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[LavernLuvsShoes]

Did a "2nd Look" under the Master Bath Vanity and tossed more old cosmetic/hair items along with several old bottles of shampoo and conditioner.

Next: Upstairs Linen Closet 

[AuntG]

DH gave me some cute slippers for Valentine's, so I threw my old ones out. I plan to clean carpets this week, and that might prompt me to take a closer look at some of my treasures.

[gidgetgh]

The hardest thing for me to declutter is gifts people have given me that I don't want.  Even I, ruthless declutterer, struggle with that.  

2 of the setty around things I'm giving to Goodwill were gifts, several years ago.  One was many years ago.  That one from many years ago I loved for years, but I'm tired of it so it's going, but there's a little guilt.

I am not one to put something in a closet somewhere just to get it out of sight and revisit it in a few years. I'm pretty much if I don't want it, I want it gone person.  But there's is always some guilt.

Does anyone else struggle with gift items?

[lynnie61]

@gidgetgh   Yes, I USED to struggle with gifts.  Our family has agreed to less gifts, so it has been easier.  I don't have a very hard time with friends gifts.  If I like it, I use and enjoy. If not, in the donation bin it goes.  We are also gifting some more practical items, so less decorations, etc.  

My toughest one was years and years ago, my sister purchased a gawd awful jacket from Quacker.  Yes, I like suede, and it hung in my closet for years and years. The front was beautiful.   I refused to wear it.  The entire back was a 12-16 inch snowman appliqué.  What was she thinking?  I've always worn taylored, plain classics.  I finally donated it last year.  Her heart was good, but there is no way, I would wear that out. I kept it so long because of guilt.   

[amyb]

@gidgetgh Wish I had words of advice on both your "sticking points"...purses and gifts.

I have a few gifts I'm toying with and struggling with letting go of...both in storage, and not in use. Both meaningful to the person that gave them to me. One a book my best friend LOVED as a child, and wanted me to have one, and wrote a whole long note inside as to why it meant a lot to her...thin book, I need to just keep it I guess. "The Lonely Doll."

Another of dear old friends, a couple from my childhood, like a 2nd mother to me, he passed a few yrs ago, she's 91...lives in VA, so I visit, we email, but don't see her often.

I have a small picture on my office bookshelves of them together, with a small little Capadamonte (not my taste at all) basket of flowers she insisted I take, and does have sentimental meaning for me. THAT is my memory space for them. BUT I recently took down a 2nd photo I have of them, when decluttering my bookshelves to simplify...and put it into one of those hat boxes I said I use for extra frames. In it they are on vacation in Bermuda, and sent me that in one of those chotchke souvenir "Bermuda" frames...tacky for sure, but reminds me of how they loved to cruise together...so I just couldn't let it go, though I'm no longer displaying it. With my next Goodwill run I AM going to finally let go of a gifted to me doll that is in my storage, so baby steps, I guess. I have not one "tip" to share...just keep trying!

As for the purses...I know you love them...was wondering how you've been doing with those. Last year you shared your paired down collection, and you had some very nice ones...I recall the pink ones I liked.

I shared that I was never a purse girl, but then during Covid, I got on the LugLive train and have since bought several...but I do use them all. Lightweight, seasonally different with colors, lots of crossbodies (my style bag of choice for running around); they are my everyday, run arounds & for travel. But, my nice leather bags, that I love too, have taken a back seat to them for everyday, & only come out occasionally. I did use a Patricia Nash one most of last summer, with pretty seashells on it.

I have two Periea boxes on my top closet shelf, one for fall/winter bags, one for summer bags...filled...and THAT will be it, unless I do one in one out. (a few small crossbodies I'm rotating this winter are hanging in my closet.) I've sworn when my mom passed in 2020, her spirit (she WAS a bag girl!) came into me and made me start loving and buying bags more.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks!...for better or for worse.

Let us know if you make progress with these things and can share any tips! Sorry I only commiserated rather than had any help for you!

[gidgetgh]

@lynnie61 @amyb 

Thanks for the responses.

One item, a gift, that I put out yesterday to take to consignment is A throw from my best friend. A gift this past Christmas. I just absolutely don't need another throw. It still is in its original wrapper. I had put it in a drawer but that really isn't like me, so I pulled it out yesterday. I so appreciate that she thought to give me a gift for Christmas, but I am one of those people in the "please, no more throws" category.  I live alone. I am totally stocked. 

The other 2 gifts that are going to Goodwill are fine.  A very, very small decorative tray that my best friend gave me probably 30 years ago. I always kept it out on display on my hutch, but after 30 years, I'm ready to move it on. Not too much guilt on that. The other is a very small framed print, probably 5 inches square in its standing frame. Same thing. I've displayed it for several years but I'm ready to part with it. 

I exchange gifts with only my sister and my 2 best friends.  I do so little for Christmas now in terms of decorating and stuff that I really want to keep going with that.  I have absolutely no ego at all with gifts that I give. If the recipient doesn't like it, I tried my best. Feel free to move it on. Not all gifts are winners. But when I'm in the receiving end, I feel some guilt.  Anyway....

As for purses, I have loved them since I was 12 years old and I bought my first one at Woolworth's when we lived in New Jersey.  But 2 things kind of have complicated things purse wise.  First, I've become a fickle with possessions. Just because I like/love something when I buy it doesn't mean I'm going to love it 6 months from now,  I have just become very fickle. Love it when I buy it and then hmmmm.....not so much. 

Next, is I tend to buy purses for the lifestyle I would love to have, but don't have. I live a very quiet life and the need just really isn't there to buy purses for different occasions and stuff.  But my love for purses remains, so there is the struggle. My collection is still manageable.  For every one that comes in, one needs to leave and does keave, but I just can't seem to get my mindset changed yet.

Now, when it comes to shoes, other than my love for Birkenstocks, I'm not into shoes at all.  I've worn the same 2 pairs of slides all winter.  No problem at all with shoes and clothes really. All my clothes are in my closet. I routinely purge. 

Anyway, I'm droning on.  Time to do a few tasks. 

[amyb]

Another quick "Peruse & Purge" this morning from a bureau drawer:

Tossed two small plastic boxes that held Christmas ornament novelty earrings (I know...I almost tossed them but sometimes I wear them for fun, sigh.) One box empty as that pair broke, only saved the french loop findings from them in case I needed them for the other pair (I KNOW...I'm nuts.) But transferred the one pair I have left to my jewelry armoire, w/ the extra findings. 

Out with an old Travelon folded wallet that housed a pen and billfold you kept your plane ticket in when traveling. No one needs, and certainly I don't use these anymore...

e-check in mostly and if I carry the paper ticket, they go in my current travel crossbody bags.

A little high heel shoe ring/earring holder a friend gave me I no longer display or use. Cute, but no longer want it hanging around in my drawer just cuz it's cute and I "might" use it again...kind of a pain to take rings in and out of...my armoire and two jewelry boxes are enough!

Going with my consignments.

Also going to that store, I let go of a torquoise beaded stretch bracelet with a silver heart on it, chunky. Not really my style, I've seldom worn it, and have another pretty Brighton bracelet with a similar heart my mom gave to me...that is the one I wear and will reach for time and again. As for turquoise, which I seldom wear also...but I have one other nugget bracelet with amber beads that go with a pair of 14k gold turquoise/amber earrings I wear occasionally, that'd be the bracelet I'd reach for then. Out with the other!

Tossed a few other odds and ends from that drawer, one silly chotcke from childhood, no longer want, one dried up didn't smell anymore potpourri bag. Bye!👋 

Two Tignanello leather/metal key chains, never used, no longer have any Tig bags.

An old, outdated pair of wedge Isaac Mizrahi sandals...also more scuffed and beat up than I thought they were.

Still noodling over any other jewelry I can bring to consignment. 

I'm in a "ruthless" mood so trying to grab at anything I'm sick of taking up space, unused! ...even if just a little here and there, gotta strike while the iron is hot.

[amyb]

More... from under bathroom sink in vanity cabinet, 4 tubes of old hair color, I haven't used that brand in over a decade! From vanity drawer...old, almost empty, hair frizz smoother serum. Have plenty of other brands I use now.

Some other odds & ends from the bin the hair color was in.

A magazine (like vintage I bought on eBay years ago...no longer care about the subject.)

Found 4 unopened jars of Dr. Denese Glycolic peel pads from old Auto-Delivery kit, where I've used the other products up, but hardly use these. I want to email DD website first to ask about how long these can be kept/used. No exp dates on them, but does have a mfr's# on the bottom, maybe they can help me. I do like to use them now and then and would like to use these up if still ok to use. We'll see....

[Sooner]

I didn't get rid of much at all but put things where they belonged and organized, and gained space and a decluttered closet!  On to the dishes again. . . 

[gidgetgh]

A few more things added to the Goodwill shopping bags (I now have 2 ready to go).  3 small bread and butter plates from the kitchen and 2 small setty around things. 

Setty around things seem to be on my decluttering radar the past few days.

I'm still looking around.  My plan is to go to Goodwill tomorrow.