2012 in 2012 – Back in Action

Weeks 10 through 52…

I really did intend to keep posting about this each week, but I just didn’t do it. I did keep some records of what I sold and donated; however, I kept forgetting to write down what I threw away. So I know my numbers are a little off, but that’s ok. I got a little excited as I was typing everything and I was hoping that it would all add up to 2,012. I was wrong. I didn’t make it. Does that mean I failed? Yes and No.

Yes, I failed to reach 2,012 items.

But I really don’t feel like it’s a failure. How can one fail when there are 1,523 fewer items in the house? There are more than 1500 things I don’t have to clean up; more than 1500 things I don’t have to dust; and more than 1500 things that are no longer cluttering up my home. This also means that there are over 1,000 items that have gone on to other homes through donation or sale; and may be benefiting someone else instead of sitting in a box.

So, no. I didn’t fail. I made a lot of positive changes this year. And I’m grateful I began this challenge. But I’m not finished…

I decided that I was going to follow through with this challenge into 2013. I’m not going to start over, but I am committed to making sure that I actually remove 2,012 items from my home. I have 489 more to go. I’ve got a head start with about a third of that currently on ebay!

While I intend to successfully reach 2,012, it’s really not about the number. It’s more about the freedom of living with less. I am truly grateful for this challenge and all the went with it – out the door!

Donated:

  • 3 TY Beanie Boppers
  • 4 Die-Cast Cars
  • 88 Kids’ Clothing Items
  • 6 Adult Clothing Items
  • 15 Kids’ Games
  • 219 Kids’ Books
  • 53 Miscellaneous Toys
  • 1 Queen Bed
  • 1 Dresser
  • 12 DVDs
  • 28 CDs
  • 7 Cassettes
  • 1 Pair of Beaters
  • 1 Serving Platter
  • 32 Stuffed Birds
  • 16 Dolls
  • 1 Large Rubber Duck
  • 2 Pairs of Kids’ Shoes
  • 1 Mug
  • 4 Cups
  • 1 Desk Lamp
  • 1 Pair of Reading Glasses
  • 1 Pair of Kids’ Scissors
  • 1 Paper Towel Roll Holder
  • 1 Tote Bag
  • 5 Figurines
  • 4 Cloth Napkins
  • 4 Puzzles
  • 49 VHS Videos
  • 2 Tins
  • 5 Binders
  • 1 Pair of curtains
  • 7 Camera Filters
  • 1 Trinket Box
  • 10 Stuffed Animals
  • 4 Miscellaneous Craft Supplies
  • 1 Wallet
  • 1 Doll Outfit
  • 1 Pair of Earrings
  • 1 Package of Bulletin Board Sentence Strips
  • 1 Box of Attribute Blocks w/Book
  • 4 Posters
  • 1 Pack of Markers
  • 2 Folders
  • 6 Homeschool Magazines
  • 32 Bags of Bulletin Board Letters, Numbers, and Shapes
  • 1 Spelling Cassette w/Book
  • 14 Teacher/Classroom Books
  • 1 bag Block Manipulatives
  • 2 packs of Multiplication Flash Cards
  • 1 Set of Number Disks
  • 2 Educational Trivial Pursuit-type Games
  • 4 Sets of Math Classroom Games
  • 1 Set of Tangrams
  • 1 Set of Alphabet Stickers
  • 24 Folders of Classroom Handouts
  • 1 Piece of Fabric
  • 1 Pair of Booties
  • 1 Large Bag of Glass Stones

Thrown Away:

  • 2 Tennis Rackets
  • 1 Broken Paint Brush
  • 2 Pairs of Socks
  • 1 Box of Melted Crayons
  • 1 Broken 3-Hole Punch
  • 4 Old Software Disks
  • 2 Bags of Damaged Labels
  • 1 Lens Cap
  • 1 Broken Box
  • 1 Bottle Old Scented Oil
  • 1 Bottle Massage Oil
  • 1 Pair of Ballet Slippers
  • 1 Pair of Old Shoes
  • 3 Miscellaneous Magazines (Recycled)
  • 4 Owner’s Manuals for things I no longer own (Recycled)
  • 4 Soap Opera Digest Magazines (Recycled)
  • 21 Expired Coupon Inserts (Recycled)
  • 1 Damaged Doll Clothing
  • 1 Comforter
  • 1 Broken Plant Pot
  • 2 Bike Helmets
  • 1 Bike Horn
  • 2 Items of Adult Clothing
  • 7 Boxes of Miscellaneous Papers (This was recycled, not trashed)
  • 2 Knee Pads
  • 2 Elbow Pads
  • 1 Rain Gauge

Sold

  • 11 Hoppy VanderHare Stuffed Rabbits
  • 12 Muffy VanderBear Outfits
  • 6 Muffy VanderBear Bears
  • 1 Doll from Holland
  • 2 Collectible Teddy Bears
  • 10 Mini Handmade Teddy Bears
  • 13 School Books
  • 9 Disney Lithographs
  • 1 Pair of Boys Pants
  • 1 Robert McClosky Poster (make Way for Ducklings)
  • 1 Concert Program (Blue Murder)
  • 43 Creative Memories Scrapbooking Items
  • 6 Brain Quest Games
  • 1 Box of Math Manipulatives
  • 4 Madeline Dolls
  • 1 Demitasse Set
  • 1 Your Story Binder/Laminator
  • 14 Children’s Books
  • 1 Film Camera
  • 3 Beanie Baby Catalogs
  • 1 Computer Keyboard
  • 16 Die Cast Cars
  • 1 Raggedy Anne Doll
  • 1 CARS Car
  • 2 Charmed Memories Charms
  • 28 Thomas Trains/Cars
  • 7 Thomas Accessories/Buildings
  • 22 Pieces of Thomas Track
  • 1 Madeline Playset
  • 6 Mini Madeline Dolls
  • 50 Madeline Accessories (clothes, books, toys, decor, etc.)
  • 2 Dr. Seuss Books
  • 10 Packages of Dollhouse Miniatures
  • 9 Schleich Figures
  • 2 Boyds Birdhouses
  • 1 Boxed Set Gregorien Chant Albums
  • 1 Family Tree software
  • 5 TY Beanie Boppers
  • 1 Limited Edition Canterbury Bear
  • 2 Dezine Fairies
  • 2 Boyds Bears
  • 1 Boyds Wagon
  • 5 Kids’ Artist Activity Packs
  • 1 Dragonsite Fairy
  • 1 Atari 2600
  • 3 Joysticks
  • 8 Games
  • 1 Case
  • 19 Cicely Mary Barker Flower Fairies
  • 6 Usborne Historical Cut-Out Books
  • 1 Missing Piece Book
  • 3 Jessica Galbreth Fairy Ornament
  • 1 Dremmel Power Tool
  • 5 Amy Brown Fairy Ornaments
  • 1 Wii Game
  • 2 Magazines
  • 2 Baseball Card Sets
  • 2 Packs of Markers
  • 4 CDs
  • 3 Nene Thomas Fairy Ornaments
  • 1 Doll Outfit
  • 7 Large Die-Cast NASCAR Cars
  • 1 Atlas
  • 1 Kids’ Game
  • 1 Adult Shirt
  • 1 Box of Play Money
  • 5 Kids’ Clothing Items

Totals:

  • Donated:  697 Items
  • Thrown Away: 70 Items
  • Sold: 387 Items

Week 10: 1643 – 1154 = 489

Did anyone else do a purge in 2012? If not, how about considering one in 2013?

6 Comments

  • Elizabeth McBride

    Wow, very impressive. I didn’t keep track but when I moved I got rid of A LOT! I filled one dumpster with throw away items. I took books and records to Half Price Books. I donated other items to Goodwill.

    • Heather

      Thank you! I found that keeping track kind of gave me some additional motivation. It’s amazing how much we accumulate; and how much it takes from our lives. I appreciate your comment!

    • Heather

      Thank you, Lori! I’ve always been a pack-rat so now that I’ve purged I need to make sure things don’t accumulate again! Let me know if you end up posting about it.

  • Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com

    Hello, Heather, new friend!
    I saw you linked up your site on the Deep Roots at Home page, and I am so glad to ‘meet’ you. I love what you are doing here on your blog and hope we can follow each other to be a mutual blessing in the Lord ~ It is so much fun and encouraging to get to ‘know’ new like-minded gals! Grace and peace…

    BTW, I would like to invite you to consider linking-up every Wednesday thru Tuesday on the Deep Roots at Home ‘EOA’ Link-Up. You can gain more exposure there. It would be neat to see you as a regular there each week 🙂

    • Heather

      Thank you, Jacqueline! Glad to ‘meet’ you too! Thanks for the opportunity to post my link, to link up, and for stopping by. I follow you on FB, so I’ll be following your blog too.

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