And the answer is no. For two reasons:
Here's the first:
A pretty cute reason don't you think? She's an angel but she keeps me busy as do the five other kiddos.
And the second is this. I love love love keeping my house uncluttered. Whenever I feel unsettled inside, or like the walls are closing in on this house, packed with children, that I love (love both the house and the kids, not in that order), I go on a declutter rampage and it's like an instant shot of "good mood and contentment medicine for me.
As a result of my decluttering addiction, I have nothing to give away anymore. Oh, I'm sure I could find something, but I might get to the point where I am putting kids in black garbage bags and dropping them off at Goodwill and I think I might just get in a little trouble for that.
40 Bags in 40 Days really really helped me, and if you are overwhelmed by the "stuff" in your house, and want to get more organized, it's a great way to set a goal and work toward it in small little bits.
I organized the past posts just to make the whole process easier to navigate.
Start Here: Why 40 Bags in 40 Days?
Introduction: Tips and Tricks-How To Get Started
Some weekly encouragement:
Questions to Ask and Decision To Make
House Love
Kid's Room Purges
The Real Issue
Here are all the links to my past weekly updates.
Happy Decluttering!
Posts
I share the same issues you describe in this post. My husband jokes with the kids that they should form a support group for each other called "loved ones who live with a compulsive organizer/de-clutterer anonymous". You described so perfectly why I love organization. It is nice to know I am not alone :). By the way Whenever my friends ask about potty training I always send them the link to your post about it. Pure brilliance. I will get to put it to the test one last time in about a month with my youngest. I have everything, it just takes me that long to mentally prepare for potty training the little people's.
ReplyDeleteI need to finally commit to this and just do it...my house is so overstuffed and unorganized. One of my worst offended is paper...kid's projects and drawings. I keep thinking my kids someday will look at each other and say WHY did she keep all this stuff???
ReplyDeleteI think I might attempt it again this year - I can never quite get to the 40 bags though.
ReplyDelete40 bags in 40 days is near and dear to my heart. Two years ago my friend sent me the link to your post. I had never read a blog before and your post hooked me on the world of blogging. A few months later I started my own. Looking forward to going through the links you posted. Thanks Sarah!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah - I think your first excuse is the best of all! Janey is such a doll!! Like you, I find great comfort in decluttering! Since I first saw your 40 bags posts a few years ago, I have been regularly decluttering and cleaning! It is such a wonderful feeling!!
ReplyDeleteShe is so darn cute!
ReplyDeleteWill you please put her in blue for the rest of her life? She's perfect, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big cheer for 40 bags in 40 days. Wish I could say I stayed on top of it, but I need this yearly stuff-purge.
I couldn't think of two better reasons!
ReplyDeleteYou really only needed the first excuse! x
ReplyDeleteSarah @ stayathometerritory.blogspot.com
I think I am going to do it this year... part nesting/part lenten purge! I am due in 49 days and the urge to get the house clean and uncluttered for the bebe is STRONG! Thanks for the inspiration... I will link back to you if I end up posting about it on my blog!
ReplyDeleteI purge and dejunk regularly at my house too. I recently organized my kitchen into zones and as I was going through all my kitchen stuff I only got rid of one lid, a strainer, and a utensil or two. I had decluttered and deowned so many times, I was actually to the point where I used and needed everything in my kitchen. It is a good feeling not to be buried with stuff.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.raisinglemons.com/parenting/kitchen-zones/
Wish I could say the same about my office...
ReplyDeleteThanks to you, I am close too. Me, and my kids are SO MUCH happier in a decluttered home. THANK YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteDitto on Tiffany's office comments. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI did this last year, and somehow in two moves and with life being crazy, I NEED to do it again! Haha. I was able to eliminate entire groups of things to organize, but I have a house now and I need to get on top of making my house clutter-free and efficient.
ReplyDeleteI'm chronicling it over on my blog: theyingers.blogspot.com
Enjoy a clutter-free Lenten season!
Yes, Very Good Reasons to let this year slide!
ReplyDeleteI admit it takes the pressure off - I snapped the first week in January after the tree came down, and have probably sent nearly 40 bags out the door since then. I would have felt a little left out, and would have probably started sending useful things out the door as well.
Great reasons - especially the first :)
ReplyDeleteI need to commit as I feel as if my house is bursting at the seems!
Love your beautiful little reason! I did this 2 years ago along with you, and I loved it so much, I did more in the fall. Last year we were selling our house and moving, so now in this home, I'm ready to do it again. Off to revisit those links!
ReplyDeleteOh, she is such a doll!!!
ReplyDeleteYou must do a post on that pretty blue flowery chair! (I say that because the non-clutter makes me think clean and fresh, clean and fresh like that gorgeous chair that I cannot for the life of me replicate even though my living room desperately wants it!)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewhy do i feel relief that you are not doing your 40 bags? ha ha ha i like when others are busy like me. i am a dork.
ReplyDelete:)
The other day I decided that I could no longer handle my daughters' closet anymore. What started out as a quick tidy up turned into two trash bags full of things to get rid of. One was trash, one is for donations. I thought of you and your 40 bags in 40 days during Lent. After my two bags, I feel like I'm definitely up for the 40 bags task this year. My little bungalow and my well being need it so very much.
ReplyDeleteSUCH a pretty pretty girl, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteThis post is as motivating as you doing it. You have achieved the goal! I started 40 bags last year for Lent and continued into the summer. I plan on continuing it this year and really working to change my habits. I hope at some point to get to where you are, but I do think it is a process. I've just begun!!! Thanks for the excellent...excellent motivation!
ReplyDeleteI have adopted your 40 bags in 40 days and I feel SOOOO good, I just can't tell you. I obviously have more stuff than I need, should have, or want and I think my house will be back to a respectable, non-cluttered level shortly. I'm not sure if I will have enough to fill 40 bags, some bags might have to be the size of a lunch sack.
ReplyDeleteI gave up soda pop and sugar for Lent. I was actually forced into it a little earlier than the beginning of Lent and that is making me feel just as good too.
I always love your suggestions Sarah. You are a positive role model.
Baby Girl is so sweet with her darling hair bow. I just adore those dimples.
As another mother of six kids from 2-15, I had to come check and see if you are doing your 40 bags this year. What a relief that you aren't. :) Somehow it is comforting to the rest of us mortal mothers that you are taking a break this year, and with such a darling excuse too.
ReplyDeleteI too had a hard time last year filling 40 bags. It is almost as if the people who want to do this are the type to already be doing it all year. I tried to get some friends on board before, and they looked at me like I was from Mars. It is somewhat of an alien thought to be excited about this, isn't it?