29 Day Organizing Challenge - Reporting for Duty!

I can't believe I'm signing up for this... Why? Well, it goes something like this...

In January 2011, I committed and participated in Laura's 52 Week Challenge. I was "solid" for more than half the year... Then I got busy and although I did continue to organize (and reorganize) my space, some of the habits I should have formed, didn't stick... Additionally, there were just some spaces I couldn't (or didn't, maybe even wouldn't) tackle.

My quest for more family time coupled with my desire to really make some positive life changes made the decision for me: I must tackle the one room in our house that sees the most use and is truly one of the most disorganized, cluttered and chaotic spaces I have.

Our Kitchen.

My cluttered countertops

It isn't with much pride that I share this - my home is clean enough and I'm never bothered to have company over... But being a professional, working Mom, my time is limited which results in a couple of problems... The pressure for time means I don't always take the time to put things back where they go and since I don't put things back, I can't find things! I did undertake a cabinet or two in previous attempts to organize (like this one and this one) and for the most part, those two cabinets have remained "OK". I have discussed revamping my spice cabinet several times and the spice jars I bought over a year ago with the intent of completing my spice cupboard as part of Laura's 52 Week project still sit in the cupboard in their original packaging...

Another reason I decided to do our kitchen has to do with the fur ball dog I met and not much to do with organizing. He lives under our dishwasher and I didn't know he was there until our cupboard door fell off (yes, you read that right - nothing says "hill-billy wannabe" like cupboard doors falling off their hinges). As I was sitting on the floor trying to figure out how to help my husband rehang the door, I noticed the mottled gray beast. I wasn't scared - I was in fact shocked to see him there.

Medicine and stemware cupboard

As if I needed more reasons, the lazy susan broke AGAIN and everything toppled over and off into the dark recesses of the cupboard only to reminded of the lack of proper space to store my frying pans (as they are all over the "cleared" counters). Have I mentioned the four boxes of recyling bags I've "found" recently? Under my sink is just as unorganized and when we were 'gifted' a fire extinguisher, I decided this space needed help too.

It is with shame and pride and the willingness to cry-out for help, that I'm signing up for Laura's latest challenge. With her PROCESS in mind (whcih, I have used before on my Cupboard of Doom), the weekend looming and not knowing where exactly I put the cumin I need for tonight's dinner, I'm leaping into the challenge! Want to know more? Want to play along? Want more inspiration or to find people as... Easy Disorganized as me? Let's show all the participants some LOVE!

Spice cupboard

Thank you, Laura, for the Organizing Boot camp, I'm reporting for duty!

Everything else drawer