Day 365 - Watch

As we reflect upon the past year, and upon the coming year, we take stock of the time we have spent well, and how we will spend the time to come. We make resolutions and vow to make changes for the better. For the year 2011 I made the determination to get rid of clutter, one day at a time. I did it! All year long, 365 days, I removed items from my home. What a feeling! 


Now today, on the last day of the year I'm getting rid of a watch that no longer works. It's about time.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Day 364 - Stack of Clothes

Wow! I've almost completed my challenge of ridding my home of at least one thing a day for 365 days. Shall I continue for another year? Click onto my blog on January 1st to find out.


More clothes to go today! My daughters cleaned out some clothes from their closets. I'm donating a stack of them, including a hoody, two t-shirts, a tank top, and a skirt. 

Day 363 - Flower Basket

This basket of silk spring flowers is adorable in its own way, but just a little too "cutesie" for me. It is not something I love love love! So I'm going to put it into the donation box. I hope it brightens someone's home. 

Day 362 - Measuring Spoons & Cups

Measuring spoons and cups are being donated today. Some of them are missing and I don't need them anyway. I have plenty of others. 

Day 361 - Wahl Massager

I was keeping this Wahl Therapeutic Massager in a drawer. I haven't used it in ages, so I decided not to keep it any longer. 

Day 360 - Hat

Today the hat goes. Bye bye Mr. Hat!

Day 359 - Magazines

Today on Christmas day I have decided to purge my magazine rack of a few old  magazines. They are two December issues of Martha Stewart "Living" (1995 and 1997), and a 1995 issue of a Better Homes and Gardens publication called "Holiday Decorating". It's fun looking through them since they are now a bit "retro", but of course I really have no need for them. A few days ago I offered them on FreeCycle, but so far have had no takers. They will go into the recycle barrel if no one wants them. Merry Christmas to all! 

Quote for today: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 

Day 358 - Pens

Before Santa filled stockings, I threw away a lot of pens that have passed their prime. 

Day 357 - Plastic Bags

I have kept lots of plastic bags that I thought I would use again at some point, for some reason. Some of them are almost keepsakes, for instance bags I got while shopping on trips. However, there is no reason to keep them, so they are going into the trash. Ah! Lightening the load is so nice!

Day 356 - Yarn

This evening, as a group of us girls are gathered together crocheting, I have decided to get rid of some yarn.

Below are shots of the girls teaching/learning to crochet. 

Day 355 - Jacket

Today I am donating a jacket. It is nice, big, and cozy, but it is only taking up space in the closet, so out it goes. I hope it finds its way to someone who can enjoy its warmth.

Day 354 - Place Mats

Today a set of place mats and coasters went bye-bye!

Day 353 - Throw Pillow

Today I threw away a throw pillow. Ha! It was getting really stained and grungy, so I tossed it.

Day 352 - Daisy Headband

Today I got rid of a daisy headband. It's one of those things that makes you smile. This one, however, is in need of a new home. 

Day 351 - Paint-by-Number Ornaments

Today I'm losing an old set of paint-by-number Christmas ornaments. I bet the paint is all dried out.

Day 350 - Film

I found five canisters of old film in a box with some Christmas decorations. I guess I was going to take some Christmas pictures one year. Maybe? The dates on the boxes suggest developing the film before November 1993 and February 1994. I think I can safely say I will not be using this film. Instead it will see the inside of a trash barrel.

Day 349 - Christmas Lights

Going through some things in my garage, I found some old Christmas lights that don't work. They are going in the trash.

Quote for today: “I've reached that peculiar but serene stage in life when all I want for Christmas is less.” –Roger Ebert, writer and critic

Day 348 - Dish Drainer

Sometimes things simply lose their usefulness. That was the case with this dish drainer. Since it wasn't being used, it became warped and useless. Time to toss it!

Today's quote: "Life is too short to dwell on what doesn't get done. Celebrate what you do every day and start fresh each morning." ~ Marla Cilley, Flylady

Day 347 - Digital Tablet

There is something wrong with this digital tablet, but I don't remember what. It's been sitting in a box for a few years. No one is using it, so I am setting it aside to donate to the next electronic recycle event in our community.

Quote for today:  "As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?" - Ecclesiastes 5:11

Day 346 - Junk

Today I'm throwing some junk in the trash. What is this stuff anyway???

Day 345 - UW Sweatshirt

I kind of hate to let go of this University of Washington sweatshirt, but I have two other ones that fit me better and that I wear much more often. I think I'll say good-bye to this one.

Quote for today:  "...a time to keep and a time to throw away." Ecclesiastes 3:6

Day 344 - Clothes

Today I'm just getting rid of a bunch of clothes. 

Day 343 - Tops

Today I added a few tops to the donation box.

Day 342 - Sweatshirts

Today I am getting rid of three sweatshirts. Oh yes! So much unused, unloved, and unworn clothing has been finding its way out my door. Love it!

Day 341 - Jogging Suit

Today's declutter item is a jogging suit that was handed down to me a few years ago. I think it would be quite comfortable -- for relaxing; not for jogging! -- if it actually fit. But alas! It does not. So into the donation bag it goes.

Day 340 - More Jeans

My daughters have far too many clothes that they don't wear. Many were second hand, and many do not fit. Some are just not "treasured" and are in the process of being purged. A couple of days ago I got rid of a stack of my son's jeans. Today I am putting a stack of my girls' jeans into the donation box. 

Day 339 - Vase

This evening I have chosen to reduce the number of vases in my cabinet by letting go of this large one. It was given to me full of flowers a few years ago, and I have not ever reused it as I thought I might. It takes up way too much space for something that is not being used. 

Quote for today: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

Day 338 - Stack of Jeans

Several pairs of my son's jeans are being set aside today to be donated. Believe me, the creative seamstress part of me was tempted to keep them, cut them into little squares and "someday" make a denim quilt. These are the ideas that cause me to accumulate so much. Not gonna do it! Not gonna keep them! Out they go!

Quote for today: "Relationships, not achievements or the acquisition of things, are what matters most in life." - Rick Warren

Day 337 - Star Trek Book Set

My daughter gave me to the go ahead to donate her Star Trek book set. One more thing (or uh... set of things) out of my house! 

Day 336 - Hangers

A few things, a little here, a little there; it all adds up. No matter what it is, a lot or a little, if I am getting rid of something every day then I am making progress. Today I am throwing away some hangers.

Day 335 - Potpourri and Junk

A baggie of old potpourri that has lost it's fragrance, and a bag of junk are going into the trash today.

Day 334 - Sweats

Going into the donation box today is a pair of sweat pants. 

Day 333 - Ties

My sons are grown and no longer live at home. I have been given permission to donate their ties. Hooray! Little by little, I'm getting those drawers and closets all cleaned out!

Day 332 - Belts

It is wonderful to be clearing out so much "stuff" and making room in my drawers and closets. Two belts that were lying lifeless in a drawer were my declutter items for today. 

“If you’d like to reduce your clutter, save more money, and gain the time and energy to pursue your dreams, the solution is simple: stop wanting to want. It’s a tiny piece of advice that’ll transform your life!” – miss minimalist (www.missminimalist.com)

Day 331 - Snow Boots

I am happy to say that I will no longer be storing these snow boots in my closet. I haven't worn them in a very long time and have decided I no longer need them.

Quote for the day:  “How many things are there which I do not want?” - Socrates

Day 330 - Shorts

Today the decision was to make a couple of pairs of shorts my declutter items. It feels so good to be removing so many things from my home.

Day 329 - Summer Blazer

This cute little summer blazer is going into the donation box this evening. It doesn't fit quite right and has a button missing. 

Day 328 - Giant Coffee Cup

Today I'm getting rid of a giant coffee cup. It's big enough to use as a soup bowl. I like it, but it's one of those odd items that just become in the way after awhile.

Day 327 - T-Shirt

Today I removed a t-shirt from a dresser drawer. It is never worn and is only taking up space. Eventually I hope to have in my home only things that I love, that are useful, and that are needed. 

Day 326 - Magazines

Today I'm recycling some Westways magazines that were dated 2007.

Day 325 - Maps

I discovered that I still have some maps from my visit to Washington in 2006. I'll donate these and when I visit Seattle/Tacoma again, I will either buy some new maps, or I will use a map website. 

Day 324 - Cake Decorations

Some cake decorations made their way into the donation box today.

Day 323 - VHS Movies

I put a couple of VHS movies into the donation box today. 

Day 322 - Book

Yet another book has been removed from my book shelves and will be donated. Someone will have a nice story to read.

Day 321 - Chargers

I think these are all phone chargers that belong with phones I no longer own. No need for them anymore, so they are going out the door! I will donate them at the next electronics recycle event in our community. Now if I could only have a Dodge Charger! Woot!