The Great Purge: Update One

I bet you thought I gave up. I share my grandiose plan to rid myself of everything I don’t need or use and then you don’t hear a word about it for months. Well, you’re wrong…. and right.

I started off with a bang! After I wrote about what I was going to do, I got started immediately. I was plowing through my kitchen cabinets like Katy in the Big Snow (children’s book reference… you either get it or you don’t. If you don’t, just move on.). I took before and after pictures of every cabinet, drawer, and shelf. I removed piles and piles of unused items from my kitchen.

Spurring me on was the amazing response I got from everyone. It seems that I am not the only one who loves this idea. Some people commented that they had done this in the past and were now deciding to do it again. Some said they’d been considering doing it for a while and were finally going to take the plunge. Some said they were already in the middle of it. Some said they had no plans to join me, but were looking forward to watching my progress or lack thereof.

I posted updates on my Facebook page (so if you are one of the people who thought I gave up, you should go ‘like’ my page. Then at least you’d know what I’m up to when I’m not posting to my blog). I finished the kitchen and moved on to the laundry closet, then the hallway closet, then the living room. The entire downstairs was DONE! I just had to write about it. But we went on vacation. And we were getting ready for Eli to start school. And Eli started school. And we were getting into a new routine. And that darn living room just wouldn’t stay UNcluttered. So I kind of stalled out.

I didn’t stop entirely, but I abandoned my room by room method and haphazardly began to take things out of the upstairs rooms that we don’t use. This is not a good method, at least not for me. I need to see that I’m making progress to stay motivated. So I’m going to get back to my original plan. I think I’ll start in the kids’ rooms since they’ll be fairly quick. I can get them done, see the difference easily, and feel that I’ve made immediate progress.

Now for the fun stuff! I mentioned my before and after pictures and here they are: (not all of them, but the ones that show the major transformations).

Before- My hutch was a cluttered mess

After- The unnecessary items are gone and I made an ‘Artist Spotlight’ for the kids’ work (something I’ve been wanting to do for ages). They love it!

Before- My cookbooks above the microwave

After- I only kept the cookbooks I actually use

Before- The disorganized lazy susan

After- The organized lazy susan

Before- The junk drawer. Oh come on, you have one one too!

 

After- The junk drawer needs a new name

Before- The laundry closet… oy!

After- The laundry closet… ahhh!

Before- The toy area in the living room. UGH!!!

After- The toy area with labeled bins. This is fantastic in theory, but hasn’t really worked in application. Toys keep migrating from upstairs to downstairs. I’m hoping once the whole house has been purged it will get better. We’ll see.

So what do you think? I’ve made progress, however small. Stay tuned because I will continue and I will persevere!

Lauren Cormier

About Lauren Cormier

Lauren is a 30-something stay at home mom who doesn't have it all together and she's pretty sure you don't either. She hopes that by sharing her real life (not the glossy made-up version) she can encourage you to drop the act and get real. Lauren lives in Hermon with her husband and their three children. She also blogs at www.ohhonestly.net