Pantry Organization

Might as well start the year off with a bang-diggity, right?  As stated in my previous post, one of my resolutions this year was to "get organized."  Vague, I know.  But I'm really, really working on it.  One space at a time....
I decided to start with the kitchen pantry.  We actually have a relatively large pantry which makes us really lucky.  The huge challenge to it was making it work for us.... and here is the final product:

Although I don't have any good pictures of the "before", there were numerous problems with it...

a)  The shelves are 17.5 inches deep.  Yes, 17.5 inches.  Talking about making it hard to access things in the back/knowing what you have!  Especially on the higher shelves...
b)  Cans and bottle just don't sit well on these shelves.  They have big spaces between each of the metal bars, so things were CONSTANTLY falling over/through.

c)  The top two shelves were virtually un-usable.  I couldn't reach anything at the top and I needed a step latter to get to it... one that doesn't have space to be stored in the pantry.


My dream pantry with custom Elfa storage...


It was then that I discovered The Container Store this year.  I'm enamored, really.  I love this place.  If you've never been, it's basically a giant warehouse of every storage container imaginable.  Unfortuantely, it's also relatively costly, especially for custom installations.  So that's why I worked with what I had, bought very affordable, clear-plastic bins and labels.  Plus, combined with a sale, and yes, a teacher's coupon, I did it on a tight budget ;)

I got stacking storage bins (with an additional 15% off)...

Plus elfa labels (45% off between my coupon and a January sale)...

I loved the bins because I could see through them, they were the perfect width/height, and they slide easily on the shelves.  Also, if I decide to take them out and use them in another space, they stack together to make storage easy.  Quite versatile.  

Here are some up-close shots...

Now, when I need items from the top shelf, I can easily take the basket down!  So much easier than needing a step-ladder.

I thought outside the box with the cans...the way they are situated now, all I have to do is pull out the bin, and I can see everything, label up.  Now I feel like I'm maximizing the depth of our pantry but I can actually see it all....and eat it. Which is the overall point, right?

Check!

Still left to organize...

• Pantry
• Bathroom Closet
• Laundry room
• Front closet
• Under guest bathroom (AKA my bathroom sink)
• Bathroom makeup cabinet
• Under Master Bath Sink
• Garage
• Snack cabinet

My family was thrilled.  Thrilled I tell you!

A year in review...

Everyone in blogger land is doing it.  So I guess I will, too.

(I'm the one with the floatie, by the way)

2011 was a year of joys, triumphs...

2011 was crazy busy but amazing.  I think that pretty much sums it up.  We didn't mess around around here.  We were content to be extremely busy.  EXTREMELY.  When I told Charlie that we would start looking at houses in March, we actually ended up closing in January.  That pretty much sums up our year:  faced paced and always about 3 steps ahead of ourselves.

So that comes in at #1 in our review...closing on our house.

Therefore, this was also the year of a growing number of house projects, many of which involved paint.  Okay, most of which involved paint....and rabbit poop! ;)

Just kidding about the rabbit poop.  But Luna does love it.  ;)

Among my favorite projects were painting our built-ins, our mantle, and our fire place door.  I think it really elevated the room.

Probably my favorite paint color of the year was Behr's Contemplation, which became our new living room color.

We also completed other fun projects in reupolstery, grass growing, landscaping/woodchipping, spray-painting, and Goodwill hunting.

Let's not forget that I spend the summer finishing my Master's in Spain!

And wrote some "diddies" here and there that were on my heart....that's what a blog is for after all.  Like here, here, and here. :)

So, I looked for my post from 2010 that had my New Year's resolutions, to see if I succeeded in filling them.  Here were my resolutions for 2011:

1) Finish my thesis THIS year, so I can get my Master's sooner. Well, like we've established, I'm cheap, so I'm sure this will be a huge motivator.  CHECK, CHECK, CHECKITY CHECK!  It felt so good to finish her!! 

2) Wear sunblock on my scar every day! I just got a mole removed, and I know this will be hard to remember, but it's important so my scar doesn't look worse! Weird, but important.  Fail.  Well, not a total fail.  I do wear sunscreen on it, but only when I plan to be outside for a longer period of time.  My makeup does a pretty good job of protecting it I feel.  No discoloration, yet!

3) Stress less, laugh more. I think that one is simple enough :)  I would say I definitely did a lot of laughing this year.  Lots.  I love laughing.  But I also did my fair amount of stressing (what girl doesn't?)  However, I found myself stressing much less than last year about work, my Master's, etc.  So, did I stress?  Yes.  Did I stress less?  We'll give me a silver medal on that one.  Yay. :)


With that said, here are my new resolutions for 2012!  Woop! 
1) GET MORE ORGANIZED!  I've already started working toward this goal.  I want to be able to find things easier and lead a simpler, more stress free life.  This means working toward my goal in steps and taking one area at a time (I'm currently working on the pantry).  But I want the layout to make sense.

2) BETTER UNDERSTAND MY INSURANCE.  Okay, like number 2 last year, this one is weird.  I often feel I don't have a good understanding of how my insurance works/how to full maximize my benefits.  I've got the basics, but I want to know the ins and outs before we start to expand our family one day.

3)  EXPAND OUR COOKING REPERTOIRE.  Charlie and I have grown so, so, SO much as cooks.  We do eat very well (and quite healthfully) which I am very proud of.  However, I want to start expanding our capabilities while continuing to eat well.  Pinterest is my new inspiration for recipes, etc.  I'll keep you posted and post pictures of food that will make you (nearly) stop reading my blog because they look so good.  Muhahahaha!

Well, I think that's about it. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Painting!

I went on break from work.  And I decided to paint.  This is always how these things go, right?

Here were our color choices if you remember...

But at the last minute, I was doubting them.  I thought for the longest time that Cup of Cocoa was THE color, and then, as I would randomly pass it darker lights, and I didn't like it.  I kept comparing it to Luna's butt color and baby poop.  Never a good sign.  If you are too classy for butt and poop talk, I'll put it for you in decorating terms: at night it looked too harsh and too gray-brown.  I know gray is in, but gray brown is ugly. 

So I did what any "normal" person does...I went to HD and bought two more paint samples...

And Charlie thought it would be funny to take a picture of my agony. ;)  (We added Luna to make you feel sorry for me.  HA!)

It was strange, though because somehow the other colors on the wall brought clarity to the situation that Toasted Wheat was indeed the right color for the space.

So we bought 3 gallons and took the plunge.  After two days of painting, it was complete...

As a reminder...here is how it looked the day we moved in....

And here it is now...

The color is perfect!  I'm so glad that we went with this lighter shade.  It warms up the place but doesn't overwhelm it.

Also, notice anything different?  That would be the mirror...from Kirkland's Homes.  It is a champagne color and was on deep discount.  Marked from $60 to $30. 

I like the textured feel of it, and proportionately, it works much better in the space.

We also continued the paint job all the way up the stairs and into the hallway. 
Here is how it looked before...

And here is how it looks now...

I found a much better home for that picture from our wedding...

I moved the bench out from the guest bedroom and hung some pictures.  Charlie was confused by the space initially.  He wondered how sitting in a hallway made sense, and then he imagined it being a "contemplation" corner, where we look at family pictures and ponder them. 

When it told him it was a storage bench (used for, well, storage) and it was merely an aesthetic thing in the hallway, I think it crushed him a little.

Well, whatever you like to call it, a "contemplation corner" or a "storage" we like it and it works for us.  I promised Charlie I wouldn't paint for a while...but there is always our master bath on the back burner.  Muhahahaha. 

P.S.  I realized I forgot to share our Christmas card with y'all!  We were on the cheap route this year...because last year I spent $40 just on printing everything...not even including stamps.  This year I had the bright idea to make the card myself and print it at CVS on a 4x6 picture.  I tucked them inside Christmas cards that were originally from a box store and donated to Goodwill.  Everything totaled, I paid just over $6 for 35 cards and 35 pictures.  Score.  Plus, since we are so ridiculously good looking, it might just be the best Christmas card ever. 

P.P.S.  If you got one already you must be really cool.

P.P.P.S  If you didn't get one, it doesn't mean you're not cool, it just means it's still in the mail...

.... or that I don't have your address.  ;)

I know I won't have time to update before Christmas, so have a

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Feliz Navidad

xo.

4 gems and a cold.

We're finally sick.

I say finally because it's bound to happen at least once a year, and after what seems like weeks of hanging on by a thread, it finally took hold.  Forces you to stop, rest, and regroup.  Sometimes the body has a way, you know?

At least this nasty cold-bug hit Charlie and I at the same time instead of staggered.  Get it over with sooner I say.  The house is a mess, and we're eating mostly pre-cooked meals topped with some form of red sauce.  (IMO, the red sauce can make any nasty, re-heated meal better).  To be fair, I did try to cook an apple, cranberry, pork dish, but I overcooked it and it was awful.  Things happen.  I don't think Charlie could smell or taste much, so he assured me it tasted good.  ;)

Life has been busy...at school and otherwise.  I've been working on my teacher of the year application.  I was nominated this year in my building, and it's so completely honoring.  I teach with an outstanding group of people.  I have to answer a series of questions that aren't "hard" per-se, but they aren't something you can write in 15 minutes and submit.  The "What's your philosophy of teaching?" question is one that I haven't articulated since college, and it's changed a lot.  I'm stewing on them, writing here and there, and trying to make the words come out right.  I'm best left to write when I can speak from the heart.  I want my words to be genuine and real, not artificial and textbook answers.  So time I will take.  They are due at the beginning of January. 

Anyway, I suppose I'll share a few little gems with all of you... simple.  And all virtually unrelated.  But I'm not going to make 3 different posts for all of them, because I don't feel like it.

So I'll type.  And you read what interests you :)

GEM 1: 
My kids have pen pals against this year!  A friend of mine, Brian, is living in Barcelona, Spain.  We met in Salamanca, Spain completing our Master's program, and he now teaches English at an elementary school in the city.  When I facebooked him with the idea to exchange letters, he loved it.


Brian is in the back in the plaid shirt.

My Spanish club made a video of our school for them.  I basically gave the kids flip cameras and told them:

• Film different places in the school.
• Speak about 70% English (so the Spanish kids can practice) and 30% Spanish.
• TALK SLOWLY

 I was proud of them.  Maybe this will give you a breif glimpse into why I heart my job.... I don't think you can duplicate a middle schoolers enthusiasm and sense of humor for anything.




And here is the video they sent us!  His kids are still technically in primaria, meaning Elementary.  They are a bit younger.  Isn't it interesting how kids around the world are virtually the same, though?  They are all kids.  Still sweet.  Still need love.

Here is their video:



GEM 2:   
I've finished the bonus room, but I haven't blogged about it, yet.  Here is a picture of one side, completely done.

Now that we have our new TV downstairs, we are in the process of putting the old on up there.  My brother broke in the new sofa over Thanksgiving break... he said it was comfortable.

It's a big change from where the room came from:

GEM 3: 
Refreshed mantle.

In a previous post, I said I wasn't 100% happy with how our mantle looked.  So I messed with it, and came up with this.

I donated to a Hospice Care facility and I was given the wreath.  I used some gold bulbs that I wasn't using and my inspiration (see previous post) gave me the idea to use the lantern.  I had the ribbon laying around from Thanksgiving.

GEM 4: 
Luna.  I haven't blogged about her in forever.  She is the same, though.  Awkward as ever, still can't take a good picture.



Are you trying to say I look like a chicken???

My inlaws are coming down tomorrow to close on their new home in the south. It's exciting to have them, and we are trying to turn a corner with our colds. No passing it on to them.  Off to take care of some paperwork and hit the hay early.  I need it!

Christmas time is here!!!



Christmas wreath we got as a wedding present....
isn't that a cute idea?

And the decorations are up!!!!  I seriously love the Christmas season.  <3 it.  Love the traditions, family, the food, the smells and decorating the tree.  Oh, and the snow (not that we get much down here).  Christmas decorating was pretty simple this year.  Working mostly with what we had. 

The only thing I wasn't willing to compromise on having was a Christmas tree...a real (and by real I mean real plastic), tall Christmas tree.  Here was our first ever tree.  Remember him from last year? 



Christmas 2010

 It was our little, Charlie brown tree.  But he was so good.  And so small and cute.  Like Luna.....but she's far more awkward.

Anyway... I still might put him in the den and decorate him with some gold bulbs I have...but I haven't had the energy. 

I started looking on Craigslist in early October for "real" trees because it's just before Christmas, but too soon to be high in demand, so the deals would be the best.  I found a posting for a 7.5 foot, artificial tree for $25.  A little old lady was selling it.  She was so cute.  And we bought it!  And here she is in all her glory.  Decorated and such.  Based on what the lady said, it was a well love tree, and still had some tinsel hidden in it's branches.  Now it's well loved here.  I ended up picking up some lights at Lowes for it, but it was worth it.  They were $15 for a box of 450, so in total I came in under budget at $35.

This was the first year where the tree was really personal to US as a couple.  Most of the ornaments were wedding, and shower gifts, or from graduation or ones we bought as a couple.  (Aside from a few childhood favorites).  Then there was the outside...

The mini trees are from Michaels. 

Wow, Kathryn.  I bet you got a deal on those, too (Is she always this crazy???).

Yeah I am and yest I did.  50% off plus a 25% off your entire purchase coupon.  Score. 

And our nativity scene on our built-ins.  The reason for the season :) ...

The mantle is looking okay... I'm still not 100% sold on it. Everything was hand me downs or things I already had (besides the greens I got at the Goodwill over the summer). 

Here are some of my inspirations for future mantles (from pinterest.com...only my favorite site ever)

I love the layers of this one...and I think it's a good idea to put a wreath on a mirror, especially because the dark brick we have on our fireplace swallows it up.

And in big news...physically big news...we came out pretty good on Black Friday.  See our new, ginorm 55 incher to the right?  Yeah, we're mounting that sucker.  The little TV will go in the bonus room.

Charlie was so excited....and HAD to take it out of the box the moment it arrived.  He was afraid to take it out without someone helping him (because he didn't want to crack the screen) so I'm pretty sure he sad with the box all day, stroking it.  Talking to it.  This was our Christmas gift to one another!

Thanksgiving in pictures and a few words...

It has been so amazing to have family here this Thanksgiving.  Our home was filled with ten people for the Holiday and we baked our first ever turkey.  My mother was key in this operation.  And helping me bake the pies.  I had all the ingredients, the recipes, and the willpower, but nothing makes up for experience and knowing how to time things just right....or the support of your family cheering you on!

The Thanksgiving spread including Turkey, Cranberry Jelly, Aunt Karen's Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, and Green Beans and Shallots.  Oh, and gravy.  Lots of gravy!



Checking on the pies in the oven!



The table looked great, and was a combination of family heir looms.  My aunts plates, my grandmother's napkins, and the table was Charlie's great grandmother's.  Here's how it looked...

 

And here we are right before chowing down...

The whole crew!

This trip was not for the faint of heart or the tired.  We visited the property the my in-laws are in the process of closing on.  We went out to dinner and we also visited Discovery Place and saw a Mummy exhibit.  We snuck in the some relaxing and watching movies, but we did a lot!!

By the (almost) new house!

The "kids" having fun downtown in a London-style phone booth!

Turkey Trot Participants!

Talking and Relaxing in Downtown Charlotte

There are so many blessings and things I am thankful for this year.

• My husband and wonderful family
• Our friends
• Our health
• Our church
• Our home
• Our jobs
• Our dog

We are more than blessed.  Happy belated Thanksgiving!