Throw Out 50 Things - The Kitchen

I tackled the kitchen today as part of the Throw Out 50 Things Challenge. I have to admit that I cut a few corners in going through the kitchen. I didn't exactly sort through each drawer and cupboard, but rather took a cursory look and pulled out a few things. On the plus side, I did manage to gather up a few things to throw out that have remained in the keep pile through a few clearings done prior to my garage sales.

So, my list of 50 things continues:

20. Two serving dishes
21. Five miscellaneous plastic ware items
22. Two can coolers
23. Six assorted cups, glasses, and water bottles
24. One candy mold
25. Five expired bottles of vitamins and over-the-counter medications
26. Four cookbooks
27. One food scale

Well, I'm half way to my goal with only three rooms down. I haven't even gotten to the storage room or garage yet where there's likely to be many more items to throw out. Next, I'll be moving on to the dining room. It's a pretty basic room with only a hutch for storage so it's not likely to add a number of items to the throw out pile, but I'm sure I'll find a couple things we no longer need.

Check back with me in a few days and in the meantime, let me know how your progress is going.

Throw Out 50 Things - The Bathroom

Perhaps this was divine intervention as it made the process easier to decide what to throw out. So with that drawer and the rest of the bathroom, here's my progress toward throwing out 50 things.

It's a good thing it was the week to clear out the bathroom of unnecessary items for the Throw Out 50 Things Challenge. As I opened one of the drawers a few nights ago, I found that most of the contents in the drawer where covered in a blue foam.

So began the process of emptying the drawer and finding the culprit.Thankfully, my husband helped out to make it go quicker. We found his can of shaving cream had blown its top and shaving cream had oozed from the can. As the foam expanded, it worked its way across most of the drawer and everything in it.


9.   Two pair of glasses and 2 extra glass cases that will be donated to our local Lion's Club
10. Six hair accessories
11. Three bottles of nail polish and a nail dryer I didn't even know I had
12. A hair dryer that only blows cool air
13. Two makeup brush sets
14. Six makeup products that haven't been used in years and six product samples way past their expiration
15. Four half full bottles of body lotion
16. A perfume mister
17. Two bulb syringes from when the boys were babies
18. Ten bottles of expired medication - over the counter and prescription
19. Two electric razors

Our box headed for Goodwill is beginning to fill up as is our garbage can.

Next, I tackle the kitchen. This is an area that needs me to be ruthless since I'm running out of cupboard space. I'll see how many items I can pull from this area - my goal is to add another 7 items to my list. Check back with me in a few days to see how I do.

In the Name of Youth and Beauty

As part of the Throw Out 50 Things Challenge, I'm making my way through the bathroom this week. I only had a few minutes between other tasks and appointments yesterday, but this photo shows what I came up with after only going through three drawers.

The health and beauty industry is one of the largest in our country...and most of it is due to our never-ending search for youth and beauty. If any place in our life is susceptible to fads, it's down the beauty aisle. All those little bottles of cream and color give us hope that we can erase the tired, stressed, and hopeless parts of our lives.

Now, don't get me wrong...it will still be a long time before I'm seen out in public without a bit of makeup. But, I'm giving serious attention to the cause of some of the issues I'm trying to cover up with all these potions and tools. If I look tired in the morning, it's a reminder that I need to not stay up late working on the computer. If I looked stressed, I'm reminded I should go for a walk. And if it's a day when things are looking a bit hopeless, I know to pick up the phone to talk to a friend or even better, pick up the bible and see what it has to tell me.

I'm still a work in progress and am thankful everyday that my family and friends accept me that way. I know God won't be noticing if my lipstick isn't the right shade when we meet. So I'll work through the rest of the bathroom drawers to see what's ready to be thrown out and will report back on the progress on Monday.

How are you doing on your Throw Out 50 Things Challenge?

Throw Out 50 Things - The Bedroom

We're off to a great start in our Throw Out 50 Things Challenge. This past week, I tackled the master bedroom. This area tends to be a catch-all for things in transition - extra blankets, pictures that need to be hung, gifts that need to be wrapped. So after moving items to there proper space, I still found a number of items to throw out.

So my list of 50 things begins:
1. 5 pairs of socks
2. Cat scratching post
3. 5 books
4. Tote bag received at a trade show
5. 5 shirts
6. a pair of sweatpants
7. Jewelry - watch, necklace, 4 pair of earrings, 6 pins
8. Rose figurine

Even though I go through our house at least once a year to find items to get rid of, it still amazes me at what I continue to find. For me, the clothes were easier to get rid of this time since I hadn't worn them since my last round of decluttering. And the figurine, even though it was given to me by my husband during our courtship, I have another figurine given he gave to me on our first anniversary that means more...and I like better.

To add even more satisfaction to this decluttering, we're already dropped off the items for donation at Goodwill so they are completely gone. I'm sure we'll be making another trip there in the next couple weeks...I've already got my box ready to fill up.

Can't wait to tackle the bathroom this week. Let me know how your progress is going. I'm cheering you on...

Throw Out 50 Things Challenge: Rules of Disengagement

We're starting this week with our challenge to Throw Out 50 Things.

As Gail Blanke states in her book and the accompanying workbook, to be successful in this process you need to learn the Rules of Disengagement:

1. If it weighs you down or makes you feel bad about yourself, throw it out and move on.

2. If it just sits there and doesn't contribute to anything positive in your life, throw it out and move on.

3. Don't make the decision to toss or keep it a hard one. If you are taking too long to make a decision, throw it out and move on.

4. Don't be afraid. You don'e have the time, energy or room for physical or psychic waste.

So, with your garbage bags, sticky-notes, marker, and the Rules of Disengagement, you are ready to begin.

I'm tackling the bedroom first and will report on the results on Monday. I encourage you to do the same and I look forward to hearing from you along the journey.

Throw Out Fifty Things

When I first read Gail Blanke's book, Throw Out Fifty Things, I knew I had to go through the process. The idea of removing clutter, both physical and mental, was enticing. However, life got busy...as it usually does...and I read through the book without implementing any of the steps.

Well, now's the time! I'm going to do it! I'm going to throw out 50 (or more) things. I'm going to clear my home, office, and mind so that I can focus on what truly matters in my life now.

I invite you to follow along with me on this journey. Pick up a copy of Gail's book at your local library or on Amazon. Then, download a copy of the corresponding workbook here. I'll be moving through each chapter of the book and posting my results here.

Watch this message from Gail to get started on your journey. Chapter 1 awaits...in the Bedroom. How many things can you throw out in there? I'll post my results next Monday. Can't wait to hear your results.
 
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