Clearing the Clutter!

Lorri at the Mac and Cheese Chronicles is hosting the Loveliness of Clearing the Clutter.  When I first typed this, I typed Loveliness of Clutter!!!!  Hardly  LOL! 

I don't have many pictures, mainly because I'm just all pictured-out.  But here are a couple of "hot spots" that have been de-cluttered lately:   

One of the Kitchen Cabinets - Made a trip to the Dollar Store and outfitted this particular cabinet with makeshift pull-out drawers so things would stop getting all jumbled up.

Before:

   

Not really all THAT bad.  But, could be better.  After:

 

Like items go together and they won't ever get mixed up.  Syrups and molasses, Magic Bullet pieces, hand mixer and 2 beaters, coffee items, misc. baking supplies, tall things, cheese graters, etc.  Things were tossed.  I even have a half-space and one whole basket leftover!   

I added a shelf-divider to the plate cabinet and tossed a bunch of misc. plates that bother me. 

Band-Aid Box - While I was de-cluttering the First Aid Box, I re-vamped our Band-Aid System.  This was SO EXCITING to me and the project that worried Pete the most.  All the Band-aids were just jumbled up together, which is annoying.  So, I separated them and threw away all the other stuff that was floating around in Band-aid box.   

I put a "sample" on the outside.  They are all very similar in size, but it's the TYPE that I'm more concerned about.  The stickiness and the stretch.  No character band-aids here.  No siree-bob.  The girls think it's FUN to have character band-aids and all I ever here is "Can I have a band-aid?"  for absolutely NOTHING!  I do keep a secret stash for the times when someone is really hurt and desperately needs cheering up.  But they are hidden away somewhere and because I never use them, I have no idea where they are. LOL!

Purse - inspired by the Bag Tags going around a couple of months ago, I de-cluttered and re-vamped my purse.  I'm no longer the mommy of only wee-ones, and we actually leave the house from time to time, so I needed a purse re-evaluation.

Girls' Dresses - Purge, Sort, Organize.  Made 5 dresses into rags....took off the lace and buttons for some sort of eventual Montessori activity and cut them up.  How satisfying.   Passed about 10 dresses on to neighbors.

My Clothing - Many of my clothes just don't fit anymore, so they are OUTTA HERE!  3 boxes donated.  1 box of favorites will get passed on.   

Kitchen Utensil Drawer - Tossed enough things to make this a nice drawer that actually opens.  Added a second two-section divider; one was not doing the trick.

I unloaded most of our baby toys.  Caroline is not a "baby" anymore (sniff) (even though she weighs less than most 6-month-olds) and she doesn't play with toys anyway.  She just WHIPS them out of the play-yard and they go flying across the room.  Nice. She prefers everything in the kitchen and whatever the older girls are working on. 

Old Art Supplies were sorted and tossed.  It's Year Two of investing in quality art supplies.  Last year it was paints and paper.  This year it's crayons and pencils. 

Tableclothes - This was painful for me as I tend to LOVE tabletop items, just like my mom.  But, if I don't LOVE a tablecloth and look forward to having it on my table, it had to leave.  I have a cupboard of tableclothes and napkins and it was getting too crowded.  4 tableclothes gone!  2 donated as they are in good shape.  2 become picnic blankets for the van.

Pete's T-shirts.  Hopeless case.  No headway here.  My husband has 2 drawers that barely open, they are so full.  I will never understand the love affair between a guy and his t-shirts and jeans.   Maybe next year.  (sigh)  That is, "maybe next year, I'll get this done," not "maybe next year I'll understand the love affair."

Shoes.  Went through all the girls' shoes and tossed the bad ones and ones we never really liked.  Why did I ever keep them anyway?  Weak moments.

The stuffed animals that were hidden in the "holding cell" in the basement finally made the 3-month-cut.  No one has noticed that they were gone, so they are GONE!  Can you tell that I'm excited about this one? Shhhh...

Toys.  Ah, yes, the toys.  I decided that in July-August-September we don't need any toys in our living room.  We're outside most of the time anyway and when we're not outside, we're busy getting ready to GO outside.  So, I brought EVERYTHING downstairs and went through it.  If I was going to haul something up those stairs again, it better be a pretty good toy.   I've made lots of good shelf space and room upstairs for some of our new Montessori items .

And, of course, I would be remiss if I did an organizing post and didn't mention my two favorite organizers:

The Organizing Junkie

The Lazy Organizer

Happy De-Cluttering, everyone!

 

Comments

[Amy]

Wow, you've done so much! Congratulations and thanks for some neat ideas! :)

[Cheryl]

I thought it was the Loveliness of Clutter too. Great post. I like the Band-Aid idea.

[Laura]

You must be on a organizing high!!! My husband and I have a 'thing' against 'plush' (stuffed animals) as well!!! Enjoyed this post:)

[Ouiz]

You inspired me this morning! After reading your site I got off my... chair... and tore through my kitchen, which was in DIRE need of a thorough cleaning.

THANK YOU!

[Kate]

I love your use of the word "toss." I use it all the time... or so my boyfriend pointed out to me yesterday: "I think it's cute how you use the word 'toss' when you mean 'throw away.'" Then I read your blog and notice that you use it, too. Maybe it's just a Minnesota thing.

[Ivan]

"the project that worried Pete the most."

That's funny.

[nina]

I finally got around to reading your clutter post. I'm reading for a little inspiration. It's crazy how homeschooling breeds clutter. Thanks for the inspiration. I think I might try the three month rule with all Citcat's stuffed animals.

[Georgiann]

Hi I am new to the Catholic Mom online. I have 6 kids, 4 boys age 14,11,9,6 and 2 girls age 3 and 11 mo. My 3 yearlods name is Jacqueline Rose and my other girl is Olivia Grace.
Angie still needs to add me to the blog roll, if you want to check out my blog its
ourfruitfulharvest.blogspot.com "The Garden Gate"

Peace in Christ, Georgiann