Sparking Joy and When the Answer is Yes

My wardrobe has been examined over the past week or two.  If I didn't love something or it didn't fit, it went into a donation bag.  I don't have a capsule or minimalist wardrobe.  I am not striving for that either.  I just want to have a nice collection of clothes that I love and wear.  And I'm finally getting it.  I need to be more judicious with my money and the things I allow to take up precious space in my home. 


I discovered a lack of capri jeans which is a staple of my summer wardrobe.  I scoured the racks at Kohl's and tried on two pair and picked my favorite.  This is weird for me since I don't like to try on clothes.  But, knew I needed to really like the pair I bought so I wouldn't waste money and space.
This should not be a revelation to me, but it is.  And I didn't automatically pick the pair that were the least expensive.  I need to get over the need to get the cheapest item in favor of having a few good pieces that I will really wear.  My mantra when shopping has been, "Do I need it?  Do I have room for it?  Do I have something like it at home already? Can we afford it?"  These jeans were a definite yes.  And that sparked joy. 

Today my little guy and I whittled down his wardrobe.  Now all his clothes fit nicely in his dresser drawers without a struggle.  I went through the small stockpile of next size up clothes in his room too.  I noticed that I don't have nearly the amount of saved clothing for him that I used to have.  There was room leftover in the bottom drawer.  And I'm not itching to fill it up either.  I'd rather wait until we have a need and buy good stuff then.

Next up is my stuffed full pajama drawer.  There's a monkey sleep shirt that I've had for 8 years that I dearly love.  It's holey and threadbare and I got it free from a Freecycle box in the first place.  It needs to go to the bin.  And then there's a super comfortable pair of cut off sweats that have more holes than fabric that need to go.  Somehow I don't think my husband will mourn the tossing of these less than sexy clothes.

Balancing Things I Want to Do With Things I Need to Do

My house is a wreck. 

I'm a notorious piler and stacker.  I love to get rid of trash and any recycling that I come across.  But, the things that I need or might need get shuffled into piles.  My pile, kid's piles, to do piles, DH's pile, etc.  I've got all the piles. 

What I don't have is a filing system or any organizational skills.  Don't get me started on things that I need to put away but don't have a home or things we have too many of but are still useful. My daughter's giant piles of shoes is coming to mind. 

It's overwhelming.  So, I've neglected doing anything other than the bare minimum of dumping trash, a little laundry, and keeping up with the dishes (most of the time).   We really need to have people over soon for meetings, playdates, a Halloween party the kid's are wanting.  I need to get on the ball. 

But, there's so much I want to do that isn't going to help straighten the house.  I want to make muffins.  I want to organize my girly stuff in the bedroom.  I want to declutter my bottom dresser drawer where I keep my tank tops because it's hard to open.  I want to read some magazines that I'm storing.  I want to sit down and finish a library book before it's overdue. 

Being a stay at home wife affords me a great amount of free time but it's one of those things that go hand in hand with being organizationally challenged.  I never know how to make the best use of my hours.  I end up going from one thing to another, always busy but never having much to show for it in the long run. 

So, I'm getting out my flylady timer and giving my self 15 minute increments to do one thing I want and one thing that needs to be tackled.  I have a rare treat tonight where I get to leave the kids with my sweetheart and go to the library for an adult program.   I'm looking forward to it but I want to feel like I earned my time away. 
First up is 15 minutes in my kitchen doing dishes general clearing.  After that I'm going to whip up a batch of Bisquick Blueberry muffins because I have frozen blueberries to use and milk that is soon to expire. Then 15 minutes of clearing off the kitchen table and sweeping.  Then 15 minutes of hanging laundry and starting another load which I actually enjoy.  Etc. 

I'm lighting a candle and put on some music because I might as well enjoy the process.  I'm a big fan of the $5 True Living tri-scented candles from Dollar General.   I've had excellent luck ordering DG stuff to be mailed to my home.  They even give you 4.5% back on ebates.

Decluttering, Unsubscribing and Letting them eat cake.

Decluttering is what's going on here.  Yesterday I started remaking over my tiny walk in closet that I share with my husband.  I moved in a dresser from my daughter's room to hold my purses, scarves, swim suits and extra beauty products.  It looks pretty good and I have more room on the floor of my closet.  I got rid of a few purses, clothes and shoes. 

I've been whittling down my collection of samples and foil packets.  I've been deleting and unsubscribing from any beauty company emails.  It's refreshing to let go of all this stuff and I don't need the temptation from a good sale anymore.  I need so little.  And I'd rather have the money.


Today I am baking a birthday cake for my son's 8th birthday party.  It will not be bakery gorgeous.  I don't do that.  But, it will be fun.  I bought Lego shaped candy to decorate it and a big Lego person pen to put on top. 

I'd better get to it.  I'm actually excited about a clean closet.  Isn't that weird?  The happier I become with my house, the less I will want to shop for an escape.

Moving: Use It Up , Wear It Out, Make It Do or Toss it Out

We put an offer on a house we like. The house is a lot smaller than our current two story house. And that is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's a good thing because it will be easier for me to clean, cheaper to heat, etc. It's a bad thing because we need to get rid of a lot of stuff and fast. My goal is to cull 50% of what we own. And since I need to see small bits of the big picture or I'll be overwhelmed my idea is to take each drawer, each shelf, each bit of this and that and reduce the amount by half. The worst part will be deciding which piece of furniture to keep and what to toss. We'll have about three less rooms in our new house so that's a lot of furniture to part with. Knowing that we're probably moving has definitely put a pin in my need to acquire consumer goods too. I automatically delete any emails that detail free shipping and percent off coupon codes and toss any catalogs in the recycling bin. Maybe God put this new job and house in our plans because he knew we needed a fresh start and a distraction from all the sadness. I don't know as yet if this is a blessing or a bane. We'll find out. But right now all I can think about is toss and donate and garage sales and not buying anything.

Be Gone Foul Clutter

Life is still crazy. My Mom is still in the hospital. It's been over a month now.
And I have no idea if/when she will be well enough to go home.

Both of the kids have birthdays to celebrate in the next week.
And I'm in charge of a sleepover, making Angry Bird cupcakes, and a huge bouncing party.

And my Husband has been/is traveling a lot.

I'm at my non-pregnant heaviest and I feel not so great.

But, I did get rid of a bag of clothes from my closet.
I finally don't have to scrounge for hangers. That and my kids playing nicely together is the best part of my day.

What's Flying Around Here

I'm working on gathering more donation stuff for yet another charity pick up. My goal is to at least have the same amount going out as I do coming in the door.

I'm hanging a load of laundry each day. I do use the dryer on days when I have more than one load. Like today when I had three. Someone got so upset over their math homework last night
that they got sick on their bed. Sometimes homeschooling seems like a great idea.

I started walking my dog everyday for at least 20 minutes so I can start getting into shape. Plus, she's so much happier when she gets out and about.

Flylady has been on my mind a lot lately. I always feel better about my house and myself when I do her program. So, today I listened to a podcast while I put away laundry. Dragging around the laptop is a pain though and it makes me want an mp3 player.

I have to run now and go poop scoop the back yard and hunt for broken toys to throw out.
It's a glamorous life and I know you are all jealous. All two of my readers, anyway.

My Life Right Now- In Pictures

I spent some of my birthday money on a metal drying rack.

I donated a bunch to the charity thrift store. This is just one load of a few.

I used some of our jack o' lanterns to make pumpkin puree. I froze four pies worth and made bread from the rest.

I tossed the rest in the backyard for compost and critter snacks.

Here's my kids trying on their Halloween costumes. Grandma bought them last year from the 90% off rack.

Everything is pretty good. My Mom is doing ok. Her last cancer scan was clear. However, her Dr. seems unconvinced that she is no longer terminal. But, I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and also that doctors are not infallible.
The kids are doing well in school. Little Guy is blossoming in Kindergarten and Big Girl is ahead in reading and doing better at math.
Hubby's work travel has slowed down a bit and we've been spending more family time together.
I am content with my lot. And am ready to enjoy the full offerings of November. This morning I told my daughter we weren't even going to think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I'm ready to relax and be thankful.

I Went Through Some Stuff. Literally

Last week I loaded up the back of my car and dropped off a load at the charity shop. On Friday, I took two totes to the consignment store to sell. I ended up bringing most of that back but I made $25. I'm still nowhere close to the $1000. In truth I probably won't even come close to breaking $500. But, I'm still going to send the check for whatever I make to our mortgage company.

Our visitors left yesterday and my house is in that sweet spot between getting cleaner and getting messier. And I feel fairly motivated to keep going with the decluttering and deep cleaning.

My dog is back at home with me again. So glad to have her happy furry butt back. But, I can already see how much easier it is to keep the house clean without her bringing in bits of dirt and shed shed shedding her sheddy hairs all over. The price of dog love is a good vacuum, many lint rollers and frequent sweeping.

I wish I had something more exciting to write about but at this juncture right now I'm about cleaning and decluttering. And that's not particularly exciting to anyone except maybe my Husband.

Big Girl stayed home sick today and I must go. The kids are waiting on breakfast.

Be Gone Foul Specks (and cat urine)

Oh how I wax and I wane over the internal garage sale or donate debate. I had planned on doing a garage sale yesterday. Which is crazy because we are very busy right now. But, I could have fit it in between soccer games, seeing old friends, and cleaning for visitors. I could have.

Do you know what I did instead? I took my daughter to garage sales. I was prudent(ish) in my shopping. I let her buy a few things with her money with the caveat that she would get rid of stuff when we got home. (She did) I bought a few items of clothing her that she needed. (Brand new, tags still on Arizona jeans for 50 cents apiece!) I bought a Spam cookbook for a quarter that's going to be a Christmas gag (and barf) gift for Christmas. I bought a brand new Yankee candle for $2 (and threw out my Yankee store coupons when I got home). Do you know what? I realized by paying so little for that stuff that having a garage sales is a waste of my time. People want your stuff for nothing. It's much easier to donate and a take the tax deduction.

Today I am filling totes for consignment and filling bags for donation (including the toys Big Girl gave up). I want it all gone. And I want to keep getting rid of stuff until there is nothing left. I want moving from this house to be an actual possibility and not a complete dream because we have so much stuff to deal with.

On a completely different and way more frustrating note- my cat keeps peeing. And not in her litter box. I have taken to scooping the litter daily. I signed an agreement with the rescue group that I would return her if I didn't want her anymore and that I also would never make her an outside cat. It's just not conscionable for me to give her back knowing that this behavior will continue for another person. I'm almost positive that this is the reason she was given away in the first place. I don't really want an outside cat anyway. And other than the urine capers, I adore this cat. What am I to do????
I'm so not getting another cat. My beloved Fusty is 15 this year. He will leave a giant hole when he's gone. But, I cannot let myself fill it with another orange fluff ball. I think. My history has proven me wrong.

My Virtual Book Shelf is Loaded

I finally got around to cleaning the giant mess of a bookshelf today. What a dusty long trip down memory lane. Not all of it pleasing.

But, I have another box of books to donate. And a fresh pile that were just added to my paperbackswap.com bookshelf for trade.

I dedicated one whole shelf to books that I want to read. No more trips to the library or thrift store to get fresh books. Now I'm all ready whenever I get a craving for a new book. Right now I'm tackling, "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh.

Oh, and I cleaned the mantle off and did a little fall decorating too. ; ) Here's to organization and decluttering.

Charitable Panicking

I have several visitors coming in the next few weeks. So, getting my house nice and clean is starting to be a pressing need.

Last week I promised the kids each one new toy from Goodwill if they each donated five toys to the donate bag. I'd been wanting to go to the thrift store to look for some new soccer cleats for Big Girl anyway since she'd outgrown hers. And also I am starting to casually look for a tin bread box as the big bowl I'm using for bread is taking up way too much space in the kitchen. (The prices on ebay and etsy are higher than I want to pay.)
Anway, I didn't allow myself to go thrifting until I had a bag full to donate first. I filled the bag with books, a new pair of Levis I'd been saving to ebay, the kid's toys and other stuff. On the way through the garage I grabbed a bag full of packaged rolls of wallpaper border that I was never going to use. I drove Hubby's car which for months has housed a full box of old vegetarian cookbooks that we were planning on selling at a bookstore downtown. I made a last minute decision to just donate the box and get it out of his car. I know I could and probably should make money from our old cast offs. But, I need it gone now more than I need to try to sell it.

Another Clutter Bites The Dust

Two more trash bags of clothes, shoes and toys and a tiny bag of food went out of my house to the food pantry/thrift store today.

I've been doing an ok job of keeping up with the tidying I did last week. Hopefully each week will bring me closer to having a clean home. Today I wiped down some of our white trim and doors with a magic eraser. I also made and froze a batch of homemade vegetable broth with veggie trimmings. That doesn't really get the house clean but it does help me save food dollars. Both very important to me right now.

The more I clean the happier I get. The more money I save is well, more money saved.

Kicking Some Stuff's "Stuff" And Taking Names

No, my house isn't an immaculate shrine to all that is clean and wonderful in the world. I don't expect it will ever be that way. We have to actually live here, you know.
But, I have been cleaning. A lot.

As soon as Little Guy leaves for Kindergarten in the afternoon I've been getting busy.
So far this week:

Cleaned the downstairs bath
Made beds daily and changed sheets on Little Guy's bed
Kept up with laundry and managed to put it all away
Kept the kitchen table relatively clean. It needs quick spruce right now but will be done before dinner time
Cleaned out the dog's bowl (long overdue) and washed her bedding and toys
Swept the kitchen (twice!)
Swept and Damp mopped the entry way
Cleaned the foyer and sorted through shoes (it seems I am always making a pile of outgrown kid's shoes to wash and donate)
Cleaned the TV room (the carpet still needs a steam clean but that can wait for now)
Kept up with the dishes fairly well
Made dinner every night but Tuesday when I treated the kids to dinner (tonight we're having Manischewitz Vegetable soup topped with swiss cheese and homemade croutons)

I've also done a lot of miscellaneous picking up and putting away of tiny bits of stuff. And a lot of stuff has been deemed fit for only the trash can or the donation bag. I have two trash bags of stuff for charity ready to go and I'm sure I'll have two more before the downstairs is clean.
So, the outlook isn't so bleak. If I keep this up I'm sure I'll see the day when my house is only 15 minutes worth of messy. I like this so much better than shopping for stuff.

Consolidation How I love Thee

Hubby cleaned out the pantry last weekend and you would not believe how much nicer it looks.
I can find our food again.
I did throw away an embarrassing amount of old sauces and crackers that were expired. Another reason why I should not stockpile! I found two cans of instant coffee in the pantry after I'd spent $5 a day before for a new can. Grrrr.
I know most of you are gagging at the idea of instant coffee but I love it mixed with chocolate powder and creamer. It's become my substitute for pricey International Foods. I mix whatever I have available that sounds good. I like it as well as Starbucks and I don't have to make a whole pot of coffee so I have hot water ready for cocoa and oatmeal for the rest of the family.
Because I am messy and have organizational problems (and also a mini hoarding problem I'm trying to conquer) my mix cans have been on the kitchen counter for forever. That's four or five cans of flavorings and coffee at any given time. It's a waste of space.
Today I had a fourth of a jar of Ovaltine, most of a container of vanilla Nesquick, a jar of mixed coffee creamer and vanilla flavored sugar, and a new 4 oz. jar of instant coffee. So, I got out my blender and mixed them all together and put them back in the Ovaltine jar since it's the biggest. Now I have one jar to keep and only one jar to mess with in the morning.
I kept one glass jar for future use and recycled the rest. I love to keep old salsa, spaghetti sauce and peanut butter jars to use as clear storage in my pantry. But, my cabinets are full and I will always have a supply of jars as long as I keep grocery shopping.

While I was doing that I was also mixing up a batch of onion bread and cleaning my stinky disposal (and also watching the Nate Berkus show on my mini kitchen tube). I have so far to go to get this house back to any decent kind of order. It's been about 18 months since my in-laws were here and that's the last time every room in my house was clean at once. That's sad. They are coming in a month and I have a lot of work to do.

We seemed to have permanently misplaced our camera since our trip from Houston last month. I really miss being able to post pictures on my blog. Maybe I can get a new (easier to use one) for my birthday next month.

I need to stay out of Target

I had coupons today- Target coupons combined with manufacturer coupons for stuff we will use. I had a valid reason to be there. We needed stuff, alright?!?
Ok, I could have lived without that new baby sleeper that was so totally cute for $4 on the clearance rack that I bought for a friend's new baby. But, that at least is leaving my house soon.

Trying to declutter and stop buying stuff is easy if I'm at home (and it helps a lot if I'm also asleep).
But, walking through housewares in a store with cute stuff that I don't need makes me feel like the only fat girl at the swimming pool. And my bathing suit has a hole in it.

Buying all that new stuff (like the zebra print sheets for Big Girl) would buy me momentary happiness but soon it would just be one more thing I needed to wash, take care of, put away, etc. One more thing taking up space in an already full closet. And we don't need it as much as we do the $20 it would have cost. Yeah, I'd much rather have a tidy pile of money.
I didn't particularly care for Fight Club but this Tyler Durden quote sticks with me:
"The things you own, they end up owning you."

About That Scorching of the Earth Thing

Apparently serious decluttering is a slow process for me. Since the last time I posted I:

Made $40 on kid's clothes at a resale shop
Donated three trash bags of clothes and purses and a tacky Taz Christmas decoration.
Cleaned off the kitchen table and filled the trash can and recycling can at the same time
Started another tub for the resale shop, boxes to post on Thred Up, and a bag for donation

I still have so much to do but I'm trying not to stress. I've got a lot to do and it's going to take a long time to do it. Giving up on being one of those people who stock piles for later is going to be hard. But, do you know what? I can't keep a tidy house that way. I am not organized enough.

So, I'm still working on the scorching thing but my blow torch is tiny and my time line is big.
Every bit counts, right?

On a frugal note- I've made a conscious effort to cook at home and to keep my shopping to a minimum.

Scorched Earth Policy on Clutter

I just spent two weeks in an hotel suite with mini kitchen. I have an idea of how little a person really needs to not just get by but thrive. It had me thinking about just getting rid of everything that my family using or didn't need for the next six months.

I have a lot of clutter. My Grandmother was a hoarder (although she would want it said that she wasn't a nasty housekeeper.) My aunts and mom have problems with clutter too. It runs in my DNA. Do you know what I'm starting to realized doesn't make me happy? Clutter. This is doubly hard for me because so many frugal tips are based on buying things cheap to store for when you need them. I'm kinda over it.

One more reason I have a hard time parting with stuff I don't really want is that I think I should try to get some money out of it first. Most of you know what I mean. You buy a new pair of shoes that are really cute and wear them once and they give you blisters. You hate that you only wore them once and know someone would pay for them. Why just donate them when you can try to get a few dollars back? The trouble with selling things is that it takes time, effort, and sometimes it takes money. I've had good luck selling stuff on ebay and craigslist but it has never been without hassle. So, the clutter stays because I don't want the hassle. And the unhappiness continues.

I'm gonna have to go full flylady I think and donate. So, today I scoured my pile of back to school supplies in the basement and bagged up a bunch of stuff to donate that my kids didn't need this year. Brand new stuff. Stuff they will eventually need. Donated. Because it's in my way and somebody this year needs it. Today is tax free shopping day and I have two things left on my list to buy- an eraser and a plastic folder. My collection has been a blessing for us. Now it's time to bless someone else.

I'm off to take a test to see if I'm a hoarder. Then I'm loading the kids up and driving to the donation center.
The survey indicated that I have a mild to moderate hoarding disorder. Ouch. Off to scorch!!!

What I'm Thinking About For January

Cleaning out my bedroom one bit at a time. Noni has inspired me to start tackling it with her closet clean out.

Starting a pile for another garage sale this spring. I really didn't enjoy our last garage sale but I do need to start getting some money together for my 2011 $1,000 goal.

Taking a load of better kids stuff to the consignment store to sell.

Making dinner at home every night. I'm really not enjoying our meals out lately. And our cupboard and freezer are full. Last night we had a pot pie made with veggie chic nuggets.
Tonight I think we're just having veggie dogs, mac n cheese and a side veg.

Making scratch substitutes for stuff when we run out instead of running to the store. I know how to make baking mix, cocoa mix, pancake syrup, laundry detergent, etc.

Planning two kid's birthday parties in February. I've got a plan started for Big Girl but need to schedule Little Guy's party. He wants to go swimming.

Making A List for the Dollar Store & I keep finding more stuff

I'm as bad as the next person when it comes to over buying stuff that wasn't planned when in the dollar store. I think the lure of cheap items sucks out some of our thinking power. Some of the stuff in those dollar stores is actually more expensive than when you buy on sale at a grocery store (I'm looking at you, corn bread mix).

So, it hadn't occurred to me to do something as simple as shop with a list when I step into dollar world until I read this tip from the All You website. Ok, I think I can do this. Today my specific list contains one thing- a new eyeliner sharpener. I might be better off buying Revlon quality at Target with a coupon. But you never know, Revlon might actually be in stock today. I also need some more wrapping paper for kid gifts but I think I'll hold out for a garage sale mother lode. I can make do with what we have left.

So, I thought with the exception of my closet (which i can't really get all the way into right now because we shoved a bunch of rubbermaid tubs in there when we got new bedroom furniture) I thought I had conquered all out grown and unwanted stuff. I have another Goodwill bag filled.
And two smaller bags to give away to a friend. As long as I'm taking out more than I'm bringing in I guess that's good.

Take This Bag and Recycle it.

Whew! I am in the process of cleaning our collected (ok, my collected piles) of stuff. I have a full bag of recycling to get rid of consisting mostly of old school papers and expired coupons.

And also, I found a ton of crayons, hair accessories, books, memo pads, and mini toys. And my long lost address book. Great Grandma just might get a card soon!

Yay for recycling! Yay for decluttering! Ok, back to work. I almost have a full trash bag to take out too. I can't stop now.