Okay, yesterday I tackled my pots and pans and my stove top. I was feeling inspired and though I said I wouldn’t, I tackled the cleaning supply cabinet that night.

I also worked on seasoning my iron cast cookware.

Here’s a hint, don’t do this in the middle of winter when it is too cold to open windows. Not a good thing. Trust me.

I organized the cleaning supply cabinet and the only thing I wish I had (but didn’t but may purchase) is a caddy that I can take my cleaners around the house when I clean.

However, last year I started “going green” (I’ll bore you with those details at a later date) and I only have a few cleaners. And lots of rags.

Speaking of rags, I always have a ton and hardly ever buy any. I do purchase microfiber cloths when I need them. But I buy the bag o’ rags rather than the nice square ones. I am cleaning the toilet with it, why do I care if it is not quite square? The rest of my rags are old dishtowels.

The life of my towels is as follows. I buy new dishcloths and dishtowels about twice a year. Sometimes more often depending on how ratty they look. When they are no longer fit for my dishes (torn, holes in them, really stained, etc.), they become rags. They stay rags until they have more holes than material.

Same goes for my towels. First they are human towels. Then they become pet towels. After they have too many holes in them, they are cut into rags.

I also use hubby’s socks. Old ones of course. ;-D

The next day (after doing 2 sets of cabinets, I was tired of working and it was time for dinner), I organized my storage container cabinet. I had a quick list of what to keep and what to throw away. I asked a series of questions:

1) Do you have a lid? If the answer was no, sorry, you have no home here.

2) Are you presentable enough to take to my children’s school? If it was scratched or stained enough that I wouldn’t take it to my kids’ school, I pitched it.

3) How many of this size do I have? Is this a size I use often? This was a bit more difficult, but not too bad. I don’t need 30 small plastic containers that hold 15 peanuts. Trust me, I don’t and neither do you.

By now I had a manageable amount of plastic storage containers and began organizing. Once again, I was able to fit more things in (the lunch boxes that are used once a month or so, etc.) and it was neater and easier to use.

And I found a dish strainer I was looking for. And the sandwich cutter too. It’s amazing what you can find when your cabinet is clean!

After that cabinet I was once again inspired and moved onto the cabinet above the fridge. I moved some things out, threw away a few things and organized it a bit. But mostly that is already organized. I think because it’ s so hard to reach, it isn’t used daily. Or even weekly.

I did however organize the shelf over our table. I have a cute little wooden shelf that is over our table. It used to hold two baskets of kitchen gadgets. (Measuring cups and spoons, peelers, jar openers, etc.) Those are going to have a home on top of the fridge… I think, I’m not sure yet. The top of the fridge is still scary.

And on this shelf, I put our basket of napkins. Again with the green thing. We switched to cloth napkins last year. Saves a lot of money and the kids love it!

I still have to organize my upper cabinets (glasses and plates) and the top of the fridge *shudder* , but my kitchen is coming along nicely. Very nicely.

Oh, and I started training the kids to use the future command center. I installed a three way hanging file. I told the kids when we paint the kitchen, they can decorate it. In the mean time, they each have one file and any papers I need to look at (school papers, invitations, etc.) go in their file. I will attend to them and return them to the file. It’s working very, very nicely.

Today, I won’t be doing much in the kitchen. Not only do I have to deal with funeral arrangements and a loved one in the hospital, I took a spill in the snow today. I looked like Gregory Hines for a split second. And ended up flat on my back.

I’m 5′9″ (and I was wearing boots with a 2″ heel!) so, it was a pretty far drop. Luckily, my purse landed under my head and cushioned that. However, my back is pretty stiff. I think I’ll take it easy and start later this weekend. Or next week.

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