Something Frozen This Way Comes

Today I attacked our freezer with a vengeance. I know that, given the scale of outrage and desperation I've described to you in my beginning post, this seems petty. But, as Laura told me over the phone, "Oh GOOD! It's good to start with something small." I'm sure the psychology of all this organizing stuff will start to make sense to me soon. Right?....RIGHT?

Anyway, our freezer was a total joke. I love ice in drinks but often can't fit ice trays in to freeze any. I often know I've purchased frozen goods but often can't find them because our freezer is to frozen goods what the Bermuda Triangle is to ships and planes: a cosmic black hole, ready to kill and hide with no compassion. Frozen scallops, sweet corn, Ben and Jerry's Karmel Sutra, the cat -- nothing was safe near this freezer let alone IN it.

The simplicity of my solution is mind boggling: I bought an extra rack at Target. The fact that I did not think to write down the brand I bought is proof enough that I'm no pro at this and am learning as I go. However, it's a single-level chrome rack that epands and contracts horizontally to fit many spaces. This one shelf has meant an organized freezer all of a sudden. And get this: When I open it I can see what is in there!!

I promise to start taking pictures. But here is a good example of what our freezer looked like before found on Google Images:


I say "good example" rather than "great" because at least this freezer has shelves and room for ice. Ours had neither. But now, with a single look, I can see everything I own that needs freezing. This has freed up time when I make dinner, and it sure cuts down on the muttered cursing every time I make a drink or need to find something in there! I will post pictures tomorrow of the newly cleaned freezer.

But here are some pertinent items for this small project:

• A simple rack doubled the room in our freezer ($12.99 plus tax at Target)
• Going through everything we had revealed that I have a scary tendency to buy peas possibly EVERY time I shop, and to stock up on other weird things as well
• Throw away things that have been in there for so long you forgot you had them (unless it's ice cream...if it's ice cream go ahead and eat it. We don't want to be rash)
• Try to organize items so that nothing is hidden from immediate view -- but if you don't have the space, then stack in categories so you have a good idea of what's lurking in the back

I'm sure there are other ideas I'm missing so if others have thoughts, please feel free to share!