Marie vs Me

6 Comments

Posted on March 24, 2015

Over the past 6 six weeks I have become increasingly aware of the name, Marie Kondo. For those of you who feel like you have been living under a rock, she is a Japanese decluttering and tidying guru.

One of the things that seems to have captured people’s imagination is her method of folding and storing t-shirts and underwear. When I first read about this, I dismissed it because I figured I did not have enough t-shirts to warrant having a special method of folding them. Origami, anyone? Anyway, my clothes fit quite nicely into the available space.

All of the hype got the better of me tonight so I resorted to Google. There are many links but here is a Youtube video on folding underwear.

As far as I can see there is nothing particularly startling about that. I do know that I would go insane if I had to unhook my bra every time I went to get dressed!

Here is my version. Unfortunately, no video, just a couple of still shots.

This is one of the small drawers from my dressing table. I have put it on the floor for this view.

Back left – 6 bras
Front left – 6 pairs of knickers
Back right – 6 pairs of stockings
Centre right – 3 pairs thick socks
Front right – 11 pairs of ankle/lightweight socks

I have more socks than I need but I see no reason to throw any out. I will keep them until they are worn out and not replace with as many. There are already about 6 pairs that have gone in the past couple of years.

This is a closer view with the drawer back in position.

My underwear drawer is the top left-hand drawer. The other top drawer holds my pyjamas, scarves, bathers and sarong. The lower two drawers are full width and contain shorts, travel pants, tops (short and long sleeved), cardigans and my home and exercise clothes.

Nothing is over-stuffed and I am happy with the way everything is folded and fits in.

I will probably have a bit more of a look at what Marie Kondo has to offer but I don’t think I will be changing how I fold and store my clothes anytime soon.

Are you a Marie Kondo afficionado? Should I set up my own decluttering business? 🙂

Flashback Friday

2 Comments

Posted on March 20, 2015

Here is a post from February 2012 about accessories. In particular, the earrings that I own. It is interesting to note that my current collection is identical to that which I had 3 years ago – nothing has changed.

I have enough, probably more than enough, earrings and I wear most of them regularly and some just occasionally. I do not feel the need to have any more and I am happy with what I have.

Tell me about collections that you have which have not changed over time?

I can’t imagine having so many earrings that I would need storage like this.

Kitchen Appliances – Part 2

4 Comments

Posted on March 11, 2015

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses yesterday. I have read them quickly and will go back and respond once I have written this post. As for the list from last night, here is my response.

1 Blender – I have one as part of a combination with my food processor.

2 Electric Grill – we had one which we did use but when it died I did not consider replacing it. A bit of a fad, I guess.

3 Baby Food Maker – it is a long time since I was making food for babies but I have no idea what this would be.

4 Microwave oven – yes, I have a microwave but I use it less and less. If it died, I would not automatically rush out and buy another one.

5 Panini Press – I expect this is like my sandwich press which I use quite a bit.

This is my food processor and all of the associated gadgets in the cupboard. The blender is with some of the other bits in the box at the back. Like most things, I do not use it to its full potential although the blender, citrus juicer, grater and slicer attachments are well-used.

I also have a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer and the pasta attachment for it.

Here are the rest of my appliances in the convenient appliance cupboard.

Top shelf:

Kettle – used on the gas stove if we lose power. Also on the slow-combustion heater during winter.
Slow-cooker – very well-used for soup, baked potatoes, casseroles, refried beans.

Middle shelf:

Sandwich press – toasted sandwiches and I also use it for cooking pancakes
Bread slicing guide – very useful for home-made bread
Toaster

Bottom shelf:

Juicer – rarely used – very difficult to clean
Breadmaker
Jug

I also have a stick blender in another cupboard.

I have never been seduced by the single-purpose appliances such as a pie-maker, ice-cream maker, popcorn maker or hot dog thingummy but I still have plenty of gadgets. If I were to get rid of any it would be the juicer, I think. It is interesting to consider how our needs change, particularly as families grow and children leave home. Our diet and the types of food we eat has changed over the years, also. This is how clutter can become a problem – something that was essential 10 years ago is not longer required but we are loathe to move it along.

How do my appliances compare to what you have? Everyone has different essentials and priorities.

Kitchen Appliances to Keep – Or Not?

10 Comments

Posted on March 10, 2015

I am short on time tonight but I thought I would share this link which is food for thought. It lists 5 kitchen appliances that you may not really need. They are:

1 Blender

2 Electric Grill

3 Baby Food Maker

4 Microwave oven

5 Panini Press

I have been giving quite a bit of thought to this exact topic recently so when a friend posted the link it caught my eye and gave my a bit more to think about.

I would love to hear your thoughts on what you have and why. I will be back with my own detailed response tomorrow.

Keep watching for a new series beginning on Friday.

Project 333 – A New Beginning

8 Comments

Posted on March 3, 2015

Some of you may remember this post from 3 years ago when I first dipped into the world of Project 333.

This is the list of what I chose for that first round.

~~Floral skirt~~
~~Black skirt~~

~~Grey trousers~~
Black 3/4 trousers
~~Jeans~~
~~Narrow-leg jeans~~
Charcoal travel pants

~~Pink suede jacket~~
Black cord jacket
Pink quilted vest

Turquoise cardigan
Black cardigan
Grey/cream polo-neck jumper

Turquoise striped shirt
Blue/white pinstriped shirt
Black/white striped shirt
~~Black/cream patterned shirt~~

~~Black/pink striped top~~
~~Black/pink squares top~~
~~Pink top~~
~~Red/white striped top~~
~~Black/white striped top~~
~~Black/white striped top~~

Navy rugby top
Navy/striped rugby top

~~Bronze/pink scarf~~

~~Black handbag~~ (not shown)

~~Black knee-high boots~~
~~Black ankle boots~~
Black shoes
~~Red lace-up shoes~~
~~Sandals~~

Of the 32 items listed, only 13 remain in my cupboard. The black handbag has been replaced with another as have the red shoes and the sandals. I grew weary of some clothes and others wore out. My style has evolved over time and some of the remaining items may yet be culled.

I have almost a month to finalise my autumn list as I intend to participate in the next round which will begin on 1st April. Even though it is officially autumn (fall) we can still have quite warm days so my challenge will be how best to manage a selection of clothing to suit the change of seasons. Dresses and light jackets or cardigans are a good option for work.

Here are some of the pieces I am considering.

What do you think?

Keeping Things Tidy

4 Comments

Posted on February 25, 2015

I saw the following question posed on an internet forum the other day.

“What room do you always like to keep tidy?”

The answers were as wide-ranging as there are people. My favourite was probably, “The guest toilet – the family are banned from using it”.

Of course then there is the small matter of interpretation. What do you regard as a tidy room? Pristine? Basically clean? No clutter?

A tidy room in a home with a number of children might be vastly different from a single or two adult household.

The 2 rooms that are always clean and tidy at our place are the bathroom and the guest bedroom. As one clever person observed, no-one actually ‘lives’ in a bathroom, therefore, therefore it is easier to keep tidy. After having lived with 2 teenage daughters I would dispute that assertion in some instances. Our bathroom now is small and sparsely furnished and requires only a quick wipe to look fresh and sparkling.

I find it interesting to note that the 2 rooms that are the most difficult to keep tidy are the study and the sewing room. I don’t think that it is any coincidence that these are the areas that still require more decluttering.

Remember, the more stuff you have, the more cleaning, tidying, storing and organising it will require.

Tables should be clear surfaces ready to be used.

This is the shelving unit in the living room.

I always try to keep the bedroom as clear as possible as an uncluttered, calm room is more conducive to good sleeping.

Move the unwanted stuff out and the house will be easier to keep tidy and you will have more time to spend doing the things you enjoy.

What rooms do you always like to be tidy? What are the challenges you face? Are there rooms that defy even the best of intentions?

I would love to hear what you think and perhaps we can work together to make some progress.

Downsizing the Drawers

Two Minutes to Tidy

8 Comments

Posted on February 7, 2015

It is great to feel that the decluttering efforts are really making a difference. This morning I noticed that the shelf where my recipe books are stored was very grubby and needed cleaning. It was a simple matter of grabbing an armful of books and placing them on the bench while I wiped down the shelf and then replaced the books. This took me less than 2 minutes.

I have never had hundreds of cookbooks but nevertheless it has taken about 3 rounds of culling to get it to this. You can read about a previous effort here.

Cookbook shelf

That was about 14 months ago but a few more have moved on since then, too. I do not miss any of them and have not have occasion to regret my decision to move them along. Recipes are something that has really been revolutionised by the advent of the internet. There is nothing you cannot find. Also, recipes are like clothes – there are definitely trends and fashions.

Do you have recipe books? Have you reduced your collection?

More To Go

2 Comments

Posted on February 4, 2015

A couple of days ago I read a comment online by someone unknown to me that they had decluttered so much that they had nothing left to declutter. I have no idea what their circumstances are or what they consider essential but I know that I have not reached that point. In fact, I am not sure that I ever will or even want to. We do not have a huge amount of stuff but for me it is more about carefully streamlining what we own to a selection of good-quality items that match our lifestyle. Our needs change and therefore, our possessions will change accordingly.

On the weekend I was cleaning in the kitchen and one thing led to another and I ended up re-looking at the cooking utensils that I use. I have supposedly decluttered these on at least 2 previous occasions but it never hurts to look at them with fresh eyes and a more detached point of view.

This is what I am taking to the op shop today.

There are a couple of sharp knives that have seen better days and I simply do not use them. A scraper for cleaning a George Foreman grill which we no longer own. A cleaning brush for something – I don’t know what and as far as I can see it has never been used. Spoon and spaghetti strainer which are not used. Meat mallet – I haven’t beaten meat for over 20 years – our diet does not include recipes that require it. Spaghetti measure – was part of a corporate Christmas hamper a few years ago and has never been used. Small aluminium skewer – I have a set of stainless steel skewers and this is no longer required. Chip cutter – this came from my mother’s place when she was decluttering some years ago and I have never used it. A good idea but I cannot remember the last time I made chips at home and I am quite capable of cutting potatoes into chips if the fancy happens to take me. Anyway, aren’t “hand-cut chips” the latest craze on menus??

So what stays?

Electric knife
Carving fork
Scone cutter
Rolling pin
Fine grater
Metal tongs
BBQ tool
Pineapple peeler/corer
Apple corer
Cheese slicer
Cherry/oliver pit remover
Garlic press
Ice-cream scoop
Citrus zester
Grapefruit knife
Skewers
Vegetable peeler (not shown)
Jar opener
Tea strainer
Tea infuser
Wine vacuum sealer
Cork remover
Bottle/can opener
Measuring spoons
Corn cob holders
Egg rings
Knife sharpener

The electric knife/carving fork and cherry pit remover are the only items that would be rarely used. Everything else is used regularly, mostly on a weekly basis. Some, like the grapefruit knife and corn cob holders are seasonal but still essential.

I also have 2 jars of cooking utensils that I use almost daily. There location on the bench means that they are easy to grab as I am cooking and preparing food.

Wooden spoons x 4
Metal whisk
Potato masher
Metal spatula
Non-stick spatula
Non-stick spoon
Slotted spoon
Small sieve
Can opener
Pizza cutter
Rubber scrapers x 3
Brush
Citrus juicer
Pie slice

I also have a knife block with 6 assorted sharp knives.

To a hard-core minimalist this probably looks like a huge number of utensils, however, I prepare and cook most of our meals and use these items very frequently. It is important to keep and use what works for you.

There are lots of areas of my life where I could reduce my possessions but I think I have completely decluttered the kitchen utensils to my satisfaction.

What utensils do you use every day? Are they much different to what I have shown here?

One Thing Leads to Another

9 Comments

Posted on January 17, 2015

This morning I decided to clean the bookshelves in the office area. I knew that they were quite dusty and that there was some stuff lying around that really didn’t belong there.

As I started to remove and clean the books I decided to sort them out and see if I could cull any more. Getting rid of books seems to be fairly difficult for us but in the end there were nearly 60 books that have not made it back onto the shelves.

We have 2 identical tall shelving units from Ikea and it now looks as though one of them may be able to go to a new home. I am confident that we will never need more shelf space as we both have Kindles and buying a physical book is a rare occurrence.

Here is one shelving unit cleaned and all of the shelves filled with books.

These are the 2 boxes of books which will be finding new homes.

The other unit is a work in progress.

As you can see, there is quite a bit of spare space on the other shelf which is the reason I think that it can go. The random books are ones that I am unsure as to whether they should stay or go. I intend to re-read them and in fact read some for the first time. Why didn’t I read them when I first got them? Maybe I did not really like them. Anyway, I will be working on this pile over the coming weeks and deciding which ones I want to keep long-term and which can go.

The collection of Australian Geographic magazines will need to go elsewhere – probably the bottom shelf of the shelving unit in the lounge room. There is 23 years worth of them – we stopped subscribing at the end of 2011. I have never read them all so maybe it is time I did. I used to joke that I would read them when I retired!!

There is also a shoebox of stationery items which can probably go in the cupboard. Then there is the pile of photos that need to be sorted any scanned…………one day!!

This is the cupboard which holds the 4 drawer filing cabinet. I am in the process of trying to source a 2 drawer one to replace it as we have condensed the contents into 2 drawers. When this eventuates we will use the top of the cabinet as a shelf and add another shelf a bit higher up. There will then be plenty of space for the stationery box and photos.

If I had to nominate one room that is difficult to declutter, then the office would be it. Mind you, we have managed to get rid of quite a bit over the past year but there always seems to be more.

Do you have a particular room or area that is your nemesis when it comes to decluttering? Please share your stories.