KonMari - The Kitchen

Well it's back to the cleaning and sorting again, "sigh". This time I aimed at the kitchen and pantry.
I decided looking at everything that I wasn't using a lot of my electrical stuff and had way too many serving plates. So after slowly going through it all, more of a" do I use it rather" than" do I love it" feeling, ended up donating a ute full of goodies to the op shop.
 

Collection Point

Electricals like the  The George Forman, hate cleaning it, so gave to my sister as hers blew up. Dutch pancake maker to the grandchildren. Muffin maker, pie maker, and kitchen food processer with blender donated. Already have a more powerful blender for smoothies and a new Thermochef that is brilliant.
Lots of  glass serving plates and glass cassoroles as have much nicer ones. Couple of antique plates that I labelled what they were worth so the volunteers knew what they were getting.  Assorted kitchen gadgets, that I just don't want, like melon baller, garlic press etc.

The trouble is I had to wrap up every single glass plate, mug, cup and bowl, like I was packing up the house, so none of it would get broken. The volunteer ladies at least will get a surprise package from the boxes.

The Pantry was a mess so it also became a target.

Everything out

One empty and dusty Pantry

 There was a lot of out of date chilli sauces, which is John's favorite, but how many do you need. I think he forgot he had so many, keeps getting them for presents, and makes his own. There was quite a bit out of date actually, so out it all went.

Marked and labelled

And back it all in labelled, organized and neat. Hope it stays like that. Also moved in a few electrical things we constantly use to get them off the kitchen bench, like toaster, and coffee machine.

More Organizing.

It took me three days to do all this so I have been in quite a mess. The kitchen though is now looking good, and hopefully I can keep up with it.

So now that it is finished and with this lovely weather we are having I am back into the garden making a new path pruning trees so will show you more next time.  Stay safe.

Do You Know Where Everything Is? - Free Printable

Do you know where everything is? Whether it is boxes under the bed, or bags of  wool, or material stuffed in the linen closet, preserves in the garage, presents at the top of the wardrobe, having an organised list is what you need.

This will take a bit of time to do but allocate one day a week to pull out these boxes giving them a label like Bedroom - Box 1, Box 2 etc. and jot down all that you have hidden under the bed. It helps to also label the box with a sticker on top or the side depending how you look at it. If you tell someone else "it's in box 3 under the bed",  they will instantly know once they get down on their knees, lol ,and look.

An organized Garage from Bellaorganizing

I am myself sorting items then packing what I want back into a box, eg. sewing items. The box is marked "sewing items" but really I need to know exactly what that means, this is especially true for knitting wool, knowing what colours are in the box is a great help, without having to pull it down from the top of the linen press in my case and looking.

Its not a new idea, Sidetrack Home Executives had a similar system using their card system. Each Card represented a box somewhere, where as I am using this A5 page to put in my planner.

By jotting down each item eg. camping equipment and checking the box with the list, you will instantly know if the torch is missing.

 
Use this free printable below and record what you need for finding items at a moments notice.
This sheet can also be used for projects on the go, mending to do, UFOs, anything that requires finding. Should you have lots in the boxes, just fill in the whole page ignoring the "Box No" except for the first one.

Some Storage Suggestions are:

Seasonal Clothing
 Party or Picnic Supplies
Old clothes that are Heirloom like a Christening Gown
Arts and Craft  Supplies
Small Camping Equipment.
Stuff that belongs to Children that have left home
Sports equipment or skiing Clothes
Christmas Decorations
Christmas Gifts Purchased through the year.
Gift wrapping Supplies (include scissors and tape)
Old Toys and Books
Childhood Memories
Knitting or Sewing Patterns
Assorted Tools ( never lose the hammer again)


A5 Storage Document - Free Printable

 
 If you have any ideas please let me know. I hope you find this helpful.

 Till next time.

The End of 2015

Every year at this time John and I suffer a great pang of loss. All 5 children usually come home for Christmas and then, New Years Eve, they all go home again. We have gone to the Star War movie, shared lunches,girls Secret Santa of Earrings brunch, dinners, afternoon teas, played board games, celebrated Christmas and BBQ'd down at the water's edge. A years worth of family time all in 1 -2 weeks.  Extra hard was No. 5 and her husband going back to America. At least 3 live in Sydney and we can physically go and see them even though it is a 7-8 hr trip. Thank goodness for the local No.1 son and his family.

Mum and my sister, son and DIL

So after our rush of events, today my sister will pick me up and we will go and see mum, who hopefully will have a bit of memory of the two days she also celebrated with all of us.

Checking the tree with the twins

 Christmas Day was a purple and silver theme and our DIL did a wonderful job. Moving the lounge so we could set up two tables to fit 14 of us.

 

I made 3 salads, Moroccan Lamb, Carrot with Cumin and Chickpeas with Honey dressing, and Turkey and Cranberry salad. Also made a small Plum Pudding and an Ice Cream Pudding. 

Salads I made in front

Our day down at the river was lovely, not too hot, so the children went swimming, and we had two large BBQ Snapper caught by the eldest, with plenty of salads. Usually this day is to celebrate  No.4's birthday on the 27th. which we have done every year,  at the river. This year though he wasn't able to make it as he had to work. First time in 36 years. So we celebrated my sister's birthday which is tomorrow. No-one wanted to miss out on this tradition.

BBQ Fish

Still have my cloths from 1970 just for this occasion.

Watching the children

The last day is also a time to think about what I would like to achieve for the following year. My filofax is now ready with a brand new 3 months. I noted all the days for moon planting and made a list.

Travel :  Nundle, The Great Ocean Road, and Alice Springs; all with our campervan.

DIY:       Campervan Glamping Project to start.

               Finish the Verandah

               Finish the Stairs

Garden:  Organize front beds properly now that the seasons vegetable can be pulled up.

               Plan what to grow for the whole year.

               Fix small grassed area in front of tool shed, pavers ?

               Fix area under tree with shade plants

               Fix area that is a mess of containers and make into one raised bed instead.

Family:  Teach Miss 12 how to make jewellery

               Teach Miss  8 how to play the recorder.

               Spend more time with John going to movies, lunches etc

Organize:Craft and Sewing rooms to function better.

                Continue on with Konmari Method.

This list is of course on top of what I normally do, so hopefully it is all achievable.

Two days ago our son had a Korean BBQ night, and I made a pavlova. Mainly to use up all the fruit I had left over, but I mention it because I haven't made one, for a very very long time, and some of the children had never even tasted one. The recipe was on a plate that you cook it on, an engagement present from 1971 lol.

 Happy New Year Everyone.

Konmari Method - Books

It's raining again, has been off and on all week, so decided I had better do step two, the books. This really is out of necessity as the room, where we have a very large built in book case, was mum's room and I am hoping to both replace the carpet and paint the walls, all by Christmas, for both spare bedrooms.
 This is the book case as it was.

Even though I regularly go and get different books to read here, as there is everything from cooking,gardening,sewing,scrap booking,quilting, health, and various crafts, it is actually amazing how much I have got rid off.

7 Heavy Boxes

The local Rotary Club has a major Bookfest every Anzac Day weekend, and collect books at their shed on the last Sunday of every month. 80,000 approximately in all, so doing my fair share to contribute to the charities.

Mum had a bookcase full of the family history of photo albums, so I put them all on the main bookcase.

One Empty Bookcase

The final result is of course less books and I may do a few more but all in all a successful day. The empty bookcase is going to my sister's.

I am now hovering whether I should get some more white magazine holders and get rid of all the grey ones. Note mum's photo albums all along the top.

Well next step  in Konmari is papers. Hope I have as much luck. I am quite happy with this method also. Talk to you next week.

 

The Japanese Art of Tidying Up

I came across this wonderful organizing book accidently, and downloaded a free audio book off youtube. It is not often a book makes a huge impact, but this one definitely does.

 The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.

This is a No.1 best seller and a very popular system, and known as the KonMari Method. You can listen to it here on this Audio Book
                                                      
I recommend you download it onto your tablet as it is 4 hrs. long of listening. I had to convert mine to listen but was guided how to do it on a mp3 converter download. Alternatively  Amazon a reasonable priced  kindle edition.

                 There are a few different covers.

I found it fascinating, basically you sort by category not by location and you start with your clothes, which is the easiest. First step is to take them all out of every cupboard, drawer, box from all over the house. Then you pick up each item to see if it sparks joy. If not throw it. Easy you either like it or not. That expensive dress you never ever wear and only keep because it was expensive, does it spark joy!!! Chuck it out. She has a folding method that takes less room also. Marie talk about what sparking joy is and is a professional organizer world wide. It has been her passion since childhood and tried all sorts of methods, I found her quiet ways, explanations and humour lovely.

TShirts and Blouses first.

Skirts, Jeans, Slacks next

There is a basic  order of, what to do, Clothes ,books, papers, etc. till your whole house is clean tidy and minimal. Because I was listening I then checked out some youtube ladies of what they did .

This young lady youtubes her way through the book section by section so watching these will give you a far better understanding before you read or listen to the book.

 Konmari Method by A Young Mum, youtube series. 

The first one being an introduction and getting started. Then each new video is numbered 1,2,3,4,5 etc as she goes through the house, giving an insight to how she feels and coped with following the KonMari Method.



Folding Method recommend. I must like blue lol.

              
  Marie Kondo's  folding method does take up less room. I am yet to do socks but they are laid flat and rolled up like sushi rolls. "To give them a rest"

Another bag by the front door holds jackets and evening clothes, no longer needed.








Folded Jeans, sorry slightly blurry

 

Pile of throw outs.

So far I am very pleased with this method. Slow and steady,and according to A Young Mum, you need time to adjust to the letting go of things. It took her 6 months in all and wouldn't have as much as I, only having been married 1/3 of the time I have.

Wish I knew this system as a young wife. It trains you into good habits.

Till next time.