I have been watching since the beginning of your YT documentation. Erica, you are such a delight. You've made me laugh, you've made me cry, you've completely shocked me(like when Andy was deployed for months on end and you never mentioned you were doing it all solo). I am so impressed with the person you have become through the past few years. It is so inspiring. You are in control of your home, and it no longer controls you. I have learned so much, and am still learning from you.
I’m glad to see that you have some things on the counter. That’s real life. These people who don’t have anything on the counters are not cooking. I use my toaster and can opener almost everyday. Some people would hide the toaster and can opener and bring it out everyday. That’s ridiculous. 😂
No I think they're definitely cooking but I will agree with you that it's ridiculous. It almost seems like an unhealthy obsession- especially the homes that look so empty you would swear the home owner hadn't even started moving in yet.
My meal plan consists of certain foods for certain days such as here in Louisiana, Mondays are bean and rice days. I will usually change up the beans used cause technically it’s supposed to be red beans and rice. Tuesday is some type of Mexican food with Fritos salad and refried beans (pinto or black). Wednesday and Thursday I will usually change it up. We either have leftovers or fish, carb and salad. Fridays are Chinese nights. Saturdays are something easy like takeout or we make our own pizza and Sundays are some type of family meal. Same thing every week, I just change the meals to fit the day.
I live in the country, and mice and ants are just a fact of life, unfortunately. Every food in my pantry is stored in Mason jars, since mice can get into ANYTHING. It also looks nice and I can buy in loose bulk and monitor how much I have of essentials.
Me too! Only issue I've been running into is lids and rings. The prices have gotten to the point where I'm considering buying 1 piece lids. Since I prefer metal that is going to be a shiny penny!@@habeebideemashayish2750
I started following you when you started the basement declutter in the old house. It is wild how far you (and me) have come. Thank you for giving me the well needed push, to keep going!
Looks great. You sound like you are doing a sudo "Fly Lady" cleaning system. Look it up eg "Diana from Denmark. " Wow my kids wouldn't eat the same every week! We love Indian, Thai, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, traditional..I have about 30 dinners I cook from memory and I stick to those. I semi plan for a week, but not specific days because things change due to work, school, hobby, illness, appointment etc. Stand your spices up in draw and label lids.. easier to see and access everything. I make popcorn on stove. Takes less than 5mins. Don't need a popcorn maker. Ps. Glass straws last forever! And are better for the environment. Plastic straws are the worse. Especially in the oceans which is why restaurants and bars do not give plastic straws anymore. I bought mine 6+yrs ago.. still like new. My youngest was 4yrs old when I started using glass. If you are nervous use metal.
Love ❤️ ❤🎉 your videos on simple declutters and resets. I started following your 50% rule and what a difference 😮 I often go back when I first found your channel and see the progress, I want to declutter it all in a week and we know that is not possible but in time and all I can say is WOW you have come a long way and I love you continue to share your journey to include simple living ideas.
Really nice kitchen tour, Erica. Your kitchen looks very tidy and organised. I love your idea of keeping the kitchen cabinets only half full all the time. This makes getting things out and putting things away so easy and enables everything to have its own designated place.
Your kitchen looks very functional and tidy. I like the plants in the window and cookbooks in the cupboard. All of your work has come to fruition. I set a simple schedule this year based on what I'm actually doing but organized. The biggest change was scheduling all appointments on Tuesdays. When asked, I used to say, "Oh, anytime is good." It created randomness in my weeks. Now I say, "Do you have a Tuesday?" Guess what? It works! Noone cares and I have a rhythm to the week I can count on. Like your menus and cleaning schedule, it's very freeing. Seeing you develop and change over time has really helped me do the same. Blessings to you and yours. 🌻🍄
As a non morning person I never could fathom 8:00 am dr. appts. Now, I understand! First pts can sometimes get all their needs met (as long as the dr. is ok with not keeping to a strict schedule). No waiting for the dr. who is running behind. If it is a time limited appt (say therapy) then it just means the day is jumpstarted! Early in/early out and now I can go on to other things I want/need to do. I agree with the set day designation and commend you for adhering to it. It also honors your life, so you can continue to do what you need to to be you. (vs giving up your needs for "whatever time they have available".) I agree with your comment and wish you a nice day, klingon Princess!
When i think about your starting point with decluttering, my first mental image is of your crazy cluttered basement and attic crawl space full of boxes. I always saw you making progress, but thought you'd hit your stasis point much sooner than your current "inventory". Your house is so clean (my family lives here, but it's still clean) and there's so much space. I love it.
You're cooking and making and baking all the time so it's cool that you have the inventory down to your essentials and it's so user-friendly for the kids too.
Love your videos!! You have come so far!!! Please consider other ecofriendly straws. This is not a matter of saving a few dollars but to save the environment to get cluttered with these plastic things. Same with lollipop sticks and q-tips
Not just a well put together kitchen, but a comfortable one. A fruit bowl, often used items on the shelf, plants softening the window area...Erica, it's lovely.
I hear you re: business, grief, anxiety does affect how much I get done each day. I try to do more on the good energy days. I’m retired and no kids at home anymore but I help with grandchildren at times and I have dogs and cats so cleaning is needed 😊
Your kitchen organization looks great! I love my kitchen since I decluttered and organized it. I don't have much cabinet space so I use a lot of open shelving. I am OK with it.
I so enjoy your videos 😊. I need to meal plan since I hate cooking but I struggle with it. Thank goodness my husband likes to cook and will make me supper. I still should meal plan for the days I cook. I’m vegetarian and my husband is not and I’m retired and he is now but it still works for us. We are both very busy with different activities.
Our home has the same configuration of kitchen cabinets. I made that baking supply move after watching. Thanks for your genius. Practically, magic. Farewell, Recipe Binder, queen of recipes. Your body will decay but your spirit lingers on. -HP reference 😊
Oh yes Erica ! I recently went thru and declutered my recipes and my recipe binder. I had just been struggling to even care about cooking recently , low and behold I would say it has been comparable to a huge wardrobe purge ! No more recipes that don't " fit" our season of life , or that make me feel bad because I haven't made them ( even though I bought the ingredients months ago ) or that are just worn out from being made soooo often . It really has been awesome .
You can get colourful silicone straws. They're so much better for kids and teeth in general. Or there's colourful silicone tipped stainless steel straws, I find them a lot better for stirring as the full silicone ones are way too flexible, but the full silicone ones go into the lids of cups easier. I have 4 of each.
