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Accountability

Monday, February 20, 2012
I have started my 40 bags in 40 days project today.  I am getting a head start because
A) I cannot stand the sight of my extremely messy and cluttered house (I know you don't believe me but it really is BAD) and B) I have way more than 40 areas of my home that need de-cluttering and C) I am sure I will have WAY more than 40 "bags."

So, I made a schedule and I was going to post it but then I thought, "Kim, no one really cares which messy areas of your house you are going to clean and purge on which days."  And I am sure that is true.  But, you see...I tried to find oh about a million other things to do today other than clean out my laundry room  (which was a DISASTER!).  So, I am putting my list here so that I don't give up.  If I have it out there, then I am even more accountable, right?  I hate to admit that I need that but I have so much stuff to go through, I am afraid I will lose steam.  I can tend to procrastinate.

So this week...

Monday and Tuesday: Laundry Room (it has tons of drawers and cabinets). I am almost done! Just one big cabinet full of wrapping paper to sort through.
Wednesday: Kate's Closet 
Thursday: Kate's dresser drawers 
Friday: Kate's Bathroom  (and if there is time, possibly her bookshelves and toys--if not then I will add that in next week)
Saturday: Upstairs Hall Linen Closet
Sunday: Sundays are actually not part of the 40 days of Lent and while I do keep other lenten sacrifices on Sundays, I am going to take Sundays off from cleaning/de-cluttering.

DSC_1493
{bags # 1 and 2 of trash (with some on the way to our recycle bin) from the laundry room}

It feels so good to be able to see my laundry room counters again!

How lame and boring am I that I have stooped to showing photos of trash?!

Thank you for all of your sweet comments.  I actually added a new feature in the comments section so now I can reply directly to you if you ask a question.  A few of you asked about the song in the video and someone asked about fabric in my kitchen.  I replied to you in those comments in the past few posts:) And one more thing, Blogger changed the word verification and it is driving me crazy! You too? I seem to have a serious disability and I cannot decode those words.  I am not even kidding.  My eyes just do not work that way. So if you have word verification, please turn it off.  I have never used it and I don't get spam.  It is so annoying to type a long comment to someone and then not be able to decipher the 3 word verification code.  Off my soapbox now:)

38 comments:

  1. Good for you! I started today too and had 3 bags of trash and 1 give-away from my laundry room. Even with that, I shoved some stuff in cupboards, so should do more! Love your schedule. That's what I need.

    Also hating the word verification -- just went thru 5 tries on one blog to get it right! Yikes!

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  2. Yay, good for you! I've decided to do it, too, and yesterday filled my first two bags with books and extra mugs and dishes from our kitchen. Thanks for providing the inspiration!

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  3. I'm glad you've decided to post your list because I would like to join your 40 bags project! I work while the kids are at school and usually don't have much energy left when I get home for cleaning. However, things have gotten so out of control since I've started working that I want to challenge myself this time!

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    1. Glad you are joining in Kimberly. I will post my schedule week by week. I think in reality if you chose the areas carefully, it is about an hour a day depending on the size of your house and how cluttered it is. I am trying not to burn out. Best wishes.

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  4. Yes, we care, we really do! I plan to filling bags right a long there with you! I have really felt so compelled to take on a responsibility during Lent.

    I will start early too...the inlaws are coming on Friday!

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    1. Thank you Marla! I hope your purging goes well too:)

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  5. You have inspired me to clean up my world! I am in! Our house was broken into in December and between the mess the burglars left and the police made with the black fingerprint powder, I have been cleaning and reorganizing for over a month. Because of this I have discovered that we simply have way too much stuff! My big kids have way too much and my little one could fill a toy store. We get too much mail that I have no time to go through until the pile hits the ceiling and I need to regain control of my house. Thanks for posting your list, I will follow your lead.
    Daisy

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    1. So sorry your house was broken into. I am glad you are inspired to do this too Leah!

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  6. I did this last year, and sadly I need to do it again...so thanks for the inspiration!
    How do I add the reply feature to my blog comments?? Will you share??
    xoxo

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    1. Me too Dawn!!! I filled more than 40 bags but I don't think I made it through the whole house AND unfortunately the PAPER keeps rolling in!!! As far as comments, I changed the settings to have the comments follow the post instead of a pop up window. I love this feature as I can respond to people (not sure if they ever see it though)

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    2. I think I might have figured out the reply thing :) thx!

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  7. I so need to do this but it will have to be a summer project for me. I just can't do that and teach kindergarten! You should show us your before and after photos... now that would be inspiration for others(if it is as truly messy as you say it is ha ha) I am so bad because for me if it's out of sight, it's out of mind so most of my clutter is hidden from others...oops now my secret is out!

    Happy Cleaning!
    Robin

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    1. Robin---I almost took a before photo but I was in such a rush today that I did not. But I promise, if you really want them, I will take and post a few.
      I agree it would be hard to eackle this on a bog scale while teaching kindergarten.

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  8. I am interested in reducing, but because I feel like I paid for the items that are cluttering my house that I need to try to sell the items first. Do you every feel like you are throwing away items of monetary value but just not value to you? I am trying craigslist but I feel like only certain items move fast.
    Mandy

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    1. Hi Mandy. I am very budget conscious right now too. My oldest son really wants to go to a Catholic high school and we really need to save for that. Money is tight for us right now too. So, I am only throwing away (or recycling) a lot of true trash thus far (paper that has piled up etc)....BUT I will be selling things (Kate's clothes and some other things). Sometimes, I feel guilty selling Kate's clothes and other things but we are not made of money and I feel like I should try to recoup some of the $ I have spent on her clothes. We are trying to decide whether to have a garage sale or not. I donate things as well and give a lot of things away.

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  9. I feel like I need to de-clutter but because I am on a budget, I feel like I am wasting money if I don't try to sell the items first. Do you ever try to sell items on Craigslist? Or any other feature. I have seen where you sell clothes on your website. Do you ever give items away that have monetary value but just not value to you right now in your life?
    Mandy

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  10. OK, I feel better after reading someone else is having problems with the word verification! I just tried four times on another blog. Way to go with the organization!

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  11. Hi Kim, I love your project! My project is a daily one all year long where there is always a bag of stuff to go somewhere. Often there are two or three: for the SallyAnne, various friends/neighbours with younger children who love handmedowns. :) One of the best ones I do is "one bag in and one bag out" philosophy. When I buy something new, something old has to get pitched. It works like a charm!!

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  12. I am doing the same thing! Can't wait to get some papers out of here!

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  13. Ahhh - this is so inspiring Kim! And by the way, I am with you on the word verification. The two posts I tried to comment on today that had it it took me multiple tries to guess and I thought I was going to scream!

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  14. Sounds like you are on a big roll Kim!! Best feeling though isn't it to start checking things off your list! I have multiple projects going on here, having just moved, am pacing myself but being vigilant at the same time.
    I am done with this word verification nonsense....a waste of time in my humble opinion!

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  15. Word Verification should be renamed "Word Frustration"! Oh my goodness, I stare at the "scribble" for minutes on end most times!! Talk about MENTAL TORTURE!! You inspire me! I'm gonna DE-CLUTTER all the junk mail for the past few months that has piled up!!! *Guess that includes that will include the JUNK mail that says I won a Free trip, or the one that says I won a...Free Car, and the notice that I have been selected to received 25,000.00!! Ha!!! A girl can WISH can't she!!

    Love the "new feature"

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    1. hope you find lots of winnings in your junk mail:)

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  16. You're so inspiring with the "40 bags in 40 days." I want to do it, too, but I'm wondering is the goal 40 bags of things to donate? Or can some of the 40 bags be things to throw out? I guess I shouldn't worry too much . . . I could probably find 40 bags of each in my house! I wish you a peaceful and joyous Lenten season. I love this time of year; Easter and spring will both be here before we know it. Have a happy day!

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  17. You're so inspiring, Kim. Can some of your "40 bags" be things that are thrown away? Or is the idea that all 40 bags are things to be donated? Either way, I'm sure 40 bags will be easy to come up with in our house; it's a big mess. Wishing you a peaceful Lent.

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    1. Carrie, Thank you! I just finished Kate's closet and I have a pile of stuff to give away to a friend locally, a pile of things to recycle (shoe boxes, a small bag of trash and a few items to sell). The real purpose is the less stuff we have the less it takes our time and minds away from God. I pray and listen to music while I clean out the various areas too. 40 bags is really easy to do. and cleanliness it next to Godliness:)

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  18. You are an inspiration to me--I've been trying to spend less and to buy only what I really need and love.
    Do you start the Lenten season with pancakes? Pancake Tuesday is a family tradition with us.

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    1. Lisa, Thank you. I am trying to buy less too. We did not have pancakes but that sounds like a fun tradition.

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  19. Tonight, we have Shrove Tuesday at our church (Methodist), and we are each supposed to bring in an item that represents our Lenten sacrifice. We will share as well as eat the food items...for me, fast food. I have a problem with drive-thrus being so quick and easy. My son's family is giving up soft drinks. My sister is giving up Farmville. My nextdoor neighbors are giving up tv altogether...yikes!! Oh, and I am bringing in deep-fried corndog nuggets from our local barbeque restaurant...sure to be a hit with the kiddos!! I also plan to use your idea of 40 bags in 40 days, but, I won't bring in anything but an empty bag. I am sure others will find this to be a wonderful idea, as I do. Thank you!!

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  20. I am inspired..... I could easily find 40 bags of stuff to get rid of or donate in this house. I am starting to feel a major purge coming on, but I need to find some time to do it. I am a once I start, I can't stop kind of girl. Maybe if we have another long weekend coming up.

    xoxo,

    Lisa

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  21. I am so with you on that word decoding thing. It takes me a least 3 trys and i get fed up, like you say, I don't have it and never get spam either!!

    Btw, I love purging. I love to clean out. I hope you start enjoying it too! :) Nice garbage!! ;)

    Jill

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  22. I am in the process of moving so I am purging big time. Some things get recycled, trashed or donated. We have made multiple trips to Goodwill and had several large items and Habitat came and picked up. I know someone will love the items we have donated. Movers will be here in two weeks so I have to get busy. I am not Catholic but I love the meaning of Lent and have been a closet participant for many years.

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  23. thank you for sharing your 40/40 post.. I am going to do the same thing! I get so side tracked ( with these amazing blogs ) and my house falls behind. It is so much more fun to read the blogs. and yours is doing two things at once for me, fun and motivating me to clean out as well! would love to see before and afters.. I promise mine are probably worse!

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  24. this is such a good idea. I need to do this as well! And we use the same shampoo :)

    xoxo.

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  25. i an happy to be a recipient of a couple of those 40 bags!@!@! Libs is set for summer in the swim area!!! love ya!

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Thank you for your kindness.