Decluttering Dresser Drawers

I know this post may seem to be repetitive, but I am taking those baby steps while I put laundry away too. You do not have to clean a closet or drawer out in one day.  It is so much easier, when you do it as you go about your day.

Maybe you are you getting ready for a trip?  While you get clothes out of your drawer, take out that shirt you never wear anymore and put it in the donation bag.  How many years have you had that pashmina?  Do you wear that color anymore?  When you lose the weight, are you going to wear those pants or buy new ones?

164 Items Decluttered since March 2013.

Clothes Can Be Clutter

 Something tells me I can do a lot better in cleaning out my closet.  How about you?  I have to admit to having a small difficulty with one item, but it is with the garage sale items.  And then, I forgot to take a picture of it.  Is that some sort of "psychological slip on purpose?"  We will find out in another post in my decluttering diary.

  A little something for everyone:  Here's a      woman's Christmas sweatshirt and 3 nice pairs  of men's slacks.  161 items are gone or going.

The Sweet and Sentimental

Six little bears need a good home

Many items in our homes are ones we enjoy for a time;  but then, it is time to let someone  else find and enjoy them.  I'm clearing out the clutter.  Eventually, I hope I will have gotten at least close to being a minimalist in my home decorating.  My goal is to only have what my husband and I consider useful and beautiful, as well as a few of those very special sentimental gifts.   They may not always look beautiful in someone else's eyes, but the memories are sweet.

However, I would like to make a point about gifts.  By no means should you continue to hold on to something or display something just because a loved one gave it to you.  I am still learning how to handle this.  One item, which we have had most of our married life (40 something years),  I am veryyyyyyyy tired of seeing. Yes, I was a baby when I got married, if you are trying to figure out how old I am.  Ha, ha! 

In our last house, I put The Picture in a spare bedroom because it went perfectly with the curtains.  The person that painted it wanted to know where it was, and  she thought I didn't like it anymore.  It wasn't that I didn't like it.  Even though, I appreciated the reminder of her love -- I was tired of looking at it.  And, it didn't fit in with my color scheme or other pictures.  I made sure she saw it's new special place, and how perfect it looked there.  Now, I am to the point in our present home, I am trying to brighten up our decor;  so, I put in the middle hall, when the artist came to visit.  When I find something else I would rather have there, I am going to move it again, or even put it away for a time -- so it will be fresh.   And I am not showing you the picture, even though I know this person does not use the internet.

 Above, I have posted no longer wanted or needed items.  There is nothing sentimental about these things.

These are mini-books.  I don't mean short, but they are truly small.  I cannot even read them with
my glasses on, and I recently had my eyes checked.  They were a sweet gift,
but they are taking up space.   So, if the person that was so sweet to give them to sees this, you will be contributing to our vacation money.  Hopefully, someone will buy them at my garage sale.

The count on items decluttered since March is 157.  

I am counting the August garage sale items, because leftovers will go to a charity thrift store.  

It is easier to photograph as I put the clutter aside for redistribution.  

Finally, I have a fleeting thought I would like to share.  Some of you may disagree, but that is alright.  When you are on a tight budget, you can often buy "like new" or items you know would be interesting for a gift.  For instance, one of our daughters bought a vinyl record for her dad one year for Christmas.  That was a neat gift.  I have had things that I over-bought that I have given for gifts to people I felt would appreciate them.  It really is the "thought that counts."  Sometimes, I will hold on to something if I think it would be a good gift, but I let it go when that doesn't work out.  My kids and friends don't want clutter either.  It really does not hurt my feelings when they decide it is time to say good-bye to an object.

Trash and Treasures - 146 Items Decluttered Since March 13,2013

I want to encourage you.  Getting rid of the clutter does not cease in the summer.  Today, I am happy because I have come up with a way to prepare for a garage sale.  Later on, after I see how my system works, I plan to share this with you.  Hopefully, this garage sale will be our ticket to a much needed vacation.  I know how hard it is to prepare overnight, so I plan to do this in baby steps.  Love those two words.  I can do so many things in baby steps! 

Today, I am getting rid of trash and treasures.  The above shoe covers are no longer capable of keeping out the rainwater.  And the thingy for the door is broken, so this is the trash.  

Cologne and perfume that sits in the sun and is several years old starts smelling strange, not like it should smell.  Buy to my DH's very old Christmas present.  Last time he decided to wear it, I thought it was not smelling like it is supposed to smell.  I tested it on my wrist today.  Yuck!

Treasures

 Small and large bowls -- a treasure for collectors, but a pain for people who like to use dishwashers.

Alas, lovely but doesn't go in the dishwasher, so
I will give the people who like to collect a chance.

Chipping Away the Clutter

One scissor tip cover
that always falls off.

This isn't much, but every little bit counts.  Also, I have been taking some things a little slow this summer, and doing a little more of others.  Decluttering hasn't been big on my list, but I keep chipping away, little by little.

140 Items have been decluttered.
Can I get to 225 before the end of the year?

Stay tuned -- I think I can.  Can you?

I do have the other shaker.  I washed it last week, and I
can't remember where I put it.  But by the time I have my
garage sale, I will have found it -- I hope.  Oh!  About
the garage sale -- they are work, but it will help offset
vacation costs, a little bit -- I hope!

I Miss My Cat

1 leash, 2 brushes

These kitty items belonged to our 17 year old cat, who died last spring.  I have to admit it miss her, but not the litter box.  I threw away the litter box last spring, but I don't have pictures of it.  Also, it was before I shared my decluttering goal.  We have had to deal with litter boxes for about 33 years, which is a long time.  I kind of doubt we will ever have another cat.

At any rate, if we do get another one, she will have her own grooming items and litter box.  




136 Items have been officially posted to this blog.