I am feeling overwhelmed by my house. I fear we have too much stuff. WAY too much stuff. Which is funny, because we probably really don't. And Isaac definitely doesn't think we do. Neither do the empty cupboards in the kitchen or the empty spaces in the closets...So, it's just that quarterly itch I get - the itch to purge everything in sight. Donate until it hurts. GET RID OF EVERYTHING week.
The focus of my current target are closets. The extra "miscellaneous" closet in our hallway, my closet and Sammy's. I look at these design blogs and I instantly envy the sparse, simple designs. And I wish I had that. But then I look around and realize I love the cluster looks on my walls and the cozy feeling from the basic design in my home, but I'm having trouble balancing the two: CAN you balance the clustery organized look with the sparse simplicity? Hmmmm.
My closet is the biggest source of frustration. I have a lovely, lovely closet, but it's full. I COULD stop shopping, but I'm always trying to find ways to improve my sometimes matronly (see: frumpy mom look) wardrobe. So what usually happens is I shop the sales, find great pieces and then have to go through and purge because...really. My closet it full. Need to find a better way!
The same with Sammy's closet. My kid is spoiled and has so much. SO MUCH. I get that. Now I need to go through (always) and figure out the things to keep for him, the things to give away and find that dang resolve, once again, to not buy him so much. Which is a failing of mine. I think, though, with Sammy's stuff is I have a hard time knowing what is age appropriate. I always have and it hasn't gotten better. So I try to figure out and buy things and we're left with things way younger than him as well as things that are too old and everything in between. I wish there was a solution for that!
And then the hall closet. Still organized or functional, but I can tell it's starting to morph into the catch all place for things I need to deal with. I hate those closets; they make me twitch. So it'll be cleaned out and purged. Organized. Mostly purged; I can feel it! Once that's done this morning, I can finish those little projects that are just sitting there due to laziness and maybe, MAYBE the itch to purge will go away. For a few months, anyway.
This may be where the word of the year comes to bite me in the butt...
(leave, glen hansard)
can I come garage sale shopping before you make a DI run?
ReplyDeleteAnd Adam was wondering why I really wanted to get the library done. He thinks if I can close the door and not see it, it shouldn't bother me. Don't get me wrong, most of our closets still need a major reorganization after the move, but an entire room just left as boxes? I just can't do it.
ReplyDeletePurging going on at my house. I always knew I had too much stuff- but really? This much? I am looking forward to that simplistic style.
ReplyDeleteSharon, please come DI shop. "T" your house AIN'T full, come purge to your hearts content. Mom
ReplyDeleteI get that itch too. It drives my husband crazy. He can't bear to part with anything so I try to do it when he's not around.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually looking forward to moving into our new house next month so I can go through everything and put it in its place. If it doesn't have a place it's out of there. We were in such a hurry to pack and move that I didn't have time to purge before we packed, which really would have been smarter.
When you're done with yours can you come do mine?
ReplyDeleteI get the same itch too- but I'm cheap and a packrat and can't manage to get rid of stuff I've spent money on. So far we've moved enough times that I thin it all out before we do. One more big thin out and then hopefully just the yearly :)
ReplyDeleteSharon - yes, but I'm not promising there will be anything good.
ReplyDeleteOh, Amanda. No. EVERYTHING should be organized. Feel free to knock your hubby upside the head for me! :)
Mom - I have to purge MY house so I can come relieve you of certain bowls. And pie plates...
We did the same, Christin. This move was haphazard and hurried. I did it as we moved in, but still. Needs to be done again!
lbs - send the ticket and I'm there tomorrow!
Maggie - Are you guys moving soon? Or are you in the valley to stay?
Funny. It drives Brad completely nuts when I get 'purgy' which is way more than I would like to admit. I have to do it in small doses so he doesn't notice as much!! He is the shopper in the house not me. Can't stand clutter but also can't help it when the other half doesn't mind it.
ReplyDeleteNow after reading your post I'm thinking of all the things I can take to the DI :)
Did you get my text?
I am a big purger. It started out of necessity (moving across the country, living in NYC) but I've come to love it. I love not having stuff. BUT it does come back to bite me in my own ass sometimes. I also hate to be wasteful so my challenge is to balance those two urges.
ReplyDeleteRebecca - same. It's a difficult balance, no? I tend to get rid of everything in my purges and then think, Oh. Wait. I probably should have kept THAT...
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't purge bowls and pie plates that have been around a loooong time, in a purge, would you ?
ReplyDeleteNope! Those I keep...
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love mounds of snow.... We're actually moving to Blanding next summer(2011) to be closer to family. That's where Sean is from and my family is all in California. We'll see how that pans out. Truthfully I have a hard time with winter in Logan but I LOVE the people here. Crazy but I can see why people stay. But we're enjoying the moments we've got.
ReplyDeleteI get that. We never thought we'd come back here. It has a way of sucking you in, though!
ReplyDelete