First on the Resolution Agenda: Cleaning Out

Tired of hearing about me organize and purge? Then don't read on, I'm talking about it again. I got the wonderful opportunity to meet up with a couple of girlfriends after Christmas -part of my "girls" that I often road trip with and do my girl get-aways along side. We met up to eat and then go for a showing of New Moon. (I promise this isn't going to talk at all about New Moon) I remarked that my dad and I stayed up and watched an episode of Hoarders, on A & E and we were horrified by the conditions people would allow themselves to live in. That the majority of these individuals, although they may seem normal to meet them, clearly had mental issues that were causing this destructive and often dangerous behavior. I remarked that while watching, I just couldn't wrap my arms around how you get to the point where you are on a show like hoarders. Watching things like that show and Clean Sweep, make me want to go home and refine my purging and organizing. My girlfriends laughed and said I should create "Hoarders of Indiana" and single handedly organize one person at a time. While that seems pretty awesome- and I am flattered - for right now I'm just purging my kitchen.

I was amazed that within two hours I got it all ship shape - I make no secret that I hate my kitchen, it's ugly, the cabinets are warped, the drawers don't always work and the only redeeming thing in it is my refrigerator and the fact that my stove (not my fav) is new. One day I'll have that new kitchen, with the gleaming counter tops and cork flooring, but until then I deal with my sweet 80's kitchen. Living in this kitchen has been a good exercise I think because it has taught me to live within a small cabinet space. I have condensed my kitchen down to what I actually need and use, verses holding on to utensils, plates and cookware that rarely, if ever sees the light of day.

I also took some time to go through my recipes - I was the recipient of my grandmothers and my mothers recipes. Some I remember, some I couldn't read and some I wouldn't make if I had a gun to my head and a knife to my throat. I cleaned out those and condensed so that they fit in the containers I have. I also found a few of duplicates of my grandmother's favorite recipes in her handwriting -I am sending those to my cousin - who is also a fabulous cook, to have - I think I might frame mine - especially my Yia yia's banana nut bread - she made it every single week. You never left her house with out a loaf of banana nut bread out of the freezer - it was her signature. The recipe I have is so loved and stained, I couldn't possibly banish it to the recipe box - so I will matte it and hang it where I can see it and enjoy it every day.

So yesterday was a refinement of my current possessions - we are getting to a point where we no longer need children's silverware. My kids are capable of using the big people stuff. We are getting close (although not there yet) to not needing the plastic kid dishes or at least all of them. Same thing with cups - we're down to a few sippys for morning milk for Penny, but other than that we can all wield a cup. It makes me happy, but a little sad that we are moving into that next phase. I will say that once those items are no more I will free up yet another part of a cabinet. My goal ultimately is to have open shelves for my plates and cups - the quintessential organized space in my opinion.

Next up is my dining room, there isn't much there, but I need to go through the linens, the napkins, the place mats I don't use, serving pieces, etc. I've hosted a few holidays now, so I know what I use and what I don't. It's won't be a big project because I've done this in the past. But like a well-visit to the Doctor, I'm just doing a check up.

I think that is where most people probably struggle the most. They work so hard to clean out and to organize and then they leave it and live. I mean you're done right? Sure you are, but unfortunately we accumulate "stuff" through out the year - pictures from or of our kids, drawings, bills, paperwork, a gift, a great bargain, a hand-me-down, etc. before you know it you're back where you started - but you're organized, right? Contrary to what you might think, I'm not OCD, I don't follow people around with a dust broom and I don't compulsively give things away for fear of hoarding, but every year once or twice I get the urge to go over what I have and clean out. I figure once my kids are older, this won't happen as frequently because they won't be going through these "phases" - like needing plastic plates and silverware or toys or giving me 10 drawings a day because they love me. At some point I will have pared down to my perfect place and my cleaning out will be an annual spring thing. One of the reasons I really like to do my cleaning out now is that I'm taking Christmas down and cleaning anyway, so why not do a really, really good job? One day this will be it, it makes me excited and a bit bittersweet at the same time.

I've got quite a bit to blog about so stay tuned - I may even talk about more organizing and purging! (Aren't you excited?) I have a painting to post, two more that I am starting and I am getting my large ass in gear and will be hitting the workouts hard. I discovered pictures of myself after I had Jon, when we were renovating our last kitchen. I was disgusted at the difference. Although I need to consider the fact that it was 6 years ago, I've had two more kids, cared and lost mom and had a husband that has had jobs that have taken him away for periods of time - this all just irritates me and I've hit my breaking point. So I will be chronicling that journey as well. We've also switched web hosts, so I'll be redoing my website, recreating my blog through Wordpress and more. So stay tuned - we've got lots going on at the Page household and for Penny Pickles. Thanks again for reading and take care!