Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie is hosting a 28-Day Organizing Challenge. While I know I need to be more organized, I also know my limitations. I am a terrible hoarder. I think I might have learned this from Momma. She was raised by her Grandparents and they were born and raised during the Depression when a family did NOT throw ANYTHING away. During that time period, families kept everything from jars to flour sacks. Jars were used for canning and preserves, flour sacks were sewn into dresses and shirts. So when my mother was raised in my Great-Grandparent's house, she learned to keep everything. And when she married and started her family, she taught us to keep everything. I don't even think it was something done intentionally. In fact, I don't remember Momma saying not to throw things away. She just kept everything and I in turn, kept everything. As we know, children learn by example.
I have a terrible time throwing things away. Whereas my husband doesn't have a problem throwing anything away. One time I wanted to declutter my kitchen and was going to get rid of a picture I didn't want anymore, but I couldn't bear to part with it. So I took it down off the wall and placed it on the edge of the counter. It stayed there for about 6 months! (No, I'm not joking. Kevin can totally vouch for me on that one!) When I cleaned and wiped down the counters, I always moved it and put it back. Finally, one day when I was cleaning the counters, I was ready to part with it. I placed it in a bag in the garage and took the whole bag to Goodwill. When I think about the picture, I still feel a little tug in my stomach. It's sort of a nauseous feeling. But I am happy it's gone. I just hope someone else likes it as much as I did.
So back to the kitchen organization. I know there is no way I can do a 28 day organization in one room. I would probably be physically ill for a month. But I know I need to get on the ball and get my drawers in order.
Check out the silverware drawer:
Yes, it's that bad.
Look what was UNDER the silverware holder:
Yeah, I know. How did I keep all that junk in there?
Well, you can see all the Pampered Chef receipts. The consultants tell you to put them under your silverware holder so you know where they are. But I'm sure they didn't mean to keep them under there for 10 years!
Look how clean it is! You wouldn't believe all the stuff I threw in the trash. While it didn't feel good to throw it away, I know it will be a good thing.
And I only put back necessary items. The silverware holder, plastic toddler spoons, wooden skewers (which I use to test my Bundt cakes), plastic serving spoons (because they can't fit in the other drawer, yes I know. I'll work on it soon!), wooden rolling pin. Look, you can see the bottom of the drawer! Wow!
This works for me and I know it might not work for everyone else. But that's okay. That's what makes us who we are :)
The hardware/junk drawer:
_______________________________________________________"The Daily Grind" are posts referring to my career as wife, mother, bookkeeper, seamstress, chauffeur, teacher, baker & cook and whatever else life throws my way. (Proverbs 31)
This post has been linked to:
- Tackle it Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom
- Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family
- January Clutter Update at The Finer Things in Life
8 comments:
LOL, wow, no kidding! DH and I are opposite of you and your husband - well, for most things. I can get rid of lots of stuff, and he likes to keep thing "just in case" :P
Having a tiny house helps keep me inspired to keep the clutter down. If I have to use something or a space frequently, I like it to be fairly clean and organized. I know you're gonna love the cleaner, brighter, more organized drawers :) Great progress!!
PS - do NOT look at my desk or filing cabinet. Those are 2 areas I do not use frequently!
WOW! Great job! Oh, I'm never too excited about working on the junk drawer in my kitchen. LOL Someday!!!
Wow! I think I saw the Ace of Hearts my deck is missing in your junk drawer! I feel sooo good when I get things cleaned out and decluttered. The older I get the more I say, "Why, oh why, am I keeping this item?" Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh, dear. I have a few of those drawers...
Have you noticed that they are always trying to feed you too.?
A few people make coments about how gr.ma & gr.pa are always feed them. When the gr. depression hit food was also in short supply.
Well, those look like my kitchen drawers, so I guess I'm a hoarder, too, just one in denial!!! Yikes, I better get off the computer and clean out a drawer. Great post!
How did I miss this post? You know me, I would love to organize your house for you! That's why we did so well together those few months we lived together, I cleaned & you cooked & we both loved it! I'm very proud of you!
Thanks Christina! It was so hard for me to do that but every time I go to the drawer, it's so nice to see everything in there! Can't wait to tackle the junk drawer next monday!
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