Saturday 1 September 2012

It's begun

Not only Shimelle's Learn Something New Every Day but my new regime.  Ahead of schedule I might add!  
But first, Shimelle asked us what our last big adventure was - well my interpretation of that question is this 
We had no idea how much having children was going to change our lives and what an amazing adventure it has been and continues to be.
Today I also learnt that provided I don't spend too long on de-cluttering, it's not the chore I make it out to be.  In our bedroom we have a bay window and the whole width of that window has a 9 drawer chest of drawers built into it.  As time has gone by, the top of the unit has become a 'his and hers' area.  His half has a photo frame on it and his wallet, and my half has had 3 jewellery boxes, various envelopes with scrapbooking embellishments in them, last year's diary {why?}, the instructions for my kindle, a pair of sunglasses, random old receipts, old birthday cards, a pile of safety pins etc etc.  Well, my mission for today was to combine the contents of the jewellery boxes and find new homes for the other rubbish items.  All was going well, I had been ruthless - and anything not worn in the last year or two had been put in a bin liner.  At this point I should stress that I love jewellery and never leave the house without earrings, ring and bracelet.  Much of my jewellery is costume jewellery which I mix and match with my 'good stuff'.  I had condensed things down amazingly.  And then I got to the stuff that held memories.  Things given to me by my mum, jewellery that I had for my 21st and 18th birthdays, and just cheap old things that I loved when I was growing up.  Macaroni necklaces that the kids made me in playschool, you know the kind of thing.  Time marched on.  Memories came flooding back.  Not much was getting thrown away.  So it was time to stop.  I had done well and that part of our bedroom now looks like this
 Of course I should have taken a before photo for you to fully appreciate how much stuff has been discarded but suffice it to say that I have to keep going in there to have a look at how tidy it looks in there.  I'm exhausted, must be time for lunch ...

9 comments:

Scrappi Sandi said...

Well Done on a great start to your new regime!...& I love the idea of looking on having children as an adventure!...more like a life long roller coaster ride I'd say!! Love it!! :D

Elizabeth said...

You put me to shame. My dresser is almost as bad as your before. Guess it's time to clean it up. Thanks for the nudge.

scrappyjacky said...

I always have to keep going back proudly looking when I've had a declutter.....and I find it's the sentimental things its the hardest to get rid of....even when you never use/wear them!

Sian said...

You described that feeling so well - the slowing down as you find the things with the memories..

Maria Ontiveros said...

I know exactly how you feel - things start so well and then I can't toss things anymore! I misread Shimelle's prompt; will have to read it again. I signed up for the emails on decluttering but didn't receive one today. Must look into that.
Rinda

Sandie said...

I have a house that needs de-cluttering! I have made great strides in some areas but often end up putting what I'm not sure about in another room or cupboard to sort later. So it just spreads! It's a lovely sense of achievement when something is accomplished though. Your drawer unit is looking good!

humel said...

Wow, amazing decluttering - and I love how you did your learning today (and how you presented it)

Alison said...

I've had a cleaning/clearing day as well, though it sounds as if you may have achieved more than me..I'm still deciding about LSNED!
Alison xx

Missus Wookie said...

Great decluttering - spent the day sorting myself. I've been in a decluttering mood for the last few months.

I like the way you've used the page for your journaling too.