Week #3 Wrap up of 40 in 40

Here we are at the end of week #3 in my yearly Lenten project with Ann Marie over at White House Black Shutters . During this week, in our support group (YES! We have a FB support group. It's amazing and very needed) we took a lot of time discussing WHY we save clutter and how to work through the emotional ties that bind us to "stuff". It is my hope that once I complete this project and my basement is livable again that I will never go back to my hoarding ways. Something that has helped me is to imagine the basement as part of my house and not a black hole to throw stuff. If it's not acceptable to "live" with the stuff, it's not acceptable to throw it in the basement for later. I am also trying to have only what I love, keep only what I actually use (not what I "might" use in 2034) and to give myself limits on what I can keep. For example: I can keep the amount of clothing that fits into my drawers. Otherwise I need to make choices and pare down until it DOES fit into the drawers. Same goes with every space in the house and basement.  It was enlightening and helpful. I'm officially half way through the basement cluster and my "living" part of the house is about 80% finished! I also got a very special reward this week (You will see at the end). 

So....Basement progress. Again, not a lot of pretty pictures of fancy things, but here is the before and after. Note I did put away the holiday decorations from both Halloween and Christmas. :) 

Before:

After:

From the Laundry area view:

That pile resting in that corner is my next week's project. Hopefully this entire half of the basement will be completed by next week. I made a trip to Thrift King this week and a TON more trash to the curb. I also cleaned out my car to prepare for our weekend getaway which surprisingly only yielded a half a bag! (Don't worry I filled it up inside the house!)

My reward for completing so much.....An amazing new bed set and matching 1600 thread count Egyptian Cotton Sheets. I also purchased a memory foam mattress topper. It is AMAZING! Completely transformed my ancient mattress into a nice and comfortable bed for sleeping. 

I cleared out 11 bags/boxes to the trash and took 6 bags/boxes to Thrift King. Taking my Total for the Challenge to:

24 Bags of Trash

35 Bags Donated

That's 59 Total Bags for the Challenge so far. I'm pretty impressed with the amount of clutter gone. *Note the Bags are either Garbage Bags or Boxes of items for donation. 

To all my decluttering friends out there: Keep up the good work!!

40 days of Giving up Clutter!!

Well, here we are on the last day of Lent for 2012!

During the past 40 days I've been giving up clutter. And it's been amazing! My friend over at www.whitehouseblackshutters.com Ann Marie heads up the project every year for us and I've been following along and sharing my progress each week.

First, I'm going to recap this last week. I didn't exactly get done what I was going to get done...or what my plan was. BUT....I still managed to rid 9 bags of of here this week!

I put together this toy cubby and went through the toys in the living room (That's it though...blah) I threw out 1 bag of trash. And I have 1 bag of baby toys for a friend.

Of course I had a "problem" on this project. (You would think I could manage to follow simple directions) I put it all together right...then nailed the back boards onto the front. *OIY*

Stupid...Stupid....Stupid

So....I bought some white duct tape (Who knew they sold white duct tape) and taped the edges carefully and Viola!

Looks perfect. LOL

Then I worked on clearing out some more basement items. I rounded up 3 bags to take to Thrift King and sent them on their way with Papa Baer. These bags were mostly Stuffed animals, old Easter baskets, and extra stuff I didn't need.

Thursday I worked outside almsot all day in my flower beds and planting herbs....But I started clearing out the shed....What a disaster that is.

Then Friday morning I decided the garbage had to go. So as the garbage truck was on the street above me I was loading up 4 more bags of trash to get out before they made it to me! Old junk, cardboard, and stuff that I have no idea was even saved.

All together this week I cleared out 9 bags. It wasn't in the areas that I wanted to work on. But, I'm still thrilled to have it gone. I can't believe today is the 40th day and this project is wrapped up for the year.

All together I have cleared out 54 bags (Trash bags people!!!) of Clutter from my home. I have half of a basement that is now functionable space. (The other half will get there) And my house is so much less cluttered. I have space...Space to enjoy. (Not junk back up)

I still have a long way to go, and I'm really hoping that my 40 days has given me a great head start. A few things I learned this year was really honestly evaluating if I needed "something" or not. I got rid of a lot of things I had been hoarding (LOL) for no real reason other than I could. And the clutter and junk was weighing me down. My closets are cleaner and my mind is focused!

So....Here's the final breakdown:

30 bags donated to Thrift King

8 bags given to friends/freecycle

3 bags sold

13 bags of trash

54 Bags! Seriously? How awesome is that?

Linkin it up:

Out, Out, and Away

Well my friends, Here is my weekly check in with my 40 bags in 40 days project that I'm doing with my amazing blogger friend Ann Marie over at www.whitehouseblackshutters.com (Yes I know...I'm marching to the beat of my own drum, it's not Friday yet.) I've been chugging along on my 40 in 40 project and honestly....I'm feeling AWESOME! Seriously, the weight is being lifted and my mind is getting clearer with each and every bag I rid.

Now, of course we already decided I was sadly advanced in the department of "clutter". I seem to have an extra ordinary amount of stuff. And so my massive purge isn't a typical purge within the 40 in 40 project. BUT...for me, it's really just the beginning. I keep looking at others pictures and thinking to myself....I am SO FAR from being that clearfree of clutter. I have such a long way to go to be able to have a space that is free of clutter. Even if it's a small space.

But...I'm a work in progess. :) And happily I'm getting there. One box at a time. I try not to look at everyone elses spaces and concentrate on mine. LOL

Here is my awesome completion for the week.

Before:

and after:

YAY!!!! Another portion of my basement is cleared!!! I'm so excited. It's so refreshing to walk down into the basement and not immediately see JUNK.

And since my laundry room was last weeks big project....

I now have HALF of a basement that I can feel good about. I have also added some more shelves and storage solutions in my laundry area:

And I love using my folding table for my laundry.

Along with THAT project, I also cleared out another bag of trash and another box of donations from my kitchen. On Sunday I delivered ANOTHER 10 bags/boxes to Thrift King:

Plus I have another pile started for this Sunday's delivery! (And I'm pretty sure the garbage men are going to hate me soon. LOL)

SO...Total Project is looking like this:

22 bags donated

3 bags sold

6 bags of trash

Totaling 31 bags so far!!

I gotta say. The selling part....I give up. I have realized I just can't keep the stuff around and hold onto it waiting for it to sell. only to make a small dollar on it anyways. So...that part of my plan has been stratched. And I'm all about ridding out....getting it gone....ASAP.

So...That's what is happening here! 31 bags down...and lord know how many more to go. LOL (Certainly more then 9. That I know for sure!)

One Bag at a time...Right?

One Bag at A Time....Right?

This past weekend I did my huge clear out of my closet and the boys! The space looked so much different and I felt so much better afterwards. It was fun to see the before and after pics and know I was doing good stuff. Starting monday though, and during this week....I'm tackling the basement. And it's...well.....overwhelming. Seriously...What do I do with this?

Boxes and Boxes of Mess. (This is just one corner...there are 2 more like it.) Stuff still boxed from the move, stuff boxed BEFORE the move that I just moved. *sigh* and just plain old boring, no fun to show mess.

So this week I have spent a lot of my time going through this mess. One box....one bag at a time. So, nothing really flashy to show off. No amazing work done really. Just a bunch of in the trenches kind of work.

WAIT!!!! I did Hang my Steeler Flag behind the bar! (That's exciting!) And yes, there is a bar behind that mess.

But honestly....Nothing fun or exciting to show off from the week of hard work. Everyday I spend some time going through boxes. And sorting the madness.

I did clean out the fridge and pantry yesterday. Threw away an entire bag of stuff....Boxes (I found 3 popcorn boxes, all opened with one or two taken out. lol) stale crackers, old condiments or dressings that no one would eat. Got rid of all the junk that was stopping me from finding things in the pantry.

I cleaned up the yard on Monday. Bagged up a bag of trash from debris and sticks and all those things that come along with winter.

But again....Nothing exciting. So, it's been slow going, but progress is being made...One bag at a time.

So far, the basement has produced 3 more bags for donations and 2 bags of trash this week!

Here's the donation pile I'm working on for Sunday Delivery:

I also have sold 3 bags of kids clothes! So so far my profit is $55.00 towards my $300! (Not to bad for day 7

So If you are following along or joining in the fun! (fun? right?) Here are my stats so far:

Total bags completed: 21

14 bags donated.

4 bags of trash

3 bags sold

I'm super happy that the trash is only at 4! I've been hoping to donate or sell most everything and not resort to just trash! I'm also super happy I'm on bag 21 with only 7 days fully completed.