Konmari Step 9A - Household Equipment - Holiday Decorations & Decorations Revisited

Spent 4 1/2 hours sorting holiday stuff yesterday, in between minimal Christmas prep which always ends up being a lot anyway. Not complaining - we do this gladly for family and friends who love Christmas. An attic mouse made some of my decisions easy as he feasted his way through 4 wreaths, and two small artificial trees along with completely devouring some of the ornaments on those trees.
Here's before, after, sell donate and trash. But you know what? I'm ready to let almost all of it go. What I'm happier doing is decorating the trees out front with wild animal edibles and making simple indoor decorations from what's in the woods. I do have some really beautiful ornaments. But they're not us any more and Richie and I both agree it's time to let go of past traditions and make new ones that are meaningful to us. So that'll be tomorrow afternoon's project along with sampling some home baked cookies I hope!

Update:  Christmas is over and tonight I revisited  the holiday decorations that were bothering me which took 1 1/12 hours. That makes 6 hours total just for this category because I also needed to decide how we will be celebrating this holiday next year. Below is what's left and all bring joy. There was a small bag of donations, the rest will be sold and is now neatly stored downstairs.

Konmari Step 7 & Step 8 - Valuables and Electrical Equipment

Since we didn't have any of these items that were not being used, there are no before and after photos to show, but I'm making note of that here as I'm keeping this as a journal of my progress!

Konmari - Step 6 - Accessories

It wasn't like I didn't have things to do the other day, but I went through my jewelry - here's before, after, and letting go piles. I didn't think I had much, and there's nothing particularly valuable, but I guess I have some.  A few pieces went into the memento box to be sorted last.

Konmari - Step 5 - Makeup/Personal Care

 Konmari'd "beauty products". At my age & 1000's of $ later I know what works, so didn't get to toss tons, but here's before, after, and non-joy sparking discards.

Konmari - Step 4 - CD's/DVD/s/Media

Done! - down from 3 draws to 1 1/2 - These are the keepers and the last photo are ones that will be donated to the thrift shop. Most of what was kept are DH's and he does enjoy watching them. Iron Will is missing though and that was one of MY favorites. DH thinks he loaned it to someone 

Konmari - Step 3D Kennel Paperwork

After 3.75 hours, I am done with my 4'th category of Paper, which is Kennel Here's before, after, and trash. For deceased dogs, I retained only their pedigree and AKC reg. Old press articles about our dogs stayed and it was amazing how many there were. I found an old booklet, "The Siberian Husky Illustrated", and an interesting old SEPP evaluation form form which I'll share when I have a chance. Dog records are all up to date! I cried at how thick some of the medical records were, and about what we used to do with the dogs as opposed to now. Well my back and muscles are getting better every year so time to make new good memories, right? Right! Next is Media, most of which belongs to Richie so I doubt much of that will go.

Konmari - Step 3C - Personal Paperwork

Done with "personal paperwork" - 3.5 hours - Uff!! Here's before, after, and trash/shredder. I had to open the file cabinet draw this morning and peer in there to make sure I didn't dream doing this. According to the dates on some things, I hadn't cleaned out files since 2001. Next is Kennel files and then I'll be finished with paper work!

Konmari - Step 3B - Business Paperwork

Business Paperwork, DONE! Before, after, discards and 2 things to add to the thrift shop bag. It took 4 hours. The stack on the right is 11 years worth of animal communications. Trouble was, I had my dogs' communications in the same files with clients' so I did those too. I kept only legal docs for business and only the most treasured of my dogs' communications, discarding all clients' . It was bittersweet....Everything is neatly filed. Next will be personal paperwork which is now piled on the table.

Also promised myself I'd make us a nice dinner last night to end a fun and productive weekend and include whipped potatoes and pecan pie. Also, baked spicy chicken sausages and applesauce. Can't say I love to cook but I'm told I'm a good one and have collected some fantastic recipes over the years. I'd really like to spend a little more time making real food and not eating as many frozen meals and takeout because it tastes sooooo much better!

Konmari - Step 3A - Mom's Paperwork

5 Hours total and I'm done with part 1 of Paperwork which is Mom's! Before and after - all the boxes on the table were full. The document envelopes in the metal box are in folders now too as the box didn't fit in the little file cabinet I've been using for my parents' paperwork. There are a few blue folders with my deceased Dad's documents in them that I'll need to keep as long as Mom is alive. 2 Bags of trash, 1/2 box to shred, some things to recycle. Still to do are business, kennel, and then personal paperwork in that order. Feeling emotionally drained but relieved 

Konmari - Step 2 - Books

Books before and After! 1/2 Hour to collect them all, 3 hours to sort. I now have 72 books. Third photo is donation pile, 4'th will be sold. My kennel person took two, 5 will be given to 3 friends. Going to box the to-sell ones and put them downstairs then bag the donations and put them in the van. I've downsized books a lot already over the past 2 years. Now what's left will ALL fit in the bookcase. I'm going to do that now so as not to have a mess. That'll take another hour or so then I can go to Yoga. Next is Paperwork which is what I dread the most.

Konmari - Step 1B - Mom's Clothes Before, After, And Donations

Before & after - 3 Green bins of Mom's clothing - not including her full closet at the home. 2.5 hours later: 0 Bags of trash, 2 bags donations, 4 small non clothing items not sure yet. Quilt and a couple of other items can be stored at the home. Left here is 1 green bin with 21 pcs. off season clothing. I'll mention Mom scrimped to clothe me, buying nothing for herself so she now gets to have tons of clothes. It's one of her few pleasures! I do her laundry and will always have 6-7 outfits here to wash/iron. Clothing is done, next is...gasp!..... BOOKS, - they're everywhere!

Konmari - Step 1 A - Clothing

Wanted to get a jump on my New Years Resolution (same as last year's and the year before) and happened upon this book!

I've tried everything and nothing worked, so why not try Marie Kondo's method and "Konmari" my home?

Here goes - Step 1
Clothing

Gather up every piece of clothing you own in your house and put it in a pile ~

Yikes!
That alone took 35 minutes!
Pick up each and every piece of clothing and ask yourself if it "sparks joy"
Keep what does, thank and discard what doesn't.

4 Hours and 35 minutes later (with a few breathing breaks because I was starting to pant),  this is my new pile.
  Truthfully, only about half of it sparks joy but it's winter here and nudity is not an option.
I now have 67 pieces of clothing ~

This is my pile of discarded, but thanked items.
4 Bags full of donations
1 Bag of trash
5 Items to sell
4 Pairs of pants my Mom can use

Husband has whisked these off to the Planet Aid box tonight with minimum grumbling on his way to pick up pizza, so they are out of here!
At the end I was pleased.
But also disappointed to see I've been neglecting buying good clothing for myself that I like to wear in favor of buying things for my business, the house, and other things I don't really need to spend money on.

I am keeper of my Mom's clothes too as she's in a nursing home.
Her off season and extras live in 3 large bins in the basement and they will be next!

Simplicity...

Lately I'm most attracted to simple things, maybe because my life seems so complicated at the moment.  I'm wondering if I'm turning Minimalist.

Home Making

Inspiration from a simple bird's nest ~

Snug, cozy, protected, secure, comfortable, safe, sanctuary, love, joy, laughter, nurturing, warmth, creativity, peace ~