Tips for Mom: Operation Organization

I am a member of several online mom's communities. I find them to be excellent resources for parenting, and also for developing new friendships.

This fall, one of the members of a particular board started posting Domestic Challenges. The idea was that she selected a usually "neglected" area of the home and challenged us to tackle it. The neglect could take the form of disorganization or lack of decor. Whatever it was, something had to change.

It's a great idea. We all have those storage closets/laundry rooms/junk drawers that are in need of some work.

My first Operation Organization is ... my kitchen pantry. Yesterday, I emptied it completely and gave myself 60 minutes to put it back together, organize the contents, throw away anything old or unusable, and put things in the donation pile if applicable.

BEFORE:

It's clean, but a mess. Things aren't in the right places, and the "organization" doesn't make sense.



See those Keurig coffee boxes teetering up there on the top shelf? Yeah, that put me over the edge.



As did the serving bowl and plastic bag situation down below.


AFTER:

It only took me about 45 minutes, so that's not bad. I ended up with one garbage bag of things that needed to be thrown out.

Things makes a lot more sense: cereal boxes on top where they fit upright, instead of having to be placed on their sides... Oils and condiments separated by use.



I was able to spread out the serving bowls on one whole shelf, instead of making them share, which will be easier for access.



The floor got a good cleaning, too, and the bags were organized and put out of the way.

Also, just in case you're wondering, MacGyver asked me if the products were arranged alphabetically. No. They are not, smarta$$. They are arranged instead by size, width and weight. Obviously. How else would it be done? He better not muck it up. ;)