Starting off 2013 with de-cluttering numeric challenge

The challenge is 7 items for 7 days= 49 or more items.  Some people don't like numeric challenges, I love them.  Since part of why de-cluttering never seemed to work for me before is staying focused.  With these types of challenges I can bounce around and not have to think as much on the space but just the items. I look forward to seeing how much I can get done with this.

2013 New Year's Resolution(s)

Don't let this year's resolutions go in one year and out the other.  Keep it simple, write it down, and post it where you can see it daily. 
  Here is mine:
(1) eat better, healthier meals
(2) manage my time better

Beardo style hat for Josh

So me and Mariana put our heads together on this one.  Josh wanted one of those hats that has a beard looking thing attached.  This ended up turning out much nicer than I even expected.  Since Josh really likes the side paneled furry hats from AE, they purchased one of those. Mariana knits, so she done a panel in black for the beard and I added buttons to the beard part and loops into the hat to make it removable.This was definitely alot cheaper, it does look different than the much more expensive ones...he loves it!

Memory Ornament

http://www.frugalupstate.com/crafts-diy/easy-childrens-christmas-craft-paperclip-angels/Even though the children I keep are too young to understand the tragedy of the Connecticut school shooting.  We made one angel and hung on the kids craft tree in memory of those spending Christmas with the angels.  Many prayers to those families.  I had hope to make several this year after finding the idea in the above link.

Snicker Tree

I made 3 last night, and they are already delivered.  I have made these for years.  Each one has about 20oz of Snicker minis in foil.

Ok I already posted I am NOT minimalist in this area. But I have donated 9 artificial trees and trashed 3 for 2012. So, for me, I have done well at slowly paring down...this year I have 3 trees up.
This one don't count:

The Kitchen Tree

The Craft Tree- only lights are allowed we make everything else and work on it all through December, so it isn't done.  The ages working on it this year are 18 month through 4 years old.

 The Living room tree-the only live one I have up this year

 We done the "elf on the shelf"  this year as well.

"The Grilling Shed"/My 1 hour, $30 August 2012 Project

The Grilling Shed before/after

It has been so hot, 1 hour was all I was willing to spend on this. This was the time to check for those flower mark downs...my $30 cost was the total for all the flowers I bought. (2 purples in the front, 2 small vines, large spider plant, 3 hanging baskets)There is still work to be done but I think the little time and money was well spent.

My 1st numeric challenge - Sept 28-30, 2012

Here is what I have come up with so far...
1. Bag of plastics to recycle(I will keep adding to this)
2-5 Beautiful princess wands for our afternoon craft(that will go home with them)of course they look like paper towel tubes but we haven't worked our magic yet.
6-10 Empty misc glass jars with lids. A friend is coming to get these, a real friend would have probably took off the labels-but I am in a time crunch here.
11-14 egg cartons to drop off to the lady down the road that sells fresh eggs

Things I didn't take a picture of but was able to complete the challenge*happy*

15-22 dead ferns over the fence row to the rubbish pile
23-30 plastic pots hope to recycle but may have to trash
31 spray "Instant Vacation" I have never known if this was room spray or something I am supposed to wear.
32-38 misc shampoo/conditioner/hair stuff as well as empty-trashed
39-lots of newspapers for recycling
40-42- boxes of more broken down cardboard for recycling
43-47 broken toy cars to the trashcan
48-52 little girls shoes in donation bag

I work with another group of de-clutterers, this idea then became "The Weekender" Challenge. Lots of happy spaces are showing up with this. I won't list out the large amount of stuff that's being cleared but I will share some pictures of my day: Parent's of the children I keep during the week often bring clothes.  I usually bag what some will want then donate the rest.

Yes, those are wire hangers. I hate wire hangers these are from hubby's work laundry service...Ugh

Time to load the car
Front seat-donations

Back seat
Little cardboard for the recycling bin

And a few papers

"Out the door" habit/routine messed up

My "out the door" habit has been messed up for over a week now. I didn't realize that I actually had a good, organized habit until something started messing it up. We have a hook for all the keys (and yes everyone uses it). A holder for my cell phone on the wall, and my purse hangs on the back of one of the kitchen doors. It's a grab -n- go set up. But the strap broke on my purse over a week ago, today I WILL take the time to fix it because right now EVERY time I have needed to go anywhere I have had to hunt for my purse. 

I have also been trying to figure out something on those darn reusable bags. I love those things, but can't ever remember to take them with me. So far, having a few bundled together and keeping one set in the car has helped. I try to replace the set of atleast 3 in the car when I carry in the groceries.

What kind of "out the door" habit/routine do you have?

Meal kits- easy and quick suppers

We are trying to eat what we have in the freezers.
Tonight one of the (2 pk) pizza kits

whole wheat crusts(2 pack)
bell pepper
red pepper
onion
browned hamburger
pepperoni
cheese
sauteed mushrooms

Maybe a small salad
pound cake I am thawing out as well

Kitchen shelf unit

My kitchen gets out of control quickly and often.  It's the busiest room.  Today instead of doing a to-do list I worked on a got-done list.
7/28 Got Done List
quick pick up in
Bathroom #1
Bathroom #2
Playroom #1
Playroom #2
De-cluttered my kitchen shelves-
This 1st set I try to keep more for looks, so it doesn't really get cluttered, but I cleaned all of the shelves:

The larger unit I have tried to have some functional parts, once it starts getting messy it starts looking really cluttered really quick.

Before:

After:

Another great storage tip that you won't find on Pinterest.

Take your favorite "go to" mixing bowl fill it full of misc anything and everything, stick in the back of any hidden space you can find.  If your like me you can spend the next 2 years wondering what happened to your favorite bowl and then find it filled with all the junk that should have just went into the trash a loooong time ago like I did.

Contents-trashed
Bowl-since I have replaced it, donation bag

So today I am attempting to start a blog.  I hate to be so computer challenged.  Would like to have a place to put my de-cluttering  and miscellaneous  projects and maybe have others to share what they are working on as well.  Was going to watch some instructional videos, have you ever noticed that most of them are done by what looks like to be twelve year old children?  Yes, feeling old right now.  Well off to read more about how to go about doing this, and maybe a nap!