Kitchen Progress - Counters

So tonight I spent some time in the kitchen again.  It's finally getting there.  Now I didn't take a photo of it but the sink right now is a mountain.  Everything that I found that needed scrubbing went there and since the dishwasher is full of clean dishes that need to be put away.....so they are awaiting their turn. I still need to finish the sink area, scrub down the stove and clean on top of the fridge before moving on to Mt. Carrie as my husband calls it, AKA my Mountain of Mail!  I've been putting that off for a good while now.....I guess at some point I'll have to deal with it right?!?

Sorry I don't have a lot of before shots but here are the after shots.  It's starting to look more like it did when we first moved in.

When I sent this photo to my husband, his remark was "What is that on the counter? Is that our breadbox."  Yes, we haven't seen it in that long.

Yes I know there is a painted square on the wall......it's a long story.  Short Version: we were testing paint colors and wanted to cover it up with a photo if we didn't like it.  =)  The photo is down because we are going to paint this wall on Thursday.

Can't wait to write on the Martha Stuart Chalkboard labels I added to my jars there on the counter!

On another note, yesterday had the most gorgeous sunrise and sunset.  They were both breathtaking.  I didn't get a photo of sunset but I did get the sunrise.  Enjoy!

Blinds - the Good, the Bad and the Disgusting

So the other night after I finished organizing the island I decided I was going to scrub down the stainless steel garbage can and clean it up with affresh and a microfiber cloth.  Works Wonders!!

Well when I pulled the garbage can out from its hold, I found a mess behind it.  There was stuff on the walls, floor boards, tile, and even the blinds.  YUCK!

So the walls, floor board and tiles were easy enough.  Used my trusty Magic Eraser and some additional cleaning solutions, zip zip.

The blinds.......well the blinds were another story.

First I started with just the dirty blinds.......then I found that as I was cleaning that section of the blinds that the uncleaned ones were now a different shade of white than the ones that I had just cleaned.  So I tried the wipe technique to clean all the blinds......you know where you close the blinds and just wipe down with a wet cloth and then dry afterwards in the same manner.  Well that would be great if our blinds didn't have wood grains in them.  All of the dirt and grime settled in those tiny grains and UGGG it looked HORRIBLE.......

So what did I end up doing?  Yeah, you guessed it.  I washed each blind one piece at a time!  It took forever.  I ended up only doing one set of blinds last night.  I'm going to do the other two tonight and Tuesday night until they are finished.  Can you see the difference below??

So what's the lesson I learned from this.........keep on top of the cleaning on your blinds, not to buy blinds with wood grain on them, or buy something other than white in the future.

But this set sure is nice now that it is finished!

Organizing the New Kitchen Island

So for our anniversary this year the hubs and I went in on an Island for our kitchen.  We found that the counter space has just not been working for us when we were preparing food.  We ended up settling on one from Target.  Some of the features that I like:

•  it is on wheels so it can move around when needed 
• the back of the island can open up and become a bar counter for additional seating if we need it
• the top is a butcher block, enough said

Many of our cabinets and drawers that hold items other than dishes are oddly shaped.  The drawers we used to have our silverware in were so narrow that we had half our silverware in one drawer and the other half in another drawer. The cabinets that hold our larger cooking items have this weird half shelf in the back that is hard to get to.  In the front there is a cabinet frame between the doors (hopefully I'm explaining this right) so that I can put larger items in but I have to put them in at an angle and take them out at an angle.  Sometimes it frustrates me to no END!  So the island is going to help with some of these frustrations......

In the drawers we put our  utensils, serving pieces, and knives.  I'm still looking for a container to put the knives in, but I can't find one that is the right size right now.  The other bins are old recycled containers that I found in the basement that we weren't using.

The cabinet part of the island has two pull out shelves, which I LOVE.  We used them to put some of our food items that are too big for our pantry cabinet.  At first I had trouble with the chips and bagged items on the left side because when I would pull out the shelf some of the stuff would fall down behind the things on the bottom.  So, I found this great basket at Target today.  At first I thought the basket wasn't going to fit because of the dimensions on the sticker.......but it didn't look as big as it said.  So I took it over to the hardware section and double checked it with a tape measure.  Guess what it was 1 inch shorter than the sticker said and it fits perfectly!  Now my bagged items don't fall out when I pull out the shelf.  The bottom of the shelf holds our casserole dishes organized by shape along with our mixing bowls and collender that we use very frequently.

While I was at Target I couldn't resist getting a wire bowl for fruit.  Right now it is holding potatoes because I haven't made our run to the store yet and the potatoes are for dinner tonight.  LOL.  Also I opted to keep out my set of Mixing Bowls that are from Crate and Barrel.  Someone got them for us for our wedding shower or wedding and can I just say how much I LOVE THEM!!   I use them all the time.  What I love about them:

• there are 5 and they come in all sizes
• they are nesting so they conserve space
• they are good for mixing and serving
• they come in fun colors

Crate and Barrel redoes the colors on them each season but they always have them.  If you are looking for a great gift for someone getting married they are a fabulous buy.  Find them here!  

So far my 365 days of cleaning hasn't progressed as well as I wanted it to but it is getting there.  Slowly but surely.  Stay tuned for the next post on blinds and why it is important to clean them frequently.

Easy Notepads

This year I made a planner for my cousin as her Christmas gift.  I also did a little notebook project for her hubby that loves the Boston Bruins.  As I was finishing up their items, I saw this post on Pinterest.

This got me started to think I could make them both little notepads to go with their items.  Well the Padding Compound was super expensive and I didn't have time to order it seeing as how it was now 7 days before the holidays.  So I did some research and found this idea at Skip to My Lou.

To do this project you really only need binder clips, a home printer, basic knowledge of creating items on Word/PPT, Sillicone Sealer, and Patience.

Silicone Sealer.  I got at Target for like $3 I think.

Notepads ready for the sealer.  I clipped with binder clips at the sides and bottom.  However after I added the sealer I had to very carefully move the clips from the bottom to the top.

Hard to see but I'm trying to show the sealer.  Yeah, it's clear.......

Finished notepad

See you can tear the sheets off!

Directions:

Gather materials

• printed papers for padding
• silicone sealer
• binder clips

Attach binder clips to sides and bottom.  

Run sealer along the top edge.

Wet your finder and smooth out the sealer. 

Then carefully move the binder clips to the top edge.  Be careful not to let it touch the sealer you just applied.

Let it dry for 3 hours.  

Reapply sealer.

Let it dry for 3 hours.

Done!

TIP:  Skip to My Lou recommends putting a blank sheet at the front and/or back.  The Silicone will drip down a bit and if you like clean lines like I do, it will bother you on your front page.  So it's nice to have a blank page you can tear off and throw away when you are done.

Pantry Reorganized!

So when I went to that fabulous store the other day I got some of these Linus Cabinet Organizers.  When I got home I put some food from our disorganized pantry in them and was very happy with the improvement.  But this little voice in my head said....."Carrie, you need more!"  Don't you hate love that?  Well apparently this voice spoke so loud that my cuz up in PA heard me and got me 4 MORE for an Xmas present.  Yeah you heard me 4!!!!  JACKPOT!

Tonight I attacked that cabinet.  I'm sorry that I don't have a before shot for you.  But I think the after shots more than speak for themselves!

So pretty!

Missing Labels so I added them digitally!

The other item I bought at the container store was a lazy susan for all the oils and spices.  I'm always afraid that I'm going to knock the bottles off the shelf.  The lazy susan takes up more space, so it is not a space saver,  however from an ease of use, it is well worth it!   I put all the stuff I use most often on it or at the front right to the left of it to grab quickly.  

Organizing your own pantry:

Start by taking all your food out.  Everything!  Throw out expired food, put food that expires in the next 3/6 months somewhere so you can put it towards the front when you put everything back.  Then think about what you use most often?  What do you need to grab quick?  Organize like things together!  Organize like shapes together.  We put the new Linus drawers on the top shelf.  We are small people so it is not only hard for us to reach the top shelf, but stuff gets lost.  I'm not even going to gross you out with what I found up there way in the back!  So everything on the top shelf 1) We don't use THAT often.  2) Is in a drawer so we can easily pull it down grab what we want and put it back!

Final Details:

• On the cabinet doors, I'm looking into adding some cork/metal so that I can put up our weekly menu and a reminder to purge the pantry every three months and throw out what has expired.  
• I'm also going to buy some of the Avery Circle labels to make simple labels for the tops of the spices so we can pull out the spices and glance down to see what we need.  I might will even alphabetize them! 
• I also have to label the containers when I get my label maker.

Credit:

I have to say that Alejandra at alejandra.tv inspired much of these ideas.  Her pantry organization tips and ideas really helped get me focused.  What I love about her philosophy is that by being able to see everything and get to everything quickly, you know what you have and can use it.  If you don't use it, then you don't need it!  Get rid of it!  =)

Let the Organizing Begin!

2013 isn't here yet, but I'm starting on a few small projects around the house to get myself moving.  Today was a fun trip to the Container Store for some lovely items!  Tonight after T went to bed, I tackled a very small task.

THE MAKEUP DRAWER!

The drawers in our one and only bathroom are so narrow!  So originally it looked something like this. A big pile of makeup!

BTW I love Bare Escentuals Makeup!  An investment in the beginning but now I very rarely have to buy anything, it LASTS FOREVER!

Now it has been updated and the makeup is organized by where it goes on my face.  I probably could have gotten another one of the larger trays pictured for the odd and end items in the back that I don't use that often.  There are three main compartments: face, cheeks/lips, and eyes.

These acrylic trays are great for narrow spaces and they are easy to clean.  They were relatively inexpensive as well.  Get yours from the Container Store!

One thing I have heard over and over the last few weeks as I've been researching and learning about being organized is finding a way for you to SEE all your stuff.  If you don't see it you won't use it.  By organizing my makeup this way, I can see EVERYTHING!  Plus it is organized by how I put on my makeup!  Brushes are kept in the pouch on the side.  Not my first choice but I don't want to put them on the counter so for now they will stay there.  It works!

365 days of Organization

Ok so here it is.  My master plan for 2013 and my 365 days of Organization is starting SOON!  I'm seeing this as a similar experience to the movie Julie and Julia.  Only I fear I might cry more than Amy Adams did.  =)  I am going to try to give myself a heavy month and then a light month and prioritize as best as I can.

Up on Deck aka The PLAN so Far!
Over Winter Break - Foyer Closet and Upstairs Bathroom
January - Kitchen
February - Taylor's Room/Closet
March - Master Bedroom

This coming Friday I will be taking a much needed trip to The Container Store in Rockville to buy plastic and other fabulous organizing ideas to help with these tasks up on deck.  I need to measure my little heart out over the next few days prior to the trip!

I've started to pin ideas to my 2013 Organizing Pinterest Board
I've also begun my Container Store Wish List so I know what to look for when I go to shop!

Stay Tuned!  =)
My husband says this project is let's see how long I can keep this up before I fail miserable......so GAME ON!  Now I have to complete this project!