Years ago ~ well 1997 to be exact ~ I clipped a little article out of the newspaper. It was full of good ideas for de-cluttering your house in the new year. Today I dug it out for a little inspiration and had to laugh at the date of the article. I guess January 11th is the official date that I am bitten by the de-cluttering bug.
I like what Alexandra Stoddard has to say about putting your home on a diet after the excesses of the holiday season. Once the hustle & bustle is over, the decorations are put away and the spring season hasn't yet arrived, why not take some time to get the home front in order.
Here are a few suggestions from the article that I found useful:
- Gather all those bulging shopping bags, stuffed magazine racks and overflowing drawers in the center of each room. Clear all surfaces. Sort. Then scrub dusty baseboards and webby corners of the room before you put anything back.
- Throw out 3 stained or cracked coffee mugs.
- Go ahead and use all the boxes of gift soaps stashed in drawers and closets. Even the ones that say the Ritz.
- Give all the houseplants a critical look.
- Recycle, give away or otherwise discard periodicals choking magazine baskets and racks.
- Remove stuff from living room tabletops. Rearrange it, limiting tablescapes to three items.
So, this is what I have been doing today and will continue when time allows. Maybe my house will be a lot lighter when spring rolls around.
As for my diet, as I go along I am purging the cupboards of unhealthy snacks and making a concentrated effort to stick to my new eating plan. With a little luck my house won't be the only thing that is lighter around here ;-)
Hi Kim,
ReplyDeleteI am much better and in a cleaning frenzy as well. The house already seems lighter. lol
I didn't make it to MI this winter. The sidebar pics are a few years ago. I was just trying to post some winter scenes. Here in SC we don't have many of those. The header pic was a couple of yrs. ago and the snow only lasted a day.
We have been so below the norm in temps. lately. I'm ready to get out of Dodge. lol
Take care and Happy New year.
In 1997 how did you get a Detroit News! I was born and raised and in the Detroit area...so that caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteIt feels so good to clean and de-clutter this time of year. I like that article. I'm trying to do the same.
ReplyDeleteHave great fun with it! I love Flylady's 27-fling where one takes a garbage bag and just starts counting and tossing until 27 things are out. I always toss a cracked mug immediately and did have to toss one today. I was going to save it for planting something cute and just decided that it wasn't worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteThat all sounds like a great idea. I think I'm up for that as well.
ReplyDeleteKim,you always look fit and trim to me. I am guilty of hanging on to stuff for some reason. And by the time I think I'll use it,something better comes along and I pitch it wondering why I kept it so long. I cleaned my attic before Christmas and got rid of a lot of stuff. I do like cleaning up when the Christmas stuff goes to storage. Great time for dusting and oiling wood. Then I usually get in the mood to buy some new furniture!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
This is one of my favorite things to do. I love to organize and put everything in order and try to get rid of things I don't use. I am constantly rearranging stuff! lol Sometimes I think I spend TOO much time doing this but it seems to put my world in order and makes me feel good! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteI should be up for that as well...the new eating plan, that is! One of these days I will mean business...too late for January 11th!
ReplyDeleteCleaning and de-cluttering sounds like a good plan as well...maybe next week.
Can you tell I'm a procrastinator?
I am right there with you doing the same thing. Let's keep at it. We will feel so much better come spring and our houses are de-cluttered. Then we can enjoy being outside. Love & blessings from NC!
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteThank you for you sweet comments when you stopped to vist my blog. It is a shame to put your snowpeople away! They make me smile, as I am a snow people lover too. Mine are still out. Since Florida was "Frigid" all this year, so far, I have not put anything away yet! It is just my hubby and myself and it was perfect for out very unusual weather. Guess it is going back to normal on the weekend, so I will put things away. Please come back and visit again soon. Love friends dropping in.
Have a beautiful day.
Lynn
Kim,
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention, Alexandra Stoddard is one of my favorite writers. I have all by 3 or 4 of her books.
Also forgot to tell you that I love NC. Have visited often in past years.
Lynn
I am in a constant state of trying to declutter. I get a drawer done and the next month, it is bulging again. I would really, really like to get everything in spic-n-span shape, tip top order before the summer. Always on a mission! Thanks for your visit to my side of the world and have a great day! Blessings, Tammy
ReplyDeleteGood morning Kim,
ReplyDeleteI love the little kitchen on your header, brings back memories of my little metal playhouse with the little furniture ....
I love to declutter; it's such a good feeling afterwards. Wish it would stay clutter free though.....
Working on decluttering me is a harder chore..... I wish I didn't love eating so much.
Hugs,
Dolores
As I walked into my computer room today, I walked past my dining room table and thought to myself, "that today I must put everything away that has been placed there since Christmas." You and Alexander Stoddard have truly been an inspiration to me right now. Thank you so much! A lighter home and a lighter me = a happier me. Once again you have a beautiful way to stating some important facts. Always thrilled to see a new post from you, especially on a subject that is near and dear to me.
ReplyDeleteReading articles printed a few years ago is always fascinating. Years may go by, but the hints remain.
ReplyDeleteDe-cluttering comes with the cold temps that we are having. I should be doing more of that!
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Good luck on you new year project..both parts!
ReplyDeleteIt feels good to do some "Winter De-cluttering"....great post. It has got me motivated!
ReplyDeleteStay Cozy, Carrie
Hi, Kim ...
ReplyDeleteThose were some great "decluttering" suggestions. For some reason, I always get in my decluttering mode in January, too. My next two projects are the attic and our master closet.
Good luck with your diet and cleaning. It sounds like you are off to a great start.
P.S. ... I love your header and blog and blog design. I've added you to my favorites list, and will be back to visit again soon.
ReplyDeleteI've been de-cluttering too, Kim, in fact, quite a bit. It feels good.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
Hugs,
Donna
Good luck Kim! I think I could go on a diet and I'm trying to de-clutter my home so I guess my house is on a diet too!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Kim, as I am in the process of trying to put my home back in order. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSue
It is a wonderful feeling to do this isnt it?? I clean out the cabinets and drawers and pantry twoce a year and always in January too! Love the clean start to the new year!
ReplyDeleteI am so enjoying your blog!
Love,
Sue