Need a Coupon from 2007?

If you do, you have until the garbage truck comes tomorrow to call dibs. I didn't make any photo-worthy progress yesterday but I did clean out a large bill full of paper. Old bills, coupons, junk mail, etc. The top layer was dated 2009 and when I worked my way to the bottom, I found something from 2007. That's the danger of plastic tubs and boxes. You think, I'll just shift some of my paperwork from my desk to the box and take care of it when I have time. Then "out of sight/out of mind-ism" strikes. You can't see it so you don't worry about it. In fact, you find yourself complete blind to the box of papers next to you. It becomes part of the scenery. Now I have another empty box! One down, ? to go!

Panic and Progress

On every episode of one of the hoarders television shows, the hoarder flips out because someone moves something important to them. Well that just happened to me. Last night, my niece came over to help me and we made some major progress (see photo left). Today, I went into the craft room where we we working and I couldn't find my box of Christmas/Hanukkah cards. I looked everywhere. I started to panic because I need to work on addressing them this week. I  starting having a panic attack. I felt completely out of control. I felt angry. I felt helpless. I don't like feeling out of control.

When she dropped by the house, she was able to find them for me but for the life of me, I couldn't find them. Please remember, if you are helping someone declutter and you need to move something they might need, let them know where you put it. I'm finally starting to calm down but this really derailed my plans for the day.

It has been almost three years since I started this blog. I haven't used it but since things have reached critical mass at home, I am going to start using it. My clutter issue is hovering between Clean House and Hoarders. I have to do something. And now. It is possible that my best friends and godson will be moving back to Houston and I want to be able to have them come upstairs and visit. I want to have a party. I want to host a craft night at my studio. I don't just need to do this, I have to do this. I will do this.

Motivational Photo

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The Long Overdue First Post

Clutter 028, originally uploaded by eccentrici.

I am a procrastinator. I also have a problem with clutter. A major clutter problem. When I took these photos and set up this blog, I fully intended to start to decluttering process. Now it's almost November and I've made very little progress.

Why did I start this project? A close friend called to tell me that she was going to bring over the air mattress that I loaned her and I panicked. She had never been to my house. She had never seen my clutter. I made up a ridiculous excuse as to why she couldn't come by the house. I was ashamed to lie to her but I was far more ashamed of my house. I vowed then to do something about it.

Flash forward to this week, I took 6 days off from work so I can make a dent in this mess. I have been taking vacation days for this same reason since we moved exactly two years ago today. I don't want to do this anymore. The next time I take vacation days, I want to do something fun, not spend hours clearing up clutter.

So here I go. In this blog, I will talk about my progress (or lack of it), books that I find helpful, and the whole process of getting my life back in order.