Being organized gives me happy feelings. I have found that with 4 little kids, there are some things that are pointless to organize: the playroom, my makeup drawer (two little girls), my hair accessories drawer (two little girls), and their rooms! I just have to bite my tongue, take a chill pill, and realize that those place will be chaotic at least until they move out. But, luckily my kids are cute enough that I want them around and don’t mind the trade off.
But, there are some places I can have a small amount of control…one of them being…The Kitchen. It still requires maintenance to uphold the order of things, but it’s doable…and it brings me the organization peace that I need.
Okay, so….I used to have the problem where I would be baking and notice I was plum out of baking soda, sugar, or flour. So, I leave everything in the mixer, throw the kids in the car, and race to the store. Super crappy. Those days are gone, thanks to a trip to my local Kohl’s Department store. They had these super great containers by The Food Network that I new would be perfect for all my basic baking ingredients!
I picked up a container for: salt, sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, powdered sugar, and brown sugar. Next time I go back, I think I’ll get one for cocoa and cornstarch.
I especially like these Food Network containers because the big ones hold like 2 cups AND they have a big opening…makes it easier for scooping out of. Double AND…they’re cheap! Lots cheaper than the ones I was seeing at other stores. The 29 cup container is right around ten bucks! These can be stacked in your pantry, in a cupboard, or lined up in a drawer.
Find a spot for all your paper products. Obviously, if everything is kept together in groups…it will be easier to know when you are out of something and easier to find it.
In my pantry, I like to group the foods together into categories: Sweets, Salty, Soups, Sauces, Veggies, Fruits, Cereal, Baking, Drinks, Pasta, etc. It helps if I line them up…again, so I know just what I have and what I need more of. I know what you’re thinking…it starts with an “O” and ends with a “CD”. But, I disagree….okay, I might be a little crazy but there are plenty of disasters in my house! I just don’t post those pictures…
Unruly drawer…my towel/bibs/rag drawer. I don’t believe in folding things that don’t need to be folded.
I love buying small bins and baskets to help me organize drawers…
You know those junk drawers that every kitchen has?? Tools, batteries, paperclips, pens, crap, crap, crap all mixed together?? You need mini organizing bins…
Colored pencils, pens, pencils, markers for the kids, mom’s markers, crayons, and scissors…
Probably weekly, I have to pull a few pencils out of the pen drawer or sort a few misplaced cereal boxes in the pantry. But, I love that the kitchen is one place there is a small amount of order that is sustainable.
Please share with me (& everyone) your kitchen organizing tips and tricks!
I think I might need to invest in some of those bins. I usually just keep the bags of sugar/flour/etc in the cupboard, but I’m constantly running to the pantry because the bags are small!
I love your blog (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again!) Thanks for always posting consistantly and for having helpful, informational posts that I actually can use! And that I do use (that’s the miracle!) 🙂 You guys are awesome!
I wish I had your pantry! Or any pantry for that matter. I have a hard time keeping my cupboard organized b/c I have to cram a lot of food into it. But I do try to line the cans up and stack the boxes. I re-purpose large plastic containers for my baking goods and noodles.
I liked this post…but would LOVe to hear organizational tips for mail/magazines/receipts/etc! 🙂 That’s what I struggle with! It ends up sitting on my kitchen counter so my kitchen is never organized and it drives me crazy!!!
Thanks, Karen! We put down your post request…
I love seeing all of the photos… I try to be organized but I always loving seeing others ideas! I have a little OCD tendency and I love when others can admit it too… thanks for sharing ALL your great ideas.
OMG! I am so jealous!
I cringed when I saw your batteries! I hate to break it to you, but they will leak if the ends are touching each other. “They say” your supposed to store them side by side, without the ends touching.
But I LOVE your organizing! It’s NOT OCD….it’s being in control of your life and your sanity. Good for you in taking control!
BTW Do you use bins for your kids toys and stuff? I decided a while back that I would designate bins for certain groupings of toys and it’s helped them (they’re 5 & 4)stay organized and orderly and keep their room clean!(and Mom’s happier and more sane as well!)
As always, thanks for the great tips!
Suze, cringe no more, my friend. I’ve been storing my batteries like this for at least a couple years. No leaks. I’m sure someone, somewhere, at some time has had a leaking issue…but, until I do…not worried. It’s super convenient for me and apparently unlikely that they will leak.
I love bins for kids toys! However, it seems impossible for my kids to keep them sorted. It’s especially hard when friends come over or baby sister comes in the room! So, I’m gonna sit this one out and wait until they are a little older to organize toys. The control freak in me will still try to organize the bins when I go in the room…but, I try to hold back because I know from experience I am wasting my time. Torture!
Thanks, Suze! We love your comments!
Awww (*blushes) Thanks! I love your blog!
I’m glad you’ve had a “no-leak” battery experience. Maybe it’s where I live, but if my husband stores the batteries like that, they leak…..and when I reach for one, I get battery acid all over my fingers and then I freak out cause I just got battery acid on my fingers and think that some how my fingers are going to melt….cause it’s acid, right?
Well anyways about the kids toys, I know that I’ve learned (he he sort of) to just let it go. As long as when they clean their room I can see the floor & the closet floor, I’m content. (Notice I didn’t say happy?….it’s the control freak in me….I just can’t be happy unless I do it myself!) But at least I can be “content” that they did it themselves. Saves me a headache!
Mariel.. I am totally impressed with your organizationsl skills! As for the comment above about reciepts and papers.. I hired myself a part time nanny and she cannot stand clutter so she started moving all of my piles into drawers and then I couldn’t find anything when I needed it. I Just put a filing rack that attaches to the wall next to my to do lists. That way I can file things into a pile for my husband, myself, one for each of my kids and one for filing later. That way I can always find what I need when I need it and it is not all over my house. Now if anyone has any advice about good child friendly meals.. I am bored with the one’s I am currently using and my kids don’t like the adult stuff I make!
Katie,
Check out Dana’s post “Bye Bye Boring Breakfast” –
http://oneshetwoshe.com/2009/10/bye-bye-boring-breakfast-she-dana.html
Also, my kids LOVE baked chimichangas, chicken pot pie, french dip, ham & potato soup, hawaiian haystacks, navajo tacos, and saturday chicken. All of the links can be found on the sidebar.
But, we’ll keep that in mind for upcoming recipe posts. Thanks!
I love your pantry!
I like to use ice cream buckets for my dry goods. They hold enough so I don’t have to keep refilling them if I do a lot of baking, but not too much to be manageable.
I wish I could KEEP everything organized…I tend to drift back into messiness. I totally agree – things are better when the kitchen is in order!
I am so glad you posted this! I am exactly the same! My pantry looks just like yours, and my drawers are full of baskets and bins. It makes things so much easier. But then I also suffer from something that starts with an O and ends in CD!
Regarding kids toys – I’ve found it works great to take a picture of what goes in the bin, and then tape it on the bin. It’s great for the kids. After studying early childhood education I learned that this is actually helping our kiddos develop beginning math skills.
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This website posted my pics of how I organize my spices and my silverware/gadget drawer.
http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/mission-organization-the-kitchen/