Imagine the Impossibilities Challenge ~ Take 2

This project may turn me into an over-caffeinated, chocolate crazed, DIY disaster. 

via http://chicagogirlgonemild.blogspot.com/2011/01/stress-and-chocolate.html via http://www.etsy.com/listing/63973889/11x14-poster-stress-out-and-eat?ref=sr_list_8&ga_search_query=stress%2Bprint&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2

Don't worry about me though...Scott is here keeping me sane.  Right now he is working at making the laundry room an eclectic mix of frugality, functionality and organization.  He is straining his brain trying to make this work without spending any money.  And just to be fair, he is very encouraging each time I throw another item into our "purge" pile.   Positive reinforcement.  That's right, Baby!

*SIGH* 

Here's what We've done:

Removed all pantry items from the laundry room and put them on the dining table.  WOW.  This is just one small portion!

Scott moved all the other items that were hanging out in the laundry room to various surfaces in our home.

Discussed space planning, purging, and organization plans.  (That didn't go so well.)

I took a chocolate, wine and hot tub break, while Scott did his homework and watched sci-fi.

Started putting pantry items into the new pantry area under the stairs... 
Realized we were already running out of space.  Yikes...that's no good.

Created a WELL STOCKED PANTRY LIST, in order to make sure that we are allowing enough space for all of the items we would like to keep on hand regularly.  Click here if you want to check it out...maybe create your own.

Determined that the shelving that Scott originally built under the stairs would not be sufficient for all of our pantry storage needs.  You can see his original built in shelves here.  Scott jumped in and added a couple more shelves to the closet.

Gathered up all of our canisters, bins, baskets and other storage items that we might utelize in our spaces.

Overwhelmed with the magnitude of this project, I went on "strike" for a day. 

Unable to sit for long, I went back to other projects:  We did some finishing details on a chalkboard.  I painted my little blue shelf a pale green color.  I made a HUGE chocolate kiss.  I baked a triple-chocolate loaf cake.  More about these later!  Scott did more homework and watched more sci-fi.

Finally, back to the project at hand, I mixed up some chalkboard paint with my hand mixer and applied it to the walls behind the pantry shelving. 

(We've discovered that mixing our own chalkboard paint is pretty easy, but it tends to be lumpy - no matter how much you stir.  Using the hand mixer works great!  I may need a new mixer though.  Maybe one of those big KitchenAid stand mixers?  That would be very nice...I think I will plan a spot for it.)

Here's the closet with the chalkboard paint:

While I worked on painting and organizing the pantry space, Scott was busy planning and building the laundry room storage:

Just a peak!  More on this later...

That purple-blue color has got to go.  We will get to that.  Hopefully before the challenge deadline, but it's low on the list.  It isn't really going to break us if we don't get the painting done.  It's the purging and organizing that are the priority! 

Things are coming along.  We still have tons of work to do.  Don't ask about the garage.  I'm kind of wishing I'd left it off the list.  I'm confident that I can get it purged.  Not so confident that it will look real pretty.  We'll just have to see how it goes...

 xoxo,
Sherry

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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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