• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
white house black shutters
  • About This Site
  • Project Gallery
  • Decluttering Guides
  • About 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS™
  • House Tour
  • Most Recent Projects & Posts
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About This Site
  • Project Gallery
  • Decluttering Guides
  • About 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS™
  • House Tour
  • Most Recent Projects & Posts
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    40 BAGS 40 DAYS Week One Progress

    February 16, 2013 |

    This past Wednesday, we kicked off our third annual 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS decluttering challenge. Want to join in? It’s not too late! Check out this post, get our printable calendar, and join the closed facebook group for support. Are you already joining us or want to see blogs who are? Link up at the bottom of this post!

     40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS decluttering challenge, week 1 progress. free #printables, private group to join. #40bags40days #organizing

    This week, I wanted to start small and tackle the places that were out in the open and had collected clutter. Papers, junk, stuff that was staring me in the face and getting in the way.

    One of my goals for this project was to sell some of the big furniture we have and like, but aren’t using. Thanks to a reader on our facebook page, on Monday I sold a big roll top desk that was going from room to room and getting in the way. YAY! 🙂

    I also failed at giving my husband clues that I had sold it, and instead convinced him we were robbed:

    290838_10100750935116938_13701168_62332636_412572808_o IMG_8913

    But then on Tuesday, I had a clutter-iffic pile leftover from the desk staring me in the face. YAY. 🙁

    For my day one on Wendesday, I tackled that pile.

    I got one bag of garbage out of it: old receipts, tons of old ACT tests from my tutoring days, and lots of junk. The rest was paperwork that was filed, old pictures and mementos headed to a storage box, tools, and office supplies that were put in their spot. I also cleared the picture ledges to make way for the new and moved the Goodwill “steal” that I shouldn’t have bought in the first place.

    IMG_8941 IMG_8946

    On Thursday, I decided to go after the toys that had gotten a bit out of control. I usually keep two baskets of toys in here: one for randoms, one for legos, but you know how toy migration is.

    I told myself I could decorate a little bit if I finished it quickly.

    IMG_8947

    I timed it, and bam! Lunch and kid distractions included, the room was completely done in two hours. I thinned the toys and books out with stuff we no longer needed, and filled a laundry basket of toys and stuffed animals to put away. One bag off to be donated!

    so I got to make the space pretty! I hung a bookshelf, rearranged the picture ledges, and hung a frame.

    IMG_8953

    On Friday, I decided to tackle the foyer area. It wasn’t bad, but with the kids growing and seasons changing, I found a bag’s worth of shoes (in our wine crate shoe storage) and coats to donate.

    IMG_8974

    We also finally hung this shelf with hooks, and added some baskets to fix the mail/keys/wallet situation.

    I had a mirror I’ve been saving for three years but couldn’t find a spot for it. I thought it would work here but nope! I’m too short. :)  Back it goes to my sister-in-law who found it at a garage sale. Three years ago.

    IMG_8975 IMG_8959

     

    Week one: Three days, three bags and a mirror out!

    IMG_8971

     

    I’m having trouble adding the link party this morning, so please leave a comment below with:

    links to any and all of your 40 BAGS 40 DAYS blog post(s) from this week

    AND/OR

    your instagram username if you’re sharing progress over there with the tag #40bags40days
    (like this: http://instagram.com/your_username_here)

     

     

    What did you tackle this week?

    If you didn’t, have I convinced you to join us? It’s not too late and we would love to have you! 🙂

    More 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013

    • 40 BAGS in 40 DAYS 2013 Wrap Up
    • 40 BAGS 40 DAYS Progress
    • 40 BAGS 40 DAYS Week Three Progress
    • Non-Stuff Things to Organize

    Subscribe

    for updates, tips, and free decluttering guides

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ellen Price

      February 24, 2013 at 4:33 pm

      Here's my week one post! http://ellenscreativepassage.blogspot.com/2013/02/40-bags-in-40-dayim-taking.html
      What a relief!!

    2. michelle

      February 23, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      Hi there,
      I didn't take pictures but in the past week I have purged 8 industrial sized bags of garbage, 6 of the same size in stuff to go to good will, and am still continuing!! Thank you so much for the inspiration
      michelle

    3. Jackie

      February 16, 2013 at 6:29 pm

      Well, I started yesterday and I managed to fill up a bag right off the hop. I've got lots to go through and I'm sure it won't be hard to meet the bag a day thing. 🙂

      Here's the post!

      http://www.savvysuburbanmama.com/2013/02/declutter-time-join-in-and-clear-40.html

      Next week I'll share all 7 bags (or boxes or whatever I stuff it all into 🙂

    4. Rob

      February 16, 2013 at 12:42 pm

      I'm working on this; probably one of only a few guys. In the first two days I've gotten rid of one box and 5 bags (camera bags, extra computer bags). I've printed the calendar and consulted with my wife in what we're tackling when. Looking forward to clearing out, and hoping it helps weed out some consumerism at the same time.

    5. Sonya Barker ~At Home with The Barkers

      February 16, 2013 at 9:21 am

      I'm excited to be part of this, it is so motivating! You made great progress this week!!
      I started sharing on Instagram as well. http://instagram.com/sonyabarker (@athomewiththebarkers)

    6. Nicole

      February 16, 2013 at 9:14 am

      Thanks for the motivation! I'm starting today. BTW, I love the wine crate shoe storage!

    7. Erin

      February 16, 2013 at 9:13 am

      Hi Anne Marie,
      Nice job! I am waiting to get my living room done so that we can move the rest of our furniture into our house, and do some decorating!
      Here is first post from my 40 Days, 40 Bags: http://missbookworm85.blogspot.com/2013/02/hello-2013.html
      I have my posts tagged 40 Bags, 40 Days

    8. Andrea

      February 16, 2013 at 9:10 am

      http://supermomwithoutacape.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-1-wrap-of-40-in-40.html

      Here is my progress this week! Great Job Ann Marie!

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Ann Marie. I want to help you find peace in your home through simplifying your life, taking on small projects, and learning to find your style. Learn more about this site and why I started it...

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    CATEGORIES:

    Hi, I'm Ann Marie. I want to help you find peace in your home through simplifying your life, taking on small projects, and learning to find your style. Learn more about this site and why I started it...

    Footer

    return to the top

    About

    • About
    • House Tours
    • Projects
    • About 40 Bags in 40 Days

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Social

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • 40 Bags in 40 Days
      Facebook Group
    • WHBS Facebook Page

    Copyright © 2023 White House Black Shutters