Obsessed with detail

Set your timer:  For the next fifteen minutes, choose a still life and write about it in great detail.

Okay, this is one of those moments where my writing life and my organizing life are going to collide in a train wreck of a mess.  Last week I found a website called A Bowl Full of Lemons and thought I had died and went to Organizing Website Heaven. 

Just go with me here.

So, I found this website that actually had a 21 day challenge and weekly projects, and while scrolling through the 21 days, I saw one that caught my eye:  The Pantry.  The challenge was to empty out completely the pantry, clean it, and then reorganize it with a system that works for your family.  Oh, and you're supposed to take before and after pictures.  At this point, I am hoping you signed the No Judgement Clause at the bottom of the page :)

Pantry: Before

I know... it's like one of those horrible Eye Spy books.  I love the balancing act we have going on with the two bottom shelves.  It's as if there was an earthquake and we never got around to putting things right.  Oh well, I do believe it was Oprah who always said, "When you know better, you do better."  So I took a couple hours to empty most of it out.  I didn't really touch the upper part other than to put a few things in their rightful place.  There were several expired items and cookware we just don't use anymore (Goodwill is a beautiful thing), so I made myself only replace the items we have used within the past year.  And the food?  Well, with the help of some containers, I was able to put most of it back and still have a sense of order. 

See what you think.

Pantry:  After

Will it grace the pages of Better Homes and Garden?  Most likely not, but it was a huge improvement for us.  I like knowing what's in the pantry and being able to find it readily.  I like being able to find the cookie sheet (shocking, I know) and not have three other pans fall out on me.  I like that I can make a grocery list and "see" what we need (Evan would shout "more food!"). 

So I want to see if you're paying attention.  There is one cookware item that I have two of right now.  One is my dad's and I had brought it home after our last cookout.  See if you can find it.

Eye Spy cookware of which there are two...

Homework for the day?  Go declutter something.  You'll thank me later.