Such a BIG term for some people right - genealogy? Well, before I used to think that these types of “tracing your blood lines” only belong to the snobby rich people (blame romance novels for my thinking - sorry) but when I grew older I realized how important a person knows his roots - where he came from. Yes, tracing your roots might only give you a name. But remember those names will help you solidify your identity more.

I need to know how to organize my kitchen cupboard efficiently. I inspected my kitchen cabinets and the cabinet on top of the stove had laundry detergents. I had to cross to the end of the kitchen to get sauces if Im cooking! The cookies for the kids are placed on the highest part of the kitchen cabinet (how in the world will me kids get that, you think?) and the kitchen utensils are on the wrong side.

I blame my maids for this just so you know (I wasnt there when they did the kitchen) - and yes, we have been here since May and I only noticed it now (This is how long I have not touched the stove and cooked, hehehe).

With them leaving by the end of the month, I need to be in control! Here are the steps Id do:

Clean Your Cabinets

One great way to keep your kitchen cabinets organized is to clean them out every couple of months. That allows you to keep stock of what’s in there and get rid of anything that is past its prime or has damaged packaging. Containers with damaged packaging that leak food can attract pest like ants, cockroaches and mice.

Organizing Your Cabinet

After cleaning out your cabinets, put everything back in a well organized way. Items that you don’t use very often, put towards the back, while having frequently used items within reach. Try to group “like items” together. If you know where to reach for specific ingredients it will save you time in the kitchen. Train everyone in your house to put items back where they got them.

Remembering Where Stuff Is

If you tend to have a hard time finding things that are stashed away in the back of your cabinets, place an inventory list on the inside of the cabinet door. You can even draw a square and diagram where items are likely to be located. A diagram may also help inform other family members where to put things away, which could save you headaches down the road.

Grocery List

Attach a piece of paper to the inside of the cabinet door to write down items as you run out of them. Then you can reference it when you put together your grocery list. This is very useful if other people use the kitchen as well, everyone will know that you have ran out of something and won’t spend a half hour looking for it.

Access More of Your Cabinet Space with Lazy Susans

I always keep my eyes open for inexpensive Lazy Susans at garage sales and discount stores. A Lazy Susan is basically a turntable that you can install in a kitchen cabinet or pantry that rotates so you can easily get to everything on the cabinet shelf. This is especially useful for cabinet shelves that are difficult to reach.

Glasses
Each place should be set with all the glasses that will be used during dinner (except dessert-wine glasses, which may be brought out when the dessert is served). The water glass belongs to the right of the plate, just above the knife. Wineglasses should be set to the right of the water glasses in the order in which they will be used.

China
The only pieces of china that should be part of a table setting are the bread plate and a charger, if desired. A charger (or service plate) is a purely decorative oversize plate used to add texture, color, or pattern to the table. Chargers may be made of china, pewter, brasseven straw or papier-mch. Food is never served directly on a charger, but a first-course soup bowl or salad plate can be set on top of it. The charger should be cleared along with the bowl or plate.

Silverware
A proper silverware setting follows one simple rule, no matter how formal or relaxed the event: Set the silverware on the table in the order it will be used, from the outside in. The fork for the first course is the one farthest to the left; to the right of the plate, the knife for the first course is the farthest to the right. Any spoons needed before dessert (say, a soupspoon), should be placed to the right of the knives. Dessert utensils should always be placed horizontally above the plate, or they can be brought in later, with the dessert course.

The following rules for setting a table correspond to the numbers seen in the table setting illustration below.

1. The flatware, plate, and napkin should be one inch from the edge of the table.
2. The plate is always in the center of the place setting.
3. The dinner fork is placed at the left of the plate.
4. If a salad fork is used, it is placed to the left of the dinner fork.
5. The napkin is placed to the left of the fork, with the fold on the left. It can also go under a fork, or on top of the plate.
6. The knife is placed to the right of the plate with the sharp blade facing in towards the plate.T
7. he teaspoon is placed to the right of the knife.
8. If a soup spoon is needed, it is placed to the right of the teaspoon.
9. The soup bowl may be placed on the dinner plate.
10. The drinking glass is placed at the tip of the knife.
11. If a salad plate is used, place it just above the tip of the fork.
12. The cup or mug is placed to the top right of the spoons.