Precious real estate

Am I the only one starting to hyperventilate about where all the new crap Christmas toys and treasures will go once they're unwrapped?  I mean, once they're wrapped... then unwrapped and strewn about the house. The very same things I've been stashing in my closet and basement for months...

I've started clearing the deck in preparation. Don't tell the grandparents, but I've actually thrown out some stuffed animals. Big ones. Not favorites (of course) -- just ones that consume too much space. And I'm not finished. There are others I'm planning to abduct when no one is looking. (Shhh!)

And then there are the magazines, catalogs, paper clutter, and miscellaneous pieces of plastic crap. Here, there, and everywhere. Why I've saved every issue of Good Housekeeping for the past 3 years, I don't know, but they're going.

The fact that we're drowning in "stuff" prompted me to pull out the FlyLady's book, which I bought when I was pregnant - 4 years ago. HA! I read a few pages but never got into it. Then I had my son, and poof! My house exploded with more "stuff" than ever. And I've never caught up.

Of course I am a chief contributor -- with all the garage sale bargains I pick up, we generally have more coming into the house than going out of it. I've garage-saled, eBayed, Craigslisted, consigned, and donated bags and bags of stuff. But still there is waaaay too much stuff in my house. I think it multiplies at night while we're asleep.

For someone who considers herself to be non-materialistic, I sure run a household with an awful lot of STUFF.

Comments

[Bluegrass Mama]

Fortunately when the kids get older, the toys get smaller! Still, my goal the past few years has to have more stuff go out the door than come in. It's an ongoing battle, so I have no pearls of wisdom to share with you. Good luck!

[kristi]

I hear ya! As much as I'm looking forward to Christmas morning, and watching Isabella open her presents, my very small house is going to be swamped with even more crap than it already is. I need a professional organizer to come in and tell me how to get my house in shape (or even better, do it for me).

[Chris]

Thank goodness I'm not the only one!! There is so much stuff to get out before Christmas, it's not even funny: old toys and stuffed animals, paper, a mega amount of old magazines and clothes the kids have outgrown. I HATE having to go through it all but I have to do it before Christmas or it will be even worse. LOL.

[Melody]

Oww. I have been doing the same thing this week too. We only have 'so much' room and I don't want stuff crammed everywhere. Each night when Monet's in the bath I've been sneaking into her room and taking stuff away - stuff that is looking a little ratty or worn out and ripped books etc., We NEED to make room.

[Mrs. Flinger]

YES! I absolutely am freaking out. We literally have no room. None. Can't I just get her a Starbucks card and tell her it's for her milk? And then buy my coffee with it, too? No? Tacky?

And she wants another baby bed and baby. Dude. She HAS THREE. Eeeek.

[Jody]

We just sorted toys and made a donation the other day. I refuse to add- one in one out. :)

OK, it works in theory.