Organized Pantry

I am almost always on a quest for more/better organization ideas. I really need everything to be organized in a way that makes sense, is easy to keep up on, and looks pleasing to the eye. After surfing around on pinterest, I finally decided that I was going to tackle my pantry. Since I don't have a lot of space in there, I really needed to be clever, and efficient. So off to Ross I went, and gathered together my supplies. I purchased some baskets, different kinds of racks, jars, and some plastic containers. 
 

This is where I stopped, so I could evaluate my progress. I decided to leave it this way for a bit until I was sure that it made sense, and the men in the house were even able to understand my system (which can be a little challenging! Who knew, not everybody thinks exactly like me!)

This is the very top two shelves. They are for things that we don't get into that often. In fact, the top shelf is actually for items that we never use, but are good to have in case of an emergency. Yes, its a little bare, but this is something we are working towards. With the limited storage we have in this house, its hard to find the space to have a large stockpile of necessities. Anyways, the lower shelf stores canned fruits, and soups, on the left, and my boyfriends vitamins and protein shakes.

This next shelf stores my baking supplies. In the basket are baking mixes and frosting jars. On the left are my jars of Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, and Powdered Sugar.

Up close of baking basket

This is the breakfast shelf. This is where you can find all things breakfast! The plastic containers on the right hold cereals, and the to the left of that is all the pancake mix.

The breakfast basket holds oatmeal. I know, we have a lot of oatmeal... My boyfriend likes to stock up on oatmeal for emergencys as well. They stay good for a really long time, and only require hot water to make. Actually as I'm typing this out, I am thinking the Quaker Oats canisters should be on our very top shelf...

This shelf holds snacks and sides. The plastic containers to the left hold chips and crackers. The little white tub holds other snacks such as trail mix and seaweed.

The basket on the right holds all of our rice and pasta sides, as well as some gravy packets.

The last shelf on the bottom holds our pasta and sauces. There are spaghetti noodles in one container, quinoua in another behind the noodles, and rice in the round jar. I haven't gotten to all of the labeling and whatnot yet. I was hoping to decorate the back of the shelves, maybe line the shelves themselves and then label everything. I guess I just really wanted to make sure this was an effecient way to keep the pantry before I took on the task of trying to figure out how to label those baskets. I know, that shouldn't be too hard but sometimes I just get stuck on the simple things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitchen storage solutions

My new kitchen is SO much bigger than my last one, and I am in heaven! I am finding though, that I have so much cabinet space I just don't know what to do with myself! I am normally a very organized person, and I love organizing things- but with all this space I am going around in circles trying to figure out just what is going to work for me, and where things need to go based on their uses and the layout. Anyways, this has got kitchen storage on my mind, and I really could have used some of these ideas in my last house, but oh well! Better Homes and Gardens had a couple of really cute ideas for some random storage solutions in the kitchen that I thought you would enjoy...

This is a great idea! Use a curtain rod, and this has some forks that are bent to create an easy extra storage solution. You could also use some "S" hooks that would serve the same purpose. Or even use some curtain clips for storing some things.

Another simple idea for utincels that would be easy enough to make on your own

Using tension rods in a normal cabinet space helps keep cookie sheets and trays nice and organized

An over the door metal caddy makes it a lot easier to find your cleaning supplies and keeps a clean space for their home

I love this idea too! Using a garden trellis to keep random kitchen things in a cute, easily accessible way!

Clutter Free and Organized

I have said this before, and I am going to say it again- Clutter is my biggest pet peeve. I simply cannot function while clutter is amidst me, therefore, I am always looking for different ways to avoid clutter. This has led to an obsession with anything that will help organize my house- containers, boxes, using things for double purposes, and finding new and cheap things to help organize.

Here are some great ideas and helpful tips on how to organize your everyday items and keep a more clutter free home.

An old TP roll is the perfect thing to keep all your hair accessories in one place. Although, if your like me and have tons of hair things, this might not hold all of them- at least it could keep the hair ties in an easy to find place.

Painted egg cartons and rubber muffin liners are a great option to store office supplies in a drawer

I thought this was really cute! Use a toothbrush holder as a pen holder! Cute, and functional!

Muffin tins are great for storing small random items. We all have that "junk drawer" somewhere in our home, and this is a good idea to keep them all corralled and controlled.

Flower pots are a cute idea to hold kindling next to the fireplace in a neat and organized way. I love the idea of using pinecones (in another pot) cause they are fun to watch in the fire- they are bright and exciting. The other little pot has dried up lavender in it that is used for some good smell in the fire- never in a million years would I have thought of this but Martha is a genius!

Laundry hampers can take up lots of precious floor space, and this is a great fix for that. Hang a laundry bag over the door, and use an embroidery hoop to keep the bag open (keeping a mental note of this too)

Ice cube trays are great storage containers as well. They can keep small earrings or broaches all in one neat place.

It never fails- the remote always has a way of escaping and getting lost. Use a cute little vase on your table to keep it in the same place so it wont have the tendency to walk away

Where I live, it rains- a lot. When you come inside, you are always getting the floor wet from your boots- to avoid that, keep your boots on a cookie sheet to keep the dripping water all in one place that can easily be dumped.

The never-ending plastic bag dilemma... You want to save the environment and recycle, but these darn bags always make more of a mess under my sink than anything! Here is a great solution! Keep them in an empty Kleenex container and they are easily accessible and kept in one neat place. I am going to have to give this a go

I used to have a couple of these really tall vases hanging around and didn't know what to do with them- didn't even think of this as an option! This way, your guests don't need to go rummaging around under your sink (which chances are- isn't organized) when they need a new roll, and you always know when you are about to run out of TP


Images Via Martha Stewart and Real Simple

20 Secret household cleaners you already own

Found this great article about different things you have around your house that can help you clean. This reminds me of a book I got for Christmas one year "Extraordinary uses for everyday items". Some great ideas I thought I would share with my readers. Thanks Leslie!

These 20 money-saving cleaning tips can help solve almost any household cleaning problem. Just shop your pantry for these secret cleaners to disinfect, polish and shine.

Eliminate Odors with Coffee Grounds

Eliminate Odors

Try coffee grounds to keep your refrigerator smelling nice and fresh, just as you do with an open box of baking soda. Place them, new or used, in a bowl and remember to replace them every month or two.

Clean your Garbage Disposal with Ice

Chill Out

Use ice to cleanse the blades in your garbage disposal and break up the grease that collects on the rotors. Every few weeks, toss in a handful of cubes, turn on the disposal and run cold water. Add some orange, lemon or lime peels to ward off odors.

Soften Grease with a Dryer Sheet

Soften up Grease

Get baked-on foods off pots and pans with a dryer sheet. Just place one in a pot, fill with water and let sit overnight, then sponge off the next morning. The antistatic agent weakens the bond between the stuck-on food and the surface of the pan, while the fabric softener works its loosening magic.

Absorb Grime with a Newspaper

Absorb Grime

Cover the bottom of your trash can with old newspapers. It's an easy way to keep clean and soaks up leaks and odors.

Gather Shards of Glass with Play-Doh

Gather Shards of Glass

Pick up tiny slivers of broken glass—the ones you don’t notice until you’ve stepped on them—by gently pressing a slice of bread or a piece of PlayDoh on the area. Be sure to wrap the glass up carefully before throwing it away—you don’t want an animal to eat it or a child to play with it.

Zap Bacteria in your Microwave

Zap Bacteria

To keep bacteria from taking up permanent residence in your kitchen sponges, rinse them with water at the end of each day, squeeze, then put in the microwave for three minutes. Let cool before touching. Do the same with your cutting boards, if they are microwaveable.

Clean your Microwave with Lemons

Use Lemons to Clean your Microwave

Harness the power of citrus to clean your microwave: Cut a lemon in half, squeeze juice into a small bowl of water, add both lemon halves and place in the microwave for five minutes. The fresh scent eliminates cooking odors, and condensation from the steam loosens random splatters that have hardened. Wipe with a damp cloth.

Use Mouthwash as a Floor Cleaner

Use a Substitute Floor Cleaner

Try Listerine Mouthwash if you’re out of floor cleaner. Add a capful to a gallon of water and mop vinyl or tile—but not wood—floors with the mixture. The same product that kills bad-breath germs also zaps the gunk beneath your feet.

Use Disinfecting Wipes

Use Disinfecting Wipes

Grab a few disinfecting wipes to give faucets, sinks, tubs, toilet seats—you name it—an easy daily touch-up.

Pretreat your Tub

Pretreat your Bathtub

After going over your bathtub, sink or shower with disinfectant, wipe the area wit baby oil or lemon oil. Do this once or twice a month, and it will help dirty water bead and roll down the drain faster, buying you more time before the next cleaning.

Clean your Toilet with Effervescent Tablets

Scrubbing Bubbles

Freshen the toilet bowl with effervescent tablets (denture or antacid) in between scourings. Drop two in the water, let soak for at least 20 minutes, then brush and flush. A can of cola dumped in for one hour also does the trick. The phosphoric acid in the beverage removes rust rings and other mineral deposits.

Dust with a Dry Paintbrush

Dust Tough-to-Clean Items with a Paintbrush

A dry paintbrush (with bristles at least 3 inches long) is great for both the surface and grooves of your collectibles. Dust framed photos with a pastry brush, which is softer than a paintbrush and easier to dip into corners and places that are difficult to reach.

Revive Canvases with White Bread

Revive Canvases with White Bread

Cut the crust off a piece of white bread, squish the bread into a doughy ball and use it to gently dab the surface of paintings (but not valuable or antique works). Once the ball is covered with dirt and grime, start again with a new slice. Use a pastry brush (or another soft-bristled brush) to clear off any crumbs.

Dust with a Pair of White Gloves

De-grime Shades

Take a hands-on approach to your mini blinds and venetians. Just slip on a pair of white cotton gloves, dip fingers into a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm tap water, then run your fingers across both sides of each slat. Rinse gloves as necessary in a bowl of clean water.

Clean mud with a potato

Remove Mud with a Spud

Slice a potato in half and gently rub the cut end on a muddy slipcover or comforter. Soak the fabric in cool water, then throw it in your next load of laundry.

Keep Air Pure with Houseplants

Go Green with Houseplants

Keep air pure with houseplants. Research from NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America suggests that palms, English ivy, ferns, mums and similar plants remove up to 87 percent of indoor pollutants.

Use a lint brush to dust plants

Freshen Foliage

Use a lint brush with disposable sheets to dust lamp shades and plant leaves.

Use Dry Rice and Water to Clean Vases

Shake it up

To wash a narrow vase, pour in 2 tablespoons of dry rice and ½ cup warm water, cover with the palm of your hand, shake vigorously, then rinse.

Shine up Brass with Ketchup

Raid the Fridge to Polish Brass

Shine brass using a dab of Worcestershire sauce or ketchup. Squeeze the condiment onto a cloth, rub the item, then rinse with water and dry with a towel.

Wipe up Scuffs with a Tennis Ball

Scour Scuffs with a Tennis Ball

Use a new tennis ball to wipe scuff marks off tile, vinyl, woodwork—even painted walls. It won’t harm the surface.