Isn't the first step to solving a problem admitting that it exists? Yes, it's true -- I'm afraid I'm a bit of a packrat and I'm a teensy bit embarrassed!
Once again we have a painting project going on in December! Why do we do this? It puts me way behind on decorating, shopping, partying (who me, party??).
This year's project is not a big one (like last year's) and I really did try to get it accomplished in September, October or November, but the painters had other more lucrative jobs. The project -- repainting the kitchen cabinets. So, why you ask, am I embarrassed?
Well, the painters took the cabinet doors off and opened the drawers to sand and paint. What I didn't quite realize was that all of my cupboards were so incredibly messy! Who knew that all 11 or 12 of the drawers in my kitchen were junk drawers? Yeah, some weren't closing very well, but I just didn't use those, stashing more papers and junk in the ones that would open! Clever, eh!!
Last night when I got home and saw the mini-disaster and all that "stuff" about to fall out of my cabinets, I immediately began to throw out stuff. Yay for me! Guess what the oldest "use by" date was? Give up? 2002!!!! Stuff that has a "use by" date of 2002 is still ok, right?
Oh yes, the majority of "use by" dates were 2008 and 2009, but also saw some 2007 and a few 2005. Canned goods evidently tend to move to the back and be forgotten.
Hey, I found something even older than 2002 -- a little box of "To Go Tea" from China. This amazing tea is often given to adoptive parents in China for the kiddos who are having a bit of issue with pottying due to all the trauma and stress going on. Anyway, the box looks to be dated 2000 which is a bid odd as we didn't even meet Miss Maddy until 2003. Not to worry, even if it was already outdated, it did its job. Such a cute little box, I had to keep it!
19 comments:
You are so funny!! I am not a pack rat...but my husband is:-)
Cleaning out cupboards is NOT a fun job, so, therefore I avoid it until the stuff starts to fall out. But the stuff I usually throw out is papers, pens that don't work, expired coupons, etc.
This is funny! I agree very cute box. We have plenty of junk drawers in our house too. ;)
Hmmm.....I guess we're kindred spirits.
Wanda (at Last...)
That is so funny!!! I am not a packrat....but Pat can be at times and it drives me nuts:)
Love the box....I am glad you kept it!!
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Lisa
Those expiration dates are a hoot! I tend to be a thrower (clutter gives me major anxiety) but we do have messy and unorganized cupboards and drawers!
I can't wait to see your newly painted cabinets! I bet Rhoda will love them!
That's hysterical! Yep, I'm pretty neat but I have two kitchen drawers that are soooo messy! Not a fun task to clean those babies out! Can't wait to see your cabinets!
I have moved every 5 years for the last 15 years. It really helps with the cleaning out of the cabinets. One more year and I should be on the move!
I'm not a pack rat at all but it's funny because God gave me 2 little girls who pack away everything and I think it is slowly going to drive me crazy...
I would keep that box too! (And I'm not even a packrat!)
Very funny! Even though I've moved a twice in the last 2.5 years, I still find old stuff!
I love the box and we used that tea, also!
I have several "junk drawers" in my kitchen too!
Very cute Chinese box! It's amazing what one can find while cleaning out drawers...maybe I should go clean mine out, I know my hubby would be thrilled and who knows what I will find! lol! : )
Cute box, I would keep it too! One of our rights as a mother is to be a packrat, right?
I've been called a packrat before too...but since I seem to move a lot lately, I've been purging ;0)
Love the tin... haven't heard of the tea before ... glad it worked!
lol.....this made me smile. I am not a packrat at all....but my husband and Lottie are BIG TIME! I would have to agree about that cute little box though...I kept one of the teeny little diapers for Lottie only because it was so little and precious.
Most of my drawers are junk drawers too- oh my- I need to get working on them after the holiday! I always think in January I will have more time BUT it seems to get all filled up like the rest of the months too!
Love the expiration dates! I'm sure I have a few of those too!
So funny about the "to go tea"...it is darling and my drawers are all junk drawers too.
So funny, I thought I recognized that box! LOL. I didn't keep it but an individual packet of tea. I too loved the picture and couldn't bear to part with it! I've gotten so much worse with stuffing drawers too. Every new year we go through and weed out and by Christmas we are just itching to get to it since we feel so cluttered...how does it accumulate so fast?! Have a great week!
Lucy
I hear ya! I still have a jar of Chinese baby food from our 2006 trip. ; )
Sue
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