Declutter Challenge: August

I have set a goal to have 365 things gone in 365 days! And once I reach this goal I’ll continue decluttering…hopefully more than 365 things will leave my home!

My one rule is that hand-me-downs from others don’t count! How is counting someone else’s cast offs helping me reduce clutter? So, if I receive items and decide to pass them on or donate to Goodwill, they will not be on this list!

How did I do in August?

Clothing: 91

Books: 17

Baby (everything but clothes): 17

Household: 34

Other: 28

Grand Total: 187 items!!

*I sold 2 books on half.com and baby clothes at Once Upon a Child for $37.82! My grand total of “stuff” sold  to $240.63 for the year…not too shabby!!

I’ve reached my goal!! I’ve now gotten rid of 432 things!!

The growing pile of unwanted stuff in the basement! I’m seriously considering having a yard sale this fall. We have a few larger items that we may be getting rid of and I haven’t even started tackling the clutter in the basement…it seems like clutter just grows in the basement!

Just a few of the piles of clothes that left my closet! I was really serious about getting rid of clothes this month. I went through my closet at the beginning of the month and throughout the month as I would try things on to wear and didn’t like the way they fit, away they went! (Over half of the 91 items of clothing were baby things…he had so much small stuff, I don’t think I even own 91 articles of clothing!)

Are you thinking about decluttering in 2010? Here is a video post about getting rid of 30 Things in 30 Days! It is amazing how much you can get rid of if you just get rid of 1 unwanted item a day…easy decluttering!

Linked to: Amy’s Finer Things August Clutter Update

Napping Baby

After nursing him, I laid him down for a nap and this is the position he fell asleep in!

Linked to: Wordless Wednesday

Stain Fighting

Meet Charlie, my stain fighting friend! I’ve been using Charlie’s Soap since I started cloth diapering back in May. It works wonders on our diapers! After a few blowouts when Paxton was a newborn, resulting in stains on his clothes, I decided to give Charlie’s Soap a try on soiled baby clothes and it works!

I typically will rinse the poo off of the garment with cold water, apply a little Zout and then wash with Charlie’s Soap and usually there is no stain.

This past week while we were traveling, Paxton wore disposables (which means more blowouts!) He soiled several pieces of clothing. The worst was a light blue onesie (the poo was all over the back!)

Once we arrived home (just a few hours after the incident), I rinsed the poo out and let it soak in cold water overnight. The next morning I applied Zout and washed in Charlie’s Soap. Unfortunately, Charlie failed me and there was still a faint yellow stain on the back of the onesie.

I decided to give Charlie another chance and dissolved about 1/4 a tablespoon of Charlie’s Soap in cold water and then soaked the onesie for 2 days.

It worked! Here is the onesie…minus the stain! (I didn’t take a before picture for comparison because I really don’t like the idea of taking pictures of clothing covered in poo!)

I am thrilled that the stain is gone because this is a really cute little onesie.

Warning: The water I soaked the onesie in had a faint blue tint when I poured it out, so it is pulling a little dye out of the clothing after a 2 day soak. However, I’d rather the color of the garmet fade a little instead of being stained permanently!

Do you have any stain fighting tips?

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday

Eating Healthier

Once again, I’m making attempts to eat healthier (I started down this path last year right before morning sickness hit with full force!) Since I’ll soon be introducing my son to food, (how is it that he will be 6 months old in only 1.5 months?) I’m becoming more conscious about some of the foods we’re eating that we shouldn’t be.

At this time, we cannot afford to eat only organic but I think avoiding processed foods and sugars and eating more raw fruits and vegetables is a start!

The plan:

• Making homemade breads (with fresh ground flour!)
• Homemade breakfasts (muffins, eggs, pancakes, biscuits instead of cereal)
• Eating more steamed veggies
• Salads (a simple side dish!)
• Eating raw fruits and vegetables, yogurt and cheese for snacks

What are some of your favorite healthy meals and snacks?

What organic foods do you purchase?

Babywearing

I really love babywearing! There is nothing like holding my sweet little one close to me!

I also love that wearing him allows me to be productive while carrying him! Having him in a wrap or sling also makes running errands much easier – especially grocery shopping!

Wearing Paxton in our Moby Wrap at 3 weeks old in a Newborn Hug Hold.

In a Lotus Hold at 4 months! I like this hold (and so does he) since he’s able to look around – especially on our daily trips to the mailbox!

Looking at these pictures makes me think about how much he’s changed! Isn’t it amazing how much babies change in just a few months?