Day 62 & 63: More and More TOYS!

So, my son had his birthday last week.  Which means that we just had an influx of more stuff.  So, purging 10 things a day is not really reducing our total mass of items, right now.  We are just trying to get back to even.

Thankfully my neighbor gave us an opportunity to purge, since her church is looking for items to stock a "prize box" for kids.  I went through my son's room and with his permission (mostly) we came up with 25 toys & items to give away.  I love it!

Today's (& Tomorrow's) Toss:
25 gently used toys, donated to my neighbor's church

Day 61: More Baby Things

I gave away our baby bassinet and sheets this week.  My Bible study leader is expecting her first child next month, and while I had planned to sell this bassinet on Craigslist and make a little $$ off of it, I decided to give it away instead.  Actually I was convicted by the Lord that I need to trust Him for my finances, and that I didn't need to take money from a friend to save up for the things I feel I need more money for.  I just didn't feel right about it.  Especially since the bassinet & sheets were gifted to us.  We have been so blessed with so many things.  I think I will continue to wrestle with giving versus selling.

In addition to that, there were 8 baby rattles and toys that I donated yesterday to MMCenter.  One of them was even brand new in the bag.  Part of me wanted to save it for our baby, since it was brand-spankin' new.  But truthfully we already have stacking rings, and so many more baby toys.  I hope someone else will feel they are special in having a brand new toy for their baby.

Today's Toss:
1 bassinet
2 bassinet sheets
8 baby rattles and toys

=11 baby items on to new homes, to bless more babies!

Day 60: The MMCenter Drop-Off

Finally!  I have been driving around town with a huge box in my trunk, filled with all these things I wanted to give to the Marjaree Mason Center.  I was seriously so ready to have these things out of my house and my car...I almost did a happy dance right there in their driveway.  : )

I did a little more last minute purging of some things I thought they could use...

Today's Toss:
1 cell phone
1 charger (the MMCenter gives these to women in domestic violence situations and they can call 9-1-1 with them if needed)
6 puzzles
3 toys

11 things for the MMCenter--yeay!  A great cause!

Day 59: Cheap Toys

One thing I've also started doing is taking cheap toys, like from fast food kids' meals boxes, and putting them pretty much straight into a donate box.  Unless of course, my kid seems really attached to it.  But, in my experience, they play with the toy while they are supposed to be eating the kid's meal you just bought, and then they either leave it in the car, or pretty much drop it first thing inside the door and forget about it.  I don't toss it right away, but I leave it in the "donate box" in my laundry room, and wait a few days to see if they ask for it at all.  Rarely does this happen.

My neighbor has requested some gently used kids' toys for a prize box they have at their Wednesday night program at church, so I figure these items will be perfect for that.

Today's Toss:
1 board book
1 bottle of Orbees
2 cars
1 necklace charm
2 happy meal toys
dinosaur flash cards
pencil bag
glider plane

Total:
10 toys that will hopefully make some kid (but maybe not some clutter-avoiding parent) happy!

Day 58: Pillows & Clothes

8 more toddler girls clothing items
3 old pillows, donated to MMCenter

Total:  11 things given away!

Day 57: Jumbo Coloring Books

I found some jumbo coloring books while attempting to clear through my kids' art & learning supply corner, which is a MESS!
Today's Toss:
11 scribbled-all-over Handy Manny pages-recycling bin
1 in good condition Cars jumbo book-donated

Total: 12 more things

Day 56: Files

Today I started going through my file folders, in the bottom drawer of my desk.  The big question being: "Which documents really need to be saved?"  I'm having a hard time believing anything does!  It seems like any statement can be accessed online, so what is the point of saving hard copies anymore??

It's also hard to quantify documents...like am I really going to count each piece of paper?  Count each file folder?  I dunno.

All I do know is that I threw several file folders full of papers into the recycling bin today.  And last night we gave back our "modern cradle" to my parents so they can keep it in their house for any of their future grand babies.

Today's (& Yesterday's) Toss:
12 folders, portfolios, and all their contents from file drawer
1 cradle

13 things!