My CDs have been downloaded to the mp3 player so the originals are packed away. My DVDs are in the cases in cabinets which have those childproof locks on them. I have 4 cabinets - one for me, one for hubby, 2 for kids - hubby has 4 cabinets for his CDs that are locked the same way. We just got tired of the pretty shiny hockey pucks!

CountryOrg, WOW! Can I dream too? LOL

We have been on toss or donate mission for the move, getting rid of all the old mimatched pieces. Have decided that I am going to get exactly what I want. Am thinking that we will do like some of those shows on HGTV and cut into the wall and create storage between the rafters. Just gotta wait and see.

Such teriffic ideas and dreams! Keep them coming!

beaglelady - Good plan! You'll be so glad that you didn't move everything you owned - only those pieces that you love, need and use. We did that in our move last year and it was a lifechanging turning point for us - very cleansing. We didn't move items just because we'd had them for years or because they were still "good." We did without a few pieces of furniture until we could afford to purchase items we really liked. Implementing this process works best during a move - I can't imagine that we would have accomplished this otherwise.

The built-in storage sounds wonderful! I prefer cabinets to open shelves - less to dust and to me, the look is cleaner and less cluttered. JMHO.

CountryOrg:
After some soul searching, I definitely came to the conclusion that I would not do this to my kids! Everything I don't use or love is going....I thought I had done alot, but not really.
Amazing how this sad lesson is teaching me so much.

Any hints or suggestions would truly be appreciated should you think of them, or any one else. I do know the basics, and for many years was into the same emotional place about keeping momentos, but they aren't the memories, the memories are in our minds! DUH eventually. LOL

The best tip I ever received when it comes to parting with sentimental items was to take a picture of them. Like you said, the memories are in our minds, not the objects. Not always easy to remember, but taking a pic has actually helped - whenever I want to look back at something or recall a memory, just looking at a picture of the item really has been as meaningful as having the actual item. Just a thought!

I have done that in the past, and it is true, but then again, I have so many photos I don't need anymore! Just another addition to the house! LOL

I can see how happy and relaxed you are with the decluttering you did before you moved into your home and I am envious! LOL

CountryOrg...that is a beautiful piece of furniture....I love that the shelves for dvd's are on the sides...that would satisfy us both I think!

Diana...One thing that might be a possibility....take your pictures and get them on the computer ... you can use them as a slide show screen saver. I'm not sure exactly how to do that but I'm betting that one of your ds's or dd's could help!

I'm with you on the get rid of even more. What showed us was how little we could get by with for a month in the motor home. It was pretty sparse living, but getting rid of lots more is definitely doable. I just need to remember to consult dh before getting rid of everything! LOL

God bless,
Bonnie

I agree with you Bonnie. Should list that as a yearly goal. If I do some each month on a specific week or day, that would get them all taken care of. Should ask my smart Cousin to teach me.
I don't do well reading instructions! LOL

I decided that I will get busy and go thru a few boxes of mom's items, before I enlist everyone to remove things, BUT, they can help me with the art books and paper books that can be recycled.
Even if they take it home for their own recycling! Will discuss after dinner and dessert tomorrow.

Was down there cleaning up the liter box (sometimes the cats like to go there when we have company)and cleaned out two entire bins just walking around, and dumping most of it, but there were some nice things for the special cousin's group. Happy dancing.

We keep our CDs and DVDs in their cases in drawers in the built in cabinetry in our living room. When we renovated I designed the (I don't know what to call it, entertainment unit?) myself and we got the person who made it to put dividers in some of the drawers so that CDs and DVDs fit in there tidily. Of course, you always get the special editions or whatever that don't fit, which is a nuisance!

If we didn't have dedicated storage I'd probably put them in the binders. We never play the CDs, they are all ripped to iTunes and we have our computer network linked to our music centre, which has speakers wired throughout the house (DH's dream when we renovated) so we can listen to music in the ensuite bathroom, the courtyard or either of the living rooms. So if I didn't have drawers specially made for them I could probably box them up and store them out of the way. Sometimes dedicated storage is not so good I guess.

Sorry this turned into a bit of a ramble.