To my readers, I appologise for not posting lately. I am having internet issues through the wonderful Australian Telstra Broadband 
Hopefully it will be fixed soon.
Do you have difficulty opening or shutting your kitchen drawers? Can you even find what you need in those drawers? Are there batteries and paperclips next to the measuring cups and skewers? One afternoon can simplify an area in the kitchen that tend to be a dumping zone. So, turn on some music, grab a cup of coffee and lets get moving.
To get started you will need;
1. Three boxes or bins, marked KEEP, DONATE, TOSS.
2. A collection of plastic interlocking drawer organizers. They are available at stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Target. There are many different kinds available, choose the ones you like the most and that fit into your budget.
I know organizing kitchens can be overwhelming and tend to hold storage more that we realize. That is why we are starting with the drawers only.
Begin at one end of your kitchen, open the first drawer and begin placing the contents in one of the 3 bins. An exception is your silverware and sharp knives. You will be keeping those and for safety sake place them on you kitchen counter or table.
Questions to ask yourself – If you have several of one item or items you never use.
* How often do I use this?
* Can I live with just one?
Once you have gone through all your kitchen drawers;
• Wipe them out
• Categorize the items in the bins, by placing them in piles on you countertop or table. For example, baking tools with baking tools, cooking utensils with like utensils, odd items together such as skewers, shellfish crackers and corn on the cob holders.
• Locate the best drawer for each category, a good guide to use -
The Junk drawer is located by the phone.
Silverware is stored by plates and the dishwasher.
Baking utensil by counter uses mostly for food preparation.
Cooking utensils by cook top.
• Select the correct size of interlocking drawer organizer to fit in each drawer and it chosen purpose. Don’t feel you need to fill the entire drawer with the organizing trays. The extra space can be used for odd items such as cheese graters and rolling pins.
• Place the categories in the assigned drawers and you might want to label so your family gets used to where everything goes.
A note on those tricky junk drawers, keep the items in them to a minimum, such as,
Extra change
Batteries
Paper clips
Scrape paper/pens
I you find you have an excess of one item; think about finding another spot for it. Batteries tend to accumulate, store in a larger container and place on a shelf away on a shelf or in a cupboard where they are easy to find and access.
Ta Da!! You are done with the task. That wasn’t so bad!!! Right? Place the items to donate in your car right now and drive to the nearest donation center. Toss the items in the TOSS bin. Sit down and take a break. You deserve it!
Stay tuned for more kitchen decluttering, organising and cleaning
To those who have dropped by because of Blog Hop, thankyou so much. Welcome!
To my regular readers thankyou for your continued support
So more about me,
I am a 26 year old, single stay at home Mom to 2 beautiful little girls, Little Miss M (6) and My Misery Child (2). We live in Australia, at the very Northern Tip where it is just about Summer all year round.
I am a self proclaimed Domestic Goddess and love all aspects of running a home and keeping my family happy and healthy. I love to cook and sometimes spend hours in the kitchen just pottering about. I love all things Home Notebook and think they are a Mama’s saving grace.
Please have a look around. And I love to get comment love. I reply to all.
Proudly participating in Blog Hop ‘09. Stop by http://www.pensieve.me for more info.
I’ll be back tomorrow to post properly. Until then, have a look around
Now that Little Miss M is back at school, my Misery Child is getting bored quickly. Because she can no longer spend her days irritating her sister to no end, she has elected to drive her Mama nuts instead.
My Misery Child is constantly on the move, she always has to be doing something, which is great, dont get me wrong….. but once she gets bored things start going missing, important things. You go to pay for the groceries and realise all you fun little plastic cards have been removed, or you are running late, rushing around in a panic looking for your car keys, only to find them in the most obvious place, the fruit crisper drawer of the fridge…. thats obvious right????? Duhhh Mum!
I am always trying to find activities for my Misery Child, keeping her busy and distracted is the key
Here are a few things she loves…
Making her own edible necklaces
Materials:
Large needle, (you can find large plastic ones at craft shops) cotton wool/thread or even curling ribbon, breakfast cereal loops (such as cheerios or fruit loops)
Activity:
Thread the needle and tie a cereal loop at the end to get things started. For younger children, curling ribbon might work better and avoids them using a needle if it worries you – just wrap some sticky tape around and round the end so the first piece of cereal doesn’t slide right off.
Thread or add the cereal pieces in a pattern or colourful sequence to complete your edible necklace or bracelet. Tie ends together and voila!
Finger Paint
1/2 cup boiling water
2 tbsp. cornstarch
6 tbsp. cold water
Food coloring
Preparation:
Dissolve cornstarch in cold water in a cup. Add mixture to boiling water. Stir constantly. Heat mixture until it becomes glossy.
Add food coloring. Cool completely before using. I let Misery go wild with it on my kitchen bench..
Make your own placemats
Materials: Clear contact paper, Large sheet of art paper about 12 X 14 inches, paint or crayons.
Description: Let your child draw a picture on both sides of the paper or if you a using sloppy paints use 2 sheets and secure them back to back with tape.
“Laminate” them with the clear contact paper! They can be used over and over for months or untill your child decides to make a new one.
Jelly Shapes
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin, 2 boxes of flavored gelatin. Preschool children mix powders together.
Parents add 2 cups boiling water. Stir until dissolved.
Pour into small pan. Chill until firm. Let children cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Now enjoy!
No Cook Playdough
2 cups boiling water
3 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tbsp. cooking oil
3 tsp. alum
food coloring
Preparation: In a large bowl, mix ingredients listed above. After mixing, knead well. Add food coloring as desired.
Store in an airtight container or heavy plastic bag for up to six months.
Slime!
1/4 cup White Glue
1 1/4 cup Water, divided
1 tbsp. Borax – found in the laundry detergent aisle of your grocery store
Food Coloring
Borax is available in the laundry section of your local grocery store. Add 1 tbsp. Borax to one cup of warm water. Stir until completely dissolved.
Make a 50% water 50% white glue solution by taking 1/4 cup of each and mix thoroughly.
In a ziploc bag, add equal parts of the borax solution to equal parts of the glue solution. (Half cup of each will make a cup of slime.)
Add a couple drops of food coloring. Seal bag and knead the mixture.
If slime is too sticky, add a little more borax. If slime is too slippery, add a little more white glue solution.
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) .
2. Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
3. Cut in butter and blend with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Stir in lightly beaten egg, vanilla and cream. Blend well. Chill dough for one hour for easier rolling.
4. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar.
5. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes, or until lightly brown.
Ok, ok so its not shameless self promotion, but shameless promotion none the less 
If you havent already, please take a minute to stop by this blog: http://hometeampromise.wordpress.com/ and leave a comment. Jason is a new blogger and would love to hear from you.
Just showing my bloggy love and support 
My Misery Child
Today I stopped. I stopped running around doing chores. I stopped worrying about life and I remembered. I remembered why I love being a Mama.
Being a single parent is tough, and like any parent your work is never done. Sometimes you lose yourself when you have a mountain of laundry, meals to cook, cobwebs to sweep, floors to wash and all the other less than thrilling things that come with caring for a family. But this morning I stopped and for a moment I forgot about all those things.
My Little Miss M (6) went back to school today. I knew it would be tough for Misery Child (2) as she has had her sissy home for close to 5 weeks. Yes there was fighting (what siblings dont love each other to death??!! LOL) and there was irritation, but Misery child really does think the sun shines out of Little Miss M’s butt. So after taking Little Miss M to school, and turning around to see sweet Misery Childs bottom lip quiver, I stopped.
I took my baby in my arms and remembered she is the reason why I am up at 5am. Why I work hard at keeping a clean home, plan meals, do laundry. We sat. We sat and we played.
I took time out to remember that even though this strong willed, independant typical 2 year old who has me pulling my hair out in frustration on a daily basis is the light of my life. I stopped and realised just how wonderful this little person is. How she makes me smile even through my tears and is the reason why I am here. I sat on the floor and for a moment I was a child again myself. We sat and built castles out of block, thrilled ourselves by smashing them down, rolled around on the floor giggling and the whole time I am thinking to myself…. this is what being a Mama is about too. Sometimes I forget, I am only human after all.
One simple moment of time out reminded me that life is good. My babies are the reason for the smile on my face, the twinkle in my eye and the skip in my heart beat. A simple moment of taking the time to see her laugh reminded me that the spilled juice in the morning that dries into a sticky mess, the black magic marker on the brand new white shirt, the set of keys sitting in the bottom of the toilet bowl, dont matter.
What matters is that smile you get when you take your children in your arms and tell them you love them. What matters is the reaction you get when you do something silly, absolutely ridiculous, totally out of character, just to make them laugh. Thats all that matters….
This weeks Menu
MONDAY: Lasagna and Italian Bread Sticks
TUESDAY: Apricot Chciken, Parmesan Cheese Mash, Peas and Corn Cobs
WEDNESDAY: Coal Miners Pasta and Garlic Bread
THURSDAY: Garlic, Rosemary Roast Lamb, Crispy Roast Potatoes, Minted Peas and Baby Carrots
FRIDAY: Oven Baked Fried Chicken, Homemade Wedges and Green Salad
SATURDAY: Spaghetti and Meatballs with Garlic Knot Rolls
SUNDAY: Turkey Schnitzel, Potato Gems, Peas and Gravy
I am an avid collector of tv on dvd. I have quite a collection happening now ….. and my books, well my book collection is my pride
and joy.
I have had a running wishlist for quite some time, thought Id share because I can
My Wishlist
DVD’s
Dawsons Creek – The entire series
Smallville – Seasons 6, 7 and 8
The Office (US) Seasons 3 and 4
The Dollhouse Series 1 and 2
BOOKS
Everyday Italian – Giada De Laurentis
The Barefoot Contessa at Home - Ina Garten
The Green Mile - Stephen King
Stephen Kings – The Dark Tower Series
