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In this blog you will find the many motivations behind the hoarding lifestyle so maybe those who are not hoarders can understand the mind o...

Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Update. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

June 14, 2017 update

Hello Fellow Hoarders,
How is your dwindling down the hoard going with you all? We are still making bit by bit progress and adding to it and removing some here and there...silly really. But its how we roll right? Them impulse buys always get me and my husband splurging.

What have you been doing lately? I am sorry I been very busy with watching a tree trimmer cut down a huge tree outside our home and then stressed as he was I thought I would be nice and give them the rest the money owed to get their rent paid and bills paid and then yeah they never have returned yet. Kinda disheartening got tons of brush to bundle now instead of them hauling it off for us like we were told and the stacked up wood never got stacked either and the small pieces sliced off for tables for me to make were not cut like promised...I am and have been very depressed...because of it and because its so overwhelming of a mess out there but been piddling with it...here and there.

Anyways hope your life is going well for you all!

God Bless!
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Update (Long past due for one) 10-26-16

Sorry guys been slacking on updating but without feedback (comments) I just can't find the motivation to post so please do comment or at least vote if the post made you laugh or whatever below the posts so I know its worthy of people's time or not so I feel like I am posting good content that you all wish to read or if I should alter myself back to the mindset explanations or whatever it is that majority wish to read about thank you for your time and feed back as it will help me entertain you better in the future :)

With that said here is my Update:

As usual its a slow process of purging items. Feels as though we take one step forward and two steps back when we go to drop off donations and then hey why not go in and see if they have such and such and then end up leaving with more stuff than we dropped off ugh...toxic process let me tell you. I should just have a friend or family member go and drop off my donations for me and be done with it.

So Halloween is approaching and we have dug out all our decorations and incomplete costumes because this year its whatever we got is all you got to wear this year no buying new ones...so kids got creative and put a few different costumes together...it works. But purging those that don't fit or that my daughter probably won't use in her future is what needs to happen this year. So before we box up everything to store again for next year. Plan is to go through and get rid of all that don't fit or won't fit next year as well as get rid of things a little girl wouldn't be interested in wearing EVER lol...and hope to down the amount of boxes that end up being stored for next year. Wish us luck!

I got rid of a few stuffed animals...I know one of the hardest tasks to tackle is getting rid of the so cute and many memory animals...then they sit in a bag by the door and slowly the kids get them out one by one and then your 3 bags go down to one and you don't understand what happened...and you can't remember what you decided to get rid of...you know the hold on to it and if you love it and blah blah blah thing yeah I did that with each...it helps but not at the same time...because I love so many lol...anyways...

The paper nightmare is still being added to and slowly diminished only to add more to the piles of overwhelming nightmare...you don't know what to keep anymore...you mind goes numb reading all the garbage but you don't want to throw out important papers...then you have sentimental papers kids school work and drawings...sure you could maybe get a photo album that holds standard printer paper so the artwork etc can be inserted into it for easy reminiscing for you, guests, and your child. Good thoughts but saving them in a box to file into said book later is just going to grow bigger and bigger into an overwhelming heap of an overwhelming task...if you can't sit down to do this activity as you sift through your piles of papers then likely you ain't going to get around to doing it. You have to sit down and designate places for each category and have the book ready for insert of the treasures as you go. You can organize them later if you must but usually order just gets boring...jumping from decade to decade makes things exciting. and comparison to a 3 yr old vs the 11 yr old in front of you is totally adorable ;) so yeah don't obsess just do it.

Books ugh so many books you could fill a library room full of books like the one on beauty and the beast video with the ladder and all lol...what to get rid of? how to get rid of them? um there are apps out there that you can scan the bar codes and see if they are worth anything if you wanna obsess and spend hours on end sifting through and then decide if you really want to sell it or you rather keep hold of it. I tell you one thing books are losing value IMHO and the longer you hold on to them you would think they would be of more value but so far I haven't found this to be true unless they are of popular author but even still depending on the edition depends on the value. Sifting through the books is like oooh my son would love to read this or daughter someday...so you hold on to it...but they end up just sitting on the shelf collecting dust because they rather go to the library to rent books to loose for months so you have to pay fines lol...so little library outside your home? or find one in your neighborhood or a school and drop off some of those treasures for someone who would be more appreciative of the dust collector :) Just an idea.

Clothes still need gone through and diminished mainly because the chore of cleaning all the clothes has become daunting and overwhelming. So how many of each type clothes does one person actually need? short sleeved shirts, long sleeved shirts, sweaters, dresses, nice business suits, shoes, socks, undies, bras, PJs? what else am I missing? I personally wanna at have maybe a month worth of clothes so 30 of each would be a good start for our hoard and then work our way down to maybe 2 weeks worth...I mean we actually re-wear a lot of our wardrobe without thought anyway...why is it so hard to get rid of excess clothes anyway? we rarely wear most of them anyway! Why is it so hard?! That one item that doesn't fit but you wish you could fit back into so you keep hold of it as a goal wardrobe that probably won't happen and if it happens the thrill of finding it fits is sure fun buuuut while you are not using it someone else could be using it and enjoying it and hey maybe when you finally can fit that size your taste changed or there is no occasion that suits the outfit...best to purge and then when you lose weight or gain weight whichever you can purge the clothes you no longer fit and get new ones to replace but not over replace the wardrobe you lost. and just keep recycling it out and in as your fluctuate in your battle for your perfect body size that you never quite ever will be happy with because society has an image placed in many of our minds that is beautiful and we never can fit in that small window of perfection...I say stop striving for that perfection that doesn't exist...we are  who we are...and that is perfect for us....even if it means we change wardrobes every year because of changes in our bodies. We got this!

I did get rid of the baby toys my daughter still plays with some but most I got rid of...I am proud of myself for that one...Still have way too many toys to sift through and get rid of but its a start and I will take the baby step and gesture :).

My husband has been purging and adding as I have too...out with the old in with the new...ugh...when will we ever learn that someday may never come and even if its a great deal we have no place to store it until it is needed?! ugh! the madness has to stop someday! I have an idea why don't people stop having crazy % off sales and leave us crazy people alone? bwhahahaha

Anyways, if you like my blog please let me know and I will be sure to try harder to post more often and even be motivated to do more with my hoard and try and encourage you and your hoard to diminish as well. If you find what I said helpful vote it helpful! below this post. etc. there is also a poll on the right to tell me who is seeking out my blog so I can write to those in particular audiences so I can help those who are interested in this subject.

Also comment your questions below I will be more than happy to do a Q and A blog post for those interested in having their questions answered. Thank you for your time and sorry again for the lack of promised posts, I hope you understand the feedback is what keeps me fueled and there is none so I am not fueled to post...so do participate in the subject and comment rate and subscribe! Thanks a million!

Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

update November 18, 2015

With health issues it has been a struggle along with unexpected repairs that needed done around the house and rent house...not to mention birthdays and holidays and seems like every weekend kids want someone to spend the night sometimes two kids to spend the night...ugh...by the end of it all I am really run down as is with my health but we have been putting out 2 steps forward progress with dwindling down the hoard and of course adding to it with one step back but over all I think we are improving. It has always been a challenge to do anything with a toddler running around...but like I said we are working hard and getting places but still taking steps back along the way...very slow process this de-hoarding is...but long as there are steps going forward...I hope that we will catch up and dwindle it down enough to manageable and then never accumulate such a massive hoard ever again....yeah right...ok more reasonable agreement would be to bring in 1 thing 2 things have to go out...and there has to have a immediate need for said item to come in not a project down the line. I have decided to start making the building block blankets I make and asked some friends for any old yarn they weren't using to get me started then sell the ones I make from those and buy supplies to build more and more and make that my income....to help out around here...
I have taken up a game I really enjoy but I don't understand why I am not getting credit for recruiting people I recruited several people one I know is already required level in game play for me to get credit but I didn't get credit...just disheartening for me...I was counting on getting the badge and now I am dwindled down on my invites and there is no way for me to invite anyone else and get credit...so I guess I won't be getting that badge...oh well the rest of the game is great it gets me out of the house and meeting up with new people and socializing it has been a much needed thing added to my life. My husband also found a movie lover club to attend rare big screen showings of movies he never got to enjoy on the big screen so we are both doing our own things that we enjoy and that is good.
Anyways talk to you later.
hope you all are doing better with your hoards than we are...
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo D

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Update 08-29-2014

Well, we are moving within the month of Sept (we hope)...so far we have made multiple trips to the thrift stores dropping donations off down sizing along the way, and I've been getting rid of things long since forgotten that I had intentions of doing something with some day that never came in the 3 years of living here so...yep time to say goodbye.
Its hard believe me...and I've even thought if I start it now then I'd have to keep it to finish it...but no I refrained and got rid of it instead...are you proud of me? I know I'm proud of myself.

I plan to keep this attitude I haven't touched it in three years it has to go...hopefully my sentimental items aren't too many this go round...my memory is failing me and I'm seeing that as a blessing...the things I have no use for that's sentimental I will take pictures of and donate...and eventually print them and put in an album someday...anyway...just wanted to give you a report...

Hope to blog more often soon...
Talk to you later,
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Progress 10-01-2013

Well been slow moving but still making some progress...life kinda puts things on the back burner for us at times...but today I dropped off a car booster seat and a handful of clothes we no longer need and have thrown away (yes threw in the trash) broken toys! Huge step for us! I know to the normal person that seems silly they are broken so no use to anyone but our thoughts about the broken is maybe someone could fix it and it wouldn't fill up the landfill...donating these broken things though the people going through them probably throw them away anyway and that has been easier for someone else to make that call for us...but we actually did it! Yes there was anxiety involved...but we lived...you can live through it too! Just bite the bullet and say no one has time to fix said object heck we never had time to...so just toss it. 
Anyway, comment your progress on your hoard below I am proud of you all for whatever it is you accomplished in getting rid of or refusing to purchase or pick up from the curb or trash dumpster...you are strong and can over come this and have a clutter free life someday! Yes it's slow moving, time consuming, and easier to just put things off...but you and I both know it has to be done, and we know anyone else who does it for us will just make us angry so we have to just buckle down and do it ourselves. Anxiety induced by our own actions sure beats anxiety that's induced by someone else's actions that also cause anger and hurt and insult to us...so you need to face it and overcome it on your own...and you can do it! Just keep at it! I'm proud of you!
Talk to you later!
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

9-22-2013 update

We are still working on getting rid of stuff and have dropped off a lot of clothes and odds and ends at the Goodwill and D.A.V. (Disabled American Veteran thrift shop) and occasionally the YWCA treasure chest when we are on that side of town (which is rarely these days sorry). Anyway, the coming back into the home has slowed but hasn't stopped, but I am proud of my husband and his refraining from stopping at garage sales and not buying tons just bits and pieces here and there and actually sticking to what we need vs. what will come in handy someday or was too good of a deal to pass up. Which is a HUGE step for him and I am so very proud of him.

We still have a long way to go in our hoard and hopefully we will get things rolling and get rid of all excess stuff so hopefully someday soon we can move to a bigger home and rent and sell all our homes rentals included, and just focus on cleaning and decluttering and living and not so much repairs that keep tying up our funds and not allow us to be on a budget because its so unpredictable on the repairs we have to pay for every month. Anyway. Big steps going on, very proud, still have much to do. Thank you for your encouraging words (if you please would post them I could use some encouragement thanks). The reason why I don't post so often is because I don't think anyone cares and no one wants to read this...if you gave me feedback on what you want from me I would love to humor you and get you what you are looking for in such a subject blog. Thanks your comments will help me help you believe me!

Anyway, talk to you all later.
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo
p.s. How are you doing with your hoarding? comment your progress or even confess your slip ups...I am here to encourage you as well as you to encourage me so lets get this party started and encourage each other! alright?! Thanks!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Progress Feb 4, 2013

I just turned all my clothes hangers backwards and organized by type of shirts (ie. Music related, fun, dressy, sexy etc.) Did johns too...the deal is the next week or so I will be putting clothes on backwards hanging hangers to make sure all clothes in play get put backwards then I start putting then forward again in four months what hasn't been turned the right way around and I can safely say I don't wear those shirts very often and can get rid of them....tip I read somewhere....I also got rid of a Walmart sized bag of clothes I know I won't wear or haven't worn or don't like wearing...etc....I also ironed on patches on jacks Jeans and sewed on one and ironed one to experiment to see if they last longer if sewed and ironed on....we shall see...now I'm taking a break...may end up down for the count because I'm hurting pretty bad right now...baby stepping my downsize and getting chaos under control...go me! My husband has been going through and getting rid of stuff...I'm very proud of him the house is improving more and more....I will keep you posted...share your comments below about your progress and if you found this helpful...good luck in getting rid of your clutter....blessings to you and your pursuit of happiness...

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Update 05-21-2012

Ok so I gathered all the papers in the house and divided them into school related and then OTHER...whatever else there is because if I did what I wanted and sorted by type like junk mail or coupons or whatever so it would have stopped me dead in my tracks because I would get hung up on perfection...and yeah couldn't do that to myself...but did the piles so its not so over whelming for my husband...so this gave me an idea...I am going to sort the house out by kind of clutter and yeah haven't started yet but thats the plan so we can see how much of the same thing we have...because I know there is a bunch of the same or similar things...anyways....thats the game plan though...

I went to rake the leaves outside my house and found the broken rake and that's all I had and after doing half a wall worth I decided I was going to find the other one...so I went into our cluttered garage to find it and found three strollers I been meaning to get rid of so I dug those out (which was unburrying a handle that looked like the rake so there was motive behind my madness) I dragged them all out and took pictures to send to a friend I thought may want it...but she didn't so I decided to spray them down with shout stain lifter and then power spray it with the hose...the stains didn't come out but oh well...then my neighbor came over and asked about my garden which got me going to start to pull the grass out of it...and she said she would come back with her mom and help but never came back so I got a little done on that then remembered the task at hand...well long story short the handle wasn't to the rake and I had to use the broken one and drag all the leaves away from the house then shovel it will a snow shovel because I didn't know where the shovel was and to prevent myself from getting sucked into any other sidetracks I just grabbed what was out in plain sight....so yeah it worked and got the job at hand done and I weelburrowed the debris to the compost pile we got going...so I got it done just had a few sidetracks which is why I am a SHE as flylady explains (Sidetrack Home Executive) See where I get the hoarding executive ha ha...so not only do I sidetrack but yes I have a handle on my hoarding tendencies I have refrained from buying anything...I will walk around with stuff in my cart for a while then go and put it back after reasoning in my head...will you really seriously ever use it? and would you use it more than just today? and another one thats good to keep me from buying stuff no matter how good of a deal it is...is WHERE WILL I PUT IT? that one really makes me put everything back and that is that and I didn't cave into the urge to buy such a great deal...so...my suggestion and actually high recommendation is when you are at the store and you are impulsively buying because of a great buy...ask yourself those questions for a while walking around the store with the items in your cart...and really rationalize and put emphasis on the where you will put it...if that doesn't detour you from buying stuff...there are counselors out there that can seriously help you overcome this addiction/disorder...

Anyways, notice I am working outside now instead of inside? Well my husband wants to clean the house before we put a bun in the oven to have a baby in May or June we need to put the bun in the oven in Aug....so yeah gotta step it up into high gear and get through all this junk and get the house ready for baby before the bun can even get into the oven...so yeah...really want to...but very much discouraged...my husband stopped at a garage sale and brought home MORE STUFF!!!! stuff we couldn't live without...so yeah...very discouraging...we are trying to get rid of stuff and he is bringing home stuff quicker than I am shoving it out the door...so feel my wheels spinning and not getting anywhere...so today I put one of the three strollers on ebay which is only running one week for local pickup only...so if your interested and you live elsewhere than Wichita KS then your going to have to travel here to get it...and it would be whole lots cheaper than shipping and handling trust me...anyways...I don't think it will sale because I am so honest and yeah spared them the disappointment when they received it because of the stains but I seriously think they would come out if you put them through the wash...anyways thats all in the details or description whatever....so thats one step closer to getting rid of strollers we no longer will be needing because I bought a new one at the thrift shop awhile back....so yeah that was back when I was weak in my thought control methods...so yeah...I am better have my slip ups every now and then but haven't in a very long ...anyways...I am recovering now to teach my husband the same methods to help keep him from buying so much stuff...fingers crossed!
Anyway talk to you later.
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Saturday, May 12, 2012

This weeks attempts

Well I been sorting papers into two piles one related to school (including: drawings, art, teachers notes, menus, etc.) and the other is "other papers" which is anything BUT school/kid related...so I got not too tall of piles going as to not overwhelm but seems my hoarder doesn't want to go through them yet...ok so kinda at a stand still because if I keep adding to it, they will just become overwhelming and nothing will ever come of it...so may try a different approach...may sort it even farther down into art, writing, reading, report cards/progress reports, and teacher notes/menus...see if that's less overwhelming assuming that's the problem...
Anyways, been setting the timer so not to get burned out and just picking one item to gather (papers)...throughout the house...next will be toys and sort those by type again, just to show how many of each kind we actually have and show we can afford to let a few go because we still will have plenty...
After the toys are under control again, I will be tackling my hobby stuff and send my husband to his hobbies and tools and such...I am tempted to help him with his and sort by type and with tools sizes and show him how many of the same he has and hope he can part with some...and same with my crafts really contemplate if I really will ever pick them back up or actually sit down and learn on a few of them...and get rid of them if need be.
Anyways, it's of course a slow process as usually it is since the house didn't get this way over night it surely won't get better that fast either...so I'm taking my baby steps and decluttering (well at least trying to) I had a few things I thought could go away but he told me where to put them instead...at least they have a home now...just wish it wasn't in our home...oh well...I'm giving him the power over what goes and stays and I am not really sure if that's what he really wants so I'm going to ask him and see what he wants from me since it seems he is annoyed and discouraged for whatever reason. You know get on the same page.
Anyway ttyl,
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Friday, March 23, 2012

going to be over stepping my boundaries soon

Alright, I am tired of the clutter its past time for me to step up to the plate but I think we finally found a medication that helps with my pain...which means I do have Neuropathy which is where my nerves send signals to my brain saying pain pain pain but when in fact there is no pain at all its just misfired nerves...I am on neurontin which so far has been a blessing in the pain department but in the OCD and can't sleep department it has really taken its tole on me...but the pain is managed so I can soon get this spring cleaning underway and hopefully not step too far over my boundaries and get rid of a bunch of our stuff that is cluttering our lives making me feel like a hoarder. It no doubt will be hard...I will struggle to get rid of things but it just has to happen...I can't live like this anymore...yes I wish someone would come in and direct me...but the only reason for this as my wise aunt told me...is because I don't want to take blame if it doesn't turn out well and someone points out the faults in the progress...then I wouldn't own that shame or disappointment...who ever directed me will be to blame...so I just gotta set out and do it for me and to please me and my family and thats all that matters...I don't need others approval other than them anyway...which is a hard thing to overcome but I am working on that...anyway...life definitely hasn't been easy...we lost my husband's sister...she died...its been hard on us all...anyway...I just gotta suck everything up and do what needs to be done so hopefully soon I will have updates on a regular basis and progress to brag about...I gotta go back to www.flylady.net and get my fly on...and just do 5 mins then 10 mins then 15 mins then 20 mins and thats it...I don't have to do any more cleaning than that at a time...I probably will stay at one level of minutes for a while gradually getting more time on the clock...but the limit is not to burn myself out on the task at hand which is easy for me to do...as with anyone...so yeah...I as usual have big plans and I do plan to follow through this time...I know I have said it before...and didn't...I am the best at starting things that I don't finish...one of the faults I have to live with every waking hour of every day...I can't wait till the day I accomplish what I set out to do...that will be such a great day for me...it will mean I can do anything I set out to do...and yeah...this whole trying to get instruction from others so I have someone to blame if it doesn't work...yeah gotta stop that...for sure...anyways...
I will talk to you later everyone.
God Bless you and keep your hearts light and your feet firmly planted on the ground
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo
p.s. what have you gotten done in your hoard progress? brag in the comments below...maybe it will encourage me to get to it and stick to it...I appreciate all my followers and I hope you can learn something from me and apply it to your lives as well as you to comment and inspire me to keep going...thank you for your time...talk to you later :-)

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Update Nov. 2, 2011

It has been awhile since I updated...so....Been kind of out of commission because of dizzy spells then my back went out, but we got a lot done lately so I thought I would update and brag about it...OK not a lot to most people but to me its a lot...so there!
We took out the queen bed from our oldest son's room and took it to my husband's parents house for my father in law to use as their bed cause he isn't able to sleep since his stroke and knee replacement (prayers are welcomed thanks), and we traded out the toddler bed in our youngest son's room too. We went to a garage sale and scored twin frames two of them the first one was by chance and the second was just a blessing that was hidden :-) see I went up to the lady having the sale and asked saying you probably don't have a twin bed frame do you? and she said yes down in my basement actually and I was like wow really? and she said yeah you can come on down and look if you want I went and looked and it was beautiful! so they tore the bed frame apart and called me the next day and we went to pick it up and the husband spotted behind some stuff the other matching twin bed frame and we ended up getting both for 20 bucks :-) awesome! no fights they were the same so yeah that was awesome! OK then we got rid of some clothes, shoes, sandals, and some food we won't use and some food that we thought a family in need would enjoy, which we had a friend of this family in need come and get them who was a friend of a friend of a friend so yeah complicated more than how I found out about the situation, Facebook post posted by one of my friends...anyways got the clothes and food to them and they were very thankful...my friend is supposed to get to some clothes and give them to me to give to them too...but not sure when that will be...they are very busy. Anyways, the boys rooms look better. I put four tubs of toys in my youngest son's closet so his room doesn't have a tower of tubs that scared me cause they were so tall...anyways glad that's resolved, our living room is still cluttered our kitchen is still cluttered and dinning and entryway but we got rid of some more stuff and every bit helps right? someday we will have a clutter free home right? baby steps as Flylady says with her great program that does work its the applying it that I struggle with...I am guilty of being a SHE you will have to visit www.flylady.net to figure out what a SHE is. You probably are guilty of being one too ;-)
Anyways, just thought I would update you. I have a tip to add from experience with my executive hoarder husband...I am just as guilty as being as bad but yeah...lesson was learned on my part...anyways ttyl
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

my progress as of 09/07/2011 or should I say digress?

Well pretty much things are at a stand still...though we did get rid of ONE box of stuff to the DAV so I guess that is a little progress but we did tend to splurge the other day for Jack's birthday this weekend. He is going to be 6 this year, but we found the Clearance isle at K-mart and got a bit more than we probably should have...it all having thoughts to be Christmas gifts but they were such great buys we couldn't say no...ugh! I hate this way of thinking in the moment of shopping...so I have to get into Over Haul mode and down size before the mother load hits this Christmas otherwise I will never get on top of the toy situation ever!
The weather has been awesome and I really should be going through the garage to get rid of more stuff or better organize it (ha ha who am I kidding you can't organize clutter!)...anyways...just been too busy with the kids to really do any of that...we had plans of cleaning the garage the other day and ended up spending the whole day going to pet shops then ended up at the animal shelter to get a Guinea Pig for the boys...just what we need a pet that I am no doubt allergic to...ever since we got it, I have had a runny nose but it also might be the seasonal allergies kicking in but my eyes really burn in the house now...so who knows...anyways...I have a lot of hopes and dreams but I just can't seem to convince myself to just gun ho and get to it...its like the motivational fairy has just passed me by and I really need her to come and beat me with her wand! ugh! Once I get started I tend to keep going and going and going...its just the getting started part that I struggle with...and once I hit a bump in the road, like something I don't know what my husband would want to do with it so I put it in a box and then that box gets full and I am like wow this is really going no where cause I am just moving it from one place to another and really not making head way...and feel like I am running my wheels in the mud...but anyways...I do clean at least once a week with the sweeping and the mopping and dishes get done every other day to every day and the laundry maybe once or twice a week...but lately with my stomach hurting I have to admit my husband has been doing all of that...
That's another thing, I have something going on with my stomach, it hurts so bad I am doubled over and I went to a specialist and he is doing a colonoscopy on me to make sure nothing else is going on than IBS as he suspects it to be...I hope they find something and it is an instant fix and all will be well and it won't be all in my head as many people around me I feel treat me...anyways enough about me.
I just really need that motivational fairy to come and beat the heck out of me and get this party started...with the kids being in school all day I can accomplish things if only I could get started ugh!

Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Update Aug. 15, 2011

Well guys, today was kind of a hard day for me it was my daughter's who was adopted out birthday she turned 11 today so that means 7 more years until she is old enough to come and find me. I miss her terribly bad and her sister who turned 12 back in March. But today I tackled my kitchen counters. I am going to leave the hoard in the garage that is out of sight out of mind there until I can get the hoard inside my home under control and well able to be used as its intended or get rid of what can't be used or whatever it is I am trying to say and do lol.

Funny how I just move my clutter around cause nothing really has a home yet...I really need to figure out where to put the things that I really do need to keep hold of cause I do use them often instead of letting them float from one hot spot to the next...because thats what I do with everything move it from the counter to the stove to the top of the microwave to the dining room table to the entertainment center table that is just cluttered with stuff without electronics on it to my desk to my couch even! Ugh! Stop the madness! But how? I am still trying to figure this out and soon as I figure it out, you know I am going to be posting it here on my blog.

Anyways I worked long and hard and boxed up all the clutter that don't have a home yet, but are needed to be saved for my husband to go through later, I wasn't partial to hardly any of it but he might be so I kept it all for him, not to step on his toes. Anyways, I cleaned the counter with green works and paper towels I wiped down the coffee maker, the microwave on the outside and underneath the toaster, microwave, and coffee maker. I still need to unload the dishwasher and reload it, so I can better scrub the sink with cleaner products cause I don't want to use the products with dishes in the sink because I'm paranoid about the cleaner sticking to the dishes and making us sick. So yeah. The way I got started was the www.flylady.net way by starting my timer I set it for 30 mins which since I am back in shape I believed and successfully did two 30 min sessions without a hiccup though now I am stuck in front of my computer blogging to you guys :-) but I am enjoying sharing with you all my accomplishments.

I also cleaned the electric can opener with a toothbrush and cleaner then rinsed (unplugged of course) with water (and the part I rinsed was detachable) Anyways, it looks brand new! That reminds me I still need to clean the inside of the Microwave too, and the front of the cabinets and dish washer :-) then that half of the Kitchen is done. But this will probably have to wait till tomorrow sometime, since I am already ready for bed.

Anyways, I just thought I would update you all on my progress.

Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo D
P.S. we didn't get pregnant this month at least so the pregnancy test 5 days prior to my expected monthly said no...but we will keep trying :-)

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Update July 7, 2011

Well I moved everything out of our house well not everything everything but most of it and put it in the garage for later sorting through...(yeah remember that thing I said about this plan and how it will probably sit there for a whole year before I go through it again lets hope I ain't right about it)...Anyways I am glad I set that expectation cause then if I don't end up doing that and actually do what I intend to do...vs what I set myself up for doing...which is to put it off for a year...so my expectation isn't too high and if I beat it then I feel more accomplished....kind of like my mom making her dream life was her being a bag lady...so if she made it more than that she was well off...which is actually a good way to do it set your expectations low so if you get anything more than that expectation you can pat yourself on the back :-)
So anyways I did a flight of the bumble bee dash to get the stuff moved because my friend and her family was heading over for a visit later that day...but ended up coming the next day so I had a little extra time to do stuff and mopped and swept which felt really good...Anyways the house is looking better...Garage not so much...but I promise I will at least go through one box a month (again not setting too high of expectation so if I do more I am doing real good :-) at least thats the plan) Anyways...I just thought I would update you on the progress...I still have a ways to go but its coming along nicely I think...
Anyways I will talk to you all later...
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo
P.S. I have invested in $4 tubs at Walmart to help sort the things I do want to keep (um yeah not the stuff you probably are thinking...its more like bedding and coats and seasonal clothes) Anyways...I just thought I would add that...the necessities things with having three beds and soon four beds when we get set up for baby that we are going to be in the process of making soon...and have to store 5 peoples winter/summer clothes when seasons change...so yeah thats the game plan at least...and I am trying to keep them minimal as far as how many sheets fitted and not fitted, anyways I am trying to down size really I am...next task at hand is the kids toys again...gotta downsize those quick...they are really out of control...so yeah thats the plan...will be probably just in time for another kids birthday XD but I will get it done soon I hope

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Update June 28, 2011

Well D.A.V. came and left with a truck full of goodies and we gained one slab of concrete in the garage. I would like to rearrange the garage to make paths to be able to get to stuff easier than hurdling over things and risk avalanches or hurting myself or my husbands self...then move what stuff in the house that I can't get rid of just yet nor put away just yet because I need room to be able to build places for stuff to go...THEN move it back into the house (uh yeah that's the plan right?). You and I both know it won't work unless I stay motivated and then when I am done building places to put stuff and run out of places to put stuff I will still have a garage full of stuff I can't part with...and have to re-evaluate what I have and get rid of more stuff and hopefully by then I wouldn't have accumulated anything more than what I already have today...but that's probably doubtful...
I do have to say the one thing that is good about this depression is that I have no motivation to do anything including but not limited to shopping XD...only good thing about it...bad part of it is that I am not motivated to do anything including cleaning so I just sit here with my mess without building it higher though so that's good I am stable at least not adding to my mess right? Anyways.
I am trying to get things in swing so we can get ready for a baby before we get the baby in the making...so we are ready long before he or she gets here...anyways...
Also I want to note that my horrible mess maybe something no one else think its as bad as I think...I am my worst critic and I have to tell you readers this so you don't get the wrong idea bout me...my hoard isn't filthy its clean I can't stand filth I just have stuff...and its clutter...too much stuff not enough storage space or display shelves or something...the floors are swept and mopped more often than anything...and dishes and laundry do get done...if my husband has to do it he does it...which lately my funk I am in he has been the only one doing anything around here...I feel bad about it but what can I do about it? I lost another baby and I am really just in a funk and I will get through it like I always do...and I am planning on snapping out of it...since my depression is not chemically induced (why pills don't help me) its circumstances and I just gotta work through the problems...there is nothing I can do to change what happened...I just gotta learn to live with the facts that these things happened...and move forward...accepting them....its not easy...but I hear it can be done...so I am going to try very hard...cause pills just make me worse I think...
Anyway...talk to you all later
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Update June 15, 2011

Well the sale went great the first day second day was too windy and third day I didn't even mess with it...I made a grand total of 90 bucks I guess...so that was good...tons of people got great deals on my junk cause I wasn't in the mood to really argue with anyone...I hate people...I am far from a people person...especially stupid ones...and most the visitors were stupid...I didn't punch anyone so that is a good thing...next time won't ever happen next time cause we wont be doing a yard sale ever again...ya its nice to try and get something out of our junk that we been storing for all these years to someday maybe get use out of them...but in the long run it was so not worth the hassle if we ever do it again it will be a Thurs. ONLY sale not a 3 day or even 2 day sale...thats it one day and thats it...
Tomorrow DAV is coming to pick up the rest of our sale items so today I need to better organize the pile that is going to them so it will be an easy unload of the garage to the truck...I really hope someone gets use of my moms quilt light table thing...hope a church can get it real cheap and help support the Disabled American Vets...at the same time...and I hope they don't throw it out not knowing what it is or thinking it wont sale...anyways....I just can't think about that possibility because it sends such anxiety over me it makes my stomach churn....
That I think is the main hoarding problem the anxiety of the thought of all these years wasted holding on to this for someone to just see no value in whatever and just throw it away but it cost so much when we bought it years ago or our loved one bought years ago...ya there is up to date more high tech stuff out there but some people enjoy the old stuff because it works just as well if not better...the stuff they make these days is easily breakable and hardly sturdy at all...breaks easy and wow you know what? batteries don't last as long these days as they did back in the day...my laptop of a year has a battery that is dead now...wont hold a charge at all...yet the other battery that I have had for years is still holding a charge...yes cheaper to make to keep prices down but causes us to have to buy many over the years instead of investing the time and money into a great product...anyways...
After we get the pile that goes to DAV gone tomorrow we will be able to move stuff from inside our home out there so we can function in our home instead of piling stuff from here to there to use stuff...anyways....I am excited about that...but I don't want that to be a permanent home for the stuff we move out there...I still plan to go through stuff and get rid of more stuff...just in time....it sure didn't get this way over night and it isn't going to get fixed in one day either...its going to take time and great discipline but I am up for the challenge on my own since no one seems to want to help me...ya I asked all my friends in town to come help me with my garage sale...um...no one...well my aunt patty came to help...and my sister in law sent her friends son to help which helped a lot....but not exactly what I had in mind...just as what I had in mind when we went to move...I expected a convoy of people lining up to help me and we get most of it in one load if not two loads and be done...but ya that didn't happen and here it is a year after we moved and we I think have just half a shed worth of junk and maybe the top shelf in a garage still at our rentals but that stuff will come when we get more room over here obviously...its not hurting nobody being where it is right now...anyways...
Once we get rid of the overwhelming cluttered mess out of our house I can focus on deep cleaning and reclaim our home finally...and keep on top of it cause I don't want it to get this way ever again! of course Lord knows it may slip here and there and hopefully not get too far out of control...I just know I gotta try to keep up with it...my mom did it with 4 kids why can't I with only 2? and I am going to be trying to add a 3rd in Aug. Sept. going to try again....anyway...my health isn't doing too great either so hopefully that won't put a damper on my ability to clean and keep up with the house once the clutter is gone I don't see it being an issue...minus the new junk coming in the home (mail, etc.) Anyways I will definitely be enforcing fly lady way of living every day because I can't do it any other way...anyway
That is the update for now...do a one day sale if you want to do a garage or yard sale...don't ever sign up for a 2 or 3 day sale...you think you will drag out your ability to sale stuff...but honestly I made maybe 3-10 bucks on the second day of my sale and didn't even bother putting the sale out on the third day...wasn't worth it....too hot and windy...if you are having an estate sale and its in the home sure no problem...stay cool enjoy the company that comes and goes...but if its gonna be outside...forget it don't do more than one day elements of weather, and stuff is hard to guess what its going to be doing...anyways....
I must go reorganize the pile thats going tomorrow to the DAV (we frantically had to throw everything back into the garage and its strewn all over the place because of the rain that was starting to pour down on us)
Anyways talk to you all later
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Friday, May 27, 2011

my progress as of 05/27/2011

Well today we took a big bite out of our hoard...went through half of our double car garage got a good pile of sale items for the garage sale next weekend...about half of the stuff we went through is going into the sale...thats encouraging...tomorrow we plan to go through the other side of the garage and put all the sale on that side and put the rest of the keep on the side we went through today and the sale on the side we will be going through tomorrow if that makes any sense...anyways...I am hoping to have more help tomorrow but I guess I gotta call everyone individually and ask them one by one and be turned down by each one by one cause I know they can't do it for one reason or another....which is fine I understand its kind of last minute but its the last weekend my husband can help me and so I am trying to make it count...I know I have a week before the garage sale I just want it done this weekend so I can be sure of what he wants to keep and what he wants to get rid of...so I can not have to bother him during his work week...anyways...I hope our nephew can at least help keep the kids busy   so they don't fight all day like they did today...ugh no wonder why I did 80% of the work...Daddy had to referee and had to take the car to the car dealership for an oil change...anyways...thats the game plan pray for weather to allow this to happen and pray for someone to be able to come and help cause I really don't want to do this alone...and pray no one asks us to go to their house for whatever reason or something breaks at our rentals or something that makes us have to do something other than what we have been trying to do since we moved here a year ago...but every weekend my husband was off till now he has or we have had to work on our rentals or had get together with family or friends...anyway I am hopeful for tomorrow :-)
Talk to you later,
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Sunday, April 17, 2011

my progress as of 04/17/2011

Well as most of you know my progress has been put on a stand still due to my losing our son who was stillborn March 18, 2011...it came as a shock and I still am having problems with admitting that it happened I guess...I really want to have a decluttered home but I am so not motivated now that I lost my motivation (a baby on the way) And with the possibility of trying again for another baby hanging up in the air until we know about my health which I have a 1cm lesion on my liver...which is causing me to be sick to my stomach, lack of appetite (feeling of being full all the time), Severe pain in my abdomen, and fatigue...they are the ones that are most effecting me right now...anyways...I am kind of beside myself as to wanting to get anything done in the house...
I am more wanting to get a memorial garden in place and NO ONE IS WILLING TO COME AND HELP ME and its very frustrating to me...the two shovels I had broke...and I dont know where my spades are so I can at least do some of it by hand...and I keep asking people to come over and bring their shovels but no one seems to see me anymore...its like everyone who came out of the woodwork and came forward in sympathy have suddenly worked their selves back into the woodwork and again I stand alone...I keep thinking maybe I am not grieving properly and thats why they just ignore me...because they don't think thats what I should be doing with myself at this point in time...of course thats probably just my borderline getting the best of me...but still I am alone...people asked me if there was anything that they could do for me...which is what is now obviously just something people say and don't mean it sincerely just like that question "how are you?" which is inquiring for a casual "fine" remark not a life story word vomit type response that I often give the inquirers...I have never been good with being reserved and keep things to myself...and if you didn't figure this out yet...now you know...

Anyways I just thought I would let you all know I am at a stand still with my progress...but I do have a box of donations to be delivered this week at some time that I decide to do so...its on my to do list...anyways
Talk to you later.
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

My progress as of 03/9/2011

I got rid of 4 or 5 boxes of office supplies the other day by donating it all to the school my kids attend...they were over joyed with all the post it notes, stackable shelves, binders, filing cabinet dividers of many kinds including folder type, as well as many different print outs for different types of hand outs for homework and stuff that my mom wrote my name on each page of and I am sure she intended for me to do them but we never got around to doing them for some reason or another, as well as staple removers, desktop tape dispensers, totes for like pens and arts supplies...anyways there were 17 of those stackable plastic shelves total...so that saved a lot of space as well as the boxes that were taking up space...of course the space was over at the rent house where we easily moved a whole truck full of stuff from my sisters before she moved out of state...anyways...progress just not where its needed which is here at home...though I did get rid of some stuff and I have a box that is being added to...that is going to be donated...I just want it full before I drop it off cause I don't want to waste the box I am limited on having at this point...anyways...I am getting there slowly but surely....its just hard to get rid of books...especially those of value when you know you have something worth something but not having the connections to sell the collector items sorta thing....yeah
I have less than 3 months to be ready for baby to come home and we keep having to work on our other homes our rental properties instead...and other type hoards that don't really belong to me but I am pretty much looking through my mothers stuff and saying oh I remember this and dismiss it and donate it or throw it away depending on if its of worth for DAV to sell...anyways I am nearly buried in my mothers books that she has collected over the years...as well as inherited from different people she lost throughout the years...and some are worth something but finding someone who holds interest in them and willing to pay what is worth is very tricky process...I just may put them on ebay starting at .99 and hope someone doesn't end up getting such a great deal that they rob me of its worth and hopefully I make enough money to help pay for my braces that I desperately need so I can close my mouth and chew my food properly because my teeth don't meet anymore due to having TMJD surgery, then getting a splint to correct my bite and now I need braces to finally be pain free and able to chew properly and thus solving issues I have been having with my digestion process...anyways...long story there...
Anyways, just thought I would update on my progress on my hoard...
I will try to keep you all up to date on my hoard and I hope it is helping...I am sorry I am slacking off but my health hasn't been up to par lately and I am coming down with something yet again...just got over something and now I am coming down with something else grrr...will I ever not be sick? will I ever feel good?
Anyways talk to you later please comment so I know I am loved and someone is out there reading this...thanks
Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo

Saturday, February 26, 2011

My progress as of 02/26/2011

My work on my hoard at my home has been put on a hold because we had an unexpected disaster happen with our rental house with some pipes freezing and then unfreezing and ringing up a $218 in an electric bill because of the electric water heater running full time for only God knows how long....and having to clean up all that water and having to clean up our unexpected abandoned apartment thats damaged which I am hoping we can get up to par before the beginning of this month so we can get someone to rent the place then...but who knows what will happen with that...because my husband has every other weekend off and working after he wakes up from 3rd shift and working on it then is impossible with two kids who need constant supervision because they constantly fight or try to get the other in trouble or hurt....soooo....ya....its so great NOT. but we will get there...probably not on my schedule cause its not this weekend my hubby is off its next...but oh well...maybe April we will get someone in there....who knows....we still have to paint and get rid of the nicotine stains and smell bleh! coming from an ex smoker I dont know how I could stand that ugh!

Anyways, I have nit picked at my hoard though and got rid of a truck load of stuff to the DAV, 4 or 5 trunk, back seat and floor board and front seat and floor board of stuff to the DAV as well and a couple more boxes to add to that mix....so I have gotten rid of a whole lot...but a lot of it was stuff that just had came into the door because I also am having to go through my mothers stuff who passed away which is what I want to do because I don't want to miss the memories that go with each item and remember then get rid of it...I know I am weird...but I been doing really good about the getting rid of bit...there is lots of stuff I wanted to keep but I keep thinking to myself WHERE WILL IT GO? if I cant think of some place in my home I have now as to where it could possibly go and if it was safe to have there when the baby is toddling around....then its gone...cause I just can't risk my babies safety just because I have a hard time letting go of something that probably wont ever serve a purpose in my lazy life....so anyways...I have made progress sorry I haven't been updating for over a month well almost two months now huh? sorry bout that...I promise I will get better at it I just as I said had a lot happen and also had to focus on getting the old house up to par so we could move someone in and get it rented so we weren't going too far into the hole every month...which it helps...we are now only going about 350 in the hole every month...so when we rent the apartment for 350 a month we will break out even...unless something else goes wrong which I am praying it doesn't but I expect it because of the way things have been going...I much rather it be those type things than my baby being sick or something...which my baby has a healthy heart yeah! anyways...

I will try to update more in the mean time to get your hoarding fix and help with your hoard go to www.flylady.net and http://www.shelterpop.com/2011/02/22/hoarders/?icid=maing|aim|dl8|sec1_lnk3|46706 thats a very interesting article which I live by those things without even have read the article till just a little while ago...I have to add though to their list:

You'll Never Be on "Hoarders" if you....Keep asking yourself "If I keep this where will I store it?, When will I use it? and how often will I use it? is it blessing me? or am I slave to it? (do I have to dust it a lot because it just sits there?) and if you keep going back through things and questioning them over and over until you feel you have really for sure gotten rid of everything you can....then work on storage for the items or display for the items....now if there is stuff you haven't used or warn for a year-10yrs sometimes even....I don't think you need it so get rid of it...if there is a box in the attic or garage that you haven't been in for many years...go through it and say oh yeah thats where that went I bought a new one of those cause I couldn't find this one...and get rid of it...sure its nice to have a spare but really you don't need spares of anything...stick to one of each and replace them when they break...its hard to keep track of many of the same thing than to just keep track of one...its no wonder we lose stuff...we get careless when we have multiples...we think its ok I have tons of that size of wrench or whatever...if we only have one and know it we tend to make sure we put it where it belongs and take better care of things....Craftman for instance if you break it you can take it to sears and they replace it no charge....so its like you have a never ending supply of the darn thing so you best be taking darn good care of them but not sweat it if it breaks ya you may have to stop what your doing run to the store and replace it to finish the job your working on...but in the long run....I know its a choice you won't regret just because you won't have to dig through as many wrenches to find that one size you want and need...or whatever....as far as clothes go....those clothes you plan to get into someday again....ya those...that are sitting somewhere in the back of the closet...(if your pregnant this doesn't apply to you)...you can go and reward yourself with a whole new wardrobe from the DAV when that day comes when you need that size clothes....having it there taunting in the back of the closet I think doesn't help speed the process but rather may make it stand still because every now and then you try them and they still dont fit dang it which can lead to depression and thus keep your wheels turning to keep you where you don't want to be...isn't it fun to notice hey my pants aren't fitting right lets go shopping and try on some clothes and trying to figure out how many sizes you lost and surprise yourself that you are actually in that size you wanted to be in?! I mean common! get rid of it someone out there can use those clothes right now....your not using them and they are just sitting there...being depressed and sad and lonely and cold in that closet...let someone else warm them and keep them from the moths and dust bunnies :-)


Ok thats my two cents on that blog lol
Anyways talk to you all later I will update more often I have 98 more days until I have this baby (June 5th due date) so I have to really buckle down and get my hoard downsized pretty quick or at least get it somewhere so its not so in the way...for when we have the baby and bring him/her home....yes a surprise even though we wanted to know at our last sono the baby didnt cooperate and had a foot, and all the cord and was breech so it was very hard to see...anyways...I really do need to buckle down...I may try to send a few text messages to the blog they will be 150 characters at a time...but they are something right? I will come back and edit them sometime but not sure when....anyways I will talk to you all later


Sincerely,
Rabeka Jo


*****UPDATE********
we got the water bill its $1,668...there is no way we lost an Olympic pool amount of water in the short time that it could of been broke before we found it...I think the meter is broken...the water would have been pouring down the driveway into the street and there would of been water everywhere outside as well as inside and that just wasn't the case at all...it wouldn't of been but a few days that it was busted and it was just a small hole...they are supposed to call us and tell us our adjusted bill which last time this happened which it happens every year since we had to remove the gas powered floor furnace so my friend could move into the place with her daughter due to her throwing a fit and wanting gas company to inspect the place and they ruled that to be capped...so thank you Becky! Anyways yeah last time it happened it rang up a good size bill but it wasn't like this! holy moly! but last time they gave us 30% off our bill which if they do that to this bill there is no way we can pay it and we will just have them put it on my husbands credit because its not correct of an amount....anyways they can take us to court...my mother in law had stopped by the house prior to the freezing of the weather and nothing was wrong then...and that was the day before the deep freeze then after it unfroze my husband went over to check and found the leak so it couldn't have been unfroze and spraying for longer than a day...and it spewing enough water to fill an Olympic sized pool in that short amount of time...there is no way it would of went unnoticed by the neighbors over there...which they call us whenever anything happens that they see...anyways just thought I would update on that irony of the situation...anyways ttyl