Pantry and Spice Rack Organization

Here are a couple of simple ways to help organize your spice area and your pantry:

Spice Organizing 

1.   PURGE your spices.  If you don't date them when you open them, start doing it from now on with a sharpie on the lid.  Keep in mind that spices don't "go bad" - they just loose their potency and flavor.  

I went through mine and found those few in the back that I needed for some random recipe that didn't work out and I've never chunked the bottle.  If it is still good, see if a friend or neighbor uses it and pass it along to them.  If not, trash can here we come! 

2. Take stock.  This is also a good time to take stock of what you have to avoid duplicate purchases and also to think ahead..."oh, I'm making pickles soon....I'll need Alum and Cinnamon Sticks, etc..."  

3. Make note on shopping list.  While you are taking stock, make a simple note on your shopping list of spices you are running low on, need to replace, or need to stock up on. 

4. Wipe it down. While everything is out of the cabinet / area, clean it well.  

I organize my spices two ways.  First, I have my basic spices on a simple three tier spice rack (most used up front and less often used in back).  For the ones I use ALL of the time (salts, peppers, minced onion, garlic powder, vanilla,) I have a turntable which I love.  This system works the best for me.  

5.  Cluster together mixes / boullions / odd shaped spices.  These little guys can get lost in between cans and in the back of cabinets.  You can use a simple basket or plastic container to corral them for easy finding and also taking stock for recipes / shopping.  For my McCormick / Lipton packets, Tastefully Simple mixes and boullion packets, I found a cute divided clear container at IKEA.  I love the three divided sections to keep things separate and also that it is clear so I can easily see my stock.  

I also love that it snaps shut and is closed because I'm weird like that!!!

It fits nicely on the same shelf with my spice rack and turntable - right by the stove for easy reach. 

Pantry Organizing

1.  Pull EVERYTHING out.  Yes, everything!  Clear your kitchen table and counters off so you have lots of room and have a trash can close by.  

2.  Clean each shelf.   (OK, self-explanatory!)

3.  If you've never lined your shelves, now would be a good time to do that.  If you do have them lined and they have seen better days, consider replacing them. 

4.  PURGE!  One of my favorite words!  Again, be ruthless - do you still have items from a "trial and error" recipe?  Did you buy a big box of a cereal that really tasted horrible, but it ended up back in the pantry?  Are there items that are still good, but you don't use, that you can share with a friend?  

5.  Check expiration dates.  

6.  Donate to a food pantry.  If you have unopened non-perishable food items that you are not going to use, place them together in a bag.  Second part......walk out to your car and put the bag in so you can drop them off on your next trip out!!!   If second part is not followed, you will have a bag full of food sitting in a corner of your kitchen or on the counter for the next few months creating clutter!!  (My other favorite word). 

7.  Sort your food by category.  For instance, mine are:

Baking (flours, sugars, baking powders/soda, cake mixes, etc..)

Cereals

"Helpers" (Suddenly Salad, rice, instant potatoes, etc...)

Fruit (pears, applesauces, raisins, etc....)

Canned goods 

Drink mixes

Pastas and pasta sauces

Snacks (cookies, crackers, etc...) 

By separating all of your food items in groups, it will make it easier for you to find needed items and again, to see what you have in stock vs. what needs to be noted on the shopping list.  

I also have started taking some food products out of their cardboard boxes and putting them in separate containers.  (I know you've seen the magazines where it is all color coded and matchy - that is really not the reason I started doing this.  Hubby and my oldest son ALWAYS take the last one out and leave the box!!  This drives me crazy!  I would look in the pantry, think we have something only to find out later, we don't.  Taking it out of its package has saved me a lot of headaches!)

8.  Label your areas.  This will not only be a good reminder for you to keep it this way as you put away groceries or cook, but will be a "flag" for others to put stuff back where they found it.  

You don't have to spend a lot of $$ on containers - I've used clear plastic boxes from the dollar store.  I'm not doing it to impress - I'm doing it to make it easier on me!

9.  Oil the squeak!  If there is anything about how your kitchen is set up that annoys you and you can change it by rearranging, purchasing a product, fixing something - do it!!  For me, it was the top two shelves above my pantry.  When we were building our house, it didn't take into consideration being vertically challenged and those shelves are a bit out of reach.  I basically use the top one for extra stock and sauces. However, when I needed something off the top shelf, or if I needed to see if I had any Ranch dressing left, if it wasn't in the very front I would have to go into the mudroom to get the step stool.  Climb up on the step stool, get the jar, climb down, go put the stool away.  OK - I know - not life changing - but it was annoying me, and has been for the last four years.  Finally I did some research and found these:

OXO Good Grips Turntables

No, I'm not promoting them or making any $$ by recommending them.  I just really find them to be exceptional.  These turntables can be loaded with a lot of weight and still spin freely.  I needed that for my situation (mayo, ketchup, dressings, salsa) - these things are not light!  

So I purchased two.  One for sauces and one for extra stock items.  "Oil your squeak!"  What little thing justs "urks" you??  Think of a solution / product to help / re-arrangement to make your life easier!

Now it is easy for me to "spin" and grab what I need.  Or to "spin" and see if I need to note dressing on my shopping list when I take the last one.  

I hope you can implement some of these ideas into your own kitchen.  I would love to hear how they work!!

Time to freshen up those bathroom cabinets!

Purge, purge, purge!!!

Check those expiration dates.

Combine half open boxes (of course of the same product)

Be ruthless.

Do I really need four of ...............?

Pass along or throw out!  

OK - now, let's get started.

I found these cute baskets with liners at Target.  I also found the black clips on their dollar racks, but unfortunately for my shelving, they were too large.  I'll save those for another project.  I finally used double sided tape which turned out great.  

My all time favorite organizing helper - my Scotch Thermal Laminator.

While purging, group your items into "like" groups.

Mine were:

Q-tips & Dixie Cups
Shaving Needs
Deodorant, Contacts, Nail care
NyQuil, Cough, Sore Throat
Head cold, Tummy, Mouth pain, Muscles



By looking at this photo, you may think that we are sick all of the time!  Actually, I just stock up when a good deal comes around and I have a coupon.

Note:  while you have everything pulled out and laying on the counter, give those shelves a good cleaning.  I also have liners on my shelves to help if anything decides to leak.

I chose scrapbooking cardstock that would compliment my bathroom wall color then printed off the labels. I also used scrapbooking oval cutters and laminated them so they would hold up better.

Here are my cabinet on the right side of my vanity:

The bottom shelf I saved for my perfumes and cup holder.  Smaller items that are frequently used.

Here is the left side of cabinets:

My "hair" products still need improving.  I think once I use them up, I will purchase a Lazy Susan and just keep my current stock there.

 On the bottom shelf, we have an outlet built into the back to charge our hair clippers (extra guards are in that lime green container).  My make-up is in the basket on the left.  I'm keeping my eyes open for something first, large enough to hold my makeup and second, small enough to fit into the shelf and thirdly - of course, must be cute!

Would love to hear your freshening up projects you are doing at your house! 

Battery Organization

It seems to always happen.  During a birthday party, Christmas morning, late in the evening after you've just returned from the store......you need a battery.  You dig in the junk drawers / bins....you need three AAA, but only find a few AA and a D.  UGGHH!  (Confession:  Previously, I've have been known to take those out of "less played with toys" / remotes / battery operated Swifter / etc... to put into new toys.)  

                                         

Enough!!  I came across these cute three drawer containers at Target - perfect size to hold a good number of batteries and yet small enough to store with my "stock" shelves above my washer and dryer. 

7 inches wide

7 inches tall

My favorite drawer is the "speciality" drawer.  If I'm going to the drugstore / Walmart for a watch battery - buy two or three and save a trip.  If your kids have a special toy or musical book - do the same!!  Garage door openers / keychain remotes for cars.......Saves time and gas.

The other drawers are the basic battery sizes "AAA", "AA", "9V", "C", "D" - the drawers are clear to I can easily "inventory" if I'm making a run to a "bulk" store to stock up or if I see a good sale and / or coupon.

Its a very basic idea - but honestly, one of my favorite "conveniences" in my house :)  I feel if I can solve one "headache" at a time in my house, I'm a much better more patient wife and mother.

Menu Planning

OK - here is a very simple way to plan for a whole week of meals and only shop ONCE a week.

1.  The only really time consuming part (but you only do it once) is go through your recipes / cookbooks / cooking magazines, etc....  and pick 40-50 of your family's favorite "go to" meals.  Be sure to include easy ones (ie Breakfast night: eggs, bacon, toast  or soup and sandwich night, etc...)
      One an index sized card (or if you want to get pretty and fancy - card stock), write the meal on the front and on the back the ingredients.  You could even laminate them if you are really feeling spunky !!!

2.  Sit down with your week's calendar.  Look at what is going on this week.  What night's are you going to be busy and need an easier meal (ie crock pot, etc.) What night's are sports practices, scouts, etc.  On these days, can you make something ahead ( ie casseroles) and just warm them up when you get home? 

3.  Pick out 7 meals for the week - keeping in mind step 2.  You can keep them in an envelope on your counter, write them on a chalkboard / dry erase board / clip them to clothespins on a bulletin board.  Get as creative or simple as you want.  Whatever is going to keep you interested and motivated to use it.  

4.  Take those 7 cards and turn them over.  Look at each ingredient and check the pantry/ fridge / freezer as you go along.  Make a list of what you need and there you go...  your weekly shopping list!!

5.  Add on the basics that you may have to get every week (milk, baby food, pet food, produce, etc....)  These are many "Master Grocery Lists" online that may help in this area - just Google them.

6.  Make a habit of doing this and set a day when you go to the grocery store.  If you are into couponing, search online sites or the paper for coupons for anything on your list.  Put a "*" next to those items to remind you to review it - do you need to buy a certain size or quantity??

I personally have a really cute clipboard that I got a Target in their dollar section for my grocery list.  I put my coupons in an envelope and usually grab the grocery store's current flyer and put them on the clipboard too.  Don't forget a pen!! 

Best words of advice - STICK TO THE LIST!!!  Get in and get out!  You will see a big difference in your food budget by purchasing exactly what you need for your planned meals and there won't be that 5pm panic "What are we having for dinner??  Oh, let's order in!"  Talk about blowing a food budget!!

Another tip:  when you are cleaning up from dinner, take a peek at what you are having tomorrow night for dinner - are there pork chops / chicken breasts that need to defrost in the fridge overnight???  Go ahead and put them in now (the night before) and you'll be even more ahead of the game tomorrow.

Try it and let me know how it works for you!

Christmas Binder Organizer

With Christmas right around the corner, I've had several

requests to re-post a favorite to get you through

the holiday season a little less stressed.....

You can start this binder anytime during the year

and NO, its not too late to start it now.

Enjoy!

My Christmas Organizer Binder

Love it, Love it, Love it....

I have dividers for the following:

Recipes

Gifts

Decor / decorations

Calendar

Cards

Thank you's

Receipts

Recipes & Decor

During the year, when I see an interesting recipe or a pretty

decorating idea that would be good during the Christmas season,

I tear it out and put it in the binder. 

This keeps any new ideas in one place for me to look through

as the holiday gets closer. 

Gifts

I use the gift section all year long - not only for others but also my own family. 

When I hear a friend or family member say, "Isn't that cute - I should get one..."

in the binder it goes!

This is a great way to compile a list of ideas for everyone

so you'll never say, "I have no idea what to get her / him this year!!"

Also, when my hubby or I see something that we need / want, but

it really isn't necessary at the time, that "something"

goes in under gifts for us.

This way, when we are asked by parents or siblings for ideas for us,

I can actually give them several practical ideas instead of saying,

"Oh, whatever, we don't need a thing."

Then you end up with more stuff you don't need! 

Which leads to the inevitable clutter - uugghhh..

Calendar

I have a calendar to pencil in parties, personal deadlines for myself.

For example, have cards mailed by...., have decorations done by.....,

get Christmas tree this weekend....

Cards

I keep a list of who I sent Christmas cards to the year before.

Confession here - I actually stopped cards last year and loved it.

Horrible, I know.

Honestly, I probably won't send cards again - it truly was a liberating experience!!

Thank You's

I keep a list of presents received for hubby and me as well as the boys

under "Thank You's" to make sure I send a prompt note to the giver.

Yes, I make my sons (oldest right now) write "Thank You" notes,

even if they only copy what I write - it teaches them while they are young.

Receipts

I also keep a zippered pouch for receipts and a divider for larger online receipts

which I punch holes in.  This not only keeps track of $$, but also

makes any returns much easier.

Good idea:  At the end of the season to jot down supplies that you are running low on

while you are actively going through your wrapping supplies and decorations,

so when the sales happen - you'll know just what to pick up

(i.e. tissue paper, tape, ribbon, new tree skirt, large shirt boxes, etc....)

(Above on left) I also tear out gift ideas and prices from catalogs to jog

my memory as well get closer to the holiday.

One HUGE benefit I found of this binder is keeping track of how much I have spent.

With tracking receipts and gift purchases throughout the year,

I can shop the sales anytime and keep a current list of what I've bought

and how much I've spent on anyone. 

Very easy!!

Start a Christmas binder of your own and see what a huge difference it'll

make in your holiday season!

A Simple Reminder

I am fortunate to have a second 

washer and dryer in the garage.

This makes doing hubby's farm clothes a lot easier

since I can keep them all separate from the rest of the household's clothes.

The only problem is that I can't hear the dryer buzzer while I'm in the house.

I usually remember that I had put a load in as I roll into bed at 10pm.

By then, of course, everything is all wrinkled - and I don't do ironing

if I can help it.

Problem solved:

This is my little blue ribbon.

She lives here -

in the kitchen drawer directly beneath her perch right by the door.

When I come in from the garage, either starting a wash load 

or putting clothes in the dryer, 

I hang my little blue ribbon up.

Like all housewives, I pretty much live in my kitchen area,

so I can see it and it reminds me that 

clothes will need my attention.

I sometimes use it even for the inside washer and dryer.

If the boys are being extra loud that day and if the door

to the laundry room is closed - I may miss the buzzer.

So, the little blue ribbon = "clothes are in progress."

Easy fix to a nagging problem.  



Organizing Your Child's Artwork

Its all beautiful,

of course, because our children made it.

We know we can't keep it all, so I came up with a

solution for the keepers and "non-keepers."

I have a rotating art gallery in my kitchen and in the playroom.

I have large windows in my kitchen.

 I simply punch a hole in the artwork and

use a hook suction cup and ......

there you go!

I especially love it when the kids do "holiday themed" artwork

because it makes the room look so festive - I can get away with

minimal decorations in my kitchen for Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc...

Very easy to do and they feel special that their pieces

are on "display."

Especially when we have company over for dinner -

it makes for a flattering topic of conversation for them.

Upstairs, I did something similar.  With tacks and ribbon, I made

a display place for our Alphabet cards and a place

for them to hang more artwork underneath. 

You can use regular wooden clothespins or cute ones like these.

(I found on the World Market website)

Aren't they adorable??

These two places help keep all of the art pieces under control.

When my oldest comes home with new artwork, he simply

removes the ones he's tired of looking at - either in the kitchen or in the playroom

and replaces it with the new pictures.

Then I can come behind him, guilt free, and keep my "true" favorites. 

I mean guilt free because every piece has been displayed and enjoyed by our family

and guests. 



Note: The extra special ones, I make note of the grade / year and have them

laminated.  With the expense - I only do the VERY SPECIAL ones.

I hope this gives you new ideas for your artwork gallery in your home.

My Cleaning Box

Oh, how I squealed when I saw this box and matching index

card dividers. 

Too cute!

If you didn't know, I adore anything stationary,

organizing, office supplies and the kind.

Isn't she sweet ????

This is how I set up my "Cleaning Box."

It keeps me organized and motivated.

My hubby just rolls his eyes when I line up the next

day's cards on the kitchen counter.

It's like a challenge - and I'm going to win!!
Each item below has its own index card to put away
when completed or moved to the next month if needed.

Daily

(You end up doing all of these things enough - you may

not open this folder often)

• make beds & tidy up bedrooms
• wipe down bathroom counters
• quick clean on the toilets
• quick clean of kitchen after dinner
• empty dishwasher in morning
• take out trash and recycling after dinner(oldest son's chores)
• quick dry mop of hardwood floors

Monday

• Clean half bath
• tidy up laundry room
• strip and remake all beds
• wash sheets and put them away
• empty upstairs trash
• go to local recycling / dump if needed

Tuesday

•  Vacuum master bedroom and bath
• dust master bedroom
• clean master bath

Wednesday

• Vacuum downstairs
• dust living room
• clean out fridge (wipe down shelves, throw out items)
• Change all towels in bathrooms

Thursday

• Vacuum upstairs
• Clean boy's bathroom
• Dust upstairs

Friday

• Clean kitchen (wipe down all counters, appliances, cabinets, knobs, etc)
• Dust office and dining room
• Wet mop hardwoods

Saturday

• Anything skipped this week or a "monthly item"

Sunday

• Make out menu for week
• clip coupons
• tidy pantry / mentally review inventory
• make grocery list for the week

Monthly Items

I move these along month to month as I finish them:

• Empty out, wipe down, purge and reorganize pantry
• Vacuum window blinds
• Vacuum all mattresses and wash mattress pads

In addition, I have "special" cards for certain months:

January / June

Clean all ceiling fans.

February / July

Clean all light fixtures.

March / August

Clean, purge & reorganize all kitchen cabinets and drawers.

I also have an additional reminder here in March for me to start looking

into summer camps for the boys.

April / September

Clean outside of all kitchen  & bathroom cabinets with tea tree oil and polish.

May / October

Flip all mattresses when cleaning.

June / November

Clean under fridge, stove.

Vacuum coils.

Clean fan / filter / hood of stove.

Purchase all cards for occasions for next 6 months. 

(January - June)

(July - December)

July / December

Change smoke detector batteries.

Note:  I also change my air filters in the house every three months.

I usually purchase enough of these at the beginning of the year and store them

in my laundry room.

I also make note on my calendar which months to change them.

To some of you, this may seem a little extreme.

Some days I find it that way too,

but with us living on the farm, my house seems to get so dirty so quickly.

Or maybe it's having all boys....

Anyway, all of the dirt, dust and dander from the farm always

makes its way into the house

and for me to feel like I'm on top of it,

I resort to this cleaning method.

Keep in mind,

that I fall "off of the wagon" sometimes and the box

doesn't get opened for a few weeks,

but then I can't stand it and get going again.

Organizing Children's Books

Earlier this year I noticed something so key. 

How I never noticed it with my oldest is beyond me....

My youngest son who can't read yet was picking out his bedtime books.

He was standing in front of his bookcase and pulling each one out to look at the front.

After looking at the cover, he would push it back in, lay it on the floor,

or choose it to be read.

I then realized that for "pre-readers" setting up their books

like a library wasn't working.

I

They can't read the title on the spine.

They want to see the cover to know what it's about.

So I went to Target and found these cute and sturdy fabric baskets.

Now he sits in front of them and flips through them choosing what he wants to read.

The basket on the left holds our books.

The one on the right holds the library books.

For the most part, it stays like this.

Confession:  I am a library junkie.  We go there at least once a week.

I have a huge basket that I lug in with us and fill it to the top.

Go support your local library!!!



I try to rotate our own books out every week or two,

especially around the season or upcoming holiday.

Although Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

stays out all year long.

Fabulous book given to my boys by my very best friend.

If you haven't read it to your kids - Go get it!!!

Give this a try with your kids -

I'm sure both of you will love it!!