The problem with not being pregnant (I’m not) is that I don’t have an excuse to nap. More importantly, I lack that otherworldly nesting compulsion, the one that compels pregnant women to wash the baseboards and vacuum lampshades and take a toothbrush to the corners of their kitchen floors–if you normally do those things, shhh. I don’t want to know.
So, I’m not pregnant and that’s why my spices were unalphabetized and the Tupperware and Rubbermaid containers were jumbled in the cupboard. (I haven’t been pregnant in almost four years and boy, have things gone downhill around here.)
However, I do have incentive: a garage sale this Saturday. Not my garage sale, but a sale upon which I can foist my stuff and get it out of my house. Hooray.
I spent all afternoon crawling around on my kitchen floor, pulling pans and spices and cans of diced tomatoes from the cupboards. All told, I cleaned out eleven cupboards and discovered that I actually do own a large shallow pan, like a frying pan, only without a long handle. Who knew? I also found a packet of yeast from 2002 . . . which is the year my daughter was born.
See? Lack of nesting instincts since 2002.
Now my spices are alphabetized (at least until the kids get into them, which they will because they think adding curry powder to Ramen noodles is essential) and I can find all four of my muffin tins. I even found a place for my new (used) Pampered Chef rectangular stone dish (retail price, $32 . . . my price at Value Village? $6.99).
Nothing makes me feel quite as virtuous as cleaning out the kitchen cupboards, unless, of course, it’s ironing my husband’s shirts and pants with light starch, which I did tonight right before I exercised for the third consecutive day.
However. To balance out that virtue, I only have to walk into my kitchen where I can see the dirty dishes from dinner, still sitting on the counters. At least I’ll have something to do tomorrow. (Besides planning a two-week menu with a coordinating shopping list. I am desperately trying to get myself organized before school starts on August 31.)
Actual Unretouched Photo 
I love it when I actually clean up my kitchen like that! It doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen and I think to myself, how did it get so bad?
School starts in less then 4 hours here!!!
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Does this seem like a reasonable shortcut for you?
http://www.savingdinner.com/mega_menu_mailer/mega_menu_mailer.html
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1. While I am pregnant and sleeping 12 hours a day, my nesting instinct seems to have gone missing.
2. It is amazing how filled with jealousy I was when I read the words “crawling around on the kitchen floor”…ahhh, to be so mobile again.
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The kitchen used to be the one room I kept fairly organized (spices alphabetical of course) and things arranged by categories.
Then the girls got tall and everything went to the warm place in a handbasket.
You are so me!!
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When I quit working for the schools in 2003 I took a year and a half off from work. That first summer not only did I sort thru kitchen cupboards but I “attacked” the basement (GASP!!!!) as well. I had boxes down there that had followed us for 23 years and 7 moves and hadn’t been opened in all those years. I didn’t even bother to open them, I just chucked ’em out. I figured if I hadn’t needed to open them in 23 years I didn’t need to open them now, ha! And why is it after that frenzy of down-sizing I’m right back where I started?! Clutter never ever never ever ends.
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Do you think the Lord bless’ us with that nesting feeling and desire to clean every nook and canny of the house before giving birth because the Lord knows afterwards it won’t be another 18 years (until they move out) until we clean like that again. And if you have more than one child that is just an added bonus of clean?
Just a thought,hehehe…
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yeah, I’ve been organizing like crazy and patting myself on the back, and my husband said “Do you think you could see your way clear to organize the laundry basket? It’s overflowing.” So today I fold laundry. I’m dreading it.
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You mean that’s why I’m so unorganized? Because I’m not prego? Oh man, if that is what it took to put my house in order, I would have to be a baby machine… non-stop.
School started today for us, but being that I work full-time out of the house, it’s going to stay the way it is for a while…
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Does that make my middle name Hopeless?
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Mel,
I can’t believe how thin that hair style makes you look!
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My youngest is 8. What does that say about my cabinets?
Did I tell you I moved my blog? twice actually, now I’m at my permanent home.
Oh, and I agree on the hairstyle, I love it!
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I simply set aside my organizing desires and started school anyway! My boys really needed something to keep them busy. I figure that i will get stuff done during the year?!?
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I miss that nesting thing. I remember organizing all of my files -tax papers…everything!
I also found that while I was pregnant I painted more. I did like five paintings when I was pregnant with my first and I don’t think I have ever had a period like that since.
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Nesting is one of my favorite things about being pregnant, because I, too, am so without motivation any other time.
I do however think that when you have 3 or more kids you are entitled to a nap whenever and wherever, pregnant or not!
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I try to clean my pantry every once in a while. The last time was when a can decided it was too old to be any good any more it popped open and ooozed really nasty smelly gunk down the wall & onto the flood. Yelp, it was a bit too old.
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Well, hello there my shared-birthday friend! It’s been far too long, I know, but isn’t it interesting that I should drop in at THIS post! Because… I, too am not pregnant! I don’t really feel like nesting… ever… and well… let’s just say I don’t really relate to a whole lot of this “women’s stuff” – directly that is. That said, wouldn’t it be nice if more MEN were a little more tuned in?
Good to see you’re still on! Be back shortly!
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Since when is pregnancy the only valid excuse for napping?? Hah! đŸ˜‰
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*(audible gasp)* WHAT is a Value Village and where might I find one to get Pampered Chef products for such glorious ridiculously low prices!
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