Home Organization Plan 2011 (and probably 2012)

I blogged recently about my kitchen cabinet makeover.  I'm on a roll and I just can't stop rolling!  So far, this is what I've accomplished during the last month.

• Laundry Room - took out, cleaned and rearranged all items in the cabinets.  I away a ton of things or gave to Goodwill.
• Kitchen - ditto on all the cabinets.  Today I cleaned both refrigerators.  I took every single item out, checked for expiration dates and threw away outdated items.  I found a disgusting onion in the great abyss in my frig.  I washed every shelf in the frigs and rearranged all items. 
• Butler's Pantry - I don't have a built-in pantry so I "made" one by repurposing a cabinet that was my mom's.  A couple of years ago I painted it black and it looks very at home in my small room off the kitchen.  I emptied it, my Hoosier and an antique cabinet.  Now the antique cabinet houses my infrequently-used appliances as well as pretty dessert plates and cups.  The Hoosier is now home to all my cookbooks and recipes files.  The grandkids know that the top part contains all their favorite snacks.  My pantry cabinet is completely organized with my can goods, etc. 
• Den - I emptied all drawers in the end tables and in my small desk.  I threw away lots of junk.
• Dining Room - So glad I worked in this room.  I have two china cabinets (one I inherited from my mom and an antique we inherited from Tom's Aunt Annie).  I realized that I had tablecloths, napkins, etc. scattered in both cabinets.  I took all items out of both cabinets and packed like items together.  I also got rid of things I don't use.  Now, all seasonal items are stored together - Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.
• My magazine bin - I had probably 10-12 magazines in that bin that I've saved to go through and tear out pages to file.  One night I meticulously went thru each magazine, tearing out what I wanted.  Now I have a small file system where I put these pages until I can get my large file system organized (at a later date).
• Linen closets.  I took all items out of these closets.  I realized that I had so many sheet sets that I never use.  The nicer ones I'm giving to Goodwill.  The old, worn ones went in the trash, except for just a couple that I saved for messy projects, etc.  Now those closets look so good.
• My bathroom -  Emptied all drawers and cabinets and discarded lots of pure junk.  I reorganized all the towels to make for better use.
• Christmas closet - In my house there are two identical, side-by-side "coat" closets in the hall.  One of them is used for some of my Christmas items.  I completely emptied both closets and got rid of lots of Christmas items that I don't use any more.  I was able to make better use of this space so my vacuum, Shark, and Bona mop have a nice home.
• Guest bedroom - I emptied all drawers and every item in the closet.  This closet is another Christmas and Easter storage area.  I threw away lots of things in drawers and in the closet.  Now it's very neat and I actually have an empty drawer!
• Garage - I removed things from all the shelves and went crazy throwing things away.  So excited that Tom installed nice hangers for all my Christmas wreaths.  My goal is for him to install overhead storage so we can put all the Christmas decorations that are presently in the attic.  I realize that, as we continue to get older, one day we will not be able to safely climb up and down those attic stairs.  I'd like all my Christmas decorations downstairs.  (And, baby, do I have lots of decorations!)

Now I only have three more rooms to completely reorganize.  After those get organized, I'm beginning my organized cleaning plan.  Wish me luck. I hope to post pictures of these areas in a future post.