Pantry Love

I want you to know that I love, love, love my pantry.  Up until about 2 years ago, my home was an early 1940's home with NO closets (meaning no pantry, either)! So when we moved into our present home, I was estatic to have a pantry!!

Actually, it's a combination laundry room/pantry (a "landry?").

Whatever you call it, it just makes me happy!

The shelves were emptied and wiped down with fresh-smelling, antibacterial cleaner.  (Better already!)  Everything was replaced according to category and size.

Canisters from Walmart were labeled for a uniform look.  I use the Crock-pot frequently, so it is front and center and easily accessible.  The large laundry basket directly above my dryer is very handy!

This room was painted a sunny color when we moved in... it feels "summer-y" in this room, even while folding laundry on a rainy day, like today. 

Adhesive labels fashioned on my computer...

Spices are stored in convenient storage on the back of the pantry door.

Wicker baskets hide cans...

Okay, I know I'm a little over the top with my "pantry-love" but isn't it beautiful!!!

Okay, so it took me almost a whole week to finish this (Day 7) of the Challenge I'm participating in over at A Bowl Full of Lemons.  But I'm seriously loving the results of the organization in my home and I think the important thing is to continue to move forward.  I'm not going to beat myself up because I'm not completing the challenges on schedule.  I AM going to be persistent and enjoy the process!

Hope you are all having a fantastic 2012!!!

Ciao, Y'all!

I'm linking to . . .

Pondering Pantries

Day 7 of the Organizational Challenge over at A Bowl Full of Lemons is tackling the pantry.  I'm behind, but attacking the chaos and enjoying the process! 

I've been working on my pantry.... really, I have. (Reveal coming soon).  I've also been searching Pinterest for ideas and inspiration, scouring blogs and magazines.  (Maybe I'm overthinking this thing just a bit?) Who am I kidding, I'm just addicted to Pinterest.

Here are a few of my favorites from all the "research."

Don't you just LOVE this color?

Photo from The Container Store on Pinterest

Another beautiful color and wire shelving similar to the shelving in my pantry.

 

Photo from Pinterest

Photo from Pinterest

I'm really diggin' the wire containers...

Photo from Pinterest

and, well, this pantry from The House of Smiths is just to die for!  By the way, you'll love the whole blog.  Check it out HERE.

Are you inspired?  I am!

Thanks for stopping by....until next time,



Organizational Challenge Day 6

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm a little distracted tonight.  College football championship .... organize dresser drawers .... college football championship ... organize dresser drawers.   It's a little hard to concentrate.  You see, if you're not from the South, you may find it hard to relate to all this football madness.  But it's a big part of life... for a large percentage of our year.  And when it's not football season, we're looking forward to, planning for and preparing for...... next football season.  Here's my favorite football player . . . and his sister.  Cute, huh?

Tonight..... Roll Tide!!!

But, let's get to the Organizational Challenge.  Head over to A Bowl Full of Lemons to participate in the Challenge along with me.  If you're just joining in....you're not behind; jump in where you are!

Day 6 - Dresser Drawers

 The drawers were not that disorganized, but were really overstuffed.

Out it all came onto my bed.  I sorted the clothes into items to keep, donate and discard. 

Next, the "keep" items were neatly folded and replaced in the drawers. 

It makes such a different to weed out those items that I don't wear, don't fit or I just don't like.  I'm still working on jewelry storage and we'll address the jewelry box in another post. 

Are you beginning to see a pattern to this organizing idea?

1.  Decide on a manageable area to tackle.

(Don't ignore that word "manageable."  You don't want to be overwhelmed)

2.  Empty the cabinet/drawer/closet of everything. (Yes, everything!)

3.  Wipe down/clean the area to be organized.

4.  Sort the contents into three categories:  Keep, Donate, Discard

5.  Replace the items utilizing organizational tools.

6. Stand back and feel the satisfaction of a job well done!

You can apply these principles to just about anything you want to organize. 
Please let me know how you're tackling (uh oh ... football and blogging don't mix....unintended pun!) your home.  I look forward to hearing from you soon!

HAPPY ORGANIZING!

Sweet Southern Sunday

I love Sundays.  Always have.

Church attendance has always been part of my Sunday.  Worship and fellowship with my church family fill my "tank" and renew my spirit at the beginning of each week.  I am reminded of how blessed I am whether life is sailing along or I have been trudging through a rough patch. 

Our family gathers at my mother and father-in-law's home after church for lunch.  Nieces and nephew playing hide-and-seek, giggles, adults scurrying around with platters of food.  Sometimes I forget how fortunate we are because this is pretty much a weekly ritual.

Afternoons are laaaaaaazy.  Especially a rainy one like today.  Naps, NFL football (yep, me, too!  I LOVE football!), old movies, and, of course, I have to take a cruise by Pinterest and a few blogs. 

 

On my "to do" list for 2012 . . . appreciate my family, faith and fellowship with friends.

Thank you, too, blog readers, for sharing life with me.

I'll be sharing my latest organizational pursuit in a new post soon, for now

Happy Sunday, Ya'll...

Thrift Store Finds and Challenge Day 5

Do you love to shop?  Me, too.  It's relaxing and fun . . . but tough on my pocketbook!  To satisfy my shopping urge, I often slip into a thrift store just a few blocks from my office.   I love to keep an eye on their inventory of picture frames.  Today, I found these for $1.99 each . . .

My original intent was to remove and replace the prints and possibly paint the frames, but I really like them.  I'll leave them as they are for the time being.  What do you think?

I also bought this decorative tile (actual size about 12" x 12") for $2.99.

and yet another framed print for $1.99.

This satisfied my shopping craving ... for today.

I'm sharing over at Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage. Click HERE to check out the party!.

Part II.

Day 5 of the Organizational Challenge over at A Bowl Full of Lemons is a challenge to organize the area underneath your kitchen sink.  Ugh.  I pretty much avoided this space unless I just had to do business under there.  Here is the

... BEFORE 

A jumble of cleaning supplies and flower vases. 

Out all of it came.. The cabinet was cleaned and lined with non-slip liner and supplies placed on a tray to slide in and out of the cabinet.  I stored two metal colanders in the back corner of the cabinet (previously wasted space).

Kitchen towel and washcloths are stored in stacking bins in front. 

I was inspired by Rita May's post HERE over at May Days.

Here is my AFTER photo . . .

Soooo much better.

The space is utilized much better.

Day 5 - DONE!

I'd love to know where your organizational journey is taking  you.

 Maybe in my next post I'll share a little bit of the design whirlwind that's going on in my brain.  I've gotta do something about it - I've can't sleep 'cause my brain can't slow down!  Whew...

Until then,

Live, Love and Learn...

I'm so glad you stopped by!

Linen Closet Organization

Well, I have to admit it.  I'm embarassed to show my "Before" picture.  But here goes...

 BEFORE

Ewwwww....

You know, I don't know why this didn't drive me nuts before now.  So thankful that this Challenge is forcing me to face areas that I normally would just pass on by.

Out everything came and boy was there a lot!  There were quite a few items that didn't belong in that closet at all.  They were all distributed into their proper places throughout the house.  Lots of items belonged in the workroom in the basement.  Others simply belonged in the trash!

I have accumulated lots of personal care items through couponing that were stored in that closet, as well - toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving cream, etc., well, you get the idea.

I did not purchase new "organizing tools."  Although I would have loved to have taken a shopping trip before I tackled this area, I have resolved to use what I have first.  I used several boxes left over from my daughter's dorm room when she was away at school.  They didn't all match, but they corral the "stuff" just fine. 

Organizing my linen closet was the last thing I wanted to do after working all day and cooking dinner.  But I have to say, the satisfaction was worth it all!!

Are you ready?

Drum roll, please....

AFTER!

That's it for Day 4 of the Organizational Challenge.  Head on over to A Bowl Full of Lemons to see what Toni's been up to and check out the Day 4 results from around blogland.

Hope you're having as much fun with this as I am!

Thanks for stoppin' by y'all!

Organizational Challenge, Day 3

Day 3 of the 21 Day Organizational Challenge hosted by A Bowl Full of Lemons.  Today was my first full day back at work after the Christmas break and a brief bout of sickness.  Anyone else find it difficult to return to "real life" after the lovely (lazy) holidays?

On to Day 3 of the Challenge . . . the Messy Tupperware Cabinets.  Actually, my Tupperware cabinet is pretty organized.  I force myself to get rid of plasticware on a regular basis.  That stuff can multiply rapidly!  Here is my cabinet with only a few pieces of plasticware on the bottom shelf:

But, my pots and pans cabinet was another matter altogether!  I hated just opening the door.  Everything was a jumble and finding the right pan took quite a bit of loud clanging.

 I emptied everything onto the floor.

I grabbed a fresh smelling, antibacterial cleaner and went to work.



    

Once clean, I lined the bottom of the cabinet with a non-slip liner.

I replaced the pots, stacking skillets by size and utilizing a new lid holder (purchased at Wal-Mart). A couple of my pots were still in the dishwasher since I had just cooked dinner, but as you can see, there is plenty of room to replace them!  Yay!

The crock to hold stirring utensils, etc. found a new home on the counter.

Time to reward myself!

Want to see how others are meeting the 21 Day Organizational Challenge?  Head on over to A Bowl Full of Lemons to check it out!  Don't wait until all the conditions are perfect...  Better DONE than perfect!

Hope y'all have a wonderful, restful evening...

Anita