Clutter Free Book Review

Okay, so this post is a long time coming. I actually finished the book back in January, but I spent the rest of the month, and the beginning of February, enjoying my Winter Break from work. Read: Being LAZY! Really though, my back was pretty messed up from my November accident, so after taking boys to school I would lay in bed, read, veg out on TV, and try not to damage my back further. I am so thankful for my AMAZING chiropractic team who have since moved me further along toward back health.

Back to the book. As you may know I was part of Kathi Lipp's Clutter Free Book Launch Team. This does mean that I received my copy of the book for free.

I am so glad I participated in this challenge and on this team. It was a blessed experience. I have tackled a ton of clutter, already purging over 1,000 items. It would be more, but I lost time and energy with my back down.

Each day, for 21 days, I received an email with daily tasks to help tackle my clutter. Now that the book is out, you can ALWAYS sign up for the challenge here. The best part about this is that I saved all of the emails in a folder titled "Clutter Free" so that I can redo them at any point in time, which will likely be every break, just so that I can help fight against my own very lazy tendency of not taking care of business: truth be told, I would rather be scrapbooking or shopping.

I was going to wait for my group yard sale to hopefully make some money, but instead I did this (11 bags) with most of the stuff and took it to my favorite Goodwill around the corner.

 Goodwill is BIG in my community; we have two that are wonderful, including job placement and teen centers.

Overall, I feel like I am managing my clutter better because of this book, which is a HUGE statement from me on several levels. Firstly, I do not tend to complete non-fiction/ help books in this amount of time. Clearly, being part of the launch team and challenge was a driving force in this. Lipp's writing is witty and candid, which makes the reading smooth. If you ever get a chance to see her speak live, it is a real treat.

Although, like any book, I may not be able to complete all the challenges or in the way intended, I LOVED this book. I think it is something that many woman who struggle with clutter can benefit from reading, especially since there is the accompanying challenge and facebook group for inspiration and accountability.

So, if you struggle in this area, grab your copy here.


Have a Rockin' Day!!!!!!

Cost of Clutter

Items cost money. Storing them costs money. Maneuvering around them when they aren't properly stored costs time and peace. Is it worth the cost?

These are some of the issues that Kathi Lipp raises in her Clutter Free challenge. 

One thing that is encouraged is taking time to log all new purchases with their purpose and place of storage. Such a smart plan. It forces you to think about what you are bringing into the home. Is it a necessity or an impulse purchase (that Target One Spot is dangerous as far as impulse buys go). 

I enjoy that this book doesn't just address getting rid of items, but discovering how to boy covet and desire more than is actually needed.  We live in a fast paced society of fast fashion, fast decor, and fast trends. This causes people to want more and accumulate useless objects. If we take time to consider purchases, then clutter can be diminished to some degree. Contentment in what we have is key. 

This is only one of several ways the book addresses the issue. 

Okay, so now to my progress. I fell behind while ill, but I made up for it by doubling up on items the next two days. The last clutter free related post left us with 143 items. 

I have since purged an additional items 457.  

This brings me to the Grand total of: 600 even (I could not have planned that number if I tried).

The break down is as follows:

Wednesday (New years Eve), I rid our house of 69 items. I did so by tackling the sock drawers in my bedroom dresser and grabbing misplaced and broken items as I saw them throughout the house. They went from this:

Sorry for dark photos, it was around 10 at night I got to this. You can see that the drawer is stuffed though.

To this as the result:

Tights drawer

Now there is space in this drawer. Pretty. Socks are bulky and take up space. Ridding myself of my least favorite socks gives me room. I moved my gloves and leg warmers to a different drawer in the closet, which also gave additional space. Fantastic!!!!

Then on Thursday I purged 45 items throughout various areas of the house and two of the cubbies from my large Ikea square shelving system in the office (my target area).

Friday was only 29 items, most of them were from Christmas items I sacked while putting away Christmas til next year. I did end up with one if my Christmas containers completely empty in the end, which is awesome.

I am a bit behind on the specific challenges as I play catch up from the sick days this week, and from just enjoying hubby's vacation time. However, now that we are into a more normal week, I have been able to go into overdrive, especially since husband headed back to work. His vacation was such a blessing though.

So Saturday was one item tossed out (thank you dogs for eating the toy) before celebrating The Cuban Cowboy's birthday at Travel Town in LA, followed by a date to Mimi's Cafe and the movies for The Hobbit (love gift cards).

Sunday was a rest day with zero items.

Monday was the best day yet!!! I got rid of a total of 102 items throughout. I caught up on the kitchen drawers that were part of the challenge. 

After photos:

I may be in need if bags. I think I have extras in the laundry room. Fingers crossed.

I also tackled another portion of my target area: the office. It is much improved.
BEFORE:

AFTER:

 I haven't really been counting trash, but in the office much of the clutter is paper work/trash.
Therefore, I did count it in here as I threw most of it I in this awesome Target paper bag. Paper bags are great for recycling. I always ask for them at the local Super Target. Most of what left that green cubby was paper items, then I placed scrapbook items that had less adequate homes into the cubby instead.

Then today, Tuesday, started out a bit slow, but ended in 187 items out the door!!!!! Top number thus far! Plus, I caught up on the purse challenge and today's challenges that I received in my email, one of which was that high traffic area catch all, which I showed a photo of the first day.
Just in case you have forgotten:
 

 Now it looks like this:

Purse: this is my purse of the week. Mine tend to stay fairly empty because I use other bags, but this time it got crazy in my purse. 

Why is there a candy bar in there? 

After:

 Then I attacked two of my bathroom drawers at separate times today. I have been saying I would do it for about a year now, so I am glad to have it done. 

The before mess. As you can see I had already begun to sort when I took the photo. 

The after result. 

Drawer two only has an after:

Why do I keep things like empty perfume bottles? Crazy woman.

My oldest little Monster also got rid of 24 items from his room to make space for his Christmas gifts. I thought it was a good job.

 Overall things are going slow and steady, which I think is best for long term improvement.

If I think about the cost of leaving the clutter, which is where I began today's post, I think about the forgotten Olive Garden gift card I found today in the catch all.

I also think about what my husband mentioned, that things look like they are supposed to. How many fights has it cost us over my own guilt for the clutter if he mentions its existence? These fights could have all been avoided if things just looked like they are supposed to. When did clutter become normal?

Are you decluttering? 

How is your progress? I would love to hear.

You can always join the challenge and grab a copy of the book.

*I did receive a copy of the book for review c/o Kathi Lipp and her publishing team.

Clutter Free: Counting

One part of the tasks that a reader is challenged to in Kathi Lipp's book Clutter Free is to get rid of 2000 items. I passed out when I first saw the number. However, I am up for the challenge. If you are up for one too, you can sign up for free HERE.

On my first day, which is featured in this post, I cleaned out 89 items. They weren't all from the area featured, but I got rid of them all the same. 

Since then I have purged an additional 54. Slow and steady people. My total thus far is 143. Not too shabby in my opinion. Oh, I didn't really count paper trash, although it is totally approved per the directions. I just do not have time for that.

On Saturday I tackled another peripheral area of paper storage, this sideboard in the hallway. I actually found that there was not as much paper as I thought, but toys that I find in the hallway and put in the green bucket to be put away later. You know because the boys' rooms are not four feet away. LAZY!!!! 

So I dove in. I took maybe 20 min (I always forget to do the 15 min timer part. It may put too much pressure on me.) This area went from this

This is a close up of the over stuffed bucket.

To this

29 items gone and many put in their proper places.

Sunday I was going to take a break, but the I went into my office, which is our cat room as well, to check on Patches. And I decided to take the quick, suggested 15 min to tackle one area of the room. I have been avoiding the room, even though I cleaned part of it out in October (the same part I tackled today). I think I really only took 5 -10 minutes on this area. It looked bad, but wasn't really.

 It's the under area of this desk that is going to be a hassle.

Here is the outcome. With 21 items gone from either this space or random clean up throughout the house today.

 Nice and simple. I do still need to do something more streamlined with that pile of photos, but that is for another day. At least they have a home for now.

Monday I was sicksicksick! So, I had to put off part of challenge two. I did the reading though. I did manage to get rid of 3 items in the morning, just three I walked by and was sick of seeing. 

The bonus of the day. That tray cleaned in day one served me yummy soup in bed. It couldn't have happened if I hadn't tackled it first, so SCORE!

 

As far as today, Tuesday, well we had an important errand to do. We had to pick up my mom and take her to San Diego. While we were there, we had to have lunch with our friends because we don't often get to make the two hour drive. So, although today's challenge was 30 items for the day, I am totaling 1. I am not ashamed of this because the reading for yesterday and today tackle the idea of spirituality and costs. Costs clutter can cause to our relationships with friends, family, and God. Therefore, I was not going to allow decluttering to cost me these things either (Plus, I am still a bit under the weather so the trip today has left me tired. Tomorrow is a new day. And I can tackle two places, if I so choose. Why not?

If you sign up let me know! Also, I will be giving a copy of the book away, so be on the look out in the Friday post.

 

Clutter Free-Intro/Day one

I love Kathi Lipp. She is so raw, real, hilarious, and God centered. I am blessed to have the opportunity to help in the launch of one of her latest works: Clutter Free.

Ya, that's a screen shot, complete with the current price. 

I am excited because this is such a great way to begin a new year (even if it be a few days early). 

Each Tuesday and Friday I will bring to you an update on the progress I am making. Today I am tackling the "why" of my clutter, which, truth be told, is in large part laziness. After work and chasing boys and activities and bible study, the last thing I want to do is organize and clean. Boo! However, it would truly make all those other things run more smoothly. 

Also, my biggest down fall is paper work. I just do not like it. Not one iota. So, I have been getting better at sorting and trashing (though there is still room for improvement). It's the stuff that I plan on " getting to later" that bites me in the behind.

 I have these awesome cubbies for these items, but they need to be cleaned out because I am very "out of sight, out of mind."

Since this is my problem area, I will be mainly focusing on my office/ studio. This is where I create, grade write, hide. Seriously though, I just cannot keep it under control. It gets better each year, but look at the room for improvement that still exists. Yea for goals.

It is extra messy during this holiday season because of wrapping and such.

The other spots are my "alternate" paper hoards that crop up here and there for no apparent reason other than they can. 

Hallway sideboard

Filing cabinet in room 

Under chest of drawers because I can

TV tray for mugs and magazines etc while into cozy bed

Entryway basket for mail

Kids supply area in dining room

Today was also the instructions for the first challenge, which includes taking only 15 minutes to tackle a single space at a time. I chose the TV tray pictured above for my first project. 

Let me remind you of the before.

Okay! Yikes!!!! Here is the after.

You can see the tray! It is amazing! Yay me. Yay Kathi for helping a gal out.

So, follow along. Buy the book and join in. Declutter your life so that you can truly enjoy it in a less stressful way.

 I hope that, like me, you get a head start on some of your amazing 2015 plans.

Season of Change

This is a season of change. A season of crazy things going on in life that are entirely unexpected and different. Over the past few years so many things have shifted or broken. Whether it be the television or coffee maker or our car (three ones over), we have had a ton of things break. Each time we have been able to step back, examine, and simplify.

Some of the most recent changes going on have come with the most prayer and the most stretch. 

1. New adventure 

I have decided to embark on the awesome adventure that is being a Jamberry consultant. I am overwhelmingly excited for what this can mean, especially that it means pretty nails I can afford in both my monetary and time budgets.

2. New Car

I seriously did not think that I would be getting a new car for several more years. Then, last month, I was in an accident wherein I lost my car. This left us in a bind for several weeks. I am lucky enough that we do have one extra vehicle, though not incredibly reliable. Well, now I am the owner of an awesome 2013 Volkswagen Sportwagen. I am so blessed by God. 

3. Launch

I am so blessed that after praying over my application, it was accepted to be a part of Kathi Lipp's launch team for one of her soon to be released books. It addresses an area of life wherein many mom's struggle: clutter. I am very nervous and excited about what God has planned for me in this particular journey. To find out more about this book and previously published works from Kathi Lipp go to her site.

Please pray for me as I embark on these super awesome changes, and I am sure more are alwasy coming right around the corner.