52 Week Home Organization Challenge Update

As you may have noticed I haven't been doing (or posting) the 52 week home organization challenge. The reason is the challenges that have come up are ones I didn't find necessary for me. I skipped:
Week 3: Organize your pantry, spices & food storage because I feel mine is already up to my standards
Week 4: Organize refrigerator & freezer. I don't have enough food in them to even organize :(
Week 6: Create a home recycling center. I don't have the space or a recycling service
Week 7: Organize coupons. I don't use coupons.
Week 8: Healthy Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping. While I wouldn't say my process is healthy, I already have a process in place, which is: 

• Make a list of recipes I want to cook BEFORE I go grocery shopping so that I make sure to buy the ingredients. 
• When I get back from grocery shopping I make a list of every single meal I can make with the ingredients I've bought. 
• Then, each Sunday I make a menu for the upcoming week so that I know if/when anything needs to be thawed out and what we're eating each day.

This brings us up to date because a new challenge will be emailed on Monday, the 27th. I did, however, skip Week 5's challenge of Organize Recipes and Cookbooks, which I may battle this weekend because it is something I've needed to do. I haven't been motivated, though, because the following weeks I haven't needed to do so Week 5 has fallen to the side.

Here's a sneak peek into the upcoming year's challenges & whether you can expect a post from me:

Week 9: Addresses/Contact Information - No

Week 10: Mail - No

Week 11: Bill paying - No

Week 12: Receipts/Tax Documents - No

Week 13: Filing System - Possibly

Week 14: Magazines and Newspapers - No

Week 15: Email and internet passwords, manuals, and warranties - Possibly (I already have a list of all my computer passwords)

Week 16: Home Office - Possibly

Week 17: Cleaning Supplies - Possibly

Week 18: Bathroom - I already did this last week, actually & don't have pictures to show. I cleaned out underneath the master bathroom cabinet & organized as I put everything back in

Week 19: Medicine Cabinet - No

Week 20: Entryway/Mud Room - N/A

Week 21: Living/Family Room - No

Week 22: Dining and/or Breakfast Room - N/A

Week 23: Laundry Room - Possibly

Week 24: Laundry Baskets/Hampers - No

Week 25: Purses/Briefcases - No

Week 26: Books - Probably

Week 27: CDs and DVDs - No

Week 28: Photos - No

Week 29: Crafts - N/A

Week 30: Vehicles - Possibly

Week 31: Pets - Possibly

Week 32: Yard - Possibly

Week 33: Basement - N/A

Week 34: Attic - N/A

Week 25: Garage - Yes

Week 26: Homework area/launching pad - N/A

Week 37: Linen Closet - Yes

Week 38: Master Bedroom Closet - Yes

Week 39: Seasonal clothing switch -  Yes

Week 40: Master Bedroom - Possibly

Week 41: Jewelry/accessories - I actually am already in the process of this now using Pinterest (which I'll post later). I made an earring holder last night and plan to do the same for my necklaces & bracelets

Week 42: Shoes - Yes

Week 43: Makeup/cosmetics - I already did this last weekend while I was cleaning out the bathroom and got rid of a ton of makeup and cosmetics that I hadn't used in years!

Week 44: Organizing kids closet space - N/A

Week 45: Kids Bedroom(s) - N/A

Week 46: Toys & Games - N/A

Week 47: Create personal home inventory - possibly

Week 48: Storage for china, glassware, & crystal - N/A

Week 49: Storing silvery properly - N/A

Week 50: Christmas decoration storage & organization - Yes!

Week 51: Organize wrapping paper & gift bags - Yes!

Week 52: Keep a family calendar - Possibly

52 Week Home Organization Challenge - Week 2

52 Weeks To An Organized Home: Join The Weekly Challenges

This week our challenge was to organize our kitchen cabinets and drawers. Every single cabinet of mine had random some thrown into it and really no set purpose for each, but my drawers are in fairly good, organized condition. So, I set out this afternoon to reorganize my kitchen cabinets and am thrilled with the results!

Before: a mix of glasses, measuring cups and casserole dishes, etc.

After: all of our drinking glasses - everyday, plastic, for work, and wine!



Before: a mix of plastic cups, everyday china, some cutting boards & salad bowl

After: a place for all of our tupperware!

Before: everyday dishes & a dutch oven

After: everyday dishes & china

Before: baking supplies and a random assortment of cooking utensils

After: all random cooking utensils

Before: champagne glasses, random cooking utensils & the dogs meds & cleaning supplies

After: everyday china

Before: tupperware & spices

After: spices & baking supplies

Before: casserole dishes, crockpot (somewhat hidden), our Forman cooker & 1 random large tupperware bowl

After: casserole dishes only!

Before: under the sink cleaning supplies

After: cleaning supplies & dog supplies

Before: china, measuring/mixing bowls, double boiler, wine glasses & pot lids

After: measuring & mixing bowls, crockpot & Forman cooker

Before: pots & pans

After: pots, pans, their lids, double boiler & dutch oven

If you've also chosen to participate, good luck with your challenge!

Next week - organizing the kitchen pantry & food storage :)

52 Week Home Organization Challenge - Week 1

As one of my New Years resolutions I'm taking part in the 52 weeks to an organized home challenge. (See link at the bottom of this post to join). I always feel so much better after I've gone through, cleaned out, and organized things, but I just never take the time to do it unless the mood strikes me, which is rare!

This first week was Kitchen Organization: Countertops and Sinks. Kenny & I have small kitchen so this one was very easily accomplished while cooking a very quick 15 minute meal. I forgot to take before pictures this time, but for the following weeks I will so you can see the difference.

Even in just a small space I felt so much better after I was done.

Here are the after pictures:

This space had a large coffee pot that was only used if my Mom was in town so it went into a cabinet to rest until her next visit. The entire countertop was line with things before.

This area didn't undergo a huge transformation really. I just moved two things of Christmas candy into the pantry. But, this area does usually end up our "drop station" after we walk into the door so the real test will be not to use it for that anymore!

This area didn't undergo a huge transformation either, but there were two more canisters that hold the flour and sugar and I moved those into the cabinet with the baking supplies because they're rarely used.

Take on the challenge because it will be very rewarding!

52 Weeks To An Organized Home: Join The Weekly Challenges

Christmas Tradition

It's not Christmas around my house or my Mom's unless this delicious treat is being made: what we like to call Turtles. Unlike those you can buy in the store, ours don't include caramel. Here's a step by step recipe:

Ingredients:
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
12 oz. butterscotch morsels
4 oz. (approx.) finely chopped pecans
3 oz. (approx.) chow mein noodles


(Please ignore the melted chocolate around the edge; I had already made one batch before taking pictures)
1. Prepare your double boiler by bringing water in the bottom pot to a low boil and then turn down to keep warm

2. Pour your chocolate and butterscotch morsels into a double boiler 

 

3. Mix the morsels together and continue stirring until melted

4. You want your morsels to melt until they look like this

5. Then add in your pecans and chow mein noodles

 6. Give them a good stir so everything is mixed well and looks lumpy like this

7. Then, using a teaspoon, pour onto an aluminum foil lined cookie sheet. The mixture will make about 3 dozen

8. Once you have them all poured onto the cookie sheet, place in the freezer to quick freeze for about 20-30 minutes. Then, you're DONE so you can enjoy the yummy rich chocolate dessert!

Life in the Fast Lane

I thought I would update everyone on what's been going on and why I haven't been keeping up with my personal blog and why I probably won't have a lot of time to.

Most of you know that as a part time job I work for a local Savannah wedding planner who is the owner of Anne Hagin Events. I assist her in coordinating the rehearsals and the day of all of the weddings that she books. We just worked a HUGE wedding this past weekend and have two more this month. Also, right now she has 8 weddings booked in 2012! I also manage all of her social media accounts (Facebook & her blog The Sophisticated Bride). I will soon be starting a Twitter account for her, as well. Then, when necessary I update the website with new information, if possible.

Recently she has had people contacting her on how great her Facebook, website, and blog look, which makes me feel great because I am honestly learning as I go since I haven't ever managed anyone's social media before. So, through the work for Anne I have begun doing the social media for Catering by Trish (Trish McLeod) and the assocation of Savannah Wedding Professionals. This is the one I am most proud of because it is an association to which people are voted into & pay dues to be a member of so it is somewhat of an elite group of local wedding vendors and their president came to me to request that I do their social media work. After tonight's SWP meeting, I've also had requests from one or two other vendors to possibly start doing the same type of work for them, too! (Ok, so maybe I'm bragging a bit, but I'm just surprised that people are coming to me for this type of work)

All this in addition to working full time at SCAD and being a graduate student. So, all this to say I'm becoming a lot busier down here in Savannah than I have been and finally feel in my element. Before starting to Auburn I was involved in lots of activities and clubs, which slowly dwindled down to not being involved in anything. I'm realizing again how much I thrive on having to balance and juggle a lot of different things because I feel I manage my time better. Although, I have to say, dinner isn't getting cooked as regularly as it used to and housework is falling to the side.

Until next time!