Little Things

I've been out at op-shops and doing good things for myself lately. 

Over the past week, I've bought only small things for the house, and yet I've donated more than two bags of goods I no longer need to my local charity store. 

On Monday, I bought a lovely hat for next Summer, and then on Wednesday, I bought two lamp shades which I thought would go well for my bedside lamps - I wanted to change them over from the plain white ones I bought from K-Mart. 
Now, when I got them to my folks' house and proposed this to my Dad (as I'd need his help), we had a good look at the lamps and we found that everything had been super-glued to death. 

Yes, this is the ultimate example of the throw-away society we're being forced into. All I wanted to do was the little thing of changing my lamp shades to prettier ones, and yet the way they were designed (and rather cheaply too!) made it so I couldn't. 

This is disgusting to say the least. 

Anyway, Dad understood where I was coming from and Mum wanted my old shades once we figured out how to get the new ones on. Both my folks are pleased to see I am thinking outside the box with this instead of buying new lamps - and lamp shades cost me under $20 for the two, as I bought them from an op-shop. 

And my budget this week for op-shopping was around $15.00 of a book and two lamp shades. Whereas my charity giveaway this week was a magazine holder and a bag of goodies which work but I don't need anymore. 

So, how are you doing with your decluttering this week? All good? I'm going so well! Right now, I'm getting through my wardrobe - anything I can't fit into is going straight into the donation box. How good is that? 

I've Been Away

I've had a week off just last week because I've been in hospital for day surgery - and man, that takes it right out of ya! My Mum stayed overnight and then the simplest things wiped me out... from the grocery shopping (thank goodness she was there to drive me!) to just making the bed and putting away the wiping up.

So, I must apologise for not updating you guys last week. But I did say I was cleaning the house big time for Mum stay... and that was the reason why.

Well, a few days before she did, I donated a big lot of things to my local Vinnies and scrubbed the house as clean as I could get it. But I'm looking at making sure I get more things out the door soon again and make another donation to Vinnies of some clothes I don't wear or fit into - no matter how nice they look.

Then, I have to look at which VCR collectable tapes are to be either sold or donated - and see how much money they'd be worth and sell them. It's now time to get rid of them. 

Mum has noticed that I do need more space - another room for my art and craft gear, and has said that I have 'some stuff!' but she has noticed that I do use everything in the house; which is a good thing. Not only am I an op-shopper, but I also declutter the things I no longer need and buy in op-shops what I want in my house. But I do need more room as well. 

Ironic that I have been decluttering for so long, and yet I still need room to make up a proper house. It's mainly to entertain and make it so my place is easier to get around in... that's all. 

So, what did you get up to while I was away? More decluttering? Or have you op-shopped like me after you donated your unwanted goodies? 

In With The New...

In the last few months, I have begun to really refine the way I've been doing my decluttering. If I seriously don't need it, it gets donated or thrown in the bin. 

And yes, I feel so much better for it.

Yesterday was a great day for this. 

I posted off a 5kg bag of books to the Northern Territory! Yep, I parted with about 10 books and sent them away - and for a person who collects books that's a big deal. Next pay, I'll be getting another 5kg bag and sending it off to Victoria... same deal, fill the bag up as much as I can and then post it off! 

Yep, this kind of decluttering of the house just makes me feel great! I'll have 20 less books to worry about and about 2 feet of space around the floor of my home office! Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Sure it does.

Well, I was online yesterday, chatting with a friend of mine and we came to the decision to go window-shopping at op-shops. So, we got ourselves organised and I picked her up (as she doesn't drive a car) and we were off! 

After a sight-seeing tour of a local historical house, we hit a Life Line Super-Store (these places have everything from clothes to beds, furniture to electrical goods - they're wonderful to go to) and she was looking for a small mixing bowl. However, she didn't find what she was searching for.

But I found a few small things for my place. I was mainly looking for a sandwich press; as mine has been making strange sounds since I dropped it accidentally last year (and I hesitate to use it). So, seeing I didn't find it, I thought it wouldn't hurt to look at other things. I came home with a lovely phone seat, a large flat-side bowl, and a teapot-cup with a matching saucer. 

Yeah, so much for window-shopping.

Anyway, we popped by my place for a cuppa and some water (as it's been hot here in Brisbane) and to drop off my goodies; and I wanted to get the phone seat installed into my house. Then, my friend asked what I was going to do with my old set of drawers I had, put to one side. I said I'd donate them... unless she wanted them? Squealing she said yes! So, after cleaning them up, we got the drawers into my car and relaxed a little.

Now, I told you this story because there's a great meaning behind it. When I buy something big - like I did with the hall stand - I make sure I get rid of the items it's replacing. The hall stand I bought replaced 3 pieces of furniture; that's right 3! The phone seat has made it easier for me to find my remotes and keep my lounge area tidier than it has been, plus it's lighter and easier to move around and clean. 

So, now for the weekend challenge:

Look around your house and find something you've bought to replace something. Have you given away or sold that other item? If not, now's the time to do that. Offer it up to family, friends and online... see if you get somebody wanting it. Or if you don't want to wait, take it to your local charity store and donate it. 

However, if you already do this? Here's another challenge: pick a sink in your house and get underneath it. Pull out everything there and figure out what isn't being used, what's out of date, what's a cleaner and what's not. Get in and clean the shelves properly; and then, put like items together and toss what needs to be tossed. Then the next time you go under that sink, you won't be wondering where that item is, you'll know. The best thing to do is to go and buy a cleaning caddy for your cleaning products and keep them in that caddy... I've done that and it's the best thing ever! I have also begun using a lazy susan under my kitchen sink; which keeps all my detergents in one spot as well.

So, there you go... two different challenges to have a go at. Do one, or both, and enjoy your weekend! 

Op-Shops Are Open Again...

Now, I know this is a decluttering and organising blog, but just to say this is a good thing - in a way.

It gives us the time to get out there and drop off whatever we've been doing during the time over Christmas - you know packing up the old and introducing the new - and take it over to our local op-shop/thrift store to donate.

However, I did this backwards today.

Yes, I went out and looked for placemats for the kitchen table and ended up with a box filled with other goodies I didn't know existed - or I needed.

But when I arrived home, I found that I was decluttering my place without a second thought. I pulled a bottle I haven't used in 3 years which I bought from Woolworths with the honest thought of using when I had visitors - to fill with ice tea or nice ice cold water at some point - but it's just been sitting there doing nothing but gathering dust. 

So into the Donation Box it went - straight away, without me feeling bad about it. I also cleaned up the nice little 3-set canisters and am now using them in the kitchen. The old tea canister will be used to hold my paint brushes and the lid will have to be thrown away as, well, if I take the canister into an op-shop they'll just throw it out. It's better to use the part that is usable, than toss out the whole thing.

I then scored these lovely boxes - one I found and the other was in the store somewhere and I found that after somebody told me about it. Well! they let me have the two for $3.00! What a bargain! Well, I will be using those for my bedroom; as they're just so pretty.

So, I've started decluttering in a big way... so far. And I've also joined Peter Walsh's 30-Day Challenge as well - and I do encourage you do this as well; to kick-start your decluttering year. This is how I got started decluttering my house. 

However, this year, I'm going to make sure this house is going to be ready to have me moving to another house. So, I'll be container ready... yep, things are going to be put away and stored in the readiness to move to another place to live. I can't wait to get in and do this. What are you hoping to get out of this year?  

Christmas Shopping Finished!

Okay! It's days away from the big day - less than a week - and I have finished all of my Christmas shopping!

And you know something? I only bought 3 brand new things... yeah, not bad is it? The rest of the stuff is all preloved, recycled and upcycled - which I think everyone is going to love! 

For the past month, I've been shopping around all the different op-shops I normally go to and looking carefully at things for my family - to see if I can either fix them up or upcycle them - and it's been fun!

Then, I went to the bank to see how much money I've got left one day about 2 weeks ago, and the lady there told me I had a Christmas account I had started at the beginning of the year! So, I cleaned that out, except around $10 and kept the transfer in place for next year! 

Now, I looked at Christmas in a whole different way!

I could afford things - a lot of things! - for my family; and I was going to op-shop the lot!

Well, yesterday, around 5 things pulled together all at once, and I felt wonderful about it all!

The vinyl for my brother found a frame.
The frame I needed for Marnie Linger's artwork was bought at a cheap store.
And all the rest of the presents were painted, glued, taped and wrapped up!

Yep, everything is under the tree...

...well, except my folks' painting.

Yeah, it's not finished yet. So, I'm going to install that in their home while they're on holidays and it'll be there when they arrive home - it'll be their surprise when they open the door and find it hanging on the wall. 

Now, that's something for them to look forward to.

Otherwise, I did spot this hall stand at Vinnies yesterday and begged, borrowed and... well, didn't steal... the money to obtain it. You see, dear readers, I've been searching high and low for a decent hall stand; and to come across one like this in my area is a rarity! It will just fit next to my door, block out the light coming in through the side door windows - while letting in a little with the fogged glass - and replace 3 pieces of furniture; which I will donate to Vinnies in the process!

So, that's a great find in itself, right? 

And seeing it's Christmas this weekend, how about we don't do a challenge? It's just too stressful and I don't want to push you too hard.

But if you want to, by all means do this one:

Go to your bookcase and choose 5 books you no longer have an interest in, know you won't ever read and know have no value at all. Put them into your Donation Box and drop them off at your chosen charity store the next time you go. 

Yep, this one is an easy one... but you don't have to do it simply because it's Christmas; and I don't want to push you. 

That Christmas Time Of Year

I enjoy Christmas, truly I do! And it's this time of year when I put away my usual things I've been doing around the house, and pull down the tree and decorations for Christmas.

It's also the time of year I seriously get into closets and declutter on a major scale! I clean up the living room, put bag upon bag of old clothes, shoes and other items I no longer want or need into the boot/trunk of the car and take them off to the op-shop and make sure I have enough space for the incoming lot of new presents from family next month.

This is also the time of year where I send off Christmas cards and shop for presents.

However, this year is going to be so much more different from other years from the past. I'm going to hand-make or op-shop my Christmas presents for my family and see how I go with them. Not only am I not all that stressed out about this endeavour, but I know I'm going to save myself a heap of money in the next month!

For example, I've got Christmas Parties coming up - where I normally spend a lot of money at them. But this year, seeing I'm op-shopping for my family, that won't be the case. I'll be saving myself the cash and only looking and window-shopping at markets and art galleries - there's not going to be the guilt purchases I have made from years ago.

This is going to be a different style of shopping for me; and I think I'm going to enjoy it. 

So, what do you think? How about you give it a try? Instead of jumping online and burning a hole in your credit card or battling the mobs at the huge shopping centres, how about you go into your local big thrift store and find presents for your loved ones? Not only will you be buying something preloved, and lovely, but you'll be giving money to a worthy cause.

And this week's Weekend Challenge is the same as mine:  go through your closets, cupboard and around the house and pull out the things you've been holding onto to use for the past few years. 

Start small and go for just 10 minutes one day and put them into a bag or a box and take it straight to the car. Then the next day, do another lot of 10 minutes to look around again in another room. 

Don't rush and really think about the last time you used that item. Then, when you've got about 3 bags - or boxes - in the boot of your car, take them to your charity store and donate. It'll be the best thing you'll do all season. 

Serious Down-sizing

I've been downsizing a lot since my last post. And I've also been out in the garden repotting plants and moving them around too.

I've got markets coming up, and there's something I'm really good at - packing everything I need into small spaces. And this week is no acception.

Yesterday, I was off to Vinnies at Underwood to donate 2 bags of goodies - a double bed sheet and some cds, and in the other bag books I don't read - and I took a wander around the store. There had been a deceased estate and it was filled with some great things.

From a $25 6ft Christmas Tree (without a box - why there was no box, I'll never know) to a badly-cared for carved leather handbag, to a 6-cup Corningware coffee pot (which I did nab) for just $10, that place was filled with all kinds of goodies for me to look at... but of course I'm always looking for the bargains, not just something - anything to buy - for the house.

Yesterday, I came home with 3 things: the Corningware coffee pot (in mint condition - never been used), a brand new tapestry frame and a Monte Mart table easel for displaying work; all of which came to the grand total of $13! How very cool is that? 

And yet, I was only there to look... it's always good to buy something you need and something you collect as well. 

When I arrived home, I found that the large donation box I had by the door was looking tired and was getting in the way. So, I've emptied out and taken it up to the big recycling bin; and I have replaced it with a smaller Donation Box instead. Everything can fit in it - and it fits in the car nicely - and all I do is load it up with bags of things, carry it out to the car and then bring it home. I don't take that box into the store with me, though, it stays in the car.

It's my 14th donation to charity this year... and I'm darned proud of breaking my record from last year of 9 donations. pretty good, eh? And I'm not finished... I'll be whittling things down until I have only what I need in the house - and things that will be going to my next place with me. 

Well, time for the Weekend Challenge! 

It's time to sort out your goo collection in your bathroom... yep, your shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and soaps you don't use; or you're 'saving for a visitor'. Get a rubbish bag, take a really good look at what you're not using (yes this includes bubble baths and bath bombs too) and then, toss them into the bag, and out into the bin outside! Go back into the bathroom, give it a good wipe-over and look in the place where that goo collection was... don't you feel so much better? Yep, so did I when I cleaned out that goo collection! This will only take around 10 minutes to do... so, off you go! 

A House Into A Home

I've mainly talked about cleaning out and cleaning up a house in the best possible ways. And I know this has been on how to be brutal with yourself; how to be harsh and how to send off your unwanted goodies/stuff to your chosen charities.

But I haven't talked about how to turn your house into a home - not yet.

It's okay to look around the charity store. It's okay to buy something you really want there. The only thing you have to remember is this: do you have the space for what you're going to buy? Also, what kind of feel do you want for your house? 

For mine, I'm going for a 1970's kind of home, and it's getting there. Yes, it's got knick-knacks from that era everywhere, and I'm taking away anything that's 1980's and 1990's and sending them to the charity store. While I'm there in the store, I'm looking for 1970's gear to take my place right back into that era.

But my 70's era home isn't yours. 

Remember exactly what you're looking for in your mind for your place, your home and how you want to feel when you come home from the outside world. Your home is your retreat from out there... it's your place of escape and when you open your front door and walk inside, you should feel relaxed by your surroundings, not feel as though you want to run away to another place. 

When I arrived home, after being at volunteering for the afternoon, or art class in the mornings, I love to open the door and know that where I am is a good place. It's where I can relax, I can kick off my shoes and enjoy the space I've created through op-shopping. It's what I've done for myself through decluttering for over 4 years... yes it's taken time (a lot of time), but it's been worth it! 

And it's still going on - the decluttering - and I'm making sure that when I do finally move into a house, I take only what I need with me and not any junk I've been hoarding just in case. 

So, how are you going with your decluttering and changing of your home? I'm pleased with how far I've come with mine over the last 5 years... share with us how you're going; even if you feel as though it's getting nowhere. 

Donation Day

Today, I was out all day at op-shops donating my goodies to them - and looking at goodies to furnish my home.

But first, I donated a lot of things I really didn't need anymore. These are things I had bagged up and put in the car last night and happily sorted out two weeks ago when I had made the time to go through my handbags and then wrapped them on Thursday. It always makes me feel great to donate to charity stores, because people will want nice things I've looked after. I took in a teapot-cup and two bowls I no longer need and my coffee table. Then, there was a bag of handbags I no longer used.

Then, I took a wander around the Life Line Supa-Store at Logan Central; and what a store! It has so much there! But it didn't have the armchair I so badly needed to make up the pair I was looking for. However, it did have a lovely food-server I loved for only $4.50 to add to the two I have on the credenza.

Then, I was off to Vinnies at Underwood to see if they had another donation of anything useful. They've been getting some deceased estates lately; and they are always interesting. And today was just like that. I found a pile of 45s which I scored for $1.00 each and then I saw an armchair; but it was very 1980's not 1970's for just $25.00. So, I left it there for somebody else to score instead of me.

Once I had my score in the car, I pulled out the GPS and punched in the address for the Life Line Supa-Store at Acacia Ridge (which is really at Archerfield) and the darned thing too me the long way around! It was there I found my armchair for $35.00! It's perfect! I got it home and have it stored temporarily in my bedroom until I get rid of my lounge. 

I have found that gumtree has been useless to me. It's been almost a month and my adverts were on page 10 and I have had over 80 views, but nobody wanted to know anything about them. So, I deleted the adverts and have begun donating my items. My folks think I'm being impatient, but I've wanted to change my living room for a few months now. I have bought the furnishing for the change; now it's time to get rid of the unwanted things. 

So, how are you doing with your donations? Have you done any this year? Or are you waiting until you get more before making one big haul during mid-year? I make as many as I can in a month, it's a lot more fun that way.

My Living Room - Part Two

Okay, I know I said that Gumtree is supposed to be our friend... a great place to sell things - and also buy things - but it's also a very slow process as well.

I'm only 2 weeks into the selling process and the main items I want to get rid of are sticking around like glue and the things I'm not fussed about hanging around are zooming out the door at rock bottom prices.

Oh well, can't win 'em all!

I am decluttering as things show up in my house though; and that's a good thing. I've begun preparing the coffee table for transportation; and started using the side table I bought - and cleaned up - today. The little white table by the door will be refurbished and sold on Gumtree for more than what I bought it for. Then, after three weeks, I'll reduce the prices of the other furnishings and see if I get a nibble... or redo the adverts altogether at a lower price and see what happens. 

During this time, I'll be decluttering the living room in the big way, so it all can be moved out. I also will be looking at making cushion covers out of old t-shirts. I've seen this on the 'I Love to Op-Shop' Facebook page. It's not a hard thing to do, and all you need to do is make small pillow slip - and I can do that. I just need to buy a second-hand t-shirt from a Life Line or a Vinnies and fit it onto my cushions... yep, it ought to be fun!

Well, I'm still looking for a hall table - without any luck - and once I have sold everything else, I'll be able to find what I'm looking for at other Life Line Supa Stores further afield. Otherwise, I hope to work out more around my house and see where I can get another chair - as I only have one - once the sofa-bed goes. 

Yes, I've been busily working away in my house and looking at other furnishings; like the phone-seat I scored at Browns Plains for $40, replacing the set of drawers I'm selling for $15 on Gumtree (hopefully) on Friday. I've paused the advert until that day to see if it all works out. Let's hope it does! So, how is your decluttering going? Slow and steady, or quickly? Leave a comment and let us all know.

Find A Theme

When you're cleaning out your home, you'll find that you'll start following a theme to match your home. Sometimes it's already there and you've fully-established it. Other times, you've been struggling to get it going.

I'm the latter unfortunately.

However, it's always fun to go out to op-shops and find great ideas to add to your home. This is providing you do get rid of the things you no longer need to make your home what you need it to be.

As I've been saying in prior posts - you must donate your things to make your house a home, but on the same token it's okay to buy something so long you know you need it.

Needing and wanting are two different things, though.

For example: I need a new plan for my lounge room. I have a large 3-seater lounge which no longer fits the room for what I need it for and now, I need a new plan to make my home look and feel better. 

Solution: get rid of the lounge, get some single recliners and footstools and a small table for in between and then use the coffee table as it is. There will be not only more room, but the place will look and feel better too. 

However, this will take time to do. Wish me luck. Let me know what you're planning on doing with the room you're stuck with in your decluttering plans.

Op Shop Heaven

A huge part of decluttering is passing your unwanted goodies onto a place you feel comfortable taking your unwanted gear off to. Most times, this is a charity like Life Line, The Salvation Army or St Vincent De Paul (aka: Vinnies here in Australia). Other places can take your unwanted things as well, such as your local community centre, RSPCA or animal shelter or vets and the local retirement home as well.

I know some of them won't take certain items. I draw the line at donating underwear. I just don't think it's nice for a place I have chosen to want to deal with my knickers when I don't want to deal with them either. So, I just toss them in the rubbish. That goes the same for socks and lingerie... if you wouldn't buy it at a charity store, don't expect people to take that kind of thing off your hands. 

But I have found the best things to furnish my home at charity stores. 

I know this is a blog to help declutter a home. However, if you're in the market to replace certain items of clothing, furniture or kitchenware, a charity is your best bet. This is especially if you're aiming to make your home have a certain feel to it. 

Personally, I have aimed to have a very 1970's feel to my home, so it feels cosy as well as retro. I have all the mod-cons, without it feeling too high-tech, and yet there's a lovely Chiswell dinner table I sit at, a credenza and a very 1970's style upright piano against the wall. Now, I scored the dinner table on Gumtree for almost $400 (untouched; and well worth the bother), the credenza was given to me by some family friends and piano was inherited from my late-Grandmother and really suits the feel of home. I do love that the credenza fits all my cassette tapes and vinyls in it as well as books and other great little items. And yet I have all the comforts of my high-tech television set and dvd player not three feet away, which funnily enough fit right in as it's sitting in a very old-fashioned, early 1990's television entertainment unit from Super A-Mart (when they actually made furniture to last). I was given this piece by my Uncle a year before he passed away; and I adore it! I don't ever wish to let it go because the longer I have it, the more it looks as though it belongs in my house.  The best thing is that it's on wheels and I can move it on my own if I need to.

That's the thing with second-hand stuff and furnishings, though. It's been preloved and is gorgeous to look at. It's got all the scuffs and dents in it from the previous owner... it's got history and has had a life before getting to you. And that's the absolute pleasure of owning something preloved. 

So, when you drop off some of the bags to your charity store, stop and window shop (no, don't buy anything yet... just look) and see what's available to you for when you are ready to replace your worn out things in your home. Once you have your house all cleaned out and sorted, only then do you start looking through the op-shops at furniture.