Category Archives: Home goods and decor

AARP Says 30 Days to declutter… My Kitchen Strongly Disagrees

Posted on by | 2 Comments

 

The Kitchen Declutter project begins. Doesn't look too bad if you don't open the cabinet doors

Making Peace With a Slow Declutter

I knew I’d never complete the AARP decluttering challenge in the 30 days they promised. So far, the only room that moved at their suggested pace was the bathroom. The kitchen? That beast took me two full weeks. It’s technically “finished” now only because I’m assigning the cupboards that open into the dining room to the dining room. They really belong to the kitchen, but at this point I’ll take any help I can get.

The Cookbook Situation (Yes, It’s a Situation)

I’ve sold a few things on Facebook Marketplace and listed all my old cookbooks there as well. Right now, they’re just piled up waiting for a buyer. I have this funny quirk: I cannot throw out books. I may end up giving these cookbooks away, but tossing them in the trash? Absolutely not. It would feel like throwing out my own child.

The Hall Closet/Pantry: My Biggest Victory So Far

The biggest project so far was the hall closet/pantry. I’ve reorganized it as much as I can for now. I’m still debating a few items, so I’m letting things settle to see if the current setup works for me. I bought new canisters for flour, sugar, and other staples so I can actually see what I have — no more half‑open bags lurking in the shadows. These should keep everything fresher, too.

Remember what that closet looked like when I started? Look at it now. I’m genuinely proud.

Before. Is it a closet or a pantry. I don’t think it knows

After- A pantry reorganized and cleaned out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banner and Balboa’s “Help”

Banner and Balboa gave the newly organized pantry — which has always been off‑limits — their full approval. Of course, that may be because they managed to sneak in and “help” while the door was open. They’ve both protested now that the door is closed again. I’ll admit I’m not as worried if they manage to get in these days, since I no longer have nails and tools scattered all over the floor.

The Spice Cabinet: A Whole Other Adventure

The other big project wasn’t the mugs so much as the spices. Whew. What a mess. I did some serious purging because most of the one‑offs were expired anyway — things I bought for one recipe and never made again. Here’s the before and after of the spices. Much better.

Before, A crowded and confused spice cabinet. A bit disorganized but functional

 

 

After. Still full but all organized by spice and type

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Up: The Bedroom and Closets

The next part of the decluttering project heads to the bedroom, closets, and personal spaces. My bedroom is a mixed bag. I’ve already cleaned out one nightstand, but I have a huge cabinet that holds my winter coats and photography paraphernalia. One closet is pretty organized but full — it holds all my luggage, and it gets pulled out often because the HVAC unit is in the back and needs yearly service.

The second closet is… a nightmare. I’ve had good intentions, but I always get overwhelmed. I’m not sure how far I’ll get. I can feel my momentum and enthusiasm slowly dying, but I can say this: a start has been made. If I can maintain what I’ve already done, I can always pick the project back up.

But I say this firmly: No, AARP. This is not a 30‑day project unless you’re doing a superficial clean‑out.

And Now… The Grand Finale

Press onward, intrepid declutterer — the closet awaits, and it isn’t going to clean itself.
Behold… the beast I’m tackling next.

 

 

 

Promeed Hydrating Silk Series

Posted on by | No Comments

 

Spring Sale: Promeed Hydrating Silk Series

Promeed’s Spring Sale is officially live, and it’s a lovely one if you’ve been eyeing their Hydrating Silk Series. From March 27 through April 10 at 5:32 AM, you can save on their most-loved silk essentials — the bonnet, turban, and pillowcase, all made from 100% mulberry silk.

🌿 Why You’ll Love It
• 100% Mulberry Silk — breathable, gentle, and naturally hydrating for hair and skin.
• Helps reduce frizz and breakage — especially overnight, when cotton can be rougher.
• Cool and comfortable — perfect for warm spring nights.
• Beautiful colors and luxe feel — they look as good as they feel.
• Easy upgrade — small change, big difference in your nightly routine

Use code PM20 at checkout for 20% off.

Here’s my affiliate link to browse the sale: Promeed Hydrating Silk

I’ve been impressed with how soft and hydrating their silk pieces are — especially for hair and skin. If you’ve been curious, this is a great time to try them.

(As always, this post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

 

Declutter Adventure: Week 3

Posted on by | No Comments

The Start of the Kitchen declutter adventure

Falling Behind the AARP Timetable (And That’s Okay)

Well… I’m not keeping up with AARP’s decluttering timetable. The kitchen turned out to be a much bigger challenge than I expected. You’d think a tiny kitchen would be easy, but I forgot one crucial detail: the hall closet, which has slowly evolved into my pantry over the years.

And then there are the cabinets added during the 2014 kitchen refresh — the ones under the counter between the kitchen and dining room. I needed storage space desperately back then, and boy, did I fill it.

The Hall Pantry: A Time Capsule from 2006

I started with the hall pantry/closet. What a mess. I pulled out things that have been sitting untouched since I moved in back in 2006. Some of it went straight onto Facebook Marketplace. If it doesn’t sell, it’s getting tossed. No guilt, no hesitation.

I didn’t think to take a “before” picture of that frightening closet, but here’s what it looked like after my first 30 minutes. It’s still pretty bad, but progress is progress. I’m determined to get that space cleaned out if nothing else. Honestly, I may need two weeks for this part alone.

The Mug Situation (A Partial Victory)

The mug collection is trimmed down… a little. There are still more mugs than any single person needs, but I just couldn’t part with all of them. Still, they’re better organized, and that counts.

New Organizers Incoming

Speaking of organization, I ordered some new organizers from Amazon — including a fresh set of canisters for flour, sugar, etc. They should arrive by Monday. Once those are in place, I think I’ll finally feel like I’m making progress.

A Little Cooking Validation from Quora

In the middle of all this decluttering, I had a fun moment of validation. Someone on Quora asked how to keep chicken breasts tender, and the top answer was exactly what I’ve been saying for years on my blog:

Use a cast‑iron pan.

It’s always nice when the universe confirms you’re on the right track. And yes — my cast‑iron pans have a permanent home in the kitchen. They’re not going anywhere.

A Condo Meeting Twist: Yard Sale Opportunity

We had a condo meeting Wednesday night. They’re planning a “Community Day” to socialize and meet neighbors. I asked if we could add a yard sale to the event — and they loved the idea. So now it’s a combined Community Day + Yard Sale.

Maybe I can unload some of my clutter there too.

The Long Game: Maintaining Momentum

If I can maintain the areas I’ve decluttered over the next year, I think I can do a spring clean each year and slowly weed out the unnecessary items. I can’t even imagine tackling the storage unit with its boxes of ornaments and photo props. Just thinking about it gives me nightmares. But I’ll get there eventually.

At least you can see my countertops now. Next post, I’ll share the finished kitchen pics.

Banner and Balboa’s Review

Banner and Balboa love the empty spaces. They think I’ve created new real estate just for them.

100% Mulberry Silk

Posted on by | No Comments

Spring Sale: 20% Off Promeed Silk Sheets

If you’ve been thinking about refreshing your bedding for spring, Promeed just launched a Spring Sale on their premium 100% Mulberry Silk Sheets (23mm–30mm) — and it’s a good one.

For a limited time, you can enjoy 20% off your purchase with the exclusive code PM20 at checkout.

Silk sheets are naturally cooling, gentle on skin and hair, and add a touch of luxury to your everyday routine. If you’ve been curious about upgrading, this is the perfect moment to try them.

You can shop the sale here

Starts 3/27/26 ends 4/10/26

(This post contains an affiliate link. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

 

Declutter Before You Die?

Posted on by

Lilacs are a sure sign of Spring in New England

🌸  My Spring Cleaning Adventure Begins

Spring in New England: Flowers, Mud… and Decluttering

Ah, spring in New England.
Fresh air, cool breezes, mud season… and flowers bursting out everywhere you look. It’s a lovely time to go hunting for blossoms — but it’s also the season of spring cleaning and decluttering.

Junk Luggers emails me weekly, just in case I forget they exist should I ever decide to take a backhoe to my closet.

My Slow‑Motion Decluttering Journey

I’ve been trying to declutter since last fall. I make small inroads, then stall out. I pick up the scrapbooks and, instead of tossing them, I settle in to reminisce with the cats. Needless to say, the scrapbooks have not left the room. In fact, I may be preparing to make more.

So what can I do to make decluttering even a little more successful?

AARP Says 30 Days… I Say 30 Months

According to AARP, it just takes a bit of planning and time management. They claim you can declutter your home in 30 days.
Huh. I doubt I could do it in 30 months.

AARP argues that you don’t want to leave a cluttered home behind when you die because it’s not fair to your survivors. It has a bit of an End‑of‑the‑World vibe. Instead of “Repent, the end is nigh,” it’s “Declutter before you die.”

Week 1: Bathrooms, Entryways, and Cars

Their first suggestion is to stay motivated. I guess that means not settling down with a stack of scrapbooks.

They recommend dividing the project into “achievable tasks.” For example, Week 1: spend 20 minutes a day cleaning bathrooms, entryways, and cars. Stick to the time, they say. Don’t try to do too much or you’ll burn out.

My Reality Check: Banner, Balboa, and a Missing Entryway

In my place, I only have the vanity to clean out. That could be a problem since getting on my knees means I need a crane to get back up.

Banner declutters the medicine cabinet- the resultsMy medicine cabinet is pretty empty thanks to Banner, who likes to open the doors and pull hairspray and other items onto the floor. My meds aren’t kept in the bathroom — too humid after a shower — so they live in a pretty box under the coffee table.

Balboa has reserved the shelf on the bathroom storage cabinet as his throne, so that’s clearly off‑limits.

I don’t have an entryway.
And my car? Everything is already corralled in a cargo box in the back: shopping bags, miscellaneous bits, and a small cooler from my DoorDash days. I already brought in the binoculars and the window cleaner.

So Week 1 is done… sort of… except for the vanity.

Time for a Break

I think it’s time for a break. I don’t want to overdo it and burn out. When I come back, we’ll tackle Week 2: Kitchen and pantry.