File Drawer Cleanout.....

and subsequent Study Disaster!!

So as promised, I emptied 4 legal file drawers (2 sets of 2 metal drawers) this past weekend. They have been with me since college and have only been emptied a few times. Matt will tell you (in choice words, I'm sure!) how heavy and awful they are to move because I refused to empty them.

They currently reside, stacked, in the guestroom - but now that they are emptied out, they will be moving to the basement so Matt can use them as storage for his stuff. My (awesome!) brother got us a free 4 drawer black metal file cabinet a few years back and it now resides in the study closet for storage.

ok. Enough chit-chat. Here are the photos of the disaster:

 Behind Pooh and Piglet is the growing stack of Goodwill items...... yes, it has been restarted since Saturday when I dropped off 2 large bags.

Yes, it has even spilled over into the hallway a bit. Oh my goodness! But I have started the clean-up:

 All the black boxes that I haven't been using are being assembled and will be labeled so I can find everything once they find their homes on the bookcase.

 Here is the first box with extra pens, sharpies of various sizes, stickie notes and extra tape.

 These 2 pics (above and below) are a peek into how we keep our finances organized. Each year, we have an accordian file. Each pocket is labeled with various bills - ie mortgage, electric, cable, cell phone, medical, home insurance and taxes, etc. Once the bills are paid, they are marked PAID in red and filed. At the end of the year, the file is closed up and stored for the 3 - 7 years recc by tax proffessionals. I will also note, that all tax info for the year, gets put in a file and gets added to the front of the folder once complete.

My New Fav Toy!

mmmmm! I know this makes me a bit crazy - but we've already established that I love to have a clean house. Not like crazy clean, but clean. So anything that makes it cleaner without having to change what I do already, is a HUGE plus for me!

Please meet my new favorite toy - my Bissell Healthy Home vaccuum cleaner:

Oh, how I looooooooove it! It is replacing our older Bissell which I also loved, but this one has more suction power, a better HEPA filter, you have the option of turning off the brush when doing hardwood floors and the coolest hose I've seen in a long time!

Also, since I'm sharing funny things....... Reese has been moving his bed around while he's home during the day. I've been moving it back when I get home. He always moves it to in front of the sliding glass doors.... But tonight, he moved it in front of Matt's tray table. Even after we had moved onto other things, he stayed there. In the middle of the living room floor. On his bed.

 I love my big goober of a dog! :)

Basement Cleanout Progress

Due to the Christmas and basement media storage clean-up, I've also been working on general basement clean-up. I've filled 2 trash bags, about half a dozen boxes have been sent to recycling!  I thought you might enjoy seeing some in-progress pictures.

More boxes that I hope to consolidate and clear out. BUT in order to do that, we need to get some storage unit or drawers into the basement for Matt to put things away. Which means, I need to clean out my personal crap from the drawers in my study and the guestroom. (This Saturdays' project!!)

I did pull everything off the 1 shelf unit we do have in the basement. Turns out it had become a dumping ground for all kinds of stuff that didn't belong in the basement (kitchen glasses, mixing bowls) OR was just in the wrong spot (xmas gifts, ornaments, trays, halloween costumes, etc). I put everything back on, fancy glassware and serving items on the very top, crockpot, spare tea kettle, pie basket on the next shelf down. Below that (middle shelf?) went paper goods, leftover Halloween Pixie Sticks - yes I still have a TON leftover! - and a few future gifts that shall remain nameless! (I pick things up when I see them a lot of times - it's how I get my b-day and xmas shopping done over the course of the year)

Stack of luggage and duffel bags and spare bags. This might get pared down a little bit more, but probably not right now.

New stack of, not 1 but now 2, rubbermaid containers for halloween costumes(!?!) on top of which is a paper box I need to go through..... It was never unpacked and says "Master Bath" on it. hmmm. Then a small clear container of fabric and supplies and then a bigger plastic bin with table cloths, cloth napkins and place mats. On the very top are wreaths for the front door and a witch hat that wouldn't fit in the halloween bin without being truly crushed.
I still have more to do, but this is a HUGE step in the right direction and I'm loving the progress!!