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St. Ann
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| Posted: Feb 12 2013 at 1:08pm | IP Logged
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Books, clothes, toys, pantry items (odd glasses, plastic stuff...), old winter coats... It is overwhelming just thinking about it.
I guess I should start in the basement to make room for the bags as they start filling up.
Thanks for the nudge, Lindsay. 
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Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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Jenn Sal
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| Posted: Feb 12 2013 at 4:04pm | IP Logged
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I started last week! I have three bags, so far. Two bags of books and my dd filled one bag with clothes. I wanted to get ahead, so I don't need to do one tomorrow or during Holy Week. Good advice from Shower of Roses.
My bedroom and kitchen scare me 
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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SallyT
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| Posted: Feb 13 2013 at 9:52am | IP Logged
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Starting today, though I'm not . . . quite . . . sure . . . where . . .
Sally
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Feb 19 2013 at 2:55pm | IP Logged
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How is everyone doing?
I am behind--hard to find energy this pregnancy! But in tackling what had been the spare room/sewing room/junk room for an hour or so, I manage three garbage bags, 2 goodwill and 1 garbage. 
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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SallyT
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| Posted: Feb 19 2013 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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I'm doing a bag a day, in no particular order, from various places in the house. Sometimes it's trash that needed to go (the paper junk in our study is amazing); mostly it's been outgrown/unneeded clothes. I've been blogging it to keep me motivated -- it's a lot harder to miss a day when other people might notice!
Sally
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jawgee
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| Posted: Feb 19 2013 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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I'm up to 9 bags, I think. Meant to do 2-3 today but I got behind.
How does a mom homeschool four kids, cook and clean the house, and manage all of this other stuff, anyway?!?!
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Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: Feb 19 2013 at 6:21pm | IP Logged
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Purged 10 bags yesterday!! Felt good!! Making room for God and the family!
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
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SeaStar
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| Posted: March 02 2013 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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I'm at fifteen bags...
don't know if I can make it to 40, but I'm trying!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 10:09am | IP Logged
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OK- How did everyone do?
Anyone make it to 40 bags?
I unloaded bag #37 on Easter Saturday at a donation shelter... so not 40.
But 37 feels pretty good!
I have to say this challenge has been a joy for me. Not always easy, and I could only work on it in fits and starts, but it was a growth process.
I surely grew bolder in what I could give away as the six weeks went by.
Or maybe more detached is the right word. My thorn: giving away gifts I have received that are not useful to me. I feel tremendous guilt- as if I am letting the giver down. But I did some good reading about how the magic of gift giving is in the love and thoughtfulness of the giver.
Those feelings are not given away, even if the too big sweater is.
So, yay . The sweater is gone. And so is a lot of other stuff.
I am delighting in drawers that are fairly empty and in the thought of other children and people enjoying the toys and books and clothing that were just "stuff' here.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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Well, I sort of lost count.  Mostly because the majority of my clutter that I was able to tackle was actually GARBAGE. Ugh!
Although, that can be hard emotionally, too. Letting go and not trying to keep every scrap of paper your child ever touched pen or crayon to Or throwing away things that you feel might be useful to someone somewhere, and yet they are not worth giving to goodwill. These things are such BURDENS!
I hope I can continue, though, even if I didn't necessarily meet my goals during lent. I still have the seasonal clothing switch, and I really need to find a system for this house that works, and in doing that, I'm hoping I can be a little more ruthless in how much I keep and get rid of the things that are sentimental but in poor shape and the things that are "perfectly good" but my kids simply won't wear!
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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SallyT
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 10:53am | IP Logged
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Same here. And a lot of our clutter wasn't so much things that needed getting rid of as things that needed shelving/finding/making a place for. Still working on that.
I need to weed kids' clothes more, too. We did a good bit during Lent, but my youngest is continually swimming in clothes, most of which she doesn't wear. We got rid of several big bags out of her room alone, and yet there's more! And more! It breeds in there! I don't understand how!
I also still have a big closet that needs cleaning out. I started it during Lent and, again, pulled a lot of things out to get rid of, but it still needs further purging and, more important, organizing.
Still, I don't feel too badly overall. Anything done is better than nothing done.
Sally
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amyable
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 11:16am | IP Logged
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I lost steam shortly after Lent began (what else is new??) but after a discussion with dh over the weekend I have new resolve.
All the *stuff* really does seem to harm me spiritually and emotionally. It's not worth it. And I don't even have much! I think I'm just a radically minimalist at heart.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 12:00pm | IP Logged
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amyable wrote:
I lost steam shortly after Lent began (what else is new??) but after a discussion with dh over the weekend I have new resolve.
All the *stuff* really does seem to harm me spiritually and emotionally. It's not worth it. And I don't even have much! I think I'm just a radically minimalist at heart. |
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I also find "stuff" very draining. It eats up my time- all the reshelving and refolding and putting away. It's not that my dc don't enjoy playing with all the toys we have left- they do. My question is would they be just as happy with only a few?
Also, I am constantly reconfiguring how many clothing items are enough for my dc. Ds's closet is fairly streamlined at this point. Dd's is another story- clothes do seem to reproduce in there.  Sad to say, I am mostly at fault for that- accepting too many hand-me-downs and being very unable to resist a cute bargain.
I did read a decluttering book during that Lent that gave me a great one-liner to keep in mind. When you consider an item, ask yourself this as you pick it up: will this come in handy sometime in the future?
If the answer is yes, then it is clutter.
That simple- the genius and truth of it made me laugh out aloud when I read it.
Also, dh and I have started eying things in these terms: If we want to run away and live on a houseboat (someday,) would we take this item?
So one of our phrases we ask now is: will this fit on the boat?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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I've followed along on this post, but I don't think I've posted yet. I decluttered our laundry/cleaning closet and craft closet. I also went through all the boys clothes. We are having a garage sale on Friday, so I've been picking stuff up here and there. I'm sure it's been 40 bags if not more. We don't have a lot of stuff, and I find clutter very bothersome for myself. I don't have a lot of stuff sitting out and I don't hang onto stuff. Yet, there is still more than I care to have around. And I was surprised how much stuff I found! Well arranged clutter is still clutter! I hate that feeling! Every time I go into the basement I just want to puke! It won't stay clean and the problem is too much stuff. But, most of this stuff must stay. We invested a lot of money into organizing the stuff and it's not working and it's not enough storage solutions. The problem is clearly dh and the boys who know they struggle with putting things away, but I can't get them to do it. Hopefully to help I'm having dh clean the garage for the sale (which I normally do) just so he can be reminded of the mess. Afterwards I'm going through and getting rid of stuff that seems useless to me. I'm sure I will make mistakes and get rid of important stuff, but that is the lesson. If it's important enough to keep it must be taken care of! I'm sure this will cause some stress in the house, but everything else has been tried. I'm also unloading a few boxes of seasonal decorations. I use to decorate a lot and now I would just like a few nice items. This will clear up some space, but it will cause heartache, which is another lesson. It's going to be a hard week here!
Oh, the houseboat thing is excellent!
IT sounds like many made progress in the clutter!
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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jawgee
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 12:54pm | IP Logged
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I only made it to 23. Halfway into Lent DH and I both got sick for three weeks...and I lost the energy to continue on. Anyway, I was pleased to reach 23 and I'm determined to get the last 17 out sometime this month!
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Monica
C (12/2001), N (11/2005), M (5/2008), J (8/2009) and three angels
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Jenn Sal
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| Posted: April 01 2013 at 1:46pm | IP Logged
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I surpassed the 40 bags! It was such a blessing. I'm going to keep going as long as I can.
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 02 2013 at 11:16am | IP Logged
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Jenn Sal wrote:
| I surpassed the 40 bags! It was such a blessing. I'm going to keep going as long as I can. |
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great to hear this! It helps keep me motivated. Dropped off #38 yesterday and am still going. Now I am shooting for 40 and what lies beyond
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: April 02 2013 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
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Okay. You all have inspired me. I'm going to tackle the seasonal clothing storage and organization this week while we're taking a break from school. Pray for me  By its nature, it is ALL "will this come in handy sometime in the future?" items, and none of it is going on the boat!!!
Still, it seems a necessary evil in the way of large family clutter.
BUT
I'm hoping I can be RUTHLESS in what I deem worthy of storage!
I think I have plotted a new system for how to store the bins so they are accessible. Our tiny garage is COMPLETELY devoted to dh's tools, and the long narrow attic closets in the upper bedrooms are difficult for me to access. This winter was pretty miserable with the 2 year old outgrowing most of his clothes and my not being able to get to the next size up easily in order to replenish.
I also would like to be able to quickly and easily store the outgrown and "found" clothes from previous seasons (I can't be the only one who finds things like the random pair of 6 month old shorts in the laundry in winter when your youngest is 2 ) or the new hand me downs we've accepted.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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SusanJ
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| Posted: April 02 2013 at 2:02pm | IP Logged
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I had big declutter plans for Lent but spent the entire season in a first trimester fog. But I promised dh that The Attic was at the top of my list as soon as I was feeling better. Which I'm starting to.
I'm guessing I've got 100 bags of stuff up there we don't need. Attics can be such a curse!
I actually have beautifully labeled Rubbermaid totes for each age 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24, 2T, 3T, 4T, etc. They are the 60-qt size, I think. I keep ONE bin per size until about 5 and then one bin for each gender in each size. It helps keep the clothing storage under control.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 02 2013 at 2:17pm | IP Logged
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Oh-- that is such a topic dear and painful to my heart, Lindsey- storing clothes. At my house, Storing Clothes has an evil twin named Buying Ahead.
This pair makes my life hard, and I have only two kids! And there is not much that can be handed down from a boy to a girl two years younger and with a completely different build.
A year or so ago I read a blog post from a mom with a very large family who said she no longer stored outgrown clothing. If an item couldn't be passed down and worn immediately, or if it wasn't a specialty item, like a little's boy suit or a girl's Christmas dress, she did not store it.
Her reasoning was that her family had grown so large that storage bins were taking over her life, space and time to the point where she often couldn't find or access the bins she needed or remember what she had. She said that at times she would just run out to a thrift store like Once Upon a Child and buy whatever was needed quickly so she could avoid the bins entirely. After several times of doing this, she decided to ditch her bins and trust that God would provide.
I thought she was nut at the time , though I could somewhat see her point. By that time I had been burned a few times by buying shoes ahead on sale and then forgetting I had them or finding they were completely outgrown before they were ever worn .
Then this past year I had three things happen. One, a friend with five girls gave me a large bag of outgrown clothing for dd. In that bag were no fewer than 6! pairs of like new khaki pants in sizes 12 and 14. I asked her about them, and she sheepishly admitted that she could rarely find stored clothing or forget what was in the bags and just wound up buying whatever it was all over again (tan pants).
Two, I apparently went nuts last spring buying sweatpants on sale for ds for this fall. I would forget how many pairs I already had squirreled away, and so I wound up having about 7 pairs . And let me just say that boys' sweat pants, even folded up neatly, take up a lot of room in a drawer as they hit the bigger sizes. Seven pairs won't fit. So a lot of my bargains were pretty much a waste of time and money.
Three, last summer ds outgrew size 8 and needed new shorts. For some reason I had not bought any shorts ahead in the next size up. Good thing, because he went from size 8 to size 14/16! Skipped 10/12 in shorts completely. I bought just what he needed, and it looks like they will still fit this summer as well .
Anyway, long way of saying that I store very little and now rarely buy ahead.
And whenever dh looks at all my books he shakes his head and says they are going to sink the boat.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: 40 bags in 40 days.
