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Just got this
in my mailbox and thought it was worth passing it on......
Nellie
I really wanted to start with the Station work in a fresh week, so I am
going to spend the next couple of days getting you ready to go.
The
first Station we will work on is also the hardest, BUT it's also
the one
that will make your life much easier when it's organized right.
You
already know it's the kitchen.
A well-organized kitchen will make good
use of your time and save you
lots of money. Most of us shy away from
things that frustrate us, and
the kitchen is no exception. We don't
know where things are, can't get
to them, have no meal plan and when 4:30
rolls around we suddenly panic
because there's nothing in the works for
dinner. Our cabinets are not
functional, the counter-tops are crowded
and in short, you avoid the
place as much as possible.
Start making
your kitchen functional by assigning "centers". A center
is an area
where you do a specific task. Centers save you steps and
running back
and forth while working, besides helping you assign
everything a
place. In my kitchen I have:
1. Wet Center. Obviously, you
will locate this center around the sink.
Think "WET"
activities...washing dishes, preparing veggies and meats,
etc. This
area has cleaners, soaps, scrubbers, wash cloths and towels,
paring knives,
peelers, cutting board, colander, strainer, plastic
pans, and things like
that.
2. Baking Center: This area has baking supplies like flour,
canisters,
baking pdr. soda, salt, vanilla, spices, colorings, nuts, choc.
chips,
pans, measuring utensils, bowls, mixer - hand and stand,
measuring
spoons, stirring things, scrapers, etc.
3. Coffee
Center: Yes, it has a center of its own, but I add teas,
cocoa and all
kinds of beverage things to keep it company. The coffee
pot is there
and it is close to the sink since that is where the water
is. Coffee
cups are in the coffee center, not in the:
4. Dishes Center:
which is also by the sink (or dishwasher if you
have one). Plates,
saucers, glasses, etc. are here with silverware
close by.
5.
Cooking Center: Saucepans, salt, herbs, spices, oils, spatulas,
knives, forks, and anything else you use to cook food should be in this
area.
6. Plastics Center: I use plenty of storage
containers and have them
organized so I can find a lid and bottom that match
easily.
7. Pantry: I have a large pantry where I store
all kinds of extra
things. I have never had one before, so I know how
tuff it can be to
take advantage of a good sale and then have no storage
space once I got
home. (If you have an ingenious storage idea, let me
know.) I read
about a guy that had NO storage space at all (this was
in the days
before storage buildings were popular) and lived in an
apartment. he
stored his snow tires in a stack, added a round top and
covered the
whole thing with a round tablecloth. I think he stored
some things in
the center of the tires. It was right next to a chair
in a living
room.
8. Drawers: I have some drawers
and they store foil, plastic wrap,
extra utensils, towels, silverware, MY
tools, nails, glues, and things
of this nature. One of them is a huge
mess. I am going to clean it up
as we go. Do not assign any
drawer the title of Junk Drawer. There is
NO reason to have a junk
drawer. Everything should have a use, a
place, and you have to know
where it is.
9. Food Storage Center: I have some cabinets I
keep certain foods in
since I use them a lot.
Your assignment for
today is to go in and look at your kitchen. Think
about where you do
things. Is this the best place? Is each area
organized for the
proper tasks? Make a list of your kitchen areas and
where you want to
locate your Centers.
See you
tomorrow.
Sondra
Visit The Organization Station
at:
The-Organization-Station.com
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