Making do with less
Comments
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Have any of you ever felt as is you have too many interests/hobbies? I am struggling with this issue right now.
How did you wean yourself?
Tina
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alcohol..........
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You hot patootie.
Tina
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Hi gals,
Haven't posted here much but still read and am still working on de-cluttering whenever I get the chance.
Here is my question: I am looking online for a hanging organizer for my earrings. I've found some - any suggestions that any of you have found that work well for you??
Thanks,
Pat
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Hi Pat,
I've also been in search of an earring organizer. I have hundreds of earrings but can't seem to part with any of them, because a lot are hand-crafted. I remember seeing something on TV on how to make one with mesh wire attached to a wooden photo frame, and I wish I'd wrote down the instructions. I think it would work, especially if you have lots of dangle earrings. I guess they might work with post earrings too, if the mesh was small enough. Hope this helps! I'd like to know what you and the others find useful too!
Mary Jo
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Oh, boy, did I misunderstand this thread!
I figured "making do with less" was going to help me deal with one breast instead of two, or maybe losing hair and eyebrows and lashes during chemo.
Instead, I'm learning that I need to go clean out all the junk in my closets!
otter
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Earrings are my passion, and that makes it easy for my husband. However, after having given me duplicates a few times he wants me to have a display. I've been looking for a while and so far this e-bay guy "futurefamilyheirlooms" is my top contender. I have both post and hook kinds.
We've had a couple friends have break ins and just their jewelry stolen so I'm keeping the really good stuff tucked away.
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I am glad this thread came back up, even if it was a deleted comment.
I too, have found myself organizing and pitching. It feels good. Don't know why I hung on to a lot of stuff.
Now I think of the poor souls that have to clean out my house some day. They will be scratching their heads about things like my myriad of old bottles and shards of glass. .
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otter, hi. Glad you stopped in.
I can see how the name of this thread could be construed to be what you thought! Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't name it something else. Maybe lots of other people are thinking the same thing. We don't want to scare any others away. We junk junkies need all the reinforcement we can get!
Since I cleaned out my studio/office a couple of weeks ago I have noticed a real difference in my ability to concentrate. No kidding. Now, after I finish this year's taxes, I am going to plan a re-design of the space, which is basically a 24 foot square with a center column and lots of windows and a 3-unit French door. The windows and doors fill the place with wonderful light but do make it very difficult to place furniture and storage and display units. This is going to be a real challenge.
For an earring organizer, have you tried the container store? There are also a few other "organizer" sites on the internet. If your earrings are mostly studs, why not buy a nice piece of felt and just pierce it with your collection and roll it up and store it in the drawer? Dangly earrings won't work, though.
Tina
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Hey, abbadoodles,
I meant to put a smiley face on my post, 'cause it was meant in jest. I have nothing against closet-cleaning, as long as I don't have to do it.
Really, though, I'm hoping to refer back to this thread if it turns out I need chemo and I find myself suffering those steroid-induced nighttime frenzies I've been reading about.
My concern is that my dh will discover this thread. He's been on my case for YEARS about my packrat tendencies. It would thrill him to no end if he discovered "cleaning behavior" was an SE of BC treatment.
otter
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Has anyone read the new magazine, "Organize?" I just picked up a copy today and am reading an interesting article, Harmonius Decluttering. It's about "vastu," an ancient Hindu tradition of space design. I think it's along the lines of clutter clearing in Feng Shui, but have to read more.
This tag line got to me right away. "Meaningless or insignificant objects are visual distractions that diminish your emotional, spiritual and physical well-being." That really resonated.
The author of the article, Kathleen Cox, has written three books on vastu, including Space Matters. I must check these out.
Tina
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Otter- Your new avatar is THE BEST no need to declutter that! Tina- the book sounds interesting- will have to check it out (says the woman sitting in the midst of some serious book clutter
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At Steinmart the other day, I saw a hanging, clear plastic pocketed, square with a fabric backing, for earrings. I have one already and, since I, too, have MANY earrings (they always fit---no matter how much weight I gain)I'm going to purchase another.
I hang mine in the closet on the clothing rod and just flip it forward to see the clear plastic pockets and choose a look for the day. I like that i don't have to hang each earring individually and can just drop them in the pockets.
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Just thought I'd throw in a list of URLs for sites that deal with organization and clutter.
www.cluttercontrolfreak.com (blog for above site)
Some of the above also have links to other organizing sites.
Happy Spring Cleaning!
Tina
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Otter........you are too funny.
Ladies, as well as de-clutter have any of you also downsized? "And no I don't mean breast size otter"
Not only do I like to get rid of clutter but I am considering downsizing my living enviroment in the coming future. We don't need all this space and all I do in free time is have to clean all that space I don't even use. A smaller open concept stipped down place is appealing to me more and more. Living simpler.
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Crazydaizy-
I have felt the same way- wanting to downsize since dx last year. I wonder if losing a breast somehow makes one realize how much one can truly do without? Also we recently lost a very close relative and I had (again) the occasion to go through someones personal things. I ws touched by the care with which our relative had put things away in his home. It was a bit of peace amidst the chaos of the sudden circumstances of his death. It is a very sobering experience in many ways but it does bring up (among all the other stuff) the thought of, "If I died right now what would it be like for others to go through my stuff?" I really would like it to be a good experience for them versus a trauma of having to sort through a bunch of crap. On that note...
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Hmmmm, downsize. Then, I'd have to pitch even more stuff.
We will probably not downsize until dh cannot ride the tractor any longer or cut wood. He says he's not leaving here unless it's in a pine box. Oh, well.
To get back to your point, though, crazydaisy, it would be wonderful to wake up one day in a smallish, sparely furnished but still warm and cozy place. Sunny and with a gorgeous view. Do you have a wish list?
Tina
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Hi ladies - I did downsize, in a major way. I had been living in about 3000sq.ft. and downsized to 1000sq.ft. That's getting rid of two thirds of everything!
I was living in the big house with my daughter and two foster daughters. The eldest was old enough to go out on her own (not mature enough, but the court said she was old enough) so I gave her some of the kitchen stuff, sheets and towels for her new shared apartment. The youngest (half-sister to the eldest) was going back to her supposedly now, after 8 years, clean and sober mom. My daughter, in the middle, was graduating from high school and preparing to go off to the university of her choice on the East Coast. So back I went to my tiny little Craftsman Bungalow that I had been renting out for eight years.After I had ruthlessly done the Goodwill and trash routines on every room, after I had given away to friends, neighbors, preschools, libraries and church groups - I was just about spent. My best friend, who loves garage sales, came over to help me price things (I despise garage sales so this was a big favor). I poured the wine and I brought things before her. She made the decisions and marked the tags. I let her have first dibs on anything she wanted. She took the refrigerator.
The next morning we both showed up at 7AM and I played the security aide. She did all of the haggling and the handling of the money. The kids' trampoline wasn't going to fit on this postage stamp lot (but then there weren't going to be any kids!), my daughter's queen-sized canopy bed wasn't going to fit in the small bdrms. of the bungalow, certainly my mahogany dining table, credenza, and chairs from the Art Deco era had no chance of fitting into my 'new' dining space - all went off in other people's trucks that morning.
Everything that had not sold by 4pm went to Goodwill or to the American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop. I still ended up with over $1000.
Anyway - and the subject of this long story - is the good thing about downsizing is the enforced decluttering. When you are just moving to a new home, it's to easy to move one craft room to another, one basement-full to another. And God-forbid you move into a larger place! You will quickly expand to fit it. But moving into a tiny place you must get rid of stuff! The end product was actually peaceful. I knew what was in every drawer, everything had its place. I loved it, it was calming. After six years back here I have a couple of drawers I could straighten, the garage could use some attention (but I still park in there every night!), but generally I am in the 'one thing in/one thing out' mode and I simply do not shop - my current bc-induced poverty helps with that!
And there's a whole lot less to CLEAN!
Lisa
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Lisa...wow, good for you, I bet it is more calming and peaceful....that is my goal.
Abbadoodles....I do have a dream! I would love to build again. I want to find a property not too far out from a main centre with lots of trees, preferably plenty of evergreens with lots of scent....a bit of ruggedness to the land and would like a view of water. I have been a big fan of Viceroy Homes with the openess and high ceilings with lots of windows and wood and stone accents......a cozy fireplace would be a must. Nothing to big. Might be a pipe dream but I am always on the look. HHHMMM........the dream keeps me motivated to find a way to acomplish it!
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So glad to see this thread so active!!! Spring must be in the air.
Sorry to say I haven't gotten much accomplished recently due to DH's relapse of Lymphoma but I'm hoping now that he is home I can get him to start decluttering the spare room during his "good" weeks!! Today was a little victory - I got him to get rid of a TON of old magazines that were cluttering his night stand - its not allot but baby steps, right???
Tina - thanks so much for all the links - I'm definitely going to check them out.
Keep up the good work girls!!!
Valerie
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Iodine:
Thanks for the tip but I don't know what Steinmarts is - I don't believe we have them in Michigan. Anyway, I bit the bullet and ordered an earring organizer from Earring Masters. I think I'm going to like it. I ordered a travel case with it so you can hang it in your closet and zip it up when not in use just to keep the dust off etc.
I'll let you all know how I like it.
I love this thread too, b/c I'm all into de-cluttering and simplfying now. You guys are all a great inspiration.
Let's continue to keep each other on track!!!
Pat
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I'm leaning toward earringangel.com as my husband wants me to display my earrings. This is due to the fact that he has bought me duplicates a few times.
I am not doing well at getting rid of stuff, but I haven't bought much. I'm trying to be more green, walking more.
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I'm glad that i found this site this evening. I am divorced and live alone in a big two-story house. If I could afford to move to a smaller place, I'd do it in a heartbeat!! I have a HUGE family room that I don't even go into. I have bedrooms that are all made up that I don't go into!
Also, I've decided to let go of things that are not important to me; that include knick knacks, clothes, and people. It's a real purging. I didn't realize how much money I have spent on stuff that is really not important. It's amazing. And with the change of jobs and making much less money, I'm up for the challenge. Thanks to all of you for the great support....
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Sherry - WELCOME!!!
We all know its not easy - but it can be done!!!
Valerie
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I don't know where all the books and magazines come from. They are like rocks in my garden, they just keep working their way to the surface! Another pile of mags is in the garage ready to take to the hospital later this week when I go in. IF I can get them in without popping a hernia..........
Tina
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Hi ladies,
livesstrong told me about this thread, and I just HAD to check it out. Here's my situation:
Two adult brothers have just moved back into the family home. Family home has been shared by my father (89), my daughter (16), and myself since my son (22) moved out a couple of years ago. It's a pretty sizable home, having housed the seven children of my parents as we grew up. But brothers are in a financial quandry, one is in a legal quandry, too. So Dad invited them back in. Most of my siblings don't know this real reason; they've been told it's to help around the house while I go through treatment. (Yeah, ri-i-ght.)
Brothers have been sharing a rental townhouse for a few years. They are both single Dads who see their children regularly, and pay their CS fully (part of the financial quandry), so I don't fault them on that part of their lives. However the legal quandry of one of them (DUI and subsequent loss of job), is something I think needs to be addressed, as this has not humbled him AT ALL, and his hubris has always been an issue.
Ok, the big move started over Easter weekend and is still continuing. They have until the end of the month to move their stuff, and they've been making box trips now for a week. The big stuff was moved already, but every day I find at least two-three new boxes of stuff blocking my way somewhere in our house. Our back porch, which only gets seasonal use, is impassable.
One brother has taken over the finished side of the basement, and moved everything from there into the unfinished side which also functions as our laundry room. It's almost impossible to do laundry now, as there's no place to sort, and the dryer door can't fully open for the piles of boxes. Oh, and did I mention the "new" washing machine pumps the wash water out too quickly for our 50 year old pipes so we have an overflow every wash that has to be caught by a bucket and emptied down the toilet? Upstairs toilet.
Argh!
So other brother is moving into son's old room, which was our guest bedroom. The closet was mostly household storage...things like old curtain rods, an old-but-working portable TV, vacuum cleaner. So all that had to be either pitched or new storage place found. He even claimed all the storage space under the bed be cleared for himself, too. (Bitch, bitch - I don't even have under bed storage). Doesn't like the pillows that were there, so they are now sitting outside his room in the hall.
And now he's claimed the seasonal storage closet in our den for HIS clothing. He tried to pitch some of my clothes from there. My bitch about my 40 year old pants suit from my high school years was what got AE to recommend this thread to me.
OK, that's where we are. There is definitely going to be a BIG garage sale (GS) this spring. We don't need two tea kettles, or a dozen wooden spoons (brother still had a set on the card from the store...into the GS bin labeled "Kitchen").
Any other suggestions for determining what gets sold and what gets kept? I'm willing to evaluate things and keep the best, sell the rest, but how to tell DUI brother that maybe he won't be needing the fancy temperature-controlled wine cabinet he just bought?
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Earring idea - I have loads of earrings and have attached about 20 pair to an old but attractive velour turtleneck. I have arranged them in a design and hung the turtleneck on the back of my bedroom door. I still have about 30 additional earrings in a plastic drawer organizer with little compartments. For a while I was in a beading frenzy and made too many earrings and enough necklaces for a hundred heads. Now I'm sorting through them and will give away any I haven't worn for 5 years. My father was a jeweler so it's in my genes I guess. I have a friend who drapes her elaborate necklaces over lamp shades when she's not wearing them. She never throws anything away.
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Nancy, you have a tall order there. Is the house your dad's house? I'm assuming it must be. If so, dad is really the one who's in the position of issuing edicts regarding what's ok or not under his roof. If the house belongs to you, then clearly you would have more authority over what the brothers can bring into the house. The special wine cabinet doesn't sound like an appropriate purchase for someone with a dui, but even so, it's his possession and he's the one who should really be making the decision to part ways with it. My suggestion is to focus on your own stuff.
<>
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Yes, it's Dad's house, but he's not been very forceful at issuing orders to the boys. He's 89 and kind of failing lately. He's lost his edge. He's at the point in his life where he just doesn't want to make waves, or have any come at him.
He has told them to throw their things out, and they just kind of ignore him. They could put all their junk on the side of the house, and he'd never know since he doesn't walk around there. LOL.
The cold, wet weather has not been conducive to major organizing. We need a few nice days to pull everything out in the back yard and go through it. Sunny today, but just around freezing, and the saturated ground will destroy the cardboard boxes.
My "thing" this week is to drop something in the garbage can every day beside kitchen garbage. Maybe it's just an old paperback book, or a junky plastic drinking cup, but one thing a day will get rid of thirty things in a month.
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Hey there, sisters!
I keep forgetting to post to this thread, and am finally joining you.
I am an unofficially diagnosed hoarder.
I became aware of my hoarding tendencies when I moved to Wyoming-I'd buy tons of stuff, because, "who knows when I'll get back to Wal Mart?!?" Wal Mart was an hour away, and as it turned out, I'd get there every two weeks.Then, I became an ebayer when my son was born. I would go to garage sales, buy tons of stuff (but if was only a quarter!), and sell, sell, sell. Ebay was a great means of extra income, but what about the stuff that didn't sell? It accumulated so much, we'd have 3 garage sales a season (poor dh HATED that). I LOVED it, because my regular "customers" knew I had tons of stuff and I'd have tons of traffic coming in to clear out the stuff. I decided garage sales were my new "job" since I wasn't working.
This past November, my Dad died very suddenly. I very suddenly grew a MAJOR hoarding issue. Yes, I have an ebay store, yes, I can't get ebay stuff at garage sales nowadays so I buy stuff at retail stores on major clearance. However, I find myself buying HUGE amounts of these items "in case I need some, too....."
I find myself hoarding food items, worst of all. I am one of those people that saves the ketchup packets as well as every single "free" napkin I get. We haven't bought napkins in over a year, and I get this sick glee from that!
We were in our old town, visiting, and I always have this "need" to visit my old favorite grocery store. They have great sales, and I STOCK UP waaaaay to much on stuff because "it's cheap and I'm saving money then...."
Wrong. Lots of stuff gets stale and gross because there are only 3 of us here!I am not like the hoarding family that was on Oprah (not sure if you guys mentioned that here-haven't read back), but our garage and basement are pretty close. We got flooded just after we moved here, and all the stuff we "salvaged" is stacked on our spare bed. I bet that bed is really full of mildew underneath. Ick.
We hired a personal organizer last year before we moved, and she was fantastic. So fantastic that we hired her to come to our house here in Indiana, too.
She filed ALL of our paperwork, streamlined our furniture arrangement, and made it so my son's toys are all hidden. She also helped me get rid of tons of stuff, which I needed.
Oh yes, I am a hoarder!
Here is a link to what our Ebay Room looked like before she came here, and after!(edited to show link below....sorry for computer illiteracy!)
I'm not an Oprah watcher normally, but I found the hoarding episode fascinating! I want to get the book by the organizer, "It's All Too Much!"
Happy to join you guys here!
Love and prayers, Deb
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