How do you do it? Kitchen organization that is..........

How do YOU get rid of stuff that's cluttering up your home, your life........your kitchen?


You know, all those plastic leftover containers lurking in the nether regions of the lower kitchen cabinets.......when these days you try not to cook such huge pots of sauce, stew, chili etc. that they then require ladling into plastic boxes and are left to lurk in their next home, the rear of the freezer. Just how many teeny tiny containers of my homemade pesto are back there too?  I noticed the date 2009 on one - come on now that is ridiculous! I need to defrost those Italian babies and make a nice linguine with pesto and freshly grated parmigiana reggiano, FAST!
Whoever needs 500 plastic spoons, forks and knives; a zillion straws; 50 packets of wet wipes; plastic sandwich bags of numerous dimensions; and three jumbo packs of brown bags....................when you no longer have kids/grandkids in the house packing school lunches, and you are not into, or don't have the time for, artsy crafting projects, OR have plans to go picnicking with a loved one every day for the rest of your life!  Whew, pardon the lengthy sentence, I got carried away by my stuff!

So here I am, cleaning out 'hell's kitchen' on a dreary day, and yes you do see the iMac on the kitchen table - my DH's peripheral office. Now that's a whole other story about stuff that I won't even go to in this post. Let's just say it irks me big time and is a bone of contention between us. Bob dearest, I know you'll hate me when you read this!!!!!


I refuse to share the really nasty pictures - piles of accumulated stuff from the lower cabinets, outdated jars and boxes from the upper. The above items (note the neat labels I made some years back when I apparently had free time), were stored on top of the 'frig, in a vintage metal basket which looked quite lovely, however that's a really stupid place to store anything edible - it gets really warm up there. Rancid pecans are not tasty, expensive yes, but these have to be tossed! Why do I buy so much stuff for two people? I must think we are still in our twenties and raising a family instead of in our golden years and constantly trying to knock off a few pounds! Or perhaps I stockpile in fear of a nuclear attack, or Trader Joe's going out of business next week, the first option being more likely!


It certainly doesn't help that the builder of this compact cottage actually forgot to add the pantry. He must not have been a chef, or even a cook, or he would have realized there was not a lot of space in those '80's cabinets to store much of anything. 
      

Getting there, but should I add those organizers for the wraps and bags?  They seem to take up a lot space.

Still more to go through so another dreary day will be welcomed to encourage me to stay home without makeup, jewelry, and bed hair.........the bowls, platters, and casserole dishes were a piece of cake - give away half of them, then ask to be bound, gagged and tied to a chair when a trip to Homegoods is mentioned by your shopping friends. The pots and pans will be more difficult - they look so nice in their shiny sets. OMG, hear that, 'sets'. However many sets does one require to cook for two.........not even one if you eat out, and sometimes drag the family along with you!  My cooking for crowds days are over...........I will have plenty of space in those cabinets soon.


More to come.........closets, dresser drawers, bathroom vanities, the attic where there's plenty of storage space but we're getting a bit long in the tooth to be crawling on hands and knees, the potting shed......I could go on and on.  

Cheers dears, here's to organization.  I believe the secret is to learn to let go.........and then not to bring home more stuff, right?  
Are you doing your annual new year declutter? Small house organizational tips are always welcome.