Tonight I need a bit of downtime, and I’m too restless to read (though I do love reading books). So I’m catching up on a couple shows on my DVR, in between working on a quick kitchen organization project. I want to get ready for the baking, cooking and entertaining season approaching, so I’ll sort out one of my kitchen cupboards tonight.
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
- I’m challenging myself to declutter 1 object from every room tonight. Take something that doesn’t need to be there, and get rid of it (throw out, donate, give away, sell) or put it in its proper home. This could be as simple as recycling a magazine or catalog you’ve either read or not made time for.
- Have you had a Family Night recently with your own household members? What about one with any cousins or relatives that live in your town or nearby? Perhaps look at your schedule and host one before the busy holiday season arrives?
- I forgot to call some of my elderly relatives this weekend to see how they are doing. I’m going to try to build in some time to do that tomorrow evening before it gets too late at night to call them. I don’t want to only call them when the holidays arrive – that seems ungenuine.
TODAY’S PROJECT: Kitchen Cupboard Sorting
This is one of the main cupboards in my kitchen. I store spices; mixing bowls; sandwich, garnish and cookie cutters; a small selection of my baking and cupcake decorating supplies; my two mandolines (why do I own two?) and some sushi-related items in this cupboard.
It’s so hard to find anything in here, it drives me crazy. Several times I’ve wanted to decorate chocolates or a cupcake and not had the energy to climb up on a chair and hunt for the item on the top shelf. Also, I rearrange and realphabetize my spices every few months, but they’ve gotten messy again already.
I’ve forced myself to commit to finishing this project tonight by taking everything out and dumping it on the counter below. I don’t want to go to bed tonight with this mess left here, so I’m motivated now to get this done.
I’ll wipe down the shelves and dry them before replacing things. I’ll be firm with myself and get rid of things I actually haven’t used, or find better homes for things that don’t need to be in this particular cupboard.
Alright – I’m all done. This is the “after” picture. You can see the cupboards are still really full, but I promise I threw some things away and donated some others (especially duplicates, like one of my two mandolines). I’ve put some of my frosting/decorating supplies in a bin so they’re easier to get out when needed. I’m proud of myself for getting rid of around a dozen cookie cutters I know I won’t use. (Plastic ones in the trash; metal ones in the donation box).
I’m looking forward to making dinner tomorrow night with my spices so easy to find now!
What kitchen cupboard might you be able to tackle for an hour some weeknight this week in your own home?
LOVELY BEVERAGES: Jim Beam Apple
Bourbon purists would most likely scoff at this, but I love the idea of this seasonal apple bourbon. I probably wouldn’t want a very big bottle of it. It might be a refreshing way to slowly enter into autumn. If it’s as tasty as I imagine, I bet my household will drink it up long before Thanksgiving!
Jim Beam Apple, at JimBeam.com
LOVELY BLOGS: Reluctant Entertainer
Sandy blogs to encourage reluctant entertainers to “feast on life.” Currently she’s written a lovely and thought provoking post on Being Grateful and Generous With Apple Walnut Cake, and I’ve enjoyed her recent posts on Falling in Love and Roasted Chicken with Honey Bacon Pears and Reminiscing Pumpkin Season with Apple Pumpkin Cupcakes. I know there are a million cooking blogs in the world, but I think you’ll enjoy her friendly, approachable writing style and attractive photographs.
http://reluctantentertainer.com/
Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
LOVELY BOOKS: Gone with the Gin
I generally cannot resist the temptation of cocktail recipe books, especially quirky or whimsical ones. “Gone with the Gin,” by the author of “Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist,” comes out next week and will probably arrive on my doorstep shortly thereafter. I’m excited to check out “Monty Python and the Stoli Grail,” “Mrs. Stout-Fire,” and “The Maraschino Candidate.” This probably would be a fun coffee table book to have laying around if you have holiday guests coming over to browse through it with.
Gone with the Gin, on Goodreads
LOVELY SHOPS: Chocolat by Adam Turoni
Here’s an Etsy shop full of delicious and beautiful chocolates and truffles. They’re made in Savannah, Georgia. There are interesting and unusual selections here, such as the Bacon Butter Pecan Toffee truffle; the Red Velvet Cake truffle; and Mint Julep truffles. Don’t miss the interesting modern take on the pumpkin truffle, too.
The truffle here that sounds the most delicious to me is the Roasted Fig Cognac truffle!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolatbyAdamTuroni
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Apple Butter Recipe for the Crock Pot (Amanda’s Cookin’)
Apple Cinnamon Walnut Butter (A Clean Bake)
Buzzy Fall Books for Every Mood (Chatelaine)
Cate Blanchett to Play Lucille Ball in New Biopic (The Guardian)
Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Dark Chocolate Bark (A Clean Bake)
Guide to Winter Squash (Running to the Kitchen)
Healthy Freezer Meals and How to Preserve Them for Longer (The Healthy Maven)
Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Puree (Blogging Over Thyme)
How to Throw the Perfect Pumpkin Carving Party (Zillow)
Pulled Pork Pizza (The Optimalist Kitchen)
Pumpkin Protein Pancakes (Peachy Palate)
Pumpkin Seed Butter is the New Peanut Butter (The Kitchn)
–Copyright 2015 Lovely Living
