Once I came back home from traveling from work, I knew it was time to start tackling a few things. The priority items on the list were…
![IMAG1131-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t9u6XR5H7YQ/T3hZhRBbewI/AAAAAAAADqM/QDILHe28fx4/IMAG1131-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg)
This was my guest room before I started. Oddly enough, the picture doesn’t look as bad as it truly was. I went through everything you see piled there, everything in the guest closet and everything in my master closet and I shredded/recycled everything that I could.
![Recycling-SpringCleaning-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sg9AE0pA3Vc/T3hZiTIUpnI/AAAAAAAADqU/WhTAUg3z-VM/Recycling-SpringCleaning-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg)
I made three trips to the recycling center. I couldn’t believe how much paper crap I had accumulated over the years. I had bank statements and cancelled checks from over 11 years ago. I had paperwork from college that was no longer needed and I had Christmas cards from people that I don’t even remember where I met them. I got rid of all that I could. The main things that I have held on to are tax documents and documentation from past credit problems that I had. I consolidated all that was left into one container and I will be tackling that with GTD in the near future.
My biggest challenge in sorting the closets was what to with my growing collection of purses and bags. Now, I have already admitted that I have a problem so please don’t judge me. There stacked on the end of my bed are all the different bags and purses that I own. I did not count them this time. I have topped over 100 before.
![100_2096-2012-04-1-09-30.JPG](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sCURGTTMgUk/T3hZjRyfB5I/AAAAAAAADqc/uhZf4iZALV4/100_2096-2012-04-1-09-30.JPG)
Piled separately on the floor is my collection of Vera Bradley.
![100_2097-2012-04-1-09-30.JPG](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7Kqv_y6K430/T3hZkgWO76I/AAAAAAAADqk/du18uHfikes/100_2097-2012-04-1-09-30.JPG)
And in a separate pile already put away in a closet, is my collection of wallets, clutches and smaller pouch-type bags.
![100_2098-2012-04-1-09-30.JPG](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1wuwqLTfOWg/T3hZl2va7uI/AAAAAAAADqs/OykSFjCdgF8/100_2098-2012-04-1-09-30.JPG)
The key to making room for the boy was finding a new home for all of these bags outside of the master bedroom (with exception of the wallet shelf--that stays in the smaller bedroom closet).
Between the hallway linen closet and the guest bedroom, I found a place to store all of these bags. I’m hoping this is just temporary storage as I really need to cut this collection down by more than half.
![oraganizingandcleaning-closets-1-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VS_HJ7mwSUo/T3hapfD3AII/AAAAAAAADq8/MfDJ7wcwICY/oraganizingandcleaning-closets-1-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg)
So, now that these are settled, there is (ALMOST) enough room for the boy. I still have lots of items I don’t need so you’ll see more about my pare down in the near future.
How is your spring cleaning going?
- Going through and cleaning up two years of mail that had piled up.
- Clearing out and organizing the guest room that had become a dumping ground for everything that didn’t have a home.
- Making closet space for my soon-to-be husband.
![IMAG1131-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-t9u6XR5H7YQ/T3hZhRBbewI/AAAAAAAADqM/QDILHe28fx4/IMAG1131-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg)
This was my guest room before I started. Oddly enough, the picture doesn’t look as bad as it truly was. I went through everything you see piled there, everything in the guest closet and everything in my master closet and I shredded/recycled everything that I could.
![Recycling-SpringCleaning-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Sg9AE0pA3Vc/T3hZiTIUpnI/AAAAAAAADqU/WhTAUg3z-VM/Recycling-SpringCleaning-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg)
I made three trips to the recycling center. I couldn’t believe how much paper crap I had accumulated over the years. I had bank statements and cancelled checks from over 11 years ago. I had paperwork from college that was no longer needed and I had Christmas cards from people that I don’t even remember where I met them. I got rid of all that I could. The main things that I have held on to are tax documents and documentation from past credit problems that I had. I consolidated all that was left into one container and I will be tackling that with GTD in the near future.
My biggest challenge in sorting the closets was what to with my growing collection of purses and bags. Now, I have already admitted that I have a problem so please don’t judge me. There stacked on the end of my bed are all the different bags and purses that I own. I did not count them this time. I have topped over 100 before.
Piled separately on the floor is my collection of Vera Bradley.
And in a separate pile already put away in a closet, is my collection of wallets, clutches and smaller pouch-type bags.
The key to making room for the boy was finding a new home for all of these bags outside of the master bedroom (with exception of the wallet shelf--that stays in the smaller bedroom closet).
Between the hallway linen closet and the guest bedroom, I found a place to store all of these bags. I’m hoping this is just temporary storage as I really need to cut this collection down by more than half.
![oraganizingandcleaning-closets-1-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VS_HJ7mwSUo/T3hapfD3AII/AAAAAAAADq8/MfDJ7wcwICY/oraganizingandcleaning-closets-1-2012-04-1-09-30.jpg)
So, now that these are settled, there is (ALMOST) enough room for the boy. I still have lots of items I don’t need so you’ll see more about my pare down in the near future.
How is your spring cleaning going?