one organizing project at a time {pantry}

I took Monday off from work, with plans to get LOTS of stuff done (but I ended up getting sick with a cold/allergies and felt yucky!).  

One of the things I definitely wanted to complete was reorganizing my pantry (so I made sure it was first on my list of things to do).  *You can read about how Mike turned our coat closet into a pantry HERE* (link fixed).  I am usually pretty good about putting things where they belong (but sometimes I have helpers, LOL!), but the shelf pictured in the "before" photo ended up in the small space, making it hard to get things to their correct spot, so things were put anywhere and then it just got out of control!!

I took everything out of the pantry and threw out the things that were expired (there was even a weird colored bottle of ketchup way in the back~GROSS!).  I decided NOT  put the shelf back in there (it is going to it's new home this weekend...Josh & Jess' garage).  

It is so NICE that  I can see everything, so hopefully I won't throw out as much expired stuff next time!!

I was surprised that I got it all back in there, with room to spare!!  It is amazing how a project that took me about an hour made me feel so much better!!  Now I open the door just to look inside!! 

 I think my  next organizing project will be under the bathroom sinks (stuff multiplies and ends up in the wrong spot there too!!).  

Do you have any organizing projects planned??

Can Organizers HERE.

Plastic Basket HERE. and HERE.

Food Grade Storage Bucket HERE.

Happy Organizing!

Enjoy Today!!

WW, Celebrating Life, Pantry...

Hi all,
Happy Monday to you~did you have a nice weekend? I am still fighting this cold that my hubby shared with me last week~yuck!! I am hoping I start feeling better this week!!! I am tired of blowing my nose every 5 min!!

On Friday, even though I was feeling kinda yucky...I decided to go to my local WW meeting to find out about the new Points Plus Program. I was a little hesitant and nervous, since I had so much success with the old program; but the 0 point fruit was really making me CURIOUS!!! I am so glad I went, because I think I am really gonna like the new program!! Change is good, right?? (sometimes, LOL!!). So I picked up my new materials and one of these (*note these are cheaper at the ww meetings; I paid $16 US dollars) and have been eating way more on this plan than the other one~which makes me happy *smile* I don't really have much to lose, just a few holiday pounds~but I love how WW keeps me on track.



Saturday I went to celebrate the life of my friend Mark Cain (who passed away on 12/24/10). What a nice service it was~celebrating his life and hearing my good friend Cindy talk about him as a husband and dad. He served on the Hospitality team with me at church, and I will deeply miss his smiling face and willing heart to serve.

I made this card for Cindy, and will be mailing it to her today. She is such a strong person and has been through so much~just want her to know how much I enjoy her friendship and how I love her!!



And as promised, Here are the before and after photos of my closet to pantry makeover. It is still considered pretty small in the pantry world~but I am LOVING the extra space for all my canned goods and other food items. And my OCD is just loving the can organizers!!! It is still a work in progress; Mike is going to extend the top shelf (which isn't pictured), and maybe do something on the side walls. It is so nice when I go to Costco now~if something is on sale, I can buy it because I now have room to store it *smile*

Before:




After:



Notice...
*the gingerbread house that never got decorated at Christmas
*I was too lazy to paint the shelves, LOL!!
*we like rice :)

Have a Wonderful Monday!