I too, love following your progress. Your before and after pictures are a terrific inspiration! Keep up the great work and posting all the pictures!
Overall Rating: 2 votes
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Posted 1 month ago #
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Hi all - today's check in:
@Shannon, the European toast didn't get too much grumbling today. A few extra crumbs, but I'll take the single counter wipe over a giant block on the counter and a huge cluttered waste of space in the "deep hole" anyway. In fact, I've just learned that it's SO satisfying to wipe a big, now clutter-free space! I could do it 10 times in a row! (I imagine that's what it feels like to dust relatively empty shelves but I wouldn't know on that one yet - grin!)
Thanks @Gypsie, it's funny to be inspiring when I'm being inspired by the folks here - both emotionally but also with specific solutions that have created a whole Times Square-esque light bulb situation in my head. What a great thing!
To all, not much progress today except an Emile Henry spoon holder arrived that I had ordered along with the canisters. Fooled me b/c I thought it was the canisters but just the spoon holder. Funny - I've never had one and it's such a simple thing that then saves you from putting your messy spoon all over. My particular skill is trying to balance it on the pot, then knocking it over, then it falls in the pot, then I go to grab it and instead flip it and the spoon and the food comes flying out at me. NO MORE! Spoon holder is now the "place for everything and everything a place" for my spoon!
Small victories...
Will be back at it tomorrow in full force - will keep you posted!
Alexa
p.s. I'm beginning to feel like we're all a fun family - I should start a blog called, "Out of the Kitchen Canister..." LOL!
p.s. 2 - @Shannon again, I'm feeling like you'll have a lasting impact on our life. We're all calling any toast activity "European toast" now and I think it's going to stick! TOO FUNNY!
Posted 1 month ago # -
The blog actually sounds like a good idea, Alexa!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Thanks - Much like my kitchen, I'm sure it would be filled with cluttered thoughts!
And, see, you've helped me end my day feeling special. I hope you can see the same light in yours...
Posted 1 month ago # -
Sigh - nothing new really to report. Canisters still haven't arrived... hoping soon!
I guess positive front is that I've been able to keep the toaster in the hole and we're all used to European toast now. :-) Counters are still clean, baskets and floor and under counter uncluttered.
And, perhaps the true test, I got a big 'ol delivery from Peapod today - over 10 bags of stuff and it all went away with nothing on the counter anywhere. In fact, my biggest success was probably what cluttered the top of fridge and the "deep hole" before. Got 4 boxes of 100 Cal cookies and 5 boxes of bars (nutrigrain, special K, etc.) - opened them, dumped them into their designated basket, recycled boxes - voila! No clutter!
Will post more when canisters come... someday! :-)
Posted 1 month ago # -
That is a great sign that so much came in and it all had a home. You were very thoughtful in your new systems! I am laughing that you are all eating European toast. We have a lot of silly things like that in our family that make my kids giggle. I feel honored that my silliness inspired yours! :) I have been on a huge roll here too. Lots of new systems using things we already had that are making life so much neater, easier and more peaceful. I REALLY wish I had taken some before photos. Your transformation has been great to see!
Posted 1 month ago # -
DRUMROLL, PLEASE! The canisters arrived, the canisters arrived!
And, while I have two little slight concerns, I do love them already. My first issue is that when I ordered, I didn't realize that the shelves were going under there, so I got the natural / wheat, when now it's a LOT of natural. I might have gotten the green which I originally liked, but c'est la vie.
And, they are a teeninsy bit on the small side. I could possible use one or two more of the two larger sizes. Now, I originally tried lining them up to look as "orderly" as possible but they looked too Stepford Wife/Type A, even for me, so I made a little mixture of the sizes and used the open sugar container too. I think it looks a little bit more intentionally creative and visually appealing - plus everything below is SO boxy and measured. If I did get another one or two (the two larger sizes), I think I could just replace in the mix, but I'm going to see after using them...
So, after much ado, here is the countertop!
BEFORE:
http://bit.ly/cwIGowAFTER, with canisters containing all countertop items:
http://bit.ly/aKTLeg--
Canisters ready for their close up:
http://bit.ly/cVDroK
--Plus deep hole:
BEFORE:
http://bit.ly/aEOtX4AFTER:
http://bit.ly/bz88RBAnd, top of fridge:
BEFORE:
http://bit.ly/adesYWAFTER:
http://bit.ly/cnQP0bOMG! Y'ALL - SORRY FOR THE ALL CAPS, BUT WHOSE KITCHEN IS THAT?!? Thank you for all your help everyone! I've still got to purge the drawers and my few cabinets but the overall difference is already amazing!
And, who knows, after all this, maybe I'll go a step farther and replace the flooring and maybe eventually the countertops! Wahoo!
Alexa
p.s. For those interested, here's the type A lineup of the canisters:
http://bit.ly/cEsY3sp.s. 2 ahem, slightly embarassing but I thought I'd pass on the tip! If you are measuring for canisters, don't forget that when it has a plastic seal, it pushes down into the open space so the "height" is about 3/4 to an inch less. (cough, cough!) Didn't realize that and am smushing down my On-The-Go tea packets a little and got a little less in all of them than I thought. Just passin' it on! :oP
Posted 1 month ago # -
Suggestion re the deep hole: angle the ah, toaster oven? across the corner. It will be much easier to access that way, if not as rectilinear.
Not |_ but \
A couple of years ago, my old microwave died. I was looking for a new one and saw one with a round back. "Why would anyone want to buy a microwave like that?" I thought. I bought a rectangular microwave and then attempted to fit it into the corner of the counter where the microwave had always lived. But this one was a bit longer and larger.
I backed it up against one wall -- hard to access. I backed it up against the other wall -- hard to access. I angled it across the corner and suddenly it was totally convenient. Only then did I understand the rounded back on the microwave I had not bought. That was to allow it to fit into a corner more efficiently.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I love it akcorcoran! I don't think its too much natural at all, I think it works well with the white. You must be so chuffed!
Posted 1 month ago # -
It looks great, Alexa!
Badkitti, chuffed? I'm assuming it means proud. :)
Posted 1 month ago # -
Claycat - That's the one!
Posted 1 month ago # -
I am chuffed! Fits right in with my European toast!!! hee, hee!
(though@zora, I will try angling it a bit to make it a little easier - the bog step was getting hubby to sign off on it going in the hole period. I appreciate the suggestion.)
I am also a bit mortified as I look at the Before pictures- how did I live like that?! Slob. Ick.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Looks great!!!! I think we all feel we've accomplished something!
Posted 1 month ago # -
Yes - it is a group victory! I wouldn't have had the motivation or the ideas or the "light bulb moments" where I used what I already had without y'all! Last night my husband laughed when I talked about this thread and says, "You have Uncluttering friends." :-)
P.S. Ultimate victory - my mother is flying in today for the weekend, and while the whole house isn't in tip-top shape (durn you three-story, nearly century-old house with no closets!), I am reveling in my absolutely pristine kitchen!!!
Posted 1 month ago # -
I love it! Who wants to come do my house next?
Great Job, Akcorcoran! I think it looks like a new kitchen!
Posted 1 month ago # -
ugh, i really need to get some of those canisters or something similar my cabinets are a nightmare.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Hi everyone - Sorry, "Snowmageddon" here in Baltimore kept me away!
@charmed2482, let me know if you decide to go for canisters - I know A LOT about them and where to get them! :-)
So, three updates:
1) I had guests and my daughter's birthday party this weekend (though it was postponed due to snow) and friends + kids over yesterday - and the kitchen held up without clutter! Just before bed, I did a simple straighten and it was completely clutter free and clean. Was *such* a nice feeling! And, hubby came to me this morning and said said he really enjoyed having the clean kitchen - made you want to keep it that way. Success!
2) Next stop is drawers and cabinets, but I'm just worried about time. Do you think it's possible to do the drawers a bit at a time - it's hard b/c I'd like to think about the whole drawer scheme at a time, but that would take a lot of time...
3) I did use the snow time and help to purge my daughters' art room / our laundry room! My Mom and I plowed through things and she was super helpful b/c she wasn't emotionaly attached. I have this HUGE bag of coloring books that they've aged out of that we can give away, so that's nice. Will post pictures if I get a chance - but alas, I don't think I have a before...
Posted 1 month ago # -
Alexa, how are your projects coming along? You are missed!
Posted 1 week ago #
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