The Day We Organized the Pantry

When was the last time you organized your pantry?

Well, it is time to do it for the Holidays, don`t you think? 

Before you buy a new can of cranberry jelly, why not to do an inventory: you may find out that you already have 4 of them. And you`ve just saved money. Isn`t that a good start?

I would like to give you some tips on how to organize your pantry?

First of all remember this important organizing rule: store like items together.

Try to group your items as follows: 

Dry goods # 1.: pasta, grains, legumes

Note: pasta, once opened, can be kept in original packaging until expiration date

Dry goods # 2.: canned food: tomato sauce/paste/diced etc.; canned vegetables, soups. 

Dry goods # 3.: breakfast items: syrup, pancake mix, cocoa mix, jelly,        

Note: cereal boxes varies by size; even if use your own containers, I would suggest designate a separate corner/shelf for them if possible .

Baking: flour,sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder. 

Note: flour, sugar should be contained for ease of use and more organized storing in this perfect flour holder at Organizer Store`s, it serves for sugar as well:

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage/leftoversPlastic?productId=10022862&green=44D8C0F6-563E-54A2-B2DD-F327C1C7E987 

    

Note on storing nuts: be it whole, gorund or chopped, keep them in your freezer in a tight zip lock bag or covered plastic container. They will stay fresh longer and are ready when you need them. No need to defrost.

Snacks: cookies, crackers, pop corn, candies,

     Snack items can be stored in plastic jars, or small baskets, or small containers with lid, so they could be stackable.

If your kitchen cabinets allows it, try make use of an over the door organizer, like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Door-Six-Basket-Storage-Unit/dp/B001QD7VRK

And don`t forget to label your containers! 

Check out what other storage solutions CONTAINER STORE has to offer for your pantry:

 http://www.containerstore.com/shop/kitchen/foodStorage

Dear blog-readers: feel free to add your own ideas and share what you feel appropriate.

Coming up : Organizing recipes

Have a great day and organize with a smile!

The Day We Organized the Kitchen

As I have recently moved in with my boyfriend, I have started my own organizing project.  

I thought I would share it with everyone.

The Day(s) we organized the kitchen:

Well, it is a huge project, so once you decide to do it on your own, my advice to you is: do not think you can finish it in one day, instead schedule 2-3 half days for it. It does not need to be done in one day anyway, and your kitchen is I am sure, more organized, than the one I deal with, my boyfriend had been living a bachelor life for a long time.

So, here I am starting with the kitchen: I have to tell you I have seen homes, where things were found at the least expected places, but my sweetheart is some guy!

I open the cabinet, where pots and pans are supposed to be and what I find is: paint cans…hmm. Interesting, I thought. Then I look for a spoon, pull out one drawer, I see tools: a hammer, a screwdriver, etc..let`s try the next one: well, it is filled with tapes, nails, screws etc.

I have not counted how many doors and drawers I had opened, but here is a list of Mike`s kitchen cabinets` contained: plumbing supplies/parts, office supplies, electric plates/covers, Xmas decor, old photographs, pencils (enough for a school) etc. 

Within  3 days  Mike`s kitchen has undergone some quality changes, thanks to me.

Well, every kitchen has a junk drawer, I am sure yours does too.

My today`s task for you my dear readers is: to clean/organize your junk drawer. 

Here are some of the basic rules whenever, whatever we organize: 
- set  yourself a certain amount of time (10-15 mins, half an hour) and do not allow distractions. 

if your phone rings, do not answer, let the machine pick up (if you are waiting for an important call, do not start the project at that time, do it some other time), 

- this is not the time to dream over old photos, you find, or read that magazine`s article that you had never got to read. Instead add them to your to do list, and let yourself move on with the project you have started. You will finish your project in time and you will feel satisfied, energized. If you let yourself taking time to read or check out every single piece in your hand, then you will get frustration instead of success..

One more tip: 

whatever you find, that does not belong there, try to put it where it belongs right away, if it does not have a home yet, just “park” it somewhere temporarily and schedule a time when you deal with it later, but do not forget about it. I am not urging you to leave a mess, and walk away feeling proud of yourself.

It is more important  that you finish your project according to your plan. 

If you would like, you can share it with me and other readers on this blog, how you organized your own kitchen/junk drawer, what was the funniest, weirdest thing you had found or how quickly you finished it.

Have a great day and organize with a smile!