31 Days {Day 30} - Lunch Station

After Brandon started school, I knew I wanted a quick place to make his lunches. I used the other side of my coffee station cabinet to make a lunch station. 

I planned on taking some pictures today of the lunch station, but right now I am not in my house because of Hurricane Sandy.  One of the drawbacks of a beautiful old home with beautiful old trees is hurricanes!

Here is a quick picture that I took of the lunch station a while ago on my phone. Sorry with the Hurricane interrupting us, I had to go with what I had.

I found the canisters here and there at Goodwill and yard sales for a $1 each, but I've also seen them at Target and Walmart. 

The labels say salty, sweet, treat, and drink.  I pulled the two baskets up top out because they didn't work.  I haven't found the right container yet for that space. 

I love this lunch station.  It makes putting B's lunch together so fast in the morning. 

31 Days - {Day 31} - Reaching a Goal

Note: I am having to switch today's post with tomorrow's post because I can't upload any new pictures because my internet is so slow thanks to Hurricane Sandy. BUT we have PoWeR! So I'm not complaining. 

We have made it through 31 Days to love your home! We have gotten inspiration, found resources, painted, and even organized! We have also talked about fear, failure, and focus.

If your goal is to have a pretty, decorated, and organized home, I hate to tell you, but you are never done. Even when you "finish" a room, you are always tweaking and making things look right.  By the time you decorate your entire house....it's all gone out of style!  If your goal is just a pretty house, you will never be satisfied because there will always be work to do. 

If your goal is to love your home, that is a goal you can reach.  You don't know when or how it will happen, but someday you will know you love your home. 

For me, I'm not even close to done decorating my home.  I'm only beginning.

A few months ago, I reached in my fridge and grabbed some leftovers, and placed them on the rustic table we have in our kitchen. 

As I made my plate, suddenly I thought, "I love my home."  Even though I was surrounded by the dark cabinets, the messed up counter top, and the paneled walls, I knew I loved my home. 

In that moment, I clearly remembered the moment of my meltdown and the "This doesn't feel like home" feeling.  It sounds simple and silly, but in that moment I started to cry again, but this time I cried happy tears.  My home no longer reflects someone that is only surviving, but someone who is  growing and trying.  It's taken some time, but I'm so happy to say "Now, this feels like home!" 

31 Days {Day 29} Coffee Station

During Shad's birthday week, I made him a coffee station.  With the cold weather approaching, I knew he would love a nice place for his coffee in the morning.

I put the coffee station in the cabinet right above the Keurig, which we got at a thrift store for $5. Not....even.....kidding.

Here is the finished product....

Originally, I tried to make some cute coffee mugs, but it was a failure after the letters come off.



The K-cup holder is actually a spice rack I found at Goodwill for $2.  Originally, I tried a K-cup holder I found at Kohl's, but it was too big for the cabinet. The spice rack is perfect and it swivels.

 
The little basket is from Dollar Tree.  I put the label on "shadbucks." Inside is creamer, sugar, caramel syrup, and some chocolate powder.

He doesn't drink coffee every day, but when he does he loves how nice this looks.

31 Days {Day 28} Dollar Tree Containers

When I first started trying to  be more organized in my home, I read several books by Sandra Felton.  Her books helped me to stop feeling guilty about being a "messie" as she calls it.  I realized I wasn't lazy, but I had to find how my brain works.

I think I read in her books the "P-R-O-C-E-S-S" method to organizing.  I don't remember what any of those letters stand for but the "c." C is for containerize.

When I started containerizing things, I was amazed.  This really works for me!

I buy all of my containers at the Dollar Tree.  I can find so many good containers for just a $1.  Before I organized this cabinet, everything fell out when I opened it.  I took everything out and made families, and then containerized them.

It's been almost 2 years now, and my "junk cabinet" has stayed organized all because I containerized.  Two years of organized bliss for only $3!

Here is the inside of the spice container.

This would drive some people crazy, but it works fantastic for me.  Does it bother me to dig for a spice....no.  The spices I use most are always on top.

When you are buying Dollar Tree bins to organize here are a few things you should know....

1. The Dollar Tree bins are usually in seasonal colors.  In the fall they sell jewel tones and in the spring pastels.  If you know what color you want you know what season to go.

2. If you want A LOT of them (like 30 or 40), you can order from Dollar Tree online.

3. If you see a container you like.  Buy what you need, and then buy 5 more.  They do not stay in Dollar Tree long, and if you like it you will use those buckets up somewhere.

A year ago, when I organized my pantry, I bought five extra buckets. When I organized my entryway, it was the perfect container.  I was so happy I bought extra!

Also, with extra, if one breaks it's no big deal.



The next time you need to organize something, check out the Dollar Tree for some great containers.

31 Days {Day 27} Labels

I have eluded to it before, but I think I may have a bit of a problem.  I may have an addiction to labeling.

Here are a few examples of my labeling problem.

I don't care if I have a problem! I love it!

I realized I hit rock bottom when I labeled this.....

You know! People could get confused and think, "What is that giant stainless steel fixture in the kitchen....Oh! It's says trash on it. That must be the trash can.  Thanks Stephanie, for clarifying that for me."

It definitely is an extra effort to label things (although it is much easier with my Sillouette) but it's worth it.  After I labeled my pantry, I noticed how neat and organized it stayed.  As I labeled other things, they stayed neat too.

For some reason, if something is labeled Shad and I both seem to just follow what the label says.  When I label an area, it just seems to calm it in my mind.  Later, my mom heard on a show that labeling helps people with ADHD.  I'm not saying.....but I'm just saying.

Maybe I do have a problem, but it has definitely helped my kitchen seem more peaceful, and Shad doesn't ask, "Where does this go," nearly as much!


 

31 Days {Day 26} An Organized Kitchen

When I first started to love my home, my greatest complaint was, "This doesn't feel like home."Shad's greatest complaint was, "I don't know where anything is."

When we moved, I set out to be a more organized person.  One year later, I have gotten as far as the kitchen.  For the most part, my kitchen is organized.  The rest of the house? Not even close, but the kitchen looks great.

It started a few weeks after we moved when I remodeled the pantry, and then drawer by drawer, I have made progress.

Over the next several days, I am going to share some of my favorite parts of my kitchen, but first I'd like to share with you my most favoritest item in my kitchen.  (Pardon the grammar.  I'm just so excited.) 

When I first started organizing my kitchen, this blog post from I heart organizing was really helpful.  When I saw her baking pans, I swooned.  At that time, my baking pan cabinet was a wreck.  When I opened the door, the baking pans would all fall out.

Organizing my glass baking dishes was even more of a pain! The 8x8 had to go inside the 9x13 flat and then both of those dishes went inside the 9x13 ribbed dish.  It was a jigsaw puzzle that I was never organized to keep up with.

Just a few weeks after seeing the I Hear Organizing post, I found two of the dividers in Big Lots for $3 a piece.  Now, that I have had them for a year, I know they are worth much more than that.

Here is my baking dish cabinet now.....

Sorry for the poor picture quality, it's very dark here today.  This is how this cabinet always looks thanks to a simple $3 tool.

It's a simple product, but it has made my life so much easier.  If you're still stacking your baking dishes, I promise this is well worth the money!
 

31 Days {Day 25} Focus

During 31 Days to Love Your Home, we have talked about failure and fear.  To love your home you need to know that you are going to face failure and overcome your fears, and sometimes you have to change your focus.

Let me explain.  There are a few things I do not necessarily "love" about my home.  To be honest, I strongly dislike them (Momma said, "Never say hate").

My kitchen ceiling is so low, I can touch the ceiling....flat footed!

While we are on the subject of my kitchen, look what everyone gets to see when they walk in the door....my washer and the dryer that has no door handle so I have to use a knife to pry it open. (insert "You might be a redneck" joke here)

I'm sure you've noticed in many of my pictures during 31 Days, our green carpet. Radioactive Green Carpet!  The color makes it very difficult to find Collin's alligator.

This is my lovely dining room that I have been working on so hard.   I had to wait for the right time of day to take this picture.

Do you see it? Who says, "You know what this ceiling needs....glitter!"

These are all things that I, as a renter, can not change.  Yes, there are parts of my house that are not so appealing, but if I focus on those parts all the time, I would hate....I mean strongly dislike my house.

As hard as it is with the glowing green carpet below my feet and the sparkling ceiling above my head, I have to choose to change my focus.  To love my home, I need to accept the things I cannot change, and shift my focus to all the things that I do love, all the windows with thick molding, the old door knobs, and the amazing view.

I could sit down and give up because the green carpet is going to throw off anything I do, but I  ReFuSe to use those things as an excuse not to try.  Choosing to shift my focus to the positives helps me to love my home more.

Even the things I don't like have their positives. Having the washer and dryer in the kitchen makes sure I never forget a load in the washer.  The radioactive green carpet is better than light carpet with two little boys running around.  The glitter ceiling.....uh...sorry...I got nothing for that one.

 

31 Days {Days 24} Ball Jars

If you have read the blog any time, you know I have a love for Ball jars.  I am the Crazy Cat Lady of Ball jars.  I can't say no.

I decorate with Ball jars all the time, but this weekend, I found a new use for them.

On Saturdays, I love to watch two cooking shows, Trisha's Southern Kitchen and The Pioneer Woman. 

Saturday as I was watching Trisha Yearwood on her cooking show, I could not believe it when she poured her flour and sugar out of Ball jars.  I never thought to use my jars for storing dry goods.

As soon as the show was over, I went to my Pyrex cabinet and started moving shelves and working  out the layout. Here is what I came up with...

On the advice from a blog reader, I decided to put fabric in the back of the cabinet.  Using spray adhesive,  I covered a foam core board from Walmart with some fabric that I already had.  Because the fabric is on the board and not the cabinet, it is completely removable and changeable.

The shelves did not look right at the height that were available so I drilled new holes for the little pegs that hold up the shelves.

Thanks Trisha for showing me this new use for my Ball jars! I love to change things up, but I'll think I'll keep it this way for a few months.
 

31 Days {Day 23} Pyrex

One of my collections is vintage Pyrex. I first became interested in Pyrex as I read Southern Plate cookbook.  As soon as I saw a Pyrex bowl in the pictures, I thought, "That's my Mom's banana puddin' dish!"

Before that day, I never really realized my Mom's banana pudding dish.  My Mom used a certain dish when she made banana pudding. She didn't use the dish for anything else but banana pudding. When I told my Mom about it, she said, "Oh! That's your dad's mom's dish." My dad's mom passed away when my dad was 14, and I was surprised to have any connection to her.

Pyrex also reminded me of all the pot luck dinners, family reunions, and church homecoming in August.  Soon after, I started searching for Pyrex.  My first Pyrex find was brutally ripped out of my hands in the middle of Goodwill...okay maybe it wasn't brutal, but it felt like it.  I still have not found another Gooseberry print.  (You can read that here.)

Shortly after that experience, I started finding Pyrex, and my collection has really grown.  Here is how I use Pyrex in my life.

Soup night is much more colorful.   

Last night, I knew I was writing this blog post, and I had to take a picture of my sink before I washed the dishes.  

When I moved last year, I got rid of all my tupperware.  That's right! No tupperware in my house!

Wait.....no tupperware except for my mother-in-laws tupperware.   Every Monday night, we eat at her house, and she sends the left overs home with us (which is awesome).  I'm am the world's worst tupperware returner.  If you ever give me food, send it in something I can throw away because I'm really bad at remembering to return tupperware.  

On that note, I feel I need to make another correction.  When I say, "I got rid of all my tupperware," I don't mean actual Tupperware with the burpable lids and all.   My "tupperware" was old lunch meat containers with the occasional cool whip bowl.

Where was I? Oh! Pyrex. 

Using Pyrex for all my leftovers makes my refrigerator much cheerier.  

Just in case you are wondering, Shad cleaned out our fridge on Sunday (thus the giant pile of tupperware).  

I like to collect Pyrex, but I love it when it's time to cook.  Pyrex makes that task much more colorful and fun. 

 

31 Days {Day 22} Collections

One thing I have started since I started yard salin' is collections.  When you find something you like, you can't help but get a few of them.  What do I collect?

1. Old Crates

2. Globes

3. Pyrex

4. Lace Edge Plates

5. Scales

6. Glass Bottles and Blue Ball Jars

Collecting is fun.  I realize I could get the items for my collection on ebay, but for me, the fun is in the hunt.  I can be going about my normal day, going to yard sales, and then my day brightens when I see one of the items I collect.

Even though he is rough and tough, Shad Lankford can spot a piece of Pyrex from a mile away.  He loves to find them for me because he knows I love them so much.  When he wants to surprise me, he knows just what to get.

As a collector, you have to be careful that you are collecting and not just hoarding.   For me, I want to use my collections and not just put them in a cabinet to look at.

Over the next two days, I will be sharing how I use two of my collections (Pyrex and Ball Jars) in my every day life.