The Dirty Dirty: Drink Wear Style

Does that even make sense... drink wear style?  It's really just showing where I cleaned out my glasses in hopes to inspire other to declutter where you can.  I really don't even call the "drink wear" I call them glasses, cups and coffee cups.  I gotta try and fancy it up.

 

So I took an hour one Saturday and removed all the "drink wear" from my cabinet.  If you are anything like me, you should have a huge mish-mosh scattered on the counter top.  If not.. lucky you.  I then went through and pulled out all but four mason jars.  When I empty jars of canned food, it just so happens that I am lazy and won't take the time to run one or two jars to the basement.  So they get stuck here and there.  I also removed several glasses that I know neither one of us use, ever, and made a yard sale box.  Did I mention I am saving for my own yard sale next Spring?  Well, I am.

 

I matched up all my state glasses that I love so much and made room for my new striped tumblers and juice glasses.  I made sure to keep what we use the most on the bottom two shelves.  

 

 It's the little bits of organization here and there that make home feel better.

 

Mish-Mosh.

This must have been one of those days where I couldn't take a straight picture to save my life.

Ahh muey bien!

 

I just realized that I mostly use the ones on the bottom.  I don't use ice in my tea so who needs a big glass?  Shaun is taller anyway so it's ok that his glasses are higher, right?

 

Dirty Dirty - Pantry Style

Hey y'all.  This is another Dirty Dirty confessional about a portion of our home that gets out of control.  Now I am not going all Martha on this one and buying a bunch of unnecessary bins and a label maker, I am simply confessing, undressing, assessing, and..... unmessing my pantry. 

 

Not only is (was) my pantry a mess, this is before I went to the grocery so I feel as if it is a tad on the bare side for what is normally in there.  I always feel better when the pantry is full.  But what the pantry is full of... needs to be on the better side of the expiration date.  For instance, I have had apple cider mix in there for three years thinking we would make some apple pie and have not.  Therefore, while it may not go bad, it is expired and I don't need it anymore.  See what's happening here?  I am cleaning out and it makes sense.  Get rid of the stuff you "might" finish and "may" use and you will find the room to organize.  And if you don't want to throw it away because it isn't expired I am pretty sure the Hope center will take it or a food bank... look into it if you have that much unwanted food. 

 

So, on the floor of the pantry, in between the shotguns and behind the trash can, there sat a basket of dish towels and other such cloth-like items.  Didn't need it, got rid of it, folded about ten towels and put them on the bottom shelf.  I put the small chips in a basket and crackers in another basket and grouped items that just made more sense to be together... together.  All in all this little clean out took about an hour.  Mainly because I was on a mission and because Mary Evelyn was on her way to pick me up so I had to hurry.  Here's all the evidence.

Yeah... we'll tackle that spice rack some other time... and maybe my baking cabinets.

The Dirty Dirty - Part Four

I am clearly a person who ignores organization.  Over time a clean and uncluttered room can be completely destroyed by my lack of discipline in simply putting things back where they go.  And also taking the time to find a proper home for incoming traffic.  In the case of The Dirty Dirty - Part Four, the room of great concern is unfortunately at the day care.  It is the smallest room that I call my own.  It is my office slash craft supply room.  A place that has a small gate at the doorway to let everyone know "this is  my space."  Although the more I have used the desk in the center of the room as a landing strip and used the closet and shelves as a disorganized place to store crafts made long ago the more I don't go in there for anything other than to toss new arriving supplies. 

I mentally made the resolution to "put things back" where they go in my life.  If I remove it from a drawer then that's where it goes back when I am finished using it.  This new found form of self control can be a tough one.  Mainly because it involves getting organized in the first place.  So one day during nap time I tore in to this room.  I didn't buy any fancy Martha containers, I simply used what I had.  I threw some things away and have a couple of bags to take to Goodwill.  I also moved my desk out from the center of the room to avoid using it in the wrong way.  The main thing is that it feels better.  When I walk in there I know exactly where the glues are and where all my tissue paper is and fake crafty flowers live.  And I know they are there because the last time I used them I put them back there.  Aha!  There's the key to staying this way.  I have done well in the other rooms involved in this Dirty Dirty adventure.  Unfortunately, the task is not over. 

Before

 oof

And After

Thank you for loving me through my faults of un-organization.

The Dirty Dirty Part 3

Among several spots in our home that need a good cleaning out, this is the third one that I am sharing with you!  Let me tell ya, it's not easy to show the world what a slob I can be.  But I am playing "show and tell" as a sort of incentive for myself to get it done and also for you.  Maybe you have an area that needs straightening, a "catch-all" spot... don't you?

Well, also,  the end of the year is coming and I am particularly funny about taking un-necessary dirt and clutter into the new year.  In fact, I once read in a Feng Shui book that you need to sweep out all the old dirt,  from the previous year, right out the door.  I got what they meant and every year I begin to do weird stuff the last few weeks of the year.

Here is the tacky spot in my home that I tackled today.  The linen closet in my hall.  I have a thing for vintage sheets but I use the softest of soft flannel sheets during the winter and from about October until March that is what we use.  So what's the point of keeping them in this tiny spot when they can be bagged up for a few months?  I wound up keeping two sets down and a spare set for the guest bedroom.  Just in case they aren't fond of the flannel sheets for that room.  Mostly, the towels needed to be sorted, refolded and put in their correct spaces and everything else for that matter.  All in all this re-do took about twelve minutes.  And that is just silly because I have been putting it off for months. 

Before... not terrible but needs help.

 Flat sheets in with the towels??? Have I gone MAD???

 What a lazy slob.  This is how I kick myself when I look at these pictures.

Why is my Fourth of July flag even in there???

 Spread it all out to decide what goes in the attic and what stays.

 Stored extra pillows up top instead of on the floor.

Flannels on the right, looking forward to warmer weather on the left.

Gosh I love that old poppies flat sheet.  I want a dress made out of it.

 Refolded and refluffed.

I use the ones on the right, Shaun likes the ones on the left. 

We are quirky about the wash cloths too.

 I am beginning to be able to breathe again.

The fan stays.  It is still needed in the kitchen at times.

 And as for you vintage pillowcases... this doesn't mean Mommy doesn't love you.

See you in the Spring!

here goes the dirty dirty - part 1

this post is the first of a few posts on getting organized.  it also involves letting you see how un-organized i can be. i think it's a "libra thing".  at least that's what i am blaming it on.  some of my posts on this subject are down right embarrassing.  but the good thing is... i am not the only one who lives this way.  and no... i don't mean forcing my husband to see my clutter.  i mean YOU.  the un-organized.  admit it... there is an area of you home that you ignore.  where the crap just falls.  an area that houses lids to tupperware bowls you no longer have.  it's time to do something.  some of my make-overs took only 15 minutes.  one of them took an entire day and then some.  here is the first of a few. (p.s. you are fixin to know way more about me than you need to know)

project numero uno:  under the vanity (my side, not his)

before... stuffed-o-rama

 plates?  for soap of course!  and all that cotton needs help!

 do i really need all this stuff?

 first step... pull it all out.  then separate in to three piles

use, don't use and belongs somewhere else.

 the "to-go" stuff... don't need, been in there too long... pile.

 things that belong in a pile elsewhere in the house

 carefully placing back.

 keeping only what i USE  (key word here)

after

less often stuff in the back, more often stuff in the front.

geez the under the vanity took 15 minutes and a trash can.  and wow does it feel better!