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Yesterday, I shared a project-that-wasn’t-actually-a-project. I finally straightened my bookshelf after putting off doing ANYthing because I considered it a decluttering project.
You could totally argue that this project isn’t really a project either. That it’s simply a matter of putting away and straightening and such.
Except I do call this one decluttering.
It’s a spot that grows gradually with almost-but-not-completely-empty-so-should-we-really-throw-it-away bags like this one:
On our trip to Canada over the summer, I introduced Hubby to the wonders of unique Canadian chip flavors and those were his favorites. My favorites (Ruffles All-dressed Chips
He loved the Jalapeno Popper chips so much that we hesitated throwing them away in that critical moment when we took them out of the carry-on where we’d stuffed them.
Even though there were only a few and those few were crushed . . .
Even though they were getting a little more stale each day . . .
We didn’t pitch them.
But he didn’t eat the stale chiplets either.
So they started the pile which grew and grew and eventually morphed into a lunch-making station where no lunches could easily be made.
Because I have an amazing ability to work around such mess, I had to make myself stop. I had to make myself SEE the mess that was causing me Clutter Angst.
And I had to declutter it.
Yes. That mostly meant moving various things to their nearby homes, but it also meant making the decisions about stuff like:
And less than five minutes later:
Much better.
Except I didn’t wipe down the cabinet before the picture.
Whatever. It’s better.
Don’t forget the the e-book version of my Printable Checklists. Go here and scroll to the bottom of the page for the purchase button.
--Nony
Ack! no all-dressed chips in Texas? that’s tragic! Jalapeno chips were my ‘craving food’ from pregnancy… I don’t think I’ve eaten one since 😉
What part of Canada were you in?
We were in Northwest Ontario. And as far as I know, no all-dressed chips anywhere in the U.S.!
as a former ontarian..now virginian…i miss lots of those chips and chocolate bars…and…and…and….our families vehicles are LOADED with stuff….. there is a site somewhere that sells canadian foods to people abroad…and on ebay too…would make a great xmas gift for hubby….and i’d think the crumbly chips would make a great sub for breadcrumbs for chicken???
oh and we usually end up with 2 bags of alldressed and 8 of ketchup…yummmm sorry i missed out on trying the lobster chips and maple syrup ones..(i’d guess uck….but a must try)
how do you get hubby on the declutter wagon? my hubby refuses to sort out his horrible desk?
Here’s a podcast on that: http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/2013/12/014-husbands-and-decluttering-podcast/
Noni
Love your blog. Read it every day. I suggest you do yourself a favor. Find a home for every item left there on your counter. A one hundred percent clear area. No basket to stash stuff.
Learning to Declutter
How do you make it completely clear when you’ve no where else to put things? I have stuff on my counter that lives there & I have a friend who’s counters are completely clear. I don’t know how she does it. My counters have never been co pretext clear. Even if they were, I’m sure 5 min. later, something would grow there. Lol
Threw away some candy that was old, but not last Christmas old. It was an Easter bunny & Mother’s day candy.
Excellent! It is so true that some areas constantly need to be looked at for clutter. Those darn clutter catchers!!
I managed to declutter my small counter next to the fridge the other day. It’s got a little roll-top area for bread or canisters, and it’s where I keep my flour and sugar and stuff (and let’s get real, they’re not used often, not really baker). It tends to collect kid art and random things. I had wanted to do more (like reclaim my island counter space), but it’s what I had time for with a toddler playing with play doh in the chair.
Any tips for keeping little hands busy? I’m going to be packing the house for a move in the coming weeks. Nana will be here for a week to entertain & help, but time is short.
I moved a couple of years ago with a 15 month old and nap time and bedtime. Sometimes I could convince him to watch tv for 20 minutes while I got things done. He was in love with a character called Ebee who used to be on netflix. I made easy meals and put all my extra focus on packing. I let cleaning slide a bit because I knew I would be cleaning everything before we moved. Put anyone who offers to help to work. Hope this helps! Good luck!
I’m a recent lurker to your site. I can’t tell you how excited I was to find someone like me. I’ve read organization books, looked at websites–and was left feeling lamer and more hopeless than before. This usually set off an “I give up!” attitude, which led to more messes.
I look forward to your posts every day because I IDENTIFY with them! They could be me! My family has struggled with this for years. We’re just starting to really work together (because it’s REALLY hard when one person is cleaning up and the others are making new messes right behind them) and find workable solutions for the way WE live. Your post about setting up your house for the way you live helped solidify in my mind that we’re on the right track.
Kudos for being brave enough to post all those pics online. You are such an inspiration!
Angel
Oh thank you, Angel!
Nice counter! Wish I could say the same thing about my desk. I found the top of it again a couple of weeks ago, but the creeping clutter has returned.
Noni you are the best! I completely understand about NOT seeing clutter. As I type this from the couch, I can see a wooden hockey stick, a plastic orange puck, an orange dukes of hazard car, 2 large toy John Deere tractors. … and that’s just in the kitchen. I probably walked over those ten times last night. How did i not see them? !
I usually dread this because I JUST DID THIS AND IT TOOK FOREVER! But, the good news is…it really doesn’t take as long the second and third and fourth time around. I just need to get over the dread and do it already so I can GO PLAY! LOL