and the risk of gigglemom beating the absolute bejeezuz out of me when she gets out of rehab...
i've posted the pictures of the living room/kitchen/bathroom on flickr.
the first step is admitting you have a problem, right?
don't judge me. i'm being very open and vulnerable right now.
this is 99% of the overwhelmingness (i know. not a word.) that has taken over my life. it's a vicious circle. seriously.
so... i am not going to nap after posting these photos. as much as i'd like to sleep and not think about this hellhole i live in.
it's been hard as hell dealing with THIS as well as gigglemom, and she can't do anything, and also trying to keep on top of work and not fall behind.
my GOAL is to post "AFTER" photos on here... where you can oooooh and aaaahhhh...
my other goal is to rip up the carpet when gigglemom is in the rehab - but she called me out on it the other night and said "swear on your life that you won't rip up the carpets" --- not for nothing, but if i were her i'd be saying "frigging rip up the g.d. carpets!!"
Welcome to the YapFest (14 yapped)
Bugger. Can't view the pics on the work computer. Will have to wait to view them at home.
Promise I will not think any less of you, though.
i'd just take a flame thrower to the place
[note from GC: believe me... if i didn't live in a condo and attached to other families, i would. don't think it hasn't gone through my head. i'm also thinking wood chipper.]
You need "Clean House" to come over and help out. Have you seen that show? Your condo is RIGHT UP THEIR ALLEY.
[note from GC: no can do. ironically -- or coincidentally -- my client that i am redesigning a site for is Matt Iseman... he's the Go-To Guy on Clean House.]
You did a great job in the kitchen. Good luck with the rest of it. It's going to be hard but you *can* do it. {{{hugs}}}
[note from GC: thanks! at least i can see the stove and sink now!]
Wow! It takes some guts to post these pics. I used to have soooo much clutter that it was overwhelming. And sadly even in my 20's I checked out that flylady.net website and got to work. Sure I didn't follow all the hoopla but there were a few things that helped me that I found on that website.
Just get three bins trash, donate, put away (meaning they go elsewhere) and set a timer for 15 minutes. 15 minutes isn't alot of time but just work non stop for 15 minutes in one area. When you're done throw the crap away and put the donation stuff immediately in your car (otherwise like me it will never make it to the goodwill). Then take a break for an hour or so and then set the timer again.
I sound like some old granny touting cleaning techniques. LOL. But check out that website, the decluttering parts rock and also because the website has good content but has the worst layout ever, maybe you can get a new client from flylady after you've decluttered :)
Good luck and keep us posted.
[note from GC: thanks - yeah i've been a member of flylady since about 2002. i even have the "reflections from the kitchen sink" book of theirs. i've got my bins and timer too :} thanks --- at this point i think i need to move.]
Anything Im about to say is in NO way meant to be mean or sarcastic....I think (ok know) you have a probelm with buying stuff and never using it that needs to be dealt with....then you wont have stuff to make the clutter.....I have the problem too just not to the extent you do....I buy stuff, things, clothes with every intent to use/wear them and never do....then I get tired of looking at it and sell them either on ebay or an annual yard sale for a barely a fraction of what I paid for them....I know, I have issues....and have been told numerous times that Im trying to fill a void and so on and so on....look I KNOW I have issues I dont need to go to a shrink to figure them out...but the older I get, Im getting tired of my issues and wonder will I ever staighten out my BS....look we all have "things" we have to deal with and in the grand sceam of things living like that has to affect every part of your life and it does feel better living a clutter free life....so when I go shopping and spot something I just HAVE to have I ask myself do I NEED it and then I give myself 24 hours to a couple days and if I still have to HAVE it and cant live without it, I go back and get it....it helps me with my impulse buys and I hope it can maybe help you...good luck and the fact that you're willing to put yourself out there like that proves that you want a change and I hope it happens for you :)
[note from GC: keep in mind that gigglemom lives here and has a credit card and access to the computer. not to mention that when she's bored, she shops online. let's just say, 90% of the stuff you see is hers.]
Great job on taking a big first step!! Good luck with the rest of your project, I know it will be worth it in the end!
Just remember that it is like everything else in life you have to keep at it to get better at it...
Take care.
Holy Hell! Well, you are very BRAVE. I know you can do this, but another way to get it all done is to have a friend come on over to help. If I lived over by you I would come help you. If I were you I would see about getting a dumpster right outside those patio doors and you could clean up in no time seriously. Forget about saving stuff for the goodwill or rummage sale. Just start picking up and what needs to be put away, such as clothes go put them away and if its garbage or stuff for a rummage-o-rama or goodwill, just throw it out in the dumpster! WaaLaah! Sometimes you just have to be wasteful, someone else can pick through the dumpster if they feel there is something useful in there for them. You don't have the space or the time to set stuff aside for that rummage/goodwill pile.
Once you have the place all spiffy, you and your mom will feel so much better. It has to be depressing living in a space like that no doubt! Good Luck Erin!!
NHvYdk
Beautiful site!
It is the coolest site, keep so!
I want to say - thank you for this!
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
I bookmarked this link. Thank you for good job!