Monday

In response to Donna's question about birthdays.  Mine is today, August 20.  My sister sent me a very cool box of Keurig Hot Chocolate Cuips, for my coffee maker, a necklace that has my name on it, and my birthstone dangling from it, a watch with seasonal bands to interchange with the face, and a variety of hand sanitzers from Bath and Body Works.  My brother whom I've not talked to in months sent me an ecard, and my friend from Hawaii sent me a g.c. to Amazon!

Cady, I didn't take any cabinets out, just added the free standing pantries.  Our breakfast room is so small that it's hard to find a table with chairs that fit, so we converted it to our computer space.  We had one free standing pantry, and then Mike had just made it sort of a mess of wire racks and whatnot as he's the one who used that space for his computer.  I hated it!  Since we were doing the new floor I was like it's got to be dejunked, and this stuff is not going back in this space!

I was pretty pleased with the way I had organized the one pantry, but then my friend Erica came over on Friday night, and we totally redid that pantry!  I had bought a bunch of shoe boxes from The Container Store...they're having a very addictive sale. We put all the stuff that was wrapped, but in cardboard boxes in there.  Opened them all up and got rid of all the boxes!  I hate cardboard boxes as they can be bug attractors, so I'm pleased to be rid of them.  After we did that we met Mike at a local Chinese Buffet for dinner.

Saturday I worked on the pantry that is built into the house.  I had some leftover shoeboxes, so  I ended up putting the canned goods in them.  Some of them I could get the lids closed, and some the canned goods were too tall, and the lids wouldn't close, but what I've discovered is it's a great way to keep control of the inventory.  When the shoebox is empty more of that item needs to be purchased, but as long as I have that item in the shoebox no more is needed.  The bad part...the shoebox is not a drawer, so I'll have to move some things when I want something, as I've stacked it two shoeboxes high, but I think I did a fairly good job of having things easily accessible...for instance I have 10 cans of tomato soup, so I put 5 in one box, and then 5 in the top box.  That way I don't have to shift the boxes too much, and on the other side of the box I put a different kind of soup that I had a bunch of.  Half in one box, and half in the other.

At Target I found a knife block that fits in one of my few kitchen drawers.  However, with the new pantry having the ability to have drawers I was able to get the knife block, and get the knives out of the block I've had forever on the counter, and into a drawer.  I haven't used it yet, but I already love it!  We moved the really junk junk drawer into the pantry, and moved the cooking spoons into the drawer I was using for junk so that there was room for the knife drawer.

After 28 years it's going to take some gettting used to where things are in the various parts of the kitchen, but in the long run I think we're all going to love it!  I also got a sliding drawer for the kitchen towels that are under the sink.  Cleaning out under the sink I discovered that I have a ton of JetDry for the dishwasher, and a ton of stovetop cleaner!  I bet I don't have to buy any for a year or more!  Getting organized can be both rewarding and frustrating!

The above story reminds me of when I cleaned out the bathroom sink last year. I had so much personal stuff (if you know what I mean) it wouldn't all fit in the covered box I wanted it in!  At the time I thought if I'm really lucky I'll never have to buy it again.  I've bought it twice in the year, and both times because I've started unexpectedly and not been home or close to home where I could stop and get what I have.  Fortunately/unfortunately however you chose to look at it, the supply has dwindled to where it all fits in the box now, but I wish I had no need for the box!  LOL!!

Ok..getting busy, and I keep getting interuppted.  I'm going to post for now, so I don't lose this.  Everyone have a great day!