Too Much Stuff

When a room starts looking like this on a daily basis........

& a closet looks this messy no matter how hard I try to keep it clean....

& bookshelves are overflowing, & dressers oozing........

& wall colors are too dark........

it means:: Room makeover on a budget!

I don't know about you, but I feel you can never have too many books. 

Most of these are picture books, but the overflowing bookshelves are due to the fact that Sloan is reading chapter books full time now. She still enjoys looking at the picture books & reading them to Zoe & Aris. The funnest thing about her love of chapter books is we read together. Now I have a valid excuse to read all the novels I never did as a kid. I also enjoy reading her some of my childhood favorites. We just finished reading "Caddie Woodlawn". 

I have cleaned out 4 giant garbage bags full of "things" that were cluttering up the girls lives. Yes I really feel that when there is too much "stuff" it's harder for kids to use what they have. They are so bogged down by all the clutter around them, that it's hard for them to enjoy what they have. I got rid of toys they hadn't played with in a very long time, toys that were being left out but not really played with, and toys that were no longer age appropriate. I had Sloan help to purge the stuffed animal box. It was tough for her, but an invaluable experience. I let her choose what she wanted to donate to those who have a lot less than us. She decided to donate some of the nicer toys. I was very pleased it was her decision & also loved the fact she didn't just want to give away the junky toys. I still have a few more bins to go through, but I now see a light at the end of the tunnel. Please, please, please, my kids don't need anymore toys. Grandmas and Grandpas, please take note. However books are totally welcome. One can never have too many books.

I have a few little projects I am working on this weekend. I hope to show some pics of the new room in another week or so. What are you working on now?