Subcategory - Plastic Containers

"Odd socks usually transform into spare tupperware lids" - Anonymous

With a few hours available in the afternoon, and as I wanted to leave tomorrow for last minute preparations for the trip, I tackled what seemed to be the easiest sub-category in the kitchen of the plastic containers.

It was okay for a while, to sort it every few months. Most items were accounted for with that method.  Then I didn't do it for a very long time, E pulled things out for herself, items got tossed in there where it fitted. Smaller containers got lost under bulkier items. Matching container and lid took longer than necessary.

Regular shelves with small containers as well as larger mixing bowls and strainers.

The 'too big to care' shelf, spare lids. Once this got pulled out I discovered a greasy frying pot hidden away.

I didn't have much of a plan other than pull everything out, put it together, and then fit it back in again.

Step 1.

Step 2.

The 'put everything back' was harder than I thought, and realised no wonder this section becomes easily disorganised. Even with several of the same brand containers fitting together, they don't necessarily stack well together with each other. I ended up sorting several smaller containers which had enough numbers to make a set, into containers big enough to fit them in. Tupperware brand that prides itself in being THE storage solution is of course meant to be used in the cupboards being containers, not stored away taking up extra space. Ice cube trays, all of them being odd shapes and not stacking well, got put away in the freezer and now we have abundance of ice cubes ready to be used. Just in time for summer.

Shelves 1 & 2 with containers of containers, as well as some cooking bowls and strainers.

Shelf 3 with bulkier items and Tupperware spares.

Does anyone know what to do with vintage Tupperware lids and moisture dividers?

Overall I only threw out one bag of broken and otherwise missing parts, and everything else was either in use or otherwise useful to keep. Most of the throw-out items came from the hidden area. Which I think is credit to my original method of keeping regular tabs on the more often used pieces, prior to the shelves going feral.

Konmari'd Paperwork

All. The. Papers.

The day started at 00.00 o'clock and since E was awake for a few hours I started to collect up all loose paper from around the house as well as known containers of documents.

When I woke up next time in the morning, I sorted them into categories. There were legal documents, study materials, loose art and notes, other artist's prints, paper for arts and crafts, notebooks, and certificates.

I started by shredding TAFE notes but I think I broke the shredder. The shredded paper to go into the compost or otherwise as bedding material. It was taking so much longer than I first thought but going to the bin got easier as well.

Even though the amount was a lot (bin almost filled), the only obvious paper that were removed were the immediate ones on the floor and shelve. Most were from files that already had designated location, or in the boxes inconspicuously stored in plain sight. So even when everything got finally put away, the room didn't look done at all from other boxes and furniture needing a place to be stored. Stones getting played with are till scattered all over the house.

Different categories in their piles, empty folders, empty boxes, a small space just for the pack of postage stamps.

I've been feeling it all day too. Why bother if it makes no difference? It took a lot of effort to recognise the empty boxes and files as 'job complete'. To acknowledge the bin filling up one item at a time. And then for M to comment 'It doesn't look done' would have stopped me all together in the past. Why bother if nobody recognises the efforts? As much as it is important to acknowledge the task is not yet complete, it is important to celebrate the small wins. So even though outwardly there is even more clutter, I see there is one empty shelf, another has been filled with neatly organised study materials, and the manuals and documents are now easily accessible.

At the end of paper-sorting...

One of the shelves - workbooks and materials from seminars and workshops attended.

Boxes stacked for now, to be sorted next time.

For this round, the ability to keep track of my finances (bills, taxes, accounting) will be the real test on whether this effort has made a lasting impact, rather than the state of the immediate space as that's another category all together.

Konmari'd Books

Just one of the bookshelves.

My attachment to books goes all the way back to childhood spent as a bookworm. As I still have books loved since then, this category was going to be an emotional one.

(Nevermind the shoulder pain that made it hard to move efficiently.)

Even with the many stops and starts I finished it before the end of the day, which I am proud to say.

Just to note, this session was about just my books and my child's books. Mum's books are still in the cupboards, mostly inaccessible because of boxes. And they would have added another emotional layer anyway having already gone through a cull of them to get them into that space.

Just one of the art storage space, including reference books.

I started with piling all the books onto the bed. It took a few goes as just as I started on a few books, I remembered some more from other locations.

Still not the entire collection...

Once I got them sorted into piles of keep, sell, donate, and bin, I took an interlude to do a Facebook Live, and also to plug Kylie Stretton's "Finding Kylie".

I will need to decide which secondhand bookshop I will approach, and whether to take just these or with mum's as well.

As books have now been lined up in the shelves not stacked on top of each other, there is space on the shelves, and I also have one free space which can be utilised!

Two girls in lonely space...

Shelves

Children's Books, including my old books.

As much as it is a dream to be surrounded by books, and what they may symbolise, ultimately I want to have an index of books that are this joyous, inside and out:

*full discretion that I have yet to read this one*

Computer Issues

When I said I want my personal belongings sorted, and part with items that no longer serve me, I did not invite the computer to have issues all day so I got nothing done at all yesterday.

It's these kinds of events that make me wonder, does Law of Attraction work at all? Is it a lottery of what could or could not go in flow?

So it was I did a raw Facebook Live in the video group. Mainly to ask if there are 11 people that will step up to take up my offer of Manifest 2018 Activation which includes a one on one call with Expansion Exploration.

Will be doing promotions for it in appropriate spaces this week.

Welcome to Space Stuff Sorted

Sorting out space stuff... literally all the stuff in this space I occupy.

I've been challenged by the concept of tidiness, treating things I own with respect, all my life.

This blog will be used as a tracking journal for progress with how my relationship with my personal items, how I occupy space, and the improvements and challenges along the way. Along with my photos and videos, I may also share other's articles and products I come across.

This is some of the photographs I've taken this morning around the house, as well as outside space and inside the sheds. This is day 1.