I got sick of my living room looking so disorganized (dang, I wish my digital camera was working so I could post before and after photos). After all, it’s used for “living” and my office and homeschooling and scrapbooking and so much more, so there’s lots of papers and craft stuff and JUNK that I needed to go through. I’m trying to downsize.
By the way, why do so many homes have a FAMILY room AND a LIVING room also? A few years ago Aron re-did our family room and we lived in the upstairs living room for months and it was AWESOME to just all be on one level and have the TV and the kitchen and the dining room all there together. Now if only we could move the fireplace upstairs and … PRESTO! … change the family room into 2 bedrooms and a bathroom for the upstairs we’d never have to move our ever-growing family!
So one night Aron was at religion class with Joel, and I just started moving junk. I dragged a bookshelf down the stairs. I dragged a smaller one up the stairs. I moved all kinds of junk and got rid of tons of stuff (thanks for having a garage sale, Ellen!).
Tresa has a good point: if you’re home all day long it’s good to be able to move furniture around for a change. We hadn’t moved our furniture in like 9 years. And Geminis like me normally like to change things up.
Don’t tell my ogre Neanderthal husband, but this “No Laptop = Clean House?” experiment may actually be working for us. And do you notice how I still post on this blog daily AND still submit to mags? Maybe everyone in my house can win, especially the kids, by having happy parents.
How’s YOUR home? Tresa is moving and dumping tons. Ellen has a garage sale when her husband can’t park in the garage anymore due to too much STUFF. Most people just stare at their junk and think, “My family can take care of it when I’m dead.” I got tired of staring at my messes and wanting to take a nap.
Gee..I think I need to move some stuff too..it's getting crowded in my place :-)
ReplyDeleteHave to stop feeling sentimental over things that get in the way.
Thanks for the hint.
Great post, Kerrie!
ReplyDeleteI am on year seven of the Great Home Re-Organization and De-Cluttering Project. As you can see it is moving very slowly.
Have a Blessed Sunday
from The Raggedy Girl--Roberta Anne
Great job! My house isn't big enough to move stuff around in, but I'm glad the no laptop thing is working out for you. I'm trying a few things to de-obsess myself with the Internet. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a former elementary (and high school) teacher, I had tons of "stuff" from 11 years of working with students. I recently (two years ago) learned that being sentimental with "things" is just another trick the ego uses to keep me from being present, a way to keep me lost in my teaching past. I've since learned to thank my ego daily, but gently assure it that such action is no longer necessary. I got rid of roughly 2/3 of all the "stuff" I've been packing like a rat. AHHH! What a freeing experience that was for me! Isn't it amazing how easy it is to think that saving so many things will somehow bring us happiness. What an illusion!
ReplyDeleteThere are 2 people in my home. Myself & my 3 yeard old. We each have a bedroom. She also has a playroom.
ReplyDeleteWe have an extra bedroom in the back (really a master minus an attached bath) and that room is the junk room.
I can't walk in it. I throw things in there. I almost can't see out the windows anymore.
Now our living part is nice and clean and open and no nicky-nacks. I have a dream to sell the items and make $$$ from the junk room. I just don't know where to start!