Day 5 of the Box Challenge

13 years ago

Happy Wednesday!

How has this been going for you? Today there are more items to sort out in our main living area - I'm sitting here after my coffee looking at a box that I have no idea what I packed in it. I'm tired of looking at it so it's first.

Still questioning my old needs vs my new needs. Wondering - am I really going to use this? How many things do I want to hang on the walls or stick on shelves again to dust? Mmmmmm. I don't mind dusting but I abhor it when things are cluttered.

I know I like to use my travel mugs a lot in the summer months in the garden - but how many do I need? Today's information on plastics makes me rethink my older mugs - are they safe? Today they will be placed in the recycle box. I'll keep the newest ones. There are new ceramic mugs out now with lids - when I have the money I will 'replace' my kept mugs with those. Notice the word replace.

Replacing an item instead of adding an item is another employed strategy to avoid growing collections. If you use it but it's past it's day - replace it. That's a tool I'm going to start using more of as I slim down my 'stuff'. Too much of a good thing is not good at all, right?

Food for thought today.

Interestingly in I found a small box of 4 coffee mugs that were my Mom's. All gifts with Bingo themes and such. They are going to charity. As much as I miss my Mom, I've learned from watching the Hoarders - items such as this do not bring my Mom back. I have my memories that I cherish. I don't need to keep coffee mugs as well.

I hope some of these thoughts are of value to you today.

We are reclaiming our precious space. Your home will be lighter and you will feel better too.

Let's get at it!

Tally Ho!

Peggy

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Comments (10)

hallngarden
13 years ago
Good morning, got an early start this morning. Took a look at my clothing, and thought if I only take one item that would be good. When I started looking, had more than one item that I could donate. Left everything on hangers, and I have 8 pieces going to the thrift store. House is getting lighter and lighter. You all keep up the good work.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
13 years ago
How has this been going for you?
A slow start here as I slept in later than usual.

How many things do I want to hang on the walls or stick on shelves again to dust? Mmmmmm. I don't mind dusting but I abhor it when things are cluttered.
I can so relate, and much prefer decorating items that are hung, over 'stuff' that has to be moved to dust...One is in the way and the other is out of the way when one dusts.

I know I like to use my travel mugs a lot in the summer months in the garden - but how many do I need?
Good question, that I need to ask myself...some are bigger for ice water in the summer, and others are at least a bit smaller and will fit the cup holder in the Jeep...hmmm...now, what to keep?

Replacing an item instead of adding an item is another employed strategy to avoid growing collections.
The handle recently came off of a 30 year old stainless steel sauce pan. I'll be looking for a nice replacement...(notice, I said replacement) and once I find it will send the old one to the scap metal collector.

Interesting that you should mention the mugs, and letting them go. I have an afghan my neighbor's mother (now deceased) made and gave me years ago. It is really too good for me to use for everyday, so has just been stored. Yesterday I asked my neighbor if she might like to have it to pass on to daughters, or grandchildren, and she was thrilled.

I think today I will pare down things in the bed linen closet. I know I can part with 2 afghans, a homemade rag rug, and probably numerous sheets and pillowcases.

Food for thought:Just how many spare sheet sets are needed for a 2 bed home, when the 2nd bed is probably used 6 or so times a year? I know the answer is a 'lot' fewer than what I have been 'storing' for a long time.

Sue
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jannie
13 years ago
I'm stlll working on my piles. I heard once you need only two of everything. One to wear/use and one to wash. So two sets of sheets per bed, two coffee mugs, etc. Of course with clothing I need more that two sets. Tho I am wearing only two bras right now-well, I mean I wear one at a time, haha, because I only have 2 that fit. And I have lots of socks, because my feet sweat a lot.
lunchlady1948
13 years ago
HI I am here I posted yesterday~~~but I have a bad habit of going to the preview area and then just getting off the computer thinking I have posted and not hitting submit:(

Yesterday was a bust for me I did a few errands, then I was pooped out:(

Today I am cleaning house, as I do it will clean out bathroom cabinets and maybe a linen closet~~

Yes, Jannie is right I have heard 2 of everything. I have a twin bed in an extra room and I only have the sheets that are on it all the time for it, I got rid of the rest since hardly anyone stays here. Got rid of all the old sheets for my bed last year and bought two new sets and just rotate them around.

Last week I went through all of my travel mugs also~~I kept two ceramic StarBucks mugs DGD gave us, two metal ones and we each have a big plastic one for summer that you can put lots of ice in. Also cleaned out coffee mugs DH uses the same one everyday~~I have several that I use~~so I got brave and recycled all the odd ones people have given us.

Off to do 'hunting and gathering today' AKA grocery shopping then back to clean house and fill a box!
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
13 years ago
So two sets of sheets per bed,
well....okaaaaay...if you say so. I'll try. One bed has such a thick mattress that I don't even have one bottom sheet that fits it really well. hmmm...guess I need to find some 'replacements' that really fit for that bed. (Note to self...find super deep pocket bottom sheets replacements.)

And I have lots of socks,
I consider socks 'consumables' since they over time go bad/wear out, usually in the heels. I only wear one kind of socks, found on Ebay, so I feel comfort in knowing I have new ones put aside for when I need them.
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Original Author
13 years ago
Slight change in plans today. Our builder arrived with our bathroom vanity. I've never had one with drawers, nor this size. Wow. And the long counter top for the laundry room - never had that before either. Wow.

So I've had to haul stuff out of those rooms today. Great thing is I have proper items to give a home to things in boxes. I'll have a proper designated spot for the cat's litter box in the laundry room.

Things changed. So far I've found a good home for all my kitchen linens - now box free. Realized there is more going into the rag box (which I am going to have stored in the laundry room, in a designated shelf sized tote (labeled too - ha!. Anything bigger will be shop towels in DH's shop. Oh heaven.

I may be reaching my point of not being able to unpack much more until the closet systems are in. But the opportunity arises now to look again at 'stuff'. Going through CDs I've noticed there are still some I no longer listen too. Charity bag.

Another project I can do this week is going through magazines. Some I am keeping because we use them a lot and share them as a library with friends and neighbours - I'm sure 60% of what we have can go once I start. And they will all get sorted and put in labeled magazine holders...which I made out of my smallest boxes. I lucked in when moving to get actually magazine shipping boxes from a friend. So I cut them into the same shape as the ones you buy - except mine are much bigger and hold a lot more. Down the road when my craft room comes to life I'm going to paint all of those boxes to look the same.

So more stuff for charity. Yaaaaaaayyyyy! More boxes for recycle. Less stuff around here!

Boy this feels great!
User
Original Author
13 years ago
Oh, for beds I have normally 4 sets. 2 cotton for summer and 2 flannel for winter. Anything beyond that gets recycled when I am quilting.

I keep 8 mugs for coffee/tea - somehow today I noted I have 10???? Charity shop. Oh, and I have now put into service a china set that has been boxed in the basement for almost 20 years. Which means my corelle dishes that I have 2 sets of I am only going to keep 2 of the set. Our friends often have lots of guests in the summer at their cottages and can use them - so they are leaving for a new life else where. Why am I keep 2 of the set - microwave. Can't put the china in the microwave. Too much stuff in the kitchen.

I can see how much this stuff can quickly become an issue taking a good look at boxes this week.

Okay, gotta get that bag to put the charity stuff in.....
marie_ndcal
13 years ago
Bought a brand new glass cabinet to put items in that we want to keep. You mentioned cups? Cups can be pencil holders, put flowers in--real or artifical, put outside with rocks in to hold water for birds, and even tied into trees for feeders. I did that and our small birds really liked them and even tried to nest in a couple. Also if you know someone who has a workshop/garage/craft room, can hold all sorts of small objects for a project.
carol_in_california
13 years ago
I cleaned out the linen closet and the medicine cabinet....it is a start for me.
Thanks for keeping this going. I need all the motivation I can get.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
13 years ago
Well Mcpeg, it sounds like you certainly had a nice change of plans yesterday, and how exciting at getting your new vanity in and long laundry countertop. I've never had one of those, and in fact, need to clean off the dryer so I can at least start folding clothes in the laundry room. That requires putting up a shelf, (moving dryer out and painting), thus a project for another day.

Yesterday was both good and not so good. I didn't get to the linen closet, but instead started on the overflow that was in 3 under the bed storage boxes. One box is now empty and the other stuff I 'might' keep will later hopefully go into the linen closet.
I 'found' a nice hand embroidered dresser scarf, and immediately pressed the folds out of it and put it on my dresser. I had never used one before and now think it is official...I am now really an old lady.
I came across an old military wool blanket, in sorry shape (holes), that had belonged to my uncle (now deceased). Decisions, decisions...I searched washing wool blanket and old wool military blanket, among other things. It went back into the storage box, and will be a project for another day. I think it will likely turn into a lap blanket or two (one for my sister), using a Blanket stitch I read about yesterday.

I ended up with a sinus headache so I had a very short day...had to hit the couch and nap/watch TV.

Good going everyone!

I'll be watching for the Day 6 post.

Sue

Day 5 of the Box Challenge

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