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,
December 20, 2016 @ 12:25 pm
(1) under-sink storage container from kitchen
Have a blessed Christmas, Deanna & Pat!
Pat M Said,
December 23, 2016 @ 10:09 pm
(1) re-glued many times tree ornament from living room.
Merry Christmas guys!
deanna ar USA Said,
December 25, 2016 @ 2:57 pm
Merry Christmas, friends!!
Pat M Said,
December 26, 2016 @ 11:55 pm
1 paper (t)towel holder from kitchen
Pat M Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 3:42 am
(1) pair of slippers from bedroom
Pat M Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 3:42 am
Out with the old – in with the new.
deanna ar USA Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 6:10 am
2 peppermint (s)ticks from kitchen
1 bag of fudge from (kitchen)
2 packs of gum from (kitchen)
Our stocking stuffers included 2 bars of dark chocolate that we finished off on the way home, a bar of goat milk soap, and we got 2 much appreciated Outback gift cards in our dirty Santa game. We were gifted 2 nights at a hotel because my sis-in-law’s house was full. Also got a case of wine and a nice meal out for our anniversary (Dec. 24). Very little left to donate. Our family is learning…we love consumables!
Pat M Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 12:26 pm
Wow we play the same game but we call it “Chinese Grab Bag”. It has spread among all the families.
I will tell them about “Dirty Santa” – same rules!
Pat M Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 12:31 pm
I hosted Christmas party – so tied today. Grab bag this Saturday(my family) and then next Saturday(hubby’s family).
Nicole V Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 2:34 pm
It’s also known as the White Elephant Gift Exchange, I think.
Pat M Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 10:08 am
(2) GPS holders from junk drawer
Nicole V Said,
December 27, 2016 @ 2:31 pm
3 food storage containers from (drawer)
Pat M Said,
December 28, 2016 @ 4:57 am
(3) (s)hirts from (drawer)
Nicole V Said,
December 28, 2016 @ 12:52 pm
Lol, Pat … let me see whether I can match that.
Pat M Said,
December 28, 2016 @ 1:16 pm
I think it is the first 3 match – just having fun.
Pat M Said,
December 28, 2016 @ 1:18 pm
I am home from work for the whole week so I should keep finding things to declutter.
Nicole V Said,
December 28, 2016 @ 2:15 pm
I’m all for having fun while decluttering! 🙂
Nicole V Said,
December 28, 2016 @ 2:13 pm
(3) (s)poons from (drawer)
Pat M Said,
December 29, 2016 @ 12:40 am
Congrats on 3 match! I would have a hard time to let go of spoons!
Nicole V Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 12:00 am
Thank you for the inspiration! I’m going to try to do a “Pat’s 3 match” whenever I can. 🙂
Pat M Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 1:46 am
5 store reward cards from (drawer)
Pat M Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 3:06 am
1 (s)tack of recipes from kitchen
Pat M Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 3:07 am
(1) (e)xercise wheel from basement
(1) garbage pail from bathroom
(1) pair of runner’s gloves from closet
Pat M Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 3:24 am
(1) watch from jewelery box
Pat M Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 9:19 am
(1) folder of book reviews from desk
Nicole V Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 12:48 pm
You’re doing great, Pat!
Pat M Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 1:44 am
My items have been piling up until I could use the easy (1).
Nicole V Said,
December 30, 2016 @ 12:46 pm
(1) (s)carf from shelf
Pat M Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 6:13 am
(1) holiday candy dish from living room (shelf)
Pat M Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 6:31 am
(1) stack of gaming magazines from son’s night stand
Pat M Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 6:39 am
3 books from son’s night (stand)
Nicole V Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 12:24 pm
(3) odds and ends from kitchen
Happy New Year Pat & Deanna!
Pat M Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 11:14 pm
1 (D)VD remote from storage
Pat M Said,
December 31, 2016 @ 11:15 pm
Happy New Year too Nicole & Deanna!
deanna ar USA Said,
January 1, 2017 @ 1:07 am
Happy New Year Pat and Nicole!! Cold and wet here. Today’s the anniversary date of meeting dear hubby, the light of my life…on a blind date on New Year’s Eve. We were married one year later on Christmas Eve (41 years).
Pat M Said,
January 1, 2017 @ 3:56 am
Congratulations – great story!
Nicole V Said,
January 1, 2017 @ 1:06 pm
“Whatever our souls are made of,
His and mine are the same.”
– Emily Bronte
Loved your story, Deanna … congratulations!
Pat M Said,
January 1, 2017 @ 6:17 am
(1) waste pail from floor
Nicole V Said,
January 1, 2017 @ 1:09 pm
(1) (l)ight bulb from shelf
Pat M Said,
January 2, 2017 @ 6:16 am
2 (b)ric-a-brac from (shelf)
(2) pairs of pants from drawer
Nicole V Said,
January 2, 2017 @ 1:13 pm
(2) CDs from cabinet shelf
Pat M Said,
January 4, 2017 @ 8:55 am
1 coloring book from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
January 4, 2017 @ 1:36 pm
(1) apron from drawer
Nicole V Said,
January 4, 2017 @ 4:43 pm
Another P3M (Pat’s 3 match):
(1) (n)otepad from (drawer)
Pat M Said,
January 5, 2017 @ 3:39 am
Excellent!
Nicole V Said,
January 5, 2017 @ 10:31 pm
Thanks, Pat!
Pat M Said,
January 5, 2017 @ 3:39 am
2 tee shirts from (drawer)
Nicole V Said,
January 5, 2017 @ 10:33 pm
(2) glass bottles from (drawer)
Pat M Said,
January 7, 2017 @ 1:45 am
1 bag of (s)ocks from (drawer)
(1) (s)weatshirt from closet
Pat M Said,
January 7, 2017 @ 10:36 am
(1) nail clipper from bag
Nicole V Said,
January 7, 2017 @ 11:06 am
(1) document tray from study
Pat M Said,
January 7, 2017 @ 2:30 pm
(1) bobble head from son’s dresser top
2 toys from (dresser top)
Pat M Said,
January 7, 2017 @ 2:31 pm
Leaving on ski vacation tomorrow – I may be quiet for the week. Snow coming too!
Nicole V Said,
January 7, 2017 @ 3:39 pm
Have a wonderful time, Pat!
Nicole V Said,
January 8, 2017 @ 11:44 am
(2) books from bookcase
Pat M Said,
January 14, 2017 @ 12:33 am
1 (s)ki mask from ski boot bag
(1) baseball hat from ski boot (bag)
Decluttering while on vacation! Home later today.
Pat M Said,
January 14, 2017 @ 8:04 am
baseball “cap” is the correct term
deanna ar USA Said,
January 14, 2017 @ 8:33 am
(1) small exercise machine from closet
(1) down jacket from (closet)
(1) necklace from (closet)
100+ (e)mails from iPad
The emails were receipts from 2013. I kept them this long because we’ve been audited 3 times in recent years…a real pain, but we always had all our records and could validate our deductions…a lot of hard work though!!
Pat, good job on decluttering during vacation!!!
Pat M Said,
January 14, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
An exercise machine in the closet??? Funny – yes time for it to go!
I have never been audited. Yuck!
Pat M Said,
January 14, 2017 @ 12:10 pm
Actually my son has a chin up bar in the closet – takes up the whole shelf!! I will ask him if it can go.
Nicole V Said,
January 14, 2017 @ 11:34 am
1 (l)anyard from drawer
Decluttering on vacation – you’ve set the bar high, Pat!
Good job, Deanna!
Pat M Said,
January 15, 2017 @ 3:18 am
(1) VHS movie from living room shelf
(1) faux fur jacket from closet (hard decision after many years)
Pat M Said,
January 15, 2017 @ 3:45 am
16 pink hangers from (closet)
Pat M Said,
January 15, 2017 @ 6:27 am
1 pocket book from (closet)
Pat M Said,
January 15, 2017 @ 9:42 am
2 paint clothes from (closet)
Nicole V Said,
January 15, 2017 @ 4:51 pm
(2) CDs from living room
Pat M Said,
January 17, 2017 @ 9:20 am
(2) books from work shelf
1 airplane collection from work (shelf)
deanna ar USA Said,
January 17, 2017 @ 10:59 am
(1) bottle of expired lotion from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
January 17, 2017 @ 9:27 pm
(1) umbrella from (shelf)
Pat M Said,
January 17, 2017 @ 11:47 pm
(1) picture from (shelf)
Nicole V Said,
January 18, 2017 @ 10:11 am
(1) book from (shelf)
Pat M Said,
January 18, 2017 @ 10:39 am
(1) computer game from drawer