Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Year Of The Purge!!

In the Chinese Zodiac calendar, it is the year of the rabbit!


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In Kathysue’s Zodiac calendar and daily calendar, it is going to be the year of the PURGE!!!
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I have lived in the same home for 33 years!! Yikes!! Needless to say I have lots of “ STUFF.”

Some of my STUFF is worth keeping and some of it is not.

I am going to go through my home this year and clean out. I no longer have enough space to put away the things I need to put away without, what seems like, moving the world.

In order for me to get started I have to have the rest of my home, the part that can be seen by me or a vistor, in order. (In other words, not what is behind closed doors, the closets!) That is where I start.  The Dreaded Closets!!!

As I have told you before, I have to have a general plan of attack. Of course this can change at any given moment.
 After all, I am a creative soul and I can get sidetracked very easily. When I am doing anything, I look at it from the perspective of how I can make it look pretty too. ( This is a blessing and a curse at times)


Let’s start:

Get the house picked up!!!

Clean out the most used areas first!
  • pantry
  • fridge
  • laundry room
I have already straightened out the pantry and the fridge.

 Today it is on to the laundry room or the “PIT” which is what I like to call it.

The Laundry Room:

My laundry room is very small 5ft 8in.x 6ft.4in, not big enough by anyone’s standards.

The laundry room does have a closet that is as wide as the 5ft 8in wall and is 20in. deep. This is where I hide/throw all my little pretties. You know, the vases, dishes ,table linens etc.

You name it and it is in there-everything but towels and bed linens. I find that they get musty smelling from the humidity from the washer and dryer.

I am not sure that images are necessary, but I think pictures might hold me accountable to getting it done.

 I also think the condition of my small room might just make you feel better about your own laundry room.

So here is part of the ugly truth:

Half of my staging closet………

Laundry room 2011 001 (600x800)
top half

Laundry room 2011 002 (600x800)
Bottom

This is only half, so you can see I have a lot of unorganized stuff that needs to be purged.

Next my utility shelf where I keep my cleaning rags and cleaning supplies etc.

Laundry room 2011 003 (600x800)
 I have tried to utilize every inch of space, but it is not a pretty site at all!!! I want it all to look "pretty!"

I don’t need to show you my dirty laundry, literally, or the washer and dryer. I know you know what that looks like.

This room has not been painted since we moved in 33 years ago.

Wow!! I just feel like I made a confession. Maybe this purging process will be a good one!!!

To be continued………

Will you join me in the
“The Year of The PURGE?!”


“Enjoy the Process” Of:


Purging, Cleaning and Beautifying


Kathysue

Don't forget TODAY is the last day to sign up for the giveaway. Winner will be announced Tomorrow morning.
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22 comments:

  1. nannykimJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Purging and uncluttering has been one of our goals this year. We have downsized to a condo and this is helping. I am still purging at the old house--it is taking some time!!!

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  2. Sally@DivineDistractionsJanuary 9, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    I've been in my house for the same period of time, and I think we become so used to how it has always been that it is often difficult to see it with new eyes. I'm struggling with the same thing, and as you know, I've been on a purge this past year as well. Still have much to do, but I do feel lighter and less burdened. Blessings on your purge-journey! I know you will be wildly successful. My suggestion is dramatic...take everything out of the laundry room and try to envision it differently. As creative as you are, you'll come up with a new idea....I just know it!

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  3. chisenfamJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Kathysue, I completely understand the need to purge. My sweet, wonderful MIL passed away after living in the house in which she was born in. The job was HUGE, because we had her parents things as well as hers to go through. After going through all of their things I decided I didnt want this kind of huge task for my daughter so I started cleaning out our closets and storage room. The problem is it was all cleaned out three years ago and now its stacking up again!!! HOW does this happen??? Its almost a yearly thing or it gets out of control. I can't wait to see your completed job to give me another PUSH. I just know yours will look really pretty when you're done.

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  4. MadelynJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    I have a gene that collects stuff. Dishes, papers, craft things, ironed tissue paper & ribbon. I lived in a 6000 square foot house. I remarried and moved to my husband's furnished home. Talk about purging.....oh, my. I could write a book---and I still have "stuff" up at the house. Good luck. I just joined your blog and will be following with much interest.

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  5. Mona Thompson Providence Ltd.January 9, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Keep on talking about this and keep on motivating me. We just moved in this house last January, so you think everything would be very organized and in it's place, right? Wrong. don was very sick when we moved and very little help. I had to handle so many things that I don't normally that I was just sticking stuff places. I need a good week to go through everything in the house and really decide where I would like for it to be after living here for a year. Not sure when that will happen, but keep on motivating me.

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  6. vignette designJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    You are brave to show photos. I am not so brave! Opening up cupboards and seeing the unorganized mess is just so overwhelming for me. But you have to start somewhere-right? I'm following your every move here! haha.

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  7. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    Good luck to you and happy new year!
    Xo,
    E&J

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  8. Crystal @ Ordinary DaysJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    I think your laundry room looks pretty organized! Good luch with your purging. I need to do the same thing. It really feels unbelievable when there is actually room to put something when there used to not be!

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  9. Karen Sabrsula January 9, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    Yes this is my purge year as well! My "Honey" of 6 years will be moving with me later this year. He is Mr. Neat and Clean, and I am Ms. Creatively Cluttered! I have already began my journey!

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  10. Kim @ Savvy Southern StyleJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    Kathysue, it sounds like our laundry rooms are about the same size. Mine may be tad bigger. I have painted it twice and don't like the color so it is on my to do list this year. It has a darn wallpaper border up that will not come off cleanly so hubby is going to glue the part he started tearing down and I will just have to paint over it. Oh, well it is only the laundry room. No one looks at it, but me.

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  11. Blooming Rose MusingsJanuary 9, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    Purge is The word this year! Your posts are inspiring me to get organized and purging is part of that "process". After reading each of your posts I do something to get organized. It may be a small task but at least it's a start. I look forward to seeing your purging process...and to see if you "Enjoy The Process"!
    XO

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  12. Marty@A Stroll Thru LifeJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    Oh Kathysue, I know it will be gorgeous when you get through with it. I really need to purge, but I hate the thought of it all. I think my closet has to be the first step. It is really full of clothes I never or can't wear. Time to say goodbye to them. Have fun, can't wait to see it all pretty. Hugs, Marty

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  13. Marcus DesignJanuary 9, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    I LOVE getting organized for the new year, I've already gone through several 'drawers' around the house but I need to go through all of my kitchen cabinets to re-organize and get rid of things like you. Good lick Kathysue, and thanks for getting me motivated!!
    Nancy xo

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  14. SarahJanuary 9, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Kathysue, I've been "purging" my clothes closet all afternoon. Taking a car load of bags to the thrift store tomorrow. The closet is organized again, but still too much. I think I need to make another swipe. ;-)
    I'm following your lead and plan to purge every closet in the house. Thought I'd take one a week, then move into the attic. I definitely need more storage space, but since that isn't changing I need to create more space by eliminating stuff. You are my inspiration! ~ Sarah

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  15. La Vie QuotidienneJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    I have been trying to downsize and 'purge' for the past couple of years...ever since I lost my wonderful husband. Frankly I have gotten rid of enough stuff to open a small store, but I still have a ways to go. Your laundry room looks like a palace compared to my laundry room out in the garage.(-: It is going to be fun to see what you will do.

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  16. K&B by the SeaJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:30 PM

    Purging is part of my "get projects done" resolution for this year. So far, I'm off to a pretty good start - finished two projects, and a third one is over halfway done. They're not big projects, but small ones count too, right? :-)

    One completed project involved cleaning up the laundry room today for pictures, so I sort of killed two birds with one stone there :-)

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  17. Sherry @ No Minimalist HereJanuary 9, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    Hi Kathysue, We haven't even lived in our home for two years and it is bursting at the seams! I will happily join you in the purge.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  18. Victoria @ The FAT Paint™ Company and ÉdinHomeJanuary 9, 2011 at 9:51 PM

    We're FINALLY renovating the basement, which means we did a terrific purge of things taking up space down there. Felt good! We have a whole lot of stuff packed away in the attic that we'll get to once the renovation is done - most everything will come down, with special things finding places in our home while all the unnecessary stuff will go to Goodwill! More fun to come!!
    Victoria

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  19. Karen January 10, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    I did a lot of purging over the summer, it is a really freeing feeling. The best part was that I called a friend of my son who just got his first apartment and he took about 80% of the purged items to use in his place.

    It's always nice to see a little white space in your storage areas. Good luck Kathysue!

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  20. Kelle DameJanuary 10, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    I think the year of the purge sounds just right! I think if I start in my basement I will work my way back up in about three weeks!!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love your beach inspired bedroom!
    Kelle
    xx

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    Kathysue: Maybe you should try moving!!! That is the very best thing the entire experience has done for me: you simply cannot believe (well...maybe you can!) how much STUFF we have given away or thrown out. Incredible. We had lived in the same house for 25 years...and I DO go through and get rid of things on a regular basis. But oh man oh man...it feels SO GOOD to be rid of that extra stuff! Well, best of luck to you and I will be watching!!
    oxox Libby

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  22. Diana H.January 10, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    I've been reading you for about 8-10 months now and this is the first time I've commented. I just wanted to say that I have a "staging closet" too. I'm so glad to see that someone else keeps the quantity of things I do! (I'm a frequent purger - I go through spells every couple months where I dig through the house looking for things to donate, so my staging closet is well curated.)

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I would love to hear from you, Kathysue