A Cup of Tea

I've been bit by the organizing bug. It happens every year around this time. The weather is getting warmer and I find myself opening up windows and doors that creak with winter disuse. As I sweep out the stagnant dust of the colder months I find myself hit with the urge to simplify. To pare down. To keep only the things that I love and use. There's a difference this year though, while I crave organization I'm also craving a sense of permanence. Instead of purchasing some trendy organization system that, if I'm being honest with myself, will fail after a month or two, I'm going to be deliberate. This means taking the time to find systems that actually work with how I think. And for me, that starts in the kitchen. It's easy for me to be completely ruthless about tossing unused spices and out of date foods. I don't have as much emotional attachment there. We'll be tackling the big projects in time, but for now it was time to tackle the tea cupboard.

It all started with a coupon for Cost Plus. I can get lost in that store, but this particular Saturday found me staring with certainty at this beautiful container. Espresso-stained wood and simply etched glass, it was love at first sight.

Of course, to get things organized, one first has to evaluate the problem. Three big canisters and three floating bags of tea. This wasn't working in my tiny kitchen. To make maatters worse, that big silver canister was filled with tea that I never drank. My favorite Irish breakfast ended up at the bottom while all manner of herbal teas (which I will now accept that I just plain dislike) occupied valuable real estate at the top. No more!

After sorting I was able to narrow my selection down to my essentials: favorites from the Los Angeles farmer's market, chocolate rose black tea, Japanese cherry green tea, Irish breakfast, and plain green tea. The box held most of my stash and what was left over will be coming with me to work in one of the prettier canisters.

And now, this is what I get to pull down from the cupboard every time I want to make a cup of tea. So much better. I don't know about you, but when I get the small rituals in order, the bigger things just work out better. Are you working on an organizational project, large or small? I would love to hear about it in the comments.