simplify my life

just asked if he could have all the juniors and seniors from the soccer team to come and stay at the house after homecoming, plus their dates. 16 of them. I am excited to have a house full, though I have to leave for work through the night. My guy however will be here to play watch dog and host. He loves to cook so in the morning he’ll whip them all up breakfast.

Though this isn’t exactly simplifying, it is exciting. I’ve a lot to do today.

I accidentally challenged myself to have my life simplified within one week instead of having the hall painted. I see another failure to complete looming ahead now. hah!

My guy has brought stuff here. There’s now 2 microwaves, 2 coffeepots, extra trash cans, cleaning supplies, dishes, towels and more. This happened last week.

More stuff. groans

My son whom was hurt in football has been having to see a Dr for his knee. He is better, still in a brace to protect the ligaments, so this means no football still. He’s not too pleased with that, but it’s needed and he understands that. At least he is now off the crutches.

We did have a nice breakfast together after the dr’s visit this morning. After I dropped him off at school I made my way home to find that my dog for the first time in a week and a half decided not to destroy something while I was gone. Life is taking a turn up after a blitz of chaos last week.

Will be back next week to refocus. This week chaos has taken hold.

The things I removed:
1.) The spice jar holder I never use. I just use the spices in the cabinet.
2.) The electric can opener I stored in the lazy susan. It gets used maybe once a week. So why have it out? Yes it’s electric because I threw a hissy fit and bought 4 at one time because I couldn’t find a decent hand operating can opener. It’s the only one that will open a can every time.
3.) The christmas cookie cutters just got boxed up. I only use them once a year so why have them here in the kitchen? This made room in a basket under the counter for the cd’s that pile up on the kitchen counter. I have an under the counter cd player that is used daily. I needed a place near it to store them.
4.) 3 candles were put up in a cabinet in the mudroom. 1 stayed out. I’ve been burning the lemongrass coriander one mainly in here so there was no need for the others to take up space.

It’s very uplifting to see open space.

Why can’t I just toss stuff? I just spent an hour going through drawers and only have a handful of items going to show for it.

Too much stuff, too much tug and pull, too many this and that projects. Too much.

Part of my problem is when I do a room it has to be perfect or in my mind it isn’t done. So it could be the smallest thing and it will bug me and I won’t consider it done. Then other things start adding to it until I am back to square one.

First rule will be is that I dont bring anything else in until I get the bottom of my house done.

The bedroom
* Go back through the drawers and get rid of things I haven’t used in the last 2 years (video’s, sheets, bathing suits)
* Take all magazines out of the room.
* Organize cd’s into mood parameters so I can grab according to my mood and not search for artists.
* Do NOT bring back in unnecessary items. Everyone’s laundry to fold, magazines to sort, ten books at a time.. so forth.

The bathroom
* Downsize the creams and lotions. I have some vanilla scented creams that were bought for me. Vanilla gives me a headache.. why do I keep it? Get rid of it and the others I can’t/won’t use. The money spent isn’t worth the energy it consumes by being there in my space.
* Hair stuff. Certain hairbands wont stay on my head or hurt. Why are they still here? It’s not as if my head shape is going to change overnight. Hair sprays/gels/stuff… I use 3 different items from time to time, why keep the rest?
* Make-up I use a handful of items. Why do I have a drawer full then?

The closet and dresser
* I am having a really hard time with this due to the multiple weight zones. I fluctuate between winter weight and summer weight. This year though I became sick, so to speak, in May/June and was on a heavy dose of medicine for a month. So my summer weight never got here. I had to buy new clothing. This in turn has made my closet overflowing. I need to cut clothes out but I worry about shaking the weight. It’s not as easy as it used to be. Where did that switch go that you used to be able to flip and lose weight in a heartbeat?

You get the picture. I need to be harsh but I struggle with this. The “what if?” always comes to play.

3 more bags, a box of books and now eyeing the piano to go since it’s been forever since anyone has touched it.

was gathered today. Magazines make for a heavy bag.