. Then after that, it on to the "computer/craft/library room....I just keep thinking I would hate for anyone to put this room on TV . Purge, purge, purge!!! I know that's the ticket!!Ok...this morning, I watched all my Tivo'd Oprahs and one of them dealt with organization. I feel so motivated!! Mermy--help me out here. I'm gonna start with about 30 years worth of photos that are crammed into one big box. What's the best way? Albums, boxes by the year, trash . Then after that, it on to the "computer/craft/library room....I just keep thinking I would hate for anyone to put this room on TV . Purge, purge, purge!!! I know that's the ticket!!
. Then after that, it on to the "computer/craft/library room....I just keep thinking I would hate for anyone to put this room on TV . Purge, purge, purge!!! I know that's the ticket!!Replies
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SoWal Insider
Good LUck!!! When you are done you can come and visit me.....:roll:
fartblossom
and when you finish at ibd's come up here - i can keep you busy for years !!
SoWal Guide
wow. wish I had caught that show. most of my stuff is pretty well organized with one big fat exception. photos. Good Lord! they are crammed in boxes, big and small, and shoved under beds, in cabinets and closets and I don't even know where else. and they go back to childhood.
we don't really have recent photos to speak of - they are all on computer where no one will ever see them. at least they aren't under the bed...
okay, you've inspired me.:roll: now I gotta come up with a plan.
we don't really have recent photos to speak of - they are all on computer where no one will ever see them. at least they aren't under the bed...
okay, you've inspired me.:roll: now I gotta come up with a plan.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
Good LUck!!! When you are done you can come and visit me.....:roll:
and when you finish at ibd's come up here - i can keep you busy for years !!
Hmmmm.....a new business might be born of this! you know me, ever the schemer...but ladies, I would be delighted to help you out--you pay the airfare and feed me and keep me hydrated and I'm yours!!
wow. wish I had caught that show. most of my stuff is pretty well organized with one big fat exception. photos. Good Lord! they are crammed in boxes, big and small, and shoved under beds, in cabinets and closets and I don't even know where else. and they go back to childhood.
we don't really have recent photos to speak of - they are all on computer where no one will ever see them. at least they aren't under the bed...
okay, you've inspired me.:roll: now I gotta come up with a plan.
I can imagine that you do have lots of photos!
We can make a plan together--I need help--I don't think I can stand buying and putting together a bunch of albums....need suggestions!!
quirty
We have something in common, DD. I have had boxes upon boxes of photos and empty frames and albums up in my dining room for months (they don't get in the way as we don't really do much dining in there.) But that stuff can wait a little longer - I am alone in the house today for the first time in eons and don't know where to start. So far I have moved all the miscellaneous stuff out of the master bedroom so I can start tearing up the carpet (Bob took the furniture a week ago and I am going to redo the room in a tropical theme. Already bought the wicker bed from Ikea last week, among other things.) I just ironed some candle wax out of the carpet in my sun room. I'm washing all the bathroom rugs (in the dryer now.) Started my dishwasher. Moved some backless stools into the kitchen and the old bulky ones down into the garage. Replaced a battery in the clock in the sunroom. There is so much to be done in this house, I'm going to need more than a few weekends! Guess I'll pull out the vacuum now and make the rounds and then get started on the bathrooms. And I'll take a break every so often for a Sowal fix!
SoWal ExpertAuthor
We have something in common, DD. I have had boxes upon boxes of photos and empty frames and albums up in my dining room for months (they don't get in the way as we don't really do much dining in there.) But that stuff can wait a little longer - I am alone in the house today for the first time in eons and don't know where to start. So far I have moved all the miscellaneous stuff out of the master bedroom so I can start tearing up the carpet (Bob took the furniture a week ago and I am going to redo the room in a tropical theme. Already bought the wicker bed from Ikea last week, among other things.) I just ironed some candle wax out of the carpet in my sun room. I'm washing all the bathroom rugs (in the dryer now.) Started my dishwasher. Moved some backless stools into the kitchen and the old bulky ones down into the garage. Replaced a battery in the clock in the sunroom. There is so much to be done in this house, I'm going to need more than a few weekends! Guess I'll pull out the vacuum now and make the rounds and then get started on the bathrooms. And I'll take a break every so often for a Sowal fix!
Now here's a motivated girl!!!!!!!! I decided to shred some stuff while SoWalling, so I've already jammed the shredder once, and just went for more trash bags. I thought just a moment ago, I could just leave it all out for Maggie to shred--but I don't wanna have to pick it up later!! You go, Linda--I'm proud of you!!!
Beach Fanatic
This is a motivational thread!!!
I want to start on my photos also, I just don't know where to begin. Like Toots, I now have all my recent photos stored on the computer and I need to burn them to a CD and start some sort of CD Photo Book, but then how do you know what is on the CD?
I want to start on my photos also, I just don't know where to begin. Like Toots, I now have all my recent photos stored on the computer and I need to burn them to a CD and start some sort of CD Photo Book, but then how do you know what is on the CD?
SoWal Insider
LBH wow!!!
Glad I'm not the only one tired of piles and dust. Tomorrow I'm meeting with our accountant -- purposely made an early appt so I could get all our stuff together and filed early! Our personal paperwork is finished but the rental house stuff takes ALL day to organize -- utilities, rents, deposits, payments, blah blah blah. I need a better system!
I started organizing photos but got burned out. I don't know what to do about the digital photos, but all our pre-digital photos from 2000-05 are in those ShoeBoxes by Exposures -- it's a really handy storage system. But there is so much more to do! I want to meet those people who scrapbook and ask them how they do it. It's all I can do to get one photo in a frame.
Sold a bunch of stuff on ebay this month, and more to go. Trying to simplify but it is so hard. We bring in more stuff every month than we can get rid of!
Wish I had seen the Oprah episode. Does she show episodes on her site?
Glad I'm not the only one tired of piles and dust. Tomorrow I'm meeting with our accountant -- purposely made an early appt so I could get all our stuff together and filed early! Our personal paperwork is finished but the rental house stuff takes ALL day to organize -- utilities, rents, deposits, payments, blah blah blah. I need a better system!
I started organizing photos but got burned out. I don't know what to do about the digital photos, but all our pre-digital photos from 2000-05 are in those ShoeBoxes by Exposures -- it's a really handy storage system. But there is so much more to do! I want to meet those people who scrapbook and ask them how they do it. It's all I can do to get one photo in a frame.
Sold a bunch of stuff on ebay this month, and more to go. Trying to simplify but it is so hard. We bring in more stuff every month than we can get rid of!
Wish I had seen the Oprah episode. Does she show episodes on her site?
SoWal ExpertAuthor
TFT--I don't know if she has the episodes on her website. I've never really looked. I just Tivo them and then pick & choose which ones to watch. She really does have some great shows. This particular one showed a couple in Texas who had the absolute worst clutter EVER! It was affecting their whole lives. Anyhoo, the guy that was helping them said many things that were inspirational, but the one thing that really stuck with me was, when you buy one thing, you have to throw one thing out! Radical concept.
SoWal Insider
LBH wow!!!
Glad I'm not the only one tired of piles and dust. Tomorrow I'm meeting with our accountant -- purposely made an early appt so I could get all our stuff together and filed early! Our personal paperwork is finished but the rental house stuff takes ALL day to organize -- utilities, rents, deposits, payments, blah blah blah. I need a better system!
I started organizing photos but got burned out. I don't know what to do about the digital photos, but all our pre-digital photos from 2000-05 are in those ShoeBoxes by Exposures -- it's a really handy storage system. But there is so much more to do! I want to meet those people who scrapbook and ask them how they do it. It's all I can do to get one photo in a frame.
Sold a bunch of stuff on ebay this month, and more to go. Trying to simplify but it is so hard. We bring in more stuff every month than we can get rid of!
Wish I had seen the Oprah episode. Does she show episodes on her site?
I am such deep doo with FBB, I haven't even started any of this stuff.(at least you have 3 little ones TFT. I don't have any defense!) I don't know why. I just dread it and put it off. This is a new low for even me though! I put it off all year. I don't even have an excuse. My Mac travels with me to SoWal, when we go.
Oh yeah, I am also in trouble about my closets too. I am in shambles. I may be on restriction till I get it all done.
So a big ol' GEE, THANKS FOR STATRTING THIS THREAD FOR ME TODAY DD!!!
I'm so screwed. Beach Fanatic
TFT--I don't know if she has the episodes on her website. I've never really looked. I just Tivo them and then pick & choose which ones to watch. She really does have some great shows. This particular one showed a couple in Texas who had the absolute worst clutter EVER! It was affecting their whole lives. Anyhoo, the guy that was helping them said many things that were inspirational, but the one thing that really stuck with me was, when you buy one thing, you have to throw one thing out! Radical concept.
The really hard part is getting to the initial stage of no clutter at all and every room being organized. We tried living by this concept for a while and I do believe it would work. When I bought a new bottle of fingernail polish, I threw one away -- but I had a HARD time doing this with clothes. It is unbelievable how attached we get to things that really mean nothing to us.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
I am such deep doo with FBB, I haven't even started any of this stuff.(at least you have 3 little ones TFT. I don't have any defense!) I don't know why. I just dread it and put it off. This is a new low for even me though! I put it off all year. I don't even have an excuse. My Mac travels with me to SoWal, when we go.
Oh yeah, I am also in trouble about my closets too. I am in shambles. I may be on restriction till I get it all done.
So a big ol' GEE, THANKS FOR STATRTING THIS THREAD FOR ME TODAY DD!!!
I do what I can...
Sorry, gttbm. You know I luv ya! Do I need to meet you in sowal to help? :clap_1:
The really hard part is getting to the initial stage of no clutter at all and every room being organized. We tried living by this concept for a while and I do believe it would work. When I bought a new bottle of fingernail polish, I threw one away -- but I had a HARD time doing this with clothes. It is unbelievable how attached we get to things that really mean nothing to us.
That's exactly what this guy said....can't for the life of me remember his name...but he said we get attached just to "stuff".
Christini Zambini
Go through your photos and get rid of the rejects. I used to save every photo, no matter if it was out of focus, bad light, etc. Also, I used to take multiples of the same shot and then get doubles as well so I ended up with 6 or 8 photos of the exact same thing. Also, throw away pictures that no longer mean anything to you. It is difficult at first to throw away photos, but it is absolutely necessary to get the number of photos down to a manageable amount.
Get some photo archival boxes and then decide how to want to organize. You may want to make a box for yourself and for each of your kids, etc. You will just have to divide the photos up and then organize each pile into the box. Label with a photo safe pen. You can organize chronologically or by subject--whichever you feel is less overwhelming. I think its easier to organize by subject.
If you want to do a photo album or scrapbook, select a few photos as you're putting the rest in the archival boxes. You can also do scrapbooks chronologically or by subject. Just of few photo from each event is enough. For instance, a "Christmas" photo album with 2 or 3 photos from each year is manageable.
One neat thing is doing a photo journal. This is like scrapbooking but without all the foo foo sickers, etc. (no offense to any scrapbookers). You put your photos on your archival paper (using photo tape or stickers) and then write a journal entry beside the photo(s) describing the event.
The key to organizing photos is to get rid of as many as you can. Put most of them in a photo box, and if you want, put a few in a photo album/scrapbook.
Get some photo archival boxes and then decide how to want to organize. You may want to make a box for yourself and for each of your kids, etc. You will just have to divide the photos up and then organize each pile into the box. Label with a photo safe pen. You can organize chronologically or by subject--whichever you feel is less overwhelming. I think its easier to organize by subject.
If you want to do a photo album or scrapbook, select a few photos as you're putting the rest in the archival boxes. You can also do scrapbooks chronologically or by subject. Just of few photo from each event is enough. For instance, a "Christmas" photo album with 2 or 3 photos from each year is manageable.
One neat thing is doing a photo journal. This is like scrapbooking but without all the foo foo sickers, etc. (no offense to any scrapbookers). You put your photos on your archival paper (using photo tape or stickers) and then write a journal entry beside the photo(s) describing the event.
The key to organizing photos is to get rid of as many as you can. Put most of them in a photo box, and if you want, put a few in a photo album/scrapbook.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
CCK!!! Thank you!! Love this! Will start when the shredding is done. I'm up to three garbage bags full of shred!! I feel so liberated!!
Beach Fanatic
Bowing smiles to you ladies:clap_1: :clap_1: .....I was inpsired to clean 1 drawer.
I found a ruler from my nephew that I taught 20 years ago! 
And a very sweet letter written from my eldest child when she was in middle school. Too bad I misplaced it when I needed to know she was a good kid.
Maybe another drawer the next hour. I am worn out!
I found a ruler from my nephew that I taught 20 years ago!
And a very sweet letter written from my eldest child when she was in middle school. Too bad I misplaced it when I needed to know she was a good kid.
Maybe another drawer the next hour. I am worn out!
Beach Fanatic
:clap_1: :clap_1: Another cabinet cleaned....found the book to the video camera:clap_1: Had no idea where it was!!
SoWal ExpertAuthor
Bowing smiles to you ladies:clap_1: :clap_1: .....I was inpsired to clean 1 drawer.
I found a ruler from my nephew that I taught 20 years ago!
And a very sweet letter written from my eldest child when she was in middle school. Too bad I misplaced it when I needed to know she was a good kid.
Maybe another drawer the next hour. I am worn out!
:clap_1: :clap_1: Another cabinet cleaned....found the book to the video camera:clap_1: Had no idea where it was!!
:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:
iwish--i too found a letter to me from my son that made me feel better. written about 6 years ago.
shredding's DONE!! Yippee!!
Now on to the pix. Oh man, this is gonna take a while. But, I will be hap, hap, happy when it's done. Wish me luck girls!
Beach Fanatic
:clap_1: :clap_1: :clap_1:
iwish--i too found a letter to me from my son that made me feel better. written about 6 years ago.
shredding's DONE!! Yippee!!
Now on to the pix. Oh man, this is gonna take a while. But, I will be hap, hap, happy when it's done. Wish me luck girls!
Finding treasures like old letters keep me hunting for more. My biggest problem is we have lived in this house for 18 years and have TONS of storage space. My next weekend I can get Mr. iwiwt to help. The upstairs needs its own dumpster!
SoWal ExpertAuthor
Finding treasures like old letters keep me hunting for more. My biggest problem is we have lived in this house for 18 years and have TONS of storage space. My next weekend I can get Mr. iwiwt to help. The upstairs needs its own dumpster!
I feel your pain. It's just the two of us with lots of storage too. Well, we used to have storage, now we have stuff. Anyway, I've found LOTS of cards I need to send to all my friends. I need Kimmi's address BAD, because I have the PERFECT card for her!! Kimmi, if you get a pm from me, FTLOG answer it!!
I've cleaned out a drawer too that had cards, old bills, tons of address labels, snips of paper with passwords, dog registration papers, etc. I'm loving this!
fartblossom
i don't like to read about cleaning/organizing - it's icky !
SoWal ExpertAuthor
i don't like to read about cleaning/organizing - it's icky !
:rofl:
:funn: 
Beach Fanatic
I saw the same Oprah show last week. It prompted me to clean out the drawers and cabinets in the master bathroom. It's amazing how much we had in there that had expired and probably would have caused more harm than good. Photos are also the bain of my otherwise fairly organized existence. Well photos, and kids' keepsakes and saved schoolwork! I never seem to know the best way to save the stuff for the kids.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
I saw the same Oprah show last week. It prompted me to clean out the drawers and cabinets in the master bathroom. It's amazing how much we had in there that had expired and probably would have caused more harm than good. Photos are also the bain of my otherwise fairly organized existence. Well photos, and kids' keepsakes and saved schoolwork! I never seem to know the best way to save the stuff for the kids.
Don't you feel better now that you've cleaned those drawers out? I know I do!! The photos are next. I have some of my kids schoolwork and report cards, but I guess I've tossed some through the years. I will keep what I have, and they can toss it when they inherit it. I am gonna take the advice of that guy though and just work through one room at a time. It will take me months, but when I finish, I should have a clutter free life!
SoWal Insider
Don't you feel better now that you've cleaned those drawers out? I know I do!! The photos are next. I have some of my kids schoolwork and report cards, but I guess I've tossed some through the years. I will keep what I have, and they can toss it when they inherit it. I am gonna take the advice of that guy though and just work through one room at a time. It will take me months, but when I finish, I should have a clutter free life!
I found the link for the Oprah show. It looks like they have clips and articles and lots of good info. I'm going to peruse it this week.
Stop the Clutter
Right now I'm :shock: from hours of tax prep. I feel like I've been doing this
all day. But it is almost done and has been worth the effort.
SoWal Insider
I found the link for the Oprah show. It looks like they have clips and articles and lots of good info. I'm going to peruse it this week.
Stop the Clutter
Right now I'm :shock: from hours of tax prep. I feel like I've been doing this
Tax prep
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