The Great Laundry Sort

We have a lot of clothes. That is an understatement, by the way. We have way too many clothes. When we can go months without needing to wash clothes (provided that all the clothes were clean to start - usually doesn't even come close to happening) you know that it's time to start a major purge session.

The hard part for me is knowing what is a reasonable amount of clothing. I was discussing this with Katie the other day and it's hard. The limits she suggested (which are pretty major considering where we are coming from!) seem really unattainable, although I know that they are good limits. I don't think I'm ready to quite go there just yet, but I'm willing to get much closer to her limit than what I currently have.

So, to start: I am going to have all of my work shirts (four polos with embroidery on them, six polos without embroidery, my zip-up hoodie and my windjacket) and my work pants (khakis or slacks - I try not to wear tan khakis to work as they are trashed by the end of the day usually) all together in the front of my closet. I plan to have seven pairs of pants explicitly set aside for work.

Then there are the nice t-shirts I have. Ones that can be considered casual or dress casual. I want to keep seven of these. I'd actually like to keep about fourteen of them, but I'm really pushing myself on this.

I have a few really nice shirts. Ones that I could wear to job interviews, etc. They are definitely more of a business attire. I like to wear these paired up with other things when we are going out. I really dress them down and by doing this, they end up being very versatile pieces. I'd like to keep seven of these.

For regular jeans, I'd like to have seven pairs. Same with slacks (not for work) and skirts (if I have that many. But if I don't, I won't be keeping ones that I don't like just to have them, I'll only keep the best of the best)

I forgot to mention dresses. I don't know that I have any dresses that I really feel fondly enough about to keep, but if I come across them, I want to keep no more than four dresses.

I'd like to have seven bras left over after the purge and I'm thinking about a month's worth of undies. I admit it, I have lots of undies. And only having a month's worth of undies left over is a HUGE amount that I will be getting rid of. And for socks, I'd really like to have a month's worth here as well.

There are probably a few more "occasional" pieces that I will keep as well, but what you have just read is my goal for my closet/dresser purge.

I will let you know when the purge is finished how close I came to these goal limits and also how much I got rid of (and into which category the items went).

Okay, it's in print, it's on my blog...it will become reality. Yeep!

Transformations...

I have been reading through lots of blogs from the 28-day challenge, and now I'm feeling motivated to do my kitchen. Which scares me. There are other areas in my house that need way more work than my kitchen does. Areas that aren't even functioning as they are intended and my kitchen, well, it does.

So, now I have a dilemma. Do the project that I feel motivated to do? Do the project that needs to be done the most? Focus on the project that needs the most work and satisfy myself with a little bit of work in the kitchen afterwards as a reward for doing the big jobs? Hmmm...gotta say that I like the last option the best. But another scary realization...working in my kitchen as a reward? *shudder* When did that happen? What is happening to me? :)

Okay, so for real, I need a game plan for this week because I'm hosting a party here next week and I have a limited amount of time to get a number of things done.

Tuesday's Big Project: begin the playroom clean, sort, organizing process. It's a HUGE project and will take all day long with Hubby's help. There is so much going on in this room right now and we need to get this room together before the party next week, as I have told friends that they can bring their short people with them.

Tuesday's Reward Project: take inventory of all food in the house (pantry, fridge, freezer and deep freeze), organize food storage cupboards

Wednesday's Big Project: continue on playroom clean, sort, organizing process but the main focus of this day will be: laundry (this includes washing, drying, folding, hanging, putting away AND sorting and purging as well. The purge piles will be: donate/freecycle, garage sale/kids' store/craigslist, and toss. I will also be sorting out some clothes that the older boys have outgrown that Boo will eventually grow into.

Wednesday's Reward Project: organize the corner cupboard (I only have one!)

Thursday's Big Project: don't have one scheduled for this day as I am working 7a-5p, have card night from 7:30p-10p and then will be working again 1a-7a

Thursday's Reward Project: not sure that I will have time for this one, but if I do, I think it will be to clean out the two junk drawers in our kitchen

Friday's Big Project: continue on the laundry and the playroom work (if not done yet) begin putting our bedroom together as it is supposed to be

Friday's Reward Project: pots/pans, cooking containers cupboard

Saturday's Big Project: continue on the other projects (playroom, laundry, our room) as needed

Saturday's Reward Project: all the drawers in the kitchen

Sunday's Big Project: continue on the other projects as needed plus the other cupboards in the kitchen

Sunday's Reward Project: counters, sink and fridge

Menu Plan Monday

This week's menu plan is going to be as simple as can be. We have a lot of leftovers to use up, so that will make up a large part of our week's menu.

Monday: leftover beef and rice
Tuesday: leftover chinese food
Wednesday: leftover pizza
Thursday: leftover chicken noodle
Friday: a beef pasta dish
Saturday: kids pick!
Sunday: beef brisket in the crockpot, mashed potatoes

Lysol Giveaway

By reading through some of the posts on other people's blogs (who also participated in the 28-day challenge) I came across this one. Kelli, at Feeding Four is hosting a giveaway for Lysol's new product, No Touch Hand Soap System. It's very cool! You should head on over to Kelli's blog to check it out too! Here is her post for the giveaway. But stick around and read. She has a very delightful way of writing that I enjoy. And if you are reading here, I'm guessing that you would also enjoy reading there!