Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Let's Get Organized!!

On New Years Day, I spend it doing things I love.  We spent last night with some great friends, and stayed up WAY to late.  This morning we slept in, and I was sooo happy!!  Breakfast for lunch, the hubby started watching the football games, and the kids settled in playing and watching tv.  That gave me the morning to work on my goals for the new year.  I came up with a long list of things I want and need to do.  It was a productive morning.

Organizing is always part of my new years list.  I use cold winter days to get things accomplished.  By the time spring rolls around,  I am typically feeling pretty good about my "systems", and able to enjoy the outdoors with my family.  This year will be no different.  I have set my goal to get through the whole house by the end of March.  My house is not hoarders level, but it does need some attention.  So, where do I start?

The Kitchen
This was the first area we worked to "personalize" a bit after moving in two years ago.  The wallpaper was falling off the wall, it was all vanilla, brown, boring!!!  It had a great layout, and lots of storage features.  But anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot live in a vanilla house/room.  Here are some after pics of our cozy kitchen.  It is always a work in progress, but I am proud of the progress we have made.


 
DISPLAY SHELVES
 
 
BREAKFAST NOOK
(next change is the light fixture!!!)
 
 
KITCHEN VIEW
 
 


As a little girl, I loved cleaning out my mom's tupperware cabinet.  She has so much to work with, but with our fast paced life it was a lot to keep up with. I remember feeling such gratification as I matched the lids and organize the containers by shape and need.  I loved doing this task when my mom wasn't looking.  Surprise her with this little "sweet spot".

So after all the cooking and goody making the last couple of months, the container area needed a bit of attention.  The cabinets are grimy, the insides are dishoveled, and some purging needs to happen.   
I decided to share this fun task with my daughter.  She is not the most organized child.  I am hoping as we try new things, she will find some joy in having order.  She helped me sort, and match.  We had so much fun!  Check out some of our before shots.


BOWLS, BOWLS, AND MORE BOWLS!!!
 
 
CAKED ON GRIME!!
 
 
We cleaned, wiped, and cleaned out.  The clutter and the grime had to go!!!  After matching lids and wiping everything down,  we decided it needed something to "brighten" the dark hole.  My other areas have shelf paper, but I had never cut any for this area.  I remembered some left over wrapping paper from Christmas, and for now it really helps cheer up that dark corner.  I had planned on doing a tutorial for cutting this, but after several attempts I am still working out the kinks on how to measure and fit the lazy susan.  I'll post more on that later.
 
Here is the completed project.
 
 
ATTEMPT #3 TO CUT THE PAPER
 
 
 
ORGANIZED MY NEW TUPPERWARE
 

 
THE LEFT OVERS TO DEAL WITH!!
 
 
I hope you will join me over the next three months as I continue to organize life for my family.  It will be work, it will be fun, and a woman's work is never done!!!
 
What are your projects for the New Year?  Hope you will share!