Another day, another cupboard

Okay, so I figure it's time to get cracking on another cupboard. So, here's my before picture. (See, Erika, I do have messy cupboards!)


I spent my 10 minutes cleaning it out. Okay, I'll be honest this one took more like 12 minutes, because the timer went off and I wasn't quite done putting everything back. This is the end result of this cupboard:

Granted, this isn't as dramatic a change, but I DID manage to find all my measuring cups. I didn't know I had so many, but the benefit of having lost them all is that the kids do know that if you use 1/4 measuring cup 3x it does equal 3/4 cup! That is progress! I did find that I had two cheese graters. WHY?? I don't even buy block cheese, I buy it already grated!
I know you are dying to know whether or not I've managed to keep the other cupboard organized, so I took a picture of it. Keep in mind Sawyer is in charge of emptying the dishwasher:

Not bad! You'll notice all the bowls are together, all the plates are together, and all the cups are together. Perhaps not as neatly as I would have done it, but beggars (or mothers) can't be too choosy. At 2 cupboards a week, I am on a roll, baby!

Spring Cleaning

Several months ago I was watching an episode of Oprah and there was a show about organizing your life. This particular one struck me as plausible for my life, because it was about taking 10 minutes at a time to do something to get organized. Today I started because there is no time like the present (and a depression-less day)!
Open up a disorganized cupboard:


Spend 10 minutes throwing out unused items and grouping like items together.
When you are all done you have something like this:


and you end up throwing away or giving away a bunch of stuff like this:



Are you kidding me? Look at all those sippy cups, and a bottle? My youngest is 6 years old, and she was breast-fed exclusively??? Now, the reality is, I only have junky plastic cups, and need to get something nicer to drink out of. Even if they are plastic, it would be nice if they would all match!

Spring has sprung!

What a glorious spring day it is!
I have thrown open the windows and embraced the sunshine. Goodbye, dark clouds of gloom that bring the snow and the cold and the depression. So far today has been a good day. Such a change from the days just prior to this one that kept me cold and asleep and lonely.
We got back our Panda's IEP information, and it's good to know that she's not too far behind in math, but they are going to give her some added support anyway. What a joy. Now, the decision whether or not to homeschool this sweet child looms. She wants to be homeschooled, but we are concerned about her being bored, because when Panda gets bored, Panda gets curious, and when Panda gets curious, Panda finds trouble. (I'm thinking this could be a book....)