I was down there twice to clean up the past few days. Even managed to entice Paul down to work on the utility room with me. We hauled out a garbage bag of stuff and I'm listing more stuff on-line to give away. It feels nice to be getting rid of things we no longer want or need! It would be nice to make money off it, but that is unrealistic in our locale. Garage sales here are the pits and selling on-line is worse.







As you can see, this is actually a pretty empty cold room. I have plenty of space for expansion. I will be looking at filling those empty shelves when I come back from vacation...though I hear there are some good sales on right now...

I have seriously got to get into the cold room and de-clutter it! I need to make room for my canning...and move some stuff around to different parts of the house! I notice Paul brought one roll of toilet paper to the upstairs bathroom, rather than bringing the entire bag to stash under the sink. Not sure what's going on there. But will bring up the bag myself tonight.

Here's my before pictures....

I thought I'd give you a peek inside to see what it's currently like. I have a lot of work to do. You can see fabric on the cutting table, sewing desk and ironing board. I'm sorting through all that.

Door and bookcase on the north wall...
Bookcase and fabric storage bins..
Bins, cutting table, sewing desk under window on the east wall...wonderful for morning sewing!


Magnetic whiteboard and bulletin board by sewing desk...


Sewing unit first part... My Daddy and Hubby made this...


Sewing unit second part...


My computer corner, sans computer...you can see the edge of my design wall...


Mirror...gotta do something about the dolphin switchplate Meaghan made. This used to be her bedroom.


Sewing area...
Under cutting table...
Leg extension on cutting table...Paul nailed thin plywood to the bottom of the leg.  Then nailed the thin plywood to a block of 4x4 he cut from some we had laying around.

Today I decided I would catch up on some of Beth Dargis' de-clutter challenges off her De-clutter Calendar found at My Simpler Life.  I have been real lax this summer.  So I had all the challenges for July, August and September to work on.  In one hour I achieved amazing results!  Paul was in the yard working and I just flew through this puppy of a house tossing and rearranging things!  My list of things accomplished?

• De-cluttered around the microwave.
• Threw out old coupons, organized the new in a coupon holder I inherited from Mom, and tossed the coupon holder in my purse...so it was with me when I needed it.
• I cleaned off all the kitchen counters, including the phone center, where I went through my "in" basket.
• I had Paul clean the top of the fridge, which I can neither see nor reach!
• Went through the medicine cabinet and tossed old meds.  Moved medicine that was in the kitchen to the bathroom.  I'm generally amazed at what's in my medicine cabinet.  We have lots of stuff for sure.  No one here wears eye makeup, so I'm not sure why we have the eye makeup remover?
• While in the bathroom I cleaned  the toilet, under the sink, and the sink surround.
• I organized the clothes in the closet by colour.
• Ended up getting sidetracked by clothes.  Went through two dresser drawers and de-cluttered a bunch of clothes.  Checked my winter clothes and made a mental note to pick some more up come October/November.
• Cleaned off the living room coffee table.
• Cleaned off and rearranged the mantel in the living room.
• Rather than work in a kid's bedroom, because we have no more kids at home, I chose to work on our room.  I cleaned up the mess in the closet from when it was leaking in there.  We had towels and buckets placed strategically to catch water.  I cleaned them out of there today.  A new roof means no more leaking.
• I also cleaned the top of our dresser.
• I de-cluttered the laundry area.
• I had Paul run a scan on my computer.
• I emailed a lady in an organization I'm involved with and requested an email copy of the newsletter, instead of paper.

A lot of things we already do as a matter of course, or did not need doing.

• We went through sports equipment last winter.  No changes there.
• I keep all my cleaning gear in a plastic basin under the sink.  No clean up needed there.
• We always store our suitcases inside each other.
• I try to limit errands to one day a week.  If not that, then I bunch them around appointments in that area of town.
• I take more than 20 minutes for myself a day.  I enjoy my time alone.
• Paul and I did a major deep clean of the fridge last weekend.  We try to do this once a week, but lately it's been once a month!
• When we switched freezers in August I tossed any bad food.
• We don't own pets, so have no de-clutter chores related to them.
• Our first aid kits are updated on a regular basis.  I can't remember the last time we had to use a first aid kit!  I just did the one in the car earlier this month...when we de-cluttered the camping supplies.
• We don't need any more towel holders in the bathrooms.
• Paul and I've been going out for tea and dessert once a week.  We prefer it to going out to dinner.  I find I can't eat a lot of what is served in restaurants.  I can't really eat the desserts either.  But I will do it once a week to have a nice time with Paul.
• I have more than enough organizers in my closet.
• No hair styling tools to de-clutter.  I'm a wash and wear baby.
• I de-cluttered Meghan's bedroom after she left...and thoroughly cleaned it.
• We have drawer organizers in the kitchen.
• I've been on a mission to toss things with missing pieces for some time
• I already have pull out shelves in my kitchen.
• We already have a place for plastic bags.
• We already have a family grocery list by the phone in the daytimer.
• We already hang our mops and brooms.
• I de-cluttered a couple bookshelves a few weeks ago and got rid of the books.
• Paul and I put tax files together this summer.
• I am wanting to fill my schedule, not cross things off it.  With the girls gone, I want to be sure I have enough to do that I don't get Empty Nest Syndrome.
• I have no rolling carts to de-clutter.
• Paul and I went to a movie last weekend.  We actually watch a DVD or video every night before bed.  It's our unwind time.
• I spent time helping Paul in the yard for our family cleaning session.
• Beth suggested taking a bath one Sunday.  I don't take baths...don't like them.
• No family room to clear off the furniture in!
• I try to put my laundry away within 24 hours of washing it.
• No drawers near my TV to de-clutter while watching TV!  However, I just decided to de-clutter the bathroom vanity drawers for this one.
• Call a friend.  I do that all the time.  One reason I'm behind on Beth's list of challenges!
• We de-clutter our holiday storage area after Christmas every year.
• De-clutter stuff on walls...well, we like what we have, so it will stay.
• Go through inherited stuff.  Well that will be a lifetime occupation!  But I did ask about safety deposit boxes at the bank today for some of the jewelry I've inherited.
• I don't keep many souvenirs, but it occurred to me I have a lot of memorabilia I'm keeping to scrapbook.  I think I'll have to go through that material and organize it one day soon.
• We always clean up the car when we leave it for the day.
• We generally don't have junk food in the house...unless one of the girls is home.
• Our kitchen flows just fine.
• I spent last week de-cluttering kitchen drawers and cabinets.  Things are looking a little sparse.  Even Paul has noticed the extra space.
• Refraining from complaining will be a constant battle I'm afraid!

Things left to do this month...

• De-clutter purse
• De-clutter garage with Paul
• De-clutter drawers
• Go through a pile of paper
• Go through five files
• De-clutter worst room
• Label all containers in the basement
• De-clutter one dining room storage area.
• Label Christmas boxes/containers
• De-clutter around front door
• Organize scrapbooking material
• De-clutter TV table
• Deep clean bedroom

Shouldn't take me long.  I just have to get around to doing them!!! LOL

I've been using Beth Dargis' "De-clutter Calendar" over at "My Simpler Life"as my de-cluttering guide this year.  Here is how I did on my April challenges...

• I de-cluttered the counter by the phone, our "family launch pad" as Beth calls it.
• I go through old cards and notes periodically and cut them down.  This was already done.
• Most of our photos are on the digital camera now, so we just get rid of the ones we don't want anymore.  As for hard copies...well...I have a box full of things to scrapbook yet, and I don't how many photos are in that!  Plus there's Mom's 22 photo albums, which just overwhelm me.  I'll have to go through them soon though.  I'd like to send one sister all the photos of her family.  She's asked for them.
• No problem simplifying cleaners here.  If it doesn't fit under the kitchen sink, it's gone.  I do have some I inherited from Mom, but I consider them part of my stockpile.
• We worked on de-cluttering more of the utility room in the basement.  Found out today the church is not having a rummage sale this year.  Sounds good to me.  I am not sure I appreciate sales in churches.  It just somehow strikes me as irreverent.  God is just so beyond all that.  So it looks like we'll be planning a garage sale soon...I'll have to talk to Paul about that.
• One in, one out rule.  Hmmm...this has been a struggle.  Mostly it's been a book in, a book out.  I've been strict about making sure things I take in for free get re-gifted right away to a home where someone can use them.
• Sorted the junk drawer and organized it.  Actually, it was already organized, thanks to Laura over at "I'm An Organizing Junkie".
• Cleaned out the telephone center...it's the same as our "family launch pad".
• Beth asked us to throw out recipes we won't use.  Well, I reorganized my recipe binders last fall and simply tossed tons of stuff.  So I consider that chore done for awhile.  I'm not collecting anymore magazine recipes.  My real bugbear now is to watch out for the Internet recipes I collect!
• I went through the plastics drawer/cupboard in the kitchen.
• I de-cluttered the kitchen towels and oven mitts.  Paul was glad about that.  Apparently he had issues with some of that stuff.   Who'd a thought?!
• I am trying to make some time each week for myself, just to relax and be by myself.
• Our bill system is working now.  Paul and I store the bills in the right spot and pay them together.
• We went through the house, found all the pens, and went through them...I hope.
• I don't own perfume, so it was easy to de-clutter it! LOL
• I clear off the bathroom counter every morning.  It's a habit.
• I don't use skin care products, so it was easy to de-clutter those too! LOL
• Go through hair dodads?  I don't have any.  The advantages of short hair.
• Fly a kite???  We don't own one.
• Clear off bed.  We do this every morning and it stays that way all day, unless I do laundry.
  
• De-clutter a bedroom closet shelf.  Well, still waiting on Paul to help with this.  He's stacked some interesting boxes of magazines, etc. on the top shelf.  I also see a mess of his sweaters in a heap up there.  I wonder what he still wears?  This has the makings of a one hour job at least.
• No toys left in our home to de-clutter.
• No one doing homework, so no homework area, or need to de-clutter that area either.
• I am not giving away anymore books from my bedroom Beth!  If I do, I won't have any there, and I like my psychology collection right where it is!
• Top of dresser is cleared off on a regular basis too.  As is the vanity.  I just can't stand to have it cluttered.
• Play a game...ah...no...we didn't do that.
• The living room does not have a table to clear off, so that was easy to do too!
• We don't have a family room, so no corner to clean out there.  Worked more on the dining room.
  
• We don't have an entertainment center to clean off either.  I did pick up the DVDs on the floor in front of the TV stand, and was rewarded with someone complaining I'd 'wrecked' things.  Sigh...

So that's my de-cluttering update for April!  Thanks for the challenges Beth!

Beth Dargis over at My Simpler Life is probably wondering what happened to all my de-cluttering posts.  I'm still working on it Beth!  But after that one day challenge to go through my jewelry lasted two months, I've slowed down a bit.  At least I know where I'm heading with it.  To a major centre with appraisers who know what they're doing.

I managed the March de-clutter goals:

1. De-clutter paint cans older than a year - Paul and I got down in the utility room one day and checked them all to see what was good and what wasn't, what we'd use and what we wouldn't.  He took some to be recycled at the local recycling depot.  We labeled the rest as to what room/project they were for and put them away.
2. Go through mail daily - we always do this.
3. De-clutter kitchen gadgets and appliances - DONE!
4. Put seasonal kitchen gadgets in storage - we don't have any of those.
5. Throw out old and duplicate spices - DONE!  I actually went through that entire cupboard of baking supplies and got rid of a lot of stuff.
6. Divide your kitchen into work zones - That was actually already done from a previous organization challenge...I believe a Flylady one.
7. Throw out expired food in the pantry - I have a system of dating all canned goods that come in, so I know by looking at the date if I've had it over a year, in which case, out it goes.
8. Discard freezer burned food - Well I didn't think I had any in there!  But then I found that stew beef that was on the edge.  We made stew and used it up.
9. Appreciate someone - That would be my Paul!  But, truth be told, this month I've really been appreciating my friends.  They come from all walks of life and bring a diversity to my life that I really enjoy.
10. Clean out your email box - Well I managed to clean out my inbox.  What a mess!  As for the rest of the mail program...that's another matter!
11. Continue on your email box - Yep...it took two days to sort through the inbox.  I did start on some other files, but I didn't get far.
12. Get to the bottom of your mail pile - We have 'his' and 'hers' baskets by the phone where things land...mail or papers we have to deal with.  I chose to go through my 'in' basket and clean it out.
13. Answer unanswered letters - Didn't have any, but this did bring up the thought I hadn't talked to my family in a long time.  So I made a decision to phone everyone in the family (brothers, sisters and dad) once this month.
14. Return all phone calls - I do this anyway. 
    
15. Go through five file folders - DONE!  Mostly sorting files in my away room related to life goals, etc.
16. Take a nature walk - I decided to make it a daily habit to walk for 30 minutes in a nearby nature area.
17. De-clutter odd socks - DONE!
18. Clean off one bedroom shelf - Ended up picking up the entire room and dusting. 
    
19. De-clutter kid's books - I went through the bathroom bookcase and took out kid's books for the church library.
20. Update kids' bulletin boards - Ah...my 'kid' is 21 and keeps her own bulletin board... I took this as a free day.
21. Pass on outgrown kids' toys - This was done years ago.
22. Get rid of outgrow kids' clothes - Well Meghan went through her closet and I have more clothes for goodwill now.
23. Turn the computer off for the day - Arggggh!  She's got to be kidding!  Almost though...
24. De-clutter a pile in the family room - We don't have a family room, so I took that to mean the living room.  I had a stack of magazines etc. on the floor beside a chair in there.  I picked them up and sent them back to where they belong.
25. Have everyone put their stuff away - The only way to do that here is to invite company over...which I did.  So the place actually got cleaned.
26. Clear away a pile on the dining room floor - Oh no!  Beth is onto me!  Sigh...  There was a pile on the floor and two piles on chairs.  I decided to create a reading nook in the dining room, complete with orange crate bookcase.  It's worked.
27. De-clutter one drawer in the living room - We don't have any drawers in the living room.
28. Clear the top of the china cabinet - we have a very small buffet.  I cleaned off the top, dusted and wiped it.  Then put the silverware chest and tea set back on top.
29. Vacuum the couch - Paul did admirably at vacuuming all the furniture in the living room, sunroom and dining room.
30. Slow down - Yep, did that too.  Spent the day with Paul just enjoying being together.
31. De-clutter messiest room for 5 minutes - That would be the utility room and studio, both of which were worked on extensively this month - though you wouldn't know it.  Well, maybe the utility room. 
    

Thanks, Beth, for keeping me on track!

Those of you who suffered through my fall de-cluttering spree know I worked quite hard on my dining room. The only thing that bugged me was the one wall looked very bare, even with the china cabinet against it. Plus, while sitting eating breakfast off my china one day (lol), I noticed what nice light comes in there in the morning. I thought "wouldn't be nice to have a little reading nook in here!"

So I set about making myself a little nook. The living room, you all recall, was too crowded with chairs. So I took the heavy wood one out and moved it to the corner of the dining room.

But I'm finding I actually like to use that chair to read in after supper as well. However, the light is not good enough for reading at night. So I needed a lamp...and books were piling up beside the chair, so I needed a bookcase...or so I thought.

Well I posted over on Frugal Village for ideas on a cheap/free end table and someone suggested a crate. The lights went on and bells and whistles went off! I was racing upstairs to see what Paul had done with the old wooden orange crates I gave to him while cleaning out my studio. I found one acting as an extension to his bookshelf. But it wasn't necessary. So I grabbed it real quick, neatly rearranged his books, and brought it downstairs to set on end beside the chair.

Then I grabbed the embroidered tablecloth I picked up for free from the Stitchery Guild meeting the other night. Topped with a lamp we acquired for free when we bought the living room hide-a-bed and chair, it looks downright as if it belongs there! The books are tucked neatly in behind the tablecloth.

What do you think?