Tag Archives: 100 things 100 days

Day 100: Clutter (Mostly) Conquered – A Messy Victory

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10,000 things gone! 

I did it! I crawled out from under the clutter.

I got rid of 100 things a day for 100 days or 10,000 things in six months. But however you look at the numbers, it all adds up to the same thing:

(image source)

Victory!

It’s a slightly messy, mostly disorganized, skin of my teeth triumph that’s still trailing loose ends, but it’s all mine.

Regardless of the items waiting for drop off at the thrift shop, the finishing touches I want to put on some of the rooms, and the bits and pieces of overlooked clutter, I have arrived. Here’s a snap of the last 100 things:

It is almost impossible to describe how my life has changed now that I’m untethered from the thousands of useless, unattractive items in my home. But, I love a challenge, and that’s the direction I’d like to take my blog in if you’d like to come along.

Did I mention that I’m indebted to all of you for finishing this project? Well, I am. So:

(image source)

What did I learn from my 100 things, 100 days project? That my success had absolutely nothing to do with the numbers. It came from finding a way to sustain my efforts over time. To that end, the best thing I ever did was take a picture of my clutter and share it. Remember this:

and this:

and this:

How could I not pull myself together when I was living like this, and you knew about it? Seeing my stuff through your eyes turned out to be the best source of motivation I could ask for.

In a month, I’m doing a house exchange with my oldest and uber stylish friend Patty. I’ll post my after photos as I’m fluffing things up for her arrival. And, of course, I’ll continue to track Squirrel’s movements as we adjust to a bowl free existence. Why do I feel like this is just the beginning?

Day 97: Decluttering – Would I Do It The Same Way Twice?

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Hang on, you’re thinking, didn’t she already do Day 97. Well, you’re right. I’m stuck on Day 97. I’ve had a sinus headache since Saturday that’s kept me from doing much of anything except keeping my head very very still while eating carbs off my children’s plates and hoping for a face transplant. Sure there are more productive things I could do like taking medicine or drinking orange juice but that would require more tilt of the head than I care to do.

And since I’ve had lots of time to think and no energy to declutter, I propped my laptop up at eye level and decided to blog instead. Lately, I’ve been questioning the 100 things 100 days format. Would I do it the same way again?

I was beginning to think I should have imposed a looser time frame as in 100 things, 100 (or so) days. The deadline is making me twitchy. I’ve started running all sorts of Day 100 movies on the film projector in my head.

In one, I’m releasing 100 balloons to the ceiling surrounded by my loving husband, adoring children and minimalist art. For some reason the scene alway takes place in front of this couch:

In another, I find myself alone in an empty room staring forlornly at the scuff marks on the sofa we actually own and missing the bobble heads. But worse by far is the scene where I open the door and 10,000 things come pouring back in and one month later I’m reading my own blog for tips.

The truth is that none of these scenarios is likely. I love having 9,700 fewer things, but it will never be finished and there will always be scuff marks on something. I hope that I have gained the insight to live a little more purposefully, and I’m looking forward to blogging about that, and about my ongoing relationship with decluttering.

But first, Sudafed. Then Day 98, 99 and 100!

Day 97: Boy Smarts! And Squirrel Tales

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9,700 things gone, only 300 to go!

I think the most unfortunate consequence of my foray into inventory is the long break I’ve taken from telling Squirrel tales.

I’ve missed sharing.

This picture tells two stories neither of  them particularly flattering to Squirrel or me.

1) Today we bought the children not one, but two sets of Halo mini figures. (This may be the best evidence so far that I’m being transparent with you. Of all the things I’d be tempted to not mention – this about tops the list.)

2) The recycling bin is right inside that white door but Squirrel prefers to stack recyclables on the counter right next to it and wait for the recycling fairy to work her magic. He’s rapidly losing favour with the recycling fairy by doing this:

This is the same man who turns himself inside out every time I leave a beer bottle cap on the counter. Not my best attribute, but a far lesser crime (in my mind) than mixing recyclables.

Let’s talk about today’s grievous toy purchase. As I’ve said before, my kids play with guys – lego guys, playmobil guys, and now, I guess, Halo guys. I can honestly say I’ve never regretted a guy purchase. Having said that, I loathe the video game Halo or any mention of war and game in the same sentence for that matter. I’ve taken an over my dead body approach to purchasing it. For some reason, it’s come to represent my last stand – and I’m taking it.

I don’t pretend to know anything about boys and guns and video games and TV violence but I’ve spent considerable time worrying about the subject. When my anxiety level gets too high, I consult my copy of Boy Smarts. The author, Barry MacDonald, has rescued me from a myriad of parenting sins. I highly recommend his website, if you’re struggling, as I am, with these issues.

The good news is that when I took the kids down to the playroom to give up some toys in return for their new guys, there weren’t any to get rid of. However, they offered up these two Playmobil beards which I thought was good of them.

As for Squirrel’s reliance on the recycling fairy and my occasional beer, the two pretty much go hand in hand. Surely a celestial sip or two is allowed under the recycling circumstances.

Back to my Squirrel tale. I revisited his office last night, this time on my best behaviour. That is, until I found two overflowing desktop organizers hidden in his cupboards and had a little tantrum. You see, Squirrel has used his “tidy office” status as evidence that the home clutter is mostly my creation. The discovery of his untidy secret sparked  a purge reminiscent of the early days of the project. I hardly had to count because what was falling out of the cupboards effortlessly topped one hundred.

Around 9pm, I found this:

Note that I already dealt with FIVE banker’s boxes FULL of cords and cables in the basement.

I had to give myself  a time out.

But not before doing this:

I have my wise and faithful reader galberry to thank for her suggestion in the comments on Day 92 to somehow mark things that aren’t likely to be used. If the packing tape remains this time next year – the files go!

I’m not really heartless, Squirrel actually moved his office out of the house a few months ago and neglected to take these indispensable files with him. I think a little booby trap is adequate punishment.

The rest of the stuff in our new shared office may make up most of Day 98. My cup runneth over!

Day 91: So Long Sheila!

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9,100 things gone, only 900 to go

*Regular Reader Update: My blog was featured on HGTV.ca today. You can see the article here. Fortunately, I have cleared enough space to jump up and down excitedly.*

It’s the first day of inventory and I warn you, it’s a total snooze. I’ve taken a bit of the tedium out of it for you by highlighting the exciting bits. Since they’re not really that exciting, take a look at this:

Earlier today, I owned a Sleep Number Sheep. Sheila was a gift from a friend who was downsizing. Gee, thanks!

Tomorrow Sheila will be on her way home with another family. I dropped her off at the local preschool’s rummage sale this afternoon. I feel more than a little sheepish that some unsuspecting parent will get talked into buying her tomorrow.

Without further procrastination, here’s the list:

Part 1: Basement Inventory c/w Comments and Justifications

Storage Room

5 bankers boxes old sales orders

12 bankers boxes end of year taxes *I’ll have to purge these yearly. Tax records only need to be kept for 6 years.

1 padded ski bag - Squirrel informs me this is for airline travel

1 soft sided ski bag  - and this is for travel by car – oh brother

1 ski boot bag

2 camping mats

1 kitchen table dismantled - my childhood kitchen table handmade by my Dad – I plan to refinish and repurpose (hold me to it!)

5 Vintage stuffies - Squirrel’s!

1 cardboard snowboard and helmet  - my son insisted we make this for him when he was 4 

1 wooden briefcase - I have no idea the significance of this, I’ll have to ask Squirrel

3 light up Christmas houses - I really don’t like these but the kids are attached already!

1 snow globe  - very tasteful, not at all how it sounds

1 bag Christmas lights

1 box Christmas lights  - probably overkill, I’ll check reconsider next year

3 big tubs Christmas/Halloween Decorations  - ditto

1 inflatable bed

2 M&M men - Is it almost time to give these up Squirrel?

2 model cars - ditto

1 industrial fan - in case of flood?

1 set Meccano - belonged to my Dad, saving for my kids

2 sorting boxes with tech deck bike & skateboard parts

4 suitcases

1 duffle bag

1 Lego carrying bag

1 small bin lego/k’nex

1 shoe box tech deck toys

2 bins rokenbok remote control building set

2 empty rokenbok boxes  - the only way I can remember how to put it together

1 bin dinosaurs

1 shoebox toy animals

1 shoebox toy soldiers

1 shoebox misc. toys - compare this to the 8 Ikea bins of misc. toys I used to store!

1 bin hot wheels cars

1 toy wrestling ring with 2 wrestlers - a gift from Nana!

10 cans house paint indoor and out  - the builder left this for us and we use it

1 bin paint supplies

1 bin photos

26 record albums - on my to do list to find them a home

1 8mm projector and film - of Squirrel as a one year old – will convert film to digital and sell projector

3 videotapes - family videos of Squirrel – same as above

1 hockey stick signed by Brett Hedican - Why am I keeping this? Any hockey fans out there who want to give it a new home?

1 hockey stick signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs - Squirrel’s!

1 guitar - my grandma’s, now mine!

1 set of speakers

2 light fixtures that came with the house - could be replacements for the one’s we have but what are the chances we’ll need them? I should sell these shouldn’t I?

1 small bin electrical cords  - Previously, we had five boxes full!

3 sleeping bags

Rec Room 

9 trophies on display

1 candy jar full of lego - decorative, I think…

6 puffles - my kids are club penguin fans

3 penguins - ditto

12 misc. stuffies

3 hot wheels tracks

1 bin batman toys

3 toy trucks

1 bin recycled craft supplies

1 Scooby Doo Mystery Machine - I couldn’t let it go, but I took it out of the living room!

6 remote control cars - I hate all of them. They never work and they use up all sorts of batteries.

2 wind up motorcycles

1 wind up hot wheels cars - The wind ups are way better, I’ll see if I can encourage the kids to sell their RC’s

1 magnetic tech deck set

1 magnetic hot wheels set

1 playmobil tower

1 lego tower

1 remote control lego car

1 canister full of bouncy balls - not as decorative as I thought they’d be…

1 large bin playmobil parts

1 air hockey table - If this isn’t used in the next year; I’m rigging it to implode!

1 bat man play cave

1 bin nerf shooters, bullets and balls

2 pairs carpet skates - fun for Mom

1 carpet skateboard

1 toy hockey stick

1 toy golf club

1 baseball glove

2 swords

2 shields

2 footballs

1 volleyball

1 hover soccer disk

2 elastic band shooters

1 bin costumes

1 mini trampoline

2 balance boards

1 pilates arc and manual

1 bean bag chair

1 foam mat

3 sets free weights - I’ll be honest, we never ever use these.

1 yoga mat

1 pilates magic circle

1 set glove weights - I long to give these away but what if I do that exercise video one day. Help!

1 massage roller

1 massage ball

4 exercise DVD’s

1 drum set

3 blankets

Basement Bathroom

1 towel

1 soap and lotion

1 candle

1 toilet paper

Did you make it to the very end? If you can keep your eyes open long enough, I’d love to hear what you think. Does it still seem like an awful lot of stuff? Are you keeping anything interesting in the basement? Wake us all up, please!

What I tossed today: Sheila, files, stickers, baby clothes, wooden puzzle, 2 sword sheaths, camping pillow, piece of hose, easel, basketball hoop, chalk, balls, 2 wallets, sunglasses case

Day 90: The Last 1,000 Things – Taking Inventory

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9,000 things gone, only 1,000 things to go

I’m so excited about my last 10 days of the project that I’ve got a bit of a roller coaster tummy. Being this close to a goal is unusual and a bit terrifying for me. So, I came up with a plan to calm my anxiety while making sure I make the most of the last 1,000 things.

That’s right, I’m going to bore myself right across the finish line by taking inventory!

Nothing like a tedious job to settle an elevator tummy. Besides, the idea has kind of jolted me out of my recent apathy. The last thing I want is to wake up on Day 101 wishing I’d gotten rid of a few more things.

I shared the plan with Squirrel this morning and he was a little less enthusiastic than me. Perhaps because I asked him to part with a few beer steins we seldom use. He wanted to know:

What difference do a few glasses make?

The difference is that the back of the cupboard, bottom of the drawer, second choice things will always be in the inventory – staring us in the face when the dishwasher is full or we didn’t get a chance to do the laundry or someone ate the last vanilla cookie. I, for one, would prefer to wash a glass, toss in a load or shop more often for the pleasure of always using my favourite things.

Oh well, if you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that I don’t think it’s necessary that my husband (Squirrel) and I always agree.

I think inventory is a great idea and I will soldier on for the pleasure of arriving at Day 100 with a house full of useful and beautiful things.

Ok, that’s a bit lofty. I’ll settle for things that I recognize and don’t wholeheartedly despise.

Thanks everyone for being such an enormous support. Your comments and commiseration keep me going!

Day 87: Inspired By A Reader!

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8,700 things gone, only 1,300 to go

Just when I was needing some inspiration (three days have passed and I’ve only completed one day of decluttering), a reader sent me their decluttering tally:

I got a bit inspired today (thanks to you) and did some decluttering.

What I recycled:

14 unused toothbrushes

1 electric razor

1 knife in holster

What I tossed:

7 used toothbrushes

7 mini toothpastes (dried up)

2 dried up deodorant sticks

2 airline headphones

1 brush

1 comb

9 assorted sprays and creams

(all accumulated over years of airline travel)

What I recycled a few weeks ago: 50 books, novels, texts, self-help etc.

Talk about talking my language! Even better, they sent me their pictures:

 

You would think that with 13 days left (and such inspiring readers) my decluttering would be in high gear. Foolishly, I saved the hardest stuff for last. I’m frantically listing stuff on craigslist, laundering things, even doing a little spray painting to spruce things up for sale.

Life has intervened a bit and I’ve had a wee one home with food poisoning (a very mild case, but still….). So, it is with pride that I present the 100 things I cobbled together tonight. This one’s for you Bob!  Thanks so much for sharing!

Have you decluttered anything particularly gratifying lately? Do share!

What I tossed today: See above. Not pictured: 3 pairs of skis listed on craigslist.

Day 85: Lost Nuts

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8,500 things gone, only 1,500 things to go

These rollerblades are just as uncomfortable as they were in 1989.

Here it is. The real reason I need to declutter.
I lose stuff.
Big stuff.
I’m talking birth certificates, cell phones, health records, jewellery, wallets and keys.
I even lost a child once in Hawaii - near the ocean!!! Of course, he wasn’t really lost, just playing in the shower near the park while I (fearing the worst) ran frantically up and down the beach. It was heart stopping panic as any parent who has “looked away for just a second” will attest to.
I’m sure I ruined the aloha of more than a few vacationers. And it certainly eclipsed the drama of the lost keys.
My point is, people vary greatly in their capacity to function amidst clutter. Squirrel, for instance, can handle a stash in every bowl, basket, drawer and cupboard in every room. He’s also the quickest draw of important things I’ve ever met.
Passport?  Chik! chik!  File cabinet.
Health Cards? Chik! chik! Kitchen drawer.
Cell phone? Chik! chik! Front hall table.
TV remote? Chik! Chik! Couch cushion.
Car Keys? Chik! Chik! Coat Pocket.
It’s impressive to watch especially for someone who is driven mad by the sight of a box full of magazines, foodstuffs, toys, bike parts and ceiling paint. To me, that’s an afternoon of sorting, tossing and wondering. To Squirrel, it’s just a box of crap where he keeps his adjustable seat post.
Irrelevant things don’t phase him the way they phase me. He’s got it all (even my stuff) mapped out in the old noggin. There was a brief phase when he tried to wean me off his grey matter by answering all location questions with the very frustrating:
It’s where you put it last.
That lasted about as long as my attempt to teach him to store his things in half reasonable combinations.
Decluttering has become a hot topic around here so much so that our kids have joined the conversation. The other morning our oldest son asked:
If Daddy’s a Squirrel, what kind of animal is Mom if she loses everything?
Being inquisitive, I googled – forgetful animal. Popular legend has it that fish take the top honours. Remember Dory in Finding Nemo: “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”
So, if you’re using your grey matter for something other than memorizing the location of your passport, it’s okay. Just keep decluttering. Just keep decluttering. Just keep decluttering, decluttering, decluttering. 
It was Dory, after all, who found Nemo. Not bad for a fish with short term memory loss.
What I tossed today: game parts, TV, door bell, electrical face plates, hockey sticks, cloth shopping bags, posters, tent pegs, garden stakes, baby proofing supplies.

Day 80: Clutter Crisis or Hoarding? How To Tell The Difference.

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8,000 things gone, only 2,000 to go

Recently, the subject of hoarding has garnered a lot of attention in the media. So, when you find yourself in a bit of a clutter crisis like I did, it’s hard not to wonder where your problem rates on the grand scale of clutter.

my worst area of clutter

80 days and 8,000 things ago, if you asked me if I was a hoarder, I would have unequivocally said: “No,” and promptly pointed the finger at my husband, Squirrel.

So I was shocked to discover that while I lack the compulsion to excessively acquire things that is characteristic of hoarding, I have a number of traits that psychology professor,Randy Frost, describes as causing hoarding problems. What’s more is that I seem to have unconsciously tailored my 100 things 100 days project to circumvent these habits.

I am a visual spatial organizer.

- I have to see something to remember it. Reducing my possessions via 100 things 100 days means I can spread things out in my closets and drawers where I can see them. Knowing where everything is “in space” really helps me remember where stuff is when I need it. That leaves me few things to organize categorically like bills, health records, travel documents, insurance papers etc. I should tell you that Squirrel took over the care of  important papers around about the time I lost the kids health cards.

I have trouble categorizing objects.

- I purposely left organizing and categorizing out of the project. Keeping focussed on the goal of moving unwanted or unneeded things out of my home helped me from getting lost in a myriad of organizing dilemmas. The best part is that only keeping things I use regularly means that they practically organize themselves. I keep everything close to where I use it the most. Easy!

I exhibit perfectionism.

- I used to delay throwing things out because I didn’t want to toss anything that can be recycled or vice versa. Yes, I want to do garbage perfectly. A few google searches was all it took to compile a list of resources that answered most of my recycling questions. Now I do my best to find a good home for my stuff and, failing that, I toss it. I’d rather take the guilt hit myself than donating something that charities have to spend their time and resources disposing of. And 100 things is just 100 things, it’s neither good nor bad.

I have difficulty concentrating on (and sticking to tasks) that require decision making.

When I started the project, I knew I had not stuck to anything long enough to solve my clutter problem. All those decisions were exhausting! So, I pared down the questions that used to plague my organizing sessions (Where does it belong? What other things go with it? How should I store it?  Will someone’s feelings be hurt if I donate it? Where did we get it? Don’t we have another one just like this? Could we use this somewhere else? etc. etc. etc.) to two:

1) Do we want it or need it?

2) Where can I recycle/dispose of it?

And when deciding whether I want something I ask myself one more thing: Do I want to dust, launder, fluff, move, find, fix, clean or otherwise maintain this? It has to add a lot of value to my life to inspire me to dust!

A year ago, I felt so defeated by my stuff that I was ready to hire someone to deal with it. Now, I’m glad I didn’t. Having all 8,000 things actually pass through my hands gave me invaluable insight into my purchasing and cluttering habits.

What’s the greatest gift of the project so far? It’s realigned my priorities. I have an active family and we spend a lot of our weekends away mountain biking or skiing. As much as we all like our stuff, none of us would trade any of our freedom to stay home and maintain it.

If you’re as fascinated with your habits as I am, this video by hoarding expert Randy Frost is required viewing.

And if you wonder where your clutter falls in the grand scheme of things, you can view Frost’s clutter rating scale here.

Good luck and let me know how it’s going – whatever your number.

What I tossed today: A circus worthy assortment of stuff from Squirrel’s garage which was so random that it will undoubtedly be the subject of my next post!

Day 79: What Will You Do With Your Space After You Declutter

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7,900 things gone, only 2,100 to go

Ok, so maybe not everyone celebrates the 3/4 mark of their decluttering with a nerf war, but I like to include the kids and they weren’t interested in champagne and chèvre .

Just so you know every one of these kids got up and walked away after they finished playing dead for my photo shoot. Actually, they continued to stage their own deaths long after I put the camera down.

Despite the pretend casualties, this was the safest nerf gun fight we’ve ever had! Look on the floor – nothing to trip on! And the baseboards – no mould! And the window sill – nothing to shatter!

I’m not sure you remember but my play room used to look like this:

(My friend and her son helping me declutter)

You can’t tell from these pictures but I am actually conflicted about the whole gun thing. I am the Mom who disarmed the playmobil policemen before giving them to my little ones. That was until I had a conversation with a friend that went like this:

Me: I am never going to buy my kids guns.

Other Mom: I thought the same thing until my son started playing with a child who isn’t allowed guns. He spends every minute at our house shooting us with sticks, hairbrushes, shoes, the hose – anything he can get his hands on. And if he can’t find anything, he just uses his fingers. It’s really annoying.

Me: I might have to rethink my gun position.

I rethought my position and drew my line in the sand allowing my kids anything that was clearly a toy that no one would ever mistake for a real gun.

Then, I bought my son this.

Yes, it’s the first toy I’ve bought since I started my toy reduction challenge on Day 68. And yes, it bears a resemblance to the “real thing” albeit in plastic.

In my defence, he bought the gun with his birthday money and I chipped in for the bullet chain when he couldn’t cover the tax. Yes, I am a wibbly wobbly jellyfish.

But perhaps I’ve crossed the line? I sometimes feel like a (jelly)fish out of water when it comes to raising boys. So I’m going to throw this out to Cosmic Dad. He thinks about things like this regularly on his blog. And, he was the also the guy who bought my son his first (and loudest) nerf gun. What about it Kevin? How much is too much when it comes to kids and guns? Maybe he’ll visit us in the comments now that I’ve outed him. Anyone else want to share their thoughts on my dilemma?

What I Tossed Today: 40+ dried out pens, a four year old box of recycling, more staplers, screws and bolts, tooth floss, business cards, drawer garbage – all from Squirrel’s office.

Day 72: Staying Motivated To Declutter: A Speed Purge, A Nap, And A Box Of Chocolates

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7,200 things gone, only 2,800 to go

On day 1, I wrote a post called Minimalism On Bad Days. It was all about finding a way to carry on decluttering when you don’t feel like carrying on at all.

For the past few days, I’ve been feeling like I’m swimming upstream underwater. While it’s no fun living in slow motion, the worst part by far is trying to figure out why I’m feeling so rotten.

Is it my thyroid? Am I low on iron? Seasonal depression? Allergies? Is living with a Squirrel the problem? I can go on like this for hours and I’ve found that if you search the internet for long enough you will always find an answer. Hypothyroidism, anemia, low serotonin, rodent co-dependence. Over the years I’ve self-diagnosed every one of them.

The trouble is that googling “mould poisoning” just doesn’t get the decluttering done, so I decided that the next logical step to internet self diagnosing is diagnosing straight from the imagination.

I put my computer away and decided that finding mould in Vancouver in the month of September has got to be its own kind of sickness. Then I invented the cure –  a short daily nap and one or two Thomas Haas chocolates.

With the time I saved diagnosing, I tried a speed purge.

I started in the basement.

(1-30)

(30-35)

(35-50)

Then moved up to the bathroom and my bedroom.

(50-62)

(62-67)

(67-71)

And ended at the laundry room.

(71-100)

I’m heading for a kip now clutching my box of chocolates. I hope I get my strength back soon, but not too soon, I wouldn’t want to rush my recovery.

Am I alone in this, or do you sometimes, inexplicably, feel rotten?