I need some hints and tips on how to declutter.

I, personally, love to be organised – I’m always organised at work and I try to be at home. However, because we only have a small house and so much stuff, the house always seems cluttered regardless of how much ‘tidying up’ I do. I’m trying to take it one step at a time and declutter one area one day, another the next, etc. but by the time I finish the last area, the first one is a mess again.

Our kitchen, frankly, pisses me off because although we have underbench cupboards and drawers that are full, we still have so much crap on the countertops – like the toaster, chopping boards, the kettle and tea, coffee, etc. I’ve wondered if I should get separate little containers for the pantry and keep all of this stuff in there, but it’s so convenient having it on the counter.

In fact, typing out this blog entry has helped me think of ways to declutter the kitchen- the teas and such that we don’t use regularly can go away, while the coffee and sugar that we used on a daily basis can stay on the counter in square canisters that can be shoved right into the corner. Me thinks I will be buying some containers tomorrow! But what about the toaster? We can’t really shove it away in a cupboard because we use it every day and it would be a hassle to get it out all the time. What about chopping boards? Again, we use them daily, along with the kettle too.

My greatest problem is our bedroom – its small, so only a small amount of furniture will fit in and therefore limits storage space. Also, it’s the last place I am of a day and it’s always at a time where I can’t be fucked with putting stuff away, folding clothes, etc. Just can’t be fucked. So the bedroom floor is consistently a mess. I have tried clearing out huge amounts of clothes (and am currently sitting next to two bags of clothes ready to head to St Vincent de Paul) but there still seems to be too much. I’ve asked Michael to remind me that every time I buy a new item of clothing, I have to throw a piece out (in that sense, I’m replacing clothes rather than adding to my wardrobe). So if I buy a shirt, I have to throw one out. If I buy a pair of jeans, get rid of the old ones (I only really ever wear jeans till they have holes in them anyway).

How do you keep yourself organised?

P.S. – I turned 23 on Monday. How much more responsible and mature does 23 sound compared to 22? Heaps, I reckon.

A song I’ve loved since I first heard it in 1997. Although I was only 9 years old when this song came out, it resonated with me, and still does on so many levels. It’s just a beautiful song and I have to share it.

Don’t stray
Don’t ever go away
I should be much too smart for this
You know it gets the better
Of me sometimes
When you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you
Pull me out in time
Don’t let me drown
Let me down
I say it’s all because of you
And here I go
Losing my control
I’m practising your name
So I can say it to your face it doesn’t seem right
To look you in the eye
And let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out my mouth indeed it’s time
Tell you why
I say its infinitely true

Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you

And there’s no cure
And no way to be sure
Why everything’s turned inside out
Instilling so much doubt
It makes me so tired
I feel so uninspired
My head is battling with my heart
My logic has been torn apart
And now
It all turns sour
Come sweeten
My every afternoon

Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you
Say you’ll stay
Don’t come and go
Like you do
Sway my way
Yeah I need to know
All about you
It’s all because of you
It’s all because of you

Inspired by my dear friend Sarah, and after seeing this on a couple of other blogs, it caused me to reflect back on the last decade and see how much I’ve changed in what really is a relatively short amount of time. It still seems strange to me that I can even remember back ten years – I know that I’m 22 and that I was 12 then, but it still doesn’t seem right that I should be able to remember back that far. Anyway, here goes…

2000
Age 12. In Grade 6, my final year of primary school. I remember I had a major crush on a guy in my class. Getting ready to head off to high school. Killing Heidi were (and still are) my favourite band. Started really getting involved with computers and webdesign.

2001
Age 13. My first year of high school. Felt awkward and out-of-place. Met some beautiful people, and some mean ones too. Discovered my real love for webdesign and got stuck into it. Had many high school crushes. Met my best friend (at the time), Sarah. Started wearing makeup. Achieved high grades and was awarded an Outstanding Academic Achievement award.

2002
Age 14. Barely remember it, but this is the year I started dance classes at school and fell in love with it. Discovered more friends and made my first male best friend. Got my site hosted for the very first time. Started learning how to use FTP. Achieved high grades and was awarded an Outstanding Academic Achievement award.

2003
Age 15. Fell madly in love with a guy I met online, only to be dumped and told he’d been cheating on me. In the interim, fell for another guy online (Michael) and met him in November. Lost the ‘V-Plates’. High school musical production, great fun and awesome experience. Achieved high grades and was awarded an Outstanding Academic Achievement award, along with three subject awards for Social Science, Dance and Media Studies. Passed Learner’s Permit test and started driving lessons with my mum and dad.

2004
Age 16. Final year of high school. Many trips back and forth to Melbourne to see Michael. Entered the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge with my dance class, and came fourth out of about 20 schools. Grades dropped a bit, enough to miss out on the OAA award for the fourth time. Didn’t care; was in love.

2005
Age 17. First year of college (Year 11). Had a ball this year – great classes, more relaxed learning atmosphere. Studied English, Maths, Psychology & Sociology, Environmental Science and Religion & Philosophy. Hated Enviro Science, and quit. Went to Vanuatu in September for Michael’s sister’s wedding. LOVED IT. Decided to move to Melbourne at the end of the year to be with Michael.

2006
Age 18. Living with Michael and his mum & stepdad. Enjoyed it, but a lot of tension at times. Studied Year 12 via distance education but gave up. Started looking for work. Got my first proper job with a government initiative for apprentices. Loved it. Bought Inspirata.org. First nephew arrived, Jonah. Got engaged on New Year’s Eve.

2007
Age 19. Continued working. Moved into our own apartment in April. Enjoyed the freedom but it was expensive. Got our first pet, Layla. Got my first and second tattoos.

2008
Age 20. Got another kitty to keep Layla company, and called him Hendrix. Went to my first arena concert to see Ozzy Osbourne. Came out of the broom closet. By June, decided we’d had enough of paying an exorbatant amount of rent and decided to move back to Tasmania. Got my third (and kind of fourth) tattoos. Packed up and left in August. Moved in with Mum & Dad to get us on our feet. Michael got a job at a printer cartridge store. I continued looking for work.

2009
Age 21. Huge party for my 21st, with friends coming down from Melbourne. Layla passed away. Cried. A lot. Moved into a rental. Bought Terri.nu Had two job interviews in May, and accepted one position as Legal Secretary. Started living a little, since we now had two incomes. Decided to get married with 5 months to plan. Married in November.

2010
Age 22. Managed to hold down my job for 12 months +. Lost a close family member to suicide. Moved out of the rental and bought our own house. Became DIY-lover. Resced Delilah. Continuing to work. Michael’s best mate got married. And … ?

I decided to launch the new theme even though there’s still a few loose ends to be tidied up, but I was so sick of the last one I knew I had to get this up and running.

The main thing that I still have to get sorted out is making the comments all pretty, then there’s just a few pages to tidy up and such.

Right now, though, I’m off to bed for some much needed sleep – I haven’t gone to bed before midnight any night this week thanks to our trip to Melbourne, so I need to catch up.

Any hints on what I can do for the comments, please let me know.

Check out our DVD collection here:
http://terri.nu/about/dvd-collection/

This doesn’t include our TV Series, music, sports or stand-up comedy DVDs. Purely movies at this point.