Getting rid of one item a day thread number 14 – where we extract precious autumn leaves, rocks and twigs from our children

[stealthninjamummy]

Well I never thought I’d still be here, on the 14th thread where a bunch of mumsnetters get rid of one item a day while we slowly declutter and reorganise our houses.

It’s autumn and some of us have commented on our children’s beloved treasures that are coming in like conkers and precious twigs that have been named. This is the thread where we focus on sneaking these things out and getting the house ready for Christmas even if we don’t know what Christmas will be like this year.

New joiners are always welcome, just get rid of one item and let us know. We’ve all different issues and challenges and it’s nice to have a friendly chat with a fellow mumsnetter.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4003927-Still-throwing-an-item-away-a-day-part-13?pg=1

And for 2020 some of us are also aiming to get rid of 2020 items!

Outs - a couple of pecs cards, two different types of urine test strips (both long expired) and more very old post. I also used up a little trial bottle of rinse aid, the last dregs of a bottle of ketchup and a shower gel.

But, I have refilled my kitchen cupboards in anticipation of Brexit-related supply issues.

Hope you can rest and recover tomorrow, Footprints

Today’s update: went through the rest of the linen cupboard in search of the Missing Teatowel. No luck, but I did find two small pillowcases (cot bed sized), and they’ve been added to the bag of cot bedding, making more space for the things that we do use. The problem is finding the time and energy to sort through all the bags/ boxes of things we don’t use and being able to get rid of them.

Also did a bit of shredding of paperwork from yesterday.

Went Xmas shopping this morning, which was only partially successful, but I have already wrapped one present I bought so it can be posted on Monday. Not going to leave all the wrapping to the last minute this year!

alexthelittlecat glad I’m not the only one who never finishes anything . By some miracle I got a Xmas delivery slot but Sainsbury’s have a new system with a four hour window so I have to wait for it between 7 and 11pm which is actually ok as I’m not going anywhere.

I forgot to mention I had the gutters cleaned out last week as I could see a plant growing in them. So that’s another thing decluttered.

strangeaddiction you have done incredibly well, you have been so busy in the few weeks since you joined the thread. I think you deserve to put your feet up, it sounds like your house is lovely and clutter free.

sandandse you’re doing so well with your do. That’s amazing. Did you get rid of the computer games too in the end?

Today’s update. I’m mainly doing washing but I am also getting rid of a card that dd1 wrote to Santa one year. She did it with those pens that change colour when you write over them with a ‘magic’ pen and so the effects of the magic pen have gone so it just looks like a block of colour.

Argh, was writing a post when the page reloaded.

I read this yesterday in an article - it’s meant to be a metaphor for old ideas, but my whole life is like this, including my fridge, so today I cleared out all the old manky food that had been in there way longer than 3 days past it’s best
“You've likely walked past your kitchen counter and seen near-rotten bananas and thought to yourself, Oh, I'll make a smoothie tomorrow with those. Then the next day you see the same bananas and think, Guess it's time to make banana bread! On the third day, the bananas are collecting flies, and there's not a smoothie or banana bread in sight.”

So I've been through my wardrobe and got rid of the clothes that are for the person I want to be, not who I am. Lots of lovely long sleeved tops with high necks that look nice and smart but actually I just struggle with feeling claustrophobic in long sleeves and high necks. They're all in good condition and trying to decide whether to try selling them or just charity shop them.

Also got DS, 5, to go through his clothes and he's got rid of a few he doesn't like. He's decided he doesn't like Toy Story after being crazy about it the last two years and having lots of clothes and toys so deciding whether to clear them out of not. Might see what he gets for Xmas.

Also got rid of a ton of socks. I reckon 24 pairs plus 6 pairs of thick Morinno wool ones is probably enough for 2 one year olds 😂

Stealth We've being doing the landing for months. Still not finished.

Sainsbury's do have slots for this week, if that is any good footprints? The Christmas week ones must go as soon as they come on. They have nectar points offers on everything food-wise that isn't fresh until 13th December.

alexthelittlecat that’s great to hear! I am hoping to do more painting next week but I am behind on so many other jobs that are higher priority i might not get round to it.

footprints i find the Sainsbury’s website and app give different availability for slots, the app always has more. So this week I have a click and collect for a load of frozen food and non perishables (cranberry sauce, pickles, Xmas pudding, crackers etc) and then 23rd I have a delivery of fresh food. There were no delivery slots on the website so I booked my slot on the app and then finished the order on my laptop because I prefer using a big screen / searching for recipes etc.

footprints that doesn't sound much fun.
Try not to overdo it.
I'm ambling along with small items going. I'm trying to get Christmas stuff sorted and can hopefully get everything posted this week. Using up the wrapping paper stock which is good. Making sure all the packaging from deliveries goes in the recycling this week.
Posted scooter for sale but no joy yet.
Today's out will be my socks as they are rather holey!

@SleepingStandingUp your comment has made me wrap all the Christmas presents today!!! You must've been so shocked to give birth early.

@SandAndSea wow 61!!! Keeping dvds is so hard to justify now isn't it.

@AlexTheLittleCat thanks for the shopping tip.

I think I'm in a pattern now of terrible pain first thing and evening. So I'm trying to be productive in the middle times.

Day 89:
Two more children's books in the charity bag. One about monsters and I don't want to plant that seed.
All children's Xmas pressies wrapped.
2 presents given out.
Photos and emails.
Neighbours presents and cards ready to be given out to tomorrow.
Hell cupboard sorted now the present stash has been wrapped (H did this).

Sainsbury's have a wine offer of buy 6 bottles and get 25%, just in time for Christmas, although that's not any good for footprints! Stealth* Thanks for the app tip, I've been using the website and didn't realise they offer different slots.

Everyone is doing so well. I'm going to do some more present wrapping today, then all the presents so far are wrapped. I'm never going to be this organised again.

Tesco do the same wine offer

@footprintsintheslow the twins were planned C Section for 36 weeks, I suspect if of left them they'd have happily seen the New Year in in there. I always feel guilty that we planned their section to fit around us and DS (we'd got an overnight booked for him at hospice) rather than waiting for them. Altho my BP was up from the Tues and they only left them alone as we had a planned section for the Friday so maybe they'd have not been left in much longer.

DS, 5, was a suprise at 35 weeks tho. Worked at normal 9-5 and 6-9, came home, went to bed and woke up at 2 to my waters going. Contractions 23 hours later and then he was delivered later that day.

So yeah, glad you wrapped 😂😂😂

Just found a couple of cot sheets that fit the old cots not the new ones so they're also going to the charity shop tomorrow

Day 20-28

Bit of a rubbish week. Husband's nan passed away and have had a couple of days where I just cant be bothered. Think lockdown may be getting to me.

I got out Christmas presents for the in-laws, secret Santa present out. Bag of things I found that belong to mother in-law, and some new nail vanishes and a photo frame that I wont use but she might.

Got rid of some bath mitts I found in the cupboard and more body lotions. An old glasses case and some old pens out as well.

Got 16 parcels out from eBay.

Got a bag of clothes that weren't good enough for the charity shop into the textile recycling bag, and glass recycled. Annoyingly I filled the boot with clothes for charity shop but couldn't find anyone taking donations (they're still in the boot!)

I may get some more bits on ebay tonight thought not sure if I have the energy

Hope everyone is well

Sorry for your loss Muller and your shitty week

Thought I was doing quite well. Have mostly decluttered the kitchen shelf today and filled up the recycling bin. Then I went up in the attic to get the Christmas tree and was reminded how much is up there😭 ExH could never be bothered to dispose of anything so just shoved it all in the attic.

Why is it that every year I pack away the tree lights tidily but when I get them out again they've got themselves in a tangle and I spend half an hour cursing as I sort them out? Anyway, the tree is up so I'm going to have a cup of tea, catch up with The Archers and do the scrapbook for work. The babies have been busy with painting snowman Christmas cards and tree decorations this week.

Aww i miss all the Christmas creations you get from nursery.

Regardless of weather the babies and o are doing a charity shop run tomorrow
I thought we could get away with one more bit it'll have to be two and possibly a skip for the big wooden panels and plastic boxes

Outs:

• a reuseable face wipe - it’d seen better days
• toothpaste - used up
• mouthwash - ditto

Opened up a tea advent calender and put the tea packets into my tea box. Saves space on the counter this way.

Ins:

• a big ass Christmas tree
• more Christmas presents for the dc. These are from dsis just in case we go into full lockdown and we don’t get to see her on Christmas.

Out: bra for recycling. It’s actually very nice, but a bit too small for me now. I’ve popped it in the Oxfam bag in a separate labelled bag so hopefully it will get to the right place.

Today’s update: I tackled a messy spot in the kitchen - the hooks by the door where we hang bags and random stuff. There’s now a bag of plastic bags, a bag of bags for life, and a bag of the larger supermarket bags (the jute/ woven ones - can’t think what they’re called). All very tidy now, and a couple of bags with holes in them have gone to be recycled.

Put the tree up today, and ordered a couple more presents, so I felt productive

@thelastmullercorner - So sorry for your loss.

Stealth - Thanks. No, we've still got the games, in a pile by the front door. Some research is needed before they can go.

I'm in the process of arranging for a charity to collect my offerings this week. It's quite a big pile so it'll be great to get rid of it.

Not much actually out today - just a travel bottle of body wash which I've finally used up.

I did find a tree today though. We've got it up and the front room has now been fully blinged up for Christmas. I don't think I've ever done this so early. (Still lots to do on the rest of the house but hey-ho!)

@thelastmullercorner sounds like you are having an awful time of it but very productive still. Make sure you have time to look after yourselves amongst all the sadness.

thelastmullercorner I’m sorry to hear about your loss.

Well the inevitable has happened. I woke to an email telling me that dd1s year is all self isolating due to a flurry of positive covid tests over the weekend. I was surprised that there had been no cases in either child’s year but I suppose these things grow exponentially once you have one case.

So im unlikely to finish the Room of Doom or decorating before Xmas because dd1 will need to be watched to do her schoolwork. I have bought and wrapped the Santa presents but not yet bought presents from me.

Gah, I know it could be so much worse and we’re really lucky but I am so fed up with this.

eyebrow pen gone.

i am on the beauty hoarders thread and am striving to use up a lot of my "stash" am now wfh so must keep on with the make up on and self care.

have a stash of hand cream, and because of the increase in hand washing and sanitising, am smashing my way through these.

also given i'm wfh i am determined to use my lunch hours wisely, and do a bit of tidying up every day. i'm actually at dparents today, but will be home tomorrow, and am planning on tackling the corner cupboard in the kitchen.

ememem84 I like to wear makeup too, more since March, I find if I make an effort it does lift my mood. Normally I’d go swimming or to the gym but I can’t with dd1 home.

An unexpected out today. One of the big plastic balls for putting liquid into a machine. I don’t know why I have it, for years I’ve been using persil liquid with small plastic things. I’m supervising a grumpy child who doesn’t want to home school so pleased to get anything out. I’ve also wrapped a couple of presents and done a load of tidying up.

I forgot Tesco do the same wine offer Sleeping, thank you. Maybe if we all get stuck with decluttering we can just drown our sorrows? I got some on my last Sainsburys delivery for Christmas and for the long, cold months of January and February when I just want to hibernate. After Christmas is always hard until spring. Also useful for the weeks when you have school aged kids self-isolating. Sorry your DD is having to isolate just before Christmas Stealth. It does tend to come all at once across the school.

TheLastMullerCorner Sorry for your loss and your awful week.

KateF It's so lovely to think of the babies painting their Christmas cards and decorations.

Ins today: Christmas presents for DD, I got her some fairy wings.

I haven't posted on these threads for ages, I think I fell off somewhere in the middle of lockdown and trying to cope with home schooling and working and juggling three children in a small-ish flat. Uggghh. Thank God lockdown 2.0 wasn't as bad, I don't think I would have coped very well with having to do that again.

I've been mostly getting rid of clothes as I can recycle these even when the charity shops are closed, although I must confess to slinging a few bags of stuff in the bin which could probably have waited until the shops reopened - I just couldn't stand the clutter anymore.....

Hoping to get rid of our double buggy which will free up space in the downstairs storage cupboard, but have been mucked about by FB buyers haggling over prices and then not turning up etc so fingers crossed it goes soon. I've also listed it with a local charity who will collect it as and when the need arises.

Today's decluttering challenge is trying to get rid of DS's antibiotics by getting it into DS . Two year olds and penicillin isn't a great combination. I sneaked this morning's dose into the milk for his weetabix, but I'm having less success with the apple juice which is hiding the current lot. Have resorted to giving him crisps and cheese to try and make him thirsty

Today's out - a bag of walnuts which expired in April. I heard somewhere nuts go rancid quite quickly so didn't want to risk using them, and I can't remember what I bought them for in the first place