100 Day Challenge - Declutter - DAY 11- 4 Vintage 1950's Dinner Plates Franco Fiorgi by Quadrifoglio Made in Italy

Item:           4 Vintage 1950's Dinner Plates Franco Fiorgi by Quadrifoglio Made in Italy 

Owed for:    10+ Year (picked up at an estate sale)

Why I kept it:    

• I like how they look and think any food looks great on them
• .Big, thick and sturdy

Why letting go:   

• Big, thick and take about half of the dish rack I have in a cabinet
• Too rare and nice for everyday use
• Don't have the full set; just four plates.

Destination:    Giving to my ex to use for small get-togethers as he doesn't have any matching plates.  

                       One plastic plate he had I am certain was stained from oil-laden car or motorcycle parts left on it 

                       for a  long period of time.by either he or my son, but once it went through the dishwasher it was 

                       put back into dinner plate circulation.

                      

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - DAY 10 -Takeout Plastic Tableware & 2015 Carmike Cinemas Popcorn Bucket

Item:                      Takeout Plastic Tableware & 2015 Carmike Cinemas Popcorn Bucket

Owed for:               1-3 years

Why I kept it:    

• When we would get takeout and take it home (mostly from Fazoli's), I would save the plasticware fork/knife/napkin figuring could use it for a picnic until it over took an entire drawer.  Obviously, was getting takeout more than picnicking.
• .Kept Carmike Cinemas Popcorn bucket for sentimental reasons and figured I could use it for something.

Why letting go:   

• All are taking up too much space and they are not needed.  Going forward can write a post about the movies we see to remember the good times instead of physical object.

Destination:    

Took to Celebration of Life for a relative over the weekend and plan on taking into work to as we                      have "food" days frequently/

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - Day Nine - 4 Towels

Items:           4 Towels

Owed for:    4-10 years

Why I kept it:    

• It seemed like there was a black hole under my son's bed captured towels and socks in its vortex and would have to grab old ones out of the closet just to dry off.

Why letting go:   

• Two of the towels are getting a little raggedy on the eges and the other two are discolored after accidently washed with an article of clothing I had dyed a wine color and despite being bleached.
• The towel shortage stopped when my son moved out and I have more than I need.

Destination:    Local ASPCA Animal Shelter

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - Day Eight - Son's Favorite Fire Truck Small Blanket

Item:                   Son's Favorite Fire Truck Baby Blanket

Owed for:           22+ Years

Why I kept it:    

• It was my son's favorite blanket from the time he around 2 years old to 5 years old. He spotted it when he was 2  at a thrift store and wanted it as it had dogs on a fire truck on it.  He used to carry it around with him everywhere .until we used it to try to put out an engine fire my Taurus (ended up putting out by pouring Diet Coke on it).. It is bigger than most baby blankets but not as big a a full size so it was easy for him to carry around, but still cuddly to cover up with for a nap without being too small.

Why letting go:   

• My son is 24; he has long forgotten this blanket.
• It is in really rough shape. The center area had a slight burn that I cut away, but he didn't want fixed.   I tried to reinforce it with Heat N Bond, some fabric scraps and zig zagged and darned the heck out of it for donation - what it looked like before is below.
• Batting and backing are still in good shape.

Destination:    Local ASPCA Animal Shelter.

Although the decluttering is slow going right now, I am trying to get rid of things I have held onto for a long time to make it easier to get rid of things I don't have as much of an attachment before starting on any specific area.   

Organizational Hacks For The Kitchen

As part of the 100 Day Declutter, I have also been looking for tips and tricks to store and organize things so I will be able to find what I have easily.

Although some of these, like building a small rolling rack because of skill set or tools, or peg board might no work if you don't have space or are a renter, some of the other are more simple and inexpensive, like the using magazine racks or Command-type removable hooks are something anyone could do.. 

As I also try to be thrifty, I wanted to share that 3M, the maker of Command hooks usually had printable discount coupons on their website (be sure where you shop will accept internet printed coupons - I have had numerous problems at Walmart but no trouble at Meijer's with these).

Your local Dollar Tree may have 1 small 2lb hook or a 2pk of small plastic hooks for $1. 

The magazine racks on the other hand are not as inexpensive.  The best source I have found so far is Target if I want to buy new ones nad have everything match.   A basic black plastic holder is currently $4.99 or a Steel White Mesh Magazine holder is $6.49.  Thrift stores and garage sales might be another source and then spray paint them the same color to match

3M Website Coupon Page for Command Hook Coupons

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - Day Seven - 2 Issues of National Geographic

Items:           2 Issues of National Geographic - August 2016 & March 2017

Owed for:    Over 1 year and nearly a year

Why I kept it:    

•  I had subscribed to National Geographic as they always have interesting articles and beautiful pics
• If you can stand to tear them up, the pages with pictures are great to wrap small presents in for Christmas. 

Why letting go:   

•  Never got around to reading either issue, not because not interesting, usually just read things online  in the evenings instead.
•  As they do have a lot of informative information, it has been hard to tear out pages to wrap presents as I think someone might enjoy them.

Destination:    Gave to a Marv (ex- husband) to read; he takes magazines and books he has read to a Little Free 

                       Library.

I used to subscribe to many magazines when I worked 3rd shift in a call center as could flip through during down times and drop what I was doing as soon as phone call came in headset.

As part of my declutter going forward, I have cancelled renewals and will not subscribe to any new magazines this year to see which ones I really miss after a year and hopefully Publisher's Clearinghouse, MAD Magazine, Mercury Magazines and Blue Dolphin can stay will still be in business.

In the meantime, I am trying to find my Library card so I can check out magazines from the library if I do get rid of them all and need something to read.

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - Day Six - 5 Video Tapes and a DVD of Cartoons

Items:           5 Video Tapes and a DVD of Cartoons.  

Owed for:    10+ Years

Why I kept these   

• The DVD "Liberty Kids" was given to my son a present from a friend. 
• Never finished watching 1990 movie "Cadence" with Charlie Sheen. I watched a few minutes several times and I just couldn't get into the movie.  It had good ratings and many people praised it and from what I was told,I didn't view far enough into the film to get to the good part, so I kept it.
• 2002's "Bloodwork" with Clint Eastwood - my Mom was a Clint Eastwood fan, although this movie came out after she passed away, still made me think of her.
• 1990's "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" was a thrift store purchase because my son asked if he could get a movie about a car.  I didn't realize until after purchasing it starred the obnoxious Andrew Dice Clay, who was best known for telling foul mouthed, limericks and jokes that degraded women, then when blasted for it went on a talk show and cried saying it was just a character he created, not how he really felt.  
• 2001 "Swordfish" had a great cast of John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle and Sam Shepard.
• VHS tape of 1988 movie "Perfect Murder" starring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow.  A nearby neighbor's husband like to tape shows before he passed away and we didn't have cable at the time so she gave us a box of shows he had taped.

Why letting go:   

• Part of my declutter is to get rid of at least as many items as I buy (except for food and I have an Ulta haul that came in the mail.
• My son has long since stopped watching cartoons.
• If I  haven't watched "Cadence" by now, I am probably never going to.
• Can usually find a Clint Eastwood movie on Netflix or Hulu or could find one to rent at Family Video.
• The "Ford Fairlane" movie was hidden at the back of the bookshelf hoping my son would forget about it and as I don't recall seeing him watch it, I am pretty sure he has by now.  If he asks about it I will tell him I saw a lunch on TV that Andrew Dice Clay was on a reality show with a wife that is young enough to be his daughter and it is probably the jist of that movie.
• While "Swordfish" had a great cast, I am not really a big fan of "heist" type films.
• I finally had gotten around to watching "Perfect Murder" and no need to keep the tape now.

Destination:    Thrift store, although I am not sure they can sell the taped VHS one - if I come across more like 

                        that, will probably put out as free on social media.   

                        Old VHS tapes also make good building blocks to make a town and garage for Hot Wheels.