I'm decluttering !!!
Our conservatory, which was put up thirty years ago, has had it and is going to be knocked down and we are having a new one. It will also be knocked into the kitchen which will open it all up. There is a long story about our conservatory which I will go into in my next post { if anyone's interested !!! }
The work won't be done until August/September but, we are getting all of our ducks in a row ..... we have to have a new kitchen as well ..... 💷 ka -ching 💷 !!!!
One of the reasons for de cluttering is that, when they knock through into the kitchen, I shall lose the airing cupboard and another cupboard { which is full of stuff we never or hardly ever use, and what's left has got to be found a new home. A good time to get rid of stuff I think ? Now, I am my father's daughter and have inherited his trait of not finding it easy to throw things away 😱 . Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hoarder but, having lived here for over 36 years, we have accumulated ' stuff ' as most of us of a certain age will have done ! I am rather pleased with myself, as I have managed to get rid of quite a lot so far but there is more to clear out.
Are you good at decluttering or is it me ?
Any organising tips ?
XXXX
photographs via Vogue
Your kitchen and conservatory project sounds outstanding. Re-imagining rooms and changing out the decor is so enjoyable. You are doing well with decluttering. It is hard work. At best I'm mediocre. Your kitchen newly opened to the conservatory will be spacious, light filled and beautiful. I have found custom built-ins very helpful for organization and storage.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan ….. although it will be messy for a while and a bit of an upheaval, it should be nice when it’s finished …… I’ll show you when it’s in progress and when it’s finished. Thanks re custom built ins . XXXX
DeleteWe did a major declutter when we sold our old house to downsize. Now we find ourselves saying "That xyz.. would be useful now. Wish we hadn't got rid of it" 🙄
ReplyDeleteI remember you saying that you decluttered when you moved JayCee ….. and, I know I will be saying exactly the same …. that’s why I hate getting rid of anything ! XXXX
DeleteDecluttering is such a personal thing I do not think it right to give advice on the subject. I think when one needs to declutter and wants to declutter one knows that that point has come. The only advice I could possibly give is to take it slowly perhaps and then it gradually builds its own momentum. I reached that point myself some years ago. Your new kitchen and conservatory sounds very exciting and I am sure it will be worth it when it's done. And on decluttering, replacing those things you suddenly miss, it happens to all of us, can be done! xx
ReplyDeleteYou are right Rachel ….. it is a very personal thing. I’m getting on with it though and much needed culling !!! Usually I find it difficult but I seem to be finding it easier this time …. I’m obviously in the right place ! I’m going to clear out the dresser in the breakfast room tomorrow…… I’m on a roll !!!!!! XXXX
DeleteLove your workaday style, Jackie, hahahah!!! That's exciting news and the story of your conservatory interests me greatly, so yes please! Decluttering is a hard one for me for I have to have a trip down memory lane with everything I sift through first and then the job turns into a marathon. And then how to get rid of it? Family, charity, ebay? So many opportunities for regret!! Plus I like my stuff :) But for you it's needs must and you're off to a sterling start! xx
ReplyDeleteThat’s me Pip ….. stylish to the end 😂🤣😂
DeleteI, too, mull over every piece that needs to be got rid of. Before I start, I’m all eager and, in my head, it’s all going and then, when it comes to it, it’s really hard ! It’s all very silly really as I haven’t looked at most of it for years and our children will just bin it !!!!
Next post …… the saga of the conservatory ! XXXX
My only practical advice would be to move house, only take with you the things you can't live without, then get a house clearance Co to pay you for the rest. No, I couldn't do it either!
ReplyDeleteThat would be a rather drastic move Cro !!!!! I seem to be managing to get rid of quite a lot which is very unlike me !!! It is a good feeling to see empty cupboards and I’m sure I won’t miss most of it although, it won’t take me long to fill them all up again !!!! XXXX
DeleteMy father used to put blown light bulbs back in their original boxes and store them in a cupboard. I'm not that bad.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was exactly the same…… he saved every broken watch strap, thinking he would mend them and his video was held together with rubber bands ! Their generation were not wasteful at all. They made everything last as long as possible. XXXX
DeleteEverything broken/finished was kept because there was a possibility that it could be cannibalised to repair something else and there was no other way to get "bits" and buying new was not necessarily an option. Not only did we have a house full of stuff like this with my father, we also had outside workshops too. But blown bulbs, no.
DeleteIt was Rachel. My Dad had all sorts of things in the shed and mended everything. I remember we had a knitting needle sticking out of the channel changer on our tele as ITV would only work if the knitting needle was in place 😂XXXX
DeleteI AM OF NO HElP.........START RE-GIFTING THE PRIZED Pieces!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE MY STUFF AND REALIZE MY SONS WILL NOT WANT IT.ITS A HARD REALTY!
Especially when I was in the business for 12 years!
ANtiques and Vinatge!
XXX
I think we are all the same Elizabeth. I love most of my stuff but, there are things that we don’t need or don’t like as much as we used to so, some things must go ! I find getting rid of clothes harder than getting rid of ‘ things ‘. Hope you are feeling well Elizabeth. Sending love from the UKXXXX
Delete. . . . your 'saga of the conservatory' is going to be a thrill to read in the coming months. Please share all the details dear Jackie, I love following things such as this.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is I can't get Bob to sell up and move to an easy to care for condo, preferably on one level without a big garden. Plus, he is the saver of all things old (guess that would include moi!), useless items, worn out, not wanted by the kids, and taking up far too much space in this small house! He also overbuys and stores staples such as T-Paper - enough for two pandemics!!! He's neat and tidy but just has too much of everything. Blames it on his parents having to survive during The Great Depression!
I'm gradually going through my stuff - antiques to a shop, clothes, dishes, bits and bobs, never read again books to the thrift shop which supports animals, shredding/recycling mountains of paperwork which I'll never need again, the remainder into the trash - sorry but that's the only way to deal with it all. We used to do a spring Yard Sale along with neighbors and at least have a bit of a clean out, however we're past that now.
I would love a new kitchen - a DeVol style one which would use up much of our retirement money no doubt! So that's out and we'll just mosey along as we have been, thankful it's all paid for and still warm and comfy for two old you know whats!!!!!
Hugs - Mary
Your home is gorgeous Mary …. I love it. I think I’d miss having a garden but, every year that passes, we find it more and more difficult.
Delete….. and, do you know what ? We are having a DeVol kitchen !!!!!!! Our kitchen is over thirty years old …… I still like it and it has stood the test of time as it doesn’t look dated but, it is beginning to look very tired now and, because we have got to do the conservatory and are knocking through into the kitchen, it’s the best time to do it. I have already been on to DeVol. They have sent me a preliminary drawing but, it will be the last thing to be done which will be around October.They aren’t cheap but, we don’t need hundreds of cupboards so, I’m hoping it won’t break the bank 😱
It sounds as if you are going great guns with your Decluttering ….. I need you to come round and advise me !
Hope you are feeling a bit better Mary …… it’s a long process. Sending lots of love from Blighty ! XXXX
Jackie dearest -
DeleteHow fabulous you ARE getting a deVol kitchen!!!! Can't wait to see it all later in the year, meanwhile keep decluttering, and remember I'm doing the same. . . . . .and sharing your pain!!!!
As long as I can get around Torquay on foot come June, I'll be happy and so thankful!
More hugs, hope you managed in the stormy weather this weekend.
Mary x
I couldn’t believe you mentioned DeVol Mary !!!!!! We definitely love the same things. We are still suffering the effects of the storm …. We’ve had Storm Eunice , now we’ve got storm Franklin ! Some of our fences have come down but that’s all.
DeleteHave a lovely new week Mary and carry on Decluttering 🤣 XXXX
You are talking my wheel house my friend. Not too drastic, not too little,
ReplyDeleteorganized chaos at first- tidy and useful at the end. I also came from a father saver but watching them having to drastically downsize I knew I did not wish to repeat. The key is to do it routinely, at least annually, to avoid the overwhelming purge upon moving or death. That is when the emotional trauma causes distress. I'm here via email if you get really stuck. :D
Thanks so much Z ……. I think I used to try and do lots in a day but now I just do one cupboard/ drawer at a time. It’s much easier that way isn’t it ? It doesn’t seem so daunting. I’m going to sort the dresser in the breakfast room next ….. it’s full of stuff that I never look at !!!!! XXXX
DeleteDear Jackie - I am with you: it is not easy to throw away (easier: to give away) things that were part of our life so long and served us well and are not broken, only looking "used". I always favour the Japaner concept of Wabi-sabi - seeing perfection in imperfection.
ReplyDeleteYet I agree: sometimes one has enough, life feels cluttered and thus overwhelming. Then out with it!
I for myself found a very interesting solution: when I rented my flat in Bavaria, which has 83 square meters, I took a lot (!!!) of things with me that were in Berlin a bit - cluttering, though on 187 square meters you often do not see that. I had more than one Teapot, for example, and let the modern stylish one in modern stylish Berlin, and took the heart-warming brown "non-dripping Betty" to Bavaria. Come to think of it: I took most often the heart-warming things there, when I had to decide between two things - I thought that triplets might be more enchanted by cozy things. (Now I see that one of them is always grabbing posh bags from me, with 2 and 1/2 year -- so maybe I assumed wrong :-)
Now you can't just rent another place when you don't need it - thus I would follow Victoria Moran's superb advice: "Try to have only one thing - with the exception of lipstick." Sounds good to me.
I am trying to follow Victoria’s good advice Britta. Like others I’m sure, we have things in cupboards that we don’t even look at let alone use from one decade to the next, so it has to go !!!!! It is a good feeling when it’s gone and the cupboards are empty although, they tend to fill up again after a while ! I must try not to let that happen. 🤞 XXXX
Delete…………….when you realize you have nothing left …you know that things are not important in life……but love and the few friends you have left over are the important things…and of course the most important is Leaf 🍀🐾🐾🍀💕 good luck with your kitchen darling love love from me ❤️💋
ReplyDeleteSo true Ria ….. material things are nothing compared to friends and family. I’ll keep you posted on the conservatory and kitchen ! Take care 💕 XXXX
DeleteYou can sell new or used books and even consider a niche like college books or comic books. Purchase toys from wholesalers or discount shops to sell to online buyers. While selling food kits is a savvy move for existing restaurateurs, you can totally set up an eCommerce website from scratch, too. The best online grazing boxes are available for B2B businesses and can be personalized to fit anyone’s individual needs. You’ll need to be compliant with food safety guidelines, and ensure deliveries are speedy but done with care.
ReplyDeletePowerful Ecommerce Pricing Strategies For Instant Sales Boost
Not every product is suited for Kickstarter, and not every store should put the time and effort into a Kickstarter campaign. But several years into the business, we did run a highly successful Kickstarter for our first physical product, a coffee table book about entrepreneurship. Once you’ve assembled a list of outlets and writers you might want to contact, the next step is to narrow your list down. For every publication on your list, find the names of their writers on their website and conduct a few searches on them. Identify one writer from each publication who covers things most relevant to your business. For every freelance writer on your list, double-check to make sure that they do indeed cover topics in your niche, including businesses.
An obvious link to your store is a must, even if you have products for sale on the home page. If you have a number of different product types, you can include a drop down menu for different categories. Your brand isn’t a person, but you can draw on the personality traits you identify to shape your name, logo, marketing, etc. Figuring out how to go from a neat idea to a real store can be overwhelming. You don’t need to know everything about the product or love everything about the idea (power to you if you do!) but some sort of interest in it will make your life a lot easier. Beyond just pondering these questions yourself, you can talk to friends or look at social media to see what people are saying on these questions. https://www.reviewengin.com/10-ecommerce-business-ideas-2022/