Another 100 Items

I wish I had a picture of the huge bag of stuff that is in the trunk of my car!    I have cleaned my closet (twice), I am almost done cleaning my office and I haven't even started my garage!  I am still giving items away or pitching them.

And it feels good.... purge purge purge.

Somehow when you are in a time of emotional chaos, cleaning makes you feel a little bit more in control.

In the bag:
old knives
blank journals I never used (x2)
an old dvd player
a too small yoga top
a too big shirt with the tags still on
a back up battery pack that may or may not work
10 pairs of pants that don't fit any more
a huge bag of old papers
outdated candle holders
too big sweaters
shoes
more frames
and so much more!


And tons more.

It never ceases to amaze me just exactly how fast crap accumulates.  In my case I think a huge part of the problem is that my house (being that it was built in 1942) has a pathetic amount of storage.  The closets (all three of them) are very tiny, barely accessible and not designed for the modern girl's shoe collection.  Or her really big shopping habit!

So as I have been cleaning I have been adding storage.  Hello Ikea!  Lots of book cases and some drawers and it has been fantastic!

I'll be back soon and this time with pictures!  I wish I had thought to take a before picture of my office....  but I didn't so I will take an after!

Rachel

Ack! What Happened?

Ok, I have been a very errant blogger! I got busy! crazy busy! So I owe 63 items to this list!

Yikes I really did get off track!  I've actually been more focused on losing other things.

Luckily, I've been keeping a bucket full of things to give away I just need to get pictures taken and get them posted!

Stay tuned, it's coming!

Rachel

Items 74-78: Junk Mail Junk Mail Junk Mail

This is going to be a picture deprived post - but I really wanted to catch up! next week is going to be super busy and I will be out of town for a bit but then the week after is spring break and I anticipate MAJOR spring cleaning! My garage is going to SPARKLE!  And I plan to purge like a champion.  There's a lot going on in my life right now - lots of changes, lots of challenges.  I guess this is what happens in life, right? Wouldn't want to get bored!

So today, I'm getting rid of old magazines (piles of them!), random knick knacks and trash that has just been lying about my house.  It is amazing just how much space these little pieces of paper take up! I've put a trash can by my front door to get rid of all of the junk mail and flyers I get and I empty that thing twice a week if not more.  I really wish there was a way to make it stop!!!!

At least I can get rid of them from my house...

Good riddance junk mail- you have taken up too much of my life already!

Rachel xoxo

Items 65-73: Spring Cleaning!

Clear the clutter! Man how many times have I heard that from my yoga teacher?  It's amazing how much clutter we have - physically, emotionally and spiritually.  It just accumulates.  This weekend I started working on cleaning out my office.  It sort of became the repository for all of the crap I cleaned out of my living room and it's been bugging me for weeks.  There's nothing like a good break up to make you want to clean! My house is almost spotless.  The windows are clean (inside and out!), things are alphabetized and colorized and  sorted.  And the crap keeps getting pitched.  It's liberating.   It helps you deal with emotions.  It just soothes the soul.  And the end product? A pretty house. A pretty organized house.  Next up, I'm going to start painting things.  Break-ups suck.  Got anything you want me to paint?

So the collection of stuff below is random.  Makeup brushes (who knew I had so many!), books (ok, we all knew I had too many), wallets, plates, pillow cases.  I actually really like the pillow cases! However, I have NO desire to sit around ironing the first one until it looks like the second one.  Someone might do it.  Actually, on second thought, I might actually cover some of the cushions I have and finally bring them to school for my students to use.  

Saying goodbye to stuff has become a very liberating process.  It's getting harder to find things.  But I'm committed to seeing this project through.

Sigh. That's a first.

Rachel

Items 64 and 65: Various Crap

This doesn't even merit a post.  It's crap. It's been hanging out in my house for too long. Hasta luego crap!

Rachel xoxo

Item 63: More Old Makeup Brushes

I don't really need to say much about these - the bristles are falling out.  They were sitting in a box in my attic for a reason - they suck.

Sayonara, crappy brushes!

Items 57-62: Attic Treasures Continued

I worry that I am going to run out of stuff to get rid of. Ha! I have plenty to get rid of and I haven't even begun to tackle my office yet!  I have stuff - lots of it.  Some of it I have noooooooooooooooooooo idea why I have kept it for so long.  My living room redo has really encouraged me to keep moving in the minimalist direction (not that my wall of books is minimalist in any way - but it certainly is an improvement on my old chaotic living room!).  I still have a lot of stuff to say goodbye to.  Sigh. It's never easy - especially when you have a sentimental streak a mile wide.  

Usually an episode of Hoarders helps me get rid of stuff.  An hour of watching those people try to navigate through their rat feces infested houses and I'm ready to purge like there is no tomorrow!  I have always had too much stuff.  It seems to go hand in hand with so many other areas in my life.  Why? I don't know.

It's time to let it go.

I'm done having my past dictate my future.

So welcome March - and goodbye crap! xoxo Rachel