(Pantry – this is where most of the dry food staples go…)

This is what I’m doing over the next day or 2…
remember we are counting down to a NEW YEAR and NEW BEGINNINGS….

I’m including a few of my current projects so that you can see that I TOO have LOTS of work to do - things are semi organized at our house and I do actually have a system, all be it a mess at the moment.  The end of the year always brings chaos to my “perfectly orchestrated systems (ha!)”  But thought I would share some before photos…

(Bottle cupboard – this is mostly the Littles’ bottles, sippy cups, plates, etc.
I also keep a shelf of breakfast things, and the top shelf is catch all stuff we don’t use that often)

(This is the base cabinet below – 1st shelf is kids food, 2nd shelf is baking, and the bottom is appliances)

(The Fridge  – Ugh, always a nightmare at the end of a holiday.
A million different people have been helping clean up for the past few days which is AWESOME,
but I’m not really sure what’s in here or where right now…)

(The Freezer – I’ve been trying to use things up for the clean out, so a little more empty than usual,
but still A MESS)

(Bathroom Drawer – Holy Moly – Where to begin!  I love these bathroom drawers.
They are EXTRA deep so that I can stand all the bottles up,
but UMM, Addie has been REALLY into getting things out while I’m getting ready
so everyday I’m THROWING things back in to get us out the door…)

(Bedroom Armoire – I’m big on hiding things.  so the TV is hidden nicely behind these doors.
The perfume tray and jewelry box used to sit on a book shelf in our bedroom.
But “Tornaddie” strikes again here too.
The box was almost splinters a few weeks ago
and the perfume bottles are lucky to be alive with as many times as they have been pulled off the shelf…
so I’m looking for some new tactics here.
Our closet isn’t very big, so this also serves as overflow for my shoes, flips and bags…)

So I’m getting started and I’m not afraid to throw things away, you shouldn’t be either!

Before I start organizing, I get rid of extra things we just don’t need, have expired, are no longer pertinent, etc.  It always seems easier to me to do things in steps of smaller projects.   I know that its much easier to tackle in bite size portions…and the plus to this, is that it also means I get to feel GOOD after lots of little tasks are accomplished!  And there is nothing like working against the thrill of a deadline!

(And I highly suggest keeping a little notebook glued to your side for the next few days.  My brain is a sieve right now, but if I at least jot a note in my notebook, then when I sit at my desk, I can DO SOMETHING usefull with the information.)

A few ideas to get started:

1. SERIOUSLY…do you still need the 1 million holiday catalogs that were sent to you over the past few months?!?!?  NOPE – GET RID of them!  Do you have favorite magazine issues that you have been saving.  If you REALLY love the whole issue, no problem, keep it.  Otherwise, take the stack to bed with you, tear out the articles or photos you really want to keep and put them in a folder.  At least you wont be trying to find a place to store a billion heavy magazines.

2. Take apart your fridge and freezer and THROW OUT things that have started their own life.  In the fridge, double check all the bottles and condiments.  (You HAVE to leave a comment below with the oldest date you find!!)  You might just shock yourself.  I remember doing this one year and found a salad dressing that was 2 years “expired”  YIKES!  And I thought my fridge was pristine and super clean….Be sure to keep a list of what you tossed so you know what needs to be replaced.  Also, to prep for the next organizing step, start listing things that use regularly as you’ll be restocking quite soon.

3. Clean out your bathroom drawers & cabinets.  Remember, we are not organizing just yet, we are TOSSING, pre-organizing.  There are 2 ways to tackle.  I had a friend that refused to buy 1 more anything until she used up each and every body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, etc that she found.  If you have a lot of little almost used up things, group them together in large ziplocks (so you know what you really have) and go ahead and use them up.  Great way to help the budget out.  But be sure to toss anything that really is just so low that its pointless to hold onto it.  I don’t think she purchased things for a few months!

The other option is tossing things you just don’t use.  I’m a big believer in fresh starts, and I show no mercy when I clean things out. 

If I’m not using it and HAVE NOT used it in more than a few months, IT GOES!

OK, that’s enough to get us started – have fun getting rid of the uselessness of 2009!!  Make some room for 2010!!