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Okay remember way back when Domino folded? Well, the week before it folded I decided to purge about half of my pile. Regretted it ever since and have been hoarding magazines ever since. I get an obscene amount every month. It's my favorite way to relax. I didn't get rid of all of them but I did whittle it down to a smallish pile of favorites. Now double the pile above and you will get the idea of what made its way to the recycling center. Now I plan to only keep my absolute favorites and with issues that only have a few features I like then I will scan them into the computer.
This X2 is what I cleaned out of my closet and the kiddos. The Mr. still needs to go through his, but he has been extremely busy so it will have to wait. As for toys the kiddos got to keep their top 3 favorites. Not top 3 toys, but top three activities. Ellie choose her doll houses, dress up clothes, and kitchen gear. KJ choose all his cars and trucks, legos, and a marble maze thing. I also let him keep his dress up clothes. Of course I kept the books they read and art supplies.
Now each room had roughly this much trash. So embarrassed, but it's the truth. It wasn't all wrappers and such, but things that were not in good enough condition to give away.
I must say I feel FREE!!! Everything has a spot and nothing extra. I even have empty drawers, cabinets, and such. I still have the garage to do, but that will only happen when it gets warmer and when the Mr. isn't quite so busy. From here on out I will be sharing my newly organized spaces. So excited!
53 comments:
Paula- Great post. How liberating! I am very impressed with your piles. How you did it with the kids is brutal but kind. I don't think kids think and play well with so much clutter in their rooms.
I'm in the same mode and am doing it bit by bit. I'm tearing out favorite sheets from my mags and only keeping the last two issues.
And yesterday Son H and I took a ride to the library and donated stacks and stacks of old National Geographics. Convinced my husband that we don't need them!
Loretta
Thats fantastic, and you have just inspired me to do a cleanup! Thanks Paula
Bliss! I am going through the same process. It gets worse before it gets better while you're pulling everything out and sorting. It's hard for me to part with my magazines before I look through them and pull out all the inspiring stuff. You have made great progress! How liberating! You are motivating me to keep at it!
I do this every month or two, and it always makes my house feel lighter. Amazing how stuff accumulates - I always wonder where it comes from! Just last week donated four large moving boxes full. Congratulations on your progress!
You are on a roll! That is a crazy pile of magazines...do you mind sharing the names of a few you get?
We moved in 2009 and I let most of my subscriptions lapse....but when I re-subscribed to some of my faves, thay had changed and I was disappointed. I mostly read decorating mags with a splash of cooking...any suggestions?
Purging is the best feeling ever I think. I always feel lighter coming back from a Goodwill drop off. Can't wait to see your new spaces!
I so so need to do this- thanks so much for sharing and letting us all know that we're not alone:) Happy weekend my dear! xo
when my husband comes home, asks me how I am, and I say 'liberated' he knows I've thrown stuff away.
There is no other word for it.
I know it's crazy but I think we live better lives this way...
donna
wonderful. i think it's such a great feeling to purge... i'm all of a sudden itching to clear out baskets and drawers. looking forward to seeing the organization progress!
yay! i love the feeling of cleaning things out. so refreshing :)
I love purging! I have very hard time with it because I find so many things sentimental but boy does it make you feel good! Do you have a kid consignment store in town? We have one here called Kid to Kid, it is amazing and they pay you cash! I haven't tried it yet but I have bought a few Olian Maternity dresses there!!
I can't begin to express just how free I felt doing the same type of purging activity around my apartment last January. It's only my fiance and myself, but we rid ourselves of over 150 things (filled our car's trunk and then some...)! Congrats on your progress!
Impressive! I bet you feel so organized. I really need to tackle my closets!
So impressive! How did the kids do with getting rid of so much? I think my oldest is a hoarder? Serioulsy, he doesn't even like to get rid of broken toys...ahhh! It drives me crazy cause I love a good purge. So please share how you approached the toy purge and their reactions:)
For organizing house/design pictures from magazines and online try houzz.com.
WOW! Impressed. I feel another purge coming on.... :)
I'm inspired! It makes me feel de-stressed just looking at the piles you're removing. I really need to do this too. Thanks for the kick in the pants! Have a great weekend :-)
YAY!
It's uch a big job and when your half way in it seems so overwhelming doesn't it?! You did it.. high five!
Thanks for the inspiration. I so need to do this! My problem is I can't get rid of any toys when my daughter is around.
That's quite a task you've taken on. It feels so good to purge! Enjoy your weekend!
I can't wait to see the organized spaces. These posts are inspiring me !!!
Doesn't if feel great? I'm currently going through my closet, endless mags and sewing supplies - it's a big job but I love starting out with a fresh spring! :)
I've been doing the same since I've moved, finally having a garage sale tomorrow.
Look at you! So impressive and motivating!
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Thanks for posting the "realness" of purging!! Now maybe I can motivate myself to do the same today!! It feels good, right? Okay I must DO IT!! :-)
Super awesome!!! You are an inspiration!
Paula,
Please come to my house!! I need help!! I throw stuff away and but it seems to multiply overnight!!
I can't wait to see your newly organized spaces. Such a great feeling to get rid of the stuff we don't really need!
Want to come do my house?! Or at least hold the baby while I do it? :) I did all of the closets but mine in a fit of nesting last fall, but I feel like they already need another pass! And my clothes ... oh heavens. That is A #1 on my project list!
wow, this is quite the accomplishment.
you should be proud!
I have been doing the same thing...Keep going until you feel yourself exhale in relief! :)
I really need to do this to our home. I have great intentions and then I begin and feel overwhelmed. You are inspiring me to try again... you sound so happy and energetic! Can't wait to see your newly organized spaces--your home always looks so warm and inviting.
way to go, paula! so impressed you got it done so quickly. very inspiring.
I too threw out ALL of my Domino Magazines AND all my Cottage Livings. What was I thinking!?
I have regretted it ever since. To this day, I occasionally have that 'OMG. I can't believe i threw them ALL away' feeling. And it stings! :)
Congratulations, Paula! You are officially my role model. Getting rid of stuff always makes me feel so good!
Luckily I've been hoarding my Domino magazines since it folded, but I only have about twelve or so. I used to keep my magazines too, until I realized how much space they took up in my tiny closet. So now I just keep about six months of back issues and cut out my favorite images and features for my inspiration boards!
A purge sounds wonderful! I really need to do that at my house as well. We just have too much stuff!!
Doesn't it feel good?! Well done!
lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve the decluttering!!!!!! fantastic!
yaay you! I have been doing some of this myself... but I am such a pack rat that I have way too much things that I MUST KEEp.
Working on it though
perfect timing, paula. you've inspired me & now i have the weekend to simplify! can't wait to see your free spaces now, they're sure to be beautiful. xo
go girl. when are you coming to my closets?
Good for you! Those pictures are seriously awesome! I don't have kids so I can't completely understand that whole aspect... I can, however, look at my husbands shelves in the closet and get a pretty good idea of what years and years of hoarding tshirts looks like. :)
I would have loved to have gone through your closet! ;) We moved last weekend, then I got sick all this week, but I have been doing the same thing. My 2 boxes of magazines are on the list. I like making life more simple.
Oh my goodness - there is NOTHING to be embarrassed about! Everyone has hoards of crap in every nook and cranny (that's what I tell myself, anyway...) It feels really good to purge.
Oh, and I threw out a bunch of Dominos, too, and hate myself for it. That's why I went on eBay as soon as Cottage Living announced it was shuttering and bought all the ones I didn't have!
Ahhh...the glory of a freshly purged household. Love it. This post is inspiring!
(And I know. Domino. Sniff. Why oh why did I recycle so many of them?? I stalk ebay sometimes and ponder the thought of buying an old issue!)
You should see my office...talk about the need to purge! Yikes! I can't even walk around in some areas! I also donated most of my Domino mag's to the library and right after I regretted it! Ah, sometimes the need to purge is so strong that you loose track of what you really want to keep. Now I ask myself if I will be upset if I can't find it in a year! Happy Purging!
Nice! There is nothing like that feeling, and each day you wake up and look around, it feels great! A fresh start, really... enjoy :)
xoxo
You are my hero Paula!
xx
Ah, I just finished doing the same thing (although I cannot claim any empty drawers) - it's amazing how 'stuff' just seems to multiply! GREAT JOB!
Amazing... i'm inspired.. between you and Joslyn. I have a hard time getting rid of stuff (not a hoarder) but I somehow attach meaning or a memory to everything .... like feeling bad for getting rid of a stuffed animal because so and so bought it, etc. I know my nesting is gonna kick in and I'm hoping to purge some more. Love the idea about narrowing down to 3 or so categories for toys... that is always the trouble. .. toys everywhere!
Look at you go! I also have a hard time with throwing away magazines because I do go back through them months (years) later.
Catching up on your posts - tears still in my eyes from your "7 things" previous post which was beyond inspirational. So impressed with your organizing progress...wow! You are so focused and disciplined!
I have to say I did this very thing last year (about 5 trashbags per each child's room) but it just comes back! Why? How? I need to force myself to do it all over again.
Girl, I am soo with you! Brandon tells me I'm on subscription restriction! I have a hard time parting with any of them!
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