Realization: It’s Just Stuff

One good thing about moving is getting rid of your stuff.
Many might see that as the downside of moving, and I have to admit, it’s not easy.

The past two months I have been looking almost every single object that we own with questions in my mind (Can I live without this? How much did this cost? Did I get my money’s worth? If I’d never see this thing again, would I be OK? What memories this thing comes with?) and piling them in one of three piles: to donate/sell, to trash, to keep.

And the “keep” pile I have been going through a time, after time, after time and taking more things from the “keep” pile to the other two. Because while at first it seems like every single thing in our home had a special meaning, cost so much money that I didn’t want to get rid of, or was fancy, or “I might use it again”, or was just useless, pointless, but just plain pretty.

On the end of the day – not many items were things that I couldn’t live without.

I was on the right track when the thought hit me: what if I had to leave this house in an hour, what would I take?

And the number of items in the “keep” pile started being smaller and smaller, and I realized that the things that are important are not necessary the ones that have high dollar value. I started getting a feeling “it’s just stuff”, and asked myself to let it go.

I kept saying to myself “it’s just stuff, it is not important.”

Refresh

I found a few local families/single moms who didn’t have much and had lost what they had for different reasons, and it felt so good to be able to help these people to create Christmas in their homes with simply giving away our old things.

Even if you are not moving, it’s a great idea to go through your home and get rid of things you might not need anymore and donate them for people who would enjoy them. You will feel good about helping – and your home will feel refreshed with less stuff.

And I’d be lying if I didn’t admit this… getting rid of the old stuff is great… because shopping for new stuff will be fun too…

You will realize that stuff sometimes keeps us from doing things in life we would like to. Or have you ever said or “I wish my home would look like from a design magazine, but it’s always so cluttered” or “I’d do more crafts if I had a place where to do crafts” (and because you have so much stuff, you can’t find place to do crafts)?

Oh, how many times I haven’t pulled out the blender for a smoothie, just because my kitchen counter is too full, or how many times I’ve left the house with the perfect scarf for my outfit, just because I couldn’t find it from all of my stuff… Organization might be another topic, but it starts with a refreshing clean up & getting rid of stuff!

So… I have news for you. I’m not perfect. I know, I know, it comes as a surprise to you (me too actually). I am opening my front door to see that my life is what it is, and me and my home… not even close to perfect. I am getting some naughty stool and cleaning advice from The Style Network’s Trish Suhr and I’m writing more about my cleaning intervention at How I Clean Now, which has had it’s good days, and not as perfect days…

Visit How I Clean Now and maybe you’ll can win your own cleaning intervention with Trish Suhr and while you are there, get the $1 coupon to get Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner, which by the way is fabulous also for cleaning your laptop!

You may have noticed that I have been missing in action, and haven’t been blogging as much as normally lately. I have been busy traveling, first visited DisneyWorld with Hanes Comfort Crew and then flew directly from Orlando to Arkansas, where I spoke at the Mind of Moms Summit yesterday. Normally I try to stay on top of things blogging wise, but my daughter was sick in DisneyWorld, and I tried to spend some family time as well, and just didn’t have time to blog during our trip. Glad to be home again, even though the trip was amazing!!

My home is my castle, but unfortunately my castle ain’t this one pictured on the top. I also ain’t Cinderella, nor I have a a wicked stepmom telling me to clean. My life is busy and while I try so hard to do it all, I admit – cleaning isn’t one of those things on the top of my list, and my house is a mess most of the time.

I was asked to be part of Pledge Multi Surface How I Clean Now campaign, and share my cleaning angst with the world… I admit, it wasn’t easy to say yes. Especially because part of the campaign involves writing about my cleaning routine (what cleaning routine?) and they also wanted to visit my home and videotape it. I will get professional cleaning intervention from The Style Network’s Trish Suhr, and I’m hoping her tips will help me to keep our castle in royal order.

My laundry room..

After a slight hesitation of showing the world how I do NOT clean, I joined in with four other bloggers, most of them I have known for a while. My fellow cleaning bloggers are: Jim of Busy Dad Blog, Susan of 5 Minutes For Mom, Casey of Moosh Indy and Erin, the Blue-Eyed Bride. I have to say that I feel much much better after reading the first posts on the How I Clean Now-site – especially after reading Susan’s “In need of a transformation” – seems like we have same type of issues, and I feel that together we can do it! Well – with the expert helped from Trish!

Please join us in this journey at HowICleanNow.com and enter to win your own cleaning intervention and a visit by Trish Surh in your home.

Guest post by Coutney Seaman.

With so many electronic tools out there, why do we still have so much paper clutter in our homes? Paper clutter isn’t just for pack rats anymore. I bet you have days where you need to find certain paperwork and can’t. Our lives are busy and things don’t always get put where they belong. Maybe you’re like me and have kids who like to color on every paper in sight? I’ll help you get that paper clutter organized and keep important documents from being ruined. What would you think if I told you that you can dig yourself out from all that paper clutter in just one afternoon? You can!!!

First you need to hunt and gather your paperwork. Paper has a tendency to scatter, so be sure to look all around the house, the car, your purse, your mailbox, etc. Next, you will need to sort the paper into these piles: junk mail, magazines, lists, bills, and personal correspondence. Do not worry about opening your mail right now. There will be time for that later. Build your momentum by just sorting it right now.

After sorting your paperwork, recycle your junk mail without even opening it! If it is addressed to you “or current resident” then it qualifies as junk mail. Any company that can’t take the time to write you personally isn’t worth yours.

For your magazine pile, invest in a nice magazine rack or pretty basket. Replace the old magazine with the new monthly issue. If there are articles in the past issues that you think you may read again, tear them out and file them in a folder for pleasure reading either before bed or while in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. This is also a great place to keep those Internet articles that you’ve printed out to read.

As for receipts, ask yourself three questions about each receipt and take action accordingly. Is this purchase something I might return? If so, check the date to make sure the return expiration hasn’t passed. Clip that receipt to your errand day to-do list, or put it in an envelope clearly marked with the “do date” to take with you. Is this purchase potentially tax-deductible? If it’s a grocery or gas receipt, you’re probably not going to be able to exchange or return your purchase. But don’t toss that receipt just yet! Some purchases might be completely or partially tax deductible, such as gas or food bought on a business trip. Any receipts for purchases that might be tax deductible should go in your tax file for the month. Is there any sensitive information on this receipt? Shredding and recycling all receipts that contain your name, partial credit card number, and signature are smart moves to prevent identity theft.

Though some of your lists may look like junk, but before you go throwing them away only to make a new list later, try this. Gather all the shopping lists, reminders (think: sticky notes), and reminders on chalkboards or wipe off boards from around the house. Make two lists: one master to-do list for the week and one shopping list to go with it. Schedule in any errands and shopping you’re prepared to handle on your personal agenda. Delegate any that you don’t have time for to other members of the household, and duly note this on the household calendar.

Purchase a bright red folder for your current bills and put that folder in the area where you do your weekly accounting. Once bills are paid, you need only keep them until the payment shows up on the next one — unless you’re claiming a partial tax deduction for it. In that case, the bill should be filed with the rest of your monthly tax data for the period it covered. Don’t keep your bills indefinitely; you only need to keep financial records for seven years.

Now is the time you get to sit back, prop your feet up, and enjoy any cards, letters, and fan mail you’ve received from people or organizations that know you personally. You may appreciate a postcard or note so much that you really want to keep it for a while — and that’s fine as long as (you guessed it…) you already have a specific space in mind for it. By now you’ve probably cleared off a bulletin board or shelf where you can display a very special greeting card.

See how organized you are already?! If you thought that was easy enough, subscribe to homemakerhero.com so that you don’t miss the “get organized” launch this March! See you there!

Guest post by Courtney Seaman of homemakerhero.com. In preparation for your spring cleaning, she will be doing a “get organized” series at her site.

Photos & Products: Crate and Barrel