Visible Progress!

There is a noticeable lack of clutter in a few areas of the house, finally, not to mention a lot less dust/dirt because I swept and vacuumed.  Yesterday morning I cleaned the parlor and was then able to start making use of all the storage bins I've been waiting to put to use:

They have since been emptied of adorable children and filled with STUFF.  Each bin is labeled - donate, Lewes (storage for now), sell, ? (this one is more for my clueless men helpers), recycle, trash - as well as labeled with a specific symbol such as a heart, star, etc. for the illiterate in the family unit.  What followed this snapshot was a GAME called "put this in the star box," and so on.  Each of the bins is now almost full, plus I have another box or two for the yard sale, and ANOTHER 2 boxes of books to get rid of.  GAH.  So. many. books.  When we have money I'm totally buying myself a Kindle.  Meanwhile, I will start frequenting the library in my (ha!) free time.

I'm also in the process of deconstructing my brown & blue guest room, for anyone who is interested.  There is lots of bedding for both a queen size and 2 twin size  beds, as well as some really nice striped blackout curtains.  I'm still washing/folding/photographing all this stuff, but here is one of the 2 queen bedspreads:

The trash can is full for pickup on Tuesday or Wednesday (not sure when they are coming on account of the holiday) and I am getting some of my artsier-craftier-kitschier books ready to list on Etsy.  

Today I excavated the dining room table and pushed it over to one side of the room so I can get to all the STUFF in the rest of the dining room (aka home for homeless stuff) and I can utilize the table as a workspace for photographing, listing, pricing, etc.  Hoping to have a yard sale next weekend.

Oh!  And this isn't stuff, but it was cluttering my life - I had Husband mow the lawn yesterday and then today I went through the front and back and clipped the heck out of some bushes and hedges, as well as some weeds that the lawnmower wasn't able to reach.  It now only feels like a jungle with regard to the nasty humidity level.  

Husband also cleared/cleaned off the top of the dryer - without me even asking!  He's a keeper.

A few more sales on Amazon but kind of a slow week.  I can't wait to get this DONE!  If only there were more hours in the day, and if only my son slept for a few more of them...

Out-Count for Tuesday, July 31

Out today:

• full trash bin (picked up/gone)
• 2 cloth shopping bags full of books donated to library (and if I ever want to read them again, I know where to find them!) PLUS we serendipitously arrived there just in time for children's story time.  :)
• 2 sales in my Amazon marketplace (used) shop!

I intended to do a lot more but, you know, life happens.  The beach left me exhausted (and Noah amped) yesterday, and today said son did not take more than a 45-minute nap.  Have a few more clothes getting ready to be listed, some craft books to list on Etsy, and then time to de-stash some craft supplies...

and just for another 1,000 words worth of story, here's a photo of the current state of my dining room/culling workshop.  Don't judge, just love.  And if you see anything you like, let me know!