Month 3–It’s spring…are you slowing down or speeding up?
Whoopsie, In April–my den clutter got worse!! Ewww!!
For April, my den got worse..Far worse. But I am hopeful… How did well did your efforts go?
In February, over 50 readers of Still Blonde after all these YEARS took the Decluttering Challenge . In March, over 25 more joined the cause. They along with me pledged to throw out, giveaway or donate 365 items in 365 days. Well, a month has passed and it’s time to check in and report.
NEWCOMERS WELCOME!
Interested in joining the challenge, just make a comment below that you are ready to jump in. While you missed your first month’s entry, you still have 10 more months to go…and clean! Will you join us?
THE GIVEAWAY:
I promised that I would award the winner of this contest (chosen from all monthly comments and the end of the 12 month period) a prize that exceeds $100. So here’s the Pile of Prizes:
- $25 Pier One Gift Card (February addition to the Pile of Prizes)
- The $70 Grey Serena William Purse featured in our giveaway (March Addition)
More to be added each month! Won’t you join in for the fun?
One comment=One entry. Only one entry per month. Unless I decide to do a bonus…which I am not going to do this month. Giveaway ends Jan. 25, 2012
HOW DID I DO? HOW DID YOU DO?
For my part, I lost some steam, I did get rid of a bunch of magazines and books. I think spring wiil help motivate me! The den shot MUST improve for next month!
Here’s some input from you guys over the last month (with 77 people now participating, we have some dedicated declutterers!) :
Pamela S. Said: I just threw out about 10 shoe boxes. I was saving them for if my son had a project, but he is getting a little old for those types of projects now that he is in high school. (HAHAHAHA!) .If I see flea market sales in which I can buy a table and sell stuff there, I plan to load up my car as much as possible, and sell stuff.
Sarah Said: I’m at a bit of a standstill in my decluttering efforts as the books and videos mentioned in my last post still have not made it out the door. My next project will be to clean out the pantry off the kitchen that is a repository for dead candles and diffusers, among other things.
R Hicks said: We have accumulated so much stuff over the years. I recently went thru our basement and hauled away 2 truckloads!
Betty C said: My biggest challenge is paper! I recycle all the time and I never seem to get ahead. My daughter-in-law brings me boxes from WalMart and I can fill up 2 or 3 every week for recycling.
Paula Mitchell said: I am soooo taking you up on this challenge although I’m a little late to the game:) I followed a link here from Maple Leaf Mommy and am going to start my daily decluttering exercise right now! I vow that I will trash, sell, donate or recycle one item bigger than my fist worth more than $5 each and every day. I’ll be back next month to let you know how it’s going!! I think I’ll do a series on my blog as well… What a great idea!! I’ll make sure to link to you and give you cudos for your awesome idea. I hope my husband doesn’t find out that I’m getting rid of stuff…he’s definitely a keeper of things!
Cathy H Said: I was going to start tackling the attic, but it has been too cold. But we had a couple of warm days and worked on the shed area. Took many things to the dump and made a lot of free space. Found a huge bee’s nest in there and it was fascinating to look at! I also spent a day organzing my art studio.
Vicki B said: I decluttered a two foot tall pile of boys clothes age newborn-2 years today. I need to do my pile of mail that is buy the front door next there are ads in their back to christmas and before.
365 in 365…I think some of you have some catching up to do….
Those who already in the group get a special newsletter!
If you have a blog, please copy with button to your blog! And get your reader’s decluttering too!
Without your monthly reminders and glowing example, I’d probably be a slacker, slowing down on my decluttering mission. But I’m happy to report that in March I finally pulled all those clothes I’ve been intending to fit into again (all of which were 1-3 sizes smaller than I am now, ugh!)Some I gave away and some I donated to GoodWill. Anyway, what a difference it made in my two extra closets. Lots of room for storage now.
All right Lynda!!!! (I don’t know about the glowing example thing..) But I will keep reminding you and you just keep going. Isn’t closet room the greatest!
The Chief Blonde
It was more book removal this month as well as tackling my son’s closet of doom. Passed on more toys, some clothes and a few assorted nicknacks. Also some older dishes I don’t need.
Hi Laura,
“Closet of Doom”, hahaha. THat perfectly describes all 3 of my sons closets. We will probably have to burn their closets when they finally get all their crap out!
The Chief Blonde!
Well, my darling Blonde…in March, I said “Enough!” to the bags. I have probably every handbag I’ve purchased in the last 5-10 years. I keep them in great condition, so it’s hard to tell their age, but I have to STOP, since I keep adding to them. Soooo, I looked at them, one by one and determined whether a) I’ve used it in the last two years and b) I would LIKE to use it any time soon…if no, off to charity it goes/went. And, each month I de-clutter my book “room” (yes, my book ROOM) by hosting a giveaway of 5+ books that I’ve reviewed. I used to have 1000s of books a few years ago, but lost them all in a fire. I can’t go back to that kind of collection!
Now Kristin, I can relate to this from a shoe standpoint. I just have oodles of shoes and some just need to go. When they don’t fit the space anymore, than you know you have TOOOOOOO many. Amazing on your book room. I too have a bookroom as I used to have an ebay business. But I don’t have that anymore, so when I haven’t been doing my decluttering tasks, I go down there and pile up books to donate!
The CHief Blonde
I have gooten rid of a lot of papers and books. I just pulled out three more big books to add to two boxes of items to give to the local charity for their resell shop. I’m removing stuff I don’t use and getting a lot of extra space and helping others at the same time — wow what a good feeling!
Yes it is Polly. Glad you are feeling the reward of your efforts. I encourage you to keep at it. Remember just one item a day worth $5 or as big as your hand.
The Chief BLonde!
It’s been so cold and rainy here in PA this past month that I haven’t had much motivation.. But I did manage to take 3 bags of clothes that my husband and kids no longer wear and dropped them off in an SPCA donation bin. I also freecycled our old stroller, step2 buggy, and a few odds and ends. Last weekend I cleaned out my closet and I have another bag of clothes to drop of in a donation bin. I haven’t gotten rid of nearly as much as I would have liked to yet this Spring but there’s still time!
Hello Danielle,
SO many people use freecycle…I really have to check that out. We have a Salvation Army in our town so most of our stuff goes there or to our local library.
Sounds to me you are achieveing the one item a day just fine! Keep up the great work!
The Chief Blonde!
just got rid of 8 boxes of stuff LAST weekend, a desk in our basement yesterday and looking to donate a table and chairs this week to a friend of our daughters who was in a bad relationship and left suddenly (please think of donating to women who need things who are single or single moms getting out of sometimes dangerous relationships…I have been there in my past and please know it is SO appreciated). Word of mouth, churches, or possibly check your local social services? We gifted a ton of baby items and a bunk bed set to a young family a few years ago. We had been talking to our neighbor who was a social worker and visited non English families in need. We were so happy to donate to them and my youngest gave them a beloved doll house set and all that she collected for it over about4 years. I was so proud of her giving heart! Clutter=anxiety & stress. Giving=freedom from “things” and feeling good! Times are tough for all of us, but tougher for some.
Hello Eileen,
You make a great point about single moms! I agree about it being tougher for some. You don’t have to look very far to find someone in need.
The Chief BLonde!
I’m so in need to declutting in my garage….!! Thanksfor stopping by today 🙂
Hi Veronica,
Is it warm enough where you are to start on the garage? I still have to do some inside activity until it warms up here a bit more!
The Chief Blonde!
OK, yes I have also lost a little steam!! But two weekends ago we had our boys go through there TONS of junk!!! anything worth reusing was donated and lots of just TRASH!! Then organized what they had left!! For the most part, it’s still pretty good in there! WOW! The next big project will be me and the hubby’s room!! That seems to be the catch all room!! and It is really bad!! I will post picks if I can talk him into sharing that disaster with the world!!! lol…
Sheila, Looks like we are in the same boat! However what you accomplished with your boys seems like enough for the whole month! I think you did a great Job!
Keep up the good work. Good luck on your bedroom!
The Chief Blonde!
ummmm…i’m ashamed to say that my decluttering efforts have decreased considerably. i feel like when i get one step ahead, i take ten steps back :o/ it doesn’t help that i’ve been a bit lazy lately, and the fact that i REALLY hate cleaning lol but, i’m gonna try to attempt the little thing known as ‘spring cleaning’. hehe :o)
Hey CIarra, your problem sounds like my problem. I am lazy for things I hate, like cleaning. Just remember one item per day. One Item..you can do it.
The chief Blonde
I did not do so well this past month either. Busier than usual and not even getting the general housecleaning done in a regular manner! At least the charity came and picked up the clothes I got together to donate, so those bags are gone. Plus, a friend told me she’s planning a garage sale for the summer, so I’m thinking about what I could put in that. I’ll get back on track soon, I hope!
Okay Jane, You and me. We commit to a better month this month. One item every day–worth $5 or bigger than your hand…Let’s go!
The chief Blonde
March status: My husband joined in and we cleaned some filing cabinets out with bank statements and accounts we no longer had. Shredded them and now paper free. Also got rid of McDonald’s Happy Meal toys still in the packaging. Donated to a neighbor’s church’s outreach program.
April project- the hall linen closet.
Thanks for this challenge. Messes weren’t built in 1 day.So this project fot the year is good. Thank you Chief Blonde.
Okay Mary–I am putting that on my list. I have a storage area that has some Mcdonald toys in it—can’t imagine when I will ever ever use them. And I have at least one year of statements that can go!
The chief Blonde!
Although my life is full of stress and all, I am feeling the getting control of my piles. Although it has not been warm enough to go to the storage shed out back I am pumped about a two day event of cleaning and tossing since it was moved in quickly. My kitchen is under control…maybe even anal some may say but am loving no piles of notes, etc.
Today we vacumend the playroom and I realized the magazines and mail got a little out of control- I got sick for a bit but corrected it immediately.
The bathroom cabinets got recleaned out checking medicines and products for out of date on Friday.
I feel so free clearning (new word- cleaning and clearing) space and decluttering my life…I love donating what I do not need and do not question do I – will I need it – what if I need it in 6 months. When married he hoarded and I love sharing instead of letting something rot and go bad or unused. I have alot planned for the warmer times and I hope it gets going. I love the feeling of not having to walk about boxes and piles. Yes I make the effort to alk outside and trash things immediately or put in car to donate- no second thoughts of if.
Hope you all are on this wonderful journey and decluttering your lifes too- it is so free and you know what we are so worth it.
Hey that’s right Sandy…I did clean all my medicine out this last month..That was so great.
Clearning…LOVE IT!
Keep up the wonderful work.
THe chief Blonde!
I just sent an entire hamper filled with clothing, a table, workbooks, colored pencils, construction paper, and numerous other “goodies” to a family with 5 small children.
Dumped 4 bags of paper trash, along with about 30 boxes.
Was able to rearrange my entire closet in my office – WooHoo! Feels GOOD:-)
Wow, Libby. I so want to tackle my den. I just keep putting it off and doing other rooms instead!
The chief Blonde!
We rented a dumpster last week and filled it with no problem. Cleaned out a lot of clutter. I also took 3 huge boxes to the community pantry to donate and a bunch to Goodwill. I may be starting late but I caught up fast.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Wow Linda, A whole dumpster. You are a beast! Weren’t you working on several houses?
The CHief Blonde!
Okay, since last month’s post, my son came over and we cleared out about 80% of his stuff. He would have finished if there had been more time and more space in his dad’s vehicle. The closet in his room is completely empty, dresser drawers and top surface are empty, desk and drawers are empty, walls are now bare, and the stuff on his bookshelves has dwindled to a selection of DVDs/CDs, photo albums, and a few collectibles. I was able to vacuum the entire room, including the closet shelves and drawers.
I went through a ton (it felt like a ton) of his school papers and artwork and kept some put what could be recycled into the recycle bin. I think I managed to get rid of about 2 trash bags full of trash too.
A huge piece of exercise equipment was moved out of the house into the garage (too big for me to move), so it’s ready to be picked up by it’s new owner.
I was able to donate a comforter, sheets, pillows, and a bag full of food to my nephew. I plan to go through my pantry to get them more food and household products this week.
I contacted the ARC to do a pick-up and got frustrated because they sent me an email saying they could do a pick-up that was about 2 weeks away…they really need to get to me when I’m on a roll. Anyway, it turned out that they really weren’t coming to me specifically, but would be in the area and my stuff needed to be out by 8:00am for them to pick-up. Needless to say, I didn’t roll out of be in time to put all of the stuff I had to give…I wouldn’t be able to do it all by myself and had really hoped that they would have come by at a more designated time so I could open the garage for them (it’s all in the garage and near the garage door).
I am disappointed that I couldn’t get it together on that particular day/time, but I have still made a lot of progress and need to try not to beat myself up over it.
I think I need more support and motivation than once a month…I’m kinda dragging right now.
Well Lorrie,
You can report in to me on a weekly basis and I’ll keep encouraging and kicking you in the butt. You can return the favor by asking me each time “Did you get rid of that mess in your den yet?”
The Chief BLonde
This is my month to do a thorough cleaning – I expect to find lots of stuff to toss.
Excited to see what you find MK!
The Chief Blonde!
Looks like you are doing a great job of sticking to the challenge. Even after a huge clean out during our move, I continue to find things that make me wonder why I bothered to move them. I took a couple of nice blankets that we can’t use over to the thrift shop that supports a day care. I confess that I didn’t do a thorough job on some of the drawers before we moved, so I will get to them as I go along.
Well I guess the drawers are next then, right Mary?
Man..when was the last time I did ANY of my drawers!
The Chief Blonde!
Oh I am so happy I am a follower of your blog because I love this idea! Believe it or not- right before I jumped online just now I went through my closet to get clothes to donate. I have a pretty decent sized stack! I am so in for this decluttering!
HI jewels for Hope!
SO glad you have joined us! And you are ahead of the game!
The Chief Blonde!
I am ready to declutter. We still have boxes that haven’t been opened in 16 years. They keep moving with us and everytime we move more boxes never get opened.
Welcome Heather,
We’re glad you are here. Wow, 16 years. Don’t even open them. Just put on front porch and call SA. NOW!
HA! The Chief BLonde!
I just had a tot swap at my house and then had a yard sale the following day. So the totswap I was getting rid of kid stuff that we either outgrew or never really used. That got rid of about 6 boxes of stuff. The next day we had a yard sale that got rid of about 7 more boxes of junk and some furniture that we don’t use! So we got rid of 13 boxes, 2 trashbags of toys, 5 pieces of furniture and decluttered our basement a little bit more.
We are now planning another yard sale for our junk in April or May. Whatever doesn’t sell we donate. Some things we are just freecycling! Thankfully for us, my sister-in-law just got her first place so we were able to give her things we no longer use.
Jen, That’s fantastic. I cannot get over how much you have accomplished. Did you neice and nephew move in yet?
The Chief Blonde
Not yet. We are expecting right after the school year ends since they will be moving from PA to MD. We’ve done the fingerprinting and have the home study this week and then a background check.