Not quite a horder - decluttering
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Here’s one cleaning video:
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I find it interesting and sometimes silly what people spend their time watching on YouTube. Last year, while visiting my brother and nephew in California, my nephew watched different ways to cook eggs but he is allergic and doesn’t eat them. DH watches different people camping and videos solely about chopping wood, I often tell him, dude, just go camping already, lol. We do both enjoy “Irish people try” whiskey, mexican candy, american cereal, lots of laughs there.
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I watch some of the cleaning videos myself. My space is small but even I still need a little motivation to get going. The videos I get really hooked on besides cleaning are laundry videos. Specifially I like watching people using inexpensive things to make up laundry detergent, making washing soda which I cannot find at the store and so on and so forth. These have taught me to really stretch my laundry supplies far yet still find the right combo to get things super clean and no stains. I also like looking at portable washing machines as well.
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Illimae and mara, oh my goodness! It never occurred to me there were all those different kinds of youtube videos! That cracks me up! Dh grows different hot peppers, jalapeños, ghost peppers and the like, makes salsa with them and adds them to food. He at one time liked watching videos of people eating just the hot peppers and their over-the-top reactions. It held no interest to me!
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Divine, I love watching the hot pepper videos too. Especially the one chip challenge where they ate the Carolina Reaper chip. They got one chip and they were comical to watch. I think deliberately eating extreme foods is very stupid but I'll watch them. Never watched Tide Pod videos. That's ridiculous.
The peppers you mention are spicy but not the extreme I am talking about.
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So still working on getting rid of extras that are not being used. Getting rid of cardboard from deliveries as well more promptly. I had a realization come to me when I was thinking about buying an end table next to my chair in the living room. Currently a rubbermaid tote is serving as the table which is not pretty. I decided to purchase another ottoman cover to cover this up. I like the first one I got for my footstool ottoman, I figure it would be a good idea to simply coverup with something more cute. I get storage and get to spend less money as well since the cover would be less than an end table that would not store as much.
I am also going to check the kitchen to see if the back wall would have enough room to house one of those amazon fabric dresser drawer so I could put dry things away and clear some space from my sink and counter area.
Edited to add, no it would not be possible to put a dresser on the back wall. Would have to be moved around too much. Think I would be better off with nice dresser or furniture in the living room with fabric drawers for extra food, already have extra cooking needs stored at the top of my cupboards. I still may have someone come in and build me a box in the kitchen with some sort of sliding door as my step stool is right in the kitchen. This is WAY down the road. Just going to keep tossing or donate things I do not want
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I just picked up two floor lamps, a ceramic pot, and two wall-shelves from a family that was emptying their childless aunt's apartment. Felt sad for them, she was an odd person, and collected much stuff, and had let housekeeping get way out of hand. There were several wheeled carts, but they evidently wanted them. I felt embarrassed to ask, but they were tossing so much.
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MCBaker, I'm glad you got some things you wanted, even though the aunt's situation is sad.
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That is a sad situation for sure. When I had to downsize and go through all the stuff that was accumulated at my condo last year, it was amazing how many duplicate things my mother had picked up. It was not all over the floor but in a bunch of rubbermaid totes. Books, movies, mugs, blankets galore. I lived there too but was largely ignorant of that. I also had a bedroom just full of technology where I worked from home. Multiple computers, VCRs, DVD and streaming devices. I used all of them but it was a lot. Went from a 3 storey condo to a studio size apartment with very little storage. It took a long time and a lot of help taking things to the Goodwill donation including all my obselete technology back after wiping out and destroying the hard drive.
My apartment does not have good storage so I am gradually whittling things down. The living room also has some hidden storage. the ottoman my feet sit on is large and covered by a slip cover, looks nice. I have a rubbermaid tote that acts as a table next to my chair also covered by an ottoman cover, along the back wall behind the sofa is a row of white shelves which give me hidden storage as well. I also tend to hang things in bags that need to be stored on the shower bar. Yes, I have to take the bags down but it is an easier way to store a few towels. My bed has posts at the head end so I have bags holding mesh bags, an extra washer that clips to a bucket. The bed is on risers which allows for more storage that way underneath. My clothes also are made to fit mostly in a dresser.
I do have a fully functioning laundry in my place, portable washer that lives in the tub, has a spinner to remove the water. Not automatic, have to do a wash, drain and then rinse. Add clothes to the spinner and then put them in my small size dryer. I also have another large spinner in case I wish to wash bedding. Put them in the dryer as well. Many over the door hooks to hang things. I do not mind those.
Over the years as money becomes more available again, I will have someone come in and build boxes to put above the doorways for things with a nice slide door feature.
It was a huge adjustment at first but I got used to it. Realized I need to read digitally, digitize all my movies I owned and donated them to family and goodwill, same with my books. The good thing is my apartment was a good price for such a nice neighbour hood to be in, lots of old trees, houses that are really nice too. I also don't pay electric which is a HUGE bonus.
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Mara, I’d love to work on getting old VHS stuff on DVD or something, we have a machine that does it but the instructions are too complicated for my post chemo brain, ugh.
Still packing here, mostly kitchen items now. I’m packing the items I really want and what remains will be used until we leave, then donated or tossed.
For the clothes, I’m still sorting but most of the items I want but aren’t currently wearing are boxed up. I have a 3 piece luggage set, the medium is already at the cabin, the large will be packed with clothes I’m likely to wear in the next few months and the small will be packed with the things I’m currently wearing. This way I’ll have what I need easily available, without going through boxes until I’m ready to fully unpack.0 -
Mae - thats what we did when we moved into this flat 'temporarily' for the summer. Each a large suitcase with clothes likely to wear, then a large clothing box each of other clothes (mostly winter). So easy to unpack and really, how many clothes do you need?
Our new bed arrives tomorrow which means once we have that set up I can see the height and then order bed risers (if needed) and underbed clothing storage boxes so I can move summer down, unpack winter, and get rid of those giant boxes. And I found a source for good, but cheap, bankers boxes as I have more than a few boxes of papers to go through and organize - definitely a fall project!
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Mae, my setup was complicated but at the time, digitizing my video was an interest even before I moved. I wanted stuff to watch on a tablet while having appointments and I did not have a smartphone at the time. It was a complicated process, but worth it. I no longer buy physical movies, I just get digital copies.
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One of my fav charities here (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) just opened up and dropped off six bags to them today. Items to consignment tomorrow!
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Mara--wow, it sounds like you have really come a long way transitioning to a smaller living space!
Illi--great idea using the luggage to organize the clothes!
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I have a ulterior motive for using the luggage. Yes, it’s available space, why not use it but more importantly I can easily spot it and control where it goes. If we have to use a storage place until the cabin is ready, I doubt my husband’s packing would leave me with easy access. So my favorites stay with me at all times.
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Good idea about the luggage storage Mae.
I have the little luggage bag on wheels that I got before brain surgery to put stuff in, chargers and devices to pass the time. Was easier to keep track of stuff.Turns out, I was not in hospital as long as they wanted. I truly wanted out over the weekend as I was in a icu with 6 other people. Was supposed to get semi private room but I decided to get myself out sooner. Passed all cognition tests and made sure nurses saw how mobile I was. Wore holes walking around a hallway nearby. My neurosurgeon was impressed but a lot of it was steroids. Went in Friday, left on Monday. The nicest thing about the room was we always had two dedicated nurses.
Took out a bunch of other junk from my home today that was not fit for donation. Gradually things are lookng better. Thinking of going to home depot at some point to get some wood cut so I can fashion an extra shelf at the top of my linen closet as there is a lot of space that is wasted. Just need my handy dandy little wee hammer and nails.
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Took clothing, shoes and some jewelry to consignment today. They took almost everything!
It's been a productive week with purging. More to go!
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Illi--sounds like you know your husband well! Good for you for taking steps to keep your life easier.
Mara-- it must feel really good to know you can do things like make shelves for yourself!
Jazzy--Yeah for purging!
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Hi ladies- happy Thursday. This week is busy and going fast. I was on the go morning to night yesterday with collaboration activities, errands, and an end of the day swim. Dang the pool was COLD last night, but I made it through 50 laps. Usually the pool water is warm and inviting. I managed to squeeze in a trip to the midweek farmers market and came away with some fresh apples, 4 kinds of squash, corn on the cob, parsnips and some pretty sunflowers. I am going to make a dish today called calibacitas with the corn and squash (some green chili thrown in to) and also a sour creme apple coffee cake. Got two virtual prof org meetings today, one coming up shortly and another this evening.
Ill- I love how you have a plan. Clothing in the suitcases for what you need most is a great idea.
Mara- welcome to our thread! You sound like you are handy with those DIY home improvement tools!
Chi- I bet you are right that your path report has gone out for a second opinion. I have been in the middle of two surgeons and radiologists in the past and never a fun thing being in between those medical professionals. Let them sort this out and tell you what you need to know but let it be soon!
Cami- hoping you got some good info from your follow up yesterday. We are here to listen if you want to talk
Gotta hope on my first call. Have a good day everyone!
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NativeMainer, I don't really. I use youtube and checked the existing shelves to see how they were done, looks like two pieces of wood each side, nailed in. A piece of wood as well. I definitely am not handy but learn easily through watching others do it. If needYou tube helped me burn in my oven which in all my life, did not know needed to be done. I thought my oven was nerfed. I would also like to get a light piece of plywood that would store between the oven and the fridge and put it up between the counter and stove on the back wall when I need. I would just make it long enough, they are about the same height, then I could do meal prep without having to block my sink as I do it now. Obviously, the stove would not be in use. So many thoughts swirling.
My other thoughts involve storing some items in really pretty bags that are simply attached by a hook or nail in the wall. They could be decorative and functional for the storage as well. Almost like a picture except holding light items. It will take a while to do all these ideas I have to pay back my elliptical I bought on a payment plan. I earn money from surveys and watching videos so I can use that to save as well. Hanging the bags though could happen anytime. They would need to be pretty though.
Edited to add, something like these bags
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Jazzygirl, love calabacitas. One of my quick “one skillet“ summer meals. Gal I worked with years ago wrote her version down for me. She said it was her “go to" when porks chops or steaks were on sale. The vegetarian version is good too.
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I get great ideas from this - and it keeps me motivated. I really need motivation to keep me going with cleaning out and organizing.
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Whoops, I posted on the wrong thread with that update but glad that you like the calibacitas too Dallas!
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I finally came upon a brilliant idea, hang pretty coloured grocery bags in different areas of the house. I use a pretty picture hanging hook that I already have, hammer it in the wall and then take the bag with a cable tie around the handles, I can hang it up and pull it down. Undo the cable tie as well since it is reversible. Gets things off the floor and less expensive than shelving all over the place. I put one in the kitchen so far to get a few things off one side of the small counter. Holding strong, not putting anything heavy in there either If this works, I would put non perishable food items in there and get them out of the living room. Put a few pictures up higher as well and the kitchen could actually look pretty. I am also thinking of getting up on my step stool putting.
Bedroom wise, still not sure what I am doing. I have a very few pairs of extra jeggings that I have not yet worn hanging along with a couple of nicer shirts. Thinking of hanging a bag and tossing extra shirts into it that are not worn as often to open up room in the drawers for stuff that is worn more often. Same with leggings I am not wearing.
I did hammer a pretty picture frame holder with the tiniest hook and nailed it into the front door to hold my shopping bags. I have a lot and will need to go through them too but the cable tie fits in the hook nicely. Wont fall down either.
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Mara, sounds like you’re on a roll, nice job.
More culling clothes today, my friend said she’ll take as much as I want to give, so that’s helpful.
We won’t be building in closets at the cabin, so I’m looking for alternative solutions and found a nice closet system along with several other small space storage ideas. Pic below of closet rack, magnetic spice rack, food containers and a mini bar.
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Illamae, Those look very practical. I love the mini bar.
Mara, Those nylon bags are really tough. I've been using one for about 8 years now and it's still going strong. I think the thread will wear out before the fabric. It will carry pretty heavy loads too. If you need a stronger hook than a picture hanger, the command reusable hooks are great. They really do come off without leaving a mark.
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Great options Mae, I am still brainstorming here. I hung a bag on the back of the linen closet to put extra soap in to get it out of the way of the living room. Pegboard is a good option to mount on a kitchen wall and hang stuff from it as well. That could work for you as well.
I
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For Cami
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We are in the thick of moving. My DH has had over a year to sort out his crap. Two weeks to closing and his shop (my new 4 letter word) is still unpacked, unsorted.
Am I the only one to have this problem? Oh, and we downsized by 50%.
So my secret plan. Wait until goes somewhere..like fishing for the day and haul butt to clear out stuff he hasn't touched in 20+ years. No more nice guy.
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SandiBeach, that is sometimes the way you have to do it. If he has not touched it, it cannot be that important to him. If he needed something you got rid of then he could replace it. I was pretty tough on what I got rid of when I was clearing out the condo after mom died. Had bags and bags of stuff for my brother to take to goodwill. Sold furniture I was not going to use, sold exercise equipment that tookup too much room.
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