A Little Kitchen Reorganization

My kitchen is not very big and seems to always be cluttered with small appliances.  Today, my husband decided to do something a little different.  We have a separate buffet area (or "side-counter" as I like to call it) that is just a countertop with some cabinets underneath.  Normally, I use this for my cookbooks and "this & that."  There are some plugs underneath the counter that normally you can't get to. 

So, here's what we did...

We drilled a hole in the countertop so we could put a cord through.  I set up all my cookbooks at one end of the counter.  My teen daughter likes to use a Mr. Coffee tea-maker so that is set up.  The blender with all the Shakeology stuff is set up in the middle, and then the coffee-making area is setup beside it.  My husband borrowed a Bunn coffee-maker to try out before we buy our own.  This has not only cleared a lot of my other countertop area, but has made making our favorite beverages so much easier and more accessible.

Here are some pics: (Ignore the ugly paneling which hopefully will get painted this summer and the ugly cabinets--that's the next BIG project)




The Shakeology-Making Station

  



The CookBook Area

  



Leslie's Tea Maker

  



The Coffee-Maker Station





All of It

  We will see how this setup works out.  So far, I think I'm going to like it.  

Getting Organized

One of my New Year's Resolutions or goals (that's the better term) is to get organized and make better use of my time.  I've been doing a challenge by Chalene Johsnon that has really helped me prioritize my life.  It's helped to take my priorities and then focus my goals from there.

I have started using the app on my iPhone called AwesomeNote and it's Awesome.  You can assign folders to your different tasks and then your to-dos are then categorized within each folder.  Before I go to bed each night, I spend about 10 minutes putting together my to-do list for the next day.  By doing this, my days are more focused.  If I find myself getting distracted, I just go back to my to-do list and get refocused.  I don't include what I have to do at school/work b/c when I get there each morning, I sit down and make a list on my desk of what needs to be done before I leave for the day. 

I do schedule my workouts in my daily to-do list.  If they are not planned, they will not get done.  Before I go to bed, I get out my workout clothes, shoes, and the DVDs/equipment I will be using.  That is my lifesaver.  There's no excuse in the mornings when I'm dragging myself out of bed.  Everything I need is there. 

As busy as we all are, we have to be organized.  You have to find what works for you.  This is something I am constantly working on.  If you have any tips on organization, please share in the comments box.