i love what you've done with your space.

do you think you'll write another book?

Yeah...about the book...

I finished yours in two days! No easy feat for a woman with a 9 month old. I loved it! I was sorry when it ended, but of course you are still writing the blog, thank God!

I re-listed it on Bookmooch and it got snatched right up.

I'm going to buy my own copy to keep!

I'd love to hear of you writing another one. I'd especially like more of Katie and Armando! What happens next?!

I've lived in some very tiny spaces and the litter box placement is always a challenge. What you've done works, and I love the curtains!

I can lament with you on they tiny closet situation. The closets in our house are small as well and I have to share one with my husband. I take up 3/4 of the closet which I feel bad about, but hey, I'm a girl, I have more clothes and shoes than he does.

I've been trying in vain to get rid of stuff and eliminate all the extra junk from my life. it takes up too much space and there's no way I use it all. But I am going to do it, come hell or high water. Whatever that means. ;)

Have you tried the litter boxes that have a hood over top of them? I use these and the dust isn't as bad. The one I bought had a swinging door that my cats couldn't understand, so I took it off and they seem fine with it now.

Wow! That is a lot of words. I'm right with you on the non-electronic bedroom thing.

Amen sister! Good for you, I need to start working on the decluttering too. I realized this weekend when I was moving stuff from one room to another to make room for a party. In two weeks we have company coming so I will then have to clean out the guest room. My husband and son don't want to get rid of anything so it makes it hard. Like you said, it's a process and Rome . . .

Thank you for answering a question that has been bothering me -- what to do with the litterboxes if I should ever move? My current place has a little alcove off the bathroom in which they fit perfectly. I often worry that my next home would not have such a feature.

I love these inspirational blogs. And I like rereading them. Maybe a category? An e-book?

Only you could make decluttering such a good read! I applaud the new "Zen Laurie".

Only issue: the litter box. Have you thought of installing a cat door and keeping them outside? Of course, it won't work if your house has easy access to coyotes, raccoons and other nasty critters.

And I thought I was the only crazy cat lady who leaves the closet door ajar in case someone wants to go hide in their secret (no one knows about it) spot....

Is it me, or do I sense another book trying to work its way out of you? Your decluttering odyssey is really timely, and your voice speaks so clearly to so many people...inspiring without being preachy!

Have you thought about doing another book? About this new phase of your life, or about some other topic? Just curious.

ps: I love that even though your closet is so tiny, you have honored Bob's claim on part of it. I guess really you didn't have much choice, but still.

"My life is radically different now but strangely I'm more of myself than I ever was before. If that makes any sense."

Laurie, that makes PERFECT sense. I went through the same feelings when I got divorced, all those many, many years ago. And then I started on the years-long journey to find out who I really was, and even though I turned out totally different than I was back then, I'm more myself than I ever was before.

You've 'gotten' it, Laurie! :-)

My catbox is in the office closet too! I have the accordian doors and keep 1 side partly open. We bought an electronic catbox when we got our Lucey about 3 yrs ago. It broke last yr and we got another 1 right away! I love my Lucey...the only problems I have are cat hair bothers my DH and the urine smell gives me a headache (not HER fault if I haven't thrown away the catbox tray in a week!).

:)

Have you ever tried "World's Best Cat Litter"? (yes, that's the brand name.) I switched to it (slowly and gradually so as not to upset the cats) and it's a LOT less dusty than the regular stuff. My litterbox is in my office/craft area/supposed to be dining area in my apartment which is much smaller than your small house, so less dust is a good thing!

Your last few posts about cutting back the inessential spending have been life-changing for me. I have been struggling with too much shopping and amassing of crap for years, and your posts put into words exactly what I had been ignoring. Thank you for having the courage to share your wisdom and your journey with us.

OK. Starting in August I dig into the rooms of my house (oh so attached to the rooms in my heart) and let that stuff go. I also hope there is another Laurie-book to come. Great post and the Bob super secret place is sweet.

Ah yes, the age old question of where to put the litter box. Right now it's in my office because the spare room is being occupied by my father's cat (who does NOT get along with mine) while he's in the process of moving. I can't wait for him to take her back so I don't have to share my office with the stinkies!

As for the dust - have you considered switching from a clay based litter to a corn or wheat based one? They have larger granules and NO dust! I couldn't take the dust from the clay kind as it sets my allergies off. I currently use "World's Best Cat Litter" which is corn based. It's a little pricey but it clumps really well and is pretty good for odor control.

OK.... I'm an idiot, but what is that thing on the desk that looks like the Eiffel Tower? Does it have a function?

Cats always seem to improve any picture. I LOVE Bob's hiding place!
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I hope your next book will be all about de-cluttering our lives. Let me just say I love your thoughts, your ideas and your actions to live a good life without crap. I am starting to think more clearly about things and will keep your advice in mind. Because of what you have done, your home looks airy and spacious. I can only imagine how good it feels.

I admire how well your decluttering has gone, and how your desk only has things on it that you know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

I like the contact paper protecting the Cat Box Alcove. Something you might try, if it qualifies as an Essential Purchase, is to put the two cat boxes inside what my local Big Box Home Improvement Store calls a "mixing tub." It's an oversized, rectangular plastic tub used for mixing concrete or soil or whatever. It helps keep the litter from being kicked/tracked out of the litter boxes.

Love what you've done with the place.

Congrats on decluttering. I know it feels so much better to actually have the illusion of space in your home. No matter if it is 1 or more boxes of stuff that has been consigned to goodwill, or the yard sale. It is a good feeling.
My cats too have their own special hiding spot in my closet, under the bed, or wherever they can. It makes for some serious cuteness.
I too somehow somewhere lost a piece or pieces of myself after I got divorced as well and it is only months or years later that you find that piece again and decide that this is how you were always supposed to be. Whether it is wearing all black and dying your hair Vampire Blood red (not recommended it fades to a clown orange and is very disgusting) or whatever.

we have the same black and pink naot boots. i miraculously got them at 50% off. you may now be jealous, while i may be jealous that yours are not in a giant pile!

I also have nowhere to keep the catbox in my apartment. My solution was to buy a toy box at Ikea (which, admittedly, cost a lot more than it should have) and cut a hole in the side. The cat walks in and out as she pleases, and the smell tends to stay inside. When I need to clean it, I just open the top!

Laurie, please consider writing a book about organization, simplification, and all the related topics you've been blogging about. It's so inspiring! I have a lot of anxiety regarding clutter and related issues, and I think you've shown expertise in handling this.

My cat's litterbox is in the upstairs hallway. Not especially pretty, but it's all we've got for space at the moment. It works for him, so I'm fine with that.

Such a wonderful piece. I have been following your advice and I am going through the de-clutter process myself. Thanks for being so inspirational. I read you everyday. Lorraine.

I develop a sentimental attachment to "stuff" which makes it really hard to get rid of. I can pack it away but I cannot bring myself to toss it out.

I am trying to declutter but it's so hard. You are an inspiration.

And I LOVE Bob's face.

Your description of streamlining your life is interesting and inspirational. I always look forward to your posts. I'm wondering what you would prefer to the sliding mirrored closet doors?
They take up the least amount of space, make your room look a little bigger, and do the job of closing the closet (or leaving it open a crack for Bob). Seems to me they are the best you could get, but maybe you have a better idea. I'm intrigued with all your fabulous organizational tips. Marlyce in Windsor Ontario.

Ah! Get out of my head! I was talking to the bf the other day about how "I would LOVE to live in one of those old Victorians or an old farmhouse or old etc." Then I smacked myself because, DUH, I live in a SWEET old apartment built in the 20's basically exactly what I'd been describing with the exception that I have siamese neighbors (which at this point is something I have to accept and deal with!).
I've heard the notion of only a few solid wardrobe pieces before and feel that I'm working my way there, but am definitely still in the rut of "oh, that's cute AND cheap! I'll get it and it won't break the bank"... until I do that too many times and all I have is a closet full of crap. I liked the idea of having a few outfits for each season and by mixing and matching them it never looks like the same stuff.
I must be you from a few years ago :)

My condo (rental) is very similar to yours - it's called a "junior one bedroom" and it's 600 square feet. My cat loves the closet too but it's hard to make a place for him and just leave it blank when there's so much I could put there. Then I'm never sure he can jump down from that high but he seems to manage. Sometimes I get tired of the smallness and my two daughters tease me about being able to clean the bathtub AND the sliding glass doors in the living room AND grab a coke all at the same time. Right now it works and I really can't afford anything more right now (Tustin, CA) so I live with it. Also, sometimes it seems like the furniture is so big I just want to throw it out and start out with a tiny TV and a lot smaller furniture, but luckily, it's heavy so I can't do that.... but if I could..... Anyway, my cat box is where I put on makeup, right outside the bathroom but I bought one of those little foldable "screens" at Foster and Smith (is that the name?)- the store you told us about, to put in front of the catbox. It's like those screens people dress behind, but smaller. The first time Ben came upon it, he looked back at me like, "really?" But it works. At least you have an office. My computer (still dial up, by the way) is in my bedroom. I have too much stuff and furniture, but like you said - it's working for now. Mary Jo

In case it will be helpful, I'll pass my idea along - similar to what someone already mentioned. I bought a big plastic tray from Home Depot for about $10 - it's original purpose was to go under the washing machine in case it leaks. It is wide enough to hold 2 boxes side by side, and then there is about 9 inches of space in front of the boxes, so the kitties walk onto that as they leave the litter box, and before stepping over the edge onto the carpet...a lot of the litter comes off their paws during that process...the edges are only about 1-2 inches high, but it really helps get the litter from spreading across the room.

"I am nostalgic and hopeful and that can be a deadly clutter combination."

This is so true. I am in the process of de-cluttering myself; the hardest part for me is "what if I need it..." and hating the idea of wasting money on products I had but then gave away. (ie, that purse I use ONCE every two years. But I've owned it for almost 10 years, so I've used it at least 5 times.)

Do you ever worry that you might have to go out and buy the same thing AGAIN next month because you decided to give it away this month?

I come visit your blog a few times a month, and it always gets me back into the mindset to de-clutter and start "now" and not "one day". Thank you!

Claire in RI

ps - another amazing "get your butt moving now and not someday" inspiration is Dr. Randy Paush's "Last Lecture" and "Time Management" - he recently passed away, but I watch his lectures through google when I need a morale boost to quit whining and get moving. Between his lectures and this blog, I'm slowly but surely shifting the "one day I will" into "right now I am.."!

I love Bob in his top secret hiding place. I have an odd closet. It's a hole in the wall and a sliding hanger thingie slides out. There's a shelf above this teeny tiny hole and when my cats were kittens, they would climb up the clothes to get to the shelf to sleep. They don't do it as much now that they're bigger, but every once in a while, they jump up there.

Also, I love curtains in place of closet doors. It's much cozier.

I have to go back and read the blog entry, but just wanted to ask if you're ok Laurie...just saw on the news that L.A. had an earthquake a few minutes ago.

Hope the cats arent too freaked out!

Awwwww... I was gonna ask about the quake.
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Yes, I just saw the earthquake news as well...that's why I'm here...you OK?

I went back and read the post and couldn't agree with you more. And I love Bob's hiding place. I have days where I would like to rent that spot from you for a vacation. Does Bob have wine back there?

We have the same philosophy about buying quality clothes. I shop so rarely that I am probably on Bush's list of "Bad People Who Don't Contribute to the U.S. Economy", but when I purchase something to wear, it will be well-made and last a long time. I maintain my clothes and take my shoes to the repair shop for new heels and soles when needed, and they are in great shape. I learned long ago that it makes more sense to invest the money in good shoes than to buy cheap ones over and over again. I previously wasted a lot of $$ on bad purchases because they were momentarily trendy and I wanted them immediately. There was a learning curve but I'm glad to be on the far side of it now.

You're doing such an awesome job! Thanks for showing us your closets! I love looking at how other people store their stuff! =)

I love that you leave the closet door open for Bob's secret hiding place and really smiled at that picture of him! Also, cool and creative idea about the contact paper underneath the litterboxes--brilliant. Thanks for letting us peek into your closets and your life--it was all very interesting & inspirational as well.

On of my favorite quotes from Anthony Robbins.
I should repeat it every day to help me move toward betterness.

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Kinda like the wise words "Wishing down't make it so"

I haven't even gotten a chance to read your post yet, but my boss just said that an earthquake hit Los Angeles half an hour ago, and that it was 6.8 on the richter scale. Are you ok?!

Did you feel the earthquake!!! They are talking all about it! 6.0 magnitude in LA!!!!

Laurie, thanks for the peek into your closets! I'm always very curious about other people's homes.

They're saying on the news that there are reports of some minor damage to some homes in Chino Hills. (Laurie, you're in Encino, or near there right?)

According to Google Maps, that's about 50, 60 miles from Chino Hills... Hope your house and kitty cats are ok.

Soba's probably thinking it was an attack against her to keep her from publishing her manifesto.

Bob's probably in his closet.

Lexi, I'm sure CAP felt it. We felt it here in Universal City, in highrise building. Our building rolled for awhile. My husband is downtown, as CAP is. And they felt it for sure.

It's been awhile since our ground shook, so we were due. But I still hate them.

Laurie, like a few other folks here I just read about the earthquake. Hope you and yours (including She Who Rules With an Iron Claw in a Velvet Paw) are all ok.

May I recommend the top-entry litterbox? They are basically a bin with a hole in the top for the cat to get it. The cat jumps onto the front half of the lid (grooved to catch litter) and then down into the box. Took our cat a day or two to get used to it. He's a real litter-flinger. We were convinced he was worried that we didn't have enough litter for our use, so he was providing it for us. Now no dunes of litter forming on the bathroom floor.

I know several people hace already recommended World's Best Cat Litter. I'd like to recommend another alternative, it's called Feline Pine. They make one now that clumps and it's fabulous.

I love your cats, especially Bob, he reminds of my sweet Buddha.

hey I know you work downtown LA - I hope you are okay after the earthquake - reports said buildings were swaying in downtown LA - wishing you the best!!

I once had the cat box woes, but then I said, "ENOUGH!" I trained my 5-yr-old cat to pee in the toilet, and it's been one of the smartest things I've ever done.

YOU AND THE INSANE KITTY POSSE OK? I read on the news you had a quaker/shaker in L.A. today?

Laurie, please post a comment and let us know you are okay. I don't know the Los Angeles area very well, and don't know if the earthquake was close to you or not.

BTW, I love Bob's top secret hiding place! My kitty has a similar one.

Dear Laurie:
I bought your book as a gift to "me" at Christmas time and breezed through it in a few hours. However, this past weekend I pulled it out again and am slowly digesting your words. I'm old enough to be your mother but your emotions after the breakup were my emotions in my 20's. I too, feared I'd never have the domestic life I had been raised to lead (southern women understand this). I was lost as to who "I" was. Eventually I remarried--had two great step kids and two children of my own. After 25 years of marriage I finally told him to leave because I could actually answer the question--am I better off with him or without him? These last five years have been difficult financially but emotionally I'm stronger than ever. I know who I am and I'm happy with me. Yes, I still have an adult child at home finishing up college, and I'm mother to three dogs, two cats and a tortoise. I've had multiple garage sales, pared down to what makes me happy and don't have too many things that I'm postponing "until the . . ." I'm proud of you and the way you opened yourself up with all your vulnerabilities and here you are on the other side of that nightmare, with a clean, neat home office, a successful blog following and the grits and guts to take off to Italy on your own. You are a good role model for all women and keep it up. You never know what God has in store for you.

Laurie,

I read your blog all the time, and I always smile and think "oh thank goodness, I'm not alone with the chipmunking and the 'divorce is good for you' and the 'de-clutterizing' WHEW!"

But I hardly ever comment to say so. Today though, I just had to say thank you! As a renter with three cats, one of whom is elderly enough to occasionally (ahem) miss, I've wrangled with the catbox problem. Contact paper is an amazingly good idea. Thank you!

The last time you wrote about the u-word I did my own post on it. Even worse than thinking "until" is giving up on thinking about what you want at all. Now I am starting to think about all the things I could do, a little at a time, just because I *want* to.

Hey, Laurie. I'm almost 50 and I STILL need to be reminded not to wait until. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

Laurie,

It sounds like LA is rockin' and a rollin' once again. Stay safe, and with all the decluttering that you've done, you'll have less stuff out of place (if any) from the effect of the earthquake.

On a side note, when I was renting, the house had those huge glass doors on the closet. I hated them, so I covered them with some fabric, using the stick on velcro and cut the pieces to fit inside the mirror. When we left, I just used a single sided knife to scrape the velcro off the mirror. It made the space so much tolerable.

Sorry, no cat box tips, our cat always went outside.

I was going to post a blank comment as homage to your decluttering, but I was afraid it would be too cryptic. Nicely done and nicely described.

Okay, I didn't even know there was a quake until I sat down to read your blog this afternoon. I'm glad to hear you made it through. Whew!
Your first posting was very timely for me today. I have been in the kitchen for the better part of the day going through my cabinets and pantry. I am on a one woman mission to clean out items I no longer use or need. So far I've got quite the pile started! Yea! Every so often one of the kids would wander through declaring how bored they are and I offer to alleviate some of that boredom with "sorting" and "cleaning"......funny, how they are suddenly "too busy, got to go look at thus and such"!!! Their day is coming with the summer ritual of "room cleaning". Always popular around here!

So many great ideas about cat boxes today...has anyone here seen the Litterbox Cabinet "Ikea hack"?

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2007/12/kickass-litterbox-cabinet.html

Glad to hear you and kitties are okay.

Thanks for the closet tour. I also have a very, very small place and limited closet space--I've devised a very similar set up in mine. My space is less then 800 sq feet, but I also have 2 bedrooms. My bedroom has just room for my full size bed, small bed side table with lamp and a clothes hamper thas has a cushion on top--doubles as bench! (radio--otherwise no electronics) Has built in drawers and sliding door closet across one end. Other bedroom has twin bed, same set up on closet and drawers. I have room for my computer desk in my dining area. This place is pretty old and small--but I am very comfortable in it and most everyone that visits remarks on how cozy it is. Best of all--no house payment--it was my grandparents and passed on to me by my mom.

I just took ANOTHER two loads of clothing out of my closet this past weekend and donated them. Hasn't adversely affected my life one iota. If fact, the more minimalists my closet gets, the less stress I feel. I just started a new job (after 12 years at my last job) and I love it. Part of the love is that after dumping off the most recent two loads of stuff, I bought myself really good pieces of clothing which go with my other stuff (the stuff that fits and is in good repair) and now I can get up in the morning and have decent clothing to wear without going through a horrible drag of a process. Like yours, it's not a glam wardrobe, but it's good and solid and appropriate and I don't have to waste time and emotional capital on it every morning. You've helped me make that progress. Thanks a million!

I switched to Swheat Scoop - less dust AND less puking. Yay! I like your office wardrobe - I was thinking of something along those lines but we have "business casual" which sometimes means almost anything goes. At my next job, I want to wear jammie pants.

Don't you love the freedom of predictable clothing? One of the benefits of working in any medical/veterinary/etc. job is scrubs. Hmmm, which scrubs today: the blue ones or the green ones? Scrubs are wonderful I adore and worship them. Everybody, everywhere, should wear scrubs to work. It would make life so simple.

The only downside of scrubs is you don't notice a few extra pounds sneaking up on you until it's too late.

A am totally into components. My favourite desk which I gave away will reconstruct, consists of a flat hollow door, suitably painted adn sprayed with a sealer. Get a couple of short filing cabinets and do the same. Plonk the door on top of the filing cabinets, reaching under to handle all the electrica and electric wires. Then, fin a multi-tier old dresser from a junk pile. Paint it to match the rest to create a kewl desktop bookcase. The desk is large enough to hold a coffee-make, radio, telephone and tv. There is alos plenty of room for a computer and peripherals. All you really need to guy is a keyboard pullout tray and a good chair.

Blame my sleeping tablet 4 that last disaster, but you get the drift.

Bedtime here.

You do inpsire me with all your de-cluttering, I think I could benefit with doing the same but as yet have not got past the point of thinking about it! I'm an inveterate collector of stuff!! So although I haven't yet got to the point of getting rid of significant quantities of stuff, I'm trying hard to use up the surplus, so all those remnants bought cos they were cheap and 'must surely be useful for something" are being made into reusable grocery bags, if not for myself then as gifts. Not a huge step but slowly, slowly catchee monkey!!!

wow, i am so amazed by how organized your closet is. amazed and a little jealous. maybe when we move I can get my new closet a little closer to that. I notice you use litter pan liners - how do they handle the cat claws? I want to try them but my cats tend to hang out in there scratching away, and I wonder if it will be more of a mess than it's worth? Thanks!

It's posts like this that remind me why I love your blog. Not that I'd actually forgotten--more like "reinforce" why I like your blog.

Just as a quick note, for our cat we put her litter box in the furnace room and cut a hole in the not so solid core door for her to go in and out at leisure. She loved it, a private area for her to go protected from the dog and kids. Since we rent, it's a legal 'hole in the door' that we will cover with a vent when we leave and all is good. Now that she's gone the dog routinely sticks his nose through the 'door' looking for her. We're sad too.

Bob in his Super Top Secret Hiding Place is luscious! Cat calendar. I plan on doing some weeding/paring down. And then I will search for & perhaps find myself. I've been so busy raising the kids on my own these past 13 years I didn't really put much effort into myself.

I just loved what you wrote about making the determination to change your life. It's a wonderful primer to get you thinking about just how you live, and what drives you to change. Thank you so much for sharing. You're pretty awesome, you know that?

I am not divorced, but not happy. You really put into words a feeling of malcontent I have within myself. I am trying to rediscover myself and self worth right now, and trying to do it without shedding the extra person. You really have a way of helping me realize the words to go with the feelings I have.

Gotta say I love you Laurie. The concept of blogs still freak me out in their ability to make me care about a stranger's storage issues.
You just make me smile.