tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post3219295351901230051..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: Balancing the blechLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-15248508256148085842010-11-11T11:57:05.360-05:002010-11-11T11:57:05.360-05:00Laura: Me, too! Hubby and hobbit girl have pretty ...Laura: Me, too! Hubby and hobbit girl have pretty short attention spans, so it's not hard.<br /><br />Mary: Culp's book is super helpful on purging paper and keeping it under control.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-6353002352000723432010-11-10T22:30:31.965-05:002010-11-10T22:30:31.965-05:00It's the paper piles. They're winning.It's the paper piles. They're winning.Mary Aalgaardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051735579638637382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-64775373017477260742010-11-10T09:17:11.707-05:002010-11-10T09:17:11.707-05:00I always try and throw stuff away when my family i...I always try and throw stuff away when my family is not looking. And when they ask? I say, "Um,not sure where that is." Usually two secs later, they've forgotten!Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-50990784941119192132010-11-10T08:38:46.855-05:002010-11-10T08:38:46.855-05:00Kelly: There are loads of good books on setting up...Kelly: There are loads of good books on setting up systems, especially for paper. The interrupted mom syndrome sounds so familiar to me. I have the tendency to toss things out of sight ASAP so my daughter doesn't mess with them, which means I find things in the oddest places!<br /><br />Susan: Largely paper stuff right? The good news is the IRS only expects you to have 7 years worth of financial stuff. Purge the rest with glee. :-)<br /><br />Emy: Hubby and hobbit girl seem to be wired disorganized. Both do best in uncluttered environments--sounds like you do too. Keeping possessions to a minimum is key for sure.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-35639282014968299502010-11-09T23:36:06.646-05:002010-11-09T23:36:06.646-05:00I'm not a very tidy person, and have a horribl...I'm not a very tidy person, and have a horrible time with organization. When I moved into the dorms, I resolved to only bring what're absolutely necessary and leave the rest at home. It was one of the best decisions I've made. There are things that you should keep for sentimental and practical reasons; however, it's always good to really ask yourself if it's something that you need to keep. :)Emy Shinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109925009902220083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-25746647694800973172010-11-09T13:32:20.964-05:002010-11-09T13:32:20.964-05:00I have the opposite problem. I tend to throw thin...I have the opposite problem. I tend to throw things out and realize later that I should have kept them.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-83571311309120764992010-11-09T09:54:00.561-05:002010-11-09T09:54:00.561-05:00Man- my husband would love this post! I keep ever...Man- my husband would love this post! I keep everything and he throws everything out...my problem with organization is that I don't know where to put everything, so things just pile up. Mail, magazines, school papers, etc. For some reason, the kitchen tends to be the place where it all goes. Another problem I have is that I'll set something down, fully intending to going back to it, but one of the kids need something and I totally forget about it. Again, it just piles up!Kelly Lymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773120663217816189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-56942075169479377262010-11-09T09:28:58.027-05:002010-11-09T09:28:58.027-05:00Lisa: I like what Christine mentions below--it tak...Lisa: I like what Christine mentions below--it takes time to accumulate, so de-cluttering goes slowly too, and that's ok. I believe Culp's book recommends an in/out system. Buy something new, get rid of something else.<br /><br />Christine: I'm with you there. I think the trick of having a little stashed away is keeping the stash an appropriate size for your space. If you have more projects than you can reasonably finish in your lifetime, some of the hobby stuff could be blessing someone else. <br /><br />I love that idea of de-cluttering slowly. So true. Culp says to schedule like a half hour a day to clutter control. The small increments of time are less draining.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-16085922434937966432010-11-09T06:26:05.131-05:002010-11-09T06:26:05.131-05:00PS I did try to get rid of my hobby stuff and my h...PS I did try to get rid of my hobby stuff and my husband had a fit because he bought most of it for me. So it's still there! I didn't realize it meant so much to him.Nighfalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01745824744507928211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-29833209457795110022010-11-09T06:25:27.008-05:002010-11-09T06:25:27.008-05:00We have been working really hard on cleaning out t...We have been working really hard on cleaning out the clutter the past few years. The thing is, I really do use stuff I save and it has saved me money on say, clothes a few sizes smaller or bigger, or craft supplies. So I'm judicious about what I throw out.<br /><br />But I love the "Flylady" method, and her saying that you didn't get cluttered overnight, so don't expect to clear it all out overnight either. Just do a little at a time so that you don't get overwhelmed.Nighfalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01745824744507928211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-1086186520097188182010-11-08T23:38:59.446-05:002010-11-08T23:38:59.446-05:00Oh so true!! The biggest problem is that no matte...Oh so true!! The biggest problem is that no matter how much I get rid of, there always seems to be more... I blame the gnomes.Lisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-18875423958728964472010-11-08T16:22:37.139-05:002010-11-08T16:22:37.139-05:00Talli: I wish we could pare back considerably, but...Talli: I wish we could pare back considerably, but family members seem to think our place is a dumping ground for "perfectly good" stuff they don't want. Hubby is terrible at saying no. But hey, at least we get the tax write off when we donate the carload of their junk.<br /><br />Shannon: I seem to go through jags of hoarding and dumping. I wish I could get this under better control myself.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-71796663771381499952010-11-08T16:17:51.575-05:002010-11-08T16:17:51.575-05:00Faith: Exactly. When I'm wearing myself out mo...Faith: Exactly. When I'm wearing myself out moving things from here to there and back, joy does seem to evaporate.<br /><br />Melissa: I have just one kid and seem to be endlessly tripping over toys. I think a purge might be a good advent activity for us this year.<br /><br />Elle: You're welcome. I have closets and dressers haunting me. Bit by bit, things are going.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-55109949034444971422010-11-08T15:41:53.883-05:002010-11-08T15:41:53.883-05:00Yes! My hubby and I have been trying to simplify ...Yes! My hubby and I have been trying to simplify our "stuff" for the last couple of years. Much better, but not there yet. :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-15583514964358105552010-11-08T14:48:41.554-05:002010-11-08T14:48:41.554-05:00This is one thing I can actually say I do! I live ...This is one thing I can actually say I do! I live in a small flat, so it's practically impossible to have stuff. One of my friends last year asked me if we had our things in storage - that's how uncluttered the flat is!Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-6401362601472162362010-11-08T13:40:25.217-05:002010-11-08T13:40:25.217-05:00I agree, clutter is evil. I think there are few th...I agree, clutter is evil. I think there are few things in my living room I can get rid of. Thanks for the shove!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09687047513163296827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-78687895709471651002010-11-08T12:23:58.064-05:002010-11-08T12:23:58.064-05:00How true. My house is overflowing with toys, most...How true. My house is overflowing with toys, most of which my kids don't even play with anymore.Melissa Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530652829980250261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-75821753205047539352010-11-08T12:10:29.562-05:002010-11-08T12:10:29.562-05:00Very true. Things get in the way of real joy, anyw...Very true. Things get in the way of real joy, anyway.Faith E. Houghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823750019164801104noreply@blogger.com