I took an hour the other day to clean out my cords, batteries and headphones drawer, throw out the multiple old sized cords and old style earphones I don’t need… organize them into ziploc baggies…. And then I made a charging station on a desk by the front door that I now use multiple times a day where I have a multi plug for my kindle, iPad, headphones and phone together. It feels great to know exactly where my charge cords all are, and to have a new way to use my space (with the charging station) that I can appreciate everyday and to know where to find my stuff when I need it. It is amazing how one hour fixing your space can help you feel like your life is more in control and you respect your stuff instead of being overwhelmed and mentally weighed down by it.
My mom lived at a retirement community (it was not an old age home but a real retirement community for the over 65s). She said when ladies died and their children cleaned up their homes, out would come the Waterford crystal glasses that they never used, not even once!! The kids would get rid of those things which the community would later sell for 10 cents per glass! Please use your good things because once you go those things will go as well. Use them and love them.
Once our youngest of 5 graduated and moved out on their own, we fled our empty nest and instead of hauling around old used items, we only took all our unused items like collectibles cups and fine China!! We now use every bit of those "precious" items and hardly had to buy anything other than furniture! I agree with you that we must use what we buy rather than holding onto "precious" items just because ❤
I keep a bin in my closet so when I put my clean laundry away and I don't want something I just throw right into that bin. When bin is full, time to drop off.
It’s certainly handy. I always have a box in my garage for donations, even if I find one thing, it goes in the box til it’s full. I took three boxes yesterday to donate, found out they don’t take lightbulbs, who knew, had to take the lightbulbs out of the light fixture I was donating and the box of lightbulbs that I was donating, you would think somebody would like lightbulbs but oh well.
Carla, I love how you ramped up your suggestions to get rid of things to Val as compared to some of your other videos, to deal with the fact that she is more reluctant to get rid of things. That's what I need, I find it so hard to let go. I realized today when cleaning out my junk drawer that I had set aside and saved a key copy I had made for my back door that was defective and doesn't work to open the door. Or any door. I've been storing that key since before the pandemic. Literally a defective house key that opens nothing. Why on Earth would I not have thrown that away? (I did throw it away today). :)
When you see other people declutter it's easy to say go ruthless, but when you start doing it yourself is very difficult to do it. I'm so inspired by you. I needed some space to put my sawing machine I had to be ruthless. It's more difficult when you live with family. Common spaces become a battle field. Thank you for inspiring.
So sweet to see you two together. Very different to see people who know each other's lives so well, to anticipate the person's plans or needs for the future. 🥰
I loved this! Firstly, a reminder to use the gorgeous stuff gifted to us! We deserve it! Secondly, to only keep the super special stuff and not allow the crappy stuff to overwhelm our spaces! What a great wardrobe space. It looks amazing 😍
I love the little diagram Val drew! I feel like her ability to visualize a focused space like that would be really useful in Gabi’s shoebox apartment! I also think their organizing styles would mesh well! Would love to see Val come in for a “consult” on Gabi’s space sometime just to push the organization to the next level for her!
I like this video, especially because it's a manageable little section. I have a tendency to pull out way too much to work on, lose momentum, and it adds to the disorganized mess. I need to start smaller than the whole closet.
I think getting to your 40s is a good time to realise you need to use the good stuff NOW! I inherited a lot of beautiful silver, glass, china & textiles after losing my MIL, including hand-painted Meissen dinner plates, a different flower on each one - we use those every week now (yes, we hand wash them! no biggie) So sad they were found wrapped up in the basement for…when?!😮
I so identify with the gifts and stuff being shoved somewhere “for now” and then not getting back to it. I had to make a rule that gift bags get emptied out when they get home and stuff gets put where it goes (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, closet, wherever). Stuff I buy at the store or Amazon boxes get unloaded and things put where they go. The struggle is real and I just have to keep at it for my own peace of mind. Ya’ll did a great job!
I loved this declutter! I realized that I hold on to stuff for “one day”. I have found so many expired gift cards that I was holding on to. Live in the present and use your nice things now!
I told my friend I needed to sort my cabinets of stationary/cards/tissue paper/cameras/old phone/candles/tools and then watched this!! Just the final nudge I needed. Well done Carla and Val!
Hi Carla ! You have the most funnest, bestest friends ever! 😂 Always love the declutter with friends. Thank you, Val, for inviting us into your home. ❤
I love that you have so many great friends that you’ve had for decades. It says a lot about what a great person you are.🥰🥰🥰 Also how could you possibly have been friends for 30 years starting when you were 14. That would make you in your 40’s.😳 I thought at the most you would be in your mid 30’s.
She's so clean. I love her for that but I'm sad that she doesn't have much to organize 😂 Great personality. I would love to see more from her. I totally understand her 'hide it away' method. She may be my twin 😅😊
Carla is amazing and girl, I LOVE your sweet friend's giggly laugh. What a sweetheart! I want to see her photography - and what was that beautiful shot of you outdoors? Gorgeous! Oh yeah, and y'all did a great job decluttering-I wish I could go that fast.
Your friends are all so awesome! That was such a beautiful piece of furniture that you organized at the end and I love the diagram that Val drew to plan it all out.
Loved this declutter but love all your friends and sister more. Your friend said you were good at this Carla but I think you are even better at collecting great people xx
What a good dose of reality! I really needed to process this "for now" thinking. I am so guilty of doing this. I am always thinking ahead and struggle to think currently. Which is definitely a step in the declutter process. I think your pal was totally ready for that level of situational thinking.
I've admitted to myself that I don't visit my keepsakes throughout the year. After watching the video, I'm going to declutter some of the items. Thanks for the inspiration. Great video. Good luck
Loved this video, your poor friends face when she handed u something and u threw it in a corner lol. I know u guys had really limited time and u were working from the floor which is really hard to keep getting up for. She did great and she has such a groovy beautiful home. I wish i could decorate like that!
I did another pass trough my closet this past weekend.. Packed three garbage bags full of clothes for the donation bin. I will be going through my closet again this weekend ❤❤❤❤❤
This was such a great video! I love how you both learned from each other with saving special items (guilty) and things you didn't realize you say often that can be negative and clogging up your life! Mine is I'll do that later.im learning to do it now. I used to set a time, but when that time came, I'd forget.
Thanks for having Val do a declutter of a minimalist space. This is how I love too, however, junk still piles up and you don’t remember where you put things. The biggest lesson….you the good stuff today, such sage advice. I love the video ❤❤❤
Usually these vid are about really out of control areas, this was nice to see how someone that was pretty tidy could still go another level of being organize and relocating items. And it was fun to watch the two of you gals together.
Hi Carla - just to say thank you for all your inspiration. Thanks to you I have just finished the second pass on my 2 bedroom apartment and now I feel I have room to breathe! We welcomed our new baby recently and having decluttered I feel I can create the perfect home for him without worrying about clutter! Love to you and Samson xxx
Great job, Besties!!!! This one was inspiring! I learned so much. Use your special things, don't save for another time, I'm so guilty of this. Being present. Knowing I can do a lot in an hour. Plus super inspired my Val's amazing style and artistry!! She is so tidy and neat! Great work! I love it!!! See you both soon ❤.
I like how the two of you arranged the open space with the different style decorative boxes. It's like an art display. Carla, I love that photo of you with the dandelions. Valerie does nice work. I peeped that Tori Amos t-shirt of hers. To this day Little Earthquakes is still one of my favorite CD's.
I loved this, love Val and gorgeous photo of you! This was kind of relaxing to watch. I think that should’ve given the sparkly pink spiral notebook to her goddaughter! Waiting for your next video.
I did the “saving it to use later when I….” Well, “later” still isn’t here, so I started using those things NOW. First on the list-cloth napkins with my initials on them.
So much done in an hour that was brilliant. Thanks for having a messing area (makes me feel better) in such an organised room. Have a great week. Mary, Joes wife 👏👏💪👍🙏💐
Great job! The only thing I would have done differently is to donate the "gifts for other people". Unless, UNLESS, you really will give them away. Have a great weekend, ladies!
Man, I love this channel. It’s my go to for motivation and relatability for maintaining my clutter. ❤ On the @Clutterbug RU-vid channel, Cass would most likely say that your friend is a “Ladybug” like me. We have organized, yet hidden clutter, while others admire our “clutter free and clean” spaces. 😉🐞
Nice video! I used to do the same thing, especially with tchotchkes that I collected (coins, travel stuff, extra keys, gifts, business cards, etc.). It takes a while to get in habit of giving a home to all items to avoid the plethora of bags and piles.
I would love to see you talk more about the value in using your nice things everyday, and how to stop saving the special clothes/shoes/candles for some unspecified time in the future when, I guess, you and your life are perfect enough to use them. I think it’s a fascinating subject and one I struggle with! ❤
Great video good point ever you get used it now. You save so much you tend to forget you have them and when you find it you will be saying wow. This is me all the way especially for an older woman it is hard.
Omg the bedroom furniture - the side unit and the wall desk double up - would match my coffee table perfectly- It’s an inky blue called New York by crown. I have it in my feature wall in my bedroom as it’s south/s:e facing. Had so much left I done the coffee table😊.
It's amazing what you can get done in an hour & what a huge difference it can make! On a more humorous note, I cannot imagine any chocolate/coffee that I received ever having the chance to expire 😉🤣
For big declutterings like this I have a larve, very sturdy, durable table with foldable legs that i bring out for session like this. Not heving to work on the floor is a huge help and its easter to do because i can sit on a chair or even regulate it to standing hight. Easier on my back and makes decluttering much much better
I have GIFT BAG envy! 😂 Even though it was a bit cluttery to start, those bags were beautiful! 😍 Great job! Well done. The outcome is so satisfying. Thanks for sharing.
You're a breath of fresh air Carla! So right about using your "good" things now and not for that day that never comes. Enjoy your prized possessions. Like your friend l had to throw out tons of expensive perfumes, creams, chocolates, all expired ,because I was saving them for that special day. Your special day is your present.
That is a satisfying declutter, I like the reflection at the end; clearing the space to clear the mind. This is a good demonstration of what can be done in a bit of time. The sound is good , we could hear both of you well. Your friend did very well, I believe that in time she will be able to declutter even a bit more, I wouldn't accumulate gifts to give. And personally I now prefer to give time and share a treat with my friends when it is their birthday rather than give them stuff. My friends are at an age were stuff is more of a hindrance, we all have what we need. In my own journey to decluttering , I have a box close to the door for my donations, and each day, I try to find something that I can get clear from my house, that I dont use of love.
