| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| pnwchica |
Posted - Apr 21 2005 : 10:19:21 PM
Help ... great dilemna. DO I keep five years worth of scrapbooking, gardening, country living and home deco mags????? I'm moving into a small two bedroom farmhouse. I'm going to be quite creative with fitting things in. Moving from a one bedroom apartment, cleaning out a storage shed the size of one of my bedrooms! This will be my 26th move in my almost 43 years. I was a military brat, married to a marine for 17 years and a few moves since being back in the USA. Not my dream house ...but wonderful steps in the direction of my dreams/desires. So, what tips do you have for uncluttering and clearing out. I'm not a clothes horse, so that makes it easy. I'm a quilter, scrapbooker, and a few other crafts. I swear I own stock in rubbermaid! I have three kids, all live in VA ... 2 on their own and one with his Dad; so I have their Christmas ornaments and the family stuff prior to the D-word. Lots of books. I don't have a yard to have a yard sale. I'll be doing a material swap with a friend I've met here . Any suggestions ... all area welcome and I'm open!
Bless,
Suzy
pnwchica@aol.com
Looking for new beef recipes, frugal & gardening tips, farmhouse remodeling & ez home recipes. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| citygoatlady |
Posted - Jul 29 2005 : 02:08:13 AM
The book I love on this is "Clutters Last Stand" by Don Aslett. I laughed till I cried, that was 15 years ago, but I have kept reading it since then. I've changed from an utter clutter collector, to being able to toss stuff that holds me back from experiencing more life! |
| Jana |
Posted - Jul 21 2005 : 9:14:43 PM
I agree with Joy!
I've gotten heavy into simplifying. (I think it all started when I had to clean out my parent's house after nearly 60 years of accumulating!)
I have a great book by Julie Morgenstern, actually 2, one deals with organizing your time, one with organizing your stuff. Also, watching the programs like "Clean Sweep" and "Mission Organization". I'm not sure which source I got it from but I use the phrase OHIO, Only Handle It Once. I actually tape that up on the wall in a room I'm working in and have boxes for "donate", "keep" and a big plastic trash bin for "toss". I put a big trash bag inside so when its full I quickly tie it up and haul it out and DON'T peak inside or I'd probably start picking things out.
Jana |
| Clare |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 10:41:14 AM
I do the same thing every couple months... only I don't toss them after I take out the "treasures".... I bring them to work and they are in the ladies room ! 
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| mollymae |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 10:31:39 AM
That's funny the ideas that were shared about magazines, as I was just this morning looking at my HUGE stack of country-style mags on the bookcase in my bathroom and thinking "I need to do something about those!". I'm going to take the suggestions of going through them and saving only the articles and pictures that "inspire" me and toss the rest!!! Thanks!
Cead Mile Failte,
Molly
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the Aching or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain" ~Emily Dickinson
**When life throws scraps your way ~ Make a Quilt!**
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 10:02:02 AM
I just went through the move myself - of course we have not unpacked yet but that's beside the point. I just went through everything as I packed it - if it was something I felt wasn't worth the bother and expense of moving 8 hours away, I put it in the charity box.
I have a feeling as I go through everything while unpacking some more things will go there too - things I haven't missed in 6 months! lol. |
| ArmyWifey |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 08:22:14 AM
As far as the magazines I normally go through them and rip out the articles I want and put them in a three ring binder in sleeve protectors.......that way I don't have to tote all my decorating magazines around, just the photos/articles I want in my decorating notebook.
Otherwise go through each room and set aside things to sell/give away, keep and throw out. Be harsh!
I told my hubby when he gets out I'm gonna write a book about how to fit 13,000 lbs of stuff in 1000 sq feet!
Blessings,
Holly
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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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| JoyIowa |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 05:12:39 AM
I have several great ways to weed out clothes: #1-Just one time leave your laundry go (or at least don't put it away) until you have "nothing" left to wear-then gut your closet of what is left, those are the things that you don't/won't wear for whatever the reason. #2 Look at each item-does it make you smile-if not, give it away. Only keep what you really truely love. #3 Each time you buy/acquire something, pull out two things to get rid of. #4 Check out Flylady.com for ways to "bless someone else". #5 Spend some time volunteering in a goodwill/thrift/salvation army resale shop. The first time you see a young mom find the perfect suit to wear to an upcoming job interview for only $5, you'll run home and get rid of stuff.
Hoarding is something my mom and sister do very well. I used to be on that road, but somewhere I got this image of people who really NEED the stuff and it keeps me from hoarding.
Joy
To live without farm life is merely existing, to live with farm life is living life to it very last experience. |
| lurban |
Posted - Jul 14 2005 : 04:49:52 AM
Before I moved, I tore out the pictures and articles that I needed and trashed my mag stash, too. I made binders of recipes and how-tos and a big fat book of decor ideas. That binder has been such a help to my realtor who flipped through it to get an idea of what it is we are truly after in a house. Now, if only the dream house would appear on the market! |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Jul 13 2005 : 11:15:44 PM
I manage to get rid of stuff by improperly storing it in my sometimes damp basement. Then it's ruined and I have to get rid of it for health reasons. I'm joking (sort of)! Really, I have lost a lot of stuff that way, but not on purpose. I have moved so many times after leaving my parents' home that it has just gotten way, way easy for me to let go of stuff. If I haven't worn it in a year or more, I give it away. If it's something I keep around that I don't really like but I've hesitated to get rid of it because of a "just in case I run out of clean clothes" motivation, I get rid of it. It's only helping me to procrastinate a chore and I don't feel good or comfortable when I wear it (for example, I now have only a week's worth of underwear because I got rid of all the uncomfortable stuff that I only wore to avoid the laundry).
I also find that limiting my space helps. I had way more yarn than I could possibly use so i decided that I can only allow myself one plastic tote of yarn and the rest I donated. I haven't allowed myself to buy anymore yarn because the tote is full which means I have enough yarn to keep my fingers busy and buying more would only be about "owning" another pretty thing that I can't make useful soon enough to justify the purchase.
As far as magazines go... I'm trying to wean myself off of them. I've gone through the ones I had and pulled out the ideas I really love and think that I could use and put them in a pretty "idea box" that I had from a stationary set someone gave me years ago. Every once in a while I go through it and if I still like the idea I put it back in the box and if not, I toss it to make more room. I like the library idea. I don't visit the library nearly often enough anyway.
Anyway, this is probably way longer than it should be already. It's the over tired rambling of 1'o'clock in the morning. |
| Kim |
Posted - May 09 2005 : 3:20:30 PM
Clotheswise, I go with what I wear all the time and weed everything else out. It onlyseems to work though when I'm in a mood to pitch. lol!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| pnwchica |
Posted - May 08 2005 : 07:46:52 AM
Thank you all for everything. I sure wish I had not tossed what I did, but now I have a resource. I will give CindyLou a call in regards to bringing residents; if anything I might be making a day trip there with Carla! She is busy making her willow chairs for MJF. Happy Mother's Day Y'all!!!
Bless,
SuzY
p.s. How do you clear out your clothes? I'm thinking of going to a couple colors and then just going from there. Any thoughts, suggestions?
Looking for new beef recipes, frugal & gardening tips, farmhouse remodeling & ez home recipes. |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 07 2005 : 6:23:34 PM
Suzy, CindyLou told me that Dory wants the Martha Stewart mags! They will probably take just about anything along the craft, home, garden line. She said just to weigh them and email Dory and she will figure postage and send a check to mail them. I am in Kansas so I cannot drive them like you can! They would all be most appreciative for the mags.( They even wanted old "Martha's) Hope this helps...
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - May 07 2005 : 4:59:06 PM
Hi Suzy, It's very hard when you move alot. We had to downsize a few times when my husband was very ill. My problem is I cant seem to throw things out!!!!! Everything means something. Just go slowly. Good luck. Michele
"she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands". Prov. 31:13 |
| Clare |
Posted - May 07 2005 : 11:19:17 AM
Hi Suzy. Everyone at the farm's a busy bunch and they don't always have time to read all of our posts. I suggest that you email Cindylou to schedule your trip. cindylou@maryjanesfarm.org... or give her a call weekdays: 1-888-750-6004. Sounds like it would be a great outing!
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| pnwchica |
Posted - May 07 2005 : 08:32:46 AM
Great ideas. I just tossed 100 magazines! I set some outside my apartment, it was in a low-income area, and many went, but what didn't I had tossed. I wish I had read this earlier, I would have drived them down to MJF as I'm close enough and the drive/break would have been nice. But, I will keep this in mine. Where I work we collect magazines also. Any particular ones that MJF would want. If so let me know. My email address at work is sek@wshmail.com. I'm the Life Enrichment Supervisor (nice name for recreational therapy) at the waterford on south hill. In fact, I am thinking about orgazining a day trip to MJF for my residents.
Any time better than another.
Bless,
Suzy
Looking for new beef recipes, frugal & gardening tips, farmhouse remodeling & ez home recipes. |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - Apr 22 2005 : 8:06:56 PM
Hi Dory... Would you except mags from more farmgirls? I have truck loads for MJ's library...What about old issues of Martha Stewart? I stopped reading her several years ago when she "changed"...Just thought I'd ask. If you all don't want any Martha I will understand!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Apr 22 2005 : 6:54:41 PM
I pay for Country Decorating Ideas (love the penpal section so I keep subscribing) and People Places Plants but get the rest free. www.freebizmag.com Horticulture and Log Home Living are my favorite freebies. My daughter likes Food Arts best. This is a service for businesses so I enrolled under my farm name.
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
| girl_friday |
Posted - Apr 22 2005 : 09:37:21 AM
Suzy,
I can sympathize with your dilemma, I too was a military brat and am married to a military member. Having to choose what to keep and what to get rid of is hard. I too am a big collector of magazines. I know the next move will have me going through my magazines also...my collection is growing all the time. I've decided to donate my magazines to MaryJane for our library here on the farm. We use the magazines for references and photo ideas. If you would like to do the same let me know. We would pay the postage on getting them shipped out to us. And then you know that your magazines will be in loving hands.
Dory |
| Eileen |
Posted - Apr 22 2005 : 08:50:11 AM
I sent my children all of their christmas ornaments about 3 years ago. They were pleased and my closet gained room for a few boxes of other stuff I wanted to keep but had no place to store for the time being. I also went through all of my special magazines and tore out the articles I wanted to keep and donated the rest to several doctors offices. I put the articles into plastic three ring binder sleeves and sorted by subject matter with dividers. Works great and stacks of magazines are now gone. As for the other stuff you could have a yard sale after you have moved. Country people always love a yard sale.
I am finally getting the courage to go through all of the rest of the books! I will be having a yard sale in a month or so. I inherited a lot of coffee table type books from FIL and have not wanted to part with them but havent opened even one of them in over 7 years, I think it is time to share them out.
Hope you have room in your new home for your creative side to organise a space for crafts and quilting.
Happy moving!
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Apr 22 2005 : 03:09:26 AM
I am a magazine junkie. When my piles became ridiculously large I spent a few rainy afternoons going through them. I tore out articles and pictures I loved. If I didn't love them and know I'd use them I didn't keep them. Smaller pieces are glued (glue stick) to 8.5 x 11 paper, hole punched and kept in a binder. I started doing this several years ago and have wished only once that I still had one particular set of magazines. If I'd kept the herb magazines I could have given them to a friend whose dream is to start an herb farm.
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
