Monday, November 2, 2015

Chest Freezer Organization

I would LOVE a standing freezer for organization reasons but this was a gift, a very generous gift, so we use what we have.
After years of digging through trying random baskets and stuff, I finally read this idea and LOVED it.

I've collected random shopping bags from various stores or promotional bags that I could use different colors for each category. I did this about a year ago and it's been working beautifully so I decided to share it!

It's easy to pull everything out to get to what I'm looking for in the bottom because it's all in bags.

I just pulled everything out, sorted by category and made a list. Easy peasy. I try to keep the list updated so I can tell what I have for meal planning.
The list sits on top with a magnet (so it doesn't slide off when we open it).

Most commonly used foods are in the fridge freezer.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP:
Do not leave an entire bag of food out on the floor after getting something out. Make sure you get it all back inside!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Fluttering, AGAIN

SO I clearly do not blog often enough because when I came to see when the last time I had blogged was, it was january (which i didnt publish until just now) and this post from October, last year. I just shake my head and laugh at how I could have written almost the same thing this last month. I decided to update it:

I haven't been flying lately, barely fluttering, if that. It has put a strain on my marriage and caused an irritability from me and disconnect with my kids too.
CURRENTLY: SAME EXACT THING

But I'm dusting off my wings. I got so disgustingly far behind in cleaning my kitchen we had the most fruit flies that we've ever had, ever. They were even in the cracker and bread baskets (although I noticed that after cleaning most more obvious food sources, perhaps they were just scrounging.)
RECENTLY HAD BASICALLY THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM

I procrastinated doing costumes (although they turned out awesome!), and getting ready for the party. 
I FOUND SOME STORE BOUGHT COSTUMES FOR THE GIRLS THIS YEAR, STILL NEED TO PUT HUBBY AND MINE TOGETHER.

We ended up postponing the Halloween party a day due to terrible weather and the power flickering. (Many local friends were without power, luckily we never lost ours completely) So I got an extra morning to do stuff for it, made it less stressful. And Ellie had a fever the night before the actual party so it was nice that we already had most of the set- up done before deciding to postpone.
The party was still a great success, lots of lots of kids and families had great fun.
WE CANCELED THE HALLOWEEN PARTY THIS YEAR BECAUSE OUR SHOP IS NO WHERE NEAR READY.

The daily goal going forward:
Finish cleaning up after the party (it was in the shop so not our regular living space), catch up on laundry (must wash Halloween costume clothes by Friday!), wash dishes daily, keep the floor swept (TMI but there was a sequin, from Ellie's crafts stuff, in Penny's poop the other day, clearly she found it on the floor, and ate it.) and spend 15-30 minutes decluttering and cleaning the craft room/office until it is tidy enough to actually work in. (It is still a wreck from moving rooms and then making costumes).
CLEAN HOUSE UP AGAIN

To end on a high note:
I did get a lot picked up in the craft room/ office when I was in training at work Monday (as much as I could tethered to the phone headset listening to the training conference call).
CRAFT ROOM IS PRETTY CLEAN ACTUALLY, I WORKED ON IT A LOT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND TIDY'D IT FOR A PARTY (THEN IT DIDNT ACTUALLY GET USED FOR THE PARTY)
I took back some merchandise returns finally so our trip to walmart for tooth brushes, dish brush, rain poncho, deli food for dinner and soda stream syrup only cost like $3 (also thanks to Savings Catcher gift card).
I COULD TELL THAT I WAS STRUGGLING WITH MONEY THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE ARE STRUGGLING AGAIN NOW.

I'm almost caught up on dishes (washed a mountain of them and actually put them away today!)
I put away a basket of laundry and picked up laundry today.
DISHWASHER IS GOING NOW!
Made a hot breakfast for the family last couple days.
The fruit flies are nearly gone! Thanks to not buying any fresh fruit, acv+ dawn traps, funnel-on-cup traps and a few fly strips and commercial fruit fly traps. (and cleaning/washing dishes)
YES THEY ARE NOW TOO, I FOUND A FEW WHEN I WAS WASHING DISHES THIS MORNING BUT BASICALLY GONE.

Tomorrow we go to the Pumpkin Patch (didn't get to go earlier in the month.) Made hubby cancel his regular Wednesday night plans so he can be home with the kids because I swapped my shift at work to get the first few hours of my shift off, and I'm working late instead. Hoping it doesn't rain too bad- prepared if it does.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO YESTERDAY BUT GOT THERE AND REALIZED WE DIDNT PLAN FOR THE ENTRANCE FEE, AND IT IS FREE WEEKDAYS SO WE ARE GOING TO GO TODAY, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY CLEAR YESTERDAY, RAINING TODAY (OF COURSE)
We plan to carve pumpkins Thursday night.
SAME ACTUALLY

I realize I have found myself in this place many times, struggling or recently struggling and I have committed so many times to do better at everything, it is a constant focus to improve, and needed because I always slip slide backwards.
I'm not giving up though.
THE HILARITY OF THIS STATEMENT, I COULDNT COUNT HOW MANY TIMES I RECOMMITTED TO FLYING.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH, BUT AS LONG AS I GET UP MORE TIMES THAT I FALL, I WILL STILL BE UP!