This is day 2 of Clearing Space, a personal challenge for the month of February wherein I will release clutter from my environment, as much as I can in 15 minutes on any given day, 15 minutes being my limit when it comes to housework. Which could be why the place is a mess in the first place.
And because this is an art blog, I will take arty ‘after’ photos.
Today’s challenge: The dining room.
We have, in real estate parlance, a formal dining room. Formal as in a designated room of it’s own, not in what goes on there. Oh sure, Mr. Spouse and I dress for dinner. . . in the same clothes we wore all day. And sometimes, if it’s a weekend and we’re feeling particularly slovenly, the same clothes we wore the day before.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is it’s a formal dining room and we rarely eat there naked.
Naked dining being informal and that just wouldn’t do now, would it? Besides the obvious spilling problem, Mr. Spouse would discover the secret behind my skinny jeans. And I already know his truth. Pluh-eeze. Let’s just say we’re at the point in our relationship where clothing is preferred, not optional.
Lately the diningroom has become the UPS drop zone although FedEx has been known to encroach upon it too. It’s the place where important packages languish on the table. Languish, like the lazy bums they are. UNOPENED. And those that were opened are languishing empty, little packing peanuts and wads of paper proving great amusement for the cat. And for the little dogs who are NOT SUPPOSED to get on the table but they do.
I know they do because I am their mother and mothers know these things. And besides, I’ve seen them up there (insert your favorite expletive meaning shit here).
The table seats eight, but recent clutter creep has banished the two of us, Mr. Spouse and moi, to the far end. Dining in the kitchen nook is not an option, as least not yet, as the kitchen table is where mail, magazines and laptops dwell. Let’s not forget the laptop case that has become the favorite resting place of Kitty, she of the packing peanuts in the dining room fame.
Note to self: When Kitty dies bury her in the laptop case. She would be very happy there for all eternity and then you have the excuse to buy a new case. Red, the red one.
So being that the kitchen is farther down on the clutter clearing calendar and dinner is an every night affair (about the only affair in my life, trust me) I decided to tackle the dining room today.
Dining Room
Fifteen minutes. That’s all it took. I’m still wondering why I didn’t do this before. I mean, really, why did I wait so long?
Be back tomorrow. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
xoxo
Oh my. I love this. I actually read the Mr. Spouse part to my own Mr. Spouse, which I rarely read him my blog posts but that was worthy. If you have seen Naomi Wittlin’s year long challenge of decluttering, then you might know that I also chose to clear my dining room. This is not a ONE TIME affair. It’s a daily battle! Like I feel I should get out my wooden sword and full armor for this one! I loved your ramblings today, Susan. They really made me laugh!
Amy Putkonen recently posted..OLW 2014: January Update
Oh, I’m glad they made you laugh, Amy. Sometimes I hit the publish button and think, damn, why’d I do that?
I totally agree it’s a daily thing. So far I’ve been zealously guarding my cleared spaces. OK, so it’s only been two days but in those two days I’m finding I’ve been putting things away instead of leaving them to seed new clutter piles. I’m declaring this to be the beginning of a new attitude.
Say hi to your Mr. Spouse for me. Even tho I don’t know him remind him to keep his pants on during dinner. Just sayin’, you know…
Hilarious. Yes. I need more of that “jealous guarding”. I AM doing that with our buffet, that I cleared off a month or so ago. NOTHING is allowed to be set on there, not even for five minutes. Perhaps I should adopt the same rule with the table. If I do this to enough surfaces, our house will be clean, right? …. Yeah.
Amy Putkonen recently posted..OLW 2014: January Update
🙂
I WANT BEFORE PICTURES! I do I do! Because after pictures don’t tell the full story. They don’t display your full greatness of character in forcing a horizontal surface to give up what’s on it.
And I always make Mr Spouse wear his pants during dinner – because he’s a messy child, just like me!
<3
Before pics…maybe.
And so far we all seem to be on the same page about pants.
🙂
I could use a little challenge like this. On top of the billion other things I have planned for this year one of my big goals is to decorate/organize our home to make it look like we actually live here. I am a terrible decorator and after a year of living in our home most our walls are bare and everything lacks the little touches that make your home look lived in. Best of luck getting the rest of the house decluttered.
Tiffany recently posted..What the heck is a “FO”?
Get a couple of dogs, Tiffany, they’ll make it look lived in soon enough!
haha I actually already have two dogs, I have plenty of little hairs all over my belongings and clothes but beyond that it basically looks like a bachelor pad.
Tiffany recently posted..What the heck is a “FO”?
🙂 Well, if you need some art…
It’s hard not to laugh Susan.! Glad you accomplished such a task, that I don’t like to do. Our table is fine…we only have the one space for eating and we use it for dinner everyday and breakfast on weekends. My counter at you walk in the door…another story! Can’t keep it clean and believe me, I try! The worst place for a counter is when you walk in the door. Mr. Spouse has his own built in 3 drawers…plus about 2 feet of counter. I get the rest and all the bills and misc mail goes on it.
I’ll keep working on cleaning it…it’s not fun when the piles take over. You inspired me 🙂
Cindy Mihalko recently posted..Chalkboard signs are IN!
Cinday, I replied to your comment but it’s further down on the thread. Blame it on multi-tasking, I’m doing this while on the stationary bike/table contraption I rigged up last week.
like this post.. I’ve been doing some decluttering of my own.. the garbage bag full of garbage is still by the door and the “old clothes” that don’t fit my kids are still lying in the hallway… A WEEK LATER. thank you Mr. Spouse.
xoxo
Sonia
I’ve still got ‘to go’ bags in the back of my car since last spring, Sonia. Better cut your Mr. Spouse a little slack 🙂
OMG. I am laughing, laughing and laughing. But why? Well, probably because I so recognize my self. My house. And the kitty in the (insert choice of place where kitties are not “supposed” to be) case. 15 mins? You are a master of discipline and persevereance.
Linda Watson recently posted..Bumping My Way Out of Color Ruts
Linda, I’m realizing a whole lot o’folks are recognizing themselves in this clutter busting series. And 15 minutes per day is it, mostly because that’s all I have the attention span for but also so I don’t get distracted by what I find and sit down to read those magazines, old grocery lists etc…
I think if I were to design a house there would be no level surfaces, Cindy. Especially when there are husbands and kids involved 🙂
You got that right, Susan! 🙂
Cindy Mihalko recently posted..Chalkboard signs are IN!
I love this post. I wish I had a nickle for every time I have tried the 15 minute method to decluttering. I would be able to afford a housekeeper. It really is a good way to get things done. I learned about it at http://www.flylady.net. If you go to that website you can get some great ideas of what to do next. Thank you for making me feel like I’m not alone!
Thanks for the flylady tip, Connie. I gave her a quick check but will go back and explore her site further later on. Looks good!
I especially like how she says you can’t organize clutter, you can only get rid of it. 🙂
Oh, now you’ve done it…gone and inspired me!! What a great idea!
Shelly Penko recently posted..Bedding Mock-Ups
Well I think that’s only fair considering how much you inspire me, Shelly!
My dining room table? Currently: a file cabinet. Hopefully by the end of February it will be reverted back to the dining room table. I fervently hope that all who dine at it will be fully clothed …
Kelly L McKenzie recently posted..Olympic Today Show
I actually bought a filing cabinet a few months back to take care of that problem, Kelly. When my son was in high school it was his closet, the place where he’d dump his clean laundry and pick through it every day. I used to do that with the towels but now I’m not allowed to (sez me)
Hilarious Susan. And your after picture is quite impressive. All this decluttering though has raised a question I’ve yet to discover the answer for. Why is it that clutter gathers at a far quicker rate than decluttering takes? This is some sort of crazy physics law, and I tell you, it is NOT one of my favorites. 😉
Deborah Weber recently posted..Love: C is for…
For the answer to your question, Deborah, see my latest post, The Dresser. I touch on quantum theory in that one, I really do. Quantum theory as understood by moi.
I’m sure you will be most enlightened. 🙂
I never would have thought clearing off a dining room table would be so much fun. Thank you for the giggles as I read your post.
Michelle recently posted..Introducing…Blossom
Laugh or weep, Michelle. That’s ny motto (as of, umm…2 seconds ago) 🙂
Susan- you are just too funny. Why is it that the dining room ends up being the clutter magnet. I still have Christmas wrapping in mine! ha! So I guess if it only took you 15 min then I should get going- thanks for the kick in the pants!!
Sue recently posted..Comment on Colormixing vibrant colors in Watercolor by Sue
I had Christmas stuff in mine too, Sue, but actually moved those bags to the stairs a few days earlier. The top of the stairs so they’re almost near the attic 🙂