So, I had just planned to clean out one or two drawers in the kitchen, but y’all, I got started and I just couldn’t stop.
{It also helped that I read the first section of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and she strongly discourages only doing a little bit at a time!}
{Okay, let me clarify: I actually did stop multiple times. I worked in 20-30 minute bursts today and then would rest for an hour or so and then get up and work again. I’m being very intentional about listening to my body and not overdoing it. In fact, I even laid down and took a NAP this afternoon — something that I rarely, rarely ever do!}
I had some help!
My great grandma painted these — one of my very favorite kitchen items!
How short people clean their kitchen cupboards. Notice my total “I’m in lazy mode yoga pant look”. I wasn’t joking when I said that I stopped and rested repeatedly today!
{Also, if you look closely, you can see the nice bruise that the IV left on my hand.}
How about the organized look I’ve got going on there?!? Yikes!
So here’s the truth: I had no stinkin’ idea that I had so much random stuff in the kitchen that was just taking up space and serving no good purpose. It feels SO amazing to have gotten rid of 4 BOXES of stuff and to now only have items that I absolutely love and use regularly my kitchen.
Okay, well, I’m not sure that the spinach still in the fridge qualifies as something that I love, but I didn’t get that ruthless! 😉
Did you do any cleaning in your kitchen today? Tell us about it in the comments or, if you’re blogging about it, leave the direct link to your blog post sharing about your accomplishments today.
Those dishes are beautiful. Your great grandma is totally talented.
I’m so inspired by this! After watching your Persicope last night, I jumped right into my own kitchen! Thanks for the motivation!
It’s amazing how much stuff hides in our kitchen. It’s surprising to find so much stuff to get rid of!
Woot! Yay! I’m so glad my scope last night inspired you!
I did not see the question in the comments but where did you get the battery organizer? Really like that!
It’s from Amazon.
Use this http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/organizer-rack/1011197345?poc=104069&categoryId=12100 for storing the lids in pic 7, it is a life-saver and really cheap too.
Thank you so much for motivating me!
Looks great! You are motivating me to tackle my kitchen this week, it’s a mess! So what did you do with the stuff that you put in boxes? I throw away alot, but stuff that could be a ‘treasure’ for someone else I’ve learned to take to the local thrift store within 24 hours of a declutter project or otherwise it piles up in the garage and creates another mess. 🙂 It helps!
You made excellent progress organizing the kitchen. I was wondering, what you do with the items that you got rid of. This is where I get hooked up…I know I don’t need or want the items anymore, but lots of those items are still usable and yet still too small to send off to Goodwill. What do you do with little stuff, that you no longer need but don’t want to throw away?
I do FlyLady and it happens to be kitchen week. I spent 15 minutes cleaning part of my fridge by taking the door holders off and washing them out and then used soapy water, took everything off the counters, and scrubbed them down. This took about 30 minutes. It feels better already. Back to the fridge today again and also will clean out the tupperware cabinent (it really needs it).
I’m really glad to hear you rested so much! Please continue to rest whenever you need to and listening to your body! Recovery is hard enough without pushing yourself too much! I totally babied myself when I had surgery a few years ago but I’m glad I did!
Kitchen counters cleared and cleaned, fridge sorted and a disappointingly large amount of food thrown out, 5 drawers tidied (I did 2 then read your post Crystal and kept going until I’d finished the set and it was time to cook dinner). I now have 1 spare drawer 🙂
Hi Crystal! Your challenge is perfectly timed with Rebekah Hoffer’s one month “The Just Clean Something” challenge which I am doing… so I used today to get one of my kitchen drawers cleaned out and now am on a quest to keep going. Thanks for your inspiration and encouragement every day! God bless you! (PS: I also organized school materials for my homeschool) 🙂
It wasn’t on my list of things to do, but my husband and I have been working onour kitchen for two days thanks to our toaster oven catching fire! Luckily our daughter was quick on the draw with the fire extinguisher and our cleanup is from the white powder spray. On a good note, I threw away five expired spices dated as far back as 2008!
I did this about a month ago except for one junk drawer. Boy, is it a mess. I think I can take my tape measure out and just toss the rest because I can’t remember using anything from that drawer.
Who in their right mind needs 8 casserole dishes and 6 loaf pans? I even boxed up my almost 30 year old everyday, Lennox china and thinking of selling it. I used it for over 25 years and got sick of it. I have another 8 place setting (instead of 12) but I did buy paper plates just in case I need them.
I totally admit that I wore pjs while I cleaned today. I still don’t have clothes that I love and that fit my post prego body. I was playing a lot of catch-up in the, kitchen – but I got a drawer cleaned out and three cupboards. I also got tons of dishes washed (man, I wish I had a dish washer).
I took a nap too 😉
Sometimes I wish I had one, too, but then I realize that we would need way more dishes. I think I’d rather wash three times a day than have more cluttered cabinets in my already small kitchen.
Well, I didn’t get to my kitchen today. I did listen to the book some and took notes. I’m going to listen to more of the book tomorrow morning and get started on something tomorrow. Thanks for this challenge!!
A cardboard box or cute bin from the dollar store is great for corralling pot lids.
love your yoga pants look!
Please remember to let your body rest though! Sleep is important for healing 😉
You have totally motivated me to tackle my kitchen now. I have been sighing over the crumbs in the bottom of the cupboards for a month now, knowing that I need to take care of them and do a deep clean. I dread tackling the junk drawer, but, it must be done.
I do have to teach some school to the kiddos tomorrow, but it seems as though my kitchen is now on the list!
I know that if I post my intentions here, it must be done 🙂
The bruise looks so painful! But the kitchen looks AMAZING!! Love the yoga pants!! I was wearing PJ bottoms while I was scoping today! LOL
It looks GREAT! I can’t join in this week but I’ll enjoy seeing your inspiring updates. Glad you’re feeling better!
Seriously gal- did you get rid of half your kitchen?!?! It looks like your after pictures are lacking at least half the stuff of the before pictures. LOL. I cleaned out my one drawer and got rid of a few spoons and such… nothing that amazing. 🙂 Though now my kitchen looks much better and I actually mopped (that never happens)!!!!
I know I need to do this! Earlier today, my son asked which junk drawer something was in. Multiple junk drawers….time to organize! Thanks for the inspiration.