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[amyb]

Did my nails 💅 yesterday and tossed two old, thickened, almost to the bottom, nail polishes. Why is my box of polishes still full to the brim? 

Whohoooo...THAT declutter makes my home feel so lightened up!

One pair of undies. Man, they make them so cheap now compared to some of my older pairs, which lasted for years. These didn't last one year. You know...when they used to sew seams in them vs. glue pieces together?!! Ugh. I guess I have to branch out of my sources for them (always got good ones at Marshalls, not so much now)...maybe next time I'm in Kohl's, where I recently found a good bra selection. 

An old cable from cable tv days.

Just added to consignment stash, a favorite LOFT dress from about 12 yrs ago. Size 0! Girl, not even trying to be a zero again...and I'm fine with that! Cute dress...still love it. I'm sure I'd get it on, but would be too tight in places and I'm done with it. Some size 0-2 will look cute in it.

Made my consignment appt. for tomorrow....hope they take most, if not all of it...but....this place has NEVER taken everything I bring! So fussy.

Anyhoo....Little by little by little..........

[amyb]

Here and there and everywhere...

Just added a ring, Or Paz (or Adi...whichever the silver is) ring I still love but too tight on me now...added to consignments.

Added 3 items to my "take to Gold buyer" pile.

Going to check other jewelry before heading to consignment tomorrow.

Also, just washed a little Lug clutch, I have 3 of, don't use this one anymore...had a little "wear & tear tarnish" to it, came out in the wash. Either consignment or donation tomorrow.

[AuntG]

There are all these decluttering ideas. One I just saw was 12/12/12. I think your supposed to toss 12 things, donate 12 things and put 12 things in their proper location. There was a specific time limit too. It's pretty silly. I guess if someone had a stash of makeup, it would be easy to throw out that many items. When I buy something, I use it until it is used up or worn out, so I donate very little.

[amyb]

Two steps fwd, one back....still progress.

Opened another shoe box of cards/pics. Tossed some, decent amt for this morning. Still going through all of these little by little and making some progress. Also still working to consolidate the separate boxes into less little boxes...making some progress there.

Well...not so much on the jewelry purge to go to consignment today, lol...have taken out for consignment and put back 4 items so far. Hm. They are items I still wear occasionally so for now keeping them.

One, a gift from a friend I haven't worn...more a fashion item...if summer goes by and I still don't wear it (it's very summery color/style) out it will go.

Other items, costume that I can let go of, I know this consignment won't take...they take fine jewelry or very name brand trendy pieces. So I may just donate to my other consignment...not worth consigning. 

Throwing out some shoe boxes. I wish I could find a better under the bed shoe storage, for off season, seldom worn footwear. The two I've had so far...ugh...cheap, non-functional. I want a better system and better quality. I'm sure it exists on Amazon or somewhere...will have to go on the hunt.

That's it for this rainy Saturday morning in CT.

Going to consignment at noon. Dropping off 2 books at library donations after that too.

Have a good day everyone.

**Update...pulled a tuquoise beaded necklace I've never hardly worn in the probably 16 yrs I've owned it. They'll likely refuse it...methinks all that "turquoise" jewelry Q/LR sold me back in the day, was NOT solid, and therefore this consignment shop has usually turned my pieces down. 

[amyb]

Duh..."update on my update"....guess who forgot to take the turquoise necklace to the consignment shop. 🤪 So typical of me...always forgetting something! Told them I'll bring it in at some point.

They wound up taking 3 of the 5 clothing items, and my Lug bag (the cute little floral I kept last summer and used once...bah bye.)

So newsflash....skinny jeans really ARE OUT! They didn't take the AG jeans worn twice $130.00 retail...because "yeah, no to skinnies." okey dokey.

And the LOFT dress one lady thought was fine...but guess what....they double check at this store. 🙄

"I'm going to let (other lady) double check, which we always do here" and low and behold "pass" "some little spots on front""SEE that's why we double check!!")

...I've looked and looked and see no spots, but whatever, donating both to church. I'd have donated on my way home, but didn't have a bag to put them in, in my car.

Didn't take my brand new bohemian, woven backpack either...ya know why?..."Ya see where these two buckles don't quite match?" SIGH. This bag had burnished brass buckles that look vintage and are not supposed to be exactly the same. I wasn't about to try to school her. They are truly a pain.

Last...my word sign...the glue on the backing was lifted in a few spots. Fair enough, I guess! Dropped it off at Goodwill, with the wicker storage basket I knew they wouldn't take, on my way home.

Here's an interesting thing I noticed while browsing....some of the things they were selling I had in my closet, and I paid less, brand new.

One was a cute top I got at Marshalls, a few years ago, I still wear, mine looks better, I think I paid under $20. They were asking $20.95 on one that was more shopworn and faded looking than mine, which has no wear.

They were also selling a cotton, white LOFT top, that LOFT sold tons of when I worked there in 2011! This "white", looked yellowed (but they accepted it?!!) ...these little cotton peasant tops were $19.99, full price, then, but ALWAYS on sale. We had tons, in tons of colors...that little throwaway item LOFT could put in the front of the store, and always have "on special", to draw you in. A customer could always get them on sale, and employees got these for about $10. Consignment shop today asking $20.95 for a yellowed, 14 y.o. top from Loft, that was cheaper at Loft brand new, 14 yrs ago.

Moral: as my dear mom always said..."You gotta know how to shop"...buyer beware....just 'cuz it's at a cute little trendy consignment shop...not always a deal.

The End.

ps. Got my big $20 (and change) check while there. Whohoo!

Last time they took a brand new cocktail dress, Banana Republic blazer & Michael Dawkins ring...I didn't see any of them still there...and I got $20. 🤷‍♀️ No biggie, just sayin', who knows what sold for what. They may have only cut one check so far, only brought them last month...and I think these shops only cut checks once a month.

[gidgetgh]

I took 3 more things to consignment yesterday afternoon. I think I have my purses finally down to where they need to be and are in line with my life. 

I hope....hope....that going forward I will not buy yet more purses based on a life I don't live. Don't mean to sound so heavy with that, but seriously. My mom owned 1 purse. When that wore out she bought another. I live a very quiet life unfortunately. I just don't need many purses.  I'm fine with having some because I get bored with them easily, but enough already. And I hope I can stick to that. It is the only area in my life possession wise where I have less self control than I'd like. 

[amyb]

Just want to acknowledge you @gidgetgh and your purse efforts. I understand and respect your desired goals there...sort of like my desired goals to have my sentimental clutter not be overwhelming and more than I need to really keep for memories sake.

That said...be easy on yourself...so you LOVE pretty purses and like to have variety...even if they only "go out" occasionally lately...you love them. Sounds like you have worked to not have WAY more than you feel is reasonable for your current lifestyle, even if you've succumbed occasionally and bought a pretty new one. Not the worst vice there is, and I hope you enjoy the ones you have left.

That's all...just wanted to say that because, like me, lamenting for several posts, my desires to rid myself of so much of the past that's hanging on in my storage places, I've heard you struggling with the purse thing as well. I think we all have our weak spots...or maybe not even "weak" just who we are and that's fine!

I just wanted to give you a little permission to breathe and enjoy what's left. And ya know what...IF you see some pretty pink purse, down the line that calls your name...I'm not mad at you for it!! 👛

As for me...shredded more cards & letters this morning. Tossed a paper shoe box, then I sorted remaining, by person, & consolidated what was left into other existing cards boxes. So, one box down. Other 4 small decorative boxes are in my attic storage room, where mom's trunk is, my Pereia box of photos lives...all consolidated there for now, as I still sort through and whittle it down. I do have one plastic shoe box in my bedroom closet where mainly all my mom's cards/letters live...in case God forbid I ever have to escape to save my life, I can grab those. And...the past inspired the present this morning as I emailed an old friend after seeing her old postcards in there. We stay in touch, randomly, over emails and I hadn't touched base in a while. So it served some purpose today....I did get a kick out of some of her letters...funny stuff that was happening in our lives back then.

Tossed another nail polish. Opi, painted my nails with them 3 days ago, wore terribly, was already wearing off by today. Meh, have better ones of similar sheer pink color. My Londontowns wear much better.

That's it for now!! 

[geezerette]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

I took 3 more things to consignment yesterday afternoon. I think I have my purses finally down to where they need to be and are in line with my life. 

I hope....hope....that going forward I will not buy yet more purses based on a life I don't live. Don't mean to sound so heavy with that, but seriously. My mom owned 1 purse. When that wore out she bought another. I live a very quiet life unfortunately. I just don't need many purses.  I'm fine with having some because I get bored with them easily, but enough already. And I hope I can stick to that. It is the only area in my life possession wise where I have less self control than I'd like. 

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@gidgetgh 

My hat is off to you!🙇‍♂️

I can relate to everything you said.  (Except maybe the last sentence since I have more than one thing I need more self control over.☺️)

My mother also had one purse.  Maybe she changed her winter black one for a lighter color in summer, that was it.  

I have been searching for that "perfect purse" since I started carrying them.  Never found it. 

And I too live a quiet life now.  Very quiet.  Maybe I use my purse a couple of times a week, and I do have one style I gravitate to most often.  Along with one style of wallet.  So why I do still have two storage boxes of purses taking up room in my closet?

Part of my problem is falling victim to the current trend of using the tiniest of purses/bags.  I keep wanting to do that, but I need a few more things with me than can fit in those convenient styles.  And I like a real wallet, not a couple of cards slots inside a purse.

The urge isn't as bad as it used to be.  As I age I have more important things to be concerned about, so maybe I can conquer this addiction after all.

Congratulations, and keep up the good work!👍

[amyb]

Sorry, my last post is SO long...I tried twice to cut it into two different posts, but the system wouldn't let me cut paste, so for fear of losing it all ....it's all in one Lonnnnng post.

@gidgetgh @geezerette You both have made the good point about our moms, (in my case it's grandmom not mom who had the one purse...my mom was a dedicated purse gal...with at least 8 in her closet at any one point...even before QVC!) It's retail, online shopping etc...who promoted have "a wardrobe" of purses that "got us." Even myself, in recent years, who was NEVER a purse girl, and only switched twice a year...one for fall/winter, one or two maybe for spring/summer. Then pandemic. LugLive came along then...and mom passed in 2020 too, and I truly believe is vicariously still shopping for purses through me!!

But...I have enough of the Lugs I need now...and I do use them all. And I have a small selection of more special leather purses, dress bags etc...so I'm definitely not shopping for more.

But yes..."a purse wardrobe" became "a thing" after our grandma's time. But we can go back to that mentality....less is more. Keep your favs.

@geezerette I've yet to find the perfect one...it's not easy to. When I worked retail, I saw woman after woman, analyze while looking at the purses we carried, how they functioned. Function first for most women, I've found, myself included. And it's tough...to find the style, weight, function, organizational features in one great purse.

[magicmoodz]

@amyb 

Girl you have some thick skin when it comes to your uppity consignment shop. Good for you for not being visibly annoyed when they turn up their noses at your possessions. You are so nice!

Two things happened before I gave up the practice of consigning. First, upon one visit, the crabby-pants employee found the most innocuous spot on a top. I mean really it was the size of a pinhead. Grrr! Then, one day I brought several clothing items in and the two girls checking them would literally hold pieces up and say "oh this is really cute". When they tallied up what they were going to give me, it was almost laughable--an example being $2.00 for a $98.00 Rachael Roy silk top. I am certain those girls bought some of my things for themselves. My mom had just died and I had a terrible headache that day so I accepted what they offered, left and never went back.

From that point on, I decided that I am blessed to be able to buy thing and I should pass my excess on to others. My charitable organization of choice offers job opportunities to those with developmental disabilities and uses monies made specifically for that community. They are also unique in that they have a program where you can sign up as a "preferred customer". You provide your contact info, clothing preferences and sizes and you get "first dibs" on items coming in. It's kind of like having a personal shopper. I have never used this service, but I think it is a great idea. 

Anyway, I just had to tell you I admire your ability to not display your discontent at the uppity consignment shop.😀