tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307024282024-02-07T22:16:48.352-08:00Confessions of a Hoarder: Clutter, Stuff, CrapolaA journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood disease, with a visual guide along the way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger433125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-55828457370307175982010-09-06T19:16:00.000-07:002010-09-06T19:20:11.639-07:00Yikes!I've become an unreliable blogger. It's been a month since my last post. And...nothing new really. But more donations going out the door. This is a good thing!<br /><br />Here's what I've done:<br /><br />two car loads to the Goodwill<br />recycled a box of old school papers<br />cleared out two bags of my clothes that I don't like (will go to Goodwill soon)<br />reorganized the pantry and added a few kitchen things to the donation bag<br /><br />If you're reading this, consider doing a Flylady 27 fling boogie--find 27 things to toss, donate or recycle.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-22164461327628327012010-08-06T06:13:00.000-07:002010-08-06T06:13:00.715-07:00MoviesI've been seeing a lot of movies lately. It costs a lot to take just me and the kids to a matinee, let alone all four of us. It costs more in fact than to buy the DVD when it comes out. When I realized that, I understood instantly why so many people buy DVDs--it's cheaper than going to the movies. <br /><br />But I love seeing a movie in the theater. I have favorite seats. There's the magic of the previews and the tension that builds as the lights go down. That's worth a lot. <br /><br />So I'll stick with my pattern of seeing the big movies in the theater and getting most of the others from the library. I'd rather pay to see a movie in the theater than wait and buy it and see it only on the small screen.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-81448637380294960222010-08-04T00:09:00.001-07:002010-08-04T00:13:17.068-07:00Not much to reportReally, nothing too exciting on the clutter front here. I did drop off several bags of donations at the Goodwill and have plans to tackle the immense pile of shredding that has been accumulating. My shredder is broken, so it's either get a new one or use a service. I have about a bankers box worth. Or, there's the more meditative approach: put on a movie and methodically rip or cut out the identifying info I don't want to share. <br /><br />I've been letting magazine subscriptions lapse and find I miss only a few. If I buy more than one issue at the newstand, that usually means it's time to re-subscribe.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-73050500641556243842010-05-31T17:40:00.001-07:002010-05-31T17:41:37.898-07:00Bag o' CordsThis afternoon, I strong-armed Sweetie into going through a couple of the drawers in our workbench. They're huge and full of miscellaneous junk. We filled a grocery bag with unneeded cords and connectors and now the drawers are tidy. If you need an adapter or extension cord or flashlight, you can easily find one. <br /><br />Whew!<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-25869903361447359462010-04-18T13:40:00.001-07:002010-04-18T13:40:59.692-07:00Garage-A-RamaJust took a pick-up truck load of donations to the local Goodwill. Yay me! Garage has more space. Still needs some rearranging, but that'll wait until another day.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-68966530864183579482010-03-30T13:21:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:23:33.491-07:00Time for a clothing purgeIt's spring so they say and time for a seasonal clothing purge. In the next few days, I'm going to go through my bureau and closet and pull out anything wintery I didn't wear this winter. Some I'll keep, others will go to the Goodwill. <br /><br />I'll do it in 15 minute or one drawer bursts, so as not to get overwhelmed. <br /><br />It will be fun!<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-15665715924017559902010-03-09T18:27:00.000-08:002010-03-09T18:29:44.143-08:00Still there is too muchI haven't been doing much dedicated decluttering lately. I've taken on some new responsibilities and haven't had as much time to focus on it (yes, I know, 15 minutes at a time!). <br /><br />Still, there have been donation deliveries to Goodwill. I've donated a few things to the local school auction. I've avoided new purchases. <br /><br />So, essentially, not much to report.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-78588955765188698062010-01-02T13:40:00.000-08:002010-01-02T13:43:03.403-08:00Welcome MMX!It's a new year, full of fresh promise and possibilities. <br /><br />A friend of mine recently shared his "list" with me. Similar to resolutions, but less loaded, don't you think? His list was very specific, with clear outcomes and definate goals. Not too long, ambitious enough to make him reach but not so much that he'd give up a week in. <br /><br />My goals this year include: explore what a basement remodel could look like in terms of design, cost and what I could do on my own without a contractor. I want to declutter more (when don't I?), but I have some specific goals. I'd like to reduce the amount of stored "back-up" items that I have. There are items I have saved that I do not need to keep. Those must go out the door.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-11627354340023467862009-12-05T12:40:00.001-08:002009-12-05T12:41:32.659-08:00'tis the season to declutterTime to go through everything and let go of what's not needed, loved, used in time for the New Year!<br /><br />Let go and make space for new experiences, new friends, new recipes, new everything. If your home is too full, there's no space for anything fresh to liven it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-59251261467970336022009-11-18T11:56:00.000-08:002009-11-18T11:59:15.721-08:00A donating we will goI have a few bags for the Goodwill. Books & CDs that didn't sell at the used book store & record store, some clothes, toys, etc. I hope those will go out the door today or tomorrow; depends on the other items on my agenda. <br /><br />In other news, guess what holiday is coming up? That's right, it's Cluttermas! This year, we'll be doing fairly minimalist gifts. Gift cards, food gifts and such for the adult friends in our life. Small, probably home made gifties for kids. For my kids, they'll get the usual pajamas on Christmas Eve and a few gifts under the tree. We do try to get them at least one item that they've specifically asked Santa Claus for. Other than that, a book or two, and maybe a game for the Wii.<br /><br />How do you keep the holidays from turning into a clutterfest?<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-37887611998703900062009-10-16T16:10:00.000-07:002009-10-16T16:11:31.969-07:00Sold more on ebay and donated more stuff tooSame old, same old. Sold a few things, donated a few bags. I'm going through file cabinets now, purging old utility bills and stuff like that. I've got a big pile to shred, but my shredder broke. I don't want that to be a stopping place, so I might burn them instead. It's cold and a fire would be nice.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-13461404226510101612009-09-29T23:45:00.000-07:002009-09-29T23:46:57.242-07:00Martha UpdateWell, I listed some of my Marthas on eBay. I actually did this a couple weeks ago for some of the special issues I had. Those sold, yay, and I got them shipped out. <br /><br />We'll see how this batch does. They seem to be sold by theme these days, so I sorted out my winter holidays ones. I'll sell those, then try to donate the rest. <br /><br />Give me strength!<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-83854046826872354952009-09-29T16:16:00.000-07:002009-09-29T16:24:11.397-07:00Trying to let go of MarthaI have many issues of Martha Stewart Living. I want them to go away. I want to keep them. This is a problem. <br /><br />I need a push to let them go...<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-90409189660141945192009-09-21T11:13:00.000-07:002009-09-21T11:19:17.208-07:00Feeling less like a hoarderSince I've been watching the A&E show Hoarders, I've felt less like one. I do have attachments to stuff and I do still have a lot of stuff. But I am able to let go of possessions. When I bring new items into my home, I release old ones. I'm truly in recovery I guess. <br /><br />Anyway, today I've cleared out a cupboard, putting items out for use or donating them. Nothing exciting. <br /><br />Last week, I shipped a box of cds and DVDs to Second Spin and soon I'll get a check. What a relief to have those gone! <br /><br />Here's something that's been happening. I'll see something and get angry at it, even say out loud "I don't want that!" but it's something I have an attachment to or something that needs to go to a specific place for donation. I just hate wasting emotional energy on things.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-66607990895029499862009-09-11T14:41:00.000-07:002009-09-11T14:44:00.628-07:00Why I love the GoodwillBecause...<br />I can get a pair of sporty capris, a SIGG water bottle, a pair of men's slacks, a lambswool sweater, a sports bra (new!) and a pair of Gap jeans all for $20. That's less than just the sports bra, even at Target. <br /><br />And...<br /><br />because they'll take all the clothes that are no longer my style (but likely someone else's), the books I've read and no longer need to keep, and the dishes that look just fine but don't fit my cupboards.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-89025092587697009602009-09-07T14:24:00.000-07:002009-09-07T14:26:16.120-07:00Hoarders on A & EI watched the latest episode of A&E's "Hoarders". As I noted earlier, it's chilling to watch. I guess I can't say more than that right now.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-57561499677333100162009-09-01T10:05:00.000-07:002009-09-01T10:06:15.292-07:00More old school papersI'm on to second year of college. Found my physics and math notes, quizzes and labs. Boy did I suck at those two classes. Simply incomprehensible. Made me feel stupid, that it was so opaque to me. Makes even less sense that I would keep them--why? To remind me of how awful I felt taking those classes?<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-65921546977870836992009-08-31T17:19:00.001-07:002009-08-31T17:21:41.419-07:00Moved on to college papersI just tossed physics and math class notes into recycling. I paged through them and found them just as incomprehensible now as I did way back when. Feels just fine to let them go.<br /><br />I have saved them for 23 years.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-14058028423366378272009-08-30T11:25:00.000-07:002009-08-30T11:29:21.787-07:00Decluttering the old school papersI am in the process of letting go of my class notes from grad school. I pulled out this stack, about 18" tall altogether, of binders, folders full of handwritten class notes, sylabi, and various hand-outs. I haven't looked at these papers, other than to move them from spot to spot, since I got my degree. So, why am I still holding on to them, 14+ years later? <br /><br />Why? To prove I attended school. In case I needed to refresh my knowledge of a subject. To use as reference. Have I ever done any of those? No. No and now that I realize that, they can go. <br /><br />I have my degree and credentialing. I don't need the materials that helped me to get them. If I need to refresh my knowledge, I can take a continuing ed class or read an up-to-date text.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-81269601207931035292009-08-28T07:58:00.000-07:002009-08-28T07:59:45.964-07:00Decluttering the inboxI have an email account I use for offers, discounts and remote email. I've been overwhelmed with the emails I receive there and have recently started reading the messages to figure out how to unsubscribe (instead of my usual delete, delete). <br /><br />It's working. My inbox is much less full, I can see the offers I actually use and I can see my personal messages.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-71412091392566377382009-08-27T11:13:00.000-07:002009-08-27T11:15:33.467-07:00A recycling we shall goYesterday, I recycled two years worth of received Holiday cards. Why was I keeping them? I don't know. As a record of who sent us cards? For the photos of our friends? For the addresses, to send them cards next year?<br /><br />Anyway, they're in the recycling bin now. I have many years worth, bundled in rubber bands and stored in boxes with other paperwork. Those will go as I come across them because I am now able to let them go. <br /><br />I'm not sure what made the change, but watching the A&E show has helped. Just seeing others stuff, piled up and stacked, filling houses. It enables me to see my own excess with fresh eyes.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-56996793041088141402009-08-26T15:12:00.000-07:002009-08-26T15:15:43.244-07:00UpdateI've been working on a lot the past weeks. I painted my living and dining rooms-a project that's needed to be done for several years now. It looks great.<br /><br />There's a new show on A&E called <a href="http://www.aetv.com/hoarders/" target=_blank>"Hoarders"</a>. I discovered it online the other day and watched the episode they had on the website. It was ... chilling. It was reassuring, in that my house is not now and never has been anywhere near the level of any of the homes shown. My dad's garage now, that was comparable. <br /><br />It did get me to take a fresh look at some spots of the house that do still have piles. I tossed several bags of recycling, about 5 bags of trash and filled my trunk with items to go to Goodwill, all during breaks in the episode. <br /><br />There but for the grace?<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-30163202518841807052009-07-29T16:42:00.000-07:002009-07-29T16:45:11.532-07:00Decluttering the BarWhat do you do with those odd bottles of partially used liquors and liquers? <a href="http://paisleypenguin.blogspot.com/">Take Life with a Grain of Chocolate</a> recently decluttered her bar, which made me think of this great party tip. <br /><br />If you find youself with odd bottles of alcohol, one way to dispose of it is to have a "Weird Drinks" party. Invite folks to bring the weird stuff they have hanging around in their drinks cupboard, you supply the mixers (seltzer, tonic, limes & lemons, grenadine, bitters, simple syrup and ice) and have a Mr. Boston or similar guide on hand. Fun will ensue!<br /><br />It's a great way to declutter those odd bottles and the drink combinations will ensure that great conversation is had by all.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-38489379093935096152009-07-25T17:18:00.000-07:002009-07-25T17:21:54.117-07:00old computersWe've got two old computers we don't use anymore, because they're slow and low on memory. But, both still have files that I need to access. Both have broken CD drives, one is old enough to have a 3.5" floppy drive (but it is also broken), so the only realistic way to access the files is via our home network. <br /><br />What I really want to do is copy them all onto an external drive, but I don't have one with enough space available. So, the project sits and the towers gather dust. <br /><br />My task for next week is to aquire a large-enough external hard drive, copy all the files I need and dispose of the towers. Will update.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30702428.post-48404362118236745252009-07-20T14:47:00.000-07:002009-07-20T14:49:53.996-07:00Shred-O-RamaI finally dug into the pile of shredding I've been accumulating. It was about 4" high; now it's about half that. I'll do a bit more today. My shredder is a light-duty one so I try not to do too much at one time, as I have no interest in buying a new shredder. <br /><br />Here, shredded paper can go into yard waste/compost.<div class="blogger-post-footer">A journey from over-abundance to simplicity. A hoarder shares some secrets of this misunderstood problem (disease?), with a visual guide along the way.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1