Works for Me Wednesday - Kitchen Drawers

I wanted to share something that I have been thinking about doing for year, but just recently tried and I am so glad I did.  Several years ago I was going through the Good Things of Martha's Mag and spotted some major eye candy for me!  An organized Knife and cooking utensil drawer.  It was beautiful....what made it so beautiful and how did she keep it that way (oh yeah, I forgot - she has a staff)?  I loved it so much I vowed to do that very thing to make my new kitchen (new is now 6 years old) even better.  Sooo, I happened to be in the neighborhood of our local fabric store and that eye candy popped into my head!  Straight over to the felt I went and now for a little over two weeks, I have had the most perfect knife and gadget drawers.  Take a peek!

I would have never showed you this drawer before...wait what am I talking about, I showed you PC's sock drawer!

Seeeee! I told you it's pretty!  I know, I know, my knives are all dull and a mix-mox - but don't they look nice on the grey flannel?  Yep that's the secret...Martha has her drawers lined with grey flannel.  It makes the knives pop for easy visual recognition (I was looking for a different word than "spotting") AND they don't move around! They little organizer in the back holds all the steak knives.

Sorry, I'm just in love with this drawer : )

And this one!  Nothing shifts around and when I put the dishes away - everything has a place!

This is another  little secret (not Martha's) that I wanted to share...I got this little secret SitsaM...she's a little Italian cook, who has been teaching me the art of "sauces". While I was in her kitchen, I noticed that she has silverware in two drawers, one near the table (where mine is) and one next to her stove. The one next to the stove only has a few spoons, forks and knives, but I watched her reach for those while she was cooking instead of taking from the "tableware".  Smart! Huh?  If you already do this - I think you are a genius! Well, it just so happens I have one set of silverware that is not a complete set and now it has a home and everybody knows where they go based on their pattern.  So that's what works for me (and Martha) Grey Flannel!  I'm going to go organize another drawer or something, Tata for now!

Blue Monday # 1

It's Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally's and I am joining for the first time. Like pink, I do not have much in the way of decor', but I also am not drawn to it quite like Sally or my momma. So the pieces that I do have really spoke to me or the spot they occupy really needed blue.

This morning, I am sharing my Martha Stewart inspired dish soap dispenser. It is a beautiful cobalt blue...

and has a gorgeous label (I am a sucker for a label) and it tasted really good.

and looks great next to my lemons. Isn't it just one of the prettiest wine bottles you ever did see?!

Okay, I gotta go, the niece and nephew are coming to play today, so I have to check in on blogland tonight. Have a great day! TaTa for now!

Menu Plan Monday

I think maybe getting back to menu planning will help out the evening routine around here. It's usually just Alan and I at home during dinner time (anytime to be honest), so I need to start cooking more with less. Here goes my plan for the week.

Monday - Order In & a movie

Tuesday - Beef Kabobs, roasted corn & salad

Wednesday - Hawaiian Haystack Chicken, Sweet Rolls

Thursday - Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Salad

Friday - Chicken Tetrazzini, Broccoli, Garlic Bread

Saturday - Father's Day, June Birthday's Anniversary Family Potluck Here (I will post menu later)

Sunday - leftovers (last minute prep for Europe)

Empty Nest Syndome?

I think I have definitely hit the wall. Yesterday I spent the day ecstatic about the fact that I had cleaned, organized and completely labeled our 2 refrigerator/freezer combos & our pantry. While my husband and daughter were working and my son, while up for a visit, had made himself scarce, I was giggling to myself while I peeled my carefully crafted labels off the sheet and adhered them to their respective shelves. How much joy can a fairly scarce but well organized, labeled refrigerator bring? Well, let me tell you; my husband has opened the refrigerator 4 to5 times in the last 24 hours and has yet to ask..."Babe, where is ____?" OMG! I do believe Avery could save many marriages with those little 5267 return address labels. Take a look at my pride and joy.

I know - I need to go shopping.


A semi close-up of the "The Sandwich Shoppe" All the fixin's for the sammy's go here except the bread, which is now located in the Deli Drawer.

















The Door


















Beautiful!



















The Freezer



















Thanks for looking!