Kitchen Challenge

The first of the year I started this 52 week organizing challenge. The first challenge addressed countertops and sinks. Here is my Kitchen before I started week one.

My kitchen table was constantly a catch all table. When I would walk in the door everyday I would throw my mail onto the table and sometimes not get to it for days. Stuff I pulled out to use would find a home there until I figured out a place for it.

I'm not big dishes girl. I have never like doing them, but who does? I had bought a drying pad that I had placed on my countertop next to the sink but it always ended up full and just look cluttered.

I took some time and I did some shopping. Sometimes I just look at the shelves at what is available and ideas will eventually come to me. How can I organize my mail, what is a better solution to my dishes?

I bought a mini mail sorter to put on the table. So far I have taken just 2 minutes to look at the mail that I bring in each day. I get rid of the junk and I put bills etc. in the correct spot in my sorter. 

I decided to get rid of the counter mat, and a rack to put in my sink. So far I have done a good job with the dishes, lets hope it continues.

This challenge is meant for one a week. I unfortunately have not found the time for that between teaching and going back to school. I am doing what I can everyday, it may take me longer but hopefully I can catch up this summer. 

Next up Cabinet Organizing!

Scrapbooking

Scrap-booked for the first time this year. Did a weekend with some great friends and made some new friends. My niece is a little over a year now and I am finally on Month 4 for her scrapbook, but I will say I could be farther if she wasn't so darn cute in all her pictures. Its been so hard choosing which ones I need to use. Her first year officially will not be able to fit in one book. I will be ordering from Creative Memories today. Today their albums are 25% off. GREAT deal! Perfect timing for me. Hopefully I will be able to have some more weekends like this and get back on track with her book and back to my own books that are now 3 years behind :(

1st Snow

Well the first official snow fall of the season/year is here! Students at the school today were excited and could not wait to go outside. Unfortunately the snow fall is pretty heavy and it was too cold for the students to enjoy outdoor recess. I even have a student that has never seen snow before. She was mesmerized by it and even asked me what snow felt like! They do not have to attend school tomorrow due to a teacher's institute, so it is unlikely the teachers will get a snow day. :(

Taking this snowy evening to begin working on my kitchen. My first step is with cabinet organization. What can I get rid of and what can I store somewhere else? I think i'll go one cabinet at a time.

The Beginning

Welcome to my first blog! I am new at this so be patient with me :) I wanted to start the new year with some change in my life. I am in my 2nd year of my new home and I am really starting to make it my own. My living room is pretty close to how I would like it to be set up (I am a girl so I am sure that will change) and now its time to work on a different room. Living on my own has given me some difficulties making the changes I would like quickly. So finally time for a new project and I am excited. My main goal this year is to be organized. I have found so much inspiration out there on pinterest that its time to put some ideas in place. Now which room to start. My first thought is the Kitchen. Everyone spends a lot of time in the Kitchen each day so I would like it to be a place that is functional. I am just at a loss to where to begin! Any suggestions?