Busy, Busy, Busy

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Tomorrow if the big day of drop off at the church consignment sale (my second one this year). I'm very hopeful that I will do okay since I get 90% of the profit (yeah!!!) and I have found more things to take with me as well.

You would think after years of these sales that I wouldn't have much to take, but with all the clothes that my mother sends the kids (she has a major shopping obsession) and other things that she gets at yard sales we seem to never lack enough items to sell at numerous sales. It never fails, the car is usually filled to capacity which I suppose is a good thing, but frustrating as well as I try not to overbuy because I hate extra clutter.

I've been trying to eat out of our pantry and freezer lately although there are always things we run out of that I have to buy at the store each week (milk, bread, etc.) so have been trying save money that way.

Lots of bills have come due this month, more so than most months. To add to that, we're trying to increase the number of people in our home school group so I've been busy trying to schedule more events as well as find out ways to advertise the group.

I think I need a vacation soon. :-)

  

Decluttering Continues - An Ongoing Job

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

I got a lot done yesterday since we didn't have school planned with it being Labor Day. I got the furniture in my bedroom dusted, got rid of bags of trash (had lots of paper clutter that I finally got a chance to go through), got some toys bagged and labeled for the church consignment sale, vacuumed, cooked, cleaned, and got together stuff for Good Will that I can't sell at church consignment sales but are still usable for others.

I don't think I will ever get my home to the point where I am happy about the organization, but at least I'm working on it over time and it's better than where it was a day ago. If I could convince my daughter to get rid of more things that she never uses or plays with, then I'd be estatic, but she did suprise me at getting rid of more this time around than she ever has.

I want to get one of those plastic organizers with drawers to put our office supplies in (lots of different paper items such as printer address label sheets, copier paper, etc.) to make it easy to find everything and to also protect those items from dust.

I am excited because I got accepted to a third church consignment sale that is 2 weeks after the one I'm going to this week and hopefully a fourth will pan out as well. I am so determined to get rid of these items and of course any extra money is well worth the work I put into it.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MRE1956 9/7/2010 9:51AM

I'm also going through some decluttering - in fact, the process actually involves *TWO* houses.....so I certainly hear ya there..... Best wishes to you! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEEPGREENBEAN 9/7/2010 8:53AM

Good Job! Hope I can catch your spirit. Report Inappropriate Comment

60SIXTY 9/7/2010 8:33AM

Sounds like you might need this to get to that sale. I have never been to a church consignment sale. Sounds interesting. Report Inappropriate Comment

THEHOOSIERMAMA 9/7/2010 8:04AM

I feel your pain!! I am going through my house one room at a time and giving it a complete and thorough cleaning in preparation for winter and also removing clutter and garbage. For the longest time I was happy with how things were in my home, but every since I got back from Iraq I found that I am constantly discontent with the amount of stuff we have accumulated. I am out to truly simplify my life!! Good luck with your de-cluttering!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Still Decluttering & Getting Ready for the Next Sale

Monday, September 06, 2010

Well I know why I have been feeling so lethargic and grumpy lately so it's a relief that I know the reason and it's not because I'm turning into a crazed middle-aged woman, LOL. It was due any day so hopefully my family will be able to live with me after a few days!

I spent yesterday convincing my daughter that having probably around 50 Barbies (of various kinds) was probably not a good idea and we got them pared down from being in two containers to just one container. She got most of them from my mother, yard sales, me, etc. so they accumulated over the years. I've approached her so many times about them and offered to help her with the task but she wanted nothing to do with it.

She is not anything like me in that regard and likes to hold on to things unlike my son who has purged a lot of his items over the years. I plan to try to sell some other items they have outgrown as well in the near future such as a bike, electric scooter, etc.

Some of these items I will try to sell at the church consignment sale coming up this week and the others I will try to sell locally on a Yahoo group I'm on that lets you sell items for free.

Hopefully the bigger items will sell since Christmas is coming sooner than you think. It's always a challenge for us to figure out what to get the kids then, but as the years go by I'm trying more and more to focus on "memories" instead of material things. For instance, I think it would be more fun to have the entire family go on a zip line or white water rafting instead of buying some toy that will sit in their closet.

My home is very small and since we home school as well, it can easily look cluttered although if our home was larger you wouldn't notice that fact because I keep decluttering and getting rid of things throughout the years. It's a challenge to keep a smaller home not looking cluttered especially when you have to make sure you have all the materials you need to home school with and I love books so I tend to overbuy those, LOL.

I've been very good though and only buy necessities or things we REALLY love vs. something that is a great deal but probably won't be used.

My husband plans to take the kids to a local state park nearby and have them hike up the mountain. I know I NEED to go as well for the exercise, but will probably spend that time taking pictures of the bigger items I need to sell and labeling the things my daughter finally gave me to sell at the consignment sale with price tags. I'll also make sure I have something yummy cooked for the family when they get back from hiking, so a busy day for me.

Have a wonderful Labor Day everyone!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KISSFAN1 9/7/2010 8:02AM

Thanks everyone for the comments on my blog. I really am a spartan type of person by nature, but with home schooling and having kids, I have found that I've had to accept more "stuff" into my life than I really like. My friends laugh at me and say I have a never ending supply of things to sell and it's really not because I buy a lot of stuff, it's just that the kids are FINALLY letting me sell some things and also they grow out of clothes, shoes, books, etc. so that is part of the reason too. I evaluate every single thing before I buy it to make sure it is something I really want to add to the "clutter' even if it's free or cheap in price because clutter really bothers me and I don't like to have to search for things and not be able to find them. Report Inappropriate Comment

GAILRUU 9/6/2010 10:18AM

Good luck with your sale. I find clutter makes me anxious and anxiety makes me head for the refrigerator! You may find donating items and taking a tax write off might be a good way to get rid of things as well. My daughter looked on line to find the donated value of items and kept a list. It amounted to a very nice tax deduction. Report Inappropriate Comment

SARAHTAIT 9/6/2010 9:31AM

There is something wonderful about decluttering-plus having more room is always a great idea. You said your house is small so getting rid of stuff will be a great idea....having space is a great feeling!! Good for you!!! Hugs, Sarah Report Inappropriate Comment

KATIKID 9/6/2010 9:30AM

It seems that decluttering is an ongoing process for me too. When I was single and living in a tiny studio, decluttering was mandatory on a weekly basis. Then into a big house and suddenly too much space and I filled it ALL! When we moved to our current house (about 1/2 the size of the one we left), I left behind (read: sold off) about half of what I had, but it wasnt' enough. I'm still decluttering years later. How much stuff do we really NEED???? It's liberating to let it go. I feel your frustration. :) Best of luck to us both! Report Inappropriate Comment

HAVE-MERCY 9/6/2010 8:28AM

I feel so good after decluttering. I really like the idea of making memories instead of giving things as gifts! What a great lesson, and the memories will last forever! Thanks for the idea! Report Inappropriate Comment

Happy Labor Day Everyone

Sunday, September 05, 2010

I took the kids with me shopping yesterday so I didn't get to do as much as I wanted to get done, but got the essentials. We stopped by the farmer's market and got some tomatoes (my son is devouring them) and peppers, and some other stores to pick up groceries.

I'm a little grumpy and tired right now and I'm sure it is hormonal in nature. I hate when I'm like this because I don't even want to be around me, LOL.

We don't really have any plans for Labor Day so far other than I'm sure my husband wants to catch up on some sleep. We'll probably stay home to save some money since I want to splurge and give the kids an opportunity to do even more activities such as going to a Renaissance festival and county fair that is coming up next month as well as picking apples at a fabulous apple orchard in the North Carolina mountains.

I'd rather spend money doing those type of things instead of spending money on eating out, etc. I'll probably take the day off from schooling tomorrow to focus on cooking a big meal for the family (which I don't always have time for with our busy schedules). I also plan to do some more decluttering which seems to be something I don't have a lot of time doing, but with the church consignment sale coming up this week I am finding myself doing it while trying to find more items to purge.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day tomorrow!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KISSFAN1 9/6/2010 8:03AM

Thanks for the comments everyone. I love the fall so much and I'm so happy it's almost here. I have a lot to do but I can see where all the hard work is paying off because things are slowly getting to the point of being organized. Happy Labor Day! Report Inappropriate Comment

GRANDMAAMIE 9/5/2010 6:43PM

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND! Report Inappropriate Comment

NEXT30YEARS 9/5/2010 4:40PM

Yeah! Apple season is near. Enjoy! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHEWY3 9/5/2010 4:25PM

It sounds great. Making time and spending it with your family. We went to the Renaissance festival last fall and to the NC Mountains this year. We all had a wonderful time together in NC. Rest and enjoy yourself. Report Inappropriate Comment

Getting Close to the 130's again!

Saturday, September 04, 2010

My husband is on call this week so that means he can be called out any time of day/night. He just got called out so that means no yard sales or getting a lot of shopping errands run since the kids have to come with me and they HATE shopping unless of course it is for video games or something similar.

I do plan to take them to the next town's farmer's market to get some fresh produce and of course some other places that I have to go to. Luckily I went to some of the places I normally go on Saturday during the late week nights since I knew he would probably be called out to work this weekend.

It's a good thing I know because it means some extra money is coming in for bills. We're staying home of course this weekend since he has to work and that's saving money as well.

We have so many bills coming due this month including it being my son's 13th birthday so a lot of things yelling for money, LOL.

I'm very excited because I'm slowly getting near the 130's again which is a dream to me. It has been so many years since I have been near those numbers. I still want to kick myself for allowing 40 pounds to pack on to my body over the years after losing 60, but I can't change what I did and can only change what I'm doing now.

I do NOT want to go through all that again and this time around I will be watching my weight more closely and will continue to take care of myself while also taking care of others. That's one of the biggest lessons of this journey that I have discovered. I matter and so does my health. I want to be there for my children and because I had them in my 30's (unlike so many people I know who had their kids in their 20's and like my mother who had me at 16 and got married at 14, LOL) I won't be a super young mom when they get older and hopefully get married and have kids of their own.

I want to be there for my children and my potential grand children so being healthy and at a healthy weight is important to me.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KARRYB1 9/4/2010 11:29AM

Your not alone,I have lost 103 lbs. in the past and over the years put it all back on plus. I don't know how I let it happen but it did. This time I will keep myself on a tight leash and stay eating healthy. Congratulations on your great progress. Report Inappropriate Comment

IRISHGIRL74 9/4/2010 11:07AM

Keep up the positive attitude. You can do it. Report Inappropriate Comment

WOTABOUTTHIS 9/4/2010 9:38AM

I always feel such empathy for those who lose big, and then regain. It seems so unfair that it is sooo hard to lose, and sooo easy to regain. Congrats for finding a reason for doing it all over again. Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROL3SAN 9/4/2010 9:38AM

Just keep that positive attitude and you will be fine. Report Inappropriate Comment