Declutter With Friends: Let the games begin! Part 2
The following post was published previously however it has reached it’s comment capacity. As there are still readers who are enjoying participating Nicole has come up with solution of republishing it so the game can continue. Maybe reposting will also entice a few more players. Enjoy!
A guest post by: Nicole V
Do you know the word game in which a player begins with a word in a particular category (countries or cities, for instance), with subsequent players taking turns to say a new word that begins with the final letter of the previous word? Once a word has been given, it cannot be repeated and any player who is unable to come up with a word is out of the game. It is usually referred to as the ‘Last and First’, ‘Last Letter Game’ or ‘Last Letter Word Chain’ although I’m sure there must be other names for it. Well, I was thinking that it might be fun for us 365ers to try out something similar while decluttering, but I wanted to make it a more challenging game, one involving quick thinking and action and one in which anyone can come in at any time and make a quick play in real-time. I decided to throw down the decluttering gauntlet and wait to see who is the fastest 365er to take up the challenge. Here’s what I came up with:
1. I begin by decluttering three forks from a drawer.
2. Whoever is fast enough then continues the game by quickly thinking of and finding an item to declutter from any one category – either number or item or place – to play in. This could be eitherthree items (but not forks) or an item beginning with the letter ‘k’ or ‘s’ (the second last or last letter of forks*) or any number of anything (that is not a fork) from any drawer. If you select the number category, you have to declutter identical items. So, if Colleen is the quickest player who is able to continue the game, she could then either declutter three bowls or one (or any number) kettle orspoon or a non-fork item from any drawer in her home. She will then update the rest of us in the online comment thread.
*In the case of plural nouns, you can use either the last or second last letter of the word to continue under the item category – in the case of the forks, this would mean that the next item can begin with the letter ‘s’ or ‘k’. Thank you, Colleen, for your input regarding this.
3. The game continues with any 365er who is quick to identify something to declutter and comment about. There is no need for the item to leave your home immediately, you just need to identify it and earmark it for decluttering (whether you donate, recycle, shred, etc) as soon as possible. But you have to be quick on the draw as the categories will keep changing depending on how fast another 365er declutters something and updates the rest of us about it. If another 365er has read the latest update and quickly decluttered something and updated the online comment thread before you were able to list your item, you’ll have to either:
(a) Recategorize your item under one of the other two categories, if possible, or
(b) Keep that item and jump in on another round or
(c) Quickly look for another suitable item that relates to the current round and play it before someone else does.
4. To keep it interesting, items cannot be repeated in consecutive turns – if someone declutters shoes, the next person cannot declutter shoes as well (and must find another item that begins with the letter ‘e’ or ‘s’) but the person after that can. The number of items decluttered and the place or room that the item was decluttered from can, of course, be repeated in consecutive turns.
5. Be as creative and imaginative as you can possibly be (or get away with!) regarding the categories and have fun!
So, with apologies to Effie Trinket, all that’s left is for me to say: “Happy Decluttering Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!â€
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Nicole V Said,
March 15, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
(1) book from shelf
Nicole V Said,
March 16, 2017 @ 10:56 am
(1) CD from (shelf)
(1) folder from filing cabinet
Nicole V Said,
March 17, 2017 @ 2:42 pm
(1) decorative item from shelf
Nicole V Said,
March 18, 2017 @ 11:34 am
(1) CD from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
March 19, 2017 @ 12:08 pm
2 books from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
March 19, 2017 @ 8:19 pm
(2) (s)tationery items from drawer
Pat M Said,
March 20, 2017 @ 4:21 am
1 old (s)pice from shelf
(1) waffle maker from (shelf)
Pat M Said,
March 20, 2017 @ 7:04 am
2 binders from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
March 20, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
(2) electronic devices from cabinet (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
March 21, 2017 @ 11:45 am
4 odds and ends from kitchen (shelf)
1 CD from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
March 22, 2017 @ 1:31 pm
3 pairs of earbuds from (shelf)
deanna ar USA Said,
March 23, 2017 @ 9:18 am
(1) girl’s regulation official softball bat from (cabinet)
This is a biggie. Hubby brought it to me so I could count it here. It belonged to his daughter (my stepdaughter) whom we haven’t seen in about 20 years. He’s giving it to the granddaughter of a friend who just started playing ball…all his own idea.
deanna ar USA Said,
March 23, 2017 @ 9:23 am
(1) truck (t)owbar from garage
Pat M Said,
March 23, 2017 @ 10:37 am
(1) baseball trophy from shelf
Your baseball bat reminded me. You husband is so helpful!
Pat M Said,
March 24, 2017 @ 10:55 pm
Hard: I want to take that broken “Rookie of the Year” trophy out of the trash.
I decorated 3 Easter eggs with these declutter sayings 2 years ago:
Let it go – It’s just stuff (don’t know where I got this but it helps me)
Rejoice in the way things are – Lao Tzu
Release the past, Cherish who you are now – Marie Kondo
Nicole V Said,
March 25, 2017 @ 1:44 pm
“Let it go. It’s just stuff.” – that’s from the Minimalists, Pat.
Pat M Said,
March 25, 2017 @ 10:10 pm
Thanks Nicole – I have updated my egg and will never forget!
deanna ar USA Said,
March 28, 2017 @ 4:00 am
He’s the best!!!
Nicole V Said,
March 23, 2017 @ 12:55 pm
(1) fiction book from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
March 24, 2017 @ 2:37 pm
(1) box of clips from drawer
Pat M Said,
March 25, 2017 @ 10:07 am
(1) pile of (p)apers from file (drawer)
Pat M Said,
March 25, 2017 @ 11:22 am
(1) air popcorn popper from cabinet
Nicole V Said,
March 25, 2017 @ 1:47 pm
(1) stack of papers from filing (cabinet)
Pat M Said,
March 25, 2017 @ 11:45 pm
2 containers of oatmeal from (cabinet)
Pat M Said,
March 26, 2017 @ 12:49 am
(2) hand showers with hose from (garage)
I am dropping 2 big bags of stuff at thrift shop today!
Nicole V Said,
March 26, 2017 @ 12:24 pm
Good job, Pat!
Nicole V Said,
March 26, 2017 @ 12:25 pm
(2) hangers from closet
Pat M Said,
March 26, 2017 @ 1:09 pm
1 bag of hangers from (closet)
Nicole V Said,
March 27, 2017 @ 1:20 pm
(1) set of food containers from kitchen
deanna ar USA Said,
March 28, 2017 @ 4:03 am
(1) (s)potlight from closet
Pat M Said,
March 28, 2017 @ 11:05 am
Oh I’ll take it. I have a flashlight thing after 2 weeks of no electricity with super storm Sandy.
deanna ar USA Said,
March 31, 2017 @ 2:58 am
You don’t want it. It was a gift to my hubby 10+ years ago. It didn’t work then…and doesn’t work now…never has. It’s gone. I would love to have a great spotlight. We used to go out on our back deck and shine a spotlight in our backyard and the woods behind, and we could see the deer…plus all those little beady eyes of small critters looking back at us. So fun!
Nicole V Said,
March 29, 2017 @ 2:21 pm
(1) stack of paper from filing cabinet
Nicole V Said,
March 30, 2017 @ 2:14 pm
5 items from medical (cabinet)
Pat M Said,
March 30, 2017 @ 10:45 pm
1 stack of loose leaf from filing (cabinet)
deanna ar USA Said,
March 31, 2017 @ 4:39 am
(1) layering shirt from my closet
(1) v-neck shell from my (closet)
Pat M Said,
March 31, 2017 @ 10:31 am
(1) beaded (l)anyard from my office
deanna ar USA Said,
April 2, 2017 @ 4:47 am
(1) pink vase from cabinet
deanna ar USA Said,
April 2, 2017 @ 5:12 am
3 tubes of rancid lotion from (cabinet)
Nicole V Said,
April 2, 2017 @ 11:14 am
(3) pairs of pliers from tool box
Pat M Said,
April 2, 2017 @ 12:29 pm
2 door stops from tool (box)
1 plastic sheet from paint (box)
Nicole V Said,
April 2, 2017 @ 6:23 pm
(1) pair of pants from closet
Pat M Said,
April 3, 2017 @ 6:26 am
(1) set of pillow cases from pillow
Pat M Said,
April 3, 2017 @ 6:31 am
2 door (s)toppers from pail
Nicole V Said,
April 3, 2017 @ 12:35 pm
(2) odds and ends from kitchen
Nicole V Said,
April 4, 2017 @ 3:18 pm
(2) plastic folders from filing cabinet
Nicole V Said,
April 5, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
(2) stationery items from drawer
Nicole V Said,
April 6, 2017 @ 12:59 pm
47 photos from (drawer)
Nicole V Said,
April 7, 2017 @ 9:49 am
2 electronic items from (drawer)
Nicole V Said,
April 8, 2017 @ 1:18 pm
(2) black items from closet
Pat M Said,
April 9, 2017 @ 12:54 am
1 pants from (closet)
deanna ar USA Said,
April 9, 2017 @ 5:56 am
(1) insulated flannel jacket from coat rack
(1) bulletin board from shed
(1) basket from guest bath
Also decluttered some expense by changing our auto insurance company, saving about $160 a year.
Nicole V Said,
April 9, 2017 @ 5:31 pm
Well done, Deanna!
Nicole V Said,
April 9, 2017 @ 5:35 pm
(1) (t)hrow from shelf
Nicole V Said,
April 10, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
(1) knife sharpener from kitchen drawer
Nicole V Said,
April 11, 2017 @ 1:20 pm
4 glass items from (kitchen)
Nicole V Said,
April 12, 2017 @ 3:55 pm
(4) books from shelf
Pat M Said,
April 15, 2017 @ 10:03 pm
1 book from (shelf)
(1) bag of bones from freezer (shelf)