Wrap Up of "50, 50, 50"

So. Howdja do?

Did you complete your 50, 50, 50?

To reiterate, did you get rid of 50 things in your life?

I did.

I completed a deep clean of my downstairs, as well as my closet. I got rid of 2 dozen (!!!) dvds. I emptied a cabinet, reorganized a cluttered area of my kitchen put the kids homework tools where they'd be better utilized, moved a desk from my office into the playroom - which is becoming less a playroom and more a kids office/study space.

I got rid of three bags of miscellaneous junk from the downstairs. Then I was merciless with my closet. I'm holding a clothing swap in two weeks, and so I took any piece of clothing I hadn't worn in months and put it in a pile for the swap. I have less clothes now, but they are ones that I will wear.

And I can always buy more.

With a conservative estimate, I'd say I cleared out about 150 pieces of stuff.

And I needed to do it. Needed to simplify my life, make some changes, make things easier and less cluttered, more streamlined for myself.

Because I got a job, yo.

I'm working for the Blogher company - the ones whose ads I host on my sidebars, the one whose reviews I do - as a Producer for the reviews - I work with bloggers. It's a good fit and I'm super excited -

but it's 40 hours and I need to be super duper organized to be the sole caregiver of six kids - even though 2 are sort of close to being grown, they still need lots of attention - juggling four schools, 2 instruments, extra curricular activities, performing arts school, funeral ministry, cooking, laundry, groceries, etc etc etc. 

And I pulled Emma from her martial arts tonight - yes, three months from black belt. She can always go back to it. After three weeks of crying all the time, I've got a stomach ache, not passing her tests, loving to run with the cross country team but hating to run for time with the Black Belt group and tears falling into her dinner because she's still got hours of homework after two martial arts classes + clarinet practice + she still wants to be a little kid - and I've got conference calls and work at dinner time - something's gotta give. 

And it's not going to be my nerves. And it's not going to be my kid.

I'm including that in the 50. I'm sad to see that part of my life go - I have a ton of friends there and it's been home for us for more than 5 years - but I've got to do what works for me.

How about you? Did you get at least 50 things out of your house?

Comments

[Megan]

Wow, congratulations on the new job! That's awesome! You should tell us more about it, when you can.

I did my big cleanup in January, although I could probably still find 50 things. I reluctantly threw away a shirt the other day. It had two holes in it. Does that count?

[Karenp]

I got rid of at least 65 articles of clothing plus hair curlers, towels and magazines. Although I have probably purchased at least a dozen new articles of clothing since I have lost weight and wanted some new clothes to wear to Hawaii in November. I am even giving away a shawl I made but never finished the trim rows...I made it when I was pregnant 35 years ago. I never wanted to wear it becuase the dye lots didn't match. I figure someone could use it as a Halloween costume. Why I still have it after all these years is pretty strange. Still need to go through my winter clothes.

[Karenp]

p.s. Great news on the new job. Congratulations!

[Mary Ostyn (Owlhaven)]

COngrats on the job, Carmen!

Mary

[Shelly]

Clothes from one room went out, toys my boys have outgrown a long time ago and books they have outgrown as well. Still SOOO much more to do.

Congrats on the job!!

[Elizabeth]

I cleaned out massive amounts of paper from Cub Scouts and PTO that were migrated to my house. I took a bag full of clothes to the donation place and gathered foodstuff for the Weight Watchers food drive tomorrow.

My house is still a huge mess but it is a smaller huge mess. :)

Congrats on the job! Yay you!

[addy]

Still working on it. Thanks for the reminder. Making progress though.
And Conratulations on the job! Well deserved.

[Karen]

Yay new job!!!!! Go you!

I purged my fridge and pantry/storage closet. I don't know if I hit 50 things, but I feel like my house is lighter!

[LisaK]

Congratulations and best of luck on the new job!!!

[Wendy]

Congratulations on the new job!!!!!

[Victoria@Snailpacetransformations]

I was just thinking I did not make it! But then I remembered I had the boys go through their closest yesterday and I believe what they put in the giveaway pile will bring me to over 50 items, it took me a little over a week but I did do it!

[Sonja]

First of all - CONGRATULATIONS!! You so deserve a job with that company. I go there all the time and it is a great community. Second, I failed this challenge because I caught the dreaded summer cold and had no energy. But, I did something similar earlier this year so it's not all bad news. And I am purging photos like crazy, a much bigger project than I had originally thought.
Good for you for knowing that the martial arts had to go. We have had similar issues in my house - kid wants to do something SO badly but cries every time there are lessons/practice because it is just too much. I remind myself that they are young still and can always pick these things up as adults.

[Stephanie ODea]

congratulations, Carmen! on everything.

[kyooty]

I didn't manage 50 but I managed a bag of small boys clothes (no more small boys allowed here), also got rid of last years promotional Avon books and a few toys here and there. I had this on my mind most of the week and it worked but not 50 yet.

[Wendy]

Congratulations on the job! Let me know if you need any freelance editor types.

[Patty]

Congratulations on the job! So happy for you!

I'm so doing the 50 Challenge when I get back from FitBloggin! Time to clean up the "everything" closet because lord knows what's in there!