The fact is this: I don't want to move everything to a new house. If you're reading this and wondering why we're moving read this post first...I'm on a blogging roll, so apoligize if this caught you off guard :) Of course, big items, loved items, purposeful items, and items that just make me smile, or make my life easier will get packed up and moved one day. But what about the stuff that gets shoved to the back of the closet or cabinet, the random stuff that gets thrown into one of the junk drawers...or in my case...junk room. That stuff must go...or I must find a purpose for it before the next trash day.
Yesterday I started with cleaning out the pantry because it had become a cluttered mess and I couldn't find things when I needed them...and that drives me crazy! I filled not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 trash bags with stale food, storage containers that were missing their lids, an over abundance of plastic grocery sacks (ok...I recycled those), almost empty boxes, and foodie items I bought eons ago and never used...sad, but true. I even made a little creative project out of it and grabbed some tags and ribbon and labeled my baskets...I know, I have a problem...but it makes me happy to see cute little labels on my favorite Sterlite Baskets
I have these baskets all over my house...I seriously l.o.v.e them...and with a tag and ribbon, well it keeps me organized in a cute way...and I love to be organized. Thanks Dad for the organization gene!
When cleaning out the pantry it was pretty clear what needed to stay and what needed to go...expiration dates are there for a reason, right? But what about the Scrapbook Room, specifically the closet. Back in August I cleaned out a lot in the SBR, but I didn't touch the closet...because the closet was kind of scary. So today, I put my grubby clothes on and got to work.
My method for making decisions on what stays and what goes was this: Does this item make me happy? Can I quickly think of a purpose for this item? Do I have a similar item that I would probably use over this one? "Is this so important that I want to move it?" For example--many years ago when I began scrapbooking and I went really crazy buying supplies I bought minibooks all.the.time....with great dreams of what I could do with them some day...well, friends some day is here and you want to know how many minibooks I've created? Probably about 5 and most were for gifts...so I kept some favorites, ones that I can slide photos into and be done and I am giving the rest away. I feel so good about that...I really appreciate the ones I kept and believe I'll use them one day and I know the others will be used by kids who have next to nothing. It's a win win! Yes, I could dwell on all the money I spent on the supplies I'm getting rid of, but is that really a reason to hold onto things...because you spent money on them? If something is not adding to your life, it's taking away from your life...so get rid of it!
The two bags will be donated and I'm keeping what's in the basket.
I'm sure each of you have some sort of clean out, reorganize, declutter goal for the new year...I hope you can find it within you to get rid of the excess in your life. Here are some great links on decluttering and organizing your home. Peter Walsh (who inspired this blog entry many years ago), Fly Lady who has easy, realistic goals for cleaning out, and Aby Garvey founder of Simplify 101. Now, go...pick one drawer and clean it out...I did that yesterday morning with my nightstand drawer and it took me 5 minutes to restore order to that one little place in my home and now when I open it I feel calm, not cluttered.
