Skills aquired to date

So I thought I'd discuss the skills that I have made in to habits so far. And, of course, I'll add those tasks that I just can't get used to doing when I'm supposed to be doing them, lol.

First off, the good stuff. Things I've actually turned in to habits.

1. All dishes get put away as soon as they are done what ever it was they were doing. If they were just eaten off, they get stuck in the dishwasher, if they are clean they get put in the shelf and if they need a scrubbing, they get that and then get put away. It is crazy how much space this clears up on my teeny tiny counter.

2. Each night before I go to bed I clean the kitchen so it is nice and tidy in the morning.

3. I clean out my fridge once a week to make sure everything is still good, wipe down the shelves quickly and give the drawers a quick once over as well.

4. Kids toys are put away at the end of the day so I don't have to step on them or over them all night long. This will eventually be one for the kids, and for the most part my son is pretty good about putting his toys away, but not always in the right spot so I tidy that up. And daughter, while small, can make quite a mess so I have her stuff to clean up as well.

5. The bathroom is cleaned twice a week, sometimes more depending on what my little man touches while he is washing the grime off his hands from playing outside.

Now for the things that I just can't seem to do, but I know I will in the long run...

1. I am horrible about putting my clothes away when they are clean. Well, to be honest, I'm horrible about putting clothes away that I have just worn or need to be tossed in to the hamper as well. They tend to get draped over things in my bedroom, which needs to stop. Good thing this is bedroom month, lol What I need is a hamper in each room so that I can just toss the clothes in there.

2. Following that, I've not been collecting the laundry on the day it is supposed to be collected, as per the weekly chores chart. I'd tell you what day it is supposed to be done on but I haven't a clue. Maybe one task should be to plaster the list up on the fridge...

3. I've only been vacuuming the living room once a week (FOR SHAME, I know, lol) I justify this by adding that we are now outside all the time and hardly play inside, so it isn't really getting all that messy.

I know there are more but those are the ones that are standing out in my head right now. I really need to get back to following that weekly list again.

Heck, I need to create the weekly list again. I'm going to have to scroll through these posts to find the last one I created, lol.

Baby steps right?

Just wanted to say thanks!

I just wanted to say thanks to all the people who have joined me through this blog.

I don't know if you understand how much it means to me that you are taking the time to see how my baking cupboard turned out, to learn that I can't vacuum with socks on and to read about my latest frustration.

It also has kept me accountable and made each task a little easier to do and harder to give up on knowing that I have people cheering me on and expecting to see after pictures, LOL.

While many have said this is a silly thing to waste a year on, I take to heart the fact that you are here with me, supporting me.

So, thank you!!!

I've read the first two bedroom chapters of my organizing book (much of which was more soul searching mumbo-jumbo) and will update tomorrow. Today has been a day of days and I just can't get the thoughts to fall from my fingers correctly.

Thanks again!!

Marina

Before and After: Kitchen

Ok, so here are all the before and after pictures, before pics first after pics, well after :) It doesn't look like a lot was changed, but while I'm in the kitchen I can really feel the difference.
(Sorry about the big size of the after pictures. I can't seem to correct it and it is actually driving me nuts, LOL. I'll work on it to see if I can get them back down to normal size...)

Spice cabinet

Medicine cabinet

Cookbook cupboard - This is one of the best changes that I made. It is so much nicer to have all my spices, vinegars and oils all in a shelf that is right beside me instead of on the other end of the kitchen.

Pantry - So nice to be able to see what is in there now! The best thing I ever did was to get my baking sheets and cutting boards organized. I used file folder organizers instead of the fancy baking sheet ones. $10 vs $54. I think I'm the winner here :) The bottom shelf is empty now, but it will be for storage of all the big sized costco boxes of stuff if we have any. Keeps it off the top of my kitchen cabinets!

Extra wall shelf - Just a lot tidier, and I moved the spice rack to the counter top, putting the compost bin under the sink to make room.

Overall kitchen shot

Above the cabinets - there are still some things above the kitchen cabinets, but it is much better than before with no food up there. Just a bin of baby stuff (bottles and plates), and a ceramic sleigh that I got from my mother in law and didn't get put in the christmas bins.

Over all I'm really happy with all the changes. And while it doesn't look like it should have taken me a whole month, there was constant re-jigging because space is so limited. I think what cleared out the most space was getting rid of everything that was expired or that I knew I'd never use.

So we are on to the bedroom now. I'm going to be reading the first two chapters tonight, and then getting started right away. I don't need two weeks to work through my mental issues, I need four weeks to clean, LOL.