Pantry Dilemma...solved!

I have a pantry dilemma...my last pantry was HUGE and this one is...well...a closet. And that closet is right up next to the double doors to the laundry room and the double doors to the fridge....they literally share the same 3 feet of space in an effort to make my life miserable. Yes, m.i.s.e.r.a.b.l.e.

So here was my solution. Baskets! I have a ton of wasted space above my cabinets in the kitchen...so I added baskets! Not really for decoration....tho they do look kinda cute I think...but for food! Is it totally practical...well...I guess a bigger kitchen and pantry would be more practical but ya work with what ya got right?! We're living in a temporary place...so I'm off to a new pantry every year or so...so I make do with what I have!

I do wish I could come up with some way to make them look more cute. I thought about greenery...buy green just isn't my color...I think I've looked all over the freakin blog world and have just settled on a plant shelf with just baskets. PLUS decor would just get in the way of functionality...right?! Simple. Works for me.

I purchased the baskets from Target when they were on sale. I had to run to 3 different super targets in my area...(kill me) but I love them! I wanted the fabric liner so I could wash it if needed and cause I wanted something to help break up all the BROWN ... I love the linen looking liners and they totally match my chairs in the dining room. Why didn't I just buy them with a coupon at Michaels, Joann's, HobLob? Cause I wanted to spend a fortune at Target. No really...Cause that would have been like 100 transactions, they don't have very many "sets" of baskets that all match, and I just loooved the ones I spotted at target...blah blah. Just cause ok?!! ;)

I labeled some of the baskets just for fun. Not really for any function. I'm sure my sweet husband would appreciate it it I actually labeled them correctly....like 'tomatoes' 'soups' 'pasta' ... but that would just not be cute! ;D So my labels currently say "1" "2" ... 'Faith' 'Hope' 'Love' 'Charity'..... and will probably change again and again.

I also purchased a step ladder on clearance at target to help me actually reach the baskets. Also...for the not so heavy baskets I just use my rolling pin and stick it through the hole of the basket to help lower it down...rocket science. My 4 year old loooves when I let him climb on the counter to grab the mac&cheese from the basket. Fun stuff.

So...what if my next home (March 2011) doesn't have a large plant shelf? I'll die. Just kidding...I have a few ideas. If I have an available wall near the kitchen either in the eat in dining area (not the formal dining area for sure!) then I'll buy 2 cute bookshelves and just fill them with baskets. OR I could just use them in a closet I guess. I dunno.

dinner at my house...

Yesterday was a bitter-sweet day...I was grocery shopping and cooking literally all day...

I was having a little dinner at my house and chose some of my favorite recipes...all from people I love...so I was thinking about my friends and family all day and I have to admit...I was sad and lonely. (yes...I said it). But on a happy note: I had lots of calls and texts yesterday from friends and family ... like everyone somehow knew I was having a hard day. happy.

some of my cooking/baking highlights...

my grandma's recipe of strawberry jam coupled with rhodes rolls---as homemade as it gets in my casa.

my aunt sheri's chinese chicken salad

my buddy stephanie's rainbow jello, Bunko Salad, and...Buttermilk Brownies. (yum!!!)

my mother's zucchini casserole. tear.

missing my family and friends. so...while I was making candied almonds, toasting roman noodles, watching rolls rise, crushing strawberries, chopping a zillion veggies, shaking up salad dressings, and making brownies from scratch (lots of firsts for me) ... it was nice to reflect on fun times all in the past. ALRIGHTY getting to poetic for me. haha. lets just sum it up...I was in a tiny, hot, kitchen...my kiddos were amazing at entertaining themselves yesterday and I enjoyed my day of cooking and reflection. haha.

i can still be sad and lonely but happy here...right?!! good days and bad days can co-exist in my happy world. busy being happy happy being busy...that's my motto and I'm sticking to it.

oh shoot. i want this

Thanks to the ALWAYS awesome ...

Thrifty Decor Chick ... for giving me something new on my want list. ack! Check out her site. I loooove that her site is an easy read and she's so funny! :)

Seriously, CHECK HER OUT!

this one had a little photo editing...what a difference. hmm. if only i could photoshop my hand out of it. :)

Happy Easter! Coloring eggs with the kiddos. They loved it. Funniest part...my boy took a bite out of one of the eggs...shell and all! He actually ate it and love it. ew. The pink was the closest color to Lexi...so most of the eggs turned out pink. Fun fun :)

Peace.

-from princess lexi

finding room

I did something interesting yesterday...I moved my kids dresser into the laundry room. A little odd...yes...but it totally works for me.

Here's some reasons why

When my kids get undressed I make them take their clothes to the laundry room anyways

Mom and Dad are the only ones allowed in the dresser

When I fold clothes its usually during naptime or bedtime for the kiddos...so having the dresser in another location other than their room makes it waaaay easier to put clothes away while their asleep

Folding straight from the dryer...with the dresser 1 foot from the dryer I have no excuse not to fold straight from the dryer. yay.

Next step...move the extra bed linens into the laundry room. Currently I have the extra bed and bath linens in the kids' closet and in each of the bathrooms and that totally works for me...cause if I need something its within reach. BUT...you know...I'll have to bring the soiled linen into the laundry room anyways...so why not grab a new clean linen while I deposit the soiled one...just changing it up a litttle...just as fast.

Since I moved the dresser into the laundry room its given me extra space in my kiddos closet...I can fit 8 plastic bins...YAY! My kiddos closet is primarily storage, extra toys, and church clothes now. Saweeet.

Living in a small space and its actually working out. Miracle.