Take 100 things off your house’s waistline

Posted by in Books, Simple Living, The Blog

Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life | Will you join me in this New Years resolution?2013 GOAL:
Are you being overrun by toys and papers too? I feel as if the kids’ toys are multiply in the night. Would you like to join me in a 2013 goal? This weekend we are kick-starting “Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life” with a “Get Rid of 100 Things Weekend.” I’m smitten with this new eBook from Modern Parents, Messy Kids. I love this headline:

You Don’t Have to be a Domestic Goddess
to Take Control of Your Life

Pop on over and let me know what you think!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Shad sent a text saying, “Let’s do 100 things this weekend” I paused.  “Sure, 100 things, why not?” *Imagine this phrase in a sing-song, high pitch, and sarcastic voice.

Then he purposed a unique plan…
Over the course of this week let’s get rid of 100 things.

Join us.  Grab a garbage bag and make a donation box and hit the house hard.  Don’t mull over this or that, just grab the random useless items that have become a permanent fixture in your house.

Toss things out like old magazines, summer clothes that you never wore, fall clothes you still won’t fit in this year, kitchen gadgets that waste space, random keys & dead batteries from the junk drawer.  Liberate yourself from that ugly candle your mother gave you that you are never going to burn.  Give away that quilt your mother-in-law gave you guilt free to someone who needs it.

Don’t forget to include the kids in this adventure.

Toss things out like that truck with only three wheels, that McDonald’s Happy Meal toy (how do those things find their way in our homes anyhow?), that old National Geographic Kids magazine, and that half ripped art project. Donate things like Baby Einstein videos and any other infant toys your seven year old swears they still play with!  Consider anything that has dust on it from inactivity.

Still not sold on the idea?  Take a lesson on life from a five year old.  Read this insightful article from the blog Organizing Our Way.

In the end a simple home environment allows your child more room for mental growth and creativity.  If you participate I’d love to hear about it or see photos on Facebook.

100 Things Update: Join us in our New Years goal Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life. Check out the eBook here.

Happy Tossing!

PS: Don’t miss future posts and projects! Be sure to sign up for our RSS feed or connect online.

Disclaimer: Some links above lead to affiliate networks. Click here to read our full disclosure.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
  • http://brittonanddiana.blogspot.com Diana Goodman

    I only have a couple days left and I am about half way there! I can’t believe how much even 50 things is when it is all in a pile together!

    Thanks for the motivation!!

    • Zina

      Diana, good for you!!! I am at about 60 items right now. It is liberating. I am so glad you left a reply. It is great to know I have people out there with me tackling the same quest!

  • http://notesfromhome.com Ella

    The post you linked to is very inspiring and I love how you used that as inspiration to make a challenge to get rid of 100 things. I sometimes tell the children to choose 3 things each to give to goodwill or to throw out – somehow putting a figure on it makes it more achievable than telling them to throw out whatever they don’t want any more (which always seems to be nothing!).

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for the nice note Ella. It is wonderful to hear that you are involving your kids in the process of de-cluttering your house. I think you are right. The key is to give them a defined number and then all of the control. It is their stuff after all! We did this with stuffed animals. First I asked, “What is a reasonable amount of stuffed animals for one child to have?” After they decided then we went through them until we got down to that number. {Seriously?} How do children end up with SO MANY stuffed animals?!?! Thanks again!

  • Traumspindel

    though truth to be told. If you have a candle….burn it. My in laws had that a bit kitschy but quite well crafted (beeswax) candle they had gotten from the most reviled aunt who they claimed all but ruined theri wedding. I don’t think it was a wedding gift, They told me all the way who this lady had mannaged to upset them (and the complaints were not unreasonable) and so they wanted to stick it back in to the abyss of the big closet, when I asked, them. Lock at this candle. It is an AGED beeswax candle with a molded surface which shows the streets of your hometown. Lets burn it. YOu don’t have to forgive her. you don’t even have to have charitable thoughts after all: You are BURNING her present. They did. The candle lasted for three evenings. and I have to tell you. I have not ever heard of Tante Gretchen ever again ;)

    • Anonymous

      We had a wedding candle that sat forever. Now it is in our camping bin. It is weird to burn this beautiful hand decorated candle, but it is also wonderful. Plus as we are out camping we are remembering that special day. :-) Loved your story, thanks for sharing.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve just chucked SO much stuff but I guess I could find another hundred- old lighbulbs, Allen keys, old cereal, grey towels, odd socks, empty biscuit tins, faded baseball caps, old takeaway menus, hotel toiletry miniatures, blunt nail files, dried out glue sticks, wire coat hangers, baby food jars…

    The list is endless

  • Megan

    Getting rid of 100 things sounds fun & easy (but I know it will be harder than I think). This may be a great warm up to packing and moving!

  • Pjc14524@hotmail.com

    Don’t give away a hand made quilt!!!! Give it back to the maker- PLEASE!!

  • Susanwi2747

    Never get rid of a quilt. Are you kidding do you know the work that went into making it?

    • http://twitter.com/ballewal A.B.

      As a crafter I do understand what goes into making one. But if you won’t use it why is it taking up space? Pay it forward to someone else who will use it and love it.

  • mary

    You never give away a QUILT!!! What is wrong with you!!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1048514139 Bonnie Shadduck Butts

      Agree! I love quilts; doesn’t matter if it matches or not!

  • Roxy

    I agree totally! The candle smell, well, it just smells….bad. The quilt, doesn’t go with any of ur bedding, send it to a good home! The too small or too big clothes would be welcomed and appreciated by someone else! When we purge, everyone feels better, even the kids! No one needs as much junk as the average American has! Trash on!!

  • LetsLassotheMoon

    Our quilts are from Shad’s grandmother who has passed away. I checked-in with his mother and she did not want any of them back. You ladies crack me up. Are you suggesting I keep a closet full of bulky quilts simply because they were handmade?

    I am a quilter and I admit I would *never* want anyone to “return” a quilt to me. Never ever. I would much rather my quilt (or Shad’s grandmother’s quilts) move forward to other homes where they might actually be USED. I do have quilts I’ve picked up at rummage sales and I love knowing someone put their heart into making it. Just because I don’t know them doesn’t make it any less special. I hope the people enjoying our quilts feel the same!

    • RaisingAlexis

      you can send them to me! I’ll pay for postage! We love handmade quilts and use them all year long …

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/UMUEN2326PW3B6WSCLZXDKMGIE AM

    100 items it totally doable. lol. Start with the fridge.

  • http://kindergartenbasics.blogspot.com/ Susan Case

    This is fantastic! Love it. Our church has Exchange Tables – or Bring and Take Tables whenever we have activities. We also are encouraged to clean out a certain area of the house once a month to bring. Keeps us motivated to get rid of the clutter!

  • http://twitter.com/ballewal A.B.

    I like the idea but hate the term “toss out” because the majority should be donated or recycled.

    • LetsLassotheMoon

      In general I agree, but there comes a point where you are wasting someone else’s valuable time by donating a broken toy or a McD mini-item to Goodwill. I suppose I should say in our house “tossing” anything paper automatically = RECYCLE. :-) We’re on the same page friend!

      “Toss things out like that truck with only three wheels, that McDonald’s Happy Meal toy (how do those things find their way in our homes anyhow?), that old National Geographic Kids magazine, and that half ripped art project.”

      • Jessica Ramirez

        i hope that your recycling all the plastic and electronics. i might seem like a burden but if you donate it to most second hand store they properly depose of things including electronics, batteries, clothe, carpet, and plastics and metals. just to keep in mind

  • Dianejewell33

    no dont throw out the magazines, find page by page and tape them together along the seams making this as large as needed to create a very cool looking unique wrapping paper. For mothers day i did this with pictures of little girls, daisys, tea cups, moms and daughters, and all sides of her gift was wrapped with something special that reminded me of my mom and I. Also keeping magazines are good for school projects, cutting out words or thing about yourself that can be made into the assigned project by your school aged childs teacher.

  • Erin

    Ok…I skimmed this in January and decided to add it to my goals for the year…I have 100 donation items ready to be taken out!!! I want to keep going but here’s to a good start…thanks for posting!

  • mommy_magic

    Last year for spring cleaning, we started spring elimination and we haven’t stopped yet, so I would love to Toss out 100 things to get rid of this weekend. The kids start spring break so it’s perfect timing. Thanks for the idea, I love it.