We all have things around the house just taking up space.  Odd canned goods in the pantry {water chestnuts anyone?}, old beauty products in the bathroom {some day I will find a natural deodorant that actually works!}, random bits set aside for a rainy day craft project {funny how it never rains}, clothes going out of fashion in the closet {or in my case out of fashion before ever entering my closet}.  Clutter.

Then there is the newest-latest-and-greatest-gotta-have-it, until next season when the next newest-latest-and-greatest comes out.  So you toss aside your perfectly good last-year-latest-and-greatest for this year’s exact-same-latest-and-greatest.  Yeah, but it’s pink! Pretty soon you have a not-so-great drawer full.  Clutter.

Button pops off your shirt.  Toss it.

Commercial says this product will improve your life.  Buy it.

Everyone is doing it.  You are too.

Sound familiar?

I find myself falling into this trap every now and again.  That’s why I am challenging myself and you to Use it up, Wear it Out, Make it do, or Do without in 2011.

This challenge will run the duration of 2011.  I will post bi-weekly updates on my progress and offer a linky for you to do the same.  There aren’t many rules.  You can make your own to suit your needs.  Join anytime and post whenever.

My goals for this challenge are:

• to use up the food haunting my pantry before it expires
• learn how to mend my clothing
• stop waiting for rain and tackle those projects
• refashion clothes collecting dust in my closet
• not buy another stick of deodorant until I use the 10 already in my bathroom
• kill the junk drawer
• become the queen of DIY/MYO and Ms. Fix it
• de-clutter de-clutter de-clutter!

Along the way I’ll issue mini challenges, post tips on conquering clutter and maximizing storage in a house with none, offer creative ways to use up junk by showing you mine, inspire you to fall in love with the clothes you already own, and yes, even learn to do without.

JOIN ME!

• Grab a badge.  Link it to http://www.midnightmaniac.com/UWMD-Challenge/

• Check back bi-weekly for updates and use the linky to post yours.
• In your post link back to the corresponding update on Midnight Maniac so others can join.
• Follow @Midnight_Maniac on Twitter or like MsMidnightManiac on Facebook and tell me about your progress.
• Join the UWMD Flickr group and show off your progress.
• Encourage your friends, family, and readers to join!

Click here for the latest UWMD Challenge update and linky.

Current mini-challenges:

• Do Without {Running March 9 – April 23}