tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post6741772425015176781..comments2023-07-27T09:43:37.478-06:00Comments on formerly phread: everything you own in the box to the left~j.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02959570365515658547noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-1996994627020226722007-03-22T07:57:00.000-06:002007-03-22T07:57:00.000-06:00I didn't mean to sound like I am an organizational...I didn't mean to sound like I am an organizational genius. I just love to read about it, and sometimes actually use the principles I have learned. I do love helping people organize their spaces, so bring it on. Seriously anyone.sue-donymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05157709722120704944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-41317801120203876322007-03-21T00:05:00.000-06:002007-03-21T00:05:00.000-06:00Why are companies so slow to realize that Utah is ...Why are companies so slow to realize that Utah is a good market? IKEA should have been there years ago, before AZ, I think. And, the boom of restaurants and movie theaters in Utah Valley should have happened decades ago. There was nothing good when I was in school, 94-97.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12303020687887476171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-70967740558206601502007-03-20T11:55:00.000-06:002007-03-20T11:55:00.000-06:00oh...btw, when we need a "big" dumpster to put thi...oh...btw, when we need a "big" dumpster to put things it, we load up the car and take it to Stanford Campus and dump it in the dorm dumpsters. I know that this technically isn't allowed (although we are alumni and pay the fees) but it happens about 2x a year... and it better than having a pile of garbage in the garage that you are trying to dole out... BYU has dumpters at Wyview.... I am just saying..<BR/><BR/>Geo..you will die when IKEA opens. I am amazed at how much storage they manage to fit into the little display rooms. I can really and truely say that IKEA has changed my life... :-)Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02421106490759593190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-3647578317959443952007-03-20T11:53:00.000-06:002007-03-20T11:53:00.000-06:00Sue... you are on!! I acutally had a friend here (...Sue... you are on!! I acutally had a friend here (who is an actual minimalist..lives in a house w/ concrete floors and walls and glass every where and has 4 kids!! ) come and help me. Lisa is a good one too.<BR/><BR/>I think we all fight that beast. Our room tends to be off limits to the kiddos and therefore I never go in there b/c I am not yet in a place where I can leave the kiddo's alone. I am with Azucar on the "make a split decision" thing. Most things taht we think we need, we don't. Once I actually got my husband to "give me permission" to buy things again if I needed them, it was easier to throw them. I, like you, am of the "I might need this someday" school. Even though I don't need his permission to buy things, just having him say "please throw it out and if we ever need 100 small furry chickens again, you can take the credit card and buy them again" that was it. It worked for me. <BR/><BR/>May I offer another piece of advice. I was drowning in all my "I don't want to throw it away b/c it is still good so it needs to go to Goodwill" stuff. I finally gave it up. On one major clean out I just threw stuff away. It was heaven. Now I have the Salvation army come and pick stuff up and that stuff goes in a box in the garage. No more bags of "stuff" waiting to be given away. <BR/><BR/>The Fly Lady has helped me alot. You can check out her site. I also can never find the time to do a BIG clean out. So do you know what finally worked for me? Lauren and I do this every night, we take 15 minutes (from 7:00 - 7:15) and we both just clean up as much as we can till the buzzer goes off. The only rule is that things must find a home RIGHT THEN or go away into the bag in the garage. No matter how messy your room is, it will be done in about 2 weeks. Try it, it works. Actually, having it not be a huge chore made it easier to dive in. It has stayed pretty clean once I figured out that I needed to throw things away. Now, instead of the time thing, I do the 27 thing fling (you pick a room and find 27 things to get rid of...check out flylady....).<BR/><BR/>Sorry this was a novel, but this is something I have struggled with this. Lisa and Tina the Sista are MASTERS at this stuff. Lisa once told me "this stuff not only takes up room in your house, but it takes up room in your head. You need to decide if it deserves the space it takes weighing on your mind". It is really and truely liberating to throw things out b/c you don't have the manage them any more. Chances are, you won't miss them. I will take things that I think I might want and put them in a bag and in two weeks if I know what is in there, I get it back, if not, It gets chucked. I do this w/ the kids toys too..... <BR/><BR/>I need to do a post about this...Bekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02421106490759593190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-10069354810662185322007-03-19T22:17:00.000-06:002007-03-19T22:17:00.000-06:00UMMMMMM, SUE....gonna need those tips too!I too am...UMMMMMM, SUE....gonna need those tips too!<BR/><BR/>I too am guilty on all counts. I would love to sign up for one of those shows that come and clean it all up. They are never in Utah. And I don't think they will come back and sustain their own organization.<BR/><BR/>Who wants to play four-square with me back at square one?pflower10https://www.blogger.com/profile/04200159039339534493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-41679340878709832132007-03-19T17:20:00.000-06:002007-03-19T17:20:00.000-06:00Ah-men, sister.Ah-men, sister.Sister Pottymouthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10987391736782375817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-31390627051479330792007-03-19T15:03:00.000-06:002007-03-19T15:03:00.000-06:00Is a HAZ-MAT team needed? If the answer is no, the...Is a HAZ-MAT team needed? If the answer is no, then who are we to judge?Lylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03260672421125052182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-78442184657965416572007-03-19T10:38:00.000-06:002007-03-19T10:38:00.000-06:00I've come to the realization that I won't have a c...I've come to the realization that I won't have a clean house until the kids are grown and on their own. (It doesn't help when they get older. People say to me, "At least your kids are older so they can help!" SO NOT TRUE!) My mom, bless her heart, always tells me when I'm complaining about my house, that my priortities are set on my kids. In other words, I focus more on my kids' activities, developing talents, schoolwork, etc. than on my house. She said people with emaculate houses, almost always, don't spend enough time with their kids. I tend to agree with her because it makes me feel better.Carihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14088250453390627338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-31023263969701720942007-03-19T09:40:00.000-06:002007-03-19T09:40:00.000-06:00I'm glad CW mentioned the dumpster. Honestly, one...I'm glad CW mentioned the dumpster. Honestly, one of the hardest parts of clearing out is that we have the one trash can. I've found myself in a panic on Tuesday nights thinking, "It's garbage day tomorrow, time to figure out how much space is left in the can so I can throw stuff out." <BR/>If I get too carried away, I've got bags of stuff to be thrown out that have to go successive weeks. UGH.<BR/><BR/>May I also recommend <A HREF="http://www.freecycle.org/" REL="nofollow">Freecycle?</A> It's one of the most awesome online communities. They have Freecycle groups all over the country. <BR/>Say you have something you want to get rid of, but you figure it might be useful--just not to you.<BR/><BR/> You can post the item or items, people email you and tell you why they want it, you pick someone and they COME AND GET IT FROM YOU. You don't have to go anywhere, you can even leave it on the porch if you don't want to talk to people. It's awesome--Geo? Can I get a witness?<BR/><BR/>I've gotten rid of old doors, old screen doors, random sewing stuff, pieces of wood, furniture, clothes, etc. It truly is the best illustration of another person's trash is another man's treasure. Did I mention they come pick it up? Because that should be mentioned again.Carinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13859567470814286102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-69717870232840614492007-03-19T08:17:00.000-06:002007-03-19T08:17:00.000-06:00I have the same problem with stuff. ONly differenc...I have the same problem with stuff. ONly difference is we have a ridiculously small "master" (hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa) bedroom. And almost zero closets. I am also doing the pee-pee dance waiting for Ikea to OPEN. Somehow I'm just so SURE it's going to fix my life. I bet having Sue over to advise would be the better choice, but unlike you, I would wouldn't have the guts to let somebody that organized into my space to help me with my disaster. I mean, hey, what if she never spoke to me again? What if she called Social Services? These are real possiblities in my Basement from Hell.Geohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13928364622023202837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-79047097890490235522007-03-19T06:41:00.000-06:002007-03-19T06:41:00.000-06:00I think I've commented before on why one of the re...I think I've commented before on why one of the reasons I like to read your blog is because sometimes you write right out of my head. Or my life. Or my master bedroom.<BR/><BR/>No! You are not the only one. But somehow I always feel pathetic because I think I am the only one.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I just want to get a dumpster and park it outside my house and just cart out wheelbarrow loads of just stuff. Stupid, stupid stuff.<BR/><BR/>You know the truth is there is very little I would miss if I didn't have it any more. Mainly my kids. My husband. (Yes. Despite their propensity to packrat as well, the family could stay.) My quilts. My books. And a few photographs and letters.<BR/><BR/>So what's wrong with me? And why do I feel compelled every now and then to go buy more stuff?dalenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13414972890937798371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-5126466225551674712007-03-19T06:10:00.000-06:002007-03-19T06:10:00.000-06:00i totally hear you on all of this. i'm trying har...i totally hear you on all of this. i'm trying hard to overcome packrat syndrome. i've even had sarah come over and hold something up... say a pair of shoes from my freshman year of college... "do you plan to wear these anytime soon?" ... "well, no, but that doesn't mean i might need them in the future" ... "have you worn them in the last say, two years?" ... "well, no, but..." and she throws them IN THE GARBAGE!!! <BR/><BR/>i am trying not become a packrat down here, although i'm afraid that it's starting up again. we have so much crap all over. but i'm working on that. it's mainly in the office where this has occured. i wish i could be there to help you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-22877133479410814872007-03-18T23:03:00.000-06:002007-03-18T23:03:00.000-06:00elizabeth -- I know what you mean about the larger...elizabeth -- I know what you mean about the larger house. I was so overwhelmed when we first moved in, I found myself wishing we were still in a dinky apartment! <BR/><BR/>queen -- yep, I like to think that I've got a handle on the rotating clothes, but in reality, the kids grow and the seasons change faster than I can seem to store things. So there are piles (too small for each kid, as well as "right size, wrong season") that just need some guidance in finding their way into the boxes. <BR/><BR/>azuc - You're so right. What am I holding on to things for? You are such a level-head in my topsy-turvy world (and I'm so poetic). <BR/><BR/>wendysue - I came to a realization once that I call people when I'm doing dishes. A friend said, "Are you doing dishes? You're <I>always</I> washing dishes when you call me." I think I was subconciously distracting myself from a chore I didn't enjoy. <BR/><BR/>yen - hopefully when you get here, we can just ENJOY instead of cleaning! (my mom has offered to bring darla out here to help...)<BR/><BR/>natalie - it's a date. Let's have the meatballs for lunch. <BR/><BR/>tito - uh, did <I>what</I> work? You trying to call me to repentance? Yeah, it almost worked. <BR/><BR/>ryan - how many rooms in the new house? (I presume that's still moving forward?)<BR/><BR/>meta - oh, I've always been this way, with the piles of papers and such. Kids is merely another excuse for me to not get to it all. <BR/><BR/>sue - another voice of reason: "it's called living". You're so right. And I'd call you if my cell phone weren't (wasn't? why do I never know that one?!) broken. *sigh* Maybe you can come over, take a gander, and give me some tips??~j.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02959570365515658547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-57978988811038705442007-03-18T22:23:00.000-06:002007-03-18T22:23:00.000-06:00I have probably read every organization book ever ...I have probably read every organization book ever published. I wpould love to help you anyway I can! I think we will all struggle with clutter all our lives - it's called living! But I have come across some pretty good tips along the way. Just call me.sue-donymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05157709722120704944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-47605365914216728312007-03-18T22:17:00.000-06:002007-03-18T22:17:00.000-06:00If it makes you feel any better, my apartment is a...If it makes you feel any better, my apartment is a disaster area...and I don't even have kids! <BR/><BR/>O Ye Spring Clean! Come Unto Me! <BR/><BR/>I plan on cleaning while I listen to conference as well.i i eeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11965669520527591687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-75132271814094052882007-03-18T21:03:00.000-06:002007-03-18T21:03:00.000-06:00We have four bedrooms. When we first moved in, we...We have four bedrooms. When we first moved in, we had:<BR/>- Master, Nursery, Craft, Den.<BR/><BR/>After #2 came along, we had:<BR/>- Master/Craft, Nursery, Boy room, Den.<BR/><BR/>Now that we have #3, and #1 and #2 need more space to play:<BR/>- Master/Craft/Den, Nursery, Boyz room, Play room<BR/><BR/>How has the Master turned into such a Slave? ;)Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18352526647655701846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-11158949042538793612007-03-18T20:49:00.000-06:002007-03-18T20:49:00.000-06:00clean up your thoughts.ummmm......did that work?clean up your thoughts.<BR/><BR/><BR/>ummmm......did that work?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-73035461681492785892007-03-18T20:23:00.000-06:002007-03-18T20:23:00.000-06:00ummm yeah my room is the same. we eliminated the ...ummm yeah my room is the same. we eliminated the office to make room for Add and now all the junk is piling up on my floor. i don't like it too much. <BR/><BR/> i'll meet you at the front gates to ikea on opening day.{natalie}https://www.blogger.com/profile/04856091446572200477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-62455466177401744262007-03-18T20:11:00.000-06:002007-03-18T20:11:00.000-06:00When I come we will clean like crazy. That will b...When I come we will clean like crazy. That will be my birthday present to you!La Yenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15044092297673361855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-75998417516408633912007-03-18T16:31:00.000-06:002007-03-18T16:31:00.000-06:00I guess when I reread that it made it sound like m...I guess when I reread that it made it sound like my 'mommy' does my ironing too. HA! If only I were so lucky.wendysuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972358449380700170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-26176260819932683042007-03-18T16:30:00.000-06:002007-03-18T16:30:00.000-06:00That's how I spend my conferences too! (And my Mo...That's how I spend my conferences too! (And my Mom always calls while she is doing her ironing--a chore we both hate, so she does it all during conference, and if it doesn't get done....too bad....it'll have to be 6 months later or not at all!)<BR/><BR/>I know I'll spend my conference weekend clearing the junk (again) only to have it 'magically' re-appear a few days later. <BR/><BR/>So, NO, you're not the only one dealing with the c.r.a.p.!!!wendysuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972358449380700170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-8645046503660545702007-03-18T13:51:00.000-06:002007-03-18T13:51:00.000-06:00I know, I know, I know. I'm a recovering pack rat...I know, I know, I know. I'm a recovering pack rat. It was only by being brutally honest that I've come as far as I have. I've trashed so much stuff, with more to go. Split second decisions--keep or throw. <BR/><BR/>No keeping anything 'just in case.' Just in case what? You can't find something just like it at Target next week when you've realized your awful mistake (that NEVER HAPPENS.) The only exception is some documentation. <BR/><BR/>Ikea opens in May, you'll be ready by then!Carinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13859567470814286102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-15648783529406397092007-03-18T11:20:00.000-06:002007-03-18T11:20:00.000-06:00YES - that's our bedroom...my office, the kitchen ...YES - that's our bedroom...my office, the kitchen counters... and the laundry basket where all my girls' clothes that I need to pack away or hang in their closets ... it's this nagging...that I need to get things sorted, thrown out and put away...but you're absolutely right... I always find that it's much more valuable just playing or teaching my babies... I've tried the leave Kalea watching TV and Melia playing on the floor... but then I feel AWFUL that I left them to do what...organize? So it's a constant battle...frustration. I could so use someone to come and organize my house/life for me.<BR/><BR/>my YAY from yesterday - seeing some guy walk across the freeway overpass carrying a kayak and a paddle...and seeing 20+cows and 5 horses roaming the fields on one side of the freeway.<BR/>my BOO not getting to spa to get my pedicure in time... and costco.QueenScarletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270993732115125040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13871850.post-7029102205265648192007-03-18T09:28:00.000-06:002007-03-18T09:28:00.000-06:00I can only offer words of encouragement and suppor...I can only offer words of encouragement and support, no help at all. My favorite part was the making of the mess in order to get de-cluttered. If you find any magical solutions, please let me know. <BR/>Sometimes I'm convinced we need a larger house, but then I just know it will be more square feet for me to mess up.Elizabeth-Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12215621448451413460noreply@blogger.com