Kitchen Pantry {Organize}

When our family moved into this house almost two years ago, it was a very sudden and quick move due to some major issues with our last home. Because of all the work that went into packing and unpacking a house within 10 days (or less), I wasn't feeling very eager to organize my pantry or closets when we moved in. So over the last 2 years I've done small projects here and there, but mostly I've just closed the door and pretended like they don't exist... Such as our kitchen pantry.

This pantry is such a black hole. Things go in but they never seem to come out. Each shelf is over 2' deep and not very wide. If I buy something that is needed for a recipe (such as the panko bread crumbs below), I sit them on the edge of the shelf until I need them. If something crazy happens and they work their way further back on the shelf, I'll never find them and I just end up buying more the next time I need them.

Here's a good look at them in all their unorganized glory...

Last week I finally broke down and decided to get organized. I pulled out our camping table from the garage and set it up next to the pantry.

By the way, in the background you can see my super cute, mustard, Timi & Leslie (Diaper) Bag. Amazing. Seriously.

Then I gutted the pantry. I organized the food into different categories as I went (pasta, baking, canned goods, snacks...),and tossed out randomly collected items from the last two years.

I was pleasantly surprised (and a bit baffled) to find:

-8 glass storage canisters, empty and ready to be filled

-10 packages of pasta

-9 cans of chicken (Amy Johnson, I bought these after you made me some really yummy chicken salad at your house... seriously, how long ago was that!!)

-3 canisters of oatmeal

-3 bags of brown sugar 

 3 bags of powdered sugar AND

-6 different types of flour. 

Look at that, there is a back to this pantry!

And yes, I do line my shelves in my pantry with floor tiles (my Grammy makes me!). It makes them easy to clean & dust, plus the cans and bags of food don't stick. It also looks a lot better. All of my kitchen cabinets that house pots & pans get the same treatment, along with the cabinet under my kitchen sink.

All that was left to do was to put it all back on the shelves. I had several large, metal, pull out shelves that I picked up at a garage sale. They're ideal for such deep pantries. I put them in first, then found homes for the remaining items.

I tossed my bags and boxes of rice and couscous into a basket so they would be kept neat and tidy. I also added a piece of wood in the back to be used as a small shelf to make the items in the back more visible.

I kept the oatmeal and cereal in their jars and added little chalkboards I had lying around to the pull out bins and baskets.

The metal baskets really are fantastic. Here is something similar if anyone is interested. I was able to snag mine for $20 for the set. I almost passed because I didn't want to spend $10 on each shelf. I'm glad I went for it now!

There you have it! It makes me happy every time I open that door. Of course this led to cleaning out my cooking drawers... Who needs spring cleaning? It makes a lot more sense for me to clean in the fall, right before the holiday season when my kitchen and oven are working overtime!

How I get stuff done!

I've had quite a bit of catch up to do this week in our home. I was so distracted with the photo shoot last week with Timi & Leslie that my house got a little neglected. In order to keep me focused and help me remember what needs to get accomplished I like hanging a long piece of craft paper on the side of my fridge. I then write out my "to-do" list for the day, that way I have an easy (and large) reminder every time I walk by my kitchen.

My favorite part... crossing off each to-do as they get done.

I love making lists, I'm far more productive when I do. 

Happy Tuesday all!

Monday Favorites

I hope you all had a good weekend! A couple weeks ago I did a quick post on a few of my favorite things (clearly not an origional idea or anything, but still always fun!)and people really seemed to enjoy it so I thought I'd throw you a few more of the things I love.

When I put together my faves I try and give you guys a list of things that are well tested, tried and true goodies! These are not just items I've used/worn/ate once... no, no, no! Most of these items are part of my daily life and routine.

I realize this is heavily geared towards women (aside from numbers four and five), but I'm a woman and this is all I know.

1. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Polish- about $4.00

This color here is Commander and Chic. I have many colors but this one in particular is a favorite of mine. Great color, great coverage, and lasts longer than most drug store nail polish. But not all Sally Hansen nail polish is this good, some of the other lines wear off super quickly...like the same day I paint them they chip. The color is a neutral, slightly mauve-y brown. A great color when you're looking for something a bit more subtle. I buy it at Target, but I'm sure it's sold at most places that carry nail polish.

2. Victoria's Secret Yoga Pants- $29.50

Even at $30 this isn't an outrageous price for a comfy pair of yoga pants, but even with that said, I never buy these unless they're on sale. I'm perfectly happy buying whatever color is on sale, and the sale price is usually around $20. These are light weight, super comfortable, and they don't stretch out in the knee and get all slouchy looking if you wear them all day.

**Side Note- Is it just me or does anyone else find the way the models are posed on the V.S. website to be slightly obnoxious. I have a feeling the models are told "Arch your foot", and "Bend your knee" a lot during their shoots. :)

3. Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup- $34.00

I can't say enough good stuff about this makeup. I have uneven skin tone and the coverage is amazing (without the need of foundation). I use a large brush or sponge if I'm out and about to apply the makeup. It's one of those things that I think is totally worth the $34 price tag. I buy it at Nordstroms and it usually lasts me about 3 months.

4. Trader Joe's Ice Cream Bon Bons- $3.69

Yum. I don't know what to say except they're yummy. Chocolate cookie on the bottom, with vanilla or chocolate ice cream on top, dipped in chocolate. I'll buy the chocolate ice cream ones when I'm having a sweet tooth and limit myself to one a day. Each one is 60 calories and it feels indulgent without going overboard.

5. Oxi Clean Free- $10.00

This is one good stain remover! I use this when we have food stains on clothes, grass stains on jeans, stains in our sink, grout stains... you get the idea. This stuff is good at getting out stains, so good that if you forget about the dress you have soaking in a bucket of Oxi Clean and water and leave it soaking for 5 days it will actually remove most of the color from the item as well... I know from experience.

There you have it! Enjoy your Monday and I'll be back tomorrow with more good stuff to show you.