How sweet of Luanne, she is definitely a servant of God giving you that wonderfully timed gift. Keep being kind to yourself as you navigate your grief ❤️❤️
@@EricaLucasLoves , it will take a while. Just keep leaning on the Lord, it makes it easier to bear while your heart heals. The scar is always there, but the pain lessens to bearable eventually. ❤️
today's "thumbs up" is for Luann. I am a person of good intentions and prayers, but today Luann embodied the prayer and intention into an action and I appreciate that So Much. (She TRANSITIONED it :) )
I always liked the saying "you spend the first half of your life acquiring things and the second half trying to get rid of things." I had so many antiques I wanted to get rid of and it was going so slowly I opened a small booth in an antique mall for a year!
Luann here 👋 oh my stars! Have had that ready to send to you, took a bit to find your address again and wasn't sure but prayed it would get to you. I never cease to be amazed at the timeliness with the Lord😭 Those items have been tools in my grief (my dad, 2020) I care. I see you. It matters. It's real and ever present. Not forgotten. 💝
No one ever talks about the in-between stage, from decluttering and actually getting the stuff out of your house. Not everything is trash or goes straight to the donation center. Some items have value (and many of us NEED the cash), so THANK YOU for sharing the reality of Messy to Picture Perfect.
It would drive me a little crazy to have the books knocked over and spread around. It makes more work when there is so much to do. It would be an easy job for the kids to put them in boxes and stack ready to go out the door to the car. I guess it is all about respecting the space. Great job.... keep it going. It looks like you are near the finish line from moving and keeping up with normal life at the same time. Soon you will just have maintenance.
It would drive me nuts too. But it works for her. This is why I love her videos. She is working toward cultivating self compassion and being realistic for the season of life she is in. Look at the responsibilities she has in one day. She sees she can haul 179 books at once. And she is a shining example in giving herself the grace to work it out of the house in its own time.
Love this video as it really highlights a key stage of decluttering, the transition phase as you call it. This is the stage when it’s so easy to lose motivation, I often wish someone else could take over at this but 😂
I had a dream last night that we hung out together at the library and talked about homeschooling. I wish we lived closer, because that would be so much fun! I love watching your videos, I feel like I’m watching a friend. Thank you.
I’m so sorry for your loss. How sweet Luanne is to send a thoughtful gift. My Baltimore row home is too small to declutter slowly. Wouldn’t it be easier and more efficient to load the books in the car and drop off all at once? Do they have a number limit?
So glad you were able to sell the video game equipment. Thanks for showing the in between stage. It is a lot of work to get rid of items! When completed, life is easier! Have a great day!
Oh the in between stage. The job isn’t finished until you get it out of the house really. I also forget to take the donations and remember when I’m at the destination 🤦♀️ What beautiful and thoughtful gifts from Luanne at the right time too. Hope you get comfort from them. Grief is tough so give yourself the time and space to heal. Your brother will always be near you and in your heart. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍🙏💐📦🎁
I love God's timing, using LuAnn to meet your need at just the right moment. He's so good. And I thank you for this video, showing the very familiar 'in-between' stage! (I need to go back and watch the decluttering wall-hangings episode...) Checking out the book donation ideas also. Have a great day!
I'm so pleased someone thoughtful reached out on a day when you could use a little help and love - with a mailbox hug 😊 I loved this secondary phase getting it out to the end places - to help others - to enrich other lives - and to clear up the space and to have one more item ticked off the list (always satisfying!)
Have you thought about having your husband just go ahead and load the van with all of the donate stuff if you aren't physically able to lift and move so many things at once? a few steps from the van to the donate box seems like it would be easier than schlepping it from the house to the van. then, you can be done completely instead of dragging the process out and having to deal with piles of books on your floor and frames cluttering your basement.
I was wondering thr same thing! Like why make 10 small trips to the donate box, when you could just do one big one? However, I also know from first hand experience that drudging up all the boxes from the basement is an awful and taxing task for me. So the whole "one and done" thing can actually hinder me from getting the stuff out of my house! LOL. What weird people we are!
What a thoughtful gift. With all the bad that is going on in the world, it’s so refreshing to witness kindness. I think the most frustrating part of decluttering, for me, is the in between. I mostly donate, but sometimes I try to sell, and it drives me bonkers for something I’ve cut ties with and released to sit in my garage. It’s definitely a lesson in patience for me.🤣
I’ve been purging my home for the past year and a half and everything was crowded on my sunporch that I couldn’t even use it! A week ago I went through everything, took 10 large boxes to donate and gave away a lot on Facebook MarketPlace! I love it because I know people are appreciative of the things and I feel better knowing they need them. I still donate things to GW but something’s they overprice to the point it’s not a thrift. I just gave a cabinet away this morning to someone that was very happy to get it. I now have my sunporch back!
I am walking the declutter journey with 2 people even as I continue decluttering (constant process). I am amazed to watch these dear ones develop their decluttering muscles. I have loved watching you be real in your processes. Your loss of your brother will always hurt but it will change over time. This is the first I heard of your loss. Praying for you.
I love how real life your videos are. The gift is super wonderful! Grief has a nasty habit of showing up when you least expect it. It does get better, I lost my husband 25 years ago to suicide❤️
What a wonderful gift 🎁 you received how kind people can be ❤️💕 I can see how much it meant to you and i like how you included the children in the gratitude ❤️ I try to take my decluttered goods to the charity shop within a few days i leave them in front of the door so they are in the way....and i do little and often. It came in a bag at a time and it goes out the same way 🤗❤️
Erica, have you thought about setting the frames outside in a box at the curb? We had a highchair used only 5 times my grandson, he's 10, put a FREE sign on it and set it on the sidewalk. It was gone I less than 10 minutes. I really enjoy your videos.
Love love love this kind of content. The messy middle of decluttering. I find it a lot easier to give away on buy nothing than FB marketplace because it's a much more local group. People are closer and can pick up so much faster, not to mention less gas.
This is just what I needed today! I'm making space for a new baby and I've finally identified what is going. But some is going to the thrift store, some to list on Buy Nothing, some selling on Ebay, etc. So I've got that next step to push through!
I take the boxes and bags I’ve packed for donation immediately to the car it makes it easier the next time I am running errands to drop them off and nothing gets left behind. Just a thought 😊
As book lover and a former academic with three areas of study, I have agonized over how to get rid of books. I’ve been able to get rid of so many books, but have so many yet that I haven’t been able to decide about. It’s overwhelming. Your flow chart has been awesome in helping get me decide. Thanks so much for that wonderful tool and for the tip about the book donation place you use. There’s one a little way from me that I’ll be making lots of visits to. Grief can be so hard. There are days that the death of my Dad 16 years ago can still suck my breath away. I pray that you have strength and peace for each day ahead.
Thank you, Luann, for sending such a thoughtful gift and restoring our faith in humanity. I was a little disheartened by all the judgmental comments about making multiple drop-offs of books. Like Erica never considered this possibility! They go to the library all the time so it's not a waste of gas. Maybe she's being considerate of the library employees by not overwhelming them with everything at once. Perhaps this is simply the most comfortable way for her to go about it. I have some Executive Functioning issues so I totally get completing tasks in manageable chunks. Erica, I hope you still feel great about 'doing the thing' because you have every confidence in yourself that you will persevere. I've had a silly guinea pig cage sitting in my living room near the front door for so many months if not already a year and this video is the kick in the pants I needed! P.S. We've never even had a guinea pig so it's not even some sort of loss-related reason holding me back!
You are a wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, real human being! I love watching you videos! I'm so sorry for your loss! Can't wait for more! P.s. I wish you lived closer to me I would definitely take those shadow boxes. I've taken your advice on sentimental and decided to show of what I have, but haven't found what I needed to do it. Plus I've got construction going on in my house so it's hard to think about where to put things with that going on right now. Thank you for being you!
Oh my Erica...I have boxes and bags in my living room that are donations waiting for pick up too. I've filled my car so many times (So worth it!) with donations in the past year. It will feel so good to have more space when the items are gone.
Thank you for acknowledging this stage! I loved this video and what a precious gift to receive from the follower. I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother. Saying a prayer for you now.
Hi Erica! I love that I met you and discovered your channel. Not only do you help me with ideas to declutter my home (and my mom really thanks you there, lol), but I also just love how you make your videos. You are such a good story teller, I feel like I'm on an adventure with you. Thank you so much for the tips and ideas.🌻
Sweetie, I’m so very sorry to hear about your brother’s passing. Give yourself time to grieve. Four months is nothing compared to the lifetime bond you had with your brother. I lost my mom almost 7 years ago and my sweet eldest daughter 6&1/2 years ago. I promise it does get better. Unfortunately you have to go through the rough part to get to the other side. Good bless your viewer that sent you such thoughtful tools to help you. Love your channel! Take care of your beautiful family. 💕 And by the way my beautiful daughter’s name was also “Erica”. 🙏🏻
@@christineshultz7615 I’m so sorry to hear about your son. I too wish God wouldn’t take our children. The pain is so immense it almost kills us. I hope you have support and help with your grieving process. Losing a child is the worst loss we can endure. Do you have other children or grand children? That’s what saved me. I have 2 other beautiful daughters and 2 beautiful grandsons from my daughter who passed. I thank god everyday for giving them to us despite the fact that he took their mother. Please take care of yourself and God bless you!💞🙏
@@laurysteinke8921 my son was one of a set of triplets. I have plenty of people to lean on and unfortunately know quite a few people who've also lost children. I have niece who was a super premie and lived to 3 months old. God must have a special reason to need our kids so soon.
@@christineshultz7615 I’m so sorry. My daughter was 33 when she passed. I was also a preemie born at 7 months gestation. I was 3 pounds, 6 &1/2 ounces. It’s a miracle I lived as that was 59 years ago. The drs said I had a strong heart.
I hear you with your pockets of grief. I hope your remembrances in the future are full of joy while remembering the good things about your brother. Hugs. I know it is tough to purge your house of such mountains of things. I like to haul things directly to my car so that the next time I am out and about, I MUST empty it, or have no room for anything else. It sort of forces the issue. To leave things in my house for too long would actually drain me emotionally. Perhaps I am just weak in that area. I am the one who needs to get it out of my house as soon as I make the decision to get rid of it.
Thank you so much för this video! It's so funny that you released it just now because I was thinking just earlier today that there really need to be a video like this 😄 I have been decluttering and decluttering for years now and have been so frustrated that nothing seems to be happening. Until it finally clicked...all the donation and sell boxes are still here....in transit...still...🤦♀️🤦♀️ of course nothing seems to be happening 😂 It was just refreshing to learn that I'm not the only one to have "transit clutter" 😁 It seems all the youtubers that declutter have all their stuff magically disapear from their homes 😋 So..short story long...I finally figured out that I don't have a problem decluttering. My problem is the next step - getting it out of my house. Thank you again for the honest reality 👑 Love your videos!
Hi Erica! I am glad you received some TLC through the mail! Yes, the clutter that sits until you can remove it! I definitely can relate! I have bus or my legs! If I pay a friend (and that they are in the mood) I have them. It takes longer to get the stuff out! I wish I could have no conscience like some who just throw it in the garbage, how easy! But, I better not wish to be selfish. Slow and sure wins the race! You, Erica, you and your family are winning the race to a clutter free and peaceful, loving family! 👩👧❤👨👦👦
Love this video and thank you for showing the messy in-between. With gas prices so high and living in the country, we only go into town once a week for groceries and errands. I have all my packed decluttering boxes in my utility room and I would love to take them all in at once. But like you, I have limited space in my vehicle and so I slowly chip away at it. It feels so good to drop them off so I do feel that ‘high’ every week. I lost my brother 45 years ago and I still miss him. We keep our loved ones alive by talking about them. Make sure your children hear the good stories and the funny anecdotes about him so he lives in their memories too.
I was able to breeze through this transitional phase of decluttering. I did the bulk of it during an asymptotic positive for both my husband and me. We were stuck home anyway, and my husband hauled it all away truck load by truckload. I think I walked 6-7 miles per day in my house for like 6 days straight! It was so much work, but this situation worked for me bc I’m an all or none person. I struggle with doing things bit by bit. But now that we have most of it out, doing the smaller remainder bit by bit I can handle.
I decluttered about 200 cookbooks and travel books in a similar donation receptacle. It took longer to carefully put them than it did to declutter them, but I did it all in one shot. BTW, love that top on you!
The literature on dealing with grief would be so good for my family right now. My husband lost his cousin on Saturday in a very tragic way. We’re still in the disbelief phase. My husband has been losing family members one a year for quite some time and it’s a very difficult time for him. I should look into getting some books or maybe even try audible. Thanks for sharing with us as I know this is a difficult time for you.❤️🙏 Also wanted to add what a kind hearted person Luanne is.❤️🙏
When I make a decision to get rid of something I have to get it out of the house. It adds more stress & adds to my silent to do list if I don’t. Drives my husband crazy. We have compromised, he now sets deadlines on selling stuff & after that he takes a trip to donate. The in between stage drives me crazy, but at least we are making progress. That’s the goal progress over perfection. Great job on your progress. I’m so proud of you!
Thanks for being so real. I found/find the in between stage of decluttering so frustrating and, I confess, some of mine goes in the rubbish bin because I don't have a car to be able to take it to some donation place. The good news about that is that I have found that I am less likely to buy stuff I don't need, because I feel guilty about not always being able to recycle it at a later date.
You are certainly not alone here. While I have a car, I live literally 20 miles from the nearest town. When I declutter, sometimes the decisions are so difficult that if I don't remove them immediately, I become so stressed and change my mind. Be proud of what you accomplish and let go of any guilt. As you said, you buy less stuff to bring in so however you're doing things is sparking positive change for you and that is AMAZING! Keep up the great work.
Love this!! One of my best motivation moments was coming home to a clean, more clutter-free home after taking a full load of stuff to our local donation center. It got me so motivated to keep on decluttering!! Right now I am going through a bit of a transition so more decluttering is happening. I’m in that in-between stage with boxes & bags of stuff to go. The organization that I donate to only accepts donations once a week so I will be loading up the car tonight for drop off tomorrow morning! I am also going through my books…using your helpful printout. I’m pulling out 5-6 books a day to review and I find I am giving away at least half of the books I’ve pulled so far. I also looked up the discover books information and they actually have a donate box in my town (yippee!).
Aw Erica…. I SO love your channel. You are so real and relatable. I struggle through ongoing decluttering and it is exhausting. This second part of getting it out once you’ve made the decision is time consuming and exhausting. Thank you for your motivation. Progress not perfection and what a kind follower. How much joy acts of kindness bring! 🤗
I needed this today. I have stuff to go to goodwill and it’s sitting there. I’ve already brought two things back in. I don’t really need them but now they kind of work, but my lesson learned is get it out the same day. Enjoy the day
Another great video! I find if I put the boxes and bags in the car then when I'm out running errands I can drop them off!! Every time I drop items off I just feel SO good!!
Really useful video! My dad passed away last November at 95. He and Mom, voracious readers. The huge collection, I will soon be going through. It won't be easy, as Mom is concerned about first editions, signed copies. It's going to be so hard as my attitude is simply donate the whole lot. Sure will look for those donation boxes. Thank you!
oh that will a project indeed! Touching each book may be the process your mom needs though, to let go of them (vs letting go of a piece of your dad's memory). I'm so sorry for your loss.
Erica, though time for you🥰 After my brother I used dream I look through photo album & he was walking & I felt why he’s not dead. They were good dreams. So when you said you lovely brother was texting you I just thought life is very strange. I wish you happiness. Sadness eventually goes. And u will remember the happy times. But we will always have our loved ones near us. 💖🥰
Thanks for being real! The in between can be annoying. Donation stuff sits in my bedroom. I don't like it, but if I don't see it, I don't remember it. And with gas being $5+ a gallon and the donation centers being at least 15 minutes away, like you, I batch errands that are in the same direction. So the in between can be weeks!
I'm in the "In-between" stage right now! 😫😫😫 My bedroom looks like a storage room! We're waiting 4 our Children's Resale Shop 2 b excepting donations again, in about a week! 😩😩😩 Everything in life is a process! Thank U so much 4 sharing Ur Journey! U can't believe how much U've helped me as well as soooo many others, I'm sure! Ur home looks fantastic, cozy n beautiful! Living life with intention brings Peace 2 everyone in the family! 💞 Blessings 2 U n Ur sweet family! 🥰😘
Just found you, enjoying your realism. I’m about a month or so in. Trying to sell some big pieces but the process seems to come in spurts. I can tell my progress but it definitely still looks chaotic. I’m thinking it should take close to six months to get to a sweet spot. Especially with selling the things that take up the most space. But it feels great when things leave, in whatever way they go!
This is where I'm at. I've got a mountain of cloth nappies, baby clothes and toys in my office that I've decluttered and listed online to sell and am just waiting for it to sell and parcelling it up and getting rid of it a bit at a time. Can't wait for it all to just be GONE!
This was a great video, Erica. The in-between phase of decluttering requires lots of patience! I am very familiar with that stage. LOL What has helped us get rid of books is the VVA (Vietnam Veterans Association). If you make an appointment with them, they will come by and pick up as many books as you need to let go of. We put the books in boxes on the front steps and they just swing by and remove them for you. Easy.Peasy. You might want to look into it to see whether there is a VVA pickup in your area.
The shadow boxes are great for essential oils. Maybe post something like that online & see if it sells that way? I was looking and looking for something like that and eventually just bought a nail polish holder. But shadow boxes are great for more than just trinkets! Love your videos 🥰
I second some other comments, get the stuff in the car and get it to the donation center immediately, you will feel so much better and have a much clearer mind for what needs tackling next. Sometimes minimalism can extend to the number of tasks we are trying to accomplish at once.
That’s great that your hubby is selling his gaming systems. I’m trying to convince my grown son to do the same. I can’t understand just keeping things in your closet taking up room when they could be turned into money. I sold two pairs of shoes recently. Didn’t make a lot of money but love clearing out my closet.🥰
I absolutely Love how Real you are with us , your family, your home and life! You are such an inspiration to me! Thank you Erica. How do you declutter the little things? Ex: travel items, junk drawer items, those little things that have been misplaced, ect. Do you just throw it away? Please help! ❤️🙏
I make an obnoxious pile of declutter that stays in sight in my home ( where it bugs me to remember to put in car) my car is where it lingers until I remember to drop them off, same issue different landing spot :-) love the " keeping it real" of your channel.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure your brother knows you still think of him and miss him. That was such a thoughtful gift from Luanne Great declutteeing video 📹
So in this stage. I'm fairly minimalist but things had started to feel a bit cluttered. Although I declutter little things all the time I wanted to do a full house declutter. I'm about 3/4 done but now have the bags of stuff to be donated, a few things to sell, a few things to return to store (after redecorating my bedroom) and just a few but to go in the loft. I almost hate it more than before I declutter. Hopefully by the weekend it will mostly be gone and things will feel good again .
![WHY DO WE HAVE CLUTTER? + 21 Reasons We Have Clutter [Link]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jEa3CDjfFcI/mqdefault.jpg)
How sweet of Luanne, she is definitely a servant of God giving you that wonderfully timed gift. Keep being kind to yourself as you navigate your grief ❤️❤️
Regarding your brother, when mine first died and I dreamed about him, I woke up in tears. Now, 55 years later, dreams of him make me smile. Hugs.
YES. This. I did wake up in tears. I hope that turns to smiles someday.
@@EricaLucasLoves , it will take a while. Just keep leaning on the Lord, it makes it easier to bear while your heart heals. The scar is always there, but the pain lessens to bearable eventually. ❤️
@@lkreinmiller-author He keeps reminding me that He’s got this. :)
We need more Luanne’s in this world 🖤 thank you for sharing her kindness with everyone. It’s definitely contagious!
today's "thumbs up" is for Luann. I am a person of good intentions and prayers, but today Luann embodied the prayer and intention into an action and I appreciate that So Much. (She TRANSITIONED it :) )
I always liked the saying "you spend the first half of your life acquiring things and the second half trying to get rid of things." I had so many antiques I wanted to get rid of and it was going so slowly I opened a small booth in an antique mall for a year!
oooh! I'd shop that booth.
Luann here 👋 oh my stars! Have had that ready to send to you, took a bit to find your address again and wasn't sure but prayed it would get to you. I never cease to be amazed at the timeliness with the Lord😭 Those items have been tools in my grief (my dad, 2020) I care. I see you. It matters. It's real and ever present. Not forgotten. 💝
No one ever talks about the in-between stage, from decluttering and actually getting the stuff out of your house. Not everything is trash or goes straight to the donation center. Some items have value (and many of us NEED the cash), so THANK YOU for sharing the reality of Messy to Picture Perfect.
It would drive me a little crazy to have the books knocked over and spread around. It makes more work when there is so much to do. It would be an easy job for the kids to put them in boxes and stack ready to go out the door to the car. I guess it is all about respecting the space. Great job.... keep it going. It looks like you are near the finish line from moving and keeping up with normal life at the same time. Soon you will just have maintenance.
It would drive me nuts too. But it works for her. This is why I love her videos. She is working toward cultivating self compassion and being realistic for the season of life she is in. Look at the responsibilities she has in one day. She sees she can haul 179 books at once. And she is a shining example in giving herself the grace to work it out of the house in its own time.
The gift from Luann was the sweetest thing ever!
Love this video as it really highlights a key stage of decluttering, the transition phase as you call it. This is the stage when it’s so easy to lose motivation, I often wish someone else could take over at this but 😂
So right! That last step is physical and may require extra hands!
I had a dream last night that we hung out together at the library and talked about homeschooling. I wish we lived closer, because that would be so much fun! I love watching your videos, I feel like I’m watching a friend. Thank you.
How can we make this come true?!?!? I'd do it.
I also had a dream about Erica! How strange is that?
I’m so sorry for your loss. How sweet Luanne is to send a thoughtful gift. My Baltimore row home is too small to declutter slowly. Wouldn’t it be easier and more efficient to load the books in the car and drop off all at once? Do they have a number limit?
What a wonderful gift you received
So glad you were able to sell the video game equipment. Thanks for showing the in between stage. It is a lot of work to get rid of items! When completed, life is easier! Have a great day!
Oh the in between stage. The job isn’t finished until you get it out of the house really. I also forget to take the donations and remember when I’m at the destination 🤦♀️ What beautiful and thoughtful gifts from Luanne at the right time too. Hope you get comfort from them. Grief is tough so give yourself the time and space to heal. Your brother will always be near you and in your heart. Stay safe and healthy. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍🙏💐📦🎁
Hi Mary!
I love God's timing, using LuAnn to meet your need at just the right moment. He's so good.
And I thank you for this video, showing the very familiar 'in-between' stage! (I need to go back and watch the decluttering wall-hangings episode...) Checking out the book donation ideas also. Have a great day!
Girl, I'm so OCD that I would lug all the books into the vehicle and donate them at once. Lol. My back would hurt for the next 2 days too. 😆 🤣
Aww, Lou Ann. Bless you for your kindness.
I'm so pleased someone thoughtful reached out on a day when you could use a little help and love - with a mailbox hug 😊 I loved this secondary phase getting it out to the end places - to help others - to enrich other lives - and to clear up the space and to have one more item ticked off the list (always satisfying!)
Have you thought about having your husband just go ahead and load the van with all of the donate stuff if you aren't physically able to lift and move so many things at once? a few steps from the van to the donate box seems like it would be easier than schlepping it from the house to the van. then, you can be done completely instead of dragging the process out and having to deal with piles of books on your floor and frames cluttering your basement.
Yes, I've thought of this and we've done this in the past. We've been decluttering a bit more lately, and it's built up. :)
I was wondering thr same thing! Like why make 10 small trips to the donate box, when you could just do one big one? However, I also know from first hand experience that drudging up all the boxes from the basement is an awful and taxing task for me. So the whole "one and done" thing can actually hinder me from getting the stuff out of my house! LOL. What weird people we are!
@@marieskee22 for me, it’s unseen now. I don’t go down there often. I forget!
What a thoughtful gift. With all the bad that is going on in the world, it’s so refreshing to witness kindness.
I think the most frustrating part of decluttering, for me, is the in between. I mostly donate, but sometimes I try to sell, and it drives me bonkers for something I’ve cut ties with and released to sit in my garage. It’s definitely a lesson in patience for me.🤣
I’ve been purging my home for the past year and a half and everything was crowded on my sunporch that I couldn’t even use it! A week ago I went through everything, took 10 large boxes to donate and gave away a lot on Facebook MarketPlace! I love it because I know people are appreciative of the things and I feel better knowing they need them. I still donate things to GW but something’s they overprice to the point it’s not a thrift. I just gave a cabinet away this morning to someone that was very happy to get it. I now have my sunporch back!
Thank you! It’s so refreshing to see someone show this “side” of the decluttering process 💗
Oh the Grouchy Ladybug in the donation box!! I love that book haha!
I am walking the declutter journey with 2 people even as I continue decluttering (constant process). I am amazed to watch these dear ones develop their decluttering muscles. I have loved watching you be real in your processes.
Your loss of your brother will always hurt but it will change over time. This is the first I heard of your loss. Praying for you.
That was very nice of Luanne to send you that package.
I just want to tell you again, Erica, that I really like watching your videos.
I love how real life your videos are. The gift is super wonderful!
Grief has a nasty habit of showing up when you least expect it. It does get better, I lost my husband 25 years ago to suicide❤️
I am so sorry for your loss, Jill.
And I'm proud of you Erica about the books!
What a wonderful gift 🎁 you received how kind people can be ❤️💕 I can see how much it meant to you and i like how you included the children in the gratitude ❤️
I try to take my decluttered goods to the charity shop within a few days i leave them in front of the door so they are in the way....and i do little and often. It came in a bag at a time and it goes out the same way 🤗❤️
Erica, have you thought about setting the frames outside in a box at the curb?
We had a highchair used only 5 times my grandson, he's 10, put a FREE sign on it and set it on the sidewalk. It was gone I less than 10 minutes.
I really enjoy your videos.
ooooh! That's a great idea!
Loved your mommy teaching moment. Prayers for you and your loss.
Who knew.....Erica Lucas is not super home maker all the time 🙃........I love your attitude.
Love love love this kind of content. The messy middle of decluttering. I find it a lot easier to give away on buy nothing than FB marketplace because it's a much more local group. People are closer and can pick up so much faster, not to mention less gas.
This is just what I needed today! I'm making space for a new baby and I've finally identified what is going. But some is going to the thrift store, some to list on Buy Nothing, some selling on Ebay, etc. So I've got that next step to push through!
I take the boxes and bags I’ve packed for donation immediately to the car it makes it easier the next time I am running errands to drop them off and nothing gets left behind. Just a thought 😊
I do sometimes, and not others. I don't have a reason or pattern but that's just how it shakes out! :)
I do that but then they sit in the trunk of my car for 6 months 🤣🤣🤣
@@jenniferarmell yes! I know I’m not alone on that. Me too!
As book lover and a former academic with three areas of study, I have agonized over how to get rid of books. I’ve been able to get rid of so many books, but have so many yet that I haven’t been able to decide about. It’s overwhelming. Your flow chart has been awesome in helping get me decide. Thanks so much for that wonderful tool and for the tip about the book donation place you use. There’s one a little way from me that I’ll be making lots of visits to.
Grief can be so hard. There are days that the death of my Dad 16 years ago can still suck my breath away. I pray that you have strength and peace for each day ahead.
Thank you Erica, you always make me smile when I watch your videos.
Thank you, Luann, for sending such a thoughtful gift and restoring our faith in humanity. I was a little disheartened by all the judgmental comments about making multiple drop-offs of books. Like Erica never considered this possibility! They go to the library all the time so it's not a waste of gas. Maybe she's being considerate of the library employees by not overwhelming them with everything at once. Perhaps this is simply the most comfortable way for her to go about it. I have some Executive Functioning issues so I totally get completing tasks in manageable chunks. Erica, I hope you still feel great about 'doing the thing' because you have every confidence in yourself that you will persevere. I've had a silly guinea pig cage sitting in my living room near the front door for so many months if not already a year and this video is the kick in the pants I needed! P.S. We've never even had a guinea pig so it's not even some sort of loss-related reason holding me back!
That gift was so thoughtful!
So sweet, Louanne! You’re a gem! ❤️
I love this turquoise sweater. And thank you for showing how your process works. I struggle with the follow through too
You are a wonderful, beautiful, inspiring, real human being! I love watching you videos! I'm so sorry for your loss! Can't wait for more!
P.s. I wish you lived closer to me I would definitely take those shadow boxes. I've taken your advice on sentimental and decided to show of what I have, but haven't found what I needed to do it. Plus I've got construction going on in my house so it's hard to think about where to put things with that going on right now. Thank you for being you!
Oh my Erica...I have boxes and bags in my living room that are donations waiting for pick up too. I've filled my car so many times (So worth it!) with donations in the past year. It will feel so good to have more space when the items are gone.
Thank you for acknowledging this stage! I loved this video and what a precious gift to receive from the follower. I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother. Saying a prayer for you now.
Hi Erica! I love that I met you and discovered your channel. Not only do you help me with ideas to declutter my home (and my mom really thanks you there, lol), but I also just love how you make your videos. You are such a good story teller, I feel like I'm on an adventure with you. Thank you so much for the tips and ideas.🌻
Luanne is a good soul
Sweetie, I’m so very sorry to hear about your brother’s passing. Give yourself time to grieve. Four months is nothing compared to the lifetime bond you had with your brother. I lost my mom almost 7 years ago and my sweet eldest daughter 6&1/2 years ago. I promise it does get better. Unfortunately you have to go through the rough part to get to the other side. Good bless your viewer that sent you such thoughtful tools
to help you. Love your channel! Take care of your beautiful family. 💕
And by the way my beautiful daughter’s name was also “Erica”. 🙏🏻
I lost my son 4 months ago unexpectedly. I wish God didn't take our children, i wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy.
@@christineshultz7615 I’m so sorry to hear about your son. I too wish God wouldn’t take our children. The pain is so immense it almost kills us. I hope you have support and help with your grieving process. Losing a child is the worst loss we can endure. Do you have other children or grand children? That’s what saved me. I have 2 other beautiful daughters and 2 beautiful grandsons from my daughter who passed. I thank god everyday for giving them to us despite the fact that he took their mother. Please take care of yourself and God bless you!💞🙏
@@laurysteinke8921 my son was one of a set of triplets. I have plenty of people to lean on and unfortunately know quite a few people who've also lost children. I have niece who was a super premie and lived to 3 months old. God must have a special reason to need our kids so soon.
@@christineshultz7615 I’m so sorry. My daughter was 33 when she passed.
I was also a preemie born at 7 months gestation. I was 3 pounds, 6 &1/2 ounces. It’s a miracle I lived as that was 59 years ago. The drs said I had a strong heart.
I stick a note on my door reminding me to check for donations before I head out.
I hear you with your pockets of grief. I hope your remembrances in the future are full of joy while remembering the good things about your brother. Hugs.
I know it is tough to purge your house of such mountains of things. I like to haul things directly to my car so that the next time I am out and about, I MUST empty it, or have no room for anything else. It sort of forces the issue. To leave things in my house for too long would actually drain me emotionally. Perhaps I am just weak in that area. I am the one who needs to get it out of my house as soon as I make the decision to get rid of it.
Thank you so much för this video! It's so funny that you released it just now because I was thinking just earlier today that there really need to be a video like this 😄
I have been decluttering and decluttering for years now and have been so frustrated that nothing seems to be happening. Until it finally clicked...all the donation and sell boxes are still here....in transit...still...🤦♀️🤦♀️ of course nothing seems to be happening 😂
It was just refreshing to learn that I'm not the only one to have "transit clutter" 😁 It seems all the youtubers that declutter have all their stuff magically disapear from their homes 😋
So..short story long...I finally figured out that I don't have a problem decluttering. My problem is the next step - getting it out of my house.
Thank you again for the honest reality 👑 Love your videos!
I'm proud of him!
Hi Erica! I am glad you received some TLC through the mail! Yes, the clutter that sits until you can remove it! I definitely can relate! I have bus or my legs! If I pay a friend (and that they are in the mood) I have them. It takes longer to get the stuff out! I wish I could have no conscience like some who just throw it in the garbage, how easy! But, I better not wish to be selfish. Slow and sure wins the race! You, Erica, you and your family are winning the race to a clutter free and peaceful, loving family! 👩👧❤👨👦👦
Love this video and thank you for showing the messy in-between. With gas prices so high and living in the country, we only go into town once a week for groceries and errands. I have all my packed decluttering boxes in my utility room and I would love to take them all in at once. But like you, I have limited space in my vehicle and so I slowly chip away at it. It feels so good to drop them off so I do feel that ‘high’ every week.
I lost my brother 45 years ago and I still miss him. We keep our loved ones alive by talking about them. Make sure your children hear the good stories and the funny anecdotes about him so he lives in their memories too.
I was able to breeze through this transitional phase of decluttering. I did the bulk of it during an asymptotic positive for both my husband and me. We were stuck home anyway, and my husband hauled it all away truck load by truckload. I think I walked 6-7 miles per day in my house for like 6 days straight! It was so much work, but this situation worked for me bc I’m an all or none person. I struggle with doing things bit by bit. But now that we have most of it out, doing the smaller remainder bit by bit I can handle.
I decluttered about 200 cookbooks and travel books in a similar donation receptacle. It took longer to carefully put them than it did to declutter them, but I did it all in one shot. BTW, love that top on you!
This is such a crucial step to share! thank you Erica!
That colour really suits you 🤗
I love seeing you in springy pastels; so pretty. 😊
The literature on dealing with grief would be so good for my family right now. My husband lost his cousin on Saturday in a very tragic way. We’re still in the disbelief phase. My husband has been losing family members one a year for quite some time and it’s a very difficult time for him. I should look into getting some books or maybe even try audible. Thanks for sharing with us as I know this is a difficult time for you.❤️🙏 Also wanted to add what a kind hearted person Luanne is.❤️🙏
When I make a decision to get rid of something I have to get it out of the house. It adds more stress & adds to my silent to do list if I don’t. Drives my husband crazy. We have compromised, he now sets deadlines on selling stuff & after that he takes a trip to donate. The in between stage drives me crazy, but at least we are making progress. That’s the goal progress over perfection. Great job on your progress. I’m so proud of you!
You've got some great videos - but these last 2 really satisfied something in me! LOL
Great topic, one that's rarely talked about.
Thanks for being so real. I found/find the in between stage of decluttering so frustrating and, I confess, some of mine goes in the rubbish bin because I don't have a car to be able to take it to some donation place. The good news about that is that I have found that I am less likely to buy stuff I don't need, because I feel guilty about not always being able to recycle it at a later date.
You are certainly not alone here. While I have a car, I live literally 20 miles from the nearest town. When I declutter, sometimes the decisions are so difficult that if I don't remove them immediately, I become so stressed and change my mind. Be proud of what you accomplish and let go of any guilt. As you said, you buy less stuff to bring in so however you're doing things is sparking positive change for you and that is AMAZING! Keep up the great work.
U could check out the internet on places that do pick-ups! 🤔
@@donnagrifford7142 Sadly, small town UK. I tried a local charity for furniture pickup but they weren't interested unless it was modern stuff.
Love this!! One of my best motivation moments was coming home to a clean, more clutter-free home after taking a full load of stuff to our local donation center. It got me so motivated to keep on decluttering!! Right now I am going through a bit of a transition so more decluttering is happening. I’m in that in-between stage with boxes & bags of stuff to go. The organization that I donate to only accepts donations once a week so I will be loading up the car tonight for drop off tomorrow morning! I am also going through my books…using your helpful printout. I’m pulling out 5-6 books a day to review and I find I am giving away at least half of the books I’ve pulled so far. I also looked up the discover books information and they actually have a donate box in my town (yippee!).
Aw Erica…. I SO love your channel. You are so real and relatable. I struggle through ongoing decluttering and it is exhausting. This second part of getting it out once you’ve made the decision is time consuming and exhausting. Thank you for your motivation.
Progress not perfection and what a kind follower. How much joy acts of kindness bring! 🤗
Thanks LouAnn
My sister died 4 years ago and my faith and love for my kids helped me a lot. Ty for the video
I needed this today. I have stuff to go to goodwill and it’s sitting there. I’ve already brought two things back in. I don’t really need them but now they kind of work, but my lesson learned is get it out the same day. Enjoy the day
Another great video! I find if I put the boxes and bags in the car then when I'm out running errands I can drop them off!! Every time I drop items off I just feel SO good!!
Sorry for your loss, Prayers! Thank you for sharing this great real podcast with all of us! 💛☀️
Bless you and your brother as your eternal relationship becomes more tangible and present in your visceral experiences. So much love to you.
Really useful video! My dad passed away last November at 95. He and Mom, voracious readers. The huge collection, I will soon be going through. It won't be easy, as Mom is concerned about first editions, signed copies. It's going to be so hard as my attitude is simply donate the whole lot. Sure will look for those donation boxes. Thank you!
oh that will a project indeed! Touching each book may be the process your mom needs though, to let go of them (vs letting go of a piece of your dad's memory). I'm so sorry for your loss.
Erica, though time for you🥰 After my brother I used dream I look through photo album & he was walking & I felt why he’s not dead. They were good dreams. So when you said you lovely brother was texting you I just thought life is very strange. I wish you happiness. Sadness eventually goes. And u will remember the happy times.
But we will always have our loved ones near us. 💖🥰
love this video - you just show it like it is!
Amen sister. I had three donate bags by my stairs for three weeks!!
in between is hard! maybe the next project is just taking it all out at once!
Thank you for sharing Erica.
Thanks for being real! The in between can be annoying. Donation stuff sits in my bedroom. I don't like it, but if I don't see it, I don't remember it. And with gas being $5+ a gallon and the donation centers being at least 15 minutes away, like you, I batch errands that are in the same direction. So the in between can be weeks!
Good to see the real. Good idea to incorporate into regular errands. it does take a minute!
I'm in the "In-between" stage right now! 😫😫😫
My bedroom looks like a storage room! We're waiting 4 our Children's Resale Shop 2 b excepting donations again, in about a week! 😩😩😩
Everything in life is a process!
Thank U so much 4 sharing Ur Journey! U can't believe how much U've helped me as well as soooo many others, I'm sure! Ur home looks fantastic, cozy n beautiful! Living life with intention brings Peace 2 everyone in the family! 💞
Blessings 2 U n Ur sweet family! 🥰😘
Just found you, enjoying your realism. I’m about a month or so in. Trying to sell some big pieces but the process seems to come in spurts. I can tell my progress but it definitely still looks chaotic. I’m thinking it should take close to six months to get to a sweet spot. Especially with selling the things that take up the most space. But it feels great when things leave, in whatever way they go!
This is where I'm at. I've got a mountain of cloth nappies, baby clothes and toys in my office that I've decluttered and listed online to sell and am just waiting for it to sell and parcelling it up and getting rid of it a bit at a time. Can't wait for it all to just be GONE!
The in-between stage of getting things out of the house is so frustrating! Lol. Still worth the effort. 👟
My brother passed away 14 years ago at 39 and I still grieve still hits me
Happy Monday Erica you go girl !! Keep these videos coming
This was a great video, Erica. The in-between phase of decluttering requires lots of patience! I am very familiar with that stage. LOL What has helped us get rid of books is the VVA (Vietnam Veterans Association). If you make an appointment with them, they will come by and pick up as many books as you need to let go of. We put the books in boxes on the front steps and they just swing by and remove them for you. Easy.Peasy. You might want to look into it to see whether there is a VVA pickup in your area.
The shadow boxes are great for essential oils. Maybe post something like that online & see if it sells that way? I was looking and looking for something like that and eventually just bought a nail polish holder. But shadow boxes are great for more than just trinkets! Love your videos 🥰
I second some other comments, get the stuff in the car and get it to the donation center immediately, you will feel so much better and have a much clearer mind for what needs tackling next. Sometimes minimalism can extend to the number of tasks we are trying to accomplish at once.
lots of love to you and your family 😘✨🙏
Your blouse is so nice, the colour is lovely for you. ❤️ Gitte from Bulgaria
Every thing comes at the perfect time.
That’s great that your hubby is selling his gaming systems. I’m trying to convince my grown son to do the same. I can’t understand just keeping things in your closet taking up room when they could be turned into money. I sold two pairs of shoes recently. Didn’t make a lot of money but love clearing out my closet.🥰
This was important to let people know they are not failing when they have donation boxes creating different clutter, as long as it's temporary
Wonderful! Much blessings
Thank you for sharing. 2nd anniversary this week of my sister's passing.
I absolutely Love how Real you are with us , your family, your home and life! You are such an inspiration to me! Thank you Erica. How do you declutter the little things? Ex: travel items, junk drawer items, those little things that have been misplaced, ect. Do you just throw it away? Please help! ❤️🙏
I make an obnoxious pile of declutter that stays in sight in my home ( where it bugs me to remember to put in car) my car is where it lingers until I remember to drop them off, same issue different landing spot :-) love the " keeping it real" of your channel.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure your brother knows you still think of him and miss him. That was such a thoughtful gift from Luanne
Great declutteeing video 📹
So in this stage. I'm fairly minimalist but things had started to feel a bit cluttered. Although I declutter little things all the time I wanted to do a full house declutter. I'm about 3/4 done but now have the bags of stuff to be donated, a few things to sell, a few things to return to store (after redecorating my bedroom) and just a few but to go in the loft. I almost hate it more than before I declutter. Hopefully by the weekend it will mostly be gone and things will feel good again .
Love this video thank you xx