An Appropriate Quote

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.

―A.A. Milne

Give Away Ten A Day day Thirteen will be posted later today! How are you doing with your decluttering efforts?

Give Away Ten A Day - Day Twelve

Okay, I'm still in this game with as much enthusiasm as I had when I started. Here's what I'm discovering. I need to do more than ten a day. I'm going to be doing this for-ever! I've done some clustering and will be doing more of that, so stay tuned, you're going to be amazed and how much stuff I have, and don't need. Keep in mind, I am not a hoarder. You can walk through our house and in general, other than some "normal stuff" clutter, you wouldn't realize I have this much stuff! Maybe you would. I don't know, but I do know that I'm not gonna have all this stuff much longer!

Today (didn't have time to take a pic)

1. Flower dress
2. Black dress (not little)
3. Pink dress
4. Blue dress with matching jacket
5. Grey suit
6. Green suit
7. Red shoes
8. Long black skirt
9. Another long black skirt
10. Tan pants

Give Away Ten A Day - Day Eleven

While we forge on with decluttering our homes, let me ask you a question. Why do people take issue with other people talking on their cell phones in public? I get that sometimes people speak a little louder, but is it really such a criminal act?

Here's what happened to me. I was talking on my cell at the nail salon. While I was drying, I was laughing with a girlfriend on my phone when a woman came over to me, tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to please not speak on my phone in this public place. I was embarrassed and immediately said good-bye. As I sat there, still red having been reprimanded, I suddenly noticed the ladies getting pedicures laughing and talking, loudly. The woman giving a manicure was talking in Vietnamese with the volume up, and the woman who asked me not to talk on my phone was chit-chatting away with her friend.

Now that my nails were dry, I walked over to her and said, "Excuse me, I'm not upset but I need to ask you something. Why is it any different that I was happily talking with someone not physically here and that bothers you, but all the noise going on between people who are here doesn't? Would you have asked me not to speak with my friend if she were sitting next to me?" She suddenly was the one wearing the red face and several, "Uh, uh, uh's" were coming from her mouth. I softly put my hand on her arm and said, "I just find this an interesting phenomenon in our society that talking on the cell phone is so bad, but laughing and conversing with the people you are with, or with the people serving you is just fine."

Ultimately, she said she was sorry and hadn't thought of it like that. I think we are living a double standard. We chastise the immediate need to answer cell phones, talk while we drive, walk, cook, you name it, text, and log on to social media web sites. But the reality is, more of us than not are plugged in. I'm the first person to say, "Get present. Be with the people you are with." But I can also say there are times being on the phone with Diana, Lisa, Mary, or Julie is who I want to be with. Because we live so far away from each other, all we have is technology...and I'm so glad we do! What do you think about this?

The end of the maternity clothes:

1. Blue shorts
2. Black shorts
3. Blue Capris
4. Pink top
5. Blue flower top
6. Jeans
7. Jeans
8. Bra
9. Bra
10. Jeans
    

Give Away Ten A Day - Day Ten

I suppose now that I've finally let go of my maternity clothes, I'll probably get pregnant! Laughing. Oh well, if that's how it's suppose to be, than so be it!

I find that I'm thinking constantly about what's going next. It's a little like the pendulum is swinging a bit too far in one direction. I suppose that's the way it is when you feel like your doing the right thing. As I make room and redesign my space, which by the way is really exciting me, I'll settle in to having what I need and appropriately needing what I have!

More maternity clothes:

1. Jeans
2. Pants
3. Dressy shirt
4. Capris
5. Nightie
6. Dress
7. Shirt
8. Dress
9. Shirt
10. Shirt

Give Away Ten A Day - Day Nine

I can't quit thinking about stuff having a purpose and a place. Of course everything has a purpose, so I guess I'm pondering if I really need to keep and store something to use one time a year. And that's provided I remember I have it. I guess it really comes down to everything having a place, and being sorted with like items. I'm gonna keep working on this.

In the meantime, I want to concede that I do have more stuff than Dave. I'm vowing here and now that this family statistic is in the process of changing.

Here's todays list: Maternity clothes

1. Shirt
2. Dress
3. Shirt
4. Dress
5. Dress
6. Button down
7. Button down
8. T-shirt
9. T-shirt
10. Frock

Give Away Ten A Day - Day Eight

A week into this journey I'm finding that with just the eighty items gone already, I'm seeing some space start to appear. I'm also finding that it's okay to have and keep stuff as long as that stuff has a purpose and a place. A purpose and a place. That's big for me. I'm going to sit with that this week and see what more is in me on this point. Somethings brewing.

For those of you just joining me, here's what I'm doing and I'm inviting you to join me.

I'm committing to getting rid of 10 things a day. Yes, 10! Whether it's old pieces of Tupperware, toys that Mason doesn't play with, clothes, or just "junk-drawer" stuff, ten pieces a day will go to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Mason's preschool, or to the consignment shop.

I will implement organization tools such as bins, shelves, and containers as needed.

If I have to bring something in, something in addition to the ten pieces will go out.

I will list the ten items in each days entry.

I will commit to 14 days, more if it feels good and I'm not done purging. At this point, it will be more, lots more! I have a L-O-N-G way to go.

The only space off limits will be Dave's loft. My plan is to declutter and hopefully start to feel less anxious and more calm. With that, I can concentrate on abundance without stuff!

Invite as many people as you can to follow and join me in this universal quest to downsize and declutter!

Sign on, follow my progress and join me in the journey to lighten the load of clutter and stuff that surrounds you!

Today:

1. Mom's plan-it 2009 calendar
2. Old fashioned bottle
3. Old fashioned bottle
4. Old fashioned bottle
5. Votive candle
6. Logo maker software
7. Fairy dust perfume
8. Fairy dust lotion
9. Neat Donald Duck thing that broke
10. Sample pack of photo paper

Give Away Ten A Day - Day Seven

Sunday's list:

1. Whipped cream dispenser.
2. C2O cartridges.
3. Vitamin dispenser.
4. Cherry salt & pepper shakers.
5. Pumpkin salt & pepper shakers.
6. 2 mini muffin tins - never used.
7. 6 blue ball shaped ice cube trays.
8. 3 white ball shaped ice cube trays.
9. Old gladware containers (not pictured)
10. Plastic cookie cutters (not pictured)