The Well Stocked Pantry ~ P{3} Style

If you are tired of hearing about closets and pantries you might just want to skip this one...

I don't have any other fun, finished projects to share.  Tons of unfinished projects, but I'll bet you are getting pretty tired of seeing those.  I know I am.  Yes, I am talking to you as if I have a regular following here for my (not so) daily dose of DIY goodness.  HA!  I pretty much feel like a blog failure.  I'm kinda joking, but not totally.  It's all for fun.  But, if you don't mind, I am going to continue on with my illusions...
Since we are working on this big, seemingly never-ending purging, organizing, building, and decorating project, I have a serious shortage of spare time.  Not that I had much to begin with.  And I've been kind of cranky.  Yeah, that's right.  My desire for chocolate, wine, and escaping to a quiet room with a good book has increased lately.  If only it happened regularly!!!  (All, of course, after the kids have gone home for the day). 

Previous posts about the under stair closet space here and here and here.

I have compiled a list of pantry items to help me with this organizing ordeal we've taken on.  Haha.  There are a few cooking and homemaking websites with more specialized "well stocked pantry" lists.  They all have nice lists.  Each had items that, in my book were keepers, and some not so necessary items.  So, I compiled my own ~ based on what we use as a family, and the types of meals and snacks we like to have on hand.  This list would probably be different for your family.  I encourage you to create your own list.  Or copy this and delete what you don't need and add what you do.  Use this as an organizing tool when you set up your pantry space (look at me assuming everyone else has a disorganized pantry, like myself).  It really comes in handy to know what items you need dedicated space for, when you are doing your space planning. 


A "pantry" is simply a storage space for Non-perishable food items.   It is what you make of it:

It doesn't matter if it is a built in closet:

via iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via pinterest

A cabinet inside of your kitchen:

via Pinterest for iphone

A free-standing cabinet:

via inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via pinterest

You can create your own with a kitchen cart:

via bhg.com via Pinterest

Or a shelf (I like this crate shelf personally):

via cgi.ebay.com.au via Pinterest

Cover it with a curtain if you don't like the open shelf look. 

It doesn't take a lot of money, or a grand built-in, walk-in pantry, to have an attractive and functional pantry space.    What is most important is that it is conveniently located close to your kitchen, and it contains the items you need on a regular basis. 

Here is the Pantry list I've compiled for our family: 

Non-perishable Pantry Items

Seasonings, Sauces and Condiments

Balsamic vinegar
BBQ Sauce
Beef Bouillon Granules
Chicken Bouillon Granules
Cooking sherry
Hot sauce
Ketchup
Mustard
Onion Soup Mix
Ranch Dressing Mix
Sesame Oil
Soy Sauce
Taco Seasoning Mix
Teriyaki Sauce
Tomato Bouillon (granules or cubes for HM Spanish Rice, Taco Meat Seasoning & much more)
Vinegar (Cider, Rice & Red Wine)
White cooking wine
Worcestershire Sauce
(You might want to add whatever spices, extracts and seasonings your family uses regularly...I keep my cooking spices in the kitchen, next to the stove, so I did not list them all here.)

Baking Needs

Almond Extract
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Bread Crumbs (regular and Panko)
Confectioner's Sugar
Corn Meal
Corn Syrup
Cornstarch
Evaporated Milk
Flour (all purpose and self-rising)
Honey
Jell-O packages (miscellaneous sizes and flavors for fruit salads)
Non-stick cooking spray
Olive Oil
Rolled oats
Stuffing Mix
Sugar (granulated, confectioners, brown)
Vanilla Extract
Vegetable Oil

Beans

Pinto beans
Black Beans
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Red Beans
Re fried Beans
White Navy Beans

Fruit

Applesauce
Cranberries, dried
Fruit Cups (if you have children or don't like to shop often)
Pineapple, Crushed
Raisins

Miscellaneous

Coffee
Guest Crackers (crackers for Hors d'Oeuvres)
Graham Crackers
Nutella
Peanut Butter
Pretzels
Snack Crackers (Goldfish, Ritz, Wheat Thins)
Tea bags

Pasta and Rice

Egg Noodles
Elbow Macaroni
Fettuccine
Penne Pasta
Rice (brown, calrose, instant, wild)
Rice Noodles 
Spaghetti Noodles

Produce

Onions
Potatoes

Vegetables (Canned)

Creamed Corn
Green Beans
Jalapeno peppers
Mushroom Pieces
Pimientos
Roasted Red Peppers
Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)
Tomatoes (crushed, diced, sauce, and paste)
Water chestnuts, sliced

Other Canned Goods

Broth or Stock (beef, chicken, vegetable, tomato)
Chili
Coconut Milk (for Thai dishes)
Cream Soups
Enchilada Sauce, red and green (my family prefers green)
Green Chilies, diced
Salsa
Pasta Sauces (Spaghetti Sauce, Alfredo Sauce, Pesto)
Tuna

Paper & Plastic

Coffee Filters
Heavy Duty Foil
Plastic Wrap
Wax Paper
Parchment Paper
Plastic Baggies (Freezer and Storage, several different sizes)
Paper Plates
Napkins
Paper Towels


If you are working on a purge and organization project of your own, I would love to hear about it!  Leave a comment or even a link to your photos or post!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sherry

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Imagine the Impossibilities Challenge ~ Take 1

Yesterday we attempted to discuss the challenge that lay before us.  You know, that challenge that we talked about HERE? 

Basically we want all of our storage spaces to look something like this:

Via Pinterest and http://roost-home.blogspot.com

Here is a before picture of the closet under the stairs (Our DIY storage area):

And here is a look at our laundry room and makeshift pantry in all of it's "laundry day" glory:

YEP, THIS IS REAL LIFE PEOPLE.  We wouldn't want to clean it up to give you the wrong impression.  That cabinet shoved into the laundry room is our pantry space.  It makes no sense.  The doors are always left open and even if you wanted to close them there might be something on the floor stopping you...like piles of laundry waiting to be washed!  The mops and brooms are shoved into the corner behind that little chest freezer...and who knows what else.  Yikes...do we even want to know!?

Let me just say that Scott and I have very different styles of getting things done. 

How can I put this???

I am a Planner.  I want to sit down with a paper and pen and "map out" what needs to be done and in what order.  Pinpointing the main goals and possible difficulties before getting started.  Knowing where to start, what steps to take and in which order.  Sometimes this may slow down my progress but it also keeps me sane.  (I know, that's a matter of opinion!).  I just strongly dislike house wide chaos...

Scott is a Doer.  (Have you ever heard the term, "Bulldozer"?)   He wants to know what the end-goal is and then he jumps right in to start tackling whatever aspect is in sight.  He doesn't let any grass grow under his feet!  He doesn't like mapping out the steps or explaining why he is doing what he is doing.  If I say, "Honey, what do you think about tearing down this wall to open up the kitchen?", he has his sledge hammer out in the blink of an eye.

Some people say we balance each other out...or...
Opposites attract...or...
We complete each other...

Call it whatever you want.  When it's time to work on a big project together it goes something like this...

Scott "So, what do you want done?"
Me "I want to purge and organize the pantry, closet and garage storage space."
Scott "Okay, what are you doing with this and this and this..." grabbing miscellaneous items.
Me "Wait a minute, I need to look at that..."
Scott doesn't hear because he's too busy moving large armfuls of stuff to different areas of the house to clear a way for his new shelving project.
Me "Hey, we need to look at this project and figure out what shelving and storage containers we already have to utilize and what items we KNOW we need to have a permanent space for."  And yes, I speak in run on sentences too...
Scott "Where do you want this and this and this..." holding out miscellaneous things.
Me "Hey, can we plan to do this in several stages so we don't have everything strewn throughout the house for days on end ,when we aren't able to work on it?"
Scott "Hhhmmmphfff" still moving things to miscellaneous piles throughout house.
Me "Hey, we need to define our storage needs so that we get it right the first time and don't have to do it all over again in six months or a year."
Scott "Uh Huh" Hands me a clipboard and pencil.  "What are we keeping?"
Me "Do we want to move the pantry items to the stairwell closet so they are closer to the kitchen and the DIY stuff to the garage or laundry room?"
Scott "Sure."
Scott standing in the laundry room "We obviously need storage for paper and plastic bags."  As he pulls countless bags out of the little pocket of space that had been formed between the cabinet and the freezer.
Me "Can we just start with the first space and clear it out and get it ready for what we KNOW we want there..."
Scott "We need a spot for food, and chemicals, and extra kitchen gadgets, and cleaners, and bags, and we need a laundry sorting doodad...and..."
Me "I can't do this with you tonight..."

I like a plan.  He likes action.

Moral of this story:  Do not tell Scott there is a project until you have completely mapped out the plan of action.

These basic differences can sometimes cause me stress when we are working on a project TOGETHER.

That may have something to do with why we seem to settle into our own separate projects most of the time, or work on the same project in "shifts" (i.e. ~ he does the sanding...I do the painting).

We have a lot of stuff to go through, purge, donate, sell, junk, and organize. We don't really have a space to lay it all out and organize it all at once. How are we going to accomplish this project without driving each other CRAZY?

Did I mention I work from home. With numerous young children running around our house? I have a need for uncluttered spaces! I cannot have piles and piles of stuff strewn throughout our house during the week. I just can't.
Needless to say, last night was a chocolate and wine night for me.  ;) 

Aaaaaaand I played around on Pinterest looking for the perfect pantry and laundry room spaces to give us ideas!!!

Pantry Ideas:

via Pinterest and http://cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com

Via Pinterest and http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com

Via Pinterest (uploaded by user)

Via Pinterest (uploaded by user)

Via Pinterest and http://www.realsimple.com

Via Pinterest and http://sissyprint.blogspot.com/search/label/organization

Via Pinterest and http://www.etsy.com/listing/61189102/pantry-kitchen-stickers-labels-print

 LAUNDRY ROOM IDEAS:

Via Pinterest and http://mydesigndump.blogspot.com/2010/03/laundry-rooms.html

Via Pinterest and http://alkemie.blogspot.com/2009/03/spring-cleaning-inspirational-laundry.html

Via Pinterest (uploaded by user)

Via Pinterest and http://remodelingtherapy.com/lovely-laundry-rooms/

Via Pinterest and http://shopruche.blogspot.com/2011/08/if-ruche-were-laundry-room.html

Via Pinterest and http://ana-white.com/2010/11/laundry-basket-dresser

***UPDATE***

*I was able to move the pantry items to the new storage shelving under the stairs, leaving that huge cabinet in the laundry room empty and ready to be moved out of there.

*Scott was able to empty the contents of the small chest freezer into the freezer in the garage,  get it out of the laundry room and ready to put on Craigslist.

*I've also identified several items that we can definitely PURGE. 

THINGS ARE GETTING DONE!!!

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Imagine the Impossibilities Challenge

When I sat down at my computer this morning I had a nice message from Karah @ The Space Between Blog.  She was inviting me to take part in the "Imagine the Impossibilities Challenge" that several Bloggers have started.  I was reluctant when I read the note asking me to take part in this challenge.   My mind immediately went to all of the things that I would like to do ~ but just cannot afford. 

But that's not what this is about, right? 

It's about challenging ourselves to give it a go, even if we are afraid; and hopefully accomplishing something that we always thought was unattainable.  Maybe it requires a skill we do not possess.  Maybe it requires time we do not feel we have.  Maybe it requires thinking outside of the box and being more creative with how we make it happen;  as in, not taking the usual route (or the route where you just go down and buy a solution at the hardware store).

So, when I thought about it this way ~ it became something appealing. 

You know...a CHALLENGE!

All I need to do is convince my Partner In Crime that this is necessary.  See, we may not have the money or the time ~ but what we do have is the inspiration, the passion and the sheer stubbornness to make the impossible happen. 

With that said we are committing to give our utmost to:

The Great Purge and Organization of 2012...Clarke Edition

This will include:

1. The garage storage space.
2. The dual laundry room and "pantry" (pantry is used lightly here ~ as it's just a big, inexpensive Home Depot cabinet pushed into the room to store our food and extra kitchen items.)
3. The closet under the stairs.  We have already started with some added shelving in this area.

I was avoiding putting this out there, as a goal or resolution, because it just seems so unbelievably daunting when I stand and look at all the collected "mess" and what we have to do.  We need to purge years of possessions.  Some will be hard to let go.  Gulp.  And we need to devise a new and more organized way of storing what we cannot purge...giving everything it's own designated place so that it is easy to maintain and also attractive. 

Before pictures to follow.  You totally will understand why this feels impossible when you see them!

Wish Us Luck!

And don't forget to check out the ladies who are hosting this challenge:

• Kari – Thistlewood Farm. Cooking is not her thing, but homemade bread is her challenge.
• Kelly – Eclectically Vintage. For all of you with basements that become black holes filled who knows what, she is going to be purging and organizing 16 years stuff. 

• Linda – It All Started With Paint. Painting a vaulted ceiling.

• Stacey – A Sort of Fairy Tale. For someone who has hovered at the pillow case stage of sewing she will be attempting to sew a purse. 

• Andrea – The Cottage Market. She is going to be organizing her craft room. 

• Khara from The Space Between - Hang a gallery wall while putting only one hole in the wall (she's a renter and can't mutilate her walls)

Thanks for stopping by, and please think about taking part in this challenge with me and all of the others involved!  It will be fun if we do it together!!!

Sherry

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Storage Under the Stairs

Awhile ago I showed you the mess under our stairs.  There is a large amount of space under there, but it just hasn't been utilized in a smart way. 

Click this photo if you would like to see the previous post about this space.

I asked Scotty if he would add some shelves for me.  He had some scrap lumber that would do the trick, so he went to work adding shelving for me...well for him too since it will store both of our stuff.  ;)

 So now I have some extra space to put all of our stuff:

They turned out pretty darn nice for a bunch of scrap wood.  Even the trim around the edges is leftover fence boards that he ripped down on his table saw.  I love that we are finding ways to use up this old scrap wood (besides as fuel for our chiminea).

It didn't take long to fill them up with our stuff.  I haven't had a chance to get them all dolled up for a party yet.  Grin.  We have a huge purging and organizing project that includes this closet, the laundry room/pantry, and the storage area in the garage.  It needs to get done soon.  Until then, we don't want to do too much more with this area ~ because we aren't sure what will end up here. 

This works for now.

I was able to fit my painted wooden chest in here ~ to the right of the shelves.  (I have retro~fitted this chest with hanging files and folders for my records ~ it's pretty handy).  My black travelling scrapbook bag is down in the angle of the closet and I have a rolling craft cart that I pull out daily for the preschoolers arts and crafts.

The chest makes a nice surface for our tote bags...the flowery one for Sadie and her pooch stuff, and the wicker bag with beach towels...for when we go into the hot tub.

This beauty is a shoe organizer filled with tennis ball jars ~ the jars hold knobs, pulls, screws and many other goodies for our ongoing craft projects.  It is a lifesaver to have this here. 

Expect great things from this closet space.  We are working on several projects ~ not to mention the Great Organization Project of 2012 to include:  the laundry room, pantry, stairwell closet and garage storage area!  I want it all to be pretty and practical when we are done.  I think it's about time for a good purge!

Thanks for stopping by and following along.  If you would like to keep up with all of the DIY and project goodness you should click the follow button on the left hand sidebar...and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest too!

I think it's time for the hot tub.  :)
Sherry


linking up with:

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"Good Day 2012, nice to finally make your acquaintance!"

We started off the day with a good breakfast and some much needed coffee.

I made "Hootenanny" (or oven pancake) and some "cupcake omelets"  with eggs, leftover ham, cream and some cheddar cheese for our first breakfast of the year.

The Hootenanny was really quite easy....I combined 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 1/4 tsp salt and poured it into a greased pan, drizzled it with 1/2 a stick of melted butter and cooked it in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes.  Serve with maple syrup. 

 

While I was whipping up breakfast, the Motivated Mister had taken himself into the closet to play with his tools and some scrap wood he'd scored on a Craigslist run. 

This is our under-the-stairs closet.  (Try not to notice how bad the carpet looks, please...).
We really need to maximize this space for our storage needs.  We are short on storage space since we renovated our garage into a classroom for my day job with preschoolers.

This is what happens...everything get's shoved into the little angle area under the stairs and it's almost impossible to get anything out when you need it.  Check it out...we've got some good projects in this space, waiting their turn for a new life!

Sadie, staring out the window and wondering when someone's going to get tired of all the DIY and take her for a walk.  Don't worry Sadie.  Momma got a new Nike running watch for her birthday so there are many jogs in your future...and mine.  And that's as close as you all will get to a New Years resolution from me.  :)

So, my husband was in the closet with his tools...

We went to a party on Friday night and when someone asked him what he does for fun he said, "Whatever keeps my wife happy!"  Hahaha.  He's so funny, isn't he!?

These shelves are really starting to make me happy though! 

Mister Motivated took a picture of all of his tools for you to see. 
(I think maybe he's showing off now.)

Look at him in there making them pretty for me!!! 
(Whatever makes me happy, right?)

He really is so sweet.

I'm going to make sure I do whatever it is that makes him happy too!!!

Happy New Year Friends!

May your New Year be filled with love, generosity and whatever makes you happy!

All the Best,

Scott & Sherry

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