Organization
As the year progresses, there’s a series of events that happens at most stores. In the fall, first comes the Halloween merchandise, then Christmas explodes down the aisles. As employees put away tinsel and reindeer, the shelves are stocked with bins, drawers and all kinds of organization paraphernalia.
Now I’ll let you in on a secret about me. It’s one of my favorite times of year. I could spend hours walking the aisles, dreaming about perfectly stocked and organized closets, cupboards and drawers.
Since I seem to be in the mood, I’ll confess that when I moved out on my own for the first time, I kept my spice cupboard sorted by savory/sweet, then alphabetically arranged. It was the same with canned goods: Veggies, soups, fruit, etc., organized by type and placement in the alphabet.
With a glance, I could tell you what I had and what I needed. It made dinner prep and grocery shopping a breeze. My clothes were color coordinated, of course. My oldest daughter’s toy box even was organized.
Yeah.
Those days are long behind me. With seven kids, I’m counting it a success to get the clothes from the dryer into the closet and the groceries off the kitchen counters. I do have labels in my pantry, and we recently pulled everything out and put it back. 
This is my actual pantry…a little grainy because the light isn’t that bright.
Inside of me still lurks that compulsive need to organize and my pet peeve is still looking for something because it’s not where it should be.
So, that leaves me wandering the aisles at Home Depot, dreaming of a pot rack in my kitchen, a spice drawer, pull out pantries, and everything in its place. I mean look at these children’s rooms!
A girl can dream can’t she?
Jan 08, 2013 @ 06:57:26
Oh Shawna, I’m so with you. Before I married, I could find anything I owned, in the dark. I’d walk right to it. Even in the drawers! My library is, of course, alphabetical, as are my record albums (yes, I still have them.)
Then I got married, and became an instant mom to two.
SEVEN? OMG, I’m sweating just thinking about the mess!
Jan 08, 2013 @ 12:32:21
Hi Laura,
I guess because I’m used to it, I can’t image that seven make more of a mess than three or four. There are more dishes, etc, but that’s one mess and they have their own cups (because they could empty the cupboard in one day.)
My motto has always been “Leave the room cleaner than when you entered it.” Or “Don’t leave any evidence you were in a room.” Sometimes they get it, most of the time they don’t.
But yes, I have my library organized. Antique, art, classics, fantasy, work related…. ; )
Jan 08, 2013 @ 09:40:23
I’m the same way, Shawna, and when we were at Target the other day I coveted the cute, striped cloth bins they had out.
I don’t necessarily go alphabetical, but I definitely have systems for everything. It was years before I realized that all of my clothes were organized by type/style/purpose and ordered by favorites within them.
My cupboards aren’t as organized as I’d like these days, but I do manage to keep canned goods together in one space, baking goods in another, snacks together, and so on. And labels front! Most of the time. Now if I could get someone to quit putting my kitchen utensils in the wrong drawer… But then I’d have to put away the dishes. I guess I can deal.
Gwen Hernandez recently posted..2012 hits and misses
Jan 08, 2013 @ 12:36:42
That’s what relaxed me a bit. I could have everything in the right place…if I did everything myself. And really, they have to learn somehow. Still I get eyerolls when I tell the “right” way so I challenge them to find their own right way as long as it meets my standards. Because I’m the boss. : ) I can almost hear myself say “Sharp things belong in the knife drawer. I don’t want to reach for a spatula and cut myself!” (one of my frequent rants)
I hear you on the clothes too. I sometimes miss my uber-organized closet, but then I don’t need the variety of clothes any more because I work from home.
Jan 08, 2013 @ 10:17:01
I’m so with you! Although you’d never know it at first glance. I was the girl who did a happy dance when they opened a Container Store in Little Rock. I can spend hours in there dreaming of all the ways I can compartmentalize my life. Great post!
Jan 08, 2013 @ 12:38:03
When we’re shopping, I sometimes ask my husband if we can just walk down those aisles. Just to look. Fortunately,he shares my OCD.
Jan 08, 2013 @ 13:38:47
Shawna, wise post! Before my surgery I had everything in its place in my kitchen. My drawers were arranged just so. But now that I’ve had several helpers in my kitchen, everything is out of wack. I need to be grateful for said helpers, but honestly, can’t wait to be back on two feet to reorganize my kitchen. I see your point. This is a great time of year!
Donnell recently posted..Library & Bookclub Questions
Jan 08, 2013 @ 13:58:50
The way I have to look at it. One day, the kitchen will be immaculate, the closets organized, and my kids will be off on their own. I’ll take the kids and the not-so-organized house any day.
Jan 08, 2013 @ 15:47:32
Why did you post those kids’ rooms? I gnash my teeth in envy.
Actually, I’m pretty convinced no real human child ever stepped foot in there. Except for the one massive cupboard with clothes peeking out between the doors.
Keri Stevens recently posted..Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop: Win a Kindle Fire and more!
Jan 08, 2013 @ 19:15:52
I’m organized….in my own little way. LOL I know where everything is. It’s only when someone else starts digging where they shouldn’t that things get lost.
And I can’t even get into my kids rooms. Ugh. No matter how much I bug them about it, nothing gets put away. I just avoid going there. It helps me keep my sanity.
Melissa Ohnoutka recently posted..In With the New, Out with the Old
Jan 09, 2013 @ 05:40:33
I WANT to be that organized, but it never works out. My husband is more anal than I am, but he’s the main culprit for not putting things “where they go.” More than organization, my OCD is efficiency. No one ever loads the dishwasher right. I’m always rearranging. And every single time, I wonder why the hell they ever thought men had better brains for engineering than women do. LOL
I’m like Melissa with my kids’ rooms. Every so often we notice how bad it’s gotten and make them clean them, and they do an excellent job. Otherwise, I don’t ever have to go in there, so I don’t worry about it. Much easier on the stress levels!
NJDamschroder recently posted..Under the Moon is a Daily Deal!