| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jenimurph |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 1:45:54 PM
i so want to be one of those early risers who has breakfast on the table in the morning, whose house is uncluttered and only the necessities occupy space and is a welcoming place all the time, but it just seems to elude me no matter what i do. any advice? anyone who has the same challenges and would like to work through them together?
i just joined the forum, so if there's already a thread like this, sorry for the duplication!
blessings!
jen |
| 24 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| debtea2 |
Posted - Feb 16 2010 : 4:43:21 PM
i had the same problem than one day i decide to divide and conquer
so i di it in baby steps i put out three large rubber maid tubs
labeled donate trash regift 
i took one drawer at atime than one closet one cabinet and so on.
the other thing i learned when cleaning a room bring everthing you need and a basket and shut the door rule can't leave the room til your done otherwise i get distracted and wind up all over the place with nothing completed
i try to think of it as a game
it works for me
inch by inch
jersey farmgirl
jersey farmgirl |
| melanie47601 |
Posted - Feb 16 2010 : 3:45:22 PM
I went on a couple of big purging binges last fall. I was expecting to move before the year was out, but that didn't happen. I purged when I packed everything up and then purged again when I unpacked everything. I can think of a couple of things I probably need to get rid of- like the Christmas tree in the closet with the broken foot. Or wait did I throw that out? Maybe I still have the box to the tree in the closet. Ahhh maybe it is time to de-clutter again. LOL
The things I'm the worst about hanging onto are the things that I use for crafts or repurposing. I'm all the time picking up jars, old clothes, wreaths, you name it, anything that has life to it I'll hang onto it forever!! Since I can't seem to part with the clutter I have left, I think I need help with organizing my clutter.
The kids and I got some good news the other day. The house we were going to move into last year, is almost ready for us. So hopefully in the next couple of months we will be moving!! We find it hard to get organized and stat that way living in a tiny two bedroom trailer. The house we are moving into, when the repairs are all done, will be a 4 bedroom and even a spare room just for my crafting!! Woo-hoo!!! And hopefully when I get everything organized then I won't have a clutter problem anymore. Hahahha I'm not sure if that will ever happen.
Melanie
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh Crap, She's up!"
Blog~ http://wheelsarealwaysturning.blogspot.com/
Swap Blog~ http://mels-swapshop.blogspot.com/ |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Feb 16 2010 : 3:37:20 PM
fly lady had great ideas, she has helped me out a lot!
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
| HeatherAnn |
Posted - Feb 16 2010 : 2:49:42 PM
hey gals! Thanks for sharing the Fly Lady website, I'm so excited about it! And I'm getting rid of things too, especially things that I think are beautiful or lovely or whatever but I have them packed away because they don't match anything. It's either displayed or out as far as decorations go. I know there are a lot of things I've done away with and then kicked myself for doing it because I so wanted them back. But I never did need them and I'm tired of the clutter too!
now, if I can only figure out what to do with these sentimental things... hmmm... there are a little too many of them. maybe one thing from a relative per house? ugh, it's a hard one!
Heather Ann
Apartment Farmgirl
"You got to look at all the good on one side and all the bad on the other and say 'Well, alright then.'" - Aunt Eller, Oklahoma
www.plumblossomknits.etsy.com |
| traildancer |
Posted - Feb 02 2010 : 6:50:10 PM
Somewhere I have seen the quote: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or beautiful." If you think about this, it puts a lot of things into perspective.
I agree, that as Americans, we have lots of STUFF. My goal for the last couple of years has been simplify. And this year, when my husband confronted me about my debit card usage (100+ debits in a 30-day period!!!) and took away the card, I am trying to not buy anything that I don't need. It's hard because I start thinking about something that I want and get kind of panicky inside if I don't get it. But when I look at my closets, or the barn, or the kitchen, I really have more than enough and spares besides!
I confess--I bought MJ's book, even though I don't really need it! I so enjoy reading everyone's posts and so many of you refer to her Ideabook that I just had to have my own.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
| jenimurph |
Posted - Feb 01 2010 : 10:25:03 AM
thanks, ingrid! freecycle is the best-i posted a lot of stuff on that since it goes out right away and i don't have to take it anywhere. stuff that isn't freecycle worthy (IMHO)i bag up and take to salvation army. i struggle with getting the house looking great and then it just explodes! maintenance is my downfall.....
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| Ingrid |
Posted - Feb 01 2010 : 08:41:46 AM
Simplify, simplify, simplify. That's what I started telling myself every day. Dec 1 I started to de-clutter because I wanted to put up Christmas decorations and actually be able to see them. I started with my kitchen and took everything out of the cupboards, one cupboard at a time and cleaned. In two days it was done and got rid of 5 bags of stuff that we never used. Then the livingroom, bathroom, laundry room. The house got better every day. After 7 days I put up decorations. After Christmas I started on the bedrooms and now all the closets and corners are done. We still have too much stuff but it is getting better. My suggestion is to do one quarter of a room each day and after four days it will be done. That way you won't feel like you are spending all day de-cluttering. The other trick I use is the stuff you get rid of actually get rid of it and don't store it in another spot. Good luck.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
| Yart |
Posted - Feb 01 2010 : 04:36:51 AM
Jenimurph - that is the best way I have ever heard clutter described. I have to agree it is just like a rabbit. LOL!
Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis
http://urban-eco.blogspot.com/ |
| jenimurph |
Posted - Jan 31 2010 : 10:41:49 PM
yart-i am in that process now. we moved in the spring and i did what i thought was a huge purge, but i'm finding tons of stuff now that i don't need or doesn't fit in the new house. i've decide clutter is an animal related to the rabbit..... |
| Yart |
Posted - Jan 31 2010 : 7:18:40 PM
My name is Yart and I am organizationally challenged.... LOL! I keep my living room very nice.... But that is about it. The rest of my house has a clutter everywhere. I plan on doing a huge clean sweep this spring. What this entails is just getting rid of most of the stuff. It is so much easier then trying to find a place for something you really don't need anyways. I did this a couple of years ago. I ended up getting rid of half the junk in my house. And I was never happier.... But like most things the clutter has crept back in and needs to go. I find the less stuff I have the easier it is to keep up on. And there was only one thing that I got rid of that I had to re-buy. That was a food mill. But I went to the thrift store and got a new one for a couple of dollars.
Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis
http://urban-eco.blogspot.com/ |
| Huckelberrywine |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 9:21:03 PM
Words can't I even get in the right my order sometimes. :) But that's just life. Do the best we can, laugh and understand a lot. :)
We make a difference. |
| AsiyahK |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 10:23:21 AM
Like you, it's important that my family has breakfast together in the morning. I just really assessed our morning routine and figured out that I was spending at least a half hour looking for clothes, ironing them, finding socks, shoes, etc, etc.
So, I started getting the kids' clothes together the night before and lay them out so everything is easily accessible. That gave me back the time I needed to prepare a hot meal for everyone.
Just find one thing that you can change into a time-saver instead of a time-waster and use it to prepare breakfast (or vacuum or whatever).
Good luck!
**
Visit my blog at http://mypointohtwo.blogspot.com |
| Kayce |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 09:30:39 AM
Jen, ABSOLUTELY! What do you propose? ....Oh, duh..I'll email ya I'll be off line and then back on after kids go to bed.
Melody, I agree. I have way toooooo much stuff it is really NOT a good thang.
~Kayce~
Learning to appreciate having a glass..not half full or empty..just thankful for a glass :)
Check out PenPals for FarmKids http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38599 |
| coffeemom |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 07:14:06 AM
Hey everybody!
This is a goal I have made for myself this year: I'm going to put on my big girl panties and DE-CLUTTER!!! I think most people in America have too much. If we didn't, there wouldn't be so many storage businesses popping up all over. I don't want to deal with it any more. What really made me go over the edge was my search for a lost glove for my husband in the coat closet that did not turn up a glove, but DID turn up six plastic bottles of dried poster paint that has been in there for 10 years!!!! I'm ashamed. We home schooled, so I saved and stored many things. Well, the boys are now 21 and 22, graduated from college, blah, blah, blah........ Yes, it's time. So, if you want to suck it up and join me, we can be an encouragement for each other.
Melody (coffeemom #833) |
| jenimurph |
Posted - Jan 20 2010 : 06:53:53 AM
so, kayce, are still up for working on this stuff together? we could hold each other accountable for a new habit, decluttering project, whatever is most pressing right now. anyone else want in?
email me and let me know!
jen |
| N@n |
Posted - Jan 17 2010 : 09:27:37 AM
Kayce---Thanks for the giggle. Actually, I have found "IT". I just hope everyone of you out there can find "IT" as well.LOL
Nan
keep searchin'-it's out there somewhere. |
| MommaJ9 |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 9:49:55 PM
Good for you Kristin...I have too many places to "hide" things...today we spent the entire afternoon rediscovering all of the hidden junk! It was kind of like a treasure hunt! I was feeling pretty good about our family room until the family started seeking and finding! Tomorrow.. Goodwill and the dump! Then we'll start tackling the laundry room...
Farmgirl #783
http://jabezfarm.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 7:14:32 PM
Me, too. I hate clutter. It seems to breed and grow while I'm not looking. I just started cleaning my ever growing laundry room a few days ago. What a mess. I can see the floor now. Canning jars in the milkroom. Milk jugs in the cabinets. Stuff off the floor. I can actually see the floor. I feel so good when I get a room cleaned. I just want to stand in it and look around.
It gets away from me sometimes and I cannot deal with it all. I wish I had more places to put things besides tables and counters and chairs. That's where things end up.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Sarahpauline |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 7:07:08 PM
Jen, I admit it. I am a hardened criminal. I have so much that I need to get rid of, and to organize I just dont know where to begin. My house isnt dirty but it IS cluttered. I hate that!
Not all those who wander are lost...
www.SarahPauline.com
www.AbraxasBaroque.com |
| Kayce |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 6:02:37 PM
Oh, Nan: STOP SEARCHING! Yes, its out there but we dont need it J/K lol...
emsmommy5: Yep, I delete them too. I like the 5 min dash with the timer.
~Kayce~
Learning to appreciate having a glass..not half full or empty..just thankful for a glass :)
Check out PenPals for FarmKids http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38599 |
| Kayce |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 5:58:32 PM
Jen,
Thank you. It stresses me sometimes that my house is far from perfect. I am an early riser and have a hot breakfast everymorning for 6. I do have certain areas that I call common areas that stay pickup and what I consider presentable (My mom would differ).
I have a problem with getting rid of stuff. So my garage holds stuff not cars. I have piles here and there. they are out of the way but still can be seen. I have the same challenge and would love to work through them together!
Nan
Yay! I love Fly Lady. Just start where you are..your not behind :) I get e-mails all the time. Morning and night routines are pretty set, its just the time in between.
I have no excuse. I dont have a small house (wish I did...less to dust...dust bunnies alway loom, though I sweep CONSTANTLY,ocd) JUST TOO MUCH STUFF.
~Kayce~
Learning to appreciate having a glass..not half full or empty..just thankful for a glass :)
Check out PenPals for FarmKids http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38599 |
| emsmommy5 |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 5:49:51 PM
I love flylady. My problem is that I just don't do it!!! Most of the time I delete her emails before I even open them. Talk about denial. Maybe my goal should be to open the email each morning. That might at least get me jump started with the attitude.
When I was being good.... my fav advice was the 27 fling boogie (or whatever she called it)
Do what you love, love what you do. |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 5:49:43 PM
Jen,
Usually I dont have organizational challenges. However, I just added going to the gym to my life and trying to balance it all has become cRaZy!!!
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJanesFarm made us SISTERS :)
Rene'Groom~
Sisterhood Coordinator
Farmgirl Sister #185
www.MaryJanesFarm.com/RFBlog/
www.Twitter.com/ReneGroom
www.FarmGirlsFarm.blogspot.com
www.renenaturallyspeaking.blogspot.com
|
| N@n |
Posted - Jan 15 2010 : 1:58:06 PM
Oh Jen,
I so understand and I am just like you! There are times when I seem to be getting on top of things but then, I lose direction and end up back where I started from. When I follow Fly Lady, I tend to do much better. If you haven't ever seen her site, go check it out. She sends you targets every day and if you follow what she says to do, you can get on top and hopefully stay on top. My problem is I have waaaay tooo much stuff and live in a small house. And I love to do a lot of things so it tends to pile up. Let me know what you think of Fly Lady.
Nan in Ark.
keep searchin'-it's out there somewhere. |
