40 bags in 40 days

I did not realize when I saw this on Pinterest that it was for lent.  Thanks to Robyn, I saw on Instagram that she was going to take the challenge, so I decided to jump on board.  (FYI I also recruited my friend Britney) So, I am really doing it to Decrapify because we typically don't give up things for lent.

For more information on 40 bags in 40 days you can view her blog White House Black Shutters.  Very simple concept.  She suggest to make a list of 40 manageable things in your life that you want to unclutter. So me and my fonts made a cute matrix so I could keep track. She has one on her blog, but it is not as cute.

This is page one of my matrix.  See everything is so much more fun with a cute font and graphics!

The first thing on the list was mismatched/no match socks.  I have moved 4 times since we have been married and every time, I have moved a basket of single socks.  Yesterday, I filled my first  bag! Okay so it was really a Wal-Mart bag  but it was over flowing.

On Day 2, I cleaned out my daughters PJ/play clothes drawer and panties and socks drawer.  We are so blessed to have an abundance of PJs passed on to us.  So blessed that she has over 13 sets.  What 6 year old girl needs 13 sets of PJs. I have gone in her room twice already just to open up the drawers.

Since I could not sleep, I got a day ahead and did the next thing on the list- the medicine cabinet and pantry.  The worst thing I found was having teething tablets from when Cami was teething. 

On my matrix, I decided to document the number of bags completed and a note for each.  I feel better being able to see it and reread my findings in the notes section.

The thing that worked best for me was making sure I picked 40 things that was actually doable. Instead of saying my closet, I broke it down in to what I thought could be completed in 30 min or less.  So my closet list includes- hang up clothes, shoes, shelf, upper storage shelf.  (note that this is only my part of the closet- I told my husband that I will not be getting rid of any of his things.) Since it is only 30 min task, I can get ahead so when things are busy, I don't feel bad about not doing something on one of the days.

I feel much better and have also started to decrapify at school too! I am so glad that our custodian and I are great friends or she would be hating me for the over flowing trashcans. 

So if you are reading this, I challenge you to Decrapify and join 40 bags in 40 days!

Love,
Leah

Socks- DECRAPIFY

First of all, I love my friend Alisha, she always says new socks are the best thing ever.  I do love a new pair of socks.

Last week my wonderful friend Amelia gave me two pair of cute BLACK socks.  This is a big deal.  For the past several months I have been working out- (not typical of me, I am now addicted).  Since I work out 5 days a week, I need athletic socks each day.  I have worn for the past several 10+ years, white no show socks.  Evidently the style now for my age is black or match your shoes. so thank you Amelia. When we work out 2 of the 5 days, I will be in style. Unless I stop folding them again, which is very likely.

All of that leads me to this- I hate folding socks and I have not been able to find a matching pair for me or any of my other family members for the past week.  So since we have had a billion snow days off from school and tomorrow we go back, I decided that I needed to find matching socks for everyone.

This is not my basket, but this looks very similar and It is from a funny blog post at Crystle and Co. I should take her advice!

So tonight I decided to fold socks and keep a tally of number of socks I folded.  I am married to a guy who at one time wore suits (dress socks) often, now mainly athletic socks.  I have an 11 year old girl, 8 year old boy, and a 6 year old girl.  I decided after I had my son that all the socks I bought would be white so they could go from one child to the next.  My oldest and I can now share socks (she is not a baby anymore) and the two little ones can also share socks.  So here is the tally:

Husband has 25 matching pairs of socks, and 17 socks without a match
I have 12 matching pairs of socks, and 4 without a match
Oldest daughter- 11 year old has 11 pairs of socks and 5 without a match
My Son has 19 pairs of sock and 16 without a match
Youngest daughter has 20 pairs of socks and 3 without a match

(fyi I have taken a break and have not folded my husband and sons black socks.  This total is not correct)

Why, Why, Why would someone have 20-25 pairs of socks and 16+ without a match???  I have no idea.  My son however takes his socks and shoes off everywhere and anywhere he can get away with it so I kinda understand his 16 without a match.  But why would someone need 30+ pairs of socks- you only wear one maybe two pair a day????

So I will leave you with one a thought for the day...  
Every normal person who does laundry knows there is always a basket of mismatched socks on the dryer. Why do they put the power button on the dryer all the way to the right. The way most w/d hook ups are set up is the dryer is on the right.  Which means to me that a man or a rich person decided upon that.   I have to reach around the basket every time I turn on the dryer or clean the lint filter.

Back to folding socks....

Happy Snow Day,
Leah

Note: I wrote this blog post several weeks ago and just now had time to finish it. Also, I have now started to DECRAPIFY, see that post here.