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As for adult clothes, my friends and I have a clothing swap party every year in January ("New year, new clothes.... for free!) . We usually have 10-15 people attend and it is great. I'm not purging my wardrobe yet because I'm not done losing pregnancy weight AND I don't know if there will be a LO3. However, here's the description for our party in case anyone wants to try out the idea:
----------------------------------------------------Start the new year with some new clothes! We've all got items in our closets and dressers that go untouched, thinking we'll wear them eventually... but we never do. Bring them to the party, lay them out on the tables organized by size, and then at 10:30 the clothing swap will begin. Pick out some clothes that catch your eye, feel free to try them on in the various rooms / bathrooms, and take home the ones you like the most. Mingle, chat, eat snacks while you "shop." All clothes leftover at the end will be donated to a local charity.
- Snacks and drinks will be served.
- All clothing items and accessories welcome.
- Feel free to invite friends, but please just let us know
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@Hypatia: I just bought decluttering at the speed of life- thanks! Honestly I feel like the first one is so helpful, even if the second one is half as helpful I am happy to give her $3 (or whatever teeny bit goes to the author), since the first I got from my library. And there is a long waiting list for this one at my library.
Oh- and I totally hoard craft supplies and it’s onenof the spots I’m saving for when I’m more practiced at decluttering. So kind of good to hear it will be covered.
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@Foodnerd81: report back how it is!
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My husband and I watch a couple episodes of the Marie Kondo show and were so inspired that we went through our closets and purged 4 garbage bags of stuff. He even folded all his t-shirts in his drawer just like she suggests...it was pretty cute.
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We organized and decluttered our mudroom closet! It’s a nice big closet that isn’t actually at the entrance we normally use (we come in through the garage to the basement so everyday coats and shoes are down there). So this closet has become a free for all with extra BJs purchases, winter and summer gear thrown in, bags, everything. Yesterday DH took almost everything out and installed shelves then I went through everything and got rid of or found an appropriate home in the house for a lot and put back what belonged. I wish I had a before picture to emphasize how different this after is!
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@Hypatia: I wasn’t joking about my craft supply problem. I’m tackling that later when I feel confident in my declittering skills
That whole top shelf plus it’s moved into a cabinet in the dining room.
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@Foodnerd81: Wow, it looks great! That must feel so satisfying!
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I was so excited that DH agreed to watch the Marie Kondo show. We both agree she seems incredibly sweet and kind. But DH's main takeaway from the show is that our house is not that bad compared to the people on the show. He said our before is better than their after. He agreed we need to address a few key areas (office nook, mudroom closet, and kitchen) but otherwise he thinks we are fine. Fail on my part making him watch haha.
Though I do agree with him we are not in a horrible spot - we moved last summer and got rid of about 25% of our belongings while packing. The biggest issue is organizing. Most things are just where ever we put them when we moved in.
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@Foodnerd81: wowza that looks amazing!
@catgirl: I told my aunt about it and we watched the last episode with the newlyweds and three pets in the condo together. She had the same reaction as your DH. I told her it’s not about transformation from being a hoarder because she immediately said of their office/ guest/ room/ shared closet “I would never get to that place,” but rather it’s about surrounding yourself with things that truly bring you joy and serve a purpose for how you live. I told her I’m selling a cut glass drink dispenser because after 6 years I have never taken it out of the box. I’m a punch bowl girl, but one of the glasses that came with it has been missing for years. The bowl still gives me joy, but I’m selling the drink dispenser and the glasses.
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@Foodnerd81:that looks great!!! My craft supply storage is a hot mess, definitely waiting until I get better at this whole process to tackle that. I ama craft supply/fabric hoarder.
I did achieve my goal of getting through my closet and 2 dressers. I purged SO MUCH, that I only have 2 drawers + my closet worth of clothes left, and it’s wonderful! I also did my youngest daughters dresser.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Oh I agree, and actually DH does too. I read Marie Kondo's book a couple of years ago and even though DH didn't read it we talked about it a lot. We have already gone through our things and decided what brings us joy. That's also how to purged before our move. We aren't big shoppers, we prefer to only be surrounded by things we love. That part is pretty easy for us.
I was more hoping the show would encourage him to help me organize and tidy what we have already decided is worth owning.
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My issue is the toys! But then most of the storage solutions that I think look nice would eventually themselves become something I have to get rid of, so that's where I am at the moment.
Not gonna lie, I started watching that show and I just kept thinking it'll never work because the bottom line is those people are kinda slobby. I mean far from the worse I've ever seen but still, if you're not the kind of person where the mess bothers you enough to regularly clean up, it just isn't a priority.
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@Foodnerd81: that doesn't look too bad.. I mean it's labeled and it is the upper part of a closet, not the middle of a room.
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@catgirl: yes!!! The organizing part has me psyched. Once we move I will put a concerted effort into really doing a better job of having a home for everything. Because it’s me I’ll get some pretty containers to house things. I think my biggest challenge is going to be the kitchen if my next place doesn’t have a pantry. I haven’t had to put food except for spices in a cabinet since about 8-9 years ago.
Has anyone paired down their or the kids wardrobe that you’ve been able to just use your closet? My goal is to get to that before I move and that way I will gain real estate in the bedrooms.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I think that depends on how big your closet is. We have a pretty large closet if it was for one person- I could totally do it just me. But I share with DH. Actually he only uses the closet though.
For my kids I definitely could now if I got so drawers to put in there. They have standard closets with a pair of sliding doors. Their clothes are so small I could now but not when they get older.
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@2littlepumpkins: I try to get you storage solutions on yard sale sites so I don’t feel bad getting rid of it down the line. Not that it works that great anyway...
And yeah I did a big reorganization of craft stuff a year ago, but have hardly touched most of those bins since. Meanwhile I started storing incoming craft stuff in a different cabinet in the dining room and that’s almost stuffed now. I need to pare down and then have it be more accessible for the things we actually use. My house has a good amount of storage space, but I’m really limited in soaceyo atore things that I want to access but don’t want the 5 year old to reach. (I imagine all houses would be like that though). I don’t trust the kids to be able to reach certain art stuff. They have markers and crayons available but beyond that I want to control it.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I started doing a capsule wardrobe 2 years ago and my clothes and dh clothes are all in one closet. I hang everything I'm wearing for a season and have non capsule stuff in basket on a shelf in the closet. Out of season stuff all fits in two boxes (probably one tote worth). Kids clothes are all in one 4 drawer dresser. Out of season stuff for them are in tote in basement or in drawers in my 4 year old captains bed. Having a small wardrobe works for us and means less furniture in our tiny room.
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@Foodnerd81: I have to keep all my craft stuff really limited because the only place to store stuff that kids can't get to is my closet or the basement. And the basement gets musty so closet it is. The closet is a small walk in room but quickly gets stuffed with things I don't want kids getting their hands on. I want to get a desk and pretty but functional storage in there so it's not a mess.
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I've been watching Queer Eye and find that more inspiring to make my home functional, beautiful, and minimal than Marie's show. It's probably because I love organizing and minimal living and have already spent a few years working on decluttering. Now I want it all to look pretty! Anyway the clothing makeovers that they do are interesting and the end result closet is always really minimal but functional and beautiful.
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I purged and organized my 3 year olds drawers the other day. When she saw them she looked and goes “Whooooaaa. Wow- mommy look!” And pointed at the drawer. Then she made big sister come and look, and big sister asked me to do her drawers too.
And I dropped off an entire suv trunk full of donations for the women’s and family shelters. So now all our drawers are organized but the dresser tops are still a mess.
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I did my sock drawer yesterday and I have looked at this photo about 30 times today - it gives me so much joy!
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I haven't read the whole thread, nor have I actually read the books, but I need SO much help in this area. My house is a pit and my husband is a disorganized pack rat who has zero sense of when something needs to be cleaned/picked up. (I love him but it's how he is)
We have 2 small children and I would LOVE to get my house decluttered/organized. BUT. My main thing is I find it so time intensive to do! Even in baby steps. Literally, it takes ALL my free time to just keep up with laundry, washing dishes, packing lunches, occasionally cleaning a toilet, etc.! Like... WHEN do I do this big decluttering/organizing?! I feel like I need two weeks with no kids to even make a dent and it is so overwhelming.
Like for example... I have a pile of stuff on my kitchen table that needs to be returned to Amazon. But it's gift receipts and a bunch of separate returns so I need like, 30 or 40 minutes to get it all organized and boxed up and I can't find the time to get it done.
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@MrsADS: not that you actually have time to read a book, but the Dana White book is good for that kind of stuff. She doesn’t recommend a giant overhaul like they do on the Marie Kondo show, and says to start with the easy things. But I also know I’ve been slacking in many day to day areas to get to the organization stuff.
How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets https://www.amazon.com/dp/0718079957
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@MrsADS: oh and I also have amazon returns I don’t feel like dealing with. Ugh. Thanks for the reminder!
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@MrsADS: fyi kohls now takes amazon returns! it's a game changer. you don't have to package or box anything just take it to the desk and they scan your phone and youre on your way! I can do everything from my phone now which is huge for me. no more computer or printing
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@gotkimchi: what?!?! Tell me more. Anything? You don’t have to pay return shipping?
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@gotkimchi: oh- it looks like it’s only in Milwaukee, LA, and Chicago area stores.
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@Foodnerd81: I’m literally shocked it’s only those cities because nothing good ever comes to us first! Although we do have an amazon warehouse nearby so that must be the reason
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@erinbaderin: that is a very satisfying drawer! Nicely done!!
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@Foodnerd81: where I am, you can drop unboxed Amazon returns at a UPS store, it works the same way @gotkimchi explained above. There’s a UPS store across the street from my office and I’ve found it super convenient
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@PurplePeony: but you still pay shipping then right?
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Checking in for weekend accountability! Tomorrow I will kick two end tables to the curb, pick up all random crap in my bedroom off all surfaces and clean out two dresser drawers. Also, take DH shopping for a new end table and coffee table.
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@Foodnerd81: check your options when you click return because I think I’ve seen the ups one where you take it unboxed and it’s 0 but i could be wrong
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@Foodnerd81: not for the stuff I sent back! I think most stuff sold or fulfilled by Amazon is free, though i could be mistaken. I don’t remember whether the things I returned specifically said “free returns” when I bought them...anyway, when you start processing the return, it should show you all the options so you can see if any are free.
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@PurplePeony: ah ok. Yeah none said free for the ones I’m doing. Then I start wondering if it’s worth returning at all if I have to pay $6-7 to ship back, but yes, it is.
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I successfully went through both kids dressers and most of mine (forgot the sock drawer). This weekend I’m planning to go through their closets so I can pack up the grown out of clothes and buy those bins away instead of stacking in my room. Then I’ll also finish cleaning up my room- clutter on the dresser and a corner that’s been a dumping ground since we moved in. Plus we are taking down the last of the Christmas lights and packing them up, and hopefully I will tackle our front coat closet, where I’m hoping to be able to store games and puzzles I want to limit access to.
The hardest areas are going to be the kitchen and the craft supplies!
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Okay, I am in for deslobification accountability!
I dropped DH and LO off at the airport this morning for a four night visit to his family. I have a lot of work-work to get done while they are gone, but a long housework punch list as well. Today, I decluttered the living room (SO. MUCH, PAPERWORK.). Tomorrow's goal is the dining room, including putting away the Christmas tree, and I want to get to the guest room before LO and DH return, plus a thorough dusting and vacuuming.
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@lady baltimore: good luck! I’m always working in quick bursts while the kids are out of the house. A whole 4 days sounds luxurious but also harder in some ways (plus the actual work work to do).
DH took the kids to the gym for two hours yesterday and I finished taking down the Xmas decorations- even the outside ones by myself, which I usually wait for DH to do. Threw out the strand with half broken lights and put a note to remind us of that next year so we aren’t confused why the lights don’t fit
I actually reorganized half the storage room so things are in logical bins that are easy to find and take out, and organized the front coat closet which is also our puzzles and games storage. I should have taken before pictures, since these don’t look that impressive, but believe when I say they are a huge improvement. Hoping to get to my own room today.
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@Foodnerd81: I just wanted to say I’m so impressed with how much work you’re doing!
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It is really inspiring!!!
I actually reorganized half the storage room so things are in logical bins that are easy to find and take out, and organized the front coat closet which is also our puzzles and games storage. I should have taken before pictures, since these don’t look that impressive, but believe when I say they are a huge improvement. Hoping to get to my own room today.
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