What did YOU throw out?
Well, My den hasn’t improved any! I think I just shifted stuff around! How did you fare?
In February, over 50 readers of Still Blonde after all these YEARS took the Decluttering Challenge . 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 11 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’ the first part of the Prize:
- $25 Pier One Gift Card (February addition to the Pile of Prizes)
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, 2011
HOW DID I DO? HOW DID YOU DO?
For my part I threw out a ton, now every time I open a cupboard, closet or drawer, I am starting to think–Okay, what don’t I need in here? I think I could do better, based on my den shot above, but if I keep throwing out, I’ll get to that room sooner or later, RIGHT?
Here’s some input from your guys over the last month (with 127 comments on the first post, we have some INVOLVED READERS!) :
Sarah Said: This week we have made one trip to the Salvation Army to donate used clothing and another to Best Buy to recycle an old printer, tape deck and a box full of batteries. Now I am sitting here at the computer surrounded by boxes of books and videos that need to be sorted, priced and given to the library or Salvation .
Carma Sez: I am definitely signing on for this one. I’m at the point in life where it is time to get ready to downsize and declutter for certain…It will be very freeing both mentally and space-wise!!
Mary J said: Well, I started.I pulled out HABA items that will be sent as a care package to an Army soldier in Afghanistan for Valentines day.
Kay regaled us with her plan: I am also doing this. My basement is so bad it’s hard to know where to go but I am starting at the bottom of the steps and going West….
Heather S. said: I am going through clothes and donating stuff that doesn’t fit or I rarely wear. I like the feeling of getting rid of stuff.
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….
If you have a blog, please copy (not save image) with button to your blog! And get your reader’s decluttering too!
UPDATE: We are currently in month 3 of this challenge, here’s the current link to find out all the current prizes and decluttering news: Decluttering Challenge Month 3
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. 🙂
still throwing out stuff – mostly smaller stuff unfortunately
Still liquidating kids toys and some yard stuff! Books are next!
I don’t know how I missed this whole decluttering post and giveaway for the 1st month. Anyway, I think this is great and might help keep me motivated.
My son helped me get everything down from the attic last summer. Then in Nov. we had a garage sale. What didn’t sell has been sitting in my garage. I had thought about clearing out my house and having another garage sale; however, I really want to get rid of “stuff”…I need to see the progress. Last week I took 3 car loads to Goodwill. I also got rid of 2 bags worth of trash.
I’m still busy working and hopefully my son will come over this week (during Spring Break) to work on clearing out his room.
My whole plan is to declutter and downsize in a serious way, sell my house, and move to a smaller place.
Wow, Lorrie! We’re thrilled you joined us. Looking forward to tracking your progress.
The Chief Blonde
Last last year we had 4 days of garage sales. I have boxes ready and marked for disabled Vets ( which my husband is.) I have to wait til the snow and ice clears. We live in MN. They pick up at the door.
I have already given a SUV full of kids things and food to my disabled sister and family because they are poor and have grandchildren. One bag alone had 45 shirts, some Dockers,levis, etc. Feels great to get rid of stuff. I still have an attic to go through and a large closet.
Paulette, That’s fantastic. Keep up the good work!
The Chief Blonde
I’m pretty good at getting rid of things I don’t need except when it comes to my closet and my desk so I went through my closet and came up with 2 garbage bags to donate. Woohoo! I always feel so good after I go through things. Next month I’ll tackle the desk.
Keep yp the good work Jenn!
We are getting ready to move into our new house in a couple weeks and we’ve been de-cluttering like crazy! If it’s not sentimental or we don’t use it – it goes out the door. It’s amazing how just simply clearing the clutter in your home can really improve your mood. Just within the last month we have donated four truck loads of stuff and trashed at least one. The last couple Mondays our outdoor trash cans have been so full the lids wouldn’t close due to the stuff we’ve cleared out. I didn’t think our home was cluttered prior!
Bridget–Thanks for stopping in, Sounds like you are ahead of us all. Keep up the great work!
The Chief Blonde!
I find that when I start to slack off, in my de-cluttering, all I need to do is watch an episode of Hoarders! I’ve also found that getting someone to help me with some decision making, makes things a lot easier, as does knowing that I’m going to have company.
So far, in the past few months, I have removed about 10 large storage tubs of items. Many have gone to a young family who are having garage sales, to earn money for a trip to Disney World. I’m also trying to go as “paperless” as possible. My dream is to own a Neat Desk from The Neat Company!
Libby,
I love the “Watch an episode of Hoarders” remark. Wow. So very true. I have a few rooms that look like that–okay two and it just makes me go in there and throw things out!
The Chief Blonde
I’m in! I got ride of a MASSIVE amount of stuff back in August when we moved from Georgia to Texas. All we moved with was a small trailer load. However- stuff seems to have started accumulating again despite my best efforts. With a baby on the way I definitely need to get rid of the accumulated clutter.
You go Stormy. Yea , you better do it now…you won’t have time for about the next 10 years!
The Chief Blonde!
Started slow yesterday. De cluttered 1 plastic hanger, but today I am on a roll going through books. Your mind has to get use to De cluttering.
Well last weekend I tackled my pantry and took 4 boxes to goodwill. This weekend I cleared out my and hubby’s closet. Anything we did not wear this winter was put into boxes. So that’s another 6 boxes going to goodwill.
If I keep this up my house will seem so much bigger!
So impressed. That’s a lot of work. Glad you committed to the clutter challenge. Isn’t it amazing how many little “areas” there are in a house to clean and declutter?
The Chief Blonde!
Thanks, next weekend is the linen closet!
I have been working on one corner at a time since Christmas!!! lol…. I had to clean out a closet for my two Grandbabies that now live with us!! Boy, the things that can collect in an out of sight place!!! and the things that were missing for months!! hahaha Hope to keep this trend of purging going!!! Thanks
Sheila,
I am missing a folder right now that I need for taxes. Why? Cuz my den is such a mess (see pictures in article) .. Grr….not ready to tackle that yet! I feel for you girl!
The Chief Blonde
You look like your doing great with your decluttering.
My husband and I are really keeping up with clearing out. We’ve even been encouraged to paint some of the rooms as we’re clearing out items.
Even our kids are helping with clearing out the old toys and such. We’re finally taking our house back and it feels great. Once we got started, it’s been pretty easy to toss or donate items that we no longer use or need. Wish going on and sticking to a diet was this easy. lol
HAHAHA Margaret, Maybe that’s what we’ll do next year…a diet challenge. Wow would that be fun.
The Chief Blonde!
shern.cynthia@yahoo.com
I have been struggling to get rid of all the extra junk. I moved here with tons of it! What was nice in another home, just doesn’t work here. I don’t seem to be making much headway. I give most of my stuff to Freecyclers and the Salvation Army. I will never give to Goodwill Industries because I have NEVER met a person they have helped. But many many people I have met has been personally helped by the Salvation Army, Red Cross or Disabled Veterans.
Hy Cynthia,
I have a suggestion for you. Invite over a friend. Tell them you want to get rid of half (or 25% or 10 items, etc) of the stuff in a particular place (room, drawer, closet). Let them make suggestions about what to get rid of, maybe another person’s suggestions and pushing will help you weed out!
The Chief BLonde