Friday, December 16, 2011

Tis the season for Goodwill....

While I've been away from the blog, I've thought about my feelings of helplessness. What has made me feel so overwhelmed? I think it's because I've tried to be someone I'm not. I started the blog to share Goodwill finds (and the occasional Cate story), but then I got sidetracked.

I need to get back to my original intent. So, instead of bringing this stuff in from Goodwill, I'm taking it out.


On the right is a bag with clothes. I no longer keep duplicates of clothing items. That's something I've learned from Project 333.http://www.theproject333.com/
That's a positive thing I've learned from blogging.

The cream colored wire shelves on top of the bag were something I bought for a beach vignette. Hah! I didn't even know what a vignette was until blogging. To de-complicate (is that a word?) my life, I'm returning those to Goodwill.


See the orange plastic cups? I bought a new set, so the old set has to go. The pink lampshade is attached to a milk glass lamp that I know some of you would love to have, but since I turned the bedroom into a playroom for Cate, the lamp is no longer needed.


This is a Christmas decoration I planned to upcycle - another word I never heard of until blogging. I decided I didn't need the stress so it went back to Goodwill.


I can't sew and I won't be making any pillow covers. I didn't win any either, so back to Goodwill.....




It's not that I don't want to welcome folks to my house, but I couldn't figure out how to redo these into something I'd like. 



Another item to upcycle, but let's be real. I've had this since  spring/summer and never touched them. So, back to Goodwill....

I feel lighter already. And I didn't have to wait until January to make some resolutions.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's the beauty of Goodwill - we get our shopping fix, extremely low cost, and if it doesn't work out, we send it back :) As my teen daugher would say, "That's how I roll." Glad you feel lighter already!

Melissa G said...

Doesn't it feel good to purge some clutter from your life? I do this on a regular basis - it helps keep me from being overwhelmed. My rule of thumb...if it hasn't been touched in a year, you're probably not going to use it. Some items get two years, but that's it! My husband has a rule for me that I don't follow very well. He says if I buy a new pair of shoes, an old pair must leave. Since I am a shoe-aholic, this is VERY difficult for me! However, I was quite ruthless earlier this fall and said goodbye to about 20 pair. I have to admit, it did feel good to let some of them go!

Paula@SweetPea said...

It's going to feel so good to get rid of some of that stuff that you really don't need. It amazes me when I go to Goodwill with a car full of stuff and later think, " Wow, all of that was just taking space." The hard part is not buying more!

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

You used a lot of discipline in getting rid of your unneeded items. Someone else will probably find things from your donation that they really need or want. We Americans are so blessed to be able to buy things just because we want to when so many others don't have things they need. You did a good thing. Betcha feel good, now! ------ Shannon

LindyLouMac said...

Upcycle never heard of it! Well done you for having a sort out, apparently we should only keep things we either love or are useful. So it is good for the soul to have a de-clutter sometimes. :)

Unknown said...

You crack me up! It's the honesty that just lights up my smile!:) Gotta love it.

Diana Joy said...

Hi... I too just sent off a box to GW. Hubby teased me as I'd purchased some of the items there. I told him I was purging my brain of projects I knew I'd ever do.

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Well done. We all get sidetracked now and then...regretfully it's a human trait. Blogs start out with one intention but as you learn they morph into something else. It's your blog...you can make it about whatever you want. Merry Christmas my friend!

Natalia Lynn said...

I love it! So good for you! We don't stay anywhere long enough to accumulate, but I know I would!

Sharon said...

This is what I will be doing...just as soon as the christmas decorations come down! I can hardly wait!! These days I feel like I could be on an episode of hoarders!
Sharon

Unknown said...

I'm right there with you. We are constantly taking loads of stuff to Goodwill just down the street. We actually made 2 trips this week and after the holiday, plan to do more! Have a great day and Merry Christmas.

Southhamsdarling said...

It feels so good to de-clutter like that, doesn't it? I'm going to have a good old root around after Christmas and take things to the Charity Shop. We don't have Goodwill over here. Do they buy things back from you, or do you just donate them back? It's silly keeping all these things when we know that we will never make use of them!

The Single Nester said...

I am always donating items. However, my local Goodwill smells so bad, I never step in it anymore.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Good for you, Grammy! I had to laugh about the blogging lingo. When I started spending money on blog posts, I quit. Once I needed something pink for Pink Saturday, so I bought an old pink baby blanket; it only cost $3.50, but I thought, what am I doing? It already costs a lot of time to blog, I'm not going to have it cost me money too.

I've been clearing things out a bit this week too. Just sent a pick-up load of things off this morning.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and thank you so much for stopping by and sending me some comfort last week.

Kathy M.

Debbiedoos said...

Well too bad your Goodwill was not close to me LOL...I could find things to do with those. Looks like they will be getting some good loot.

Kerin said...

Ahh.. I bet it feels good to get a few things de-cluttered :) I love when I can do that!

I'm just stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas!!

Hope it's the best :)

Screaming Sardine said...

Sorry to hear you've been feeling overwhelmed lately, Grammy. I'm glad taking those things to Goodwill helped lighten your load a bit.

It's hard trying to figure out what to write on a blog. I know my blog has gone through so many incarnations, it's a wonder anyone wants to read it anymore - lol! But I've learned that people come for you and your personality - no matter what you write about.

Happy Holidays, Grammy!

Cheers,
Tracy Screaming Sardine

Scarlett said...

Stopping by to wish you a very merry christmas hun :o) Scarlett x

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

Just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!------Shannon

my thrifty closet said...

wow, what a wonderful job of de-cluttering, I am in the midst of doing this, but somebody has to ask my hubby to stop bringing more stuff home. Have a happy new year!

mongs
mythriftycloset.blogspot.com

Scarlett said...

Happy new year hun! Scarlett x

Liesl said...

Oh how I always love all your goodwill finds...you sure know how to pick out the FAB ones! Hope your Christmas was oh so merry and that 2012 is filled with many more exciting adventures!

Liesl :)

Anonymous said...

Purge purge purge.... I used to buy lots of little things but decided in the past year to budget better and use the dollars saved to get myself something really nice... a dollar here, 10 or 20 dollars there, it all adds up and it's how I purchased a new pocket camera and a lens for my DSLR this past year. I set goals for myself and trust me... I don't miss all the little things I used to think I needed.

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

I love the freedom that comes from cleaning out un-needed stuff - it feels like your whole life has more space!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Happy New Year, Grammy! I hope that everything is going well for you and your parents. I'm going to be MIA for a bit, but wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you.

Hugs,

Kathy M.

Lana Kim White Austin said...

I think this is wonderful and I've been doing much of the same...trying to lighten my load. More stuff out and less stuff in! When we did our yard sale this fall, we promised that whatever we didn't sell we'd take to our church thrift store. THAT was freeing!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

JunkStuffTreasures said...

Goodwill loves people like us. We shop and drop! Yesterday, I brought items to the drop-off zone, and promptly walked in and spent $12!

Liesl said...

Just checking in to be sure all is well with you! Miss you in blogland and hope you are having a magical 2012 so far!

Liesl :)

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Good for you!! It's always hard to part with things we have IDEAS for but not the time to carry them out. I always think too that there is someone out there who really NEEDS these things and will be thrilled to have them.