We’re lucky. For a lot of reasons, but specific to this conversation, we’reucky in that we move every 2-3 years and we have a weight limit that we have to stick to or pay out of pocket for every move. We do what we call a PCS Purge before every move (and sometimes after as we're unpacking boxes and finding space for things in a new home). Christopher and I both have the itch right now to purge and get rid of stuff so we're slowly going through every room in the house and doing a big purge. I'm sure we'll do it again closer to the move, but for now, this early spring cleaning has us feeling good!
We tackled the kitchen first! We've been slowly working to reduce our waste and incorporate more reusable stuff and more glassware that will last longer. Our current kitchen is on the small side. Its good, usable space, but it lacks a pantry and decent storage. So we finally just decided to get some open shelving for our "pantry". It's only been a week or so, but its already helped a ton to know what I have on hand and what I need to replenish.
Tackling the kitchen also meant going through my tea cabinet... yes, I have a whole cabinet dedicated to tea. Its a slight obsession. But, it could be worse, right?
Before...
All laid out for inspection... there were 62 different types of tea somehow squished into that cabinet.
We also have a honey problem... (and there has been one more added since I took this photo)
I did a taste test of the ones I couldn't remember if I liked enough to keep or not
And then I did a taste test of this incredible old tea Christopher bought me on his first deployment from Hong Kong back in 2008. In case you were wondering, tea doesn't go bad, but it definitely loses flavor. I don't know why I never opened these little tins and drank the tea. I guess I was saving them for some strange reason. A valuable lesson was learned though... drink and eat your gifts when you receive them... don't wait for an arbitrary "special" occaision or you'll end up forgetting all about them and they'll go to waste!
After! I managed to get rid of 17 different teas! I'm super proud of myself!
In doing this we were able to get some appliances off the counters and it opened up the space SO much! It looks so clean and inviting.
Next we tackled Stella's dresser. We went to Ikea and got some storage things and found some drawer inserts. I folded and organized everything and so far *knock on wood* she's kept it neat and it is so much easier to manage!
We also finally got this new dresser assembled. We've had it for months and its sat in our floor gathering dust in its boxes. And when I say we got it assembled... I mean we hired the guys from Ikea to come and put this thing together in its 2000 pieces (#bahrainlife). And they did. In less than an hour. It was worth every penny...er, fil that we paid. (I'm also just realizing that our dresser matches Stella's orange chest of drawers...I guess we like orange?)
We got drawer organizers for our clothes as well and everything is put away and organized!
We finally have an organized space with some extra storage and space for art to be displayed!
There's definitely more to come but so far I'm thrilled and feeling good about getting rid of some stuff and getting organized. It's funny... Christopher and I both were absolute disasters when we were younger. We've never been dirty, but we were definitely messy! Our rooms were hazard zones and I distinctly remember having a pile of random stuff hip height in my closet, rendering it useless. And a dedicated tiny pathway cleared in Christophers childhood bedroom to get around the mountains of random stuff he had strewn everywhere! But now we thrive a lot more in clean spaces that are put together and tidy. We both start to get twitchy when things are messy and I never thought I'd see that day!
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