I feel you Kristil I'm in the same boat two much stuff to do and no where to put it. I'm up at 5:30 am every morning getting the kids up 2 get ready for school. Some morning I'll throw a load of clothes in the washer while I'm getting ready for work and dry a load. Fold them while I'm removing them from the dryer and put them in a trash bag to bring up stairs to put away, and they never make it out of the basement or the trash bag. I'm Oh so guilty. of being log jam too. DH is guilty of stacking his clean clothes in a chair this is his so call method of put up his clothes until they're falling out on the floor. May be we can help keep each other accountable for clearing out our stack of stuff. So we can get to the things we need to get too.

Happy to support you lady blue. I think I'll post my successes (other than this post) over on the productivity thread, so as not to clog this one too much.

You guys will be happy to know that every cabinet and drawer in my kitchen is now accessible!! The stacks are not only gone, but put up!!! Once I removed the stacks I could move my garbage can back to a better place as it was blocking two cabinets!!

I have started in the pantry (and got a load of laundry done as well) and will continue with it after dinner. The counters are cleared and I felt so inspired by it all that I made an apple cobble with some apples I found hiding in a bag I picked up!!

Will work in there for now, and tackle the clothes tomorrow (got some things done in there as well). Just wanted to let you know that it seems to have sunk in and is working. HAPPY DANCING!!!!!!!

What's that sound?

That free-flowing, rushing sound?

The one that sounds soooooooo happy?

Why, I do believe it is the sound of Kristil's cleared log-jam, and her freed rush of productivity and excitement!

EXCELLENT work! WOO HOO! I know that feeling. I LOVE that feeling!

(On the huge stack of dishes--I had a friend who could *literally* go for a month without doing dishes, because she'd been given about five complete dish sets (8 settings each) for their wedding. OH MY the log-jam you can create with that many dishes!! When she decided to weed down to enough dishes for two meals, her kitchen stayed clean all the time... because she *HAD* to tidy it every day, or there'd be no dishes for supper. But, doing up ten of each thing was a lot less horrible than 100 of each, so it was far less a burden.)

I can't agree more about all the dishes Elizabeth!! Way too many dishes and utensils here!!

A while ago I got rid of the salad forks, about a dozen, as I never use them because they are too small. Well, this go around I am slimming back even more! Not sure how many forks and spoons there are, but it's lots. I am picking out the ones I want to keep maybe six of each, and the rest are going to the frat house, along with some never used pots and pans!! Just yesterday I was lamenting at the frat house over items I could use but did not have. So Monday morning they are going with me to work. I'll have more to work with there and less to deal with at home!!! WOOO HOOO!!! And the temptation to grab a clean one instead of washing the few I have left will be gone as well!!

I've been so pumped I couldn't sleep and at 2 A.M. I was wide awake and finished clearing the stacks in front of the pantry, put up all the groceries and finished washing some dishes. Still have that pesky pile of utensils, but now they are going to the frat house I am looking forward to washing and boxing them up to go!!

Still a long way to go in there but now I can sweep and vacuum and it looks SOOOOO much better!!

Have to leave to go to the Vet's and haven't read all you did Kristil, but happy dancing for you along with wanting to read it all at once! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I am so very very proud of the work you are completing (I did peak at this page, but only one posting) so will be back later and dance some more.

You have to feel WONDERFUL, HAPPY, CALM, and a bunch of other things. Will be back later!

Kristil, that's a fantastic repurposing! I'd forgotten about your work at the frat house (which is silly, because it's right there in your username!)

With utensils, I'm trying really hard to get down to three family-settings of each item, plus one each of most cooking utensils (spatulas, etc). With a small household, I'd go with, say, 8 settings for everyday, plus perhaps four settings in reserve for dinner parties. It's AMAZING how satisfying it is to look in a drawer and see a limited number of matched items all nestled together neatly.

Of course, then you'll likely want a nifty new drawer organizer for them, or new drawer paper. There's a children's book called "If You Give A Pig a Pancake"--about an absurd chain of "necessary" things that happen when you kick it off with one innocent action, and most of my projects run that way. LOL

I'm going to spend a few more minutes on-line, then hop into clothes and start clearing things a bit. DH is off getting supplies to help with one our OUR log-jams--limited work space. He's taking the office from a 48" desk space to EIGHT FEET of workspace! I can't wait! It's a two-weekend project, but will be worthwhile, and should go a long way in clearing up the log-jams we have, and will have more of when the additional computers arrive--which computers will ease the current log-jam of me trying to write, DH trying to do web stuff, and the children needing the computer for school!

What a great idea Kristil, giving the frat house your extra items! WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO

Reading about you not being able to sleep because you were so excited in the log jam opening up, I can relate to that! It is exciting. For the dishes, maybe a nice hug to DH in the morning may get him to do them sometime during the day? If not, you could run some nice soapy water and put the items in there until you do the dinner dishes.

I am so happy dancing for you.

EC:
Too cute a book! That can be very true. I hope that your log jamming desk helps to make things easier for you and your family.

Kristil

I have to chime in and say WOWWWWWW! You are doing great. I can remember when you were so discouraged (been there too).

I want to continue to encourage you to sort and get rid of (we must be able to come up with a new term here for something like sort and get out:)

I had the "lucky" experience in the past year of leaving my house with only a few clothes. I got the privilege of starting over--with only what I wanted to buy and I've kept it minimal. My family has wanted to give and buy me more things and I've said no. I've learned that what I bought initially has been quite adequate so far. This experience has been such a blessing to me--I feel like I've been set free from "stuff".

I lived like that for 6+ months before I had access to the house and the rest of my things. When I did, I chose to take almost nothing of the household items. Only personal items, clothing and family things. Now I'm so very happy I did but I wouldn't have done it that way had I been back soon after I left-so again a great blessing to have that time to experience minimalism. Even after I got my things, as I've moved and unpacked, I've sorted and have a huge pile for S.A. pickup soon and I gave some things to the local domestic violence shelter.

The ladies here have said repeatedly less is better. I am absolutely loving my current situation with so much less stuff--it makes life so much easier.

So, as Elizabeth has suggested with clothing, perhaps you could do something similar with other things. Could you possibly create a list of what you want/need from one area at a time, shop for that and then box the rest for donations? I used to think but I spent money on that so I should keep it and wear it out. When the circumstances took that option away I felt better about letting it go. Now I think I may have spent money but I no longer need it and I'm going to share it with someone who will be blessed and helped by the bargain they get.

The domestic violence shelters are always happy for household items as families start over again in setting up households. For my current situation I needed to keep the donation process simple so I'm boxing and stacking and having the truck pick up.

You just can't imagine how much easier life would be for you personally is you had say only 50% of the possessions in your house now. You will feel so much better. Think about how much more efficient you will be when you don't have to move any piles to put things away, when things fit quickly and easily into your storage space, etc. It will be just an awesome experience.

Good luck and I love hearing about your success AND your challenges.

(And after typing this I realize there are some sheets in my linen closet that are there because I thought well maybe I will use those--gifted from my mom--but I really do have enough and I don't want them and I'm going to get them right now and put them in the donations.

I found my logjam. It is the piles of papers on and around my computer desk and on dining table. I will be tackling all of them during the superbowl game. Good time to sit and sort, lol. Dont have to be constantly watching the tv so can do it then. Until then, I have dips to make and dishes to do. Feels good to know I have a plan, now need to follow thru. I know I can, I know I can...lol

KTsMom:
What a sad, but wonderful story from you. I am so very impressed with your strength! Thank you for sharing that, not only did you help Phichef, but many more of us gals. Thanks.
Glad to hear things are so much better for you.

jmz:
WELCOME TO GON! Yes, that is a good time to sort thru papers!
I always get so much done when I do it then!

Bless:
Just had to say you really MOTIVATED alot of the GONers.
Great topic!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Working on a log jam today due to the change in the weather, because tomorrow it is going to be cold again. Just things to put away is basically all that is needed and a couple of light bulbs changed, but honestly it was way too cold to do anything but start the car, and take out the dog and the trash!
Wish me luck! That will be such a relief to have that completed!