Update/Sneak Peek

Okay, so I've gone MIA for the last couple of weeks, and you know why?  I've been bitten by the spring cleaning bug, and I've been super busy organizing.  Which is so fun, by the way.  In a take-over-your-house-your-brain-and-your-life sorta way.  I'm not really coming up for air yet, but here's a sneak peek at some of the projects I'm halfway done with.  Prepare yourself for some very scary "before" pictures!  I have to really thank Leslie Knowlton, my childhood friend and professional organizer for holding my hand (figuratively) through all of this.  It seriously was causing all kinds of anxiety in my life, but she is so clear-headed and thorough (and fun, sheesh, it was really fun gabbing while doing the pantry!), I can't recommend her enough. 

The pantry, before:

Now, I'm still working on labels, but here's a peek at the snack section of the pantry, after:
 

The food storage room exploding into my laundry room, before:

The pantry, after:

 
Ha, ha!  Just kidding, I got this photo from the Rack 'n Roll website.  But I did get a delivery of these babies yesterday, and I'm so psyched!  No really, just wait, it's going to be awesome. 

I don't have any before pics of the fridge and freezers, but just assume it was bad. Like I found condiments older than we've lived in this house.  And like lots of soaking and scrubbing to clean nastiness off the bottom.  And like meat in the freezer from 2009.  And, yes, I pulled stuff out of the fridge in February that was leftover from Christmas.  Ugh. 

Here's a sneak peek at the snack bin in the fridge, after:

And the craft room (aka, my sprawling takeover of Adam's office), before:
(This is actually on a very clean day.  You can tell from the vacuum lines on the carpet.  Imagine 1,000 times worse on an average day.  Or if you've been to my house, this is the first thing you see, so you don't have to imagine it!)

A few close-ups of the craft room, in progress:

It seriously makes me so happy to be in that room, and it's only half-way there.  I have some big plans for that space, but it may take months before I finish that project. 

And the entryway.  Oh, the entryway.  Here's a shot of the entryway shortly after we moved into the house in 2009, before:

It never looked that cute after that.  I think it took about three broken picture frames before I gave up and left it the desk empty.  I've tried seasonal decor, too, but again, I have to expect it to be broken and scattered across the house almost immediately.  But empty screams, "Everybody pile stuff on me!"  So it was becoming an eyesore.  Plus, now I have two, nearly three, kids in school, so there is a plethora of backpacks, jackets, shoes, homework, fliers, etc. to keep track of and house. 

So....  So.  Adam and I built this.  (Entryway, in progress)

From Martha's plans.  (FYI, measure and calculate twice before having Home Depot cut your boards, because a lot depends on the thickness of your boards and they vary.  And avoid warped boards at all costs!)  Still searching for the perfect baskets/bins.  I know, I know the white is pretty dang boring.  Trust me, I have big plans to spice it up. But as hard as that sucker was to paint, I only want to have to do it once, so white it is, nice and neutral.  I'm thinking I need to pair it with a shoe storage bench.  I've got some ideas percolating, I'll keep you posted. 

Okay, this was supposed to be a quick update, but it's getting loooong....  So, check back for updates.  And a bunch of other fun stuff we've been up to.