Last night I went through the hall closet (linen closet) I've used as locking storage for many years and pulled things out to make room for my linens.  I filled the top shelf with a down comforter, a down throw, a blanket, two duvet covers, a set of sheets, pillow cases, curtains, and towels.  I'm not so sure if I like these things there, but am going to try it out.  At least it gets these things out of my bedroom!

In the process of looking through this closet, I threw out two rods that have been in this closet for at least 10 years!  They weren't mine, but obviously they weren't missed either.  They are those old, heavy, hanging things (not sure what they are called) that are used in old houses as weights inside the window frame to bring the windows up and pull them down.  Who knows why they were there.  Some more paper clutter was tossed as well as some pictures from a boyfriend from 1993ish.

In the closet was a picture frame that will be donated.

Now, besides my work last night, on my way out the door this morning I stopped and took a picture of what you see as you walk out of the house.  This is it:

What we have here is clutter that belongs to my mom, and most of it has been here either going on one summer or two, not sure.  We have a lamp and rug (new additions to the clutter), oranges and jicama (obviously not two years old), a suitcase on top of some wrapped up armoir things, possibly tables, a picture frame, black trash bags full of who knows what, and I think that thing on the left is either a dresser or a chest, I see a drawer to a small filing cabinet and a desk that was just given to her.  Oh, wait, do you see the flower pot?

I hate doing this (posting this picture),  but it may help people understand what I don't want to become and what I live in that is infuriating and embarrassing.  Do I ever invite people over?  NO!  NEVER!

What do you think of when you see this?

What would you think of the person who lives in a house with this on the walkway to the front door?

Sadly, this is what I live in, and even worse, it is what my mom has done to herself.  She doesn't see it or feel the need to do anything about it.  If there is an empty space, it gets filled with something else.  It hurts me that she does this.

I don't want to end up this way.