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Miracles of Tidy

I am always a bit behind the times, but I finally picked up


You can find it on Amazon or, I am sure, in any bookstore.  It's all the rage.

Now I am not one to be overly attached to things and most people would consider my place quite neat and tidy.  In fact, I have alarmed some family members with my lack of sentimentality towards stuff.

But I have to say this book is over the top.  What a hoot!  I can relate to it actually, but it still cracks me up.

Check out the proper way to store socks.  You know socks work hard trapped there between your feet and your shoes.  They need to relax in comfort in the sock drawer.

My son has his own method for socks--they are all exactly the same.  No matching them into pairs, no rolling them into balls, no need for fancy organizer insets for the sock drawer.  Stack them all up right out of the dryer.  Happy, free-range socks!  Pull any two at random out of the drawer and you have a pair.  He should write his own book.

Even though I am undoubtedly much closer in practice to Marie Kondo than to the writer of this essay, I have sympathy for Carle Wisel.  Mike was a great collector, but he was also very organized and tidy with his collections.

The only thing I can be accused of hoarding is pens and pencils.  I have them in containers in every single room of the house except the bathroom.  Well, even there if you count eyebrow pencils.  I do have a dread fear of not being able to lay my hands on a writing implement when I need it.

kitchen 

living room

office desk top

office desk drawer

antiques pens on office bookcase

bedside table


laundry room

my craft room

That is my confession for today.  I am a pen and pencil hoarder and I am not ashamed.








Comments

  1. LOVED the book. Would I ever do socks or bras the way she does? No. Do I bow at things after I use them? No. Did I bow at things when I followed her method of decluttering/massive dumping of items? I did. Not piece by piece, but when I had a pile of bags, I did. Kind of silly, but it did feel RIGHT giving them all a good bye and honoring them for their service to me. Nice closure, I guess I should say. :)

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    Replies
    1. Funny thing is I do my socks and underwear "her" way and have since before she was born.

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  2. I forgot I used to love to collect pencils. I had gillions of them until the Grandson started using them. But you're right, I do love to have a pen and pencil on standby.

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  3. Is it OK that I don't read this book? I don't think I need it. I have a lot of stuff but it is not cluttery and just last winter i sorted and culled out a lot of stuff. What's left is what I like. I just like a lot of stuff.
    Is that OK?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the Carlye Wisel essay could have been written by you.

      Delete
  4. I think this particular form of hoarding - of pens and pencils - is perfectly fine, as long as any ones that no longer work get thrown out rather than back into the pot, hoping they will magically work again some day. :)

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  5. You have a craft room? I AM jealous. I am tidy, but have way too much stuff. Today I am thinning the sock drawer.

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    Replies
    1. Used to be Mike's office. My grandson told me I really girled it up.

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  6. I'm afraid you and I have the same problem with pens and pencils. Art is a hoarder of all kinds of stuff. I try to tidy up, but I confess it does occasionally get away from me. I've heard about this book. Unfortunately I can't get myself to get rid of the too many towels and sheets. I should though... Maybe soon...

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  7. "Happy, free-range socks!"--- I love it! I am a pen/pencil hoarder as well but you have me beat as I don't have any in the laundry room!

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  8. Every station in my house has at least one working pen. I am guilty of keeping anything that was given to me by someone special. Probably wouldn't hurt to go on a purge here. These will mean nothing to my next of kin.

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  9. Amusing post. What's with the pens and pencils? Do you keep a note pad nearby, too?

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  10. I read the reviews on tidying up and decided I'd already done it. (Though not by her methods perhaps.) However, now that I see the book on your nightstand, I immediately got a copy on my Kindle. I wish I was a pen and pencil horder - I'm always looking for one that works.

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  11. I'll have to check out the book. My messy spot is the kitchen/dining table that becomes a repository for magazines, mail, keys, shopping, and items being moved from one room to the next. I used to blame my daughter but now that she has moved out I have to admit it is on me.

    Your son and I had the same idea. I hate having to pair socks (and rarely wear them unless it's cold) - it's so much easier to have all the same style and color of socks..no matching required. :p

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  12. I like how you have writing stations all over with scissors too. I used to do that but now I just have one in the kitchen and one in my bedroon.
    I'm reading "GUT" at the moment on kindle app on my iPad. I bought the book but the type was too small for me.

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  13. I love that you've admitted your slight obsession! Never heard of the book but might just have to check it out. You make it sound hysterical!

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