Where have I been since June 18th 2009?????

De-cluttering and de-cluttering and de-cluttering, did I mention DE-CLUTTERING.......OH MY.....

Just after I posted my last post, I got a call that my aunt had died...and I found out that I was excutrix of her estate.....and what a nightmare...of clutter. She was 88 1/2 years old. I have literally been sorting and pulling trash out of her home for the last 8 months or so from her home and
I am still not done. Still much to do in the basement.

This experience has changed my life, and has me hyper-focused on de-cluttering my own life, not just getting rid of stuff that I will never, ever use......but focused on streamlining my life, in general. We clutter our lives up in so many ways, from friends that do nothing but, take up our time and do not give back, participation in activities that we believe we need in our lives, that no longer fit our personal goals, and most importantly talking about doing things, and NOT DOING THEM.

I am happy to report, that I have been DOING de-cluttering, Not talking about wanting to do it. One thing per day, since the first of this year in my own home. I purchased a new vacuum cleaner, an electrolux oxygen, which I am happy to report was well worth the $400 plus sticker price shock that I felt in making this investment. Who wants to spend beaucoup bucks on a vacuum? UGGGGGGGGH! It is sucking up dust and clutter right and left.

I am paying people to fix things that have stopped me from moving forward, here and there, which has worked. I hate paying people to do things that I can do myself, but, when you get bogged down, overwhelmed, it can cause your life to get behind......cluttered. For example, I paid someone to repair my bathroom ceiling, nail pops, patch and paint it. I hate painting ceilings, so the bathroom remained stripped for two years, ready to go but, nothing happened. Can you relate? Once the ceiling was done, the room was painted in a few hours. All that remains is the curtains need to be rehung, and the accessories returned. It is now a functional room again! Pictures will be forthcoming.

Now I am working on decluttering my bedroom. I also had this person hang a cabinet above my toilet....it created space in my bathroom, which got more clutter off the counters. These two small projects, have me stoked, they have given me hope, and an emotional lift. All for about a $100. This money got me UNSTUCK......and did more for my emotional well being than a day at a healthspa....or a new dress or shoes would have done.

I have signed up on this new site, where you can find people to help you organize your life, give you personal advice, help you with those smaller chores that you will never have the time to do yourself and are keeping you stuck. Check it out.......



You can offer your services too, perhaps create a barter situation with some of the professionals there, they fix your toilet and you give them advice on their dating image, or cook them dinner.....its free to register and free to obtain services.....GO THERE!!!

Take the first step to de-clutter your life, today and if you can't take the step, hire someone to take that first step for you.....It just might get your juices going and get you UNSTUCK...

.....I am so angry at my aunt for leaving me knee deep in her mess with the responsibility to clean up her clutter, on top of my own. I can not tell you how hurt and frustrated to have been forced into this position, I am....Do not do this to your loved ones. Sell or dispose of the stuff you do not need, NOW.....or whatever money you intend to leave them will end up going to clean up crews, junk removers, unsavory dealers, etc. You know what you have, you are the best person to get the most $$$$$$ for that item, not your heirs, who do not have a clue and are overwhelmed with sadness, sentimentality and the sheer volume of your possessions and pressed for time.

Once the house is up for sale, and the estate taxes are done, I will again begin to post more frequently, with thoughts and ideas for de-cluttering your life as well as things you can do to help your loved ones after you are gone.

Wishing you a great day!
Smiles to YOU,
DEE CLUTTERING

I spent the weekend emptying Rubbermaid Bins.........

and bins and bins and reorganizing and looking for more things to sell.


I found a vintage Aurora plastics model airplane kit that was never opened, which after a bit research seems to have a value at around $200...who could have thunk it? I hope I have more models hiding around here.

I also found a museum quality cathrineholm lotus leaf bowl from norway. It had never been used and was still wrapped in its original tissue paper. Classic MidCentury Moderne piece. It already has one bid on it, shortly after posting it to ebay. Here is a photo.

I found lots of teddy bears that I had purchased for the store I had intended on opening.......and never did, which I put up for valentines day on ebay....Here is a photo of a Valentine's Day Rhinoceros that I have up for sale.

......and today I will put up gift baskets with mugs and tea for comfort gifts.

I made it down to the basement with at least 5 empty bins from the second floor....and I can actually see some empty space in my exercise room. My office floor however, is covered with photographed items that are awaiting descriptions before being put up for sale on ebay....this dee-cluttering project seems to be never-ending.

It gets depressing....but, for the first time this weekend, when I saw actual floor space and the number of bins that were emptied, I felt that progress had been made....albeit, SLOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!

Some days, I feel chained to this CLUTTER....suffocated by it........and that I will never be free of it. Why did I hoard so much? Did I realize what I was doing or was it a totally subconscious desire? It is amazing to me that at this time in my life, I want nothing, I don't want to shop, I don't want to acquire...I want to divest myself of the past and the sooner the better!!!

I constantly think of George Carlin and his comments about STUFF.....and how much time all our stuff takes to maintain. Why do we want so much stuff?

Gotta run, the market is opening soon....trading stocks again....

Wishing all my readers a wonderful DEE-CLUTTERING DAY....

Smiles to you,

DEE CLUTTERING