Since I didn’t quite get finished last week, I thought I’d plunge right back in this week.
I also had a renewed mission thanks to my mom.
We got to talking about small kitchens and brainstorming how to get more counter space from my little kitchen. I decided the countertops on either side of my sink HAD to be cleared. That meant the coffee/tea area I had put together would need to find a new home and the recycling that seems to always fill up the other side would need to find a new place to meet before heading to the garage where the recycling tubs reside.
So, I started in the most logical place: the cup/glass/mug cabinet.
I’m sure some of you are scratching your heads about why I would start there, but really, I have a reason. This cabinet is where I proposed to put the coffee/tea fixings from the cabinet below it. However, looking at the state it was in, this would not be a simple task.
I organized and pitched, then added the coffee and tea things, ending up with this:
Now, remember these are the overflow because I have 7 cups on the other side of the kitchen that are the ones we are to use daily. I’ve entertained thoughts of putting a lock on this cabinet so they can’t pillage through it, but of course, then how would I retrieve my beloved coffee? So anyway, my countertop now looks like this:
I ended up putting my recycling in a box in my dishwasher (that I rarely use because of my new system of keeping things clean)
Onward and forward…on the other side of the sink is a cabinet that holds my herbals teas and some extras:
There were some seriously outdated items in there. See that Enfamil? That’s from when Micah was a newborn and the meds from the C-section zapped my milk supply. Needed to be pitched!
I got rid of tons of stuff in there and ended up with this:
The next cabinet has no pictures because it all happened so fast. Ever read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? Well, my storage containers/mixing bowls cabinet went about like that! I needed a bowl to make banana bread in, but when I opened the cabinet and everything came crashing down on me, I decided I must first clean out the cabinet and get rid of, you guessed it…half my stuff! I did that, only to realize I then needed to go through my lids drawer to get rid of the corresponding lids. Once that was accomplished, I was able to start my banana bread…only to discover my oven had finally bit the dust. Lovely.
Next stop…the stuff that lurks beneath the sink!
And the after:
Some of those products I don’t use often. Some of them my mom uses when she comes over. 😉
Is anyone else worn out yet by my tiny kitchen that seems utterly overwhelming? How is it possible such a small space could create such angst?
I have 2 more areas that need to be addressed before I can put this room to rest (and hopefully keep it looking neat and tidy from there), but those will just have to wait. I’m at a homeschool conference this weekend and need to expend my energy elsewhere for the time being.
So, how is the decluttering coming with all of you? Leave me a note and if you post pics on your blog, leave that link too!
By the way, remember I was going to keep you updated on my FLYlady progress. Well, there is no progress because I decided FLYlady really wasn’t for me at this juncture in my life–a conclusion I had come to before, but thought was quite possibly my own mental roadblock.
I’ve since gone back to something tried and true I will share with you next week. 😉
Jennifer says
That looks great! I did a bunch in my kitchen yesterday too, but didn’t get pictures.
valerie says
thanks thanks thanks! I love reading about this since I am pretty much YOU in a different body, somewhere in Oklahoma 😉
I relate sooo much to all your posts on cleaning the kitchen and how “I just can’t wrap my brain around it”.
I love the before and after pictures. They really inspire me to get going!
.-= valerie´s last blog ..Viewing children as plants. =-.
Amy says
Valerie,
I am so glad you are motivated! It’s been quite a job! I’m really surprised at how much energy it is taking. Blessings to you 🙂
Jennifer says
Hi Amy,
You have been inspiring me to get my own kitchen organized, and also the toys that are all over the house. So far I have decluttered my bowl cabinet and my pantry, and I have successfully sorted the toys into three big bins. We keep one out and two put away in a closet to exchange in a few weeks. I hope this will help to keep the clutter more manageable!
ps Flylady does not work for me either, although it is a great help for some and a noble cause, for sure! I am excited to hear what else is working for you.
Amy says
Yay, Jennifer!
Ace says
Hello! I understand just where you are coming from. I loved to not have to do dishes all day and just load up the dish washer..but I hated unloading LOL. It broke and I realized..”Why am I using fifty cups a day…why don’t I just was one out and reuse it all day..etc?” Duh!
As for space, I have a very, very small kitchen as well. I used to have a galley in another house so I feel your pain 🙂 Can you make another room in your home your food prep room? For instance, I reworked my very small kitcen in a way that most wouldn’t. In the cabinets are ONLY silverware, plates and dishes and cups and pots and pans. That is it. I only have in my kitchen what I need to use only in that area.
Sorry, I forgot, I do have a baking drawer and this all left me so much room my appliances are in the last cabinet..but you get my point. No food, no spices, no linens..etc.
We took the ajacent coat closet and built in shelves in the back of it and put all that stuff in there. We kept the rod in and hang coats on it as needed. That way, when I cook I simply take the recipe..go to the closet and get all my ingredients and take them to my dinning room and mix them all up. I could have put all the silverware and baking stuff in there I suspose..but I have my homeschool stuff in there. But I have more room in the dinning room so I prep there and walk it in to put it in the oven.
Anyhoo, thought I would add my two sense. There is just no way to win with a galley. Just keep everything off the counters and use the rooms around you for prep.
Also, funny you mentioned flylady. I joined a really nice Christian homemaking mentors group and they told me they would not allow any talk of her. I checked into it and found some serious concerns. She is very new age.
I had to kick that habit myself, though when I did it it gave me some great tips.
Many Blessings 🙂
Ace
Amy says
Ace,
You are very right about the new-agey-ness of FLYlady (plus a whole heap of feminism)…something I thought I could overlook since I had successfully used it in the past (she originally wasn’t quite so much that way); however, I just can’t get it to work with the size of the household I am running and the fact that I do not work and cannot simply leave the home clean and expect it to stay that way!
As for the ideas you gave, I mulled it over a bit and I do have a bar in the dining room, but I think it would end up being more of a hassle since that area is really dedicated to mail and homeschooling and I need it to stay as such.
I’ve never been in a house w/ a galley kitchen before, so this has been quite interesting; however, I met up with a friend today who is living in a 39′ trailer and she has about a 24″x24″ counter top to work with. I’m thinking if she can do it, I can do it w/ a bit more!
Nicki says
Amy,
Your kitchen looks awesome! Those dang lids and plastic containers are annoying, aren’t they? I also have a question for you. We will be starting to homeschool year-round soon and I am wondering how you do that? What do you do when you get to the end of a workbook? If we just move on, wouldn’t they be in 7th grade stuff by 3rd? Can you tell I’m new to this? 😉 I also just want to thank you again for all of your inspiration and comforting e-mails in my decision to homeschool. Allison (7) is almost done with 1sr grade at the public school and I am so excited and nervous to start with her! I go back and read and re-read your e-mails and they are so comforting to me….you’re such a good mommy. Well, have a great weekend…keep up the good work inyour house!
Blessings to you, Amy,
Nicki
Amy says
Nicki,
The emails we sent back and forth are fond memories for me as well. 🙂
I’ve got a couple of posts on homeschooling year round:
http://www.hsclassroom.net/2010/03/why-school-year-round/
https://raisingarrows.net/2010/04/homeschooling-year-round.html
However, I don’t remember saying what we do when it’s time to move on. Short answer…we move on. To answer your question about being in 7th by the time they are 3rd graders…not likely.
Make sure you take breaks throughout the year. 365 days worth of school isn’t any good for anyone. The reason we homeschool year round is so we can take breaks…some big, some small. Some families do 3 weeks on, 1 week off all year long. Some families take a 3 day weekend every week. We’ve chosen to take big blocks of time at our own leisure (or when a baby is born or I’m down with morning sickness).
Because of those breaks, you will find that you do not end up light years ahead of schedule. However, if you do…it’s ok. If she’s ready for it, then so be it. You can always throw more at her. That’s the beauty of homeschooling. Pursue her interests, challenge her, involve her in your daily life as a mommy. She won’t be bored. 🙂
Fruitful Harvest says
I’m so proud of you!
I bet it was challenging being prego and getting under the kitchen sink!:)
I can just see it!
Warm Blessings,
Georgiann
.-= Fruitful Harvest´s last blog ..Our Broccoli Harvest! =-.
Candy says
Hey! I was at a homeschool conference this weekend too! I actually thought I might have seen you but maybe I just have you on the brain because I love your blog so much…