This is Elle's blog too!

LOL—I'll have to get Elle to write a list of her suggestions and post them on the blog! She's almost as popular as I am! Maybe we should ask her questions. Perhaps we can get her to give us her TOP TEN decluttering tips! 

I have two questions. By the way, she worked full-time in the medical field for many years, so she wasn't sitting at home figuring out what to declutter next. 

1. Did she ever have clutter? And what about her SO? 
2. If so, when did the lightbulb go off for her? 

As for the picture frames, I have a "few" sitting in a closet upstairs, and was planning to create a photo wall. Hmm - don't want to count the years, but it's been a while. I don't think I need them. Plus, I looked at the few photos that were out on display. Do I need the faded baby picture of M still on the table? It's time to either freshen up the picture frames and pictures or just let them all go. Maybe I need one of those digital frames and let go of everything else. 

So, I have both scenarios for picture frames: brand new and tired. It's time to deal with both, but I have other things on my plate. 

Since I have a lot of work to do this week - real work with deadlines, I'm doing visual decluttering. When the moment comes that I have a few minutes, I'll be whipping certain things into boxes. But I really need to stay focused. I still have some CDs/DVDs to tidy up, and I still have the remainder of those folders that have to be sorted through, and there's my daily box of crap by the computer. Those must be dealt with first before I go off on another tangent!

Something happened yesterday that I thought never would! It was Senior's Day at the thrift store, and I desperately needed a mental break from writing. The subject matter is very exciting, and I'm very interested in it. But trying to take something a little bit complex and break it down into a few words that hopefully people can understand? That was taxing! But I did it. I'm almost done with that writing assignment, and there's ONE more to do, which should be easier. 

But I feel so much more relaxed about the entire process. There are deadlines, but I'm focusing like there's no tomorrow and feeling amazing! The start of the decluttering I've done in the office gives me an incredible feeling about working here. 

OK, so I'm at the thrift store. I don't need anything special—I'm just checking stuff out. I had sort of vowed to myself that I would never buy clothes to wear from the thrift store. There's something kind of creepy about wearing someone else's clothes. It's just a thing I have, although I've bought shirts in the past. 

Well, I need new jeans, as the only pair I own now has a big rip in the thigh. Yes, it's fashionable, but these pants are years old. So, as I browsed through the jeans section, a pair of black ones jumped out at me. I have no idea why those ones did, but there they were. They are in very good condition, and the size is what I usually wear. 

They have no change room at this thrift store, so you take your chances, but items can be returned for a store credit. With the discount, I bought them for 6.99. I brought them home and tried them on; they fit as if they were custom-made for me! I'll wash them, and then I have a new pair of jeans. I have some errands later today, and buying new jeans was on the list. I'll still buy a pair, which will cost me a "little" more than $7, but I saved on one of the pairs I need. 

Yep—I love the thrift store. Even if I had paid the regular price ($10), that's still incredibly cheap. I'm sure DH would be horrified if I told him. I'll wash them, parade them around, and ask him if he likes my new pants. Because they fit nicely, I know he's going to say yes. Men! Then I'll tell him where I got them. I love shocking him sometimes! Just to keep him on his toes. 

Oh - does anyone want a crimpoline (Fortrel) quilt? There was one at the thrift store. If you want a weighted blanket, this is the one to get. That thing weighed a ton. I did NOT bring it home. It was reversible - green on one side, blue on the other. 

A crimpoline quilt

I had another errand yesterday: going to M's school from JK to Grade 7. Oh my—I almost got weepy when I walked in the door. So many memories! The school secretary is still there, but the school has been sold to an international conglomerate. 

Lynn Rose Heights

Louise and I had a little chat, and I got what I needed, and I was on my way back home and to work! 

I have some excellent news to share about yesterday. I finished a community project quilt. While that's good, it wasn't THE good news. 

Community project quilt

And a customer one goes on later today, so I can quilt it tomorrow. 

Who says they can't multitask? I tackled that darn video while letting the long arm quilt the quilt. No - the video was NOT done. You see, I had grown discouraged. I could not find a place to save the file, so I assumed all the changes I had made were gone. Imagine my surprise when I opened the program and discovered my edit file waiting for me. DUH!!! 

Editing the video

The next step was to learn how to add text. You know when you say one thing on a video but mean something else? I wasn't going to start splicing more than I had already, so I added a few text comments here and there. And guess what? The video is done, and the link has been sent to the group! Just in time since our next class is this weekend!! 

Editing the video

I'll share the link with you later. That was super easy, and now I know what I'm doing - sort of; I still have lots to learn. But next time I say I'm going to send a video, I won't be afraid of it, and the learning curve will be much less. What do we need a video of? This one was almost 30 minutes long, so it took some time. 

All the tapes and dispensers were put away yesterday. I have a drawer by the long arm with all kinds of tape, which is now full. Is this the best place? I'm not sure, but it's the home of all things tape for the moment. I can't buy anymore; there's no room! As I mentioned, there is probably never a need to buy more tape in my life. 

The tape drawer

Another evening, another puzzle was solved. I don't know what it is about these puzzles, but I solve part, and DH solves part, and together, we get the answer. I don't know if we could do it alone. That is so weird. But he told me not to buy another game with the jigsaw puzzles. Why? I'm the one that puts them together while he watches. I LOVE them. I already have one more, and then there's one we don't have. I'll get it! 

The four puzzles for the EXIT game

This is the one I purchased at the thrift store for $4. What a bargain! It was intact—I checked before I left the store with it. 

Going back to Elle's comment from yesterday where I think it was her MIL who said they could now fill this new place with crap! This is where you need to get SUPER SERIOUS about your gift-giving. Just because you think it's a nice gesture to give a gift and it's the season. You need to ASK first - do they want another quilt, table runner, candle, picture frame, etc.? Maybe they are just regifting these items after the season. Are these items becoming physical and visual clutter for them? 

I see no reason to make or give physical gifts to adults. Now, that's a general statement, and there might be a very good reason to give a physical gift. But you need to ask them what they want—don't just give something because you think it's a good gift. Maybe the recipient would prefer a gift card to their favorite coffee shop. Then they can think of you every time they have coffee. Perhaps you buy them lunch and spend time with them, creating a memory. 

So many gifts are gifted that people don't want. If we ask them what they want, they will appreciate the gift more, and there will be NO guilt on anyone's part. The guilt gets us into trouble with getting rid of things. That's why registries are great, especially for weddings and showers. So create a personal registry if you feel a gift is necessary and ask what the other person would like. I just sent a note to M and asked her what they need for their apartment. I refuse to buy them something they don't need. Money is too precious to waste on things people don't want. I had to chuckle. Her response? She said she'd ask Dillon and get back to me! How unlikely it is for my daughter to consult with someone else first! I love the positive changes in her now that she has a SO in her life. 

Well, I'm off to spin class this morning, and then it's a crazy day. The car is going in for a tire change, servicing, and a small repair (thanks to DH, about one week after we got it!). It will be a long day, and I can walk and do some errands in that area. I'm taking my portable office with me, and I'll work at the dealership until the car is ready. I must finish getting that stuff ready so I can work there. Thank goodness for shared drives and the internet! 

Have a super day! 

Ciao!!!