New Year; Old Stuff

I love that all the websites, blogs and twitter feeds I follow are awash with organizational ideas and storage options in January.  When the Twelve Days of Christmas are over (feels more like 60), I am beyond eager to box up, tidy up, and throw out.  

As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I loathe January.  After more than twenty years of taking care of sick children, I am fully cognizant of the job security I face after Aunt Melba and Uncle Carl come to visit from Moline for the holidays and bring their geographically different brand of germs.  And infect the Texas people.  Then go back to their home.  And infect THOSE people.  And the cascade flows from there.  So, you may imagine why my tidying is an escape and a joy-bringer. 

2015 brought me to the realization that I had WAY too much stuff, partly because I faced the herculean task of cleaning out and selling my parents' home.  I had to cart a large portion of it to my own garage, house it, and ponder exactly WHAT to do with 50 years of books and tax returns dating back to 1972.  Seriously.  Now to Daddy's credit, the taxes were all exquisitely labeled and filed.  They were not tossed in a box.  But they were still to be dealt with.  

I silently, as well as vocally, told my family that would NOT be the case when I passed on to another plane.  My crap would be minimal!  Today, I share with you the things you should toss in homage to 2016, and as a favor to those who reside with you.  Our houses are plenty big. They hold too much stuff.  We need space and room to dance, not stacks of papers and DVDs.  
1.  Old bill stubs.  
If you paid it, there is proof somewhere online.  And who pays with a check now anyway?  You don't need your water bill from 2 years ago.  It's on them fancy internets.  

2.  Socks.  And underwear.  
A taboo subject, perhaps?  But if you don't like that bra because it rides up, or those socks are slippy down your heel, TOSS them. They are taking up space.  You won't wear them anyway. 

3.  Hot pads/pot holders
I had like four in a drawer which were kinda greasy and stained.  Washing did nothing to improve.  So you know what I did?  I threw them out and treated myself to new ones!  Bought at January white sale prices.  I have fewer than I did, AND they are all nice and not stain-y.  

4.  Tool box
Time to go through it and make sure you have relocated all the screwdrivers back to their home.  The kids took about three of your phillips heads during the holidays and NOW you can't locate a one.  Go force the pilgrimage back to the tool box.  Then, get rid of the errant screw and nails and repair kits that fit nothing that you still own.   You will be pleased when you need to nail in that class picture that you actually can do it same day.  

Let's start with these ideas.  They will keep you busy until my next post!  You have to find places for all those tiny toys Santa brought anyway.  Happy January!