my two youngest sprouted over the summer and can no longer wear their size 8s. Yet they're trying so hard to shimmy into what are now skin-tight jeans. "See?! They FIT!!" Uh, no. They're going to rip a seam. Usually they're all over getting rid of the old and getting new.

[HouseofWool]

Thankfully, S is pretty good about getting rid of stuff she doesn't wear. And we clear her entire wardrobe seasonally thanks to bins of hand me downs from my sister.

I need to really start on this. I'm still reading the book and am swamped in life.

I also find that determine what to get rid of isn't too bad, but actually getting to goodwill is so hard because of my schedule.

[Phoebe]

I just bought a copy of the book. I hope I can follow through with the whole scenario.


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[spotty_dog]

I just finished doing my yarn stash. (Not handspun or fiber, yet.) Two paper grocery sacks to donate and a good couple of gallons of garbage. Aahh. Feels good. Now I need to figure out to store what's left. And it makes me antsy to do the rest of my fiber stash but I don't think I have enough time left today.

(Update: went from four drawers, a Rubbermaid bin, and stuff squirreled around the house -- to two drawers. The drawers are more crowded than I'd like, but maybe I can do a bit of rearranging later.)

[Deebs]

Do you have the back of a door or closet space for a shoe organizer? I seriously will organize anything possible in them, and would work really well for yarn. It's been life changing.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...14f9e38db0.jpg
As for decluttering, I thought I did great before we moved, but there's still so much stuff!

[spotty_dog]

Do you have the back of a door or closet space for a shoe organizer? I seriously will organize anything possible in them, and would work really well for yarn. It's been life changing.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...14f9e38db0.jpg
As for decluttering, I thought I did great before we moved, but there's still so much stuff!

Thanks! Unfortunately in this old house there seems to be an ongoing problem with clothes moths, which love to snack on wool. I have to keep my yarn sealed up. I winnowed down into nine of these zippered bags: http://www.cleanersupply.com/product...l-Blanket-Bag/

They fit four to a drawer, but only just. There are probably an average of 18-20 skeins of yarn per bag. Still, it is joyful for me to have materials at hand when I feel inspired!

I can't believe how well this process is going. I have been through many a purging and decluttering process, and never thought I was too attached to my material things. But I've been able to let go of so much this week, things I was keeping out of obligation.

[Thirteen]

Now that sounds like foreplay... 😂

It so was. 😅


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[scrub-jay]

[MENTION=985]spotty_dog[/MENTION] If the yarn brings you joy, and you feel inspired regularly (defined however you want) keep it. I think it's good you're going through it all though. Keep only skeins that bring you joy. I'm all about ditching the obligation crap though.