What: Clock.
Origin: Gift from a former business associate.
How long kept/Usage: Uh, since 1997? And it may have sat out on my desk at our office for a time.
Why kept: It Was A Gift From X. Guilt. (X and his wife are still friends. But not likely readers of this blog, whew.) And Out of Sight, Out of Mind, it was on the top shelf of my kitchen cabinets -- I have to get out the ladder to haul myself up there.
Destination: Housing Works.
Confession: No Housing Works guilt over this one, I did check eBay and people are selling these, but the price didn't add up to enough to compensation for the transaction cost, and worry about getting it there in one piece...the HW drop was friction free. (Unlike most of my other HW donations, I did fill out a little donation form for this one.)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Stuffing, You're Leaving
What: Some kind of polyfill stuffing, about enough to fill a shoebox.
Origin: I think that I got this from "M", or my mom. See Confession.
Last used/How Long Kept: Hmm. I might have stuffed the spider with this, that was last summer? Maybe the summer before. And I'm not sure how long I had the darn stuff, but not too much longer than that.
Why kept: Of course, It Might Be Useful if I were to make any stuffed toys for my nephews or niece. And it was in my fabric stash, where I came across it rarely, so Out Of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Textile Recycling.
Confession: I probably toted this stuff back from Chicagoland to NYC. Aargh. And I've actually stuffed things with shredded pantyhose and old t-shirts, so I don't really "need" it.
Origin: I think that I got this from "M", or my mom. See Confession.
Last used/How Long Kept: Hmm. I might have stuffed the spider with this, that was last summer? Maybe the summer before. And I'm not sure how long I had the darn stuff, but not too much longer than that.
Why kept: Of course, It Might Be Useful if I were to make any stuffed toys for my nephews or niece. And it was in my fabric stash, where I came across it rarely, so Out Of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Textile Recycling.
Confession: I probably toted this stuff back from Chicagoland to NYC. Aargh. And I've actually stuffed things with shredded pantyhose and old t-shirts, so I don't really "need" it.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Bag This
What: Yoga students will recognize these as "eye bags". For the uninitiated, they're silk bags filled with flax seeds. When placed across the eyes, this little bit of weight can release a lot of holding from tension.
Origin: I'm pretty sure that this is the last leftover from a business I helped to run in the early 00s.
How long kept/Usage: Since we closed the business in late 2004, and not at all. (Though I actually had more, which I gave away to some students in 2006 or so.
Why kept: Storage Boxes Are Evil. I had these in a small storage box with other yoga-related supplies. So they were Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Donated, dropped off at a place where I teach.
Confession: One reason these survived earlier purges was because they're so small. The box I had them in was not much larger than a shoebox. Unlike other larger and less seemingly useful items from this business that I wound up with. Storage Boxes Are Truly Evil.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Time Warp
What: WTH? How is this possible: skin care product, expired summer of 2009.
Origin: I actually think I was on a business (or other?) trip and found myself without my usual hand cream.
Why kept: I Might Need It. It Might Be Useful. And clearly, in plain daily sight in one of my medicine cabinets, but effectively Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Landfill. With my apologies.
Comment: I also tossed a couple of mascaras. Though I'm not big on cosmetics, I do usually make an attempt when I'm going to visit with a client or prospective client -- but there's basically no chance that I'll ever use up any of these sorts of products. For safety, as well as a more clutter free medicine cabinet, I've decided that these will get tossed semi-annually...and at that time, I should probably also check the skin care products for expiration dates, too...
(Stay tuned for what I believe will be yet another installment of sun care products.)
Origin: I actually think I was on a business (or other?) trip and found myself without my usual hand cream.
Why kept: I Might Need It. It Might Be Useful. And clearly, in plain daily sight in one of my medicine cabinets, but effectively Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Landfill. With my apologies.
Comment: I also tossed a couple of mascaras. Though I'm not big on cosmetics, I do usually make an attempt when I'm going to visit with a client or prospective client -- but there's basically no chance that I'll ever use up any of these sorts of products. For safety, as well as a more clutter free medicine cabinet, I've decided that these will get tossed semi-annually...and at that time, I should probably also check the skin care products for expiration dates, too...
(Stay tuned for what I believe will be yet another installment of sun care products.)
Friday, August 27, 2010
This One's A Handful
What: A bunch of low-end gloves, some including holes in the fingertips.
Origin: Not so green desire for convenience and disposability.
How long kept: Uh, 6-7 years?
Why kept: Might Be Useful.
Destination: Textile recycling.
Confession: Burned by the loss of an expensive glove a few years back, I got a bunch of these in a package at Target for a couple of dollars, when I was thinking a bit less about the sustainability of this sort of thing.
A couple of years ago, I made a stuffed spider toy for one of my nephews out of a couple of these. This did enter my thought process momentarily (Good Crafting Intentions (Almost) Gone Bad) before I decided to let these go.
Confession, part deux: I had a Moment in the Brooklyn Target earlier this summer, when I made a last minute purchase of something it turned out I didn't need. (Stay tuned.) For a second, all of the merchandise and shoppers appeared to me as a flickering sea of human suffering -- plastic crap and lost American jobs. (We basically have no textile industry any more. Is this good?)
I'm not usually such a downer. (Sorry about that.) But I do want to make better choices in what I decide to acquire and keep.
Origin: Not so green desire for convenience and disposability.
How long kept: Uh, 6-7 years?
Why kept: Might Be Useful.
Destination: Textile recycling.
Confession: Burned by the loss of an expensive glove a few years back, I got a bunch of these in a package at Target for a couple of dollars, when I was thinking a bit less about the sustainability of this sort of thing.
A couple of years ago, I made a stuffed spider toy for one of my nephews out of a couple of these. This did enter my thought process momentarily (Good Crafting Intentions (Almost) Gone Bad) before I decided to let these go.
Confession, part deux: I had a Moment in the Brooklyn Target earlier this summer, when I made a last minute purchase of something it turned out I didn't need. (Stay tuned.) For a second, all of the merchandise and shoppers appeared to me as a flickering sea of human suffering -- plastic crap and lost American jobs. (We basically have no textile industry any more. Is this good?)
I'm not usually such a downer. (Sorry about that.) But I do want to make better choices in what I decide to acquire and keep.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Warm happy memories
What car seat cover for The Kid
Last used: this past spring
Why kept: sticky. I love this cover and it was a gift from "L" (who lurks here occasionally
Destination: to my friend who is having a fall/winter baby
It's really nice. I used this & the bundle me" that I borrowed from "Q". They kept the Kid nice and warm all winter!
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Last used: this past spring
Why kept: sticky. I love this cover and it was a gift from "L" (who lurks here occasionally
Destination: to my friend who is having a fall/winter baby
It's really nice. I used this & the bundle me" that I borrowed from "Q". They kept the Kid nice and warm all winter!
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Trashed
What: Damaged Vintage cocktail-themed ice bucket. (Really.)
Origin: "Hello, name is "A", and I'm a garage-sale-aholic." (I've been in recovery for a good 15 years, see confession.)
How long kept: Geez, I would guess since the late 80s?
Usage: Never. Other than moving it closer and closer to the exit door of my apartment over the past months.
Why kept: I Might Fix It. (And then It Would Be Cool/Vintage and Someone Might Need It.)
Destination: Good Old NYC Landfill. (Gulp. Sorry.)
Confession: The extent of this baby's damage was not trivial. It's brass cover was banged up and dented. The handle had fallen off. The entire thing, which was largely vinyl, was kind of squashed. (Viewed from above, it appeared to be slightly oval shaped, which meant that the round cover would not ever fit on it again. Even if fixed.)
Aargh.
Confession, part deux: I still love a good garage sale. But I rarely buy anything. Though I'm still a sucker for vintage embroidered linens and those gaily printed flowered tablecloths from the 40s and beyond. ("M" got me a very Christmas embroidered tablecloth and napkin set at the Freecycle Free Meet.)
Aargh.
Confession, part trois: Broken stuff. "Potential" is a theme in Randy Frost and Gail Skeketee's book about hoarding, Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things.
People who truly have an issue with hoarding keep stuff because they see potential that the rest of us might not see.
I'm not a hoarder, clinically speaking. But "potential" is embedded in many of the reasons that I have held onto stuff -- and nowhere as inexplicably as with broken stuff. Clothing that might be mended, and wearable by "someone", check. (Now dispatched to textile recycling. Whew.)
Thanks to eBay, I've seen how little most of my Cool/Vintage stuff that's in mint condition is worth.* So while this was a bit Sticky, and it took a bit of time, it went down the trash chute the day before I left on vacation.
Broken stuff, begone.
(*A clock I bought for a dollar in the 80s may be the exception to this rule. Stay tuned.)
Origin: "Hello, name is "A", and I'm a garage-sale-aholic." (I've been in recovery for a good 15 years, see confession.)
How long kept: Geez, I would guess since the late 80s?
Usage: Never. Other than moving it closer and closer to the exit door of my apartment over the past months.
Why kept: I Might Fix It. (And then It Would Be Cool/Vintage and Someone Might Need It.)
Destination: Good Old NYC Landfill. (Gulp. Sorry.)
Confession: The extent of this baby's damage was not trivial. It's brass cover was banged up and dented. The handle had fallen off. The entire thing, which was largely vinyl, was kind of squashed. (Viewed from above, it appeared to be slightly oval shaped, which meant that the round cover would not ever fit on it again. Even if fixed.)
Aargh.
Confession, part deux: I still love a good garage sale. But I rarely buy anything. Though I'm still a sucker for vintage embroidered linens and those gaily printed flowered tablecloths from the 40s and beyond. ("M" got me a very Christmas embroidered tablecloth and napkin set at the Freecycle Free Meet.)
Aargh.
Confession, part trois: Broken stuff. "Potential" is a theme in Randy Frost and Gail Skeketee's book about hoarding, Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things.
People who truly have an issue with hoarding keep stuff because they see potential that the rest of us might not see.I'm not a hoarder, clinically speaking. But "potential" is embedded in many of the reasons that I have held onto stuff -- and nowhere as inexplicably as with broken stuff. Clothing that might be mended, and wearable by "someone", check. (Now dispatched to textile recycling. Whew.)
Thanks to eBay, I've seen how little most of my Cool/Vintage stuff that's in mint condition is worth.* So while this was a bit Sticky, and it took a bit of time, it went down the trash chute the day before I left on vacation.
Broken stuff, begone.
(*A clock I bought for a dollar in the 80s may be the exception to this rule. Stay tuned.)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Must have slipped my mind
What: well loved slippers
Last used: it's been ahwile. Over a year
Why kept: I loved these but they hurt my back if I wore them too long and they were a gift
Destination: I think they went in the trash but now I've found a for-profit place in my community that will take anything!!! Woot. More on that later
Last used: it's been ahwile. Over a year
Why kept: I loved these but they hurt my back if I wore them too long and they were a gift
Destination: I think they went in the trash but now I've found a for-profit place in my community that will take anything!!! Woot. More on that later
Artful Dodger
Origin: The book was written by an acquaintance, a friend of a then-close friend.
How long kept: Probably 15 years.
Why kept: Mostly Out of Sight, Out of Mind, in plain sight on my bookshelf. The book is also gorgeous, and on a topic of growing interest. See confession.
Destination: Housing Works.
Confession: When examining this book, I realized that I felt a bit bossed into buying it. Nostalgia, and not the good kind. I confess that I listed this first edition book on Amazon to see if it might sell. (Like another one that surprised me.) But it didn't.
(Which reminds me, I'd better make sure I took that listing down. D'oh.)
That said, I'll have no Housing Works guilt about this book. They have a gorgeous store over on Crosby, and I imagine that this book might land there, rather than joining the popular fiction on sale at my local shop. And someone will definitely enjoy this book.
I'll enjoy it being gone.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Last Shopping Bag
What: The last shopping bag in my apartment. (See confession.)
Origin: Addiction to beautiful paper products. Desire to tote stuff around.
How long kept/Usage: Uh, 4-5 months? And not at all.
Why Kept: It Might Be Useful. (See confession.)
Destination: Housing Works, containing a few items...
Confession: There are a couple of gift bags remaining in a separate stash, but they seem like they shouldn't count as shopping bags. And one very pretty bag from the MOMA Matisse exhibition in the 90s (?) that seems to require a more respectful dispensation.
And I confess that the beautiful folds, combined with design elements, made me think of hacking this bag up and making it into a birthday card for someone in my life named "Kate". Good Crafting Intentions Gone Bad. Almost.
Origin: Addiction to beautiful paper products. Desire to tote stuff around.
How long kept/Usage: Uh, 4-5 months? And not at all.
Why Kept: It Might Be Useful. (See confession.)
Destination: Housing Works, containing a few items...
Confession: There are a couple of gift bags remaining in a separate stash, but they seem like they shouldn't count as shopping bags. And one very pretty bag from the MOMA Matisse exhibition in the 90s (?) that seems to require a more respectful dispensation.
And I confess that the beautiful folds, combined with design elements, made me think of hacking this bag up and making it into a birthday card for someone in my life named "Kate". Good Crafting Intentions Gone Bad. Almost.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cue Sound Effects (Psycho)
Origin: Purchased back in the day. Yes, at one point I actually entertained the idea of actually learning to cook. (An idea that I've recently taken up again, for the moment only in my mind.)
How long kept/usage: This knife was supplanted by an upgrade, a gift from my mom. I haven't used this one in a while, other than to move it around in my kitchen drawer.
Why kept: It Might Be Useful! I Might Need It! And of course, It's Perfectly Good.
Destination: Housing Works.
Confession: I have a very nice memory of buying this knife in the summer of 1984, shortly after moving into my first apartment. For some reason, I was shopping with a boy I had gone to college with, "D." Nice guy, but we were never close, so I have no idea why we would have made a trip together to the Crate and Barrel on the North Side of Chicago. (Maybe we were both moving into apartments? I had a car, so might have offered him a ride.) I remember trying several knives to see which one was comfortable to use. All joking about my cooking skills aside, this knife saw some good use, and hopefully will be useful to someone.
Hope the rider was wearing a helmet!
What: the Boy's motorcycle toy
How long kept: 6 months
Why kept: we might fix it and sticky for The Boy
Destination: trash
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How long kept: 6 months
Why kept: we might fix it and sticky for The Boy
Destination: trash
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Sunday, August 22, 2010
Does chocolate go bad?
What: chocolate truffles from a celebration. It was a party favor and what I ate was delicious.
How long kept: I got them in June/July. I can't remember
Why kept: I might eat them.
Destination: truffles in the trash and the container in recycle
I could have eaten them, but just because I can doesn't mean I should!! :)
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How long kept: I got them in June/July. I can't remember
Why kept: I might eat them.
Destination: truffles in the trash and the container in recycle
I could have eaten them, but just because I can doesn't mean I should!! :)
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Gone to seed
What: a seedling project of The Boy's
How long kept: well past it usefulness by about a month
Why. It might get planted. Oops forgot about it
Destination trash
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How long kept: well past it usefulness by about a month
Why. It might get planted. Oops forgot about it
Destination trash
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Shirt Tales
What: New, unworn, and fairly classic blouse.
Origin: An unfortunate, ill-considered purchase I made for a
destination wedding in spring, 2001.
How long kept/usage: See above, see confession.
Why kept: Because one day, it might actually look good on me? And
Out of Sight, Out Of Mind in the old closet.
Destination: Dropped this with a friend.
Confession: Does trying this on annually to see if it will ever look
good on me count as usage? I didn't think so. This will look great
on another friend, her sister, who is visiting this weekend. She saw
the photo and approved, so I didn't dump it on them! If she doesn't
like it, stay tuned for new destination!
Origin: An unfortunate, ill-considered purchase I made for a
destination wedding in spring, 2001.
How long kept/usage: See above, see confession.
Why kept: Because one day, it might actually look good on me? And
Out of Sight, Out Of Mind in the old closet.
Destination: Dropped this with a friend.
Confession: Does trying this on annually to see if it will ever look
good on me count as usage? I didn't think so. This will look great
on another friend, her sister, who is visiting this weekend. She saw
the photo and approved, so I didn't dump it on them! If she doesn't
like it, stay tuned for new destination!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Because I Like It
I was talking to my mom yesterday about why we keep stuff, and she raised the reason, "Because I Like It."
Good point.
Lisa from Cheap Bohemian recently posted about something she kept. She really gets to a point at the heart of our project -- to release ourselves from the bondage of stuff we don't want or need, in order to really enjoy the stuff we enjoy.
(A problem of privilege, I totally get it. And there's more to be said on that.)
"Because I Like It" is not one of our reasons here, because we're keeping stuff we like. (I will say that so far, I've had only one or two pangs of not-even regret about stuff that is gone.)
And I'll also say, "Go, Lisa!"
(And, how much do I heart flickr? Photo: Water Joy, by PeterJot used under Creative Commons License. Thanks, Piotr.)
Skirting the Issue
What: Sweet sari-inspired silk wrap skirt.
Origin: Bitch & Swap. (Should Have Said No.)
How long kept/usage: Almost a year; never worn.
Why kept: Good Crafting Intentions Gone Bad. See Confession.
Destination: Vietnam Vets clothing donation.
Confession: I took this brand-new, never-worn, undamaged skirt from the Bitch & Swap because I liked the fabric, and because of its construction -- essentially two long rectangles of fabric sewn together. My intention was to use sewing magic to remix it into something new. Since then, I've pulled it out of the stash several times, "auditioning" it for various projects, and coming quite close recently: I had it on the cutting board with the rotary cutter inches from the fabric. And when I realized that I didn't really like the color for this project, I also realized that I didn't want to cut up this skirt. After all, It's Perfectly Good.
Confession, part deux: I'm traveling for a bit, so some of what you see will be "real time" releases, others are in fact already gone, "banked" for vacation time! (An acceptable transgression of The Rules.) So on my way out the door, I actually stuck this skirt in my suitcase, and it will be released in a location that is not lower Manhattan!
Origin: Bitch & Swap. (Should Have Said No.)
How long kept/usage: Almost a year; never worn.
Why kept: Good Crafting Intentions Gone Bad. See Confession.
Destination: Vietnam Vets clothing donation.
Confession: I took this brand-new, never-worn, undamaged skirt from the Bitch & Swap because I liked the fabric, and because of its construction -- essentially two long rectangles of fabric sewn together. My intention was to use sewing magic to remix it into something new. Since then, I've pulled it out of the stash several times, "auditioning" it for various projects, and coming quite close recently: I had it on the cutting board with the rotary cutter inches from the fabric. And when I realized that I didn't really like the color for this project, I also realized that I didn't want to cut up this skirt. After all, It's Perfectly Good.
Confession, part deux: I'm traveling for a bit, so some of what you see will be "real time" releases, others are in fact already gone, "banked" for vacation time! (An acceptable transgression of The Rules.) So on my way out the door, I actually stuck this skirt in my suitcase, and it will be released in a location that is not lower Manhattan!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Ho ho huh?
What: little paper frame from the Boys' photo with Santa and mrs Claus
How long kept: since Christmastime
Why kept: out of sight - buried in a "trap" or a Flylady "hotspot"
Destination: recycle bin
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How long kept: since Christmastime
Why kept: out of sight - buried in a "trap" or a Flylady "hotspot"
Destination: recycle bin
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Giving Some Lip
What: Earthy organic lip balm, unused.
Origin: Goody bag at a benefit yoga class.
How long kept: About 4 months.
Why kept: I Might Need It. (But not really, as I have another lip balm that I may not use up before this one goes bad.) And, Out of Sight, Out of Mind...it was in one of the the dastardly medicine cabinets!
Destination: Gifted to a colleague.
Origin: Goody bag at a benefit yoga class.
How long kept: About 4 months.
Why kept: I Might Need It. (But not really, as I have another lip balm that I may not use up before this one goes bad.) And, Out of Sight, Out of Mind...it was in one of the the dastardly medicine cabinets!
Destination: Gifted to a colleague.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
STOP! Be a friend
What: photo I took for a HS photo class and the SCHOTT glass in a recycled box
How long kept: well the photo, since last century and the box, last week
Why kept: the photo is sticky and nostalgic. I love this photo but have no plans to display it. The box is useful
Destination: the photo I mailed to my friend in hopes that it will bring her the same fond memories of that beautiful day senior year in front of her house. The box has a SCHOTT glass in it and is traveling to a collector that saw it on our blog.
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How long kept: well the photo, since last century and the box, last week
Why kept: the photo is sticky and nostalgic. I love this photo but have no plans to display it. The box is useful
Destination: the photo I mailed to my friend in hopes that it will bring her the same fond memories of that beautiful day senior year in front of her house. The box has a SCHOTT glass in it and is traveling to a collector that saw it on our blog.
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For The Absolut Collector -- Absolut-ly Not Me
Origin: Home delivery of the NY Times in December, 2001.
Why kept: While bizarre, I thought it was kind of cool. And at that time, I wasn't really processing much...I stuck it neatly on a bookshelf, with the vague thought that someday, someone might want it. It Might Be Useful? And definitely Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: eBay, via "M", see confession.
Confession: I found this on the bookshelf due to this project, in one of my periodic book purges. I googled it, not realizing that there is a universe of people who collect the Absolut promos. It turns out that there is quite a trade in these items, some of which are selling for hundreds of dollars.
Gulp. It Might Be Worth Something, If I Could Find A Buyer! "M"s the eBay maven, and she posted it the other day. (We have 23 watchers and requests coming in from Europe. I'm not making this up.)
It has already left my house, though...as I'm going to be out of town when the auction ends, it's en route to "M" via USPS priority mail (insured), along with another Absolut holiday promo from another year. (We'll post that one later!)
August 21 Update: Bidding is heating up.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
An A-Ha moment
Looking in a storage basket (yes, they are as evil as storage boxes), I found some "Real Simple" magazines from last year. I've probably only had them 6 months as Mom shares them with me and I usually pass the on to my friend "L". But in this moment I thought, "hey I'd like to read this cool articles on organization and decluttlering and plain old simplifying my life.". Then my other self said, " really, now....come ON!"
I thought, "yes! Nice short articles! I'll put them in the stroller to read while at the park."
"Oh with the other one you have not finished yet?" Chided my other self
"Oh you saw that?" I replied.
"A-yup! I see everything!!!!"
"Should I save them for "L" or recycle?" I asked, giving in.
"Really!?!" Other self asked, purely frustrated with me
"Recycle, huh?"
"Ya' think?"
Lol. Okay my other self isn't that snide but... It probably made for more interesting reading. And the magazines are in the recycle bin!
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I thought, "yes! Nice short articles! I'll put them in the stroller to read while at the park."
"Oh with the other one you have not finished yet?" Chided my other self
"Oh you saw that?" I replied.
"A-yup! I see everything!!!!"
"Should I save them for "L" or recycle?" I asked, giving in.
"Really!?!" Other self asked, purely frustrated with me
"Recycle, huh?"
"Ya' think?"
Lol. Okay my other self isn't that snide but... It probably made for more interesting reading. And the magazines are in the recycle bin!
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Let's stick a pin in this (Bolt movie reference)
What: safety pins and a purloined toy from Grammy's house
How long kept: the safety pins - since May? And the toy since last month
Last used: I found pins in the clean up fray yesterday and I put them in the borrowed bag of pins. The toy was chased around the house by the Kid
Dest: back to Grammy house along with grandpa's hat he left @ our brother's house
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How long kept: the safety pins - since May? And the toy since last month
Last used: I found pins in the clean up fray yesterday and I put them in the borrowed bag of pins. The toy was chased around the house by the Kid
Dest: back to Grammy house along with grandpa's hat he left @ our brother's house
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New Freecycle Strategy
Origin: It's a prior book club selection.
How long kept: Since we read this, late last summer? Or last fall.
Why kept: When I organized my book shelves, this was one of the book club books I decided to keep. So, kind of Out of Sight, Out of Mind. And I might re-read it, so It Might Be Useful.
Destination: Freecycle.
New strategy: I don't usually troll the NYC Freecycle group, but decided to look at it last night. There was a "wanted" post specifically requesting this book, and I thought, hmmm, and decided to respond.
Well, it's gone! Thanks, Robyn. Freecycle-friction free!
And I'm going back in my mind over other extras I've got, for example yoga mats. I've seen posts for those.
In the past, I've limited my Freecycle activity to making "offer" posts, with reasonably good success. Responding to a "wanted" post seemed to go much more smoothly than making an offer. So I'm definitely going to experiment with checking Freecycle once a week or so for "wanted" posts matching my extras.
(Stay tuned for analysis on whether there's less Freecycle Drama on this side of the transaction!)
Bonus: I only have one shopping bag left. Even the ancient Duane Reade shopping bag that used to contain the stash? Gone. Shopping bag-arama!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Oh's bro
In HS we had some nick names for people and I must have sent this to "A" who in return sent it back to make me laff! It did. When I found it again, I laffed some more. Then I took it to the recycle bin :).
Why kept: nostalgia (mostly the good kind -- some drama. It was High school and I was a teenage girl) and it was sticky
I've unstuck myself of several things today! Woot!
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Why kept: nostalgia (mostly the good kind -- some drama. It was High school and I was a teenage girl) and it was sticky
I've unstuck myself of several things today! Woot!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
The Hubby guest post: I'll take a belt of that
Or not
What: three belts
Why: they might fit again or he might fix them
Destination: garbage. I can't find a textile recycler around here
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What: three belts
Why: they might fit again or he might fix them
Destination: garbage. I can't find a textile recycler around here
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Who is your favorite race car?
Well here it's either Danica Patrick or Lightning McQueen!
What: I bought a Cricut cartridge last winter of the Cars characters. This is what it made
How long kept: last December I borrowed my friends Cricut cutter thingy and I bought the cartridge. I used the cartridge for two and got so incredibly frustrated that I haven't used it since. It cuts out SO many little pieces with no instructions of how to put it together.
Why kept: out of sight and good crafting intentions gone bad.
Destination: the cartridge is with the Cricut device and these pieces went in the recycle bin. I'm glad that I didn't pay full price for that cartridge. I think I got it for about $30. Maybe I'll put it on ebay if my friend doesn't want it :). I don't even think I'd spend time using it again. It took hours to produce ONE.
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What: I bought a Cricut cartridge last winter of the Cars characters. This is what it made
How long kept: last December I borrowed my friends Cricut cutter thingy and I bought the cartridge. I used the cartridge for two and got so incredibly frustrated that I haven't used it since. It cuts out SO many little pieces with no instructions of how to put it together.
Why kept: out of sight and good crafting intentions gone bad.
Destination: the cartridge is with the Cricut device and these pieces went in the recycle bin. I'm glad that I didn't pay full price for that cartridge. I think I got it for about $30. Maybe I'll put it on ebay if my friend doesn't want it :). I don't even think I'd spend time using it again. It took hours to produce ONE.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Guest Post: Flickr-ed Out
"A citronella candle that only lasted a month or so before the wick got lost in the wax. I tried to dig it out, but too many moths have made the search futile. That is a crack in the glass, so an extra reason to toss. Into the garbage it went. Easy come ($3 at Ocean State Job Lot), easy go: not my preferred motto with "stuff" but sometimes that's just the way it is.
On another note, I have decided to "flickr out" with posting my items on this wonderful blog for the next month or so. I need to get away from the computer, and I want to see if by not documenting I continue to let go. That is the plan, and looming at the end of September is the "Two Buck or I Chuck" tag sale that a lot of my items have been stashed away for.
So, I do have a goal, as well as a lifestyle already in effect. Thanks "A" and "D"! (I'll check in from time to time!)"
"S", we love having you around in any form. You don't need to post to be on our team. Good luck and come back any time.
On another note, I have decided to "flickr out" with posting my items on this wonderful blog for the next month or so. I need to get away from the computer, and I want to see if by not documenting I continue to let go. That is the plan, and looming at the end of September is the "Two Buck or I Chuck" tag sale that a lot of my items have been stashed away for.
So, I do have a goal, as well as a lifestyle already in effect. Thanks "A" and "D"! (I'll check in from time to time!)"
"S", we love having you around in any form. You don't need to post to be on our team. Good luck and come back any time.
Pint-Sized Times Nine
Origin: A girl's gotta drink!
How long kept: One of the leftovers dated back to my first apartment, 1984. I amassed the pint glasses in the late 80s after moving to NYC, buying many of them at the original Fishs Eddy over on Hudson Street for a buck fifty.
Why kept: They Were Perfectly Good! As previously noted, a girl's gotta drink, and I used them every day. Thus They Might Be Useful; I Might Need Them. And a tiny little bit of Nostalgia. (The good kind, but I'm not exactly sure why glassware would evoke this: Sticky!)
Destination: Housing Works.
Confession: While these glasses are Perfectly Good, in terms of utility, they are looking a little beat up. Nothing truly terrible, but they are showing some wear.
Funny thing, I didn't notice this until I decided that I would prefer some more age appropriate, gender appropriate drinkware. (I woke up one recent day feeling like only a frat boy should be drinking from the pint glasses I've used for a zillion years.)
Should I feel guilt for giving them to Housing Works? Are they good enough for Housing Works to sell? Should I have tried to Freecycle them? What happens to things that aren't good enough for Housing Works to sell?
Aargh.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sour subject
What less than 48 oz of lemon juice
How long kept: well The Hubby noticed the best by day was in 2008.... Enough said :)
Destination: we have lemon fresh drains and the bottle is in the recycle bin
Doh, maybe it wasn't a great price. I forgot to ask how much the Hubby dumped :)
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How long kept: well The Hubby noticed the best by day was in 2008.... Enough said :)
Destination: we have lemon fresh drains and the bottle is in the recycle bin
Doh, maybe it wasn't a great price. I forgot to ask how much the Hubby dumped :)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Free
Caryn Prescott, 41, donated some clothes and cosmetics, and Eddie Ballard, 34, from Crown Heights, who came across the store by chance, contributed a recyclable tote bag he happened to have with him, mainly out of a sense of admiration for the project.How much do I love Mr. Ballard? Instead of taking something as a souvenir, he gave something in order to participate. Awesome.
“There is something about the communal aspect of this place that appeals to me,” Mr. Ballard said. “I felt like I wanted to give something just to be a part of it.”
(Photo: Free Texture 24 Bokeh by ShironekoEuro via flickr, used under Creative Commons License. Thank you!)
Office Flotsam
What: A variety of unused supplies. Everything worked, and some were duplicates.
Origin: Various, see confession.
How long kept/Last Used: Some of the stuff hails from the mid-90s.
Why kept: They Might Be Useful! I Might Need Them!
Destination: I brought them, in a ziploc bag, to a not-for profit meditation center where I was taking a class.
Confession: I have a small school pencil box that contains my office supplies. This summer, I think because I've found stuff and consolidated it, I lost the ability to close the box. Aargh. I have more binder clips than I could ever use; how many pink highlighters do I need?
While I find it necessary to keep this sort of stuff contained in one place, it's still a storage box that keeps things Out Of Sight, Out of Mind. Storage Boxes are Evil. Even when useful.
And finally, there were a couple of brand new, never sharpened pencils from corporate events I used to attend back in my banking days. One of the pencils was branded with a company I inherited as a client from someone who had been doing a less than stellar job. I still remember driving back from my first meeting with the Treasurer, who had berated me for 45 minutes straight, using pretty much every obscenity in the book. It took about a year to turn that one around. Nostalgia. And not all the good kind.
Bonus: The good people at the meditation center were grateful beyond the magnitude of the gift. (And this is the sort of institution where they lend out a lot of pens and pencils. Next time maybe I'll take a box of new pens to them.)
Origin: Various, see confession.
How long kept/Last Used: Some of the stuff hails from the mid-90s.
Why kept: They Might Be Useful! I Might Need Them!
Destination: I brought them, in a ziploc bag, to a not-for profit meditation center where I was taking a class.
Confession: I have a small school pencil box that contains my office supplies. This summer, I think because I've found stuff and consolidated it, I lost the ability to close the box. Aargh. I have more binder clips than I could ever use; how many pink highlighters do I need?
While I find it necessary to keep this sort of stuff contained in one place, it's still a storage box that keeps things Out Of Sight, Out of Mind. Storage Boxes are Evil. Even when useful.
And finally, there were a couple of brand new, never sharpened pencils from corporate events I used to attend back in my banking days. One of the pencils was branded with a company I inherited as a client from someone who had been doing a less than stellar job. I still remember driving back from my first meeting with the Treasurer, who had berated me for 45 minutes straight, using pretty much every obscenity in the book. It took about a year to turn that one around. Nostalgia. And not all the good kind.
Bonus: The good people at the meditation center were grateful beyond the magnitude of the gift. (And this is the sort of institution where they lend out a lot of pens and pencils. Next time maybe I'll take a box of new pens to them.)
Guest Post: Your roots are showing
"A spider wort plant, which believe it or not, despite this evidence, is a nice native plant that blooms in the spring. I said yes to a neighbor's offer, then a wheelbarrow-full later I still hadn't found an adoption for this guy. With all the dry weather, I think these roots got fried like a bad perm. A trip to the community mulch pile yesterday ended my lame foster-parenting. Three weeks was too long to be living in a hot wheelbarrow, exposed to the cruel, cruel summer."
Thanks, "S"!
Thanks, "S"!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The jumpin' jumperoo
What: a borrowed Jumperoo from "Q" who borrowed it from another
How long kept: about 6 months
Last used: a week or so ago. The Kid doesn't like to be contained anymore. He's mobile now! Aaaahhh
Destination: delivered it today to my niece and then it will get passed onto another friend that is due to have a baby in a few months
I love that this has been used by so many babies and will continue to be used and passed on. Thanks for sharing "Q" (and "C")
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
How long kept: about 6 months
Last used: a week or so ago. The Kid doesn't like to be contained anymore. He's mobile now! Aaaahhh
Destination: delivered it today to my niece and then it will get passed onto another friend that is due to have a baby in a few months
I love that this has been used by so many babies and will continue to be used and passed on. Thanks for sharing "Q" (and "C")
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Freecycle treasure
We had a blast making our first cabin with Lincoln logs!! I think part of the reason he was willing to let go of the artwork was to make room while we were cleaning up BEFORE he could start playing. I *heart* Freecycle!!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Recycling recycled art
What: art project from preschool
How long kept: about a week. The paint started to flake. It needed to be recycled.
Why kept: in the hopes that we could store some small toys in it. It might be useful.
Destination: recycle.
I again am so proud of The Boy for recycling his artwork. I told him it would be memorialized on this blog. Yay!!!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
How long kept: about a week. The paint started to flake. It needed to be recycled.
Why kept: in the hopes that we could store some small toys in it. It might be useful.
Destination: recycle.
I again am so proud of The Boy for recycling his artwork. I told him it would be memorialized on this blog. Yay!!!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Stamping Out Another File Item
What: Handful of 42 cent stamps.
Origin: USPS beat me on a rate increase.
How long kept: 18 months?
Why kept: I Might Use Them. And, Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: they
were in a file folder behind the current stamps.
Destination: Used a good chunk of them on an Amazon return.
Remainder will be cleared in short order.
Confession/Bonus: In the same file? 3.5 books of 44 cent stamps I had
forgotten I had. Aargh.
Origin: USPS beat me on a rate increase.
How long kept: 18 months?
Why kept: I Might Use Them. And, Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: they
were in a file folder behind the current stamps.
Destination: Used a good chunk of them on an Amazon return.
Remainder will be cleared in short order.
Confession/Bonus: In the same file? 3.5 books of 44 cent stamps I had
forgotten I had. Aargh.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Guest Post: even the birds know not to eat here
"Seemed like a nice bird feeder at the time (8 years ago, & considering where I bought it) but it clogs and the feed never really settles into the tray. The lid always comes off, gets lost in the underbrush, then the seed gets wet and moldy. And, well, maybe the birds are simply boycotting Wal-Mart, like me. Not long after this purchase I made a conscious decision not to shop there anymore because of, well, don't get me started...
I dropped this off down by the metal bin and set it outside the dumpster. Maybe someone will think it an interesting relic and be more vigilant about its upkeep than I was."
"S," on this gorgeous day, it's nice to have a post from up in the country! Thanks for stopping by.
I dropped this off down by the metal bin and set it outside the dumpster. Maybe someone will think it an interesting relic and be more vigilant about its upkeep than I was."
"S," on this gorgeous day, it's nice to have a post from up in the country! Thanks for stopping by.
Celebrate the Free for all
All of the items left behind have been taken to Goodwill!!!! Woot!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Order Up!
What: A file of takeout menus.
Origin: Food is a requirement!
How long kept: Oh, I think that Spice Grill closed in 2002.
Why kept: I might be hungry and I Might Need Them. And, Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Recycling.
Confession: The top three menus are from now defunct restaurants. There were others that were more current, but I'm releasing them, too. Frankly, I rarely order in. I tend to pick up more often...and menus are mostly online now.
Origin: Food is a requirement!
How long kept: Oh, I think that Spice Grill closed in 2002.
Why kept: I might be hungry and I Might Need Them. And, Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
Destination: Recycling.
Confession: The top three menus are from now defunct restaurants. There were others that were more current, but I'm releasing them, too. Frankly, I rarely order in. I tend to pick up more often...and menus are mostly online now.
Ted Nugent would be proud
Well maybe not but this is eco friendly. Sadly I'm bringing stuff home like real wood Lincoln logs for The Boy and an old school playskool town like we used to play with. I'm trying to stop. But those I couldn't pass up
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Welcome Cheap Bohemians
Thanks to Lisa from Cheap Bohemian for posting a link to our blog.
If you want to join us on our journey -- even occasionally -- click here to join our Flickr group. When you post a photo to our group, we'll add it to the slideshow! We'll also occasionally (or maybe more often) add your item as a guest post here.
(And big hat tip to "S", who clued us in to Cheap Bohemian.)
If you want to join us on our journey -- even occasionally -- click here to join our Flickr group. When you post a photo to our group, we'll add it to the slideshow! We'll also occasionally (or maybe more often) add your item as a guest post here.
(And big hat tip to "S", who clued us in to Cheap Bohemian.)
Love the cucumber melon
But not enough to save yet another empty soap dispenser
How long kept: over 2 years probably.
Where found: under the kitchen sink
Why kept: might be useful. I add water to just about all liquid soap. The Boy tends to over pump so it's not so wasteful
Destination: recycle
I'm still working through all soap before buying any new!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
How long kept: over 2 years probably.
Where found: under the kitchen sink
Why kept: might be useful. I add water to just about all liquid soap. The Boy tends to over pump so it's not so wasteful
Destination: recycle
I'm still working through all soap before buying any new!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Friday, August 13, 2010
(Ear)rings a bell
What: earrings. Some from the 80s. I loved those blue triangle earrings!! And an anklet
why kept: nostalgia. I might wear them again
Destination: free for all
These we're hard to let go. I still can't let go of the "what ever happened to that crazy cat of yours?" Earrings that "A" gave me. They still make me smile :)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
why kept: nostalgia. I might wear them again
Destination: free for all
These we're hard to let go. I still can't let go of the "what ever happened to that crazy cat of yours?" Earrings that "A" gave me. They still make me smile :)
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Left Behind on several levels
What: the book "Left Behind"
Why kept: it was borrowed from a friend. They don't need it back
Last used: I tried to read it, I really did. But I couldn't get past the first few chapters. Borrowed back in 1999 I believe
Destination: Free for all
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Why kept: it was borrowed from a friend. They don't need it back
Last used: I tried to read it, I really did. But I couldn't get past the first few chapters. Borrowed back in 1999 I believe
Destination: Free for all
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Camera-rama
What: one digital, one advantix and one disposable camera
Last used: hmmm probably 2005 for the digital and prior to that for the other. Obviously the disposable was never used.
Why kept: yes you guessed it, it was out of sight in the drawer by the door
Destination: freeforall
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Last used: hmmm probably 2005 for the digital and prior to that for the other. Obviously the disposable was never used.
Why kept: yes you guessed it, it was out of sight in the drawer by the door
Destination: freeforall
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Gabbing madly
What: Mad gabs lip balm
How long kept: no idea. I vaguely remember it
Why kept: out of sight in the drawer by the door!
Destination: trash
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
How long kept: no idea. I vaguely remember it
Why kept: out of sight in the drawer by the door!
Destination: trash
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
More lotion
This falls under the eeew category
What. Lotion that looks lumpy
Origin: gift from "A". It was part of a pedicure kit. I already purged the broken pumice stone/nail brush
Why kept: smelled good and it was SO incredible out of site in a drawer by my back door (huh?)
Destination: trash!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
What. Lotion that looks lumpy
Origin: gift from "A". It was part of a pedicure kit. I already purged the broken pumice stone/nail brush
Why kept: smelled good and it was SO incredible out of site in a drawer by my back door (huh?)
Destination: trash!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
I have some hang ups
What: hangers from dry cleaners
Why kept: out of sight, might be useful
Origin: not too long, I did a purge a year or so ago
Destination: free for all. These will be used for hanging clothes people bring. They "sell" better if they are hung up
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Why kept: out of sight, might be useful
Origin: not too long, I did a purge a year or so ago
Destination: free for all. These will be used for hanging clothes people bring. They "sell" better if they are hung up
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
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