Day 5 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Slow and Steady

Well, I was able to clean off my bureau before my pain meds kicked in. Go me!

What's even better and very timely?  The fact that I found my Christmas gift from Steven buried under all the crap.  A gift certificate to the local massage therapist...!!!!!  Oh my aching back..lol.

Day 5 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Whoops!

After the birthday party was winding down, I was dancing around the living room like a fool with my kids.  I believe I had too much sugar and thought that I had turned into Wonder Woman because I tried to give my daughter, all 5'8" of her, a piggy back ride.  Yeeeeeah.  BAD idea Christina.  Very bad.

When I went to put her down, something in my back snapped and that was it.  I was done.  Toast.  

So, Sunday became a "hobble around the house trying not to cry" day.  I ended up going to the hospital for x-rays and got a handy dandy prescription for pain meds.  I'm at work right now but I have a feeling I'm not going to last long.  Have the ice pack and my heating pad at the ready but couldn't take the meds because I wouldn't be able to drive.  So I'm dosing up on ibuprofen and hoping they will help a little.  

Not sure how much I'll be able to get done today for the challenge.  Might try and tackle the top of my dresser when I get home though if I can prop myself up on my bed.

My fiance and I were talking last night and he just kept saying how sorry he was that I was hurt (he's been AMAZING the past few days, as have the kids.  They even helped me get my socks on yesterday..lol).  I kept saying that I was an idiot and did it to myself.  He then surprised me and said, "Well, I know but I realize how excited you are about the house and how much progress you've made.  You've had a sparkle in your eyes that I haven't seen in months and I'm proud of you."

I might have gotten something in my eyes just then because they started leaking tears.  

I'll get back to sparkling again...just gotta stop doing foolish things.  ;)

Day 4 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Motivation Abounds!

The day of my son's party was gorgeous here in Massachusetts.  I even rocked my flip flops in the 50 degree weather.  Loved it!  Opened the windows and got to cleaning up some more of the house before the guests arrived.

Here's the dining room covered with the crap that I'd moved Thursday from all the tables, cabinets and desks.  And then after..right before the party.

I didn't stop there though.  After I'd gotten the food situation figured out, I turned my attention to the bathroom again.  The closet that's in there has been used as a dumping ground for the crap that never fit in the drawers or cabinets before.  I needed to get rid of a bunch of old bottles of shampoo and expired medicines.  We also have a three drawer plastic bin thing next to the vanity that needed attention too.  Banged those out in less than a half hour!

Day 3 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Thank Goodness For Meetings I Don't Have To Attend

After I finished my drawers this morning, I fully intended to lose myself in my work and spreadsheets.  But then, several of my coworkers had a meeting with their supervisor so I had about an hour to spare to my purging.

In between answering emails and staring blankly at my monitor, I opened up the upper cabinet above my desk and took a deep breath.  I glared at my unblinking adversary and forged ahead.  Here are the pictures..before, after and the third full recycling bin and one and a half bins of trash.

So, my plan was to go home and tackle the crap that was left over from my dining room cleanse yesterday as well as going through the closet in the bathroom but that was derailed a bit.  Going home, bringing Mr. Amazing Man to get his car from the shop, going to dinner with one of my girlfriends and THEN cleaning.

And I need wine.  Lots of wine.

Day 3 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Paper clips, Binder Clips and Trash..OH MY!

I realized the other day when I was cleaning out my bathroom that my daughter and I are bobby pin hoarders.  I found five unopened packages of them in the drawers and found a bowl that I could put them all in and tossed out the cardboard they came on.

As I went through my desk drawers, I realized that not only do I hoard bobby pins, I apparently hoard paper clips and binder clips (all shapes and sizes).  They're like rabbits...just keep multiplying and multiplying.

I don't have cute containers to put them all in so I just went to the coffee station we have in the department and loaded them up.

Here are the after photos, see the before pictures here..

And I'm counting the two recycling bins and my trashcan as 3 bags for this project.

Day 3 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Back to Cubicle Land

I spend the bulk of my week sitting in a six foot by six foot cube.  Literally I spend more time here than I do at my house.  So, I'm going to use the challenge to my benefit and begin purging the drawers and cabinets while I'm here.

Today, I'll be tackling the drawers.  Yuck.

Day 2 ~ 40 Bags in 40 Days ~ Dining Room

Trying not to rush the process but with my son's birthday party on Saturday, I'm really trying to get the common areas of the house in working order.  The living room is done and I moved on to the dining room.

Here are the before and after pictures of each surface.  And yes, I know I have too many cabinets and tables.  Need to pare down on those too!!