tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31199425383138696192024-03-12T21:03:31.502-07:00me::minimilizedLorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-25490735585646287672017-01-16T12:50:00.000-08:002017-01-16T12:50:47.891-08:00Life is going to be messy~<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Life is going to be messy. The goal is to be able to find most things within a reasonable amount of time, keep enough stuff that makes you happy and functional, and to toss what isn’t working, unless it’s beautiful and you like looking at it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">-RainKatt, on Ravelry</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida grande" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I think that is the best and simplest I have yet heard it put.</span>Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-6434605094664583572017-01-16T07:11:00.000-08:002017-01-16T07:11:14.739-08:00Decluttering, Round 4 - Begin!<i>Round 1: about 10 years ago, about 40% stuff reduction</i><br />
<i>Round 2: about 6 years ago, before and after a move. Much stuff removed.</i><br />
<i>Round 3: About 3 years ago, after another move. About a 30% reduction - my home shrank by 100sf and a 100sf storage area. </i><br />
<i>Round 4: A new chapter of my life is beginning</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I realized a few days ago I'd love to own about half of what I currently do. I'm not sure how I can do that, but it does give me a goal.<br />
<br />
Things I can do to work towards this:<br />
<ul>
<li>The spare room needs cleaned up a bit better. It has improved greatly in the past month!</li>
<li>The older computer tower is ready to be recycled, just needs dropped off. I'm collecting various bits of recyclable electronics together so this can be all in one trip.</li>
<li>My collection of duffel bags and backpacks needs to be sorted through, and extras donated again.</li>
<li>The oversize dresser needs to be replaced this summer with smaller one.</li>
<li>My fabric stash needs to be sewn up and made into things.</li>
<li>My book collection needs to be resorted, just as an occasional checkup. </li>
<li>My SCA kit needs checked over, as I'm doing the sewing. As most of the sewing is for the SCA this will work well.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-43098463371204911632016-12-29T08:46:00.004-08:002016-12-29T08:46:58.606-08:00Long-overdue UpdateSo, my last post was three and a half years ago. I thought I should come back and post an update, at the least.<br />
<br />
In late March of 2014, I moved. I no longer have a roommate. I have a 2-bedroom townhouse, with a backyard and brick patio. Moving involved a great deal of decluttering and I continue to filter things on frequent basis. There have been so many changes to my life, it's almost like shedding an old skin. But it feels wonderful, and I'm enjoying the process.<br />
<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-52111547369411327152013-06-25T05:43:00.000-07:002013-06-25T05:43:41.091-07:00Goals for the houseIn the past month, I've rearranged the living room and balcony, and
bought a new shower curtain. That last doesn't sound like much, but it
looks like I completely redid the bathroom!<br />
<br />
The <b>living
room </b>functions better with its changes as well; I just need to hang my
swords up, fix the couch cover and put it back out, and get the Singer
66 back together and in the living room. Of which the last two are a
fair bit of work. My computer desk is much cleaner, but not perfect, and
I still have piles on the kitchen table. And a plant on the kitchen
counter, that needs a new home found in the house. The plant stand it
was on has been filtered. I could use better organization around the
computer, which involves more space on the bookshelf, which is a
challenge. I need another bookshelf far more than another sewing machine
in the living room! Or give Ester (the electric) back to my mother,
since I won't sew on
it anyway, and replacing that with shelving of some kind. Maybe. <br />
<br />
My
<b> bedroom </b>is a bit chaotic. Too much stuff jammed in there, between
trying to keep my off-season stuff in the carved chest and all my
crafts, all my SCA stuff, and most of my books in the room. Eek, that
even looks bad typed! But the storage unit is still full as well.
Getting the sewing machine out will help. Getting the '66 sewing machine
running, even though it means more money, is actually very conductive
to finding it a new home. No one will take it right now, they just tell
me how pretty it is. I have finished completely flipping over to summer clothes, and also sorted out my box of 'size 12' clothes and got rid of most of that (I had gotten to size 16, now back at 14 and very slowly getting to 12).<br />
<br />
The <b>balcony</b>: I've rearranged the
pots, gotten rid of several pots (more going!) and bought a whirlygig
and a windchime. Once I get the bikes stored somewhere other than my
Sitting Spot, I'll have a place to sit. All but two of the pots have
herbs in them - rosemary, mints, lemon balm. If I can find a snowball
bush (hydrangea) that will work out there, <a href="http://hydrangeashoh.wordpress.com/2009/03/13/growing-hydrangeas-in-pots/">in a pot</a>, I'm getting it. It looks like Endless Summer<sup>®</sup> Blushing Bride Hydrangea may work, I just need to find one.<br />
<br />
I've taken a few loads to the thrift store, and a couple more loads to friends that can use what I'm filtering. The living room looks much nicer, and mostly stays clean. Since the the last time I reset the computer desk (a week or two) it's stayed dramatically cleaner with little effort from me.<br />
<br />
There is still room for improvement but I think right now I'm going to work on finishing some of the craft projects. Some of those will result in snowball cleaning - when I finish painting my new SCA jewelry box, I can fill that up with stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else, then paint the old one and use that to hold A&S tokens. Those two things will clean up stuff that's sitting on my dresser right now, where they don't belong. Then the table will be clear, so I can do the sewing that's sitting on the sewing machine, etc. Snowball cleaning! <br />
<br />
And once I've done some of that, the next layer of clutter will be more visible to me, and I can peel that off. Decluttering can be like an onion - you have to peel of one layer before you can deal with the next. Especially when it's <i>your</i> stuff, and you're living life in the middle of it.Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-91035717475291186772013-04-30T07:48:00.000-07:002013-04-30T07:48:29.736-07:00Spring is... gone?It's been 80's the past few weeks; not so much a late spring as one that arrived late and breezed past on its way out. I've moved most of my closet from winter to summer. Linens have been changed, some are being upgraded - some of the kitchen towels are worn to the point of being see-through. The herbs on the patio have all shot to a foot tall and bushy, without so much as a watering from me.<br />
<br />
Bookshelves were last night's focus. I now have a half-dozen books leaving, with plans to add a couple more to the pile by the weekend. These will either go to the paperback store for credit, or to thrift. A couple will be going directly to friends who will enjoy them. I still have one box of books I will be keeping that needs to come inside, and another box that is just cookbooks. I want to keep some recipes from the cookbooks and when I have copied out those, they will be going. After a year of not working on them, progress is once again being made.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-86785795283087493232013-03-26T07:24:00.003-07:002013-03-26T07:24:41.188-07:00Back in motionI've been quiet for a while, I know. I felt like I was at a dead stop when it came to decluttering. Sometimes it's as though I need to build up a certain amount of momentum before I can move; apparently that's what I was waiting for this time.<br />
<br />
After being unable to do much around the house for a week, I got quite a bit done over the weekend:<br />
<ul>
<li>reorganized spice cabinet. Tossed 20 expired ones. All spices/herbs
now in two spots, not three (one spot is bulk storage; I have 3 qts each
of dried bell peppers and dried basil that I grew)</li>
<li>reorganized fabric stash. Went from 2 bins + a pile, to one bin, and one bag of 'in progress' that will be worked on shortly.</li>
<li>One grocer bag to thrift</li>
<li>One grocer bag for friends to look through; anything they don't take gets thrifted </li>
<li>reorganized area over dryer.</li>
<li>Less stuff on kitchen counters (yay!)</li>
</ul>
The spice cabinet involved trips to World Market. I picked up prettier jars (<a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/round-glass-jars-with-clamp-lid.do?&from=fn" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/cylinder+spice+jars%2C+set+of+4.do?page=4&from=fn" target="_blank">here</a>) and two <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/plastic-cabinet-organizer.do?page=2&from=fn" target="_blank">cabinet organizers</a>. It's much prettier, and I can actually find what I want, now. And I have spices to buy; I can't NOT have <a href="http://www.oldbay.com/products/old-bay-seasoning.aspx" target="_blank">Old Bay</a>!<br />
<br />
For the fabric stash - the bin is back in storage, and the one paper grocer sack is waiting near the sewing machine. I believe the projects in there include an underdress for my SCA closet, a couple of mundane tank tops, some stuff I'd started and dropped, and the black fleece teddy bear for DD to make in order to learn basic sewing. She knows I don't care if she keeps it up, I just want her to know basics so that if she needs the information later she'll have it. <br />
<br />
I'm quite happy with this progress. The next planned target is the wardrobe; it's about time to flip over to warm weather clothes (despite getting an inch of snow Sunday!). That's for next weekend.<br />
<br />
What are you planning on doing next?<br />
Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-76640964629822738312012-12-10T09:38:00.001-08:002012-12-10T09:38:08.518-08:00Minimizing the CookingI have to admit, I'm tired of cooking. My goal here is to make a larger variety of food, spend less time in the kitchen, and eat healthy. I'm not expecting to spend much less money overall, as any savings will probably be spent on eating more fresh fruit and better breads.<br />
<br />
<b>Ideas:</b><br />
~Cook's Day Off<br />
~Bi-Weekly Cooking<br />
~Better Recipe Access <br />
~Wider variety of foods<br />
<br />
Starting about a month ago, I declared Sunday to be <i><b>Cook's Day Off</b></i>. I also started planning menus on a two-week schedule, and buying nearly all of the groceries in one run. Week one is 90% of two week's groceries, week two is milk/bread/emergencies run - generally I get all the shopping done in 15 minutes. Having done this for about six weeks, I can say I'm spending the same or less money, and definitely less time at the store. By shifting the shopping to Friday evenings, I can do food prep on Saturday and have my Sundays free. And granted, it's minimal prep- make <a href="http://www.mamaandbabylove.com/2012/02/09/freezer-cooking-with-slow-cooker-recipes-faq-page/" target="_blank">slow-cooker baggies</a>, repackage the meat into sizes I can use and freeze it. That's it.<br />
<br />
For 'better access to recipes,' I have a recipe program I use - <a href="http://www.livingcookbook.com/" target="_blank">Living Cookbook</a>. Before purchase, I looked around and it got by far the best reviews. I am quite happy with it; any time I can't think of what to make I can look in my custom cookbook at recipe titles and select based on what looks good, and what I have. (It also will create menus & grocery lists for me, but I'm not currently using those options.) I plan recipes for dinner only for five or six days per week. Usually five days, and at least one day is slow-cooker based. The other two days allow for us to eat up leftovers or enjoy personal favorites - I'm the only one that eats sushi or my calamari, my roommate is the only one that eats canned greens, for example.<br />
<br />
<b>Wider Variety</b><br />
This may not sound like 'simplifying' what we eat, but I still feel it's worth mentioning. Some of it is simple changes - having two cheeses and two mustards for cold cut sandwiches. Buying different breads - rye and pumpernickel, picked up for $1 for a half loaf. Some of it is trying new recipes - we had chicken adobo last week, and we're having beef & broccoli tonight. Yesterday I had simple but yummy leftover rice, reheated with soy sauce and bonito flakes. Small things, but they help take the boredom out of eating the same basic things <i>all the time.</i> And yes, I can get bored of eating. This counteracts it nicely =)<br />
<br />
So far, so good. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-55798253377707674782012-11-02T08:16:00.000-07:002012-11-02T08:16:37.873-07:00Minimilazing the Kitchen, Part IIII'm looking to minimize my kitchen since August. The current one is 11.5x7ft (80 sf). I have additional 'pantry' shelving over the washer and dryer. I was using all of that available space, and just fit. There are only three people in the apartment!<br />
<br />
An internet search of various sources turned up this list of items to have:<br />
<ul>
<li>cutting board </li>
<li>veggie peeler</li>
<li>Knives: Chef's knife, bread knife (serrated), paring knife</li>
<li>Pots: One large, one small </li>
<li>10" skillet</li>
<li>casserole dish w/lid</li>
<li>box grater</li>
<li>Pans: loaf, muffins, 8x8 'brownie' pan </li>
<li>cookie sheet OR baking stone</li>
<li>1 set each measuring cups/spoons</li>
<li>spatula</li>
<li>whisk</li>
<li>wooden spoon/s</li>
<li>ladle spoon for soups</li>
<li>slotted spoon</li>
<li>tongs - one pair</li>
<li>mixing bowls w/lids</li>
<li>liquid measuring cup</li>
</ul>
I have far more than this, but I have to admit it all gets used. <br />
<br />
Since I've started looking into this, I've managed to change most of the over-laundry area to storage for bulky items we don't use often. There's about 1/2 of shelf (of 4) that is still food. I do have some extra space in drawers but that's challenging to fit food in it. This weekend I'll look at re-organizing just the drawers in the kitchen, and see what I can do to improve the storage I have. <br />
<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-62592373522546887122012-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:002012-10-26T08:37:00.152-07:00Minimizing the Kitchen, Part IIAn update on what I've done so far.<br />
<br />
I'm doing as much as I can to eat down the food that we have - one week, the grocery bill was a record low of $50 (usual is $150). I have consolidated roommate's food and glasses into on cabinet, and the same with my baking and Japanese food ingredients. I still have lots of extra kitchen stuff, but I now have the majority of the food actually <i>in</i> the kitchen. The pantry has 'doubles', hot chocolate, and the sweets that they want and I don't. It is also now holding a boxed set of china that had been in my clothes closet.I also went through my supplies of canning jars and reduced it to what I actually have room to store. This has been a big help.<br />
<br />
Things that I have planned on going to DD when she moves out are being kept. She'll get some nicely seasoned cast iron skillets, probably some Corningware, some glasses, not sure what else. I don't mind keeping in a few extra years, and she'll get set up well from the get-go. Unlike me, using crap skillets because I couldn't afford anything else. There was a good reason I asked for Revere Ware pots for college graduation! I'm still using one that is going on 40 years old and good as new, from my mom's wedding gifts.<br />
<br />
When the coffee pot died, I didn't replace it - I am actually fine drinking instant coffee, and no one locally has the kind of coffee machine I want. The additional space in the kitchen helped my organize the front closet, as stuff that was in there but belonged in the kitchen was able to put away correctly. Now that closet isn't overstuffed.<br />
<br />
It's been nice to see the minimizing of the kitchen cascade into other areas of the house as well!<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-47329419477936021122012-10-24T08:09:00.003-07:002012-10-24T08:11:06.244-07:00Minimizing the Kitchen, Part I<b>Note: </b><i>I meant to post this when I wrote it, sometime in September. Sorry about the delay!</i><br />
<i> </i> <br />
The kitchen is overflowing.<br />
<br />
I thought I was doing good in the kitchen. Then I realized that the food always overflows - granted, it overflows to a designated pantry, but sometimes (ok, frequently) this means that 90% of the food is in the pantry, and the cabinets have dishes and cookware. That sounds a bit overflowing to me. And it's true even in the current kitchen, which is larger than I've had for years.<br />
<br />
I want to start by looking at what I have vs. what I need, and what the 'immunities' are. Immunities, for me, are things you will pry from my cold dead hands because it would reduce me to tears for them to leave. Not worth the fight with myself, and they <i>do</i> get used. <br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Inventory: </b></h3>
<b><i>Eat</i></b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Need</b>: Settings for 3, plates/bowls</li>
<li><b>Have</b>: Settings for 6, plates (10" & 3") and bowls. 3 small glass bowls, 12-ish extra-small glass bowls. 3 black rice bowls. Plus immunities. </li>
<li><b>Have:</b> 4 1/2-cup & 2 1-cup baking ramekins. Gravy dish, butter keeper,</li>
<li><b>Have: </b>Plasticware: 1 black flat dish with lid, 1 glass flat dish with lid, 1 plastic sandwich holder, 1 stack of red-lid Glad tupperware (TW), 1 stack 4oz TW, 1 set cream-lid sturdy TW, sm red Pyrex w/lid,</li>
<li><b>Immunity</b>: Settings for 3, fish and seashell dishes. 10 total. In use but not the primary set. Plus 3 shallow, rimmed oval dishes that are really useful. </li>
</ul>
<b><i>Drink</i></b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Need</b>: 2 coffee mugs, 2 general mugs</li>
<li><b>Have</b>: 3 dedicated coffee mugs, 1 dedicated tea mug with lid, at least 4 general-use mugs</li>
<li><b>Immunity</b>: the 3 dedicated coffee mugs </li>
</ul>
<i><b>Serve</b></i><br />
<ul>
<li>Have: 2 serving plates: 1 blue, 1 white. 2 blue serving bowls. Woven bowl for breads. </li>
</ul>
<b><i>Cook</i></b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Need: </b>stockpot, soup pot, steamer...TBD</li>
<li><b>Have</b>: cast-iron skillets: 12", 6", 3". Stockpot, soup pot, 3pc saucepan set, steamer, double-boiler.</li>
<li><b>Have</b>: 2 slow-cookers - 5qt & 1.5 qt. Will keep both till they die and assess replacement at that point.</li>
<li><b>Have:</b> Large and small strainers</li>
<li><b>Have: </b>Blender. Needs replacing - I don't use it often but there is no substitute. And it just helped me simplify putting up tomatoes, so it can stay =) </li>
<li><b>Have: </b>Food grinder thingy. Gets used to store the garden harvest.</li>
<li><b>Have:</b> 3 different sizes of mortar & pestle. I should be able to go back to just one.</li>
</ul>
Ideas: I can replace the separate double boiler & steamer with inserts for the Revere Ware that I have. Provided I can find them; the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000CFLSK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER" target="_blank">steamer insert </a>I found but apparently they quit making the double boiler one a decade or two ago. Then again, I could go back to using a canning jar in pot of water - I normally use this for homemade HABA items, so that should be fine. Actually - I don't think I've used this more than twice in 5 years. Off to the donate bin it goes.... with 2 mortar & pestle. I'll keep the white marble one I use the most.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Bake</i></b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Need:</b> 1 metal 4x9" pan, 1 pizza baking sheet, muffin pans, TBD</li>
<li><b>Have: </b>2 metal, 1 silicone muffin pans. The silicone is for freezing food in; muffin recipes always seem to bake by the dozen so I have enough for that.</li>
<li><b>Have: </b>2 loaf pans, 2 8" cake pans, 3 cookie sheets in different sizes, 1 glass 13x9" pan, 1 glass and 1 metal 4x9" pan, 1 pizza baking sheet, 8" square glass pan, 2 qt & 1.5qt Corningware dishes with glass lids, blue 60s Pyrex, large black snowflake 50s Pyrex. </li>
</ul>
<h4>
Roommate has: </h4>
<ul>
<li>1 blue tulip goblet</li>
<li>1 dedicated tea mug with lid</li>
<li>1 blue general purpose mug</li>
<li>1 blue oversized bowl </li>
<li>stack of 3" blue/cream plates</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Links I found useful:</b><br />
<a href="http://earlyretirementextreme.com/how-to-downsize-your-kitchen.html" target="_blank">How to Downsize Your Kitchen</a><br />
how to setup a minimalist kitchen:
<a href="http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2010/04/how-to-setup-a-minimalist-kitchen-part-1-things-to-avoid/" target="_blank">part 1 – things to avoid</a> and <a href="http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2010/04/how-to-setup-a-minimalist-kitchen-part-2-the-essentials-the-nice-to-haves/" target="_blank">part 2 the essentials & the nice-to-haves</a>
Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-88980915161188330652012-07-13T10:45:00.000-07:002012-07-13T10:45:17.385-07:00Progress NibblesI'm calling it 'nibbles' because I know I've gotten <i>something</i> done even if it doesn't look like much! My computer desk is neater, the treadle only has sewing stuff on it, and my room stays neater. I took an under-used, smaller hanging file container and used it as a desk organizer. It now has folders for Incoming Bills, Notes, Notepads, and several for scrapbooking paper for the current project. This is a huge help for my desk! There are also two tins on the desk for holding other office supplies, since I have no drawers and a very small surface area. Each tin is about 2 inches deep, one is 8x10 inches and the other about 3x4 inches, so not large at all. <br />
<br />
As usual I have several projects in the works. I did fix a stuffed animal and put her back where she goes. I still have to revamp the two older feather pillows, hem curtains, and finish working on that scrapbook as soon as I buy the supplies I need. I have a bit of clothing repairs to do, as well. Some can be dropped off at the seamstress as long as I remember to do it!<br />
<br />
The decluttering has slowed down but not stopped. Partly because I am busier, partly because I think I've gotten through the top layers of easy-to-sort clutter. I am still working on it but it is somewhat delayed till I declutter the garden. I need to get the weeds out so that I can plant more food, before the summer is over! We can double crop some things in this area, and that's now the only way I will get some of this food in. First crop never got planted, second crop needs to go in soon. Hopefully this weekend!<br />
<br />
<b>Out:</b><br />
3 stacks of books<br />
grocer bag of fabric<br />
1 full car trunk to thrift<br />
<br />
<b>In:</b><br />
2 books<br />
linen for a dressLorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-15412172642630274392012-05-31T08:35:00.001-07:002012-05-31T08:35:46.927-07:00ReassessmentI went and re-assessed the storage unit (about 6x6ft) last night. Prior to the move, it was filled to an average depth of 5-6ft. Now, I have 2 visible shelving units on two walls, the floor has a treadle base, camp chair, punching dummy, and a couple garden items. The treadle needs re-homed.<br />
<br />
One shelf is RM's stuff. It's also holding treadle parts and an extra lamp of mine.<br />
<br />
One shelf is mine. It is about as decluttered as I can get it: one box each of Yule decor, Other Season decor, fabric, smaller clothes for me (am loosing weight now), Mathom box, and one box of decor I expect I'll use later. And the camping stuff, too.<br />
<br />
I'm happy with where it's at.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br />
I do still have to declutter the area around my computer desk. Currently, that involves my toolbox, a half-empty filebox, a box of some kind of books (I've forgotten what's in it since I filled it about 2 weeks ago), and a box of cookbooks I want to get recipes out of. And the small paperdrift forming on top of the desk itself.<br />
<br />
A lack of organization is hurting me here. Incoming mail? Place on 'puter desk. Note to self? Place on 'puter desk. Keep in mind, said desk is 24" long and about 12" wide. It already holds the monitor & good speakers, which take up 75%+ of the available space.<br />
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The filebox I plan to use to hold incoming bills, scrapbooking papers, and another section or two that will depend on what's in the paperdrift. That should help with the chaos. The toolbox needs to find a permanent home and I need to do a general straightening in that area at the same time. <br />
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On the brighter side- the living room and kitchen are staying clean, and I now have a lovely view to the balcony. I straightened up out there last night and now instead of a mess there are baskets of nasturtiums and herbs, and the tomato plants that I need to get into the garden. I'll be adding cascading petunias too, and soon it will be a lovely viney wild delight of blooms.Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-20729392873917259602012-05-09T09:36:00.000-07:002012-05-09T09:36:05.417-07:00Progress, Week 3Progress has been made!<br />
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All the pictures are up on the walls. I've learned how to fold up my futon easily in the mornings before work - when it's flat, I barely have room to walk in my room. If it's folded, I have SPACE. So nice!<br />
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<b>The Pantry </b><br />
I've assessed more of the pantry area over the washer & dryer. The majority of the food is out of there. The top shelf is rarely-used, large items that I want to keep: the pressure canner, roasting pan, the popcorn popper I'm <i>so</i> tempted to get rid of. Jiffy-Pop takes less storage space, and actually gets used. Hmmm. The bottom shelf is some 'seconds' of food items (extra bottle of ketchup, for example), glass storage jars that are being filtered, and a bunch of stuff I can't remember. I guess it needs to be thinned out more!<br />
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<b>The Library</b><br />
I've dramatically thinned out my library. I have 2 1/2 bookshelves full (half of one bookshelf holds my DVDs) and about half a storage bin. My cookbooks are kept separately because I am working my way through them. A few books are kept in the living room, but most of those are on probation. I'll revisit my books in a few weeks. I know some are waiting to be read, and then can be donated. <br />
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<b>Storage</b><br />
There is a storage unit attached to the apartment - it's the same size on the new one as it was on the old one. At the old place it was packed hip-deep right to the door. Now? I can walk to the shelf against the back wall. Granted, there are things stacked on 3 walls, but there is also a small pathway. And I've put most of the metal bi-fold doors out there as well. I really dislike those doors, and have replaced them all with white sheets hung from tension rods. I do need to hem the sheets, but they work nicely and look great. Plus I can actually reach what is in the closets!<br />
<br />
<b>Out:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>3 more 13-gal trash bags of donations</li>
<li>2 paper grocer bags of books</li>
</ul>
<b>In:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>rack for my closet (needed for organization)</li>
<li>2 pairs shorts (needed) </li>
</ul>Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-47270683048283922702012-04-30T09:58:00.000-07:002012-04-30T09:58:24.446-07:00Getting StartedWe've managed to put away everything that has a place to go, and most of the artwork has been hung. There is a still a pile in the living room, and a smaller one next to my desk, but it looks <i>much</i> better.<br />
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This weekend, I was able to repack my carved chest. It had been used for general storage, so I emptied it out and I have repacked it with winter clothes and extra linens for my bedroom. The total volume of off-season clothes & extra linens that I am allowing myself to keep is what will fit in that chest. One thing that does help with this is that I keep the linens for each bedroom, inside that bedroom. <br />
<br />
Some of the linens that didn't fit went to Roommate, who can use them. A
full Outbox load came out as well. Doing this emptied one storage bin;
unpacking the 'extra' coats emptied out another one. Neither bin will be
refilled. I also unpacked my DVDs and CDs and put them away, allowing me to toss the empty box. <br />
<br />
<b>Out: </b>
<br />
<ul>
<li>box of books (library) </li>
<li>Two empty storage bins (thrift donation)</li>
<li>13-gallon trash bag of items (thrift donation)</li>
<li>broken cookie press (I kept the pattern rounds, though) (tossed)</li>
<li>two other trips to thrift store, a full car load each time </li>
</ul>
<b>In:</b>
<br />
<ul>
<li>new cookie press (thrift store, $5, all pieces there) </li>
<li>rug for underneath cat food, and the bench where our shoes go.</li>
<li>Curtain hooks to use at laundry area & one window.</li>
</ul>
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-82846039119203503272012-04-28T11:22:00.000-07:002012-04-30T09:47:20.739-07:00First Impressions<br />
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The new place is 1184 sq ft (110 sq. m.) - the largest place I've ever had, and yet still cluttered right from the start! I am applying things I learned from the <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/" target="_blank">ApartmentTherapy.com </a>Cure to the layout. Using the <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/lose-the-clutter-organize-your-54884" target="_blank">Outbox </a>and <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/day-8-find-a-recipe-the-2020-h-129698" target="_blank">Landing Strip</a>, specifically. The Outbox is near the front door, and will be emptied every weekend. <br />
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<b>The Bedroom</b> <br />
<br />
My bedroom shrank by about 20 sq. ft., plus the closet is half
the size it was. I'm enjoying it even more than I had expected! Not
everything I want in there fits yet, but I'm still working on it . Once
we get settled I can do some of my one-off crafts (photo albums for the
pics I do have, knit up the kits I bought, etc.) and that will reduce the clutter.<br />
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<b>The Library</b><br />
I read voraciously. My book supply reflects that. I currently have 4 bookshelves full, plus two large plastic bins full. The goal is to have 3 bookshelves, maybe less, plus whatever is on my eReader. My cookbooks will be reduced as well: I found a <a href="http://www.livingcookbook.com/" target="_blank">cookbook program </a>and will enter in the recipes I want to keep. Having to type all of them in is a wonderful disincentive - I'm much less likely to enter in the borderline ones! <br />
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<b>Decor</b><br />
Part of
my challenge, when I can reach the boxes in question, is decor. I have
enough for <i>two</i> apartments. Anything we don't use when setting
up this place needs to go, unless I fight with myself about it leaving.
Then it can stay temporarily. Some - Ok, <b>ALL </b>of those items need to be revisited every few months. Sometimes it takes a while to get used to the idea of letting something go, especially when I've had it a long time.<br />
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Holiday decorations might also be a challenge. I say <i>might</i>, because last year's Yuletide decor was minimal: one twig wreath and one "let it snow!" sign. The tree was a 2-foot tall tree with a single strand of silver beads, and a silver snowflake 'star.' It was lovely. I am going to go through the big box of decorations I have, and make piles: 'keepsakes,' 'oh pretty,' and 'why do I have this?'<br />
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<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119942538313869619.post-59818858724772344792012-04-24T10:41:00.002-07:002012-04-24T10:41:48.264-07:00life, rebootedWe've just moved into a new apartment. I'm doing a huge declutter - the goal is to get rid of half of what I own, possibly more. <br />
<br />
I like things very uncluttered, yet I have clutter everywhere I look and find myself unable to just go through and say "no, not using this, bye!" While I do not live alone, the clutter is indeed mine and not theirs. So, I've started this journey and this blog. Care to join me?<br />
<br />Lorrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051017990294691081noreply@blogger.com0