Lately I’ve been moving a bit slowly. I guess that’s what happens when one is really pregnant, and I know it’s a valid excuse (also works for all the ice cream I’ve been having). But still. I want to do more.
Seeing all of you on your #40bagsin40days journeys, rocking it out, being awesome. It’s so inspiring. It sounds like I’m being cheesy for the sake of social media and BLAH blah blah, but I’m not. It really is crazy to me that so many people have come together to change their lives. And that really does make me tear up for non-hormonal reasons.
I’m not sharing daily progress and prompts like I wanted to, but I’m here and listening. I’m cheering from the sidelines while desperately wanting to get out and go tackle the whole team.
Up until now I’ve been focusing on maybe a thing or two a week, going in short spurts, and slowly trying to take this house from just moved in to slightly organized. I’ve been chipping away and piling things up.
But yesterday was different. Maybe nesting finally kicked in or maybe it was one too many chocolate peanut butter eggs.
All of a sudden I felt a storm brewing inside of me like I hadn’t felt in a while. I thought, “I need this stuff out of here. And it needs to be done NOW.”
And then I just went nuts.
I brought the pile of bags that had been piling up out to the van and that wasn’t good enough. More could fit!!!
Did a quick once over on all the random places, nooks, and drawers on the first floor, filled two more bags for donation and another two full of papers and crap to recycle.
Even got over the stuff I don’t love and could keep or sell but DON’T NEED TO. We don’t need to keep all this. I don’t have time to sell it. Someone can use this and appreciate it. I tell you that but yet I need to keep reminding myself of it. We all do. Decrapifying is a constant process.
And today, my van is empty and my life feels slightly lighter. The kitchen still has dishes and there are still toys to be picked up. There’s more work to do and I am back to moving slow. But we are 8 bags, a sled, a rug, a lamp, 2 blankets, and a mirror lighter.
And it feels so good. 🙂
Cindy says
I’ve been going through kids toys/clothes/my closet/kitchen cabinets/etc slowly but thoroughly now for a month and the result is so liberating! My family room is livable, I have more space than ever, I’ve donated a lot but I actually found stuff I forgot I had-new pair of summer sandals from last year, new heating pad, a magic bullet! It was really neat to get rid of stuff just hindering me from having more living space and I don’t miss a thing!!!
Virginia Allain says
That’s definitely inspiring. I know at certain times of the moon I get very busy organizing, so maybe that was it.
Laurie says
We are on spring break, touring around the southeast. I have my notebook and the list of items to sort and decluttter is growing by leaps and bounds. Having some time away sure changes perspective.
Marilou (your moma) says
ok first –good job, I am so proud of you. second aww your so cute, belly. third sled? sled? what I need that sled, jk fourth rug, rug what rug…..?????I need a rug what no I dont. sixth, are you doing this bec ause you do not want to end up like your mother? lol no reallly ?
Ann Marie Heasley says
1st: thanks mom 🙂
2nd: awww, thanks again! she says hi
3rd: LOL! you don’t need the sled.
4th: this one was slightly stained. you crack me up!!!
5th: (you missed the 5th one. I guess I’ll pretend you said “I love you!”) I love you too!
6th: I’m doing this because you did a great job and because I finally realized that you’re right. I didn’t need 200 tee shirts! 😉
Thanks for the big smile!
Teri says
GAH!!! I want that sled!!! LOL
Ann Marie Heasley says
well, it will be at the Batavia, IL Goodwill if you are in need of one. 🙂
Ann Marie Heasley says
and I just have to laugh. I really had a hard time putting that in the car!!! But the kids are all getting older and it has only been used as a photo prop and not for 2 years.
Maybe I should go get it. I won’t. Stop it, Teri!!!! 😉 LOL
Stephanie says
This is inspiring! I’m so impressed that you are doing it while pregnant! I am trying to follow along and de-crapify as well. We are only 3 rooms down so far, but feeling so much lighter! My mom is moving in with us this summer and my goal is to get rid of 50% of our stuff before she does. So I’ve been going though all of our junk and trying to cut it in half. Like, if I have 7 sweaters, I donate 3 or 4. If there are 10 Barbie dolls, I donate 5. Amazingly, I have slowly gotten rid of half of my kids toys and they seriously did not notice. Apparently they did not need six Lightening McQueen Hot Wheels after all. Who knew? 😉
Jess Townes says
Get it! This is so inspiring!
In all seriousness, I can’t thank you enough for your leadership on this challenge. My whole house thanks you. Especially my basement.
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
My clutter is calling me, too. I think I need to do the whirlwind thing (i.e. go nuts) and get it done in one shot because I’m not so good at the ‘consistent thing’ – As is obvious by the existence of my clutter! Looking forward to that lighter feeling, too.