The next "mini" project I tackled was winter coats. I decided that each girl will have the following:
1 good warm winter jacket (that matches almost everything)
1 warm fleece jacket (for those fall evenings or early spring evenings)
1 pair of good gloves and a comfy warm scarf and hat.
The rest .... I GAVE AWAY. Having 3 girls I have been handed down so many jackets - I did not even realize how many unused jackets I even had. Now the girls can easily find their jackets, hang them up and help keep them organized.
I know - I got a little off schedule - but just had to get this done :)
Hope all your projects are going well ..... would love to hear about what you all are doing!!!
Monday, September 26, 2011
TOYS TOYS TOYS ..... My Oh My!!!
Well, with the Kitchen done I felt like this whole simplification thing is not that hard. Hmmmm - I had a rude awakening when I started on toys. I realized quickly that I must not have been that emotionally attached to kitchen appliances - but that the silliest toys would make me go "aaaahhh".
Here is a bit of my journey through the toy project:
First, I bought some LARGE ziplock bags. I did not know you could get such large ones actually. I got some large trash bags, the label maker and some large tupperware containers. I made sure that the older two girls were at school - because I could not try and get rid of stuff with them over my shoulder.
So I started by throwing out all the obvious stuff - goodie bag toys, pieces of toys that are broken, missing pieces of games, ripped books etc. Then I decided on some toys that I want to keep but that the girls are not playing with right now. I put those in the large ziplock bags and put them in tupperware containers to store until Taylor will be interested in them. Then I put any toys that had no emotional attachment and that I have other similar ones in the "give away" container. I then re-organized all the bins and labeled them.
I did involve the girls in certain projects - dolls, stuffed animals and baby toys. I put all the dolls in a long row and had the girls pick their 3 favorites each. We then gave the rest away. This was a little hard for them - but the more they understood that these dolls will be loved by little girls who have none - they felt better. As far as the stuffed animals - I got three containers (one for each girl) and decided that those were the only ones I could fill. The rest gave away (2 full trash bags worth). Baby toys - wow ... I gave so many away. I packed everything in the car and headed to donate. I am not going to lie - when I put that little snail down and the Fisher price door that all 3 girls LOVED playing with .... I had a moment where I wanted to run back and grab it. I had to have a "drive Lize, drive away" talk. So away I went - and I too hope that some little girl or boy will have a blast with these toys that gave my girls many moment of laughter and fun.
So, now I have probably 1/2 the toys I started with - they are labeled and organized .... and yet - there are still toys to clean up!!! Hee hee.
I am so so so relieved that toys are done. I was very much dreading that ....
Here is a bit of my journey through the toy project:
First, I bought some LARGE ziplock bags. I did not know you could get such large ones actually. I got some large trash bags, the label maker and some large tupperware containers. I made sure that the older two girls were at school - because I could not try and get rid of stuff with them over my shoulder.
So I started by throwing out all the obvious stuff - goodie bag toys, pieces of toys that are broken, missing pieces of games, ripped books etc. Then I decided on some toys that I want to keep but that the girls are not playing with right now. I put those in the large ziplock bags and put them in tupperware containers to store until Taylor will be interested in them. Then I put any toys that had no emotional attachment and that I have other similar ones in the "give away" container. I then re-organized all the bins and labeled them.
I did involve the girls in certain projects - dolls, stuffed animals and baby toys. I put all the dolls in a long row and had the girls pick their 3 favorites each. We then gave the rest away. This was a little hard for them - but the more they understood that these dolls will be loved by little girls who have none - they felt better. As far as the stuffed animals - I got three containers (one for each girl) and decided that those were the only ones I could fill. The rest gave away (2 full trash bags worth). Baby toys - wow ... I gave so many away. I packed everything in the car and headed to donate. I am not going to lie - when I put that little snail down and the Fisher price door that all 3 girls LOVED playing with .... I had a moment where I wanted to run back and grab it. I had to have a "drive Lize, drive away" talk. So away I went - and I too hope that some little girl or boy will have a blast with these toys that gave my girls many moment of laughter and fun.
So, now I have probably 1/2 the toys I started with - they are labeled and organized .... and yet - there are still toys to clean up!!! Hee hee.
I am so so so relieved that toys are done. I was very much dreading that ....
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Am I feeling "lighter" yet .....
Well, I was getting so psyched up for my simplification project that I started a day early. Truth be told, my mommy brain took over and I THOUGHT it was September 1st - but alas it was still August ... ha ha.
So, project simplify is officially underway. I dug out 2 LARGE tupperware containers, that were empty and just taking up space in my over-crowded storage room. I felt pretty good that they are finally getting some good use. I put them side by side in the dining room and decided to buckle down and get started.
The Kitchen ......
I first did all the dishes, packed everything away so that I knew that the kitchen was ready to be cleared out. I opened cabinet after cabinet and first got rid of all the "obvious, non-emotionally-attached" stuff. That filled both containers .... I was on a role. But then .... the stuff you "might use sometime - right???" Seriously - stuff I had not used in 12 years ... but maybe, just maybe I would use it next time I entertain!!! So I put all that stuff on the counter, and had a good "Come on Lize ... throw it out" discussion. So I did. I got rid of mugs (you know, the mug you got back in 1994 in San Diego that you have never used because it's actually too big :)) Yeah, I got rid of it. That wok that always takes so much room and is awkward to store - and has NEVER been used. Got rid of it .... That glass platter with some big Christmas ornament etched in it (that might be worth something because it's crystal) .... you guessed it ... got rid of it :) Mixing bowls, ice-cream maker, vases and more vases and other random stuff ... got rid of it. :)
Then I re-organized. Moved pots and pans to a different cabinet. Reorganized the drawers, re-packed all the glasses, mugs, plates etc. and now there is so much ROOM!!! So, after I finished - I closed all the cabinets ..... and took a sigh of relief. But, you know what's sad - the kitchen looks no different to anyone but me :) Ha ha. I almost want anyone coming over to open my cabinets and say how they notice what a big job this was .... ha ha. However, I will tell you this much. I feel lighter when I work in my kitchen. I don't mind packing away the dishes (although I don't think that will last too long), and I don't feel weighed down by unused stuff.
Soooo - after I was done in the kitchen - I walked in the dining room (which at this point had stuff ALL over the table) .. and realized I had to now get rid of all this! Bummer. :) So I loaded my car and drove it to the donation drop off. They were blown away by how much I had to bring. They asked if I was moving ... and I just laughed. I told them they will be seeing a lot more of me - with a lot more stuff in my house!
So, step on ... THE KITCHEN .... Check ....
Now onto baby toys and supplies ..... oh boy .... this one is going to be a challenge!!!!
So, project simplify is officially underway. I dug out 2 LARGE tupperware containers, that were empty and just taking up space in my over-crowded storage room. I felt pretty good that they are finally getting some good use. I put them side by side in the dining room and decided to buckle down and get started.
The Kitchen ......
I first did all the dishes, packed everything away so that I knew that the kitchen was ready to be cleared out. I opened cabinet after cabinet and first got rid of all the "obvious, non-emotionally-attached" stuff. That filled both containers .... I was on a role. But then .... the stuff you "might use sometime - right???" Seriously - stuff I had not used in 12 years ... but maybe, just maybe I would use it next time I entertain!!! So I put all that stuff on the counter, and had a good "Come on Lize ... throw it out" discussion. So I did. I got rid of mugs (you know, the mug you got back in 1994 in San Diego that you have never used because it's actually too big :)) Yeah, I got rid of it. That wok that always takes so much room and is awkward to store - and has NEVER been used. Got rid of it .... That glass platter with some big Christmas ornament etched in it (that might be worth something because it's crystal) .... you guessed it ... got rid of it :) Mixing bowls, ice-cream maker, vases and more vases and other random stuff ... got rid of it. :)
Then I re-organized. Moved pots and pans to a different cabinet. Reorganized the drawers, re-packed all the glasses, mugs, plates etc. and now there is so much ROOM!!! So, after I finished - I closed all the cabinets ..... and took a sigh of relief. But, you know what's sad - the kitchen looks no different to anyone but me :) Ha ha. I almost want anyone coming over to open my cabinets and say how they notice what a big job this was .... ha ha. However, I will tell you this much. I feel lighter when I work in my kitchen. I don't mind packing away the dishes (although I don't think that will last too long), and I don't feel weighed down by unused stuff.
Soooo - after I was done in the kitchen - I walked in the dining room (which at this point had stuff ALL over the table) .. and realized I had to now get rid of all this! Bummer. :) So I loaded my car and drove it to the donation drop off. They were blown away by how much I had to bring. They asked if I was moving ... and I just laughed. I told them they will be seeing a lot more of me - with a lot more stuff in my house!
So, step on ... THE KITCHEN .... Check ....
Now onto baby toys and supplies ..... oh boy .... this one is going to be a challenge!!!!
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