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Post by phoenixcat on Apr 29, 2016 11:35:34 GMT -5
Thanks to SooS, our house for the most part is "company ready" or it can be with only a small amount of work which is a miracle in itself. But I have so many pockets (and hidden rooms) of extreme clutter that are impacting actually living and using those rooms. And because overflow is starting to creep into guest spaces, overnight company is more work than it should be. Right now, our closet is so bad that I'm using a guest room for sorting and folding laundry. Laundry has no place to go because did I mention? - the closet is so bad. I know that I will never have a bigger house so what I have has to work in this house. Going to use this as my work thread on daily maintenance tasks/activities coupled with progress on my "hot spots". I think first up will have to be the "rooms", then the various "drawers/cupboards/closets". Then the "bins" which are stored in cupboards and closets  However, almost all my bins are now a massive memorabilia project that is not just an elephant but a herd of elephants. I also have a bunch of hot spots at work too - entire file cabinets are hiding clutter - sigh. If anyone wants to drop in with their "hot spots" too - I always like company! My "ideal" daily list - M/F - 1) Get up early/ get cleaned up 2) Small maintenance tasks - empty dishwasher - cycle a load of clothes through, pet care, etc. 3) Limit my online time to the time it takes to finish 2 cups of coffee. 4) Go to work early and stay on task with work - not surfing the web. Add a few "home" tasks to the mix - work on budget, food planning and grocery lists, etc. 5) Come home early and work out / take a shower. 6) Prepare supper - ideally enough to use as lunch or a "leftover" night. 7) Clean up from supper. Pack lunch for next day. 8) Work on hot spot. 9) Reward - watch taped TV show or read. First of three unusable rooms "hot spots" - our closet which is a large room housing all our dressers as well as hanging clothes and my vanity area. And connects to our master bathroom which has too many empty containers, unusable cosmetics/medications and we are currently using our tub as an overflow linen laundry basket.  And with that being said - it is now 9:30 and I haven't done anything!  PC |
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Post by mynicehome on Apr 29, 2016 13:06:59 GMT -5
Hi phoenixcat! I love the title of this thread! Having cats (and more cats) I know only too well that hot spots need to be nipped in the bud before they spread all over! Good job on focussing on those before they creep further and further.
I have a few hot spots myself...a smallish one on my night table is staring at me right now. I can tackle that one before it takes off! |
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Post by phoenixcat on Apr 30, 2016 10:51:12 GMT -5
Good luck with the night table Mynicehome! Problem with so many cats is that they can find lots more for you to do than clean. Very hard to work in a room with cuddly cats!
Starting closet today - will report back at end of day!
PC
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Post by phoenixcat on May 1, 2016 9:54:33 GMT -5
Closet 2/3 done. All the hanging clothes are done for both DH and myself. Cleaned out an entire kitchen trash bag of wire hangers - sent back to dry cleaners. My cubbies and drawers are done. One wall of shelving done. Did about 4 loads of laundry. Have 2 more to go. What's left: 1) DH's drawer and cubby clothes are all sorted on the guest bed for him to decide what to donate. Put away the rest. 2) My vanity area one of those difficult areas with a bunch of stuff that needs to go "somewhere" just not there 3) suitcase area - always traveling - perpetually in state of pack or unpack 4) bag up donations 5) bin up clothes that are one size down that DH and I aren't ready to part with yet Yesterday took a lot longer and was a lot more physically draining than I thought. Doubt I'm touching the bathroom for another week (at least). PC |
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Post by phoenixcat on May 14, 2016 22:10:42 GMT -5
Also posted on the C thread: Closet is done. Removed today: 1) 2 bags of garbage 2) 3 bags of recycling 3) 2 small bins of items that belong elsewhere 4) a small wicker 3 drawer stand was emptied and went to another bathroom 5) 4 bags/bins into the master bathroom for storage there 6) the last of DH's clothes were sorted and put away Left to do closet related: 1) bag up the donations 2) bin up the one size down clothes 3) we have a built in pull down ironing board - I would like to velcro a cover on it so that we can use it and get the big board out of our bathroom  Master bathroom is up for tomorrow because I moved a bunch of stuff in there that needs to be put away. And, DH and I will dust and mop the bedroom - needs some love. PC |
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Post by phoenixcat on May 29, 2016 22:44:50 GMT -5
Finally finished the master bathroom today - 3 large drawers, 2 under sink areas, the vanity top which is pretty wide with double sinks, 2 medicine cabinets and one oversized bin. Threw out 3 bins of recycling and one kitchen bag of garbage. Put away all the stuff that went into other rooms from the big closet clear out a few weeks ago. All I have left is to bag up the donations and bin up the one size smaller. Was on a roll so worked on our medicine drawer in the kitchen. Took out two gallon bags of expired meds. Then cleaned out 2 shelves of plastic containers so that I can find lids, etc. No longer tumbling out on top of me every time I open the cupboard door. Done for today |
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Post by phoenixcat on Jul 23, 2016 14:21:47 GMT -5
Been a while  This weekend's hot spot - the office. Will report back. PC |
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Post by imamess on Jul 24, 2016 13:43:05 GMT -5
PC, I like the separate blog just for hot spots. I need one of my own.
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Post by phoenixcat on Aug 1, 2016 9:33:49 GMT -5
Good luck with your hot spots Ima!! Last weekend - managed to get out a bunch of boxes and bags from the office. I still have a LONG way to go in there. I've had stuff piling up in there since October - maybe longer Saturday, I shifted my efforts to our outside storage area as we were having a "coolish" weekend - probably the last one until September. I didn't do much sorting or putting away but I did clear the floor. All the boxes are broken up and put in my vehicle for transport to recycling. All the loose bags are organized into four "bags of bags" for recycling. Put a bunch in the car for a donation run. My outside recycling bin is almost full. And threw away 3-4 bags of regular garbage. Before I actually put away things that "belong" in there - I will have to take out a bunch more donations, e-waste and hazardous waste. Guessing I will circle back around in September - maybe PC |
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Post by phoenixcat on Apr 10, 2017 9:31:48 GMT -5
Dusting this off Between the 2 month challenges and the latest 40 day thread - I have neglected this one. Funny how looking at it - some of the spaces have been done again at least once since I originally posted (and it was just as bad the next time!). 2017 hot spots DONE: 1) master closet 2) master bathroom 3) food pantry 4) supply pantry 5) "stuff" pantry - holds a hodgepodge - bottled water, liquor, food/spices used for ethnic cooking 6) spare bedroom - about 75% - right now it is holding a few things that need to go out of the house. TO DO: Everything else Hosting a party here in about a month. Want to get some more "hot spots" a little cooler.  PC |
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Post by phoenixcat on Oct 13, 2017 10:40:57 GMT -5
Ok so everything that is on this very short thread probably has to be "re done" at this point plus I have a bunch of to-dos. My current list in the next 5-6 months of the BIG items: 1) Locate and organize a bunch more memorabilia for a picture presentation for DM's birthday 2) Plan the party for 125-150 people from out of state 3) Travel to the party plus an additional trip for the holidays 4) FOL (feisty old lady) is on the list to move to AL which will need to be handled within 30 days when her name comes up. Another out of state trip. 5) DM is on the wait list to move closer to us in early spring. This will require a trip there for packing and coding furniture not to mention the actual move itself. Another out of state trip. 6) DH wants to go to an out of country trip to see family - also in early spring. And FYI, I have a full time job. Argh - that list just scared the sh*t out of me. PC |
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Post by hollyhock on Oct 14, 2017 4:53:02 GMT -5
Wow, PC. Such a busy time ahead. I'm hoping and praying that it all comes together for you fairly smoothly.
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Post by phoenixcat on Oct 18, 2017 9:24:54 GMT -5
Thanks Holly! DH is gone for the next two weeks. Going to try and instill some good habits: Habits: Get something "out" every time I have a day away from home when driving myself. Lots of donations to go, speciality recycling, etc. And here at the house I still have planters to empty of dirt. One small hotspot - drawer, cupboard, SOMETHING Effort toward a "project" - right now the project is DM's picture presentation. Next month - maybe circle back on my desk or my hanging of pictures at the house or start work on the holidays? An ocean of choices PC |
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Post by phoenixcat on Dec 31, 2017 12:09:33 GMT -5
Bumping - not really for the new year but I have an odd opportunity where 1) I'm home for all of January (knock wood) and 2) DH is traveling for almost all of January. So, I'm hoping for 31 days of hot spots - will be doubling/tripling up for the next two days as nothing really gets done around here while getting ready for DH to leave - between shopping and packing Not to mention it is usually a disaster of empty boxes, dry cleaning bags, stuff not taken, etc. Today: Unpack from our trip - laundry Hot spots: Pack up all the donations from our guest room Work on linen laundry PC |
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Post by phoenixcat on Jan 3, 2018 10:18:19 GMT -5
Hot spots: unpacked suitcases just in time for DH to re-pack for his trip Gathered up all the clothes that were in guest bedroom from the closet purge. Filled 11 tall kitchen bags. Hoping for a donation pick up next week. Cleaned out our hall closet - funny how many cat toys were on the floor in there - hmmmm Today: Having a "recycling" hot spot because we had some work done in the past week and I have empty boxes for recycling in about 5 different spots. Recycling pick-up tomorrow so going to make the most of it. Work on a hot spot at the office. |
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