clutter clean out

September ’25 Runfessions

September 26, 2025 by Michelle 14 Comments

Well, September blew in and out quickly didn’t it?! Before I put this month in the rearview mirror, for this week’s Fit Five Friday, I’m joining Marcia to share some Runfessions.

September ’25 Runfessions

After spending a couple of months clearing out and prepping my mom’s condo for sale, I runfess that I’m now on a massive decluttering mission at my house. Seriously, my mom threw nothing out – like I found my elementary school report card among other things…it was just so much! While some times a fun stroll down memory lane, the whole process of clearing her house has me wanting to take a fresh look at what’s filling up the drawers and closets in my house.

I also runfess that I am also surprised, even after decluttering and donating items prior to our remodel, that a year later there’s still stuff to consider parting with. Makes me wonder if decluttering is ever “done.”

What say you – are you pretty good at keeping things to a minimum or do you feel like there’s always something to declutter?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please remember to share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts’ posts!

Filed Under: #FitFiveFriday, clutter clean out, Runfessions

5 Things for January Coffee

January 5, 2018 by Michelle 43 Comments

It’s time once again for a little catch up over coffee!

Didn’t we just do this? I swear it sometimes hard to keep track of how fast the days are moving. I’m linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date, so grab a mug of your fave hot beverage and let’s chat.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that the holidays were a little bittersweet for us as my father-in-law passed away peacefully on Christmas Day. He was a true gentleman with a quick smile and kind word for everyone. His passions were his family, skiing, sailing, and painting and I hope to be doing as much as he was when I reach 92! I’m so grateful that we all got to spend time with him over Thanksgiving and my husband got in one more trip just before Christmas Eve.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that thanks to the Bomb Cyclone (really who comes up with this stuff?!) it’s been tough to get back into the swing of a regular routine. The kids started back to school on Tuesday, only to be home Thursday and Friday thanks to blizzard conditions. I love a good “snow day” but I have a sinking feeling Monday morning re-entry is going to be tough!

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that my husband, brother and I are doing Run the Edge‘s “Run This Year” challenge. While I don’t set annual mileage goals, I think doing this as a team will be fun! My brother’s planning on some Spartan races and my husband J will be doing trail races so I think 2,018 miles collectively is totally doable – and I’m sure there will be some serious trash talking between the 3 of us over who’s logging the most 🙂

A fun medal for 2,108 miles!

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that since sharing my running goals, I’ve become a little obsessed with trying to decide which marathon to run this fall. I’m itching to get my race calendar settled but want to select the marathon first and then build around it.

And, speaking of goals, if we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I have no shortage of house projects I want to take on for this year. At the top of the list is purging from top to bottom and clearing out all of the stuff we’re not using. It was clear to me as I was struggling to come up with gift ideas for both J and the kids that we really don’t need any more stuff – and that in fact, we could stand to shed some things. So, starting this month I’m going room by room – and dragging my family along kicking and screaming…wish me luck!

What would you tell me over coffee? Got a marathon suggestion? Did you get hit by the Bomb Cyclone?

I’m also linking up with Meranda, Lacey, and Rachel for the Friday Five.

Filed Under: #RunThisYear, clutter clean out, Friday Five, Ultimate coffee date

Weekend Update v2

March 16, 2015 by Michelle 26 Comments

Monday already? Really?

My goodness the weekend went by fast….anyone else feel this way?

It started out just I had mentioned in my last post….

Friday afternoon was spent shopping with a friend, then a lazy evening of pizza, a glass of wine and hanging with my family.

Saturday was full of shuttling the boys to and from hockey and lacrosse practices; another run on the ‘mill (thanks to a cold, downpour) and trying to make some serious progress on my decluttering/spring cleaning.

Blogger fail I should have taken a “before” pic so you can truly appreciate how much better this closet looks! I’m taking on the kids’ rooms next!

a family addiction

There were tacos for dinner and catching up on…

On Sunday, I stayed on the “spring cleaning” bandwagon,” before heading out to my youngest son’s playoff hockey game…where on the drive down this happened…

yes that’s more snow, Boston officially broke the record for the snowiest winter ever and ….I have no more words!

All-in-all a good weekend, even if it did feel like it went by in a blink of an eye!

I’m linking up with Tara’s Weekend Update – be sure to stop by and say hi!

How was your weekend?

Filed Under: clutter clean out, general musings, weekends

Ultimate Coffee Date – March

March 7, 2015 by Michelle 16 Comments

It’s the first Saturday of the month which means its time for the Ultimate Coffee Date! I’m linking up again with Coco, Lynda and Deborah so grab a cup of your fave beverage and join us!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that while I still feel like a lot my race schedule is still in flux, I did do a little race shopping this week and locked in my registration for both the Newport 10 miler and Boston’s Run to Remember 5 miler. My husband J has decided to run RtR with me.

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I’m secretly grateful to see my son’s hockey season coming to an end. The crack o’dawn games are starting to wear thin, and juggling between both hockey and indoor lacrosse practices is definitely stressing out our weekend schedule!

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that I’m itching to do some spring cleaning! Also it’s been a while since I’ve gone on a de-cluttering tear through my house. After such a long winter, it feels like the perfect way to welcome in spring. Now if I can just figure out how to get my family on board 😉

If we were having coffee together, I’d tell you that my newest TV addiction is Fixer Upper on HGTV. Maybe it’s because I live in a 120+ year old house, but I love remodel shows. On Tuesday nights, I’m glued to the TV for this one hoping to steal and idea or two.

Sorry I have to cut our coffee time short today, but it’s time for me to start the lacrosse to hockey shuffle.

If we were having coffee together, what would you tell me? Do you like design/remodel shows?

Filed Under: clutter clean out, race shopping, Ultimate coffee date

27 things and other stuff

November 4, 2011 by Michelle 10 Comments

I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately – nothing in particular…just that feeling that I cannot possibly juggle one more ball and then someone throws me, not one, but three more balls, and somehow I make it work. And, then as I declare again “That’s it – that’s all I can do,” the cycle repeats itself again. It’s pretty much been this way the entire month of October, and quite frankly I’ve had enough!

Time to regain some balance…for my sake and for those around me.

So this week I’ve started meditating in the morning again. It really helps me to slow down and focus and overall I’m a lot calmer when I meditate — my challenge has always been to be consistent about the practice.

This week I also got back on my de-clutter kick! A friend told me about a practice called “27 Things” in which the goal is to give-away, throw away or move 27 things a day for 9 days. In the process, you stop to examine what you surround yourself with and remove what’s unnecessary, what weighs you down – in turn creating space for new opportunities. Well, I’m game – so I’m starting my 9 days this weekend and plan to get J and the boys involved.

Do you think you could part with 27 things a day? How do you regain a sense of balance when things feel off-kilter?

J & I will get another chance at the local race that was postponed last weekend – and based on the forecast, it looks like Mother Nature’s going to play nice this time!

Hope she cooperates for everyone racing this weekend ~

Good luck to all the runners!

Filed Under: 27 things, clutter clean out, meditation, seeking balance

Thursday Thoughts (aka 3 things)

January 6, 2011 by Michelle 6 Comments

Two runs down and one more for this week — the ITB continues to cooperate! My plan is to stick to 3 runs/week for another week or two and see how my left leg responds.

Started my TRX/Pilates combo classes last night! It was a fantastic way to get abs, triceps, biceps, quads and hamstrings all in one intense hour – the next six weeks should be challenging!

I am on a purging quest! One of the things I love about the start of the new year is this feeling of working from a clean slate. So I am on a mission to tame the clutter — there’s just too much stuff! Over the next couple of months I’m going to systematically work my way through my house and purge so that by Spring my goal is to only have things in my house that my family really needs, uses and loves. I’m off to the attic to get started. Wish me luck!