Our Five Ring Circus: Midnight Pantry Purge

Monday, May 3, 2010

Midnight Pantry Purge

Insomnia causes people to do strange things.

I had to take migraine medication around 8:00 last night, and I knew I was doomed. The caffeine in it keeps me up for hours. I didn't have much of a choice, though. I could have either suffered through the pain, or suffered through my lack of sleep today. I chose lack of sleep.

Shortly after midnight, I headed into the kitchen to put away some groceries. Upon opening the cabinet that holds our food, I realized that there was no way that I would fit anything else in there.

So I decided, on a whim, to completely empty the pantry, and reorganize it. What else is there to do at midnight when you can't sleep?!?

Over an hour later, I ended up throwing away three shopping bags of expired food. What a waste! I am completely mortified, but I'll admit it anyway. I found several boxes of cake mix, bread mix, pudding, and jello in the back of the closet, that expired in 2006!!! 2006, people! That was 4 years ago! *Blushing*

I was still wide awake, so I decided to tackle my snack drawer. I get so irritated with the kids getting into their snacks, because they leave the boxes open, rip the bags, and everything goes stale quickly. I came up with a system that I'm quite proud of. I filled ziplock sandwich bags with their snacks, and stocked the snack drawer with them. That way, they can find what they are looking for in perfect proportions, and I can refill the bags when they are empty! It is a great solution to the problem!

I didn't end up falling to sleep until 4 AM, and I did, indeed, suffer for it today. But I keep opening the closet door to look at my perfectly organized pantry. It pleases the OCD part of me.

That being said, I realized that I'm going to have to stop ignoring the pantry. I want to come up with a way of doing kitchen inventory, so I know what I have at all times. I don't want to waste any more food. I do inventory on the products that we regularly use, but everything else ends up forgotten. Any suggestions are welcome!

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We had another beautiful day today! It definitely helped keep me awake. While Dylan was in school, I ran on the treadmill, then I watched part of "Beauty and the Beast" with Lexie. It's my all time favorite Disney movie and I was thrilled to watch it with her!

When I picked Dylan up from school, I realized that he only has five days of school left. I can't believe it!

It was another day of rushing to get dinner on the table, eating at a record speed, and running to T-Ball. We are really enjoying it, though, despite the dinner rush. Dylan loves playing, and is doing so well. We love watching him, and cheering all the little kids on.

My sister and her family came to the game tonight, and Dylan was so excited to have them there, cheering him on!

Dylan's team (Tigers) played the Yankees tonight. They had matching uniforms, and blended together in a sea of dark blue! The only way of telling them apart was by the symbols on the caps and the sponsor's name on the back of the shirts!

Dylan played well tonight. Strong hits and throws!

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Here are the two, practically identical, #8's! D is on base!

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Lexie cheered on her brother, in between rounds of picking flowers. She is obsessed with sitting on the ground and picking flowers!

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After the game, Dylan's cousins ran over to greet him with high fives. Judging by his smile, I think it meant a lot to him to have their support!

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The kids ran off to play at the playground for a bit before heading home. I think everyone had fun tonight!

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10 comments:

  1. Insomnia still has its hold on me. I was up until almost 3 last night and the latest I can get up and still make it to work on time is 6:00. Needless to say it was a long day and now it's after midnight and I'm STILL up...argh!

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  2. Oh man, I've never suffered from insomnia but wow I guess it can be pretty productive =)

    WTG Dylan!!

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  3. I hate finding expired food in the cupboards, but I always do. I've ended up setting them aside and taking them to our local Community Outreach Center, which is more than happy to take expired canned/boxed foods.

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  4. Don't feel bad about the old stuff in your pantry. I've done the same thing. Mostly cake and bread mixes and stuff, but yeah, it happens.

    We still haven't started the t-ball games yet. I think our first game is the 15th.

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  5. I find stuff like that in my pantry every time I clean it out too:) Lexie is too cute playing in the grass! I wish I could get Eli to stay in the grass at the ballfield...he like the mud puddles instead!

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  6. Oh, I'm sorry about the headache! I know what you mean about the pantry organization...I did that a few months ago and there was stuff in there from when we moved. Three years ago. Ugh.

    Dylan looks like he's having fun playing ball! What a big guy.

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  7. I found a box of corn muffin mix in my pantry that was 4 years old too! It is awful! I don't have much space and things on the top shelf often get ignored since I can barely see them. I would organize it but my hubby will just tear through it and mess it up again! Ha!

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  8. I can't beleive you stayed up until 4am and still ran the treadmill. You go girl!!

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  9. Dylan looks so adorable in his uniform!

    I feel for you with the migraine medication. It keeps me up for hours too and for some reason makes my entire body feel like it's bruised. I've never accomplished what you did though. I'll have to try that-- my closet is a disaster haha.

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  10. good work on the pantry. I once used baking powder that was 8 years old - which my husband discovered when the banana bread came out completely flat. It is good to weed through stuff occasionally!

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