As many of you know, we thought we were moving to Florida this summer, so we (I) began to go through the many, many boxes of stuff we had. It hasn't been easy but we threw lots out, donated some to the Salvation Army, and old toys to a neighbor who babysits. That might help some of you, if you "pretend" you are going to be moving and can't take it all with you. I pitched old magazines that I would SOMEDAY get around to reading, donated outgrown clothes (and yet there is always more).

I have also watched Clean Sweep alot to see how they do things. I collected books by my favorite authors and yet I rarely re-read a book. So I have and still am (as I have a HUGE collection of books) going through books - fortunately I know of two used book stores that will give me credit to buy other books but I make sure it is a rotating and take back the new books as soon as I read them.

One of the ideas they use on Clean Sweep is everytime you buy a new piece of clothing, take a piece out of your closet. I also think if you try to do too much at a time it becomes overwhelming. Tackle your clothing one day, your knickknacks another day etc. Also another thing I have done is gone through the closets once and gotten rid of the things I knew right away I could give up and then a few days or weeks later went back again to look over what I kept and what I now could give away.

Mail is a huge problem I think for everyone. What they say on Clean Sweep is through junk mail away right away. Keep a basket to put bills in and things that need to be taken care of right away and put those items in the minute they come in so they don't get lost in the "other' stuff. And then try to go through the rest at least once a week.

I still have a long way to go - I do crafts and am always starting projects and then have "left over" stuff and can't just give it away as someday I may want to make more. I, too have several boxes of stuffed animals and Beanie Babies.