Pantry Intentionality

I took a vacation day, the last I will have for quite a while since I am starting a new position in two weeks.  DD#2 has the day off since it is Presidents' Day and I will have lost a day of vacation if I didn't take one before he 28th.  After a running weekend, today will be focused on laundry and some sorting and organizing.  First was to do another inventory and clean out of pantry, freezer, and refrigerator.  I know I wrote about doing one just a few weeks ago, but it was incomplete, and lacked detail. Once again, I'm completely frustrated with my self at the amount of forgotten and now freezer burnt items in the back of the freezer, and  unrecognizable items left in Tupperware and Pyrex storage containers in the refrigerator.  In throwing so many items, it dawned on me that what has been missing in my grocery shopping is intentionality.  Many of the items purchased, or the leftovers  put in containers never to see the light of a kitchen table again, was because of a lack of intention. 

My inventory.  "I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok.  They know me here."

Some might call this organization or lack of organization, though I see it a little differently. Knowing what you have in the kitchen and a plan to use things up is being organized, but to me it starts more with being intentional with what you buy and put in the kitchen to begin with.  Take for example the tilapia fillet I found in the freezer.  I think I have shuffled that piece of fish 6 times in the last year. Neither DD and I are particularly fond of fish, unless it is the fish and chips kind found at fish fries or a box of battered Gorton's, like I bought the other day for Valentines dinner, but not used. DH would not really know what to do with the fish should he try to cook it up for himself, and if I did it, I would still be cooking an alternative for the two of us.  Therefore, it sat, and was moved, and it was taken out, and put back in the freezer with each clean out. Now, the use by date is over 12 months old, so into the bin it went.  I also found a big bag of shrimp, with a date of November 2014.  I think since it has been frozen, it might still be good, but why it was bought I have no idea. I found 14 bananas frozen.  Obviously we purchased too many , at various times, than we had intent to use, and then Iet the stockpiling of frozen bananas get to the point that at least two were no longer useable, even in banana bread.

Four are thawing for banana bread, but still many left frozen.

Expanding this theory beyond the kitchen to the concept of time. In the twenty four hours of the day, I need to sleep, eat, and personal care, and basic housekeeping.  On work days I need to drive to the office, complete the days work, and drive home.  If DD#2 has things, I must transport her.  After that, and within those times, I can either focus intentionally on what I want and need to get done or do, or let distractions and non priorities creep in and suck the minutes away. I have no magic bullets to bring more intentionality to my life, but starting in the kitchen seems to be a good place to start.  With the exception of the shrimp, I have a plan for most items.  Now to get intentional about the use of my time to put the plan to action.