Snack organization

I did a small project recently that has saved me a lot of headaches at snack time.  Previously, we kept all "dry" snacks in a HUGE lidded jar and every time Jude wanted a snack I brought it out of the cabinet and we would have to pull a million snacks out to get the one he wanted. 

PROBLEM SOLVED! 

I picked up four if these wonderful lidded jars at Salvation Army for $2.00 each.  (Yay)!  I didn't like the wood finish on them at all so I decided to sand them and paint them a more fun color. 

I was able to remove the lids off of two of them but the other two we're stuck on there tight.  Also, it was obvious that these hard were heavily used ir right next to the stove if the previous owners because they were quite grimy.  It took awhile to get all the yuck off of them before I was able to give them a good sanding.

I am so happy with how well they turned out.  It's been nice to just go to the counter and simply see what the choices are and grab it.  With the cost at just $8.00 since I had the sanding block and paint on hand, it makes it even better!

Fool proof menu planning.

I have a method that I use for menu planning in our house.  I have a notebook which contains a menu for six days on each page.  I have about 12-15 pages. That is about 75-90 main recipes total.  Each page has a variety of meals.  For each week there is usually a meal with the main entree of beef, pasta, pork, fish, vegertarian and chicken paired witha grain and veggie.  If all of these aren't covered than whatever is missing is usually replaced by having chicken additional days.  (My fave protein)!  I just rotate in no particular order through these recipes.  I have listed where the recipe are located under the title so I know where I can find them easily.  If there is no location, then it's my own personal recipe that I know from memory.  Also, I have a dessert listed every two days.  So we will have the same dessert two days in a row or if there is no dessert it is replaced with fresh fruit.

I must mention that each week there is a "REALLY" simple, casual recipe on one of the days.  For example, this week it is Pesto Chicken Panini's on focaccia bread.  I am pairing it with homemade baked potato soup.  The paninis are easy peasy.  Simply stacking the ingredients on the bread and cooking long enough on the George Foreman grill to melt the cheese and heat thoroughly.  Also, this week I am making this Cherry Chicken Salad.  I am taking the easy way out and just buying a rotisserie chicken to make both of the recipes.  Cuts down on time spent actually cooking.  All I have to do is chop some veggies and mix with the remaining ingredients on both days!  How clever?

A great thing about this system is that you have a list of what you are making for an entire week right in front of you.  You can look at the weekly grocery sales ads and choose a weeks worth of meals from your notebook and choose based on what is on sale that week.  Genius!  It cuts costs and lets you plan in advance.  I find that this system saves me so much thinking.  I am making my grocery list much earlier and sticking to it because I really do not need anything more than what is on it to feed the family for an entire week.  Most of the recipes I use include pantry items that I already have on hand, so I just need to get the proteins and veggies I need.  The only items I tend to buy not on my list are household items or the things Clint needs on a weekly basis which consists of a gallon of chocolate milk and white milk, tons of protein bars, a loaf of bread, peanut butter with omega-3's, a bunch of bananas, a dozen eggs that he boils, Gatorade and Ensure protein drinks.  This is literally the list of items he takes to work with him every week!  He is so healthy and disciplined.  I am so lucky to reap the rewards of it...he's so smoking hot. 

Back to the subject of menu planning.....

You are probably wondering why I don't have seven days listed on each page rather than six.  I only do six because there are usually left overs from one of the days or we are simply not home or go out to eat. 

I am wondering if anyone else has a method for menu planning different than what I described above?  If so, I would love to hear it. 

Things I want to make/do

So there are a few ideas that I have been gathering of things that I want to make in the near future.  Most of it includes sewing since I have to stay away from my beloved spray paints while pregnant.  Oh how I miss them!  I miss them on a day like today especially when it's getting nice out and there is no wind.  The spray paint calls to me but I must refrain.  I am sure that within a week of the baby's birth, I will be back at it in full swing!

In the meantime, here are some things I am looking to create.

1.  Mr and Mrs Burlap Pillows with insert by Ballard Designs.
These beauties retail for $59.00 each!  Can we say INSANE?  These would cost $10 at most to make both of them.  I cannot wait to pick up some burlap on my next trip to JoAnn's and make them.  Not sure if I will use the Mr and Mrs idea or put some other genius words on them.  I love the earthy feeling of them.



2.  Utensil Holders done by Crafts by Amanda - found this idea via Be Different Act Normal (a blog I <3).

I like this idea for one reason-I have a lot of utensils.  I have tried to downsize or get rid of some of them many times and have a hard time doing so.  I can honestly say-I use them all!  I cook a lot, so I use them frequently as well.  As of right now I have a stainless steel utensil holder that has my go to necessities, but then I have a drawer of others that I use less often and then another space for all my serving pieces, and another space for the grilling utensils.  It's not that they are all unorganized and a mess...its just that they are all in different organized spaces.  If I had seperate holders for each, I could keep them together - but separate in a wonderful way.  I am not sure when I make mine if they will necessarily be in the same type of plastic containers...but I just like the concept used here.

3.  Neu Home Mounting Wrap Storage Rack

I want to better utilize my storage space in the kitchen.  I am constantly improving this problem by moving things over and over again, finding better storage tools that are sold or by changing the way I buy items.  I want to free up some space before the new baby arrives since where Jude's bottles use to be, there are now sippy cups, cups, kids plates/bowls, etc.  Now we will need space for both.  I thought that if I bought two of these it would free up two drawers in our kitchen.  I would install them on the cabinet under the sink and use one for the wraps and storage bags and the other for the phone book that is in the other drawer.

4.  Car organizer found at http://www.themayfly.com/weblog/

I have been saying for awhile that I need a car organizer of sorts.  My vehicle has always been my downfall.  I keep everything else in my life neat and orgaized....everything has its place.  My car on the other hand is a different story.  It's a disaster.  Unfortunately for me, Jude doesn't care about the cleanliness of my car either.  I found this tutorial and I think that I may use this exact one or find something similar.  I will likely make one for each of my seat backs; one for Jude and one for the new baby when she makes her appearance.

5.  Shower Curtain by DesignSponge

I have been searching for a gender neutral shower curtain so I can redo the guest (kids) bathroom.  Right now-it is decorated for adults.  I don't necessarily want it to be too kiddish, but more kiddish than it is now.  That means that it needs a paint job, a new curtain, new rugs and kid friendlier wall art.  Also, I would like to remove the existing towel bar and replace it with a hook for each child at a kid friendly height.  I would like to put an additonal hook above to hang a slouchy basket or a galvanized bucket with their names on it above to hold their lotions, washcloths, and such other things.  I thought that this tutorial from DesignSponge was great for including things that would fit both genders.

Inspired by my BFF across the country.

I am constantly inspired by influential women, including my best friend Kristen who lives across the country in Washington.  She recently posted on her blog, LoveK about organization.  She is actually featuring her entire week on organizing different areas of her home and life.  (Check it out)!  Her post about her laundry area really struck a cord with me as mine was a COMPLETE disaster!  It has been too convenient to just throw things in the door and shut it really quick since we try and keep the door closed as Jude has an obsession with opening the dryer and crawling in.  In addition, it was kinda dangerous in there for a 1 year old actually.  There was loose change around collected from pockets (choking hazard), golf tees (a poking hazard), things he could trip over (brooms, mops, etc), chemicals and it was dusty....it was simply just a mess.  So after seeing Kristen post, I knew I had to take action. 

Luckily, Jude takes really great naps so yesterday when he was napping, I got to work.  He napped for just over three hours, so I had plenty of time to get things done! 

Take a look at the before--

Here are the trip hazards.  There were out of season coats, large amount of plastic shopping bags, reuseable shopping bags, etc.

Cleaning supplies, old dog treats, q-tips (Jude was carrying them around and brought them to me while I was in there-random).

A crate below that was empty, a laundry basket of miscellaneous things waiting to be washed (rugs, placemats, reds, cushions).

My steam mop, a tote full of things needing to just be put in their proper place and Jude's diaper pail.  We leave it in the laundry room because we use cloth diapers and its most convenient to put them in the laundry room since they will need to be washed.

Stuff stacked on the dryer.  My bento, laundry products, trash for lint and things found in pockets, a basket full of random things collected from the washer and dryer.

Now for the after:

I removed all of the things that were hanging in there and placed them in its owners closet.  I swept and mopped it and put all of the handled cleaning irems inside neatly.

I hung the plastic bags on a hanger so that I can put them into the recycling bin the next time I go to the grocery store.

I placed all my cleaning supplies from the shelf, the top of the washer and dryer and from random places in the house into this basket. 

I placed this jar on the shelf for loose change we find in the laundry.

Here is the shelf--all organized!

I removed the basket that was just collecting random things that needed to be washed and put the diaper pail in its place.  I washed the things that were in the basket and put them away.  I repurposed the bin that was under the basket and am using it for dinosaur storage in Jude's room.

I placed a bright placemat on the dryer and set the trash on top.  I also washed the canister that held dog treats and placed my reuseable grocery bags inside so I knew exactly where they were.

Since Jude's nap was so long, I even had time to hang the brackets and paint the wood for a new shelf.  I had plans to add an additional shelf for quite some time so I had the wood cut already.  I wanted one on top to house small appliances I don't often use.  My large rice cooker, crock pots, bento and heart shaped picnic basket now have a permanant home.

I am so happy with the end result.  When my husband came home, I told him to look at the laundry room and how nice it looked.  He said...."did we get new tile?"  I didn't quite understand but then he followed it with---"it's just that I haven't seen the floor in so long"....(because it's been so messy).  He's a funny cat! 

Just wanted to send a message of thanks to Kristen for getting my butt in gear!  Love you!