Day 273 - Bandanas

After a significant amount of time has passed and you realize  something hasn't been used in OH-SO-LONG, it's time to face the fact that it will probably not be used and that it is just occupying valuable space. That is space that can either be opened up for something you love, or that can simply be breathing room. My vote goes for breathing room! I'm creating a bit more open area in a dresser drawer by donating some bandanas to the Salvation Army.

Today's quote: “Carve away the clutter and polish the valuables that start to shine through.” – Dinah Sanders, Discardia.com

Day 272 - Blouse

A blouse that is no longer wanted is going into the donation box today.

Quote of the day: "It's like dealing with weight loss: Focus on the food (and) you'll never deal with the weight issue. Don't make it about the stuff. It robs you of living the life you should live today." - Peter Walsh

Day 271 - Tank Tops

Today a couple of tank tops are going, going, gone!

Quote for the day: “Absorb what is useful, Discard what is not, Add what is uniquely your own." - ~Bruce Lee 

Day 270 - T-Shirts

My daughter lent a helping hand today by adding five t-shirts to the donation pile. I'm so happy!

Quote for today: 

"CLUTTER = Collected Litter, Ultimately Taking Time and Energy to Retain." ~ Flylady

Day 269 - Silver Service

I never liked things too "matchy-matchy". It looks too contrived. A good example of that is the mismatched silver service set that I'm donating today. It takes too much time to keep it polished and looking nice. I would rather spend my time doing other things, so out it goes.

Today's quote:  "I don't want life to imitate art. I want life to be art." ~ Carrie Fisher

Day 268 - Star Wars Imperial Blaster

The item I've chosen to get rid of today is a Star Wars Storm Trooper Imperial Blaster. With Halloween coming up in just a few weeks, I thought it would be a good idea to list it on FreeCycle. Maybe someone will pick it up to go along with a costume. 

Quote for today:  "Good order is the foundation of all things." - Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

Day 267 - Folding Chairs

Today I set aside two folding chairs ready to donate to the Salvation Army.

Quote for today: "If you desire many things, many things will seem few." - Benjamin Franklin 

Day 266 - Toy

Going into the donation box today is a Christmas tree toy. This toy has been sitting in a drawer taking up space and now it's time to let it go.

Quote for today: "Obviously, there is little you can learn from doing nothing." ~ Zig Ziglar

Day 265 - Scissors

Here is another example of things I own that are not being used. Why in the world do we keep things that we don't use? Is it because we think we may want to use them someday? For these two pairs of scissors, someday had its chance. Time to cut them loose!

Quote for the day: “If clutter isn’t helping you in regards to your priorities, do you want to let it remain in your life?” – Susan Crosby,  mindoverclutter.com

Day 264- Mouse and Mouse Pads

Today I'm getting rid of a mouse and two mouse pads.

Quote for today: "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." - Benjamin Franklin 

Day 263 - Top

Today I let go of a white top that I never wear. I actually forgot I had it. Definitely won't miss it.

Today's quote: "There comes a point of gluttony that I can't accept. When that happens, I feel like I have to clean out and give stuff to my sister, mom, and friends.” - Actress Katherine Heigl

Day 262 - Bath Gel Bottle

I really don't know why I had two bottles of my favorite bath gel opened at the same time. Neither of them was even half full, so I consolidated them and the empty bottle went into the recycle bin.

Left: half full    Right: empty and recycled

Quote for today: “The absolute best thing about getting rid of stuff is that it makes room for the shiny new stuff you really want.” - Matthew Amster-Burton, author of the book Hungry Monkey

Day 261 - Scarves

I like scarves quite a lot and I have tried to wear them many times. They simply don't fit my style or my body type. It is for that reason, and with a little sadness, that I am discarding a couple of scarves today.

Quote for today: "A plan does not fence you in....it is your road map to freedom...a workable plan makes it possible to reach that destination much faster and with much less effort." - Deniece Schofield

Day 260 - Schnapps

About a decade ago as my aunt and uncle were getting rid of things while preparing to move, my aunt gave me a bottle of Peach Schnapps from her kitchen. I brought it home and put it away in an upper cabinet. I don't think I'm ever going to drink it and so today it became my declutter item.

Quote for today: "People are disorganized because they think they have to be perfectionists about it. Stage one is to keep it simple, and we can tweak it later." - Betsy Fein, President of Clutterbusters!!

Day 259 - Belt

Quite a while ago I bought a pair of pants that I like, and it came with a belt that I didn't like. Why did I keep it if I didn't care for it? Well, I'm no longer keeping it. It's gone! Into the donation box it goes.

Quote for the day: "There's a U in every excuse." - Deniece Schofield

Day 258 - Socks

Okay, let's get rid of some socks from my drawer today. They are worn, stained, and have a funky fit. Trashed!

Quote of the day: "People's homes are a reflection of their lives. It is no accident that people have a huge weight problem in this country, and clutter is the same thing. Homes are an orgy of consumption." - Peter Walsh

Day 257 - Hoody

Have you ever noticed how much space a single hoody takes up? Quite a lot. Well, this one is going into the donation box and out of my house for good. Liking that!

Quote for today: "Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow." - Benjamin Franklin 

Day 256 - Shorts

Today I'm getting rid of a pair of Dickies shorts. The unwanted clothes are slowly but surely leaving my house and that makes me happy.

Today's quote: “Right, bright, neutral, and clutter-free” - Ron Sitrin, Realtor

Day 255 - Bag Tags

My declutter item for today is a set of bag tags, bought from a dollar store and never used. 

Quote for today: "Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."- John Wooden

Day 254 - Slacks

More than two thirds of the year has passed since I began my blog and ridding my home of one item or one group of items each day. Just one thing a day may not seem like much, but it adds up. I'm so glad I started my decluttering venture. 


The item for today is a pair of black slacks that were added to the donation box.

Today's quote: “The best way to clutter-bust is to begin. Preparation, needing to feel ready, waiting till it feels right are the resistance. What works is to start.” – Brooks Palmer, clutterbusting.com.

On this day ten years after the horrific 9-11 attacks, let us be thankful for what we have. We remember and mourn those who lost their lives. Many thanks to all the firefighters, police officers, medics and all who helped that day. God bless America!

Day 253 - Pajamas

Today the donation box is getting some pajamas. 

Quote for today:  “We’re hostages of our things. It’s all coming in, but nothing’s going out, and we end up spending money to store stuff that isn’t even worth the monthly fee.” - Betsy Fein, President of Clutterbusters!!

Day 252 - Paper Clutter

Today I shredded another round of paper clutter. It's going into the recycle bin.

Today's quote: "Not every paper is a keepsake, believe it or not. If you save everything, that diminishes the value of those special ones. They get lost in the clutter." ~ Marla Cilley, Flylady

Day 251 - Briefs

Underwear, undergarment, under pants, undies, drawers, knickers, or briefs. Whatever you want to call them, I call them GONE!

Quote for the day: "Being organized will give you more free time, contribute to a cheerful nature, and add to the peace and security of your home." - Deniece Schofield

Day 250 - Vases

I was beginning to collect too many vases in the kitchen cupboard over the refrigerator. I decided to get rid of a few.

Quote for today: "Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying." - Tryon Edwards

Day 249 - Stack of T-Shirts

Today I'm putting a stack of ten t-shirts into the donation box. 

Today's quote: "Your attitude has to change from 'Why do I have to do this!' to 'This is my home and I deserve to have a wonderful place to live, this blesses my home, and my family and most of all me!'" ~ Marla Cilley, Flylady

Day 248 - Board Game

No one in my house plays this board game anymore. Did they ever? Hmm... Time to evict it and make room for other things; and by "other things" what I mean and what I really want is space and elbow room. 

Quote for the day: "Self discipline is remembering what you really want" - David Campbell

Day 247 - Thimbles

I found some more collectible thimbles in a little forgotten spot. I don't really want any collections of anything to add to my stuff. I am going to let go of these today. 

Quote for the day: "Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it's not all mixed up." - A.A. Milne

Day 246 - Ironing Board

The item I have chosen to remove from my home today is an old ironing board. I have another one that I use and I don't need two, so out this one goes!

Quote for today: "Laundry leads to ironing, ironing leads to hate, hate leads to the Dark Side wherein lies chocolate." - Unknown

Day 245 - Keepsake Book

Today I'm donating a keepsake book I got for graduation. Yes, I did say I got it when I graduated and that wasn't yesterday. Haha! I don't remember who gave it to me, and I never read it. Well, it's eons overdue to give it away, so today is the day.

Quote for the day: "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Day 244 - Sewing Box Junk

Today I'm getting rid of some junk I found in one of my old sewing boxes. Some of this stuff doesn't even belong in a sewing box. Hmm... Well, it all went into the trash.

Today's quote: "Remember the law of the home: Junk expands to fill the space available, plus one room." - Deniece Schofield