Happy Wednesday! How has your week been going? Feeling good and productive or just barely getting by? We are halfway to the weekend and nearing the end of October. I’m excited to continue to check off things from my fall bucket list over the next few weeks and weekends.
Another sign of fall, so many beautiful mums this time of year!
One of the things I am passionate about is personal development and growth. I truly believe no matter where you are in life or how old you are, you can be constantly changing, growing, and adapting.
If you have been following my blog for a while you may recall I went through a big period of growth in college. I gained a lot of independence and really found myself in a new environment.
I went through a similar transition when I started my first job. I went from a college student to a working professional, moved back home, met new people, and began my career.
Whether you are experiencing big or small changes, I believe we can learn and grow from them.
One resource that I have really grown to love and learn from is the Lazy Genius Way. You may have heard of the podcast by Kendra Adachi. It has been around for years, but I found it within the last year and I have learned so much from her and this way of life. She also has published three books, (one just came out this month and I’m obsessed with it). Her tagline or mission is “Be a Genius about things that matter and Lazy about things that don’t”. I love the energy and kindness she brings to each podcast episode, book, newsletter and Instagram post.
She releases podcasts episodes every week and covers a variety of topics from starting small, time management, living in your season, and naming what matters. She also created thirteen principles to follow and steps to lazy genius your life.
I look forward to her podcasts every week, they run between 25-50 minutes and are perfect for advice, life hacks, productivity, organization, time management and everything in between. Listening to her podcasts are one of my favorite moments throughout the week. I have even gone back and listened to older episodes or re-listened to my favorite ones. If you want to dip your toes in The Lazy Genius life, this is a great way to begin.
Let’s say you want to take it a step further, Adachi has three books that are informative, thought provoking and easy to read. I have found myself reading them in her voice. Her first book is called “The Lazy Genius Way” and in the book she breaks down the thirteen lazy genius principles, what they are and how to incorporate them into your life. This is a great building block to her podcast.
Her second book is “The Lazy Genius Kitchen”, it’s not a cookbook, rather it’s a way to use your kitchen, food, ingredients, and space to the best of your ability and a way that works for you. That’s another thing Adachi stresses in her books and podcasts, not everyone’s lives look the exact same, what works for someone else may not work for you and that’s okay. The Lazy Genius Kitchen is a great tool for navigating your space.
Her third and most recent book is called “The Plan”, it’s all about time management, organization and most importantly, giving yourself compassion. What I love about this book is that she doesn’t give a list to follow or things to do to manage your time better, rather she gives you tools and examples that you can tailor to your life. I think this is such an important thing to remember.
Some of the biggest lessons I have taken away from Adachi through her books and podcasts include starting small, naming what matters, compassionate time management, learning to pivot rather than plan and the importance of rest. I come away after an episode, book, or newsletter, learning something new and having tools that can help me in so many different avenues of life.
I truly believe that you can always be learning and adapting in life and you never know how one person or book can change your life. I know I have changed my mindset and how I approach situations by using the tools I have learned from Adachi and The Lazy Genius Way. This is by no means a sponsored post, this is me simply sharing my love and appreciation for this new way of thinking. You can learn more about Kendra Adachi and the Lazy Genius Collective here. I hope this inspires you to check out Kendra or be open to a new book, podcast or concept, who knows, it may change your life!
This month’s topic is Easy Weeknight Dinners, this is a great topic for working parents who may be running around a lot this time of year with sports and activities for their children. However, this is also a great topic for people who may work evenings and late nights and are looking for easy meals after a long day (that’s me! I fall into that category!) Sometimes, I don’t come home until later at night and the last thing I want to do is cook a big meal that could take a while to prepare. Enter easy weeknight meals. These are some of my favorite easy meals that you can make for yourself or your family.
Grain Bowls– Such an easy and filling meal that can typically be done in one pot. Just grab a grain (I like to go with rice), a protein (beef, chicken, shrimp, sausage), and a vegetable (can be fresh, frozen or steamed) and cook them all together. You are getting a filling meal, easy cleanup and something that is fairly easy to put together.
Sandwich Bar– A fun spin to a not so exciting meal. If you are a fan of cold cut sandwiches or any sandwiches, consider upping your game with a sandwich bar. Layout all your favorite fixings, from meats, cheeses, spreads etc. and have everyone build their own sandwich. You can buy some fun breads, even toast your bread, get some chips and fruit and make it an experience, rather than just eating a sandwich.
Chef Salad– A fun and healthy dinner option is a chef salad. If you are looking to clear out your fridge or make a hearty meal, consider a chef salad. Add all your favorite salad ingredients and then add in some extras. I like to add protein, like ham or chicken, some hard boiled eggs, cheese, even black beans or avocadoes, depending on what other veggies I have in there. This is a hearty and healthy meal that everyone can tailor to their own liking.
Soup– This is perfect for the fall and winter months, whether you like them homemade where you can make them earlier in the week and pull them out from the freezer or you enjoy them from the can or even pre-made. This is another hearty meal that’s easy to make. You can add a sandwich or salad for a little something extra too!
Snack dinners-Another easy meal especially if you are looking to clean out the fridge. Grab any fruits, veggies, cold cuts, cheeses, chips or crackers and have a snack dinner. You are using what you have, everyone can find something they enjoy and you have a fun meal. Make it even easier and just use paper plates for easy clean up. I love meals that I can use what I have and not waste.
These are five easy meals that I enjoy making on late or hectic weeknights. I am always looking for suggestions for new recipes to try. Let me know in the comments below some of your favorite weeknight meals.
Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week as we make our way through April. This month has been flying by in the blink of an eye. Easter being at the beginning of the month has certainly made this month go by faster.
Finally starting to feel like spring
One of the things I have gotten back into the habit of doing this year is trying new recipes once a week. I started this practice a few years ago, but fell off the wagon, due to life getting busy. At the start of 2024, I wanted to get back in the habit of cooking a new meal once a week again. I know how to cook and bake and I would say I’m pretty decent at both, but I really wanted to expand my skills in the kitchen.
I’ve been trying new recipes regularly since January and wanted to share an update of what I have learned over the past four months. I keep track of the meals I have made and tested, you can find them on my Instagram stories and I have them saved too!
Here’s some of the biggest things I’ve learned over the past four months:
Lots of soup recipes were found on Pinterest
-Always be looking for recipes-There are some days when I know what meals I want to try and other weeks, I am looking for ideas. I am constantly scouring Pinterest, blogs, cookbooks, and even asking family and friends what meals or recipes they would be interested in trying. I’m always open to trying new dishes and sides and mixing and matching different flavors too. You never know what will stick, so I always try to keep an open mind.
–Build in extra time when trying a new recipe- I always try to budget extra time when I am making a complicated recipe. I like to take my time to make sure I am following the directions to a tee and I’m giving everything enough time to properly cook. There’s nothing worse than having your taste testers wait on food or have things not be cooked fully. I also want to build in time for errors or mess-ups.
Crab cakes were a recipe that took some extra work and prepping.
–Be open to feedback and criticism- This is easier said than done, but I always ask my family or judges about what they think of the meal. Sometimes, the meals are successes and everyone’s happy, other times, I get recommendations to try other sides or flavors. I try to be open to feedback because I know that’s the only way I will get better.
Baked Chicken Tacos!
-Portions- This is more of a technical side of things, but I still haven’t mastered portions for servings. I try to make enough for six people, I have been making just enough for six, but there’s not always enough for leftovers or seconds. I need to do a better job of cooking bigger portions so there’s more than enough food for seconds or leftovers.
Salmon bowls that were such a hit, there was no leftovers.
-Not Getting Intimated by Complicated Recipes- A lot of the meals I have made can be made in under an hour and are fairly easy to cook. They include using kitchen gadgets like the Air Fryer, are made in one dish or a crock pot. There are a few bigger recipes I want to try but they take a lot more planning and time in the kitchen, I want to work on trying recipes that may scare or intimidate me to build my confidence in the kitchen.
My first pot pie was a success!
-Getting Better at Familiar Recipes-While I am all about trying new recipes each week, I also want to make sure I am getting better at recipes I have tried before. It can be great to try new things, but I also want to get more reps in making some of my favorite family recipes like roasted chicken, spaghetti, homemade soups. I also want to have a few recipes that I can call my own and that will only come with more practice in the kitchen.
Working on my chicken skills
–Have fun and be creative-One of my favorite parts about cooking is getting creative and trying new foods. I am a huge foodie and making different dishes brings me joy and confidence. I also love to serve my family and friends something that I know I put time and effort into researching, buying ingredients and preparing. Not only is cooking and eating something that you need to do to survive, but I love that I have come to truly enjoy it.
Getting creative with stir frys!
My cooking and baking journey is just beginning. I tend to make my meals on days off when I have more time to cook and prepare a meal, I know that won’t always be the case. Some nights, a quick dinner of salad will have to do, but other nights when I have more flexibility for a more detailed meal, I know I will be taking advantage of it.
Sunday spread done right
Tell me: what advice do you have for a novice in the kitchen looking to expand her knowledge? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Friday! I hope you all are enjoying your week and have something fun planned for the weekend as we enjoy the first few days of a new month. I’m excited to dive into all things Valentine’s Day and love.
As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites as I share some of my favorite things from this past week. Let’s dive right in!
Thermos– I got this Thermos for Christmas and really have been loving it. I sometimes take soup or pasta to work, but didn’t always have the proper container to keep it warm and insulated. After I started using the thermos, it truly solves my problems. It keeps my food warm and fresh when I have warmer dishes, but it also does a great job at keeping my salads cool too. It’s also a great size for portions. Although, I tend to have access to a microwave to heat things up, this has been a great tool when I am on the go.
The Senator’s Wife– I finished The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine and absolutely loved it. I checked it out through Libby, an app that you can check out E-Books or Audiobooks through your library. I really have been loving it, I’m currently listening to an audiobook now. The Senator’s Wife is a drama/thriller that involves a senator and his new wife and some of the challenges and drama they go through, especially when she starts to get very sick. The story is through four different perspectives as the events unfold. The middle and ending were so good that I kept looking for pockets of time to read more, that’s when you know it’s a good book.
Indoor Cycling– We have been getting lots of snow over the past few weeks which means I haven’t been able to get outdoors for running. I’ve done some running on the treadmill, but have also enjoyed indoor cycling to get my cardio in. Although I prefer running more, riding the bike has been a great alternative in the winter months. I often listen to a podcast or audiobook when I’m on the bike, or I’ll respond to emails. I like trying different forms of cardio when working out, just to work on different muscle groups. I may even lean more into outdoor cycling when in the spring and summer
Pinterest Recipes- A lot of recipes I have been trying recently have come from Pinterest. I have been using Pinterest almost as google when it comes to trying new dishes. I love finding different recipes and meals to put together on Pinterest and most of the time the directions are easy to follow. I have had success in the kitchen recently and plan to keep testing out new recipes, whether they be meals or a baked good (or both) every week. Tell me what are some of your favorite cozy recipes?
Air Fryer Recipes– From one meal related topic to another. My family got an Air Fryer for Christmas and have used it a handful of times but want to use it more. What are some of your favorite Air Fryer recipes? I’m looking for healthy food options. We have tried chicken tenders and enjoyed them and have also tried to heat up different foods like pizza, wings, etc. For any Air Fryer lovers out there, what are your favorite things to make and what should I try? Let me know in the comments below! I appreciate any suggestions. Thank you in advance!!!
That’s a look into life lately and what I’m loving. Tell me: what’s been catching your eye this week?
Happy Wednesday. I hope you are having a great week so far. I feel like we are finally back into the routine of the new year and after the holidays. Last week was still a bit wonky with New Year’s Day falling on a Monday, but now we are in our groove. Whether you are establishing new routines and rhythms for the new year or getting back into systems that work for you, I hope your week is off to a great start.
The new year can often bring new resolutions or goals. I talked about mine last week, but the new year can also bring fresh starts and that can come in the form deep cleaning and organization.
Before the holidays, I did a deep cleaning and organizing of my home. It took a few weeks and I broke it up when I had time to work on the projects on the weekends, but I was thrilled with the end results. I tackled projects large and small, cleaned out spaces that haven’t been touched in months and donated a lot. It felt so good to work with a clean space before holiday decorating began.
If you are looking to do some deep cleaning yourself, here’s some advice about what worked well for me as I helped my mom tackle our home:
Go through your home or space and write down all the spaces you want to tackle. They can be as small as a spice cabinet, or as big as a bedroom closet or family room. Once you have your list, it makes it easier to figure out the best way to tackle the projects and how long each project will take.
Keep track of spaces you want to clean
Figure out the most efficient way to tackle the projects you want done and space them out. Maybe decide to do all the kitchen cabinets in one afternoon or spend a whole day going through your bedroom closet. Make a plan of what spaces you want to deep clean and organize and stick to it. This makes the projects more manageable and not as daunting. For example, I decided to do bathroom and kitchen cabinets on one day, the following week, I just did bedroom closets for a day and then I set aside a third day for the home office and other odds and ends rooms. I made my plan and stuck to it. When I was done with all the tasks for one day, I wasn’t exhausted or overwhelmed, rather I felt accomplished and then I knew what my tasks were for the next time I revisited the projects.
We love an organized pantry
When going through your spaces, be intentional with the items you want to keep, toss or donate. Check the dates on food or medicine, is it expired? If so, toss it. Have a junk drawer with old pens and paper? Do a pen test to see how many pens or markers still have ink in them. When it comes to clothes, I ask myself when the last time was I wore the article of clothing and do I still have a need for it. (Asking yourself these questions makes it easier when making decisions about whether to keep or get rid of something.)
A look at piles to be organized
Make a list of things to replenish. This can be as easy as getting new spices or cold medicine to replace old ones, or it can be adding a new white blouse to your wardrobe if your current one is stained. Making a list of things you to replace saves you the stress of not having an item when you need it in a pinch.
Write down what things to refill when cleaning out cabinets
Donate or get rid of things right away. Once all your spaces are deep cleaned and organized (whether it takes a day or a month), do yourself a favor and get it out of your home. Whether it’s in the form or trash or donating old items or selling them, don’t let them linger for days or months, get them out so you can enjoy your clean space to the fullest.
A pile of donations
And there you have it! Five ways tips for organizing and deep cleaning your spaces. They may not work for everyone, but I have found success by using these tips and tricks. I am always interested in seeing how other people organize their spaces, tell me: what advice do you have for organizing?
Hello All! Happy Wednesday! I hope you have had a great week so far and a great month. September was a weird month for me, we had some days in the 90’s that made me want summer to never end and then we had a handful of days in the low 50’s which had me craving fall. Mother Nature could not make up her mind.
I’m hoping October is a little more consistent, but I will always take the sunshine and warm temperatures for as long as I can.
I got a lot accomplished this month between work and fun, I also made headway on my fall bucket list, and I took some day trips too! Overall, it was a great month!
Here’s a bit of a recap:
What I’m Up To: The month started out with Labor Day and some final ice cream runs before some of my favorite spots closed for the season.
End of summer ice cream
I used some of the tomatoes from my garden for a peach caprese salad. I have been loving peaches this season and have been enjoying them every opportunity I can. I used Mix and Match Mama‘s recipe for the Peach Caprese salad, you can find it here.
A delicious Peach Caprese Salad
I tried to take advantage of the warm weather as much as I could, which included lots of walks to new and old places. I made a trip to Chargin Falls, Ohio. The falls are right in the center of town, but there are some great trails for hiking nearby!
Beautiful waterfalls!
I also made another trip to our local zoo which is always a fun afternoon activity.
Another zoo trip in the books!
I rounded out the month with my first trip to West Virginia for hiking. Here’s a few shots from my adventure.
A true fall walk.
Gorgeous views
And beautiful trails!
What I’m Wearing: These past few weeks have been so hard to dress for, some days you can get away with shorts and a T-shirt, but other days, it’s leggings and sneakers.
A go to walking outfit.
Some days it’s leggings and tee shirt weather for hiking.
The same goes for work clothes, most days I will walk into work with a coat, but by afternoon and evening, it’s way too hot for a coat.
A go-to work outfit.
This month is all about layers. I also can’t wait to start wearing some of my new fall shoes from DSW.
What I’m Reading: This month was such a good reading month for me. A lot of books that were on hold for me at the library came in, so I had plenty of books to read.
Some of my recent reads and to be reads.
This month I read:
Someone Else’s Shoes– Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes follows the story of two different women who accidently swap shoes at the gym. A silly mix-up leads to a lot of self-discoveries for these two women. A wealthy woman is forced to start over in hopes of getting some of her wealth back and a middle-class working woman gets a boost of confidence after finding and wearing designer shoes. I really liked following the storyline between the two women and I really loved what happened when they finally met. With most books I enjoy, there was a happy ending!
The Soulmate-The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth follows the story of a family who lives in a quiet seaside town. When a woman dies after falling from a popular cliff, questions arise about her death. Was she pushed? Did she fall? Did she take her own life? Secrets are uncovered between two families and connections are made that you won’t see coming. There’s a lot of mystery to this book and it’s a bit of a thriller, but not too much so that you won’t be able to sleep at night. After reading this book, I want to read more of Sally’s books! I really loved the mystery and intrigue this book offered.
Pineapple Street: Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson follows the dynamics of a wealthy family in New York City. It’s told by two daughters and one daughter-in law. I loved how it was told from different perspectives and truly fell in love with the storylines and characters. I think it showed an interesting look into adult relationships especially between in-laws and spouses. I also appreciated the description of New York living, from the sights and sounds and the vibrant city life. It was worth the hype after hearing and reading it on different blogs this summer.
The Mother-in-Law– The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth. It only took me a few weeks, but I got my hands on another Hepworth book. I was looking for another book with some mystery and intrigue and this one delivered. When the matriarch of a well to do family dies by suicide, everyone in the family is stunned. However, not everything is what it seems, when she may not have died by suicide after all. Family members are questioned, secrets start to spill out, and it turns out there may have been different people who wanted her dead. I was taken back by the ending and I’m sure you will too. If you are looking for a good book with twists and turns, this is it!
Same Time Next Summer– Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan is all about a woman returning to her family’s beach house with her fiancé and runs into her first love. She’s changed a lot since she last laid eyes on her first boyfriend and when she sees him years later, all the memories come rushing back. It’s a story of first loves, remembering the best parts about growing up and doing what makes you happy. I loved Nora Goes Off Script and I couldn’t wait to read this book, it was definitely worth the wait.
I couldn’t wait to read this book.
I also finished two audio books this past month.
Becoming Free Indeed– Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Vuolo, I listened to this book at the end of August and start of September. I grew up watching Jinger Vuolo on 19 Kids and Counting and I have continued to follow her after the show ended. Through the book, she mostly focuses on her faith and how her relationship with God has changed through her life. She doesn’t focus too much about her family or the drama that has surrounded them in recent years. Overall, I thought it was interesting to hear her perspective about her faith and relationship with God and how it has evolved through the years. I chose to listen to it as opposed to read it to hear it in her voice and I was glad I did.
Kingdom of Prep– Kingdom of Prep by Maggie Bullock follows the rise and history of J. Crew. I recently became a fan of J. Crew as I got older and started working full-time. I had a few pieces growing up but didn’t really wear a lot of the brand until I was an adult. Now I have several blazers, dresses, and blouses from J. Crew. After wearing their clothes, I was interested in their backstory. I really learned a lot about the history of the brand, where they got their ideas from and the different people who played apart in the company. It was interesting to see how the brand has evolved through the years. I enjoyed the audiobook, but it would have been nice to see some of the photos from the book.
I have a few more weeks of my free trial with Audible and I will have a full review on that coming soon!
What I’m Watching: Typically, I would be into all my fall shows right now, but due to the writer’s and actor’s strike, that’s not happening, but I have been enjoying my fair share of shows on streaming. A few reality/competitions show I watch have made their return. Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test returned for season two this past week, so I will be tuning in for that every Monday and then The Masked Singer is back tonight! I always enjoy trying to guess who’s under the mask, so this will be a fun season to watch. Here’s a few other shows I’ve been watching.
The Perfect Story– The Perfect Story can be found on Netflix, and it follows the story of a runaway bride and how she turns her life around when she meets someone totally unexpected. They are both recovering from heartache and the two start to spend time together to get back at each other’s ex’s. However, the more time they spend together, they more time they grow to like one another. It’s a light-hearted mini-series that’s only five episodes long, so it’s a fast watch. It is in another language, but it is dubbed in English so it’s easy to follow, especially with subtitles.
Virgin River– I made my way through the first half of season 5 this month and it was really good. I liked how it picked up right where it left off. One of my favorite things about this show is that it’s the perfect escape from reality. A cute, quaint, town with mostly feel-good storylines. It makes me want to escape to a small town in the woods for a vacation after watching it. There’s some drama, but it mostly gets resolved quickly. It’s not my favorite show of all time, but it’s great to put in ion the background as you work away.
What Inspires Me: I took a little hiatus from the kitchen over the summer, but I am back and doing all the baking and cooking once again. My goal is to try one new recipe a week and bake something once a week too. If I accomplish it, great, if not, then it’s not the end of the world. So far, I have made my Peach Caprese Salad, Blueberry Muffins and Banana Muffins.
I can’t wait to go apple picking and start making all the apple recipes. I have also been using my Kitchen Aid more by doing more baking and cooking which makes me happy and brings me so much JOY!
What I Accomplished: Last month, I officially said goodbye to summer and hello to fall! I have been making some headway on my fall bucket list by going on fall walks and doing some baking and cooking.
Hello fall walks!
Another fall walk!
However, the leaves haven’t changed quite yet, and we still haven’t experienced all the fall weather yet. I have a feeling I will be accomplishing a lot from my bucket list in the next month. Another personal goal I accomplished was upping my running to four miles!
Goals from Last Month: Last month was all about the changing of seasons. I did some fall cleaning, got a lot of doctor’s appointments checked off my list, I saw friends and spent a lot of time outdoors and with family. This was a busy month, but a successful one, nonetheless.
Getting my new Simplified planner made me very happy!
Goals for this Month: This next month will be all about enjoying all the fall fun! I have some fall day trips planned. We also have a handful of fall festivals happening, so I hope to make it to some of them. As the weather gets cooler, I want to make some hearty soup and enjoy all the cozy days indoors by watching movies or fall shows.
That’s a look into life for the month of September. Some changes and freshening up of things, but a great month. Tell me: how has your month been? What’s been some things that have brought you JOY? Let me know in the comments below!
Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a great first weekend of March.
I have been doing a lot of experimenting in the kitchen with different recipes. For example, this is one of my latest recipes I made; chicken, sausage, peppers, onions and potatoes in a one pan skillet. It was DELICIOUS and the best part? So many leftovers!
I love the art of baking and cooking and love trying new things. It’s also a skill that I want to continue to get better at as I get older. I have been starting to invest in different pieces of kitchen equipment.
Another recipe I tried, open faced quesadilla! Healthy and tasty!
I got a Kitchen Aid for Christmas and couldn’t wait to try it out.
I recently used it to make cookies and cupcakes and wanted to share with you my thoughts on it. I’m still getting comfortable with it, so this is just a starter review.
First, I love the bright, red color of a red kitchen aid. It has been my dream color, so I was already on cloud nine.
I found the mixer super easy to figure out and navigate, I referenced the manual just to get a feel for it, but everything was pretty self explanatory, especially when it comes to the switches, knobs and attachments.
You can get dozens of different attachments to help make different recipes. I got two different mixers that you can attach for various recipes.
For example, this attachment works better with thicker batter or butter based recipes.
On the other hand, this attachment works better for a liquid based batter or oil based.
It’s super easy to clean and put on and take off the different attachments.
The only issue has been that the on and off switch took a second to work, but once it did, it was working flawless.
I‘ve only made a few recipes so far, but I have been pleased with how it’s worked.
The finished product!
I can’t wait to try new recipes and use it for more dishes besides cookies and cupcakes.
The Kitchen Aid made baking them so much easier!
If you have any recipes that I enjoy using your Kitchen Aid for let me know in the comments below!
This summer I tackled a project that was on my to-do list for a while. My pantry. After numerous pinning and watching organizational videos I took it upon myself to clean out and reorganize my pantry. Although it may seem, like a daunting project, it’s not as bad as you think. Let’s get started.
Before
Step 1: Clean it out.
I went through my pantry and completely cleaned it out and gave it a good wash down. This gave me the opportunity to throw out old or expired food and see what I had. Cleaning out the pantry gave me the chance to consolidate any food that I had as well. It also gave me an idea of what space I had to work with. It’s a great feeling to see any empty space just waiting to be utilized.
Step 2: Get shopping
Now, after you clean everything out there are two ways you can go about organizing . You can either put everything back in your pantry in an orderly manner or you can go shopping for some organizational tools. These tools allow you to keep things tidy, neat and you can get a better idea of what food you have in your pantry. There are so many options when it comes to organizational tools. I like to start my search by doing recon work. I hit a lot of stores to see what they carry, the amount they have, and the prices. I hit the basics like Home Goods, Target, Marshalls, Bed Bath and Beyond, T.J. Maxx, At Home, and Walmart to name a few. I ended up getting a majority of my tools from Home Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond and At Home. I decided to go with the Good Gripes OXO series but there was an abundance of different brands and options at all the store I went to. As I was shopping I kept in mind what containers I wanted to use to store my food it. This helped when it came to purchasing the right amount of containers.
Step 3: Get Organized
After I purchased all my containers I washed them all, I put all the food into the containers I had purchased. For some it was easy, for others it took trial and error to figure out what containers worked best for each food. After all the food was properly stored came the fun part. I got to organize the containers and baskets in my pantry. Once again this took time to see what set-up worked best for my pantry. I got chalkboard labels for my baskets to show what’s inside. I kept a few things in their packaging but for the most part everything is in clear containers.
After
I have had this setup for a few days now and I am really loving it. It keeps things neat and organized and it allows me to see my food and how much I have left of everything. This has been the biggest saver. I found myself in the past buying food because I didn’t remember seeing it in the pantry or I couldn’t find it. With the new containers I have a better understanding of what I have and what I need.
Although this was a big project, I am happy I got it done and I’m even more happier with the results.
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We finally got some warm weather, so I spent a lot of time outside in the sun. I also got back into the gym and I felt great to be back on a treadmill.
Whenever, I come home from school whether it be for a break or for summer, my parents always have little projects they want me to complete. These are little ways to help out around the house when I’m home. I am a neat freak and an organizer, so most of the project deal with cleaning. My family and I do a lot of cooking at home especially during the summer which means there is always leftovers. Our Tupperware cabinet gets a lot of use and gets cluttered easily. Today, I’m going to be tackling the cabinet and showing you how I like to organize all the Tupperware.
So , for starters, don’t get overwhelmed. It only takes a few minutes to clean it out and reorganize. I’m going to break it down in steps on how I clean my cabinets out.
Before
Step 1: Take everything out. Give yourself a clean space to work with. Even take a wet rag and wipe down the cabinet in case there are crumbs, dirt, or dust.
Clean everything out, allowing you to start fresh!
Step 2: Go through and see if there is anything you don’t need or can get rid of. Make sure you use all your containers and if you don’t or if they are old, damaged or don’t serve a purpose, get rid of them. There is no point in keeping things you don’t use.
Step 3: Now, its time to organize. Our cabinet doubles as a cups, plates, and bowls, a cabinet for kids since it is low to the ground. I like to organize my cabinets based on size and use. I group boxes and bins based on how big or small they are and then I put the things I use the most in the front and use the least in the back.
This side is our container side.
This side is our Children’s side, for little plates, bowls, and cups.
Step 4: Make sure everything is accessible and in a good spot and you are done! It took me 30 minutes with cleaning and organizing and getting rid of things. One way to avoid this is by putting things back where they belong. Yes, it may take a few extra minutes here and there but I will be worth it in the long run.
After
Now it’s your turn! How do you organize your Tupperware? Do you use labels? Have the lids on or off? I’m always looking for new ways to organize and Pinterest only goes so far!! Comment below any tips and tricks you have for cleaning out your Tupperware!
