Hey, hey, hey everyone, happy Monday!  It was a long and desperately overdue holiday vacation, and I had lots of fun with all my loved ones.  But I am so happy to be back because today we are celebrating!  I am proud to announce that Dare To Be Domestic has reached its 100th blog posting.  Right now, right here, this entry, today!  Applause, applause, applause.  I’m smiling really hard.

When I first started this blog I read some crazy statistic about the thousands upon thousands of blogs started every single day that usually die out in their first week.  How sad.  But, DTBD has such an amazing reader base that inspires me to keep writing, I am confident that we will continue to thrive!  I’m excited with the direction and new content I have in store for you, so please keep on reading, keep on commenting, keep on emailing me.  It is my pleasure to bring Dare To Be Domestic to you.  THANK YOU ALL!

Now for the 100th posting… Drum roll please…

I’d like to dedicate this week to stress, rather, de-stressing all of our lives by uncovering all the hidden clutter that subconsciously bogs our minds and stops us from being truly 100% productive in our everyday life (I’m feelin’ kinda Oprah at the moment).  For instance, every morning I get up, shower and get dressed.  Along with getting dressed comes the inevitable chore:  finding a matching pair of socks.  Yep, even I have sock-matching issues from time to time.  If you step back and think about it, this one little stressor is enough to send your mind off its course of delivering your most productive day.  And how about:

• Finding lost keys
• Rushing to iron in the morning
• Coming home to a disheveled bed

Imagine starting your day where everything has order and a purpose.  Sounds like the perfect day to me!

Let’s start our de-clutter, de-stress rejuvenation by tackling the fridge.  A-HA, got ya, that was unexpected, huh?

Don’t spend another day looking at that empty jelly jar and wondering why it’s still in the fridge.  (It’s because you never threw it out – HELLO!)  This is the quick version to get your fridge in tip-top shape, and we are not focusing on the freezer—that’s a whole another monster.  Try doing this tomorrow right after work; you’ll be glad you did:

1. Throw out or recycle everything that is old, spoiled or empty.
2. Make sure your fridge racks are adjusted to suit your needs.  If you buy lots of tall beverage containers, adjust your racks accordingly so they can be placed upright.
3. Wipe all surfaces of your fridge with warm, soapy water.  Don’t forget to get under the drawers.  I don’t recommend using a cleaner if you plan to store food immediately.  A small amount of vinegar may be used instead.
4. Utilize your fridge door for storing condiments and other things that are less perishable.
5. Place things that spoil fast like veggies in plain sight, this will remind you to consume them quickly.
6. If you don’t buy vegetables, don’t be afraid to utilize veggie drawers for other items.
7. Consider taking some goods out of their containers.  I store my eggs in a bowl to save space.
8. Buy a small dry erase board and place it on the door.  When you stow items, write down what they are and the date, thereby tracking the fridge’s contents and their freshness levels—you’ll reduce spoilage and also have a running grocery shopping list.

Just one simple way to de-stress your home-Life.  Go ahead, just do it!

Fridge Image from: imbusion