project simplify: week 1 (late report)

Over the past several years I've lived in a pretty constant state of decluttering.  I have a box on a bench in the dining room that collects those items I periodically come across and decide to purge.  Every couple of months, or when we need to use the bench where the box(es) resides, I make a trip to our local Goodwill to pass on the "treasures" contained therein.

Yet, somehow, I still have entirely too much stuff, or, at least, what feels like a gross imbalance of stuff to space.  At times, I've felt the stuff:space ratio is acceptable, but the organization of said stuff does not lend itself to comfortable living.

Enter Project: Simplify.  I love that Tsh gives us an area each week to focus on, a deadline (so ADD-me doesn't fall too far off track), and a place to link up with others doing the same for recognition and moral support.

Last week the focus was on kids' stuff.  While I don't have kids, yet, I do have a stash of kids' stuff, but I'd just purged a load of "someday" kids' stuff last year keeping only neutral infant items.  However this challenge coincided nicely with the completion of our nursery.  (No, this isn't meant to be a covert announcement.  We're still working through adoption paperwork and prep.)  Last month I spent a weekend painting the room while the mattress and dresser clogged the hallway.  Then last weekend we carpeted and moved the furniture back in, along with the crib we received several years ago from a friend and my mother's rocking chair that's only slightly older than me (and identical to the one Lee's mother had).

The before pictures are pretty bad, since they're pre-paint and carpet, so I'll just show you the after. :)

Next week: Fridge/Pantry