So Out Of Season

So Out Of Season
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What:   Kind of cute summery dress that I bought in the summer of 2009, and haven't worn since then.
Origin:  Attempt to be fashion forward.   Or at least not fashion backwards.
How long kept:   Probably 14 months since I last wore it.
Why Kept:  I might wear it again, and thus It Might Be Useful.   And also, it was in the ever more spacious closet...so, Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Usage:  Sigh, only a few times.
Destination:  Housing Works.

Confession:  It was definitely borderline age-inappropriate.    And I should have gone through my closets more carefully before the Bitch & Swap, when I went scouting today for blog candidates, I actually found a few things that could have been added to the giant pile of clothes...most of which actually wound up at Housing Works!

Another Trap

Another Trap
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Rebate coupon.
Origin: Some witch hazel towelettes I bought for an event that I feared -- incorrectly -- may involve camping.
How long kept: Well, bought the towelettes in July. See confession.
Why Kept: Aargh. It Might Be Useful.
Destination: Garbage.

Confession: I tossed the box earlier this week, recycled it actually. But not before I took note of this coupon, and peeled it off the box and set it down on my bathroom counter.   Kind of in the same league as stored value cards, "I Might Redeem It".

This is the kind of thing that ordinarily would have been placed beneath a magnet on my refrigerator, only to be discarded after the expiration date.

Buh "buy."

My helper

My helper
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

He does hand things over well, and I either put them in a better place or purge!!

Oh Goody!

Oh Goody!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

More of the great bathroom purge. The Kid loves to hang out in the bathroom. So he takes things out and I review them

He found some Goody pony tail holders
Why kept: might need them. But I don't see growing my hair long enough to need them. They were also out of sight
How long kept: probably over 10 years ugh
Destination: to "Q" and her little girls.

Forgive me but I'm playing catch up from a busy week.

Pencil me in.

Pencil me in.
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Well on second thought, don't
What: white "eye widening" eye pencil with cool built in sharpener
Origin: Vain attempt at getting rid of the darkness around my eyes. Used once. It didn't work
Why kept: I don't know I thought I'd give my e.l.f $1 eye pencil another shot. Nope still does nothing for me
Destination: trash

Ragging on Myself

What:  A couple of holey or unwise unwearable t-shirty things.
How long kept:   The white t-shirt has been in my rag basket for hundreds of days, if not more than a year.   The black tank, maybe 3 months after finding a hole in it?
Why kept:  They Might Be Useful.  See confession.
Usage:   Not since their respective retirements.
Destination:  Textile recycling.

Confession:  I had the insane idea that I'd deconstruct these and...well, let me not describe my craftastic pipe dream, but I will admit that these both sat at the top of my sewing pile for a couple of weeks.  (The t-shirt floated to the top of my rag pile as I moved rags into a new and more convenient spot with the rest of my cleaning supplies.)

Good Crafting Intentions Gone Bad.   Save me.

Watch Me

Watch Me
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: 3 DVDs.
Origin: Pop culture fix.
How long kept: Probably a month, maybe 5 weeks.
Usage: All but one, see confession.
Why kept: They Might Be Useful, or at least entertaining.
Destination: Back to "lender", while putting my account on a possibly permanent hold. See confession.

Confession: This set of 3 discs succeeds the 3 I took to the Great North Woods in August, which remained unwatched until late September.

I'm glad that I'm a profitable customer for Netflix. Until now.

Confession, cont: The movie I didn't watch? Billed as a modern day version of The Bhagavad Gita, it was no such thing. It was in Hindi, which I don't speak, and subtitles were difficult to watch on a small screen. It Was Not Useful.

Confession, cont:   I feel that this post is borderline, yet valid.   I "blogged" my cable in, oh was it April?  And as a NYC resident this means that I don't have TV.   How much am I willing to pay each year to be passively "entertained"?   Not to mention the vitriol and infotainment, which I don't miss one iota.  Blogging my relationship with Netflix, even temporarily, is another line in the sand...

Brushing up

Brushing up
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

This is the replacement brush. I'm not taking a photo of my old toilet brush. It wasn't that bad but ew

How long have I had this new brush? Over a year!

Why? I kept forgetting to change it. It was hidden in a drawer.

The old one is in the trash

Generating Space

Talking Bout My Generation
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What:  A nearly full bottle of eco-friendly dishwashing detergent.
Origin:   Clean water dreams.
Usage:  Twice.   It actually a) didn't work so well, and b) seemed to gum up my dishwasher.   (A friend had the same issue.)
How long kept:   At least a year, maybe 2.
Why kept:   Way Out Of Sight, Out of Mind in the back of my kitchen sink cabinet.   And a little bit I Might Need It.
Destination:  Freecycle.

Confession:   Aaargh.   It's out of my apartment, score, down with the doorman.   The woman who was "on her way" at 12:30 now tells me she can't be here until Monday.   (Is she walking from somewhere in Southern Jersey?)

(Cue buzzer noise.)   Nope.   My ad requested that people adhere to their agreed pickup time.

To the next person on the list, who will hopefully pick this up.

Confession, cont:  I went back to the bad for the earth dishwashing liquid.  Gulp.

Cup of No

Cup of No
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Thermal mug.
Origin: Mom.
How long kept: Since the savage roar of 1984.
Usage: With decreasing frequency.
Why Kept: It's Perfectly Good, and I Might Need It. Both arguments
which have decreasing weight in light of my desire to use as little
plastic as possible in connection with food.
Destination: Housing Works.

Baby shower swag

Baby shower swag
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What baby shower favor sans M & Ms
Why kept: out of sight and it was an evil storage container for about 7 M & Ms.
How long: hmmm I don't remember whose shower it was. Do M & Ms go bad?
Destination: I ate the Ms and tossed the non-recyclable plastic

I try not to take home shower swag anymore. I forgot to hit send, so I'm posting on Tuesday too hee hee

Paper View

What:  University branded pad of paper with 10 pages on it.
Origin:  One of those fairly non-useful pads of paper you get at a business conference.
Usage:  Not at all.
Why kept:   It Might Be Useful!  It's also, of course, Perfectly Good.
How long kept:  Probably 2 - 3 years.   I take my own paper with me to these things, and I no longer come home with swag.
Destination:  I'm sending "M" a little jacket from the Bitch & Swap, one of my friends saved it for The Boy.  I'm kind of tempted to send this along for the boy for a coloring project, because I need a new work of art for my refrigerator.

Instead, it's going straight to recycling.   The Boy and I both have enough scrap paper.

Confession:  I fell asleep on my sofa watching a DVD of the X-Files, season 1, after a long day.   I'm really posting this early Tuesday.

Aqua Non Fresca

Aqua Non Fresca
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What:  Potable aqua, iodine water purification tablets for hikers and survivalists, now long expired.
Origin:  Hiking trip in the late 90s, see confession.
Usage:  Not at all.
How long kept:  Since 1999.
Why kept:  They were Perfectly Good, and Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination:  The NY sewage system.   These can't hurt us, can they?

Confession:   These were on a list of supplies for a high altitude hiking trip, apparently my second trip in 1999.

In 1998, I had "purified" my water with iodine on the first night of my first trip,and proceeded to become quite sick to my stomach.   It really made it quite difficult to hike for the rest of the trip, which was over some pretty rugged terrain.   You lose your appetite at altitude, so it was doubly tough for me to take in enough calories to do the hiking.   I started feeling better on the way back down.

The funny thing was, a) we had people with us carrying the heavy stuff and boiling water for us.   So the iodine treatment was not necessary.   And b) why I would have bought these at all in 1999?  It boggles my mind, knowing both my reaction to the iodine, as well as our "hiking support team" situation.   What, did I think I might get lost and need to eat bugs and purify water?   Hmmm.

Confession, part deux:   How do I know that these are from 1999?  According to Michael A. Neiger of The Rucksack:

"According to the manufacturer, an unopened bottle of Portable (sic) Aqua iodine tablets stored at temperatures between 60 and 86 degrees F should have a shelf life of four years. An opened, but tightly closed, bottle of iodine tablets should be good for about one year, after which it should be discarded. To determine the expiration date of a particular bottle, examine the vertical lot number on the label. For example, the lot number "49127"" means that the product was manufactured in the 4th month of the year 1991 and was the 27th batch produced."

 The lot number on my bottle?  39966.  

Didn't need them.   Paid rent on them for close to 11 and a half years.   Aargh.

And thanks to Mr. Neiger, they're are goners.  I found Mr. Neiger, a member of the Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue Team, by typing "potable aqua expiration" into google.  (We heart first responders here at 365 Things.  The internet can be wonderful!)

Confession, cont:  "J/NYC" had asked me if it was ever hard for me to get rid of something every day.   I had all kinds of other stuff going on today...and on those days that I have no planned item to donate or give away, I figure on tossing or recycling something.   The first place I go to these days is the medicine cabinets, which are apparently a bottomless pit of stuff I don't need.   (And these, I believe, came to the medicine cabinets out of my backpack when I sorted through it as part of this project...)

Baking soda

Baking soda
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: baking soda from the old frig
Why kept: was useful
How long kept: about 2 weeks after the new frog was in place
Destination: I scrubbed the sink with the baking soda and recycled the box.

I *love* to clean with baking soda. I use it in the sink and in the laundry

Feeling Shirty

What:  Shirt that was past its peak.
Origin:   Hot summer when I needed to be outdoors a lot, looking a little bit crisp.
How long kept:   Just about 2 years.
Usage:   A lot.   In fact, like me, it is going grey.   (I started out very light brown or extremely dark blonde, depending on who you ask.)
Why kept:   I Might Need It.
Destination:  The Bitch & Swap, held last night.   Good times, good girlfriends, not much bitching or swapping.   Anything that didn't get swapped winds up at Housing Works...and I think that's where this is headed.

Textile recycling day

Textile recycling day
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: old sock, jeans and other items not previously blogged
How long kept: some socks were 15 + years old and used over a month ago
Destination: in this box for recycling

Whhhy-ning and How-ling

Whhhy-ning and How-ling
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Suspicious jelly.
Origin: Sandwich dreams.
How long kept: Since January, 2010.
Usage: About 3 sandwiches worth.
Whhhy kept: Aargh. How did this survive the fridge purge? It was
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind. I saw it, but didn't think it was so old.
Destination: Community Compost.

Confession: Almost ate some for breakfast. It smelled fine. Close
inspection revealed some lines on the surface that were either the
edges of blueberry skins, or something that ends in "-coccus.". Eew.

It's only healthy if ya take 'em! :)

It's only healthy if ya take 'em! :)
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: expired vitamins
Why kept: out of sight
How long kept: I'd venture to bet 3 years
Destination: Rx recycling

Grate Expectations

Grate Expectations
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Cheese grater.
Origin: I'm a recovering parmigiano addict.
How long kept: Since the early/mid-90s. ('94 sticks in my mind for no real reason.)
Usage: Not in a good long while. See confession.
Why kept: Out of Sight, Out of Mind. I Might Need It. It Might Be Useful.
Destination: Housing Works.

Confession: As a wanna-be vegan, I rarely eat cheese. That said, I also have a micro-plane and both a tiny and large food processor. If I want to grate, I've got the technology.

Confession, part deux: Check the date, 3/11/10 on the (not so) Evil Storage Box. As an earlier part of this project, I put a lot of hardly used stuff into this box.   If I need something I take it out, and it doesn't go back in.  I've only rarely taken something out, and everything still in the box has gone unused since March.   I've deemed some contents still worth keeping...and this is one storage box that I will deem as useful and not Eeeeeeevil.

Confession, cont: One keeper, the unitasking egg slicer, also entombed since March.

Some wanna-be vegan.   I made hard boiled eggs this morning: karma me.

"It's even too sweet for me" says the Hubby

"It's even too sweet for me" says the Hubby
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: nasty grape drink
Origin: to lure pesky wasps away from our house
How long kept: a month
Destination: drain and recycle. I take the lid off and keep it for recycling at Aveda

I asked last week if I could dump this. The Hubby poured him self a glass of the purple stuff and I poured myself my own grape juice (Muscato). I enjoyed mine :)

Crunchless

Crunchless
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Faux earthy granola bar.
Origin: Pre-air travel panic about food options if stuck.
How long kept: Too long. Months.
Why kept: So I can carry it in my purse, where it will basically
disintegrate. I Might Need It.
Destination: Community Compost.

Confession: It's not all that earthy. First ingredient: Tapioca
syrup.

WTH?

Earritated

Earritated
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Earplugs.
Origin: Mid-90s international travel.
Usage: Nope.
Why kept: Aaargh. See confession.
How long kept: Since the mid-90s...and see confession.
Destination: Textile recycling.

Confession: I got rid of the rest of the contents of the little business class travel kits earlier in this project. I stashed these, Out of Sight, Out of Mind in the medicine chest?

I kept these because I might have a houseguest who snored? And thus I Might Need Them?

What was I thinking?

Shhhh

Shhhh
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: a bag from a gift
How long kept: I have no idea
Why: it might be useful
Destination: recycle

It's a nice sturdy bag but I wouldn't use this for a gift bag so..... Away it goes

Bye bye baby (stuff)

Bye bye baby (stuff)
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: two more pacifiers and 3 bottles we didn't use this baby
Last used: about 7 months ago and the bottles 4 years
Why kept: I might need them
Destination. There is no real market for used "paci's" so trash and the bottles will freecycle. If that doesn't work, goodwill.

Evil, Interrupted

Evil, Interrupted
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Large-ish ziplock food storage box.  (Even food Storage Boxes Are Evil, now that I'm banning plastic from my food life.  As much as possible.)
Origin: A good friend's signature dish, spanikopita, brought home as
a lovely parting gift from a great dinner.
How long kept: Probably 2-3 years
Usage: Regularly, but not frequently. See confession.
Why kept: It Might Be Useful. I Might Need It! And a little bit Out
Of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: #5 recycling, via Whole Foods.

Confession: Last used in August, when I was leaving for vacation. I
had about 1/6th of small zucchini aging in my fridge that would have
gone epically bad by the time I returned. So I put it in this box, and threw it into the freezer.   Uncovered it recently and dispatched it via community composting.

There were icicles hanging in a sort of stalactite formation on the inside of the box-top.

Aargh.

UGH, A little rule breakage, but ... here goes anyway

What: A flu bug.
Origin: UGH No idea. The Hubby and kids had it over two weeks ago. Unless the incubation time was that long, I"m not sure from whence it came.
Why Kept: I tried and tried to get rid of it. It wanted to stick around. That fever, headache, chills and muscle aches were B-R-U-T-A-L.
Destination: Hopefully it is banished never to be seen ever, ever again! (Do ya like my original artwork??)


This is why I didn't post. On Saturday, I spent the day in bed while the Hubby (and all his awesomeness) did everything for The Kid's birthday celebration in the evening.

Gelonious Assault

What:  Hair Gel
Origin:  The fantasy that I might spend more than 30 seconds a day on my hair, combined with an actual attempt to paste it into place in order to avoid spending much more than that trying to tame it.
How long kept:  Oh, probably 3 years?   No parabens, but no expiration date either.
Usage:   Uh...not so much.
Why kept:   I Might Need It; It Might Be Useful.   And as a denizen of the medicine cabinet, Out of Sight Out of Mind...in plain sight.
Destination:   Bottle was recyclable.   Gel...uh, eew, see confession.

Confession:   I attempted to flush this stuff.   It was unflushable.   Even when I poured boiling water on it -- undeniably sanitizing my bowl -- it clung relentlessly.

Based on this empirical evidence, it's possible that there still might be some of this in my hair from the last time I used it in 2007.

Bonus digression:   I spent two intense days at a conference.   I'm home now.  No new pens.   No new tote bags.   No tchotchkes.  No swag.

(I gave my pen and a weird rubix cube thingie that folds out into different views of the campus of my grad school alma mater to a man who needed two "gifts" to take home for his kids.)

In that moment, I totally ruled.

Confession:  "M"s son, The Boy, already has one of those rubix cube thingies, courtesy of Aunt "A".   Sigh.

Aargh

What:  Tiny little spray bottle of Evian.
Origin:  Desire to remain moist while flying.
How long kept:  I bought this in Hong Kong in 1995, back in the day when you could bring something like this on a plane.
Why kept:  Sticky.   I knew it wasn't useful, but it reminded me of an amazing trip I took back in the day.   On the rare occasion I really looked at it -- Out of Sight Out of Mind in one of my medicine cabinets....Nostalgia:  the good kind.
Destination:  Trash.

Aargh.

hand me down

hand me down
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

I *heart* hand me downs.
Why kept: I might fix it or maybe we'll use it for "stay at home days"
How long kept: about 3 weeks
Destination: textile recycling bag

No Foam, Part Deux

What:  Foam toe separators.
Origin:  Home pedi goodness.
How long kept/Last used:   Probably around 2003, see confession.
Why kept:   Mostly Out of Sight Out Of Mind, in one of the medicine cabinets.
Destination:  Textile recycling.   (If they take sneakers, they should take this stuff.)

Confession:  I stopped with the pedi addiction when realized that my toenails had actually turned an awful color due to wearing polish continuously.   I lived with the aesthetic consequences as my toenails returned to their natural state...and have pretty much vowed never to go back.

No Foam

What:   Foam packing blocks
Origin:  Came packed in a shelving unit I acquired. See confession
How long kept:  Only a few days...
Why kept:  I Might Need Them; They Might Be Useful. 
Usage:  Uh-uh.
Destination:  Mail Boxes Etc.

Confession:  I bought a shelving unit to organize my under-sink kitchen cabinet.   There's a little bit of Storage Boxes Are Evil here.   In my defense, I am trying to store things I use often in an accessible area..my cleaning rags were not in reach, they were on an overhead shelf I needed a boost to reach.

I will lose some of the stuff from that cabinet, stay tuned.

Confession, cont:  It didn't take me too long to decide not to stick this in the closet with my other stash of packing materials.   Woot.

(And hat tip to "S", for pointing us to a post on Zen Habits by Gretchen Rubin, "Nine Quick Tips to Identify Clutter".    I don't actually think that there's anything quick about getting out of our habits as they relate to "stuff."   That said, Gretchen's 9 useful questions will all feel familiar to our 9 gentle readers!   Thanks, "S.")

Steve Martin army guy

Steve Martin army guy
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: The Boy's amputee army guy. We call him Steve Martin. I'm so glad he has a twin!
Last used: it's been several month since he became an amputee
Why kept: sticky. I mean, come on... It's Steve Martin. I guess it might be funnier if it were Bill Murray or Harold Ramis (sp)
Destination: trash.

Now...where is his leg????

Against My Grain

What:  Pearled Organic Barley.
Origin:  Nostalgia, the good kind, for warming,comfort-y soup.
Usage:   Yup, one cup of a one pound bag.
How long kept:  About a week.
Why kept:  It Might Be Useful.
Destination:  Asked my friend "N" if she wanted the barley that didn't go into my soup: she was totally up for it.

Confession:   While the soup was tasty, the barley didn't really agree with me.   Odd!   But there's no reason to hang onto the rest of this for a year or so...after checking with "N", I passed it along when we met for a yoga class.

Confession, part deux:  I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to stop amassing dry goods that sit unused--  Out of Sight, Out of Mind -- in my kitchen cabinets.   But this is a good first step.

Next step will be to be to eat what's in my cabinets before I buy any more.

Or at least think about it.

Check this out

Check this out
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: old duplicate check
why kept: I might need them and out of sight
How long kept: some of them 5 years
Destination: to the bag for document destruction

My bank has good online banking so I don't think I need them anymore. Since this is like an amvets pick up/drop off, I count it as gone when it hit the bag

I have an idea *ding*

I have an idea *ding*
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What CFL bulb
Last used: I took it out of the laundry room today. It burned out last night
Destination: my local municipality has a disposal program.

Usually, I wouldn't post such an ordinary item that would normally be considered daily garbage. Since it is taking a special trip for proper disposal, I thought it deserved a posting.

Race To The Bottom...Of My Pantry

What:  1 1/2 cups of organic brown basmati rice.
Origin:  Rice is nice.  Grazing is quicker.   Not as quick as liqour, but I can barely hold a beer...but I digress.
How long kept:   I don't know, but the Lundbergs -- no doubt a very nice Swedish American family from the midwest -- wouldn't lie.   It's supposed to expire in November of 2010.
Why kept:  I might make one of my 2 signature dishes.   It involves rice, thus It Might Be Useful.
Usage:  A bit.   See confession.
Destination:  I ate it.  (After cooking it.)

Confession:  This is a repurposed plastic jar, which once held a kilo of another brand of brown rice.   There's another 5-6 cups of rice in here.  I'll be racing to cook my way through the rest of it in the next couple of weeks.   (But I won't blog this again...no reruns around here!)

And the plastic jar?   It's toast.   I'll be trashing it, and continuing to repurpose glass jars that enter my life.

Confession, son of:  When I checked through my cabinets I also found some french lentils.   Aargh.   I just bought a pound of lentils the other week and made a tasty soup.   Now I have two containers of lentils, partly used.


Confession, cont:  Around here, these sorts of pantry staple aren't so so much of a staple.   They're usually bought on a "just in time" basis, then sit in my cabinet  Out Of Sight, Out of Mind.   Until I realize that I'll never use it.   Then there's an effort to find an appropriate destination -- usually successful.  Or a cabinet emergency or determination something has expired sends it to compost.   No more!   Starting right now.

Thank Heaven I don't actually have a pantry.   If my cabinet space weren't more limited...

Work it, Baby!

Work it, Baby!
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: excersaucer -- like a walker but they can't roll themselves down the stairs
Origin: about 4 years ago. It did leave for a brief stint to go to a friend's house for their baby. Then it came home for The Kid
Last used: well we haven't used this for about a month and a half. The Kid doesn't like to be contained. The Boy would play in that for a L-O-N-G time. Funny how different children can be. Sorry I digress.
Destination: my childhood friend that I've known since 1st grade! She's having a boy!!! Yeah. Future posts to come!

By the way, we are about a month and a half away from the anniversary of when we started this blog. "A" wanted to start on New Years Day. I was too excited so I talked her into starting early. While I had a few little lapses in posting, "A" has not!!! Way to go, "A". I'm very proud of us for sticking with this!! I plan to keep on doing this for as long as humanly possible.

Don't Step On My No-Suede Shoes

Don't Step On My No-Suede Shoes
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Suede Protector/Water repellent.
Origin: Hush Puppy love in the late 90s.
How long kept: Since 1999.
Why kept: Out of Sight, Out of Mind in a cabinet I did some improvements on over the weekend.
Usage: Not in a good long time; the shoes are long gone. And the expiration date was August of '03.
Destination: Trash, I'm sorry to say.

Something about a hat that's so vogue

Something about a hat that's so vogue
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: The Boy's "Cars" hat from Disney on Ice
How long kept: over 2 years. I'd have to review the photos for an exact date
Why kept: sticky. Partially because of the Duct tape that held it together and nostalgia -- the best kind :)
Destination: trash

I'm so proud of my son for letting things go. Heck, I've had a hard time letting it go. Even though they are nostalgic. He had so much fun at the show and playing with the hat in the months that followed. Probably one of the best $7 we spent

Paper Trail

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by 365 Things

What: Incorrectly addressed envelope, too nice to toss.
Origin: Thrift, and love of fine paper.
Usage: See "Destination"
How long kept: Hmmm. Tough to say, but I'm guessing a couple of years.
Why kept: Of course, It Might Be Useful! And, because it was in my
stationary supply box (Storage Boxes Are Evil), Out of Sight, Out of
Mind.
Destination: After using correction tape over a friend's misspelled
name, I used it to mail something to my mom.

New Kindred Spirit: Give Your Stuff Away Day

On May 15, 2011, Mike Morone wants you to tote reusable stuff you don't down to your curb, where others can pick it up.    Morone's Give Your Stuff Away Day would basically turn America into a one day Free Store (the intriguing concept we've talked about a little bit here).

It looks interesting...and potentially a bit "messy" -- as Mike points out -- for those of us in urban zones.   All in all, though, an awesome idea.

Here's their website; more action seems to take place on their Facebook page.

We welcome them to our list of Kindred Spirits!   (Hat tip to The Organizing Goddess, who posted this on her Facebook page.)

Ring a ding do-over

Ring a ding do-over
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Here is the right photo! Like in my life, I got a do-over on the blog and making better choices!!! LOL

Ring a ding dong

Ring a ding dong
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: old ring
How long kept: way longer than I should have by about 11 years
Why kept: it might be worth something -- about $32.15. Out of sight hidden in the bathroom and found in the great bathroom purge
Destination: one of those places that has popped up everywhere that buys scrap gold and silver
This brought on nostalgia (not the good kind). :)

Too Many Cooks. Not.

What:   A stack of random recipes, about an inch high.   See confession.
Origin:  Some highly unrealistic expectations.
How long kept:   Some of these since the last century, if the yellowed state of the newspaper clippings can be be any indication.   One, ripped unceremoniously from Martha Stewart Living, was dated April, 2001.
Why kept:  Because I might actually have some kind of magical experience or neural event that turns me into a cook.
Usage:  Not so much.  I kept the few that might some use.   I Might Need Them.
Why kept:   Mostly Out of Sight, Out of Mind.   
Destination:  Recycling, my friends.

Confession:  I'm actually trying to cook more.   I made an insanely hearty vegetable broth last weekend, based on a recipe in Mark Bittman's vegetarian cookbook.  (I substituted beer for white whine.  And what the hey, more beer.   Crazy good.)  This has been the basis of many meals for the last week.

Confession, part deux:   This was the second pass through my recipe stash, I thought.   Maybe I didn't post the others.  These are the recipes I saved because, I don't know, They Might Be Useful?

If I had a therapist I'd have to take these in for a laugh:

• Multiple recipes for rice pudding, which I've made once in my life.  A large handful of recipes for baked apples.  (And I do make this simple dish from time to time.)  And a sampling of pumpkin recipes.   Can you say comfort food?   (As if pumpkin panna cotta is ever in my culinary future.)
• Recipes for inexplicably simple recipes, like pasta with walnuts and olive oil.   Uh, I needed to tear that out of the paper and store it for how many years?   (At the price of NYC housing, over the years, even a small torn out page has gotta add up to a couple of bucks in rent.)
• A couple of recipes from people who are no longer in my life.   Nostalgia, and not the good kind.

But I don't have a therapist:  this blog will have to do.

Eminently Trashable

What:  Cap to a perfume bottle.
Origin:   Fancy perfume, which came with two caps -- one if you wanted to use the spritzer, and one if you didn't.   I did.
How long kept:   Geez, I'm guessing 3-4 years.
Why kept:  Because I might actually take the spray mechanism out and, um not use it?  I Might Need It!   Also, Out of Sight, Out of Mind...it was in my medicine cabinet next to the perfume bottle.
Destination:  Landfill, with regret.

Confession:  The perfume is almost gone, I'm hoarding the last bits.  (I know it's not supposed to last so long, but I think it still smells great.   I've worn it several times a week for ages, it was a huge bottle.  Note to self:  see if you can get a smaller size.

Confession, cont:  I had lunch with occasional reader "J/NYC" yesterday.   She asked, do you ever have trouble finding something to get rid of.   My response was, nope.   Never.

Until today.   It probably took me about 15 minutes to figure this one out, and I'm reaching a bit.  But when it doubt, go to the medicine cabinet!   I'm sure there's still a few extras in there.   Stay tuned.

We also talked about the reluctance to let go of anything we might need.   My recent office supply drop at the meditation center took a handful of binder clips out of a pencil box where I keep most of my small office supplies.  (Storage Boxes Are Evil.)

It has been a pleasure to be able to close the box without reorganizing its contents each time.   And I did keep a substantial handful of binder clips, though none of the medium size...which I thought about "needing" at one point.   Now I can't remember what I needed them for.

As far as things like takeout containers go, this has been a lesson that has brought more than merely the (relative) spaciousness in my limited kitchen cabinet real estate.

Similar to the pencil box story, losing the habit of keeping takeout containers made me realize how much time I spent manipulating stuff I wasn't using.   There was a cost to those "free" takeout containers...and I paid it every time I took them all out of the cabinet to gain access to something I needed.

Does that make sense?

No tears here

No tears here
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: baby shampoo and a shampoo bar (more from the great bathroom purge.
How long kept: uh, 4 years argh
Why: I might need it

While this Baby Magic maybe tear free, but it is from back in the day before it was paraben free. I was afraid the Burt's Bees shampoo bar wouldn't be tear free. The BM (hee hee) was dumped in the toilet and I washed my toilet. It's now as clean as a baby's bottom. The shampoo bar is in the garbage. It may be compostable but I'm not sure so it's in the trash

Update: Did I mention that I have a drawer in the vanity that is entirely EMPTY? The Kid loves to open and close it. Put bath toys in and take bath toys out. Open and close, open and close. I think you have my point :-D

Chicken tuition

Chicken tuition
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Oh so about 10+ years a ago, I remember this SO clearly. I remember where I was driving and everything. I'm listening to the radio and there is a commercial for Chicken Tuition. "Huh??" I thought. "Where are these chickens going to school?" I listen VERY hard and they are talking about a razor. I was confused until they said the name again. "Schick Intuition". I laffed!!

What: razor that needs special cartridges. The razor has a soap like product around it. It would run out before the razor was dull.
Why kept: I might need it, sticky, and it's kind of cool. Nostalgia (the good kind) It also brings back the memory of that day driving past the post office. And finally it was a gift from Mom
How long kept: well I finished my last cartridge probably last summer. I have another razor that uses inexpensive refills so I use that.
Destination: trash. I don't think it's recyclable
Confession. I did keep the suction cup that held in the shower... It might be useful :)

Coffee Talk

What:   The last of a multi-year supply of coffee filters.
Origin:   I used to buy coffee from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.   See confession.
How long kept:   This box has lasted an eternity.   At least 5 years.
Why kept:  They Might Be Useful!
Usage:  Yes.
Destination:  Used it when I made coffee this morning...and it's now in my compost bucket.

Confession:  I had given many boxes of these filters away...I remember taking 3 or 4 to Housing Works, back in the day.

I didn't buy more paper filters.   Instead, I got a reusable gold filter.   Woot.

Confession, part deux:   GMCR used to send more catalogues than Victoria's Secret -- and for a while when I was in their coffee club, they would sent unsolicited gifts, like a cute earthy coffee mug.   (The handle actually fell off that mug.   This was all years before our blogging project -- but I did ask them to cease and desist.   They had awesome customer service, and good coffee.   I may have to go back to them, now that I'm making more coffee at home these days.   But no more stuff!)

"M" and I have been hurling with excitement about all of the new visitors sent to us over the past couple of days by The Uniform Project.   Thanks again, ladies.

Now, we go back to blogging for our audience of 8.   (I'm actually going to say we're up to 9.   Thanks for following us, Kerrie.)

Time to blow this popsicle stand

Time to blow this popscicle stand
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

What: empty nasonex bottle of The Boy's (poor kid has seasonal allergies and isn't ready for the neti)
Why kept: out of site. I don't know how I missed it in the great bathroom purge -- which unfortunately wasn't completed ....yet!
How long kept: 6 months or so
Destination: to my local health department for recycling

And if you're one of the The Uniform Project's Twitter or Facebook friends,  thank you so much for visiting with us.   And many thanks to the lovely ladies of the UP for tweeting and FBing a link to our blog!

Screen Gems

What:  "Screeners" for a tv show I had casually mentioned as funny.
Origin:  Film industry friend who heard this utterance.
How long kept: 3-4 years?
Why kept:  They were small and flat, stored in the cabinet with my DVD player and discs, so mostly Out of Sight, Out of Mind.   But at some point, I figured I might watch them, and thus They Might Be Useful. 
Destination:  DVDs are in an area with some other stuff to send off to GreenDisc when I have enough for a box.  The envelopes, recycling.

Confession:   A screener is a DVD sent to film folk who vote for industry award winners, in this case the Emmys.   The industry has had problems with people pirating these discs, and they're traceable to the person who received them...and there are all kinds of admonishments that they're not supposed to be sold or given away.  

I wish I had known this before I took them from my friend.

Confession, part deux:  One of the envelopes was a cool pop up.   I thought for a moment about keeping it.

More evil storage

More evil storage
Originally uploaded by DeClutter

Well kinda
What: glass jars
Why kept: the might be useful
Last used: some last week, some ??????
Destination: recycle