Here is my messy bedroom before starting The January Cure, but that is already a lie. My desk was under my windows and my bookshelf was under my desk. I didn’t get to take a “before” photo of my room before I eagerly started with this project.

My to-do List
1. The bookshelf – done 1/9/13
2. Pack items for future home – done 1/10/13
3. Try on all clothes – done 1/19/13
4. Sort Scrapbook items – done 1/18/13
5. Purge Photographs – not done
6. Sort Craft items – not done
7. Purge shoe bin – done 1/10/12
8. Buy Rubbermaid bins for #2 – done 1/10/13
9. Buy table for entryway – done 1/20/13
10. Sort Art supplies – Moved to basement, but still need work area setup
11. Organize tax papers – Filed taxes on 1/31/13
12. Take purged clothing to resale shop – Goodwill instead

Here is my room after all that hard work!

This post continues the final week of my progress in The January Cure.

Day 19: Catch Up & Take a Photo
Today on my “catch up” day I picked out my paint for my vanity. I also submitted my taxes – yay!

Day 20: Hang Your Artwork
This is another day off because I’ve already hung my artwork on the day I framed it. No use creating an extra thing to do when I already had time to do before.

Day 21: Speedy Spruce Up & Surface Clean
Done, done and done.

Day 22: Shop for the Get Together Goodies
If I didn’t state it before, I’ll state it now: I’m not cool enough to have a “get together”. I’m way too bogged down in homework and I’m only the second week in.

This is my stress reliever…

Updates from the weekend for my progress of The January Cure: I found an antique vanity at School Days Antique Mall in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. This concludes my Day 9 goal of creating a landing strip. The total cost was $36, but I do have to put some work into it.

Day 14: Get Paper & Files in Order
Organizing papers is a weekly item on my list. When I have something important that arrives in the mail, I usually keep it on my desk. Then, if I don’t take care of it within a few days, I tack it up on my cork board. This allows me to see it visually and take care of it. Most appointment cards are tacked up once I’ve entered them into my Google calendar, then, once the appointment has occurred, they are tossed. Receipts (usually larger amounts or obscure stores) hang there after I’ve made sure they’ve cleared through my credit card. Also, anything to do with returns are posted. This keeps my desk clear.

Day 15: Exercise a Little Cord Control
My only problem with cords right now is that I have a humidifier plugged in and have no plug access for my lamp. If I get better, then I won’t have to deal with this, but it is a nuisance.

Day 16: Give Your Bathroom & Medicine Cabinets a Cleanout
This was easy because I don’t keep anything “extra” except for new items. When I’m running low on toothpaste or shampoo, I pickup the items at the store so I have them on hand when I do run out.

Day 17: Looking at Living Room Lighting
I rely on an overhead fixture and I also have a lamp that provides enough light in a smaller amount. I also have two windows for natural light. Then, of course, there’s the computer for nighttime movie watching

Day 18: Weekend Chores
Today was the first day I’ve felt a little behind, but I did finish a project I’ve been working on for someone at work. This also concludes the cleaning out of my scrapbook stuff. This weekend I look forward to going to the library (more books for class), drop-off at Goodwill, readings books for class, then finally finding time to start the work on my console table. Can it all be done?

And so continues my progress of The Janauary Cure.

Day 9: Create a Landing Strip
This will be acknowledged when I buy a console table. I’ve been searching high and low around the interwebs for a decent model in a great price. I’m thinking about checking out an antique mall before I shop online for one of these three below.

one / two / three

Day 10: Work on Your Goal Project
Technically I completed this when I created inventory lists of the items that I will be taking with me when I move out (which I have no plans for). These are kitchen items and keepsakes and decorations that I don’t have a place for, but don’t want to get rid of. So today is my much deserved day off.

Day 11: Try a Media Fast
This is a good idea, since I want to go 48 hours with it.  Still, this is a hard thing to do or even set out to do.  I was hoping to go on a weekend vacation to cover this, but I like to take pictures with my phone and post on Facebook while out and about.  Maybe I will break this down into a two separate 24 hour periods.  This will probably work best for me.

Day 12: Declutter Books & Media
I went through every book that I don’t want (and some that I haven’t picked up since I bought it) then checked the prices on Amazon. Instead of opting to list the books myself, I decided to turn them in for a gift card for Amazon. It’s my favorite store. This will help cut costs when I finally buy my books for school.

Day 13: Weekend Chores
This is the time to wash the sheets and open windows for fresh air. Also, it’s time to accomplish trying on all my clothes to see what fits and what goes into that outbox.

And here’s a good article about cleaning, decluttering and organizing.
Another declutter tips + tools link.

Continuing with The January Cure project, I’ve been adding to my outbox by rifling through my shoe bin, buying some totes for storage, and framed a photo.  There is no need for me to host a party as recommended here, so that will be skipped. I will plan on buy flowers to brighten my room as I shop for the groceries this weekend. My outbox sure is growing!