Starting Over Can Feel Great!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
Starting Over Can Feel Great!
10
Fri, 05-26-2006 - 10:10pm

This last week I have felt great in one of my efforts at starting anew. My kitchen has been a bit overloaded with older small appliances, too many baking dishes, teflon pans that have started to flake, etc.

I began by cleaning out each and every shelf and drawer, including the pantry, and put down new shelf paper. I washed all my storage jars, and bought fresh flour and sugar to put in them. I collected a pretty good amount of stuff I did not need and called stbx and asked if he could use any of it since he took almost no kitchen stuff with him when he left. I even gave him a small set of dishes he wanted but that I had been bitchy about giving up. I also gave him some things I felt were really not mine to have, like a knife set his mother had given us that had been theirs since he was really young, and a couple of these cast iron sandwich maker thingies.

I then did something irresponsible, but that made me feel just great. I went to Williams-Sonoma and bought myself a really nice new set of knives and a beautiful bamboo cutting board. Who knew you could fall in love with a cutting board? Since I had thrown out my only two teflon pansm I also bought two new pans there as well. They're Calphalon anodized pans that are the most beautiful finish I have ever seen. They're not stainless stell nor teflon, but in between and I love them almost as much as the cutting board. This is not something I could afford, but I thought what the hell..live a little, woman!

I have thoroughly cleaned out my kitchen and reorganized it, and I love it in there now. This is the first time my kitchen has looked this good. I am one extremely happy woman this weekend!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2006
Fri, 05-26-2006 - 11:15pm

Way to go! Cleaning out the "junk drawer" so to speak, makes room for blessings and money to come into your life! This according to Suzi Orman, the money advice lady!!!

Here's to lots of $$ rolling right into those newly cleaned out cupboards!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Sat, 05-27-2006 - 8:11am

Does't it feel great! I love throwing things out. Going to the dump is like a field trip for me...lol! For me, it's such a relief to NOT have to live in a chronic state of clutter. It's very freeing!


And I think you may need to redefine your idea of being irresponsible if it's going to Williams-Sonoma to buy a set of knives and a bamboo cutting board ;)




Follow me to my partner in the siggy exchange....


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sat, 05-27-2006 - 10:06am
You go girl! That first step feels wonderful! Hugs, Brenda

Hugs, Brenda 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
Sat, 05-27-2006 - 12:43pm
This is a great way for me rationalize what I spent. I'm clearing the way for money to come in so the new stuff I bought will be paid for. Yay! :P
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
Sat, 05-27-2006 - 12:47pm

It does feel great. I've been burdened with "stuff" for a long time. I live in the house I inherited from my mother when she died 5 years ago, and it has taken me a VERY long time getting through my junk and hers.

I feel a little bit of weight lift off me with every full box I drop off at Salvation Army, and every full garbage can I roll to the curb each week.

And I agree, I need to get out more when my wacky-crazy-zany moves are to buy kitchenware. :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2005
Sat, 05-27-2006 - 12:48pm
Thanks! I'm on a mission to THOROUGHLY clean out each and every room in my house, including the garage. Luckily my house is small, so the chances of me killing myself while trying to accomplish this are relatively small. :P
Avatar for momtojoeybear
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 05-27-2006 - 10:41pm

Gwen,

Its funny how the little things can just bring out so much joy and happiness, huh...

Congratulations on your new purchases and the beatiful kitchen that is the result!

*hugs*

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-30-2004
Sun, 05-28-2006 - 9:16pm

Sounds like what I need to do in my kitchen. I have very cluttered areas that can be cleaned out and organized. I found some contact paper at the hardware store I want to get and plan on it when my budget allows. Also I want new dishes so bad!!

The only cleaning and de-cluttering I did was my car. You can actually now see the floors and I have room in the back for groceries. The weird smell that was coming from the back has gone away and I didn't find anything dead under the seats. LOL.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2005
Mon, 05-29-2006 - 9:09am
My dd and I did the same thing this weekend and your right it feels great.We are moving from the house we have lived in for 15 years to a townhouse but it it bigger and newer and also has a new kitchen which is something I always wanted in our house but never got done so I can certainly relate to your kitchen revamp.Saturday we went out and bought a new entertainment center I had been wanting a new one for a long time.I got a new computer desk mine has been sitting on the dining room table for way to long now and in our new place we have room for it.dd also has her own bathroom in the new place so she gets to decorate it however she wants so she got new rug,towels and shower curtain all bright orange it is very cool.I also bought a couple of new paintings for the living room.I guess we didnt get enough shopping so we went back out Sunday and bought a new chair and ottoman its very sleek and modern looking just the style I love.I had moments when I was shopping that I wondered what the he\\ I was doing spending that much money I guess thats why im working on Memorial day for the extra holiday pay and besides arent we all worth it.I still need new chairs for my dining room table and dd needs a new bedroom dresser so we arent done yet.We both cant wait to start moving in on June 1 so we can see how everything looks.I told dd its going to be a lot of hard work moving but it will be well worth it and I cant wait until stbx finds out we are moving out of the house that he thought I would never leave.I will be getting new things for my kitchen to as soon as I figure out how im going to decorate it but im thinking my favorite color bright red.I even saw a red microwave and the cabinets are white so I think red would look really cool.Im really excited about the kitchen because for the first time in years im going to have a dishwasher again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 05-31-2006 - 6:44pm
Hey... if that stuff means that you eat at home more and skip some restaurant meals... then you can afford them! ;-)

Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~