Organizing: The forward and back stroke

It has come to my attention...I think I say this a lot, that I may have done a few things right in organizing my home.  But be assured, I will ALSO reveal the bleeding sores as well, lest you think I have it all together.  Now, I live in about 1000 square feet with a clown of a husband and 2 toddlers.  So we are not talking about serious minded people trying to help me manage the mess around here.  Well, he IS currently vacuuming the house, as it should be, right ladies!  If you live in a 5,000 square foot house and still have clutter, shame on you.  I would KILL for another closet or drawer!  This is organizing on a BUDGET.  No Container Store Elfa Systems, no Closet Made.  Real people, using some bought, some recycled items to get control.  I also show some handy little tools worth an little investment.
First lets go to the kitchen.

COOK's CENTRAL

Let me tell you, I have been here over 5 years and JUST figured this one out.  That's how I roll.  5 years of frustration, 10 minutes of consideration, Voila!  I want built ins SO BAD, but it is not happening, so this is what I have done.  The most commonly used items are next to the stove.    Pots have been stacked on the other side.  I have a lot of pots.

I installed this at the sink, I CONSTANTLY use these items.  If you have metal measuring spoons, they can go here as well.  If you have a more open kitchen and this would be in plain view, put it inside a cabinet.

This is COFFEE CENTRAL

I know, I know, why complain when I take up all that space with coffee stuff.  I have no excuse, I LOVE COFFEE!

I finally broke down and bought Corelle,  It stacks, and stacks.  And MOSTLY indestructible.  Just don't throw it into the sink in frustration.  Don't ask.  I also bought plastic cups (cringe) and they stack too.  As well as the little tupperware lazy susan that it empty because they are all molding in the fridge lol

This is MED CENTRAL though some other items are creeping in.  When you have toddlers it is a constant trip to the medicine cabinet.  Oh, right, I DON'T HAVE A MEDICINE CABINET.  So I put it in the kitchen.  Anything you ingest will be here.   Along with a flash light and that clear folder is common recipes.  That is is a work in progress.

OK, ready for a reality check?  This is the junk drawer.  Very aptly named.  Phone books, Church directories, pens, extra reading glasses etc.  And then EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF JUNK I CAN"T FIND A HOME FOR!  So it ends up looking like this.

Here's a break for some KITCHEN STUFF that has made life in the kitchen a little quicker.  These are what you see on the cooking channel.  I got these from Pampered Chef.  There are little work horses.  They measure up to 1C, so you can pour liquids directly into them for marinades and they come with lids so you can shake what's in it or store in the fridge.  I am baking cookies for Valentines (a later blog) and I put all the ingredients in separately that go together.  I have a bad habit of getting ahead of myself and dumping things together to soon when you are supposed to cream the butter and sugar etc.....these have been great and I use them ALL the time.  It makes things a bit more orderly and I can get bigger containers off the counter.  Very critical when you have a SMALL kitchen.

This is just a little favorite of mine that I got at World Market.  I originally had planned on getting rid of all my other coffee cups, this would be tidier....alas, I am terminal.

Next is BAKING organization.  I have used a combination of store bought, yard sale and recyclable items such as pasta sauce jars to get things in order.  Here we have baking supplies. I store these all together.

Next are DRY GOODS.  Specifically grains...  

...and pasta.  I store these in white tubs that act as "drawers".  The other handy little bin is from Tupperware.  Can you tell I have a lot of stay at home mom friends?  It is for potatoes.  I got tired of them sprouting in my good serving bowls.  I need another one for potatoes.  You are not supposed to mix them in storage.  Betcha didn't know THAT!  Or maybe you did...

I almost forgot this little baby!  This is my SPICE DRAWER.  I bought the jars at World Market for .99.  Then labelled them!  I have a whole cabinet full of spices (not in these jars, that would not be economical) but these are my most used.

These are compulsively bought flours from when I think I am going to try to bake Spelt bread or something.  To keep them from going rancid, I put them in mason jars in the freezer.  I cut out the front of the bag and any instructions and affix it to the jar with a rubber band or tape to inside of lid.  Otherwise you you end up with unidentified items you have no idea how to use even if you DID know what it was!

Ready for another little dirty secret?  The coup de gras (sp?), the den of unmanageables yet to be mastered.  This is an office we built into our garage.  So far it has been nothing but a storage unit.  This is my side, I will spare you and my husband the humiliation of showing you his side.  This is all my craft things, various textiles, books on decorating....and then, baby things?  Random, right?  There is a contest in here somewhere I know it.  I am trying to formulate how I can reward someone for rescuing me from this.

Honorable Mention goes to....

The garage!  This is RIGHT outside the entrance.  I have to pass this to get to my laundry...like I need anything to keep me from doing THAT!  These are all items going to the Resale shop.  Except the tub, from Halloween...and the paper goods, from Christmas...

This is the view from the washer dryer!  Just in case you can't see BEYOND the other pile...and here concludes the have's and have not's of organizing!

Milestones

We cleaned the house today!!!!!  We've been stuck here for 3 days now and finally decided to make good use of the time.  We ventured out to McDonalds for the kids to get a break, everything in town is closed except McDonalds and Walmart just about.  So then we went...to Walmart!  Got snow boots for the kids that they won't wear past this week but at least they won't cry when their feet start to thaw out anymore as I had them playing in the snow in rain boots.
Samuel and Ava have almost completed their daily chore chart!  So now I have to think of a treat, yikes!  That was unexpected.  I think Wesley and I did almost all the chores for the month today!
I bought Jillian Michaels Shred It With Weights, and then of course had to buy the kettlebell recommended, and also Jackie Warner's Personal Training With Jackie.  I am actually excited about it.  A lot of videos are 40 minutes or more, I have to get it done while kids are in the tub or watching a couple Episodes of Backyardigans so it has to be sneaky quick!  And yes, I will leave my kids in the tub for 30 minutes as long as no one is crying or drowning!
Jillian says that I could lose up to 5 lbs. a week.  Ok, that's a bit excessive and I am not buying into that marketing.  I know that I would have to be eating tuna out of a can and dry low carb bread, and maybe a carrot stick for that to happen, but one pound would be nice.  Jackie's cover says she charges $400 per session, and yet, I can have her in my home for $10?  I think that is a bargain, except they use words like "torching", which I think is so creepy.  I hate "gym talk".
I was starting to panic because I had not spent any time this week with Samuel doing his AWANA homework, which is like 2 minutes, but he is a hard one to focus.  AND, we are about 12 weeks behind because we started a season late.  They assured me he could double up on his scripture memorization, which, I am sure he COULD, but WOULD he?  Or better, would I!  I mean, he can't read, he is only 4, so it's up to me to tell him what it says.  Why am I giving myself something else to do?  Does it really matter at 4?  Maybe not, but I LOVE this program as I volunteered for a year before I was married.  And those other little 4 year olds aren't going to know what chapter he is one, like they care!  So I'm going to chill out.  Then I realized this Sunday night is super bowl, so there is NO AWANA!  Football to the rescue.

Chore Wars

Ok, so I got this laminator and could not wait to put it to use.  So what's the first thing I do?  Laminate a chore chart!  Now, before you start to think I am some anal woman, you can stop the egg cart right there.  I am fully confident that these charts, yes plural, will be nothing more than decoration for my fridge, but I can check off my list that I at least attempted to get this camp in order.  Did I mention I have feelings about housework?  And they are not positive.
This is the chart for Wesley and I.  I made 2 because if he had to search in any way for his name next to a chore, well, that just wouldn't work.  I may have to devise a completely different chart for him altogether in BLOCK LETTERS.  He keeps saying, just give me a list!  It took him months to realize I had posted a list on the fridge and it actually told him step by step what I considered a CLEAN kitchen.  So, we'll see.  He is getting much better by the way, now that he knows what to do!

You can't read it of course, so I will give you the highlights: DININGROOM/KITCHEN Put away left overs, clear table and counter, rinse dishes, load dishwasher, run if full, wash off table, countertop, stove, wash pots/pans not in dishwasher ONCE EACH DAY put away clean dishes, after dinner sweep MON, FRI or SA after floor is swept, mop LIVING AREA Fri. before dinner or ________ (choose another day) Dust Wed. before dinner or _______ (choose another day) Sweep/Vac floors, Vac rugs & Carpet BATHROOMS: Sat. aft. breakfast or ______ (you get it?) Clear floors, sweep, mop, sink/toilets, mirrors/windows, 1X a month - Spiderwebs and Ceiling fans.  If you are wondering why laundry is not on there, I have a new large capacity W/D, no mater when I decide to do laundry, usually when I am out of underwear, I can fit it all in one load!
The blanks are left to write in who will do what.  Now, don't think I am a dummy.  I know my name will be on most of the list.  But it is good for me to see it in front of me too.  So I can add it to the list of things I beat myself up about.  And if you are wondering if an almost 3 and 4 year old can do chores, here's ---
Their list!

I used different fonts so it would also be fun to look at as it will also be a fridge decoration!  I incorporated the smiley faces that they use at Mother's Day Out, no sense re-inventing the wheel.  I will use a magnet to tell them where they are and decide at the end of the day what the "treat" will be, or NOT be, whatever the case may be.  I think I will spend a week getting them acclimated.  Heck, getting myself acclimated!  The problem with these systems, is you have to monitor them.  That is a total and complete drag.  I can't even police myself.  BUT, I am at least trying here folks.  This is what is expected of the little darlings: Put clothes in hamper before nap (in case they are in pj's until then, hey, don't judge me), pick up toys before nap and before bed, put dishes on counter after breakfast, snacks and dinner, tidy beds before breakfast and after nap, after dinner, help mommy move chairs to sweep.
Maybe I should think of a "treat" for myself and Wesley too!

Little Miss Perfect: Clutter Wars

Little Miss Perfect: Clutter Wars

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