Project #2: Completed

Ahhhhhh, spring cleaning. The thought of it makes me giddy for the results but tired just thinking about the work. It's amazing how out of control things can so easily become if you stop paying attention. I am on a quest to simplify our lives and space to promote peace and calmness. Doesn't that sound lovely? (Closing eyes. Hearing only the waves of the ocean. Feeling the warm sun on my face.) Ok, I am back now.

Like I wrote about last Friday, I enjoy having a clean house and honestly even enjoy the act of cleaning (most of the time.) I don't like germs or dirtiness. I do like disinfected and sparkle. However, if I can't see the mess on a regular basis, it somehow doesn't really bother me. Take spare bedroom closet #1 for example. Here are just a few of the items found buried in here: freshmen year cheerleading skirt, dance costumes, 5 pairs of snow boots, 19" tv from college, my unprotected (and uncleaned - oops) wedding dress, 3 memory boxes, 2 empty shoe boxes to use for future memory boxes, 3 jean jackets, old 4-H sewing projects, 10 coats, 3 pillows, 2 red curtains, my freshmen year Homecoming dress, knitting supplies, the veil I wore at my bachelorette party, a large bag filled with old t-shirts to keep for when I ever get around to making a t-shirt quilt, and the list goes on and on. It was a hodgepodge mess. It was time to tackle this spring cleaning job. Before:

Hodgepodge mess.

This was our junior year prom.

You didn't think I would get rid of my dress, now did you? *smile. I had royal blue heels and my friend Laura made me a beautiful sequence headband to match. I LOVED this dress. Tom had a whole other opinion. It's amazing how differently we see things sometimes. I still love him.

This gray wool coat was a hand-me-down from one of my best friends....many years ago. I loved it and wore it proudly for several winters, but then I bought a black one and no longer have a need for it. Tom said it's time to let it go. I suppose he's right.

Everyone bakes in their wedding dresses, right? Ha. I was trying it on for kicks and giggles (phew - it still fits) when the buzzer on the stove went off. Tom suggested I bake in my wedding dress more often.

I have these really great ideas sometimes. I think something is going to be so cool and then - years later - I realize how very wrong I was. Example: this Pi Phi/ISU (Iowa State University) spray painted shirt made at the Iowa State Fair. Really?

REALLY?! I probably paid $20 for it and wore it to bed once. Maybe twice. It's definitely going in the t-shirt quilt pile. 

And now for my one famous autograph - Ozzie Guillen signed my sweatshirt at my first Chicago Whitesox game. It was a big deal. Growing up, my dad gave me baseball cards for every book I read. My goal every time was finding Ozzie's card. (Not sure I ever did.) I also preferred the packs with bubble gum in them, but that's a different story. Anyway, I smile every time I see this sweatshirt, (which just so happens to be every time I move or clean out the spare bedroom closet) but more important things are pushing it out the door. 

Or should I keep it for the t-shirt quilt?

Jk.

I loved this green purse. I remember seeing it at the purse party and knowing it had to be mine. Lots of fun memories were had with this purse in tow. 

Those were just a few of my favorite items. The entire closet cleaning project took me two Saturdays and man is it nice to have it done. And now for the end result! 

After:

My donation pile: it doesn't look like much and more was added after this picture was taken but trust me, it's substantial.

So that's a wrap. Now on to the other spare bedroom, linen closet, kitchen cupboards and pantry, laundry room and garage. I should be done, oh........a year from now *smile.