Day 7: The Pantry

Ok, so I am totally backtracking to day 7. Should've done this 3 days ago... Better late than never, right? Sam gets off on Wednesdays since he is on call on the weekends. Since he had the day off, today was jam-packed with events. Babies R Us to get another baby monitor (AngelCare - they are the best!), TSU to buy Sam's books for this semester (he starts tomorrow night!), Target to buy baby gifts and organizing materials, and now we have been home for the last few hours getting everything organized!

I'm hoping that after this 21 day challenge is over that I will not always feel SO busy with household work and that I will finally start to feel "ahead" in my life. If my life is organized, I will have more time for relationships as less time will be spent trying to figure out where I put my keys, shoes, glasses, chapstick...

Today is supposed to be the laundry closet. Hopefully, I will do that tomorrow.

You know I can't go a day without talking about at least one of my kids, right? My little man looking so handsome in his new sweater from his Mimi. My mom always buys him clothes that match my husband's clothes, which I LOVE!

 Ok, so here are my pantry's before pictures... This is really gross.

I mean, REALLY gross...

As in, you don't actually have to look at my before pictures.

If you do look, just pretend like you didn't when you see me, ok?

Before... Junk on top, between the pantry and fridge, every piece of artwork ever done by my son on it...

Oh my gosh. Just shoot me now for showing you this!

I tried to have some organization before... A baking shelf, cans and food storage materials up top... But it was just a disaster.

 And after... Feel free to look at these pictures all you want!!! :)

Ok, so I started by getting rid of artwork that did not have much significance to us, putting everything up top in its proper place, and moving the posterboard from between the fridge and pantry.

Then I got these great (and cheap) baskets from Target, labeled them, threw out expired food (I found something that expired in '06! Yuck!), wiped down all the shelves, and put back the food that we would eat in its proper place.

Cans up top still. Flour, sugar, and oil in bins. Pasta, rice, and mixes in the back.

Tea and snacks in baskets. Chips in a bowl in back. Extra space - wow! Below I keep my toaster and tea maker and a few scrapbooking boxes that I don't have room for anywhere else.

 It's been a busy afternoon here. I'm ready for a nap. Whew! - KP