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Young House Love » Our First House » Project Fridge: An Update

| By Sherry Petersik | December 12, 2010 | 91 Comments

Project Fridge: An Update

Remember when we mentioned that we were on a grocery shopping hiatus? The idea was to make a concerted effort to eat as much as possible that we already had in the fridge and the freezer so we didn’t have to worry about keeping things cold for the 6-ish hour delay between being out of our house and getting to move into our new one (which will hopefully still happen Monday afternoon assuming the bank stays on schedule with the transfer). Here’s what the fridge looked like just two weeks ago when we started:

Fridge Before Pic

And here’s what the fridge looks like now that it’s truck-loading day (after two weeks of eating some pretty “creative” meals to get rid of as much as possible):

Friedge Now

Not too bad, right? Thanks to my borderline compulsive list making idea (detailed here), we managed to get down to just one carton of ice cream and one bag of edamame in the freezer and a few condiments along with a bit of bread, cheese, a few pickles, three yogurt cups and a few sticks of butter in the fridge. And we’ll probably eat the rest of the ice cream and those pickles today (no I’m not prego- promise). Thankfully everything else will easily slip into a small cooler that we’ll stick in the cold moving van so everything should travel really easily (as opposed to needing a bunch of larger coolers or hijacking John’s sister’s fridge for the day). Plus we saved some money by avoiding the grocery store. Most of all, we’re even more excited about moving into our new house now – because it means that we can go on a huge food shopping spree and eat normal meals again! Woot woot.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for LizLiz says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    In my fridge the ice cream would have been the FIRST to go… not the last… that is impressive!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 2:03 pm

      John’s an ice cream enthusiast (to say the least) so he has been rationing it like crazy. There’s just enough for us each to have a scoop tonight – so it probably won’t even make it into the cooler tomorrow morning!

      xo,
      s

  2. Avatar for Cassie KimlerCassie Kimler says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    GOOD LUCK MOVING!!! We attempted this when we moved, however we were too excited to move into our first home that we ate what we could and just packed it in reusable bags for the first load over to the new house! I can’t wait to hear how tomorrow goes and how excited you four are at being in your new HOME!! YAY!!!!!

    Reply
  3. Avatar for Claire @ LTRClaire @ LTR says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:23 pm

    Woo hoo a rare Sunday YHL post! Great work on the fridge. Good luck tomorrow with the double closing. Looking forward to witnessing your transition to the new home.

    Reply
  4. Avatar for CarlaCarla says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Good luck with the move!!! So excited to see the new place (and how you fix it up)!!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for MonicaMonica says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    I’m impressed! Can’t wait to see the new house!

    Reply
  6. Avatar for AnnaleaAnnalea says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    Keeping my fingers crossed for you . . . way to go with the fridge! Food is always one of the trickiest parts for me. Great job!

    Reply
  7. Avatar for SusanSusan says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:37 pm

    That’s amazing that you cleaned out so much just by EATING it. Good luck tomorrow!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for ALittleBiteALittleBite says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Haha, I thought the same thing Liz did – we would’ve eaten the ice cream first. Anyway, good luck with the move and the closings!

    Reply
  9. Avatar for JaniceJanice says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    Pickles & ice cream, eh!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 2:43 pm

      Haha, too funny. No- I’m not preggers! Promise!

      xo,
      s

  10. Avatar for LauraLaura says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    Mmm, what kind of ice cream do you have in there? hahaha

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 2:45 pm

      Chocolate something. I think it has marshmallows in it. It’s kind of “meh” which is why it was the last carton left. But it’s still better than eating sticks of butter or condiments…

      xo,
      s

  11. Avatar for HollyHolly says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:46 pm

    WOW thats impressive!!

    Reply
  12. Avatar for RachelRachel says

    December 12, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Very impressive! And yes I had to laugh when I saw pickles and ice cream…guess I wasn’t the only one to think about pregnancy cravings when I saw that. :) Good luck with your truck packing today! I can’t believe you’re posting in the middle of all the madness.

    Reply
  13. Avatar for CarleyCarley says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I cannot believe how quickly (reader’s time) your closing has come! It’s probably seemed like forever on your end!

    Good luck and enjoy your first day in your new house!! So exciting!

    Reply
  14. Avatar for Kaz in OzKaz in Oz says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Hoping we can get ours down so low, otherwise our neighbours will be getting the contents of our fridge/freezer. We will be having a couple of days (at least) without our stuff, so no taking any perishables.
    I was thinking pregnancy too. Never been particularly fond of pickles though. My craving was for dried apricots.

    Reply
  15. Avatar for Laura TLaura T says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    Good luck moving. My hubby and I cannot wait to buy a house that we can do projects on together. In the meantime, we’re trying to fix up our condo for selling. Tried replacing a leaky toilet ourselves today (with your tutorial at hand). Unfortunately, we found out why it was leaking and it’s because the plastic ring at the base (around the flange) is cracked and rotting, but still very much attached to the PVC in the floor. Soooo…plugged it up and calling a plumber tomorrow. ::womp womp:: Better luck next time…

    Reply
  16. Avatar for Megan HMegan H says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Great Job! Good luck today & tomorrow! (when do the computers get packed? lol)

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 3:09 pm

      At the last possible second of course! But then we still have my iPhone. Whew! Might go into withdrawal without that…

      xo,
      s

  17. Avatar for Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}dAmanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    That’s pretty impressive. I probably would have given some stuff away, rather than eat strange ‘meals’. Good for you guys! Can’t wait to see the new house!!!

    Reply
  18. Avatar for claireclaire says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    I’m so excited for your move tomorow!

    Also, I’m headed to Richmond next weekend for a wedding. I’ve been reading your “Richmond Related” posts to get ideas if I have a bit of free time. Thanks for those!

    Reply
  19. Avatar for AdrienneAdrienne says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    Wow, you guys really are organized and disciplined! Have you arranged for your new fridge to be delivered tomorrow or Tuesday?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 3:28 pm

      The new house’s appliances are conveying, so they’ll stay around for us (just like ours will stay with this house). We’ll probably eventually upgrade them to something more eco-friendly and updated after spending some time there, but only if there’s a sweet sale going on down the road.

      xo,
      s

  20. Avatar for reneerenee says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:36 pm

    If you guys lived here in Minneapolis, there’d be no need for a cooler. We got 20″ of snow yesterday (gorgeous) and it’s up to 8 degrees now.
    Will be thinking of you all day tomorrow with fingers crossed for a speedy, seamless double transaction!
    xox

    Reply
  21. Avatar for DonitaDonita says

    December 12, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    Great job!!! Ha Ha I was going to comment on the first photo, about the ketchup. The bottle is the largest item in the fridge, on the first photo. ;-) THEN I saw how much you used out of it in the second photo. Ketchup, number one staple in our house too. I’m so excited for you kids, a new beginning. Jealous a bit, have to admit that. :-) I would LOVE to be moving into a new home. It is going to be such fun seeing the pictures of your new place, seeing your ideas on change. I can’t wait *well probably not as much as you can’t wait*. :-) Praying for D-Day to be MONDAY!!!! :-D

    Reply
  22. Avatar for JulieJulie says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    I know tomorrow will go well. I am so excited for you and can’t wait to see pictures from inside the new house. Good luck!

    Reply
  23. Avatar for CherylCheryl says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    Great job! We did the same thing when we moved this summer…dinners sure get interesting with random food that’s in the fridge!

    Reply
  24. Avatar for Leslie AnnLeslie Ann says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    Are you going to tell us about some of those “creative” meals?

    Eating through the food in the fridge is a good project for everyone! We have problems with food going bad, and having to throw things out.

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 4:18 pm

      Well, we’ve had everything from cereal to omelettes for dinner. And sometimes when there was only enough of one thing for one person we’d have the oddest mixed up meals (John might have a waffle with whipped cream while I eat two different kinds of soup with edamame).

      xo,
      s

  25. Avatar for Kristi W.Kristi W. says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    Nice job cleaning out your fridge! We bought our house (and moved) in mid December too. But since we live in Minnesota, we didn’t have to worry about the food staying cold. The outdoors is like a giant freezer right now. :)

    Reply
  26. Avatar for KathleenKathleen says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    How in the world?! You guys must have been going out to eat sometimes!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 4:37 pm

      We also had stuff in the pantry that we were eating (pasta, pancake mix, etc) and we forgot to snap a pic of the fridge initially (which had quite a bit of stuff to tide us over) so we actually didn’t eat out very often at all. We might have shared a sub once or twice for lunch while out running errands, but for the most part we just ate what we had!

      xo,
      s

  27. Avatar for JulieJulie says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    That’s pretty good. Our closing was moved by a month and we able to move in a few days before closing due to that. Our lease was up and new tenets moving in so the seller allowed us to move into the house before the end of the month. But we have a chest freezer full (can’t pass on a good deal on meat. half a cow for less than $200) so we had to pack coolers full and plug the freezer in as soon as we got here.

    Reply
  28. Avatar for meganmegan says

    December 12, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    That is some dedication!!! I tried doing that, just for financial issues, but it is hard! Plus, my parents buy meat by half a cow or pig, so we get part of those purchases.

    Reply
  29. Avatar for AudreyAudrey says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    Wow, impressive!
    Not sure how often you guys are checking the blog now that it’s down to the last few moments before the move, so you may not see this until after – if you haven’t already seen this, it will either be a silly ‘warning’ for moving with Burger, or you can laugh over it when you’ve all settled in:

    http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

    (the first post should be ‘Dogs Don’t Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving’)

    Good luck, and enjoy!
    Can’t wait until the new house posts start popping up next week!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for JessJess says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    very impressive work on the fridge…. I just started reading your blog a week or two ago and I can’t wait to watch you move into this new house and make it yours. I recently moved myself and am getting inspired (and a little bit obsessive about catching up with all you’ve done so far!) :) good luck with the closing and moving!

    Reply
  31. Avatar for kitakita says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    The anticipation is overwhelming!!

    Reply
  32. Avatar for Briel K.Briel K. says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    Nicely done!

    Reply
  33. Avatar for robin/burlington,ncrobin/burlington,nc says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Thank you for a Sunday post. I was so excited to see it. You two are very inspiring in so many ways. I know everything will work out wonderfully tomorrow. Good luck and God bless.

    Reply
  34. Avatar for AyeletAyelet says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    This is a little off topic, but this post reminded that yesterday while I was shopping in my local Whole Foods supermarket, I noticed that Marmite in the sweeteners and spices section. Not sure if this is universal for the chain, but the next time your craving some, if there’s not some on the way from Australia, you might check there.

    Reply
  35. Avatar for AyeletAyelet says

    December 12, 2010 at 5:59 pm

    PS – Best of luck with the move and closing tomorrow!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 6:00 pm

      So good to know! Apparently they sell it at World Market sometimes too. Yay! It’s catching on!

      xo,
      s

  36. Avatar for susansusan says

    December 12, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    Yogurt with edamame stirred in for breakfast and lunch. Oh yes, and pickles! Here is hoping there are not glitches tomorrow. susan Getting snowed in here in the Ohio Valley.

    Reply
  37. Avatar for LeticiaLeticia says

    December 12, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Sorry not fridge related but I just wanted to say how excited I am for you both! My husband and I have just bought our very first house together and I cant wait to decorate it MY way!

    Anyway, back to your fridge, well done! I would have cracked by now but the hubby could live off cereal and pizza delivery for weeks :P

    Reply
  38. Avatar for RaelynnRaelynn says

    December 12, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    I so wish I would have done this when we moved from Vegas to Denver, we had friends helping us move, so I boxed up SO MUCH FOOD and gave it to them!!

    Can’t wait to see the new house!

    Reply
  39. Avatar for Amanda@Longroadset[email protected] says

    December 12, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    Tomorrow is the big day! Yaye! I can’t wait to see empty house pics, and pics of the new place. I’m sure we’re all dying to see the new house. :)

    Yaye! Hopefully your day goes smoothly!

    Reply
  40. Avatar for ShawnaShawna says

    December 12, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    That’s awesome! One less thing you have to worry about this week.

    Reply
  41. Avatar for GreenInOCGreenInOC says

    December 12, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    I have a 10 cubic foot fridge but I found that I am still wasting food so your original post inspired me to join your challenge in spirit – and I’m not even moving!

    I am not on a quest to rid myself of the meat, ice cream or condiments but everything else is fair game.

    The only thing I have allowed a shopping trip for is milk.

    I haven’t been to the grocery store in over a week (except for the milk purchase) and I’m really enjoying the challenge!! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 8:24 pm

      Wahoo! You go girl. You can do it!

      xo,
      s

  42. Avatar for Sarah @Newlywed and DecoratingSarah @Newlywed and Decorating says

    December 12, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    I’m all for compulsive list making! And I will help you eat that ice cream- yummy! Good luck with the move! So excited to see your new decorating adventures!

    Reply
  43. Avatar for T.T. says

    December 12, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    My friend has moved several times, and she always leaves a bottle of wine in the fridge for the new owners as a “welcome home” gift.

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 8:53 pm

      That’s so funny! We’re doing that too! The previous owner of this house left one for us four and a half years ago, so it seemed fitting to carry on that tradition (along with an envelope of all the manuals, paint colors and other house info with some toilet paper and paper towels). Here’s hoping the new owners have as much fun here as we have!

      xoxo,
      s

  44. Avatar for CaitCait says

    December 12, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    there is no way ice cream would have survived that long in my freezer!

    Reply
  45. Avatar for SarahSarah says

    December 12, 2010 at 9:07 pm

    Good luck tomorrow!

    Reply
  46. Avatar for Jenn L @ Peas and CrayonsJenn L @ Peas and Crayons says

    December 12, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Good luck! and omg you totally beat me at the fridge game! I had a few salmon fillets and 4 bags of veggies left over… plus a giant bag of cheese. Luckily I pawned them off on a friend =)

    Reply
  47. Avatar for Nicole G.Nicole G. says

    December 12, 2010 at 9:25 pm

    Today I caught myself feeling sad about your current house and you guys saying goodbye tomorrow…

    But then I got super excited and nervous about the closing and please someone tell me I’m not the only one having these feelings for houses that are not even mine!

    Good luck tomorrow, guys!

    Reply
  48. Avatar for Melissa @ HOUSEographyMelissa @ HOUSEography says

    December 12, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    Good luck trying to sleep tonight and with the closings and move tomorrow. Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly. Assuming there will tweets/FB updates as the day progresses?!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      December 12, 2010 at 10:07 pm

      Yes- there will definitely be tweets and facebook updates when we have internet access and aren’t in the moving van or the closing attorney’s office. Hoping all goes well and we have lots of good things to report!

      xo,
      s

  49. Avatar for NicoleNicole says

    December 12, 2010 at 10:09 pm

    It seems like I just read your post about house hunting and now it is done…you are moving! Is it odd that I’m feeling a bit sad and sentimental about this? ;) Good luck to the four of you tomorrow and I can’t wait to hear about your new adventures in home ownership!

    Reply
  50. Avatar for laurajanelaurajane says

    December 12, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    Hope you enjoy your last night in your first home! Many wishes for a smooth move tomorrow!

    Reply
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John and Sherry smiling against pink backgroundHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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