My House Monday: Tackling the Pantry . . . Again

JUST when I think I get things how I want them, something changes and I have to mix it up again! Take, for instance, the pantry. I had organized it last year and it was going well, but I noticed that my cabinets needed some work... where would the cabinet surplus go? The pantry. And in continuing on with our paleo prep and planning, we have to clear OUT our pastas, rices (yes, rices - white, long-grain, brown, basmati, jasmine... seriously - I have an addiction), canned soups, etc. So what does this mean? MORE pantry cleaning! Here is the latest greatest pantry clean up - more organizing to come!

A shot of MOST of the closet - there is another 'column' if you will of white tubs on the right!

Still hearting my label maker - super easy to peel the labels off and make more as our diets change - the 'grain's bucket will soon become bananas or something. haha

In a nutshell - we just groups together our like items, measured the space, found buckets that fit across, made labels and voila! However, we noticed our 'small appliance' cabinet with a disaster, so I moved things around to devote a shelf to our rarest used appliances (electric skillet, quesadilla maker, george foreman, electric mixer, etc.). We left the slowcookers, blender, food processor and mini chopper in the kitchen cabinet, easier to access! We also noticed that two of our lower cabinets were getting cluttered. We essentially needed:

• one cabinet for cutting boards, mixing bowls and strainers
• one cabinet for rectangle and square pyrexes and bulky pans (like muffin pans)

This meant that all of those awesome (but random and not often used) items like the pumpkin-shaped Halloween dishes, my fabulous deviled egg serving dish from my mother-in-law and Christmas servers (think penguins!) now needed a home so they would be out of the way! Enter a small shelf where they could stack on the bottom - perfect. :)

Q: Any fun organization projects going on at your casa?

Q: How was your Monday?! Mine was good - no workout, but I did win an award at work. :) Very sweet! Love my team.

My Bedroom Evolution

It's almost Friday - YESSSSSSS!! I hope you've had good weeks, and are looking forward to fun weekends! Tomorrow night is chill night, then Saturday we have a Steely Dan concert and Danielle's 30 birthday bar crawl! Then Sunday is chill/rest/probably work day. I hope to take a spin class Saturday too - we'll see! So, it's been a year since I've been working on (slowly) updating our bedroom - it's getting SO close to being done - just need a couple of new pieces. For now - here is the latest update - the evolution of our bedroom!


BEFORE - August 2009 (just moved in; chocolate/cranberry; no night stands; new lamps

August 2010 - (new, lighter colors, new pillows, new green accents and new night stands)

June 2011 (new dresser, a bit of new accents and art)

AFTER August 2011 - new art, new, smaller lamps - we like it SO much better! And again - more bright!

Before & After Shot

Click to make larger - LOVE the new art - really helps fill the space and, to me, make it more homey!

Hope you like the changes we made! The great thing is we can always go back - stuff is just shuffled all over the house. The lamps are now in the guest room and living room, and i'm just updating other lamps! The new lamps, in case you like them/are looking for small lamps, are from Crate & Barrel. I had found them a while back, but they were $60 each - not worth it for the size (small) lamps I was looking for! Well I went in with a $100 gift card from my sweet co-workers (birthday gift!) and they were on sale for $20 each. A steal - love 'em. I wanted the art to be the focus while giving us more surface space. As far as the art, Ikea frames (20"x28") for $20 each - so $80 in lamps + frames, and about $6 for the fabric inside, which matches the pillow I got in NY at the street fair!

Q: Are you a lamp person? What is your favorite thing to buy for your home? I love lamps and pillows! And frames - but i'm bad about having pictures printed for them - eek!


Q: What are you doing this weekend?!

Cali Bound, Our First Tomato, Herb Garden Before & After

Before telling you my exciting 'travel' news, I have to share some other local, homegrown, exciting news. Austin grew our first tomato!

isn't it perfect?!

Seriously - the tomato plants are out of control with growth - AWESOME! Can't wait for more!

BEFORE

AFTER - yes, they're taller than me!

Another shot of Austin's bountiful harvest

So what to do with it? Well make a caprese - duh!

I guess i'd never had a fresh tomato. WOW. I never knew how crazy sweet they were. or how RED. I mean really - amazing.

So long story short, Austin's parents invited us to go to Napa Valley with them! Eee! They go each year and know their way around wineries, so i'm SO excited to go on this trip with them - can't WAIT! Well the more we talked to them and got to thinking, it made perfect sense to add in a trip to San Fran since it's right there. So we tacked two days in front of our three-day Napa trip to visit San Fran. Then, yes, it gets BETTER, my leadership program (the one who took me sailing) tells me we're going to LA for an offsite trip. GET THIS - it's 2 days prior to the San Fran/Napa trip! So here's how it works out:

Tuesday: I fly out with my co-workers to LA - we have from 2 p.m. until whenever on Tuesday to visit LA.

Wednesday: We get in a van to go to Irvine for our offsite event; get back at 5 p.m. and have the night in LA.

Thursday: We all go to the airport. My co-workers fly home and I fly down to San Francisco where I meet Austin! So we have all day in San Fran Thursday.

Friday: We have the day in San Fran until his parent pick us up (they're coming from Pebble Beach) and then we go to Napa!

Saturday, Sunday, Monday: Napa with the Martins!

Monday late night/redeye: back to Atlanta - land at 6 a.m., beat traffic home, sleep/rest/get pups/cook!

Talk about a week I couldn't have planned if I had tried! ONLY bad thing - i'm going to miss my fur babies -why oh why are they not flight-friendly? Sad. I know they'll be happy at their boarders who genuinely seem to love them but STILL thinking about it breaks my heart. Must focus on the positive - a great, fun-filled trip to Cali!! Other fun things - my friend Monica is out there for work to so I hope to meet up with her for at least a drink + photo op!

No, I've never been to California! Why? I have no idea - just haven't made it further west than Utah. And don't just the fact that I just googled 'U.S. World map to ensure that Utah was indeed further west than Arizona.

Q: Have you ever been to Cali? Where should I go near LAX and/or in San Fran?!

Quick backtrack - Monday I got up early and went to the gym for another cardio mix up:

• Treadmill: 1/8 mile walk, 1.25-mile run, 1/8 mile walk
• Stair Climber: 1 mile in 11 minutes
• Spin: 4 songs

HRM said: 40 minutes, 310 calories, 10 fat-burning minutes, 30 fitness minutes, Avg HR 149; Max HR 177. Good stuff! After my workout I had a working lunch at Goldfish - I got the grouper. YUM! Then I stopped by the library and found 5 books on my to-read list - yay! So I checked them all out and plan to start with Sheryl Anderson's Killer Heels. Then I just worked more before heading home to my family!

Q: Have you ever had a fresh tomato?

Kitchen Business Center Project Reveal, Fun Family & Friends Weekend

Thanks you guys! I loved your feedback on the spice cabinet redux! Also fun to learn about your recipe tasters. :) BTW - Austin did try the Hoisin chicken - it reheated well and he liked it - yay! So I've been working on a Kitchen Business Center Project. What does this mean? Well basically, I was trying to accomplish other goals, like my pantry organization, spice jar organization, gift center and spring cleaning of closets. As I was doing this I kept getting frustrated. Where is the tape? Where are the scissors? I bought a label maker to help me get organized, but it didn't change the fact that we had bills in the kitchen, our bedroom nightstands, Austin's home office, etc. I finally just went around to these places and gathered clutter:

• Master bedroom nightstands and dresser
• Austin's office
• My office
• Desk in bonus room
• Desk in kitchen

We just had TOO many areas. I mean really, batteries shouldn't be in 3 different places. The resolution? ONE place for ALL items. A place to pay bills; file documents, cards, photos; store post-its, paper clips, clothespins; etc. Here's how it ended up...

on the outside...

and inside!!

Close up shot - all boxes were from Ikea (3 sets of 2 CD-sized boxes at $4 each so $12, 3 sets of DVD-sized boxes at $5 each so $15 ; 2 sets of large document-sized boxes at $8 each so $16; 2 sets of small document-sized boxes at $6 each so $12); labeled with my label maker. Boards were from Staples; $4 for a set of 4. Total cost: $59 pre-tax.
close up of boards
close up of boxes

For some context - the door in the back left is to the garage AKA where the mail comes in. The business center is in those left cabinets - away from the serve ware, cooking ware, etc.

Boxes include: Photos, Stationery (thank you cards, blank cards, etc.), Batteries, Clips (document clips, clothes pins, etc.), Bill Paying (envelopes, stamps, check books, address labels), Receipts, Documents, 'To Review' and 'To File', Manuals (for washer, TVs, etc.), Electronics (chargers, DS Lite, GPS, etc.), Cards (from family & friends after a few months of display), Staplers & Tacks, Extra Supplies (extra post its, high lighters, etc.), Stamps (stamp pads, personalized stamps, etc.), Ribbons, and Adhesives (tape, glue gun, glue stick, etc.).

Corkboard: Left side is for upcoming events; Right side is for upcoming bills, coupons, appointments, etc.

Drawers: One has dividers with a few of the items above for easy access (pens, post its, pads of paper, index cards, paper clips, clothes pins); one has large note pads and mealplans/recipes.

Now, when mail comes, we know exactly where to put it. No need to let it stack up in other parts of the house for filing - it can all live in this space. When the boxes get full (like the 'to file' box) we can just put the items in a manila envelope and store in the filing cabinets upstairs for later use. Also, some things like magazines don't belong in the kitchen - we don't read them down there! So we have the basket on the counter to collect items that need to go upstairs!

Other than putting the finishing touches on the mail center, Friday was spent working, shopping at Macy's during lunch, more work, then straight home to see Austin, get ready and head to Mary & Scott's! We had some beers, met their friends in town from LA, went to Twain's, played some shuffleboard then called it a night! Saturday we woke up early, met my parents at Starbuck's and then went shopping with my mom and found some GREAT furniture (more on that later!). Here's a pic of Austin when he found himself standing next to a poster that was on his t-shirt.

After our shopping trip, we headed home, took naps, then got ready, Tyson arrived and I headed out to book club while the boys headed to Buckhead for a night out! We had dinner and drinks and a sleepover at Danielle's! Beautiful weather, and I got to meet her Great Dane Dawson - SUCH a sweetie! I had fun catching up with the girls, listening to music, eating yummy BBQ and staying up too late. :)

Automatic timer pic #1 (sorry, Stacy, for my awkward arm placement when I ran in late!)

Pic #4 ish Why I felt this goofiness was necessary I'll never know

Today I slept in SO LATE at Danielle's -but i'm having a great chill day with Austin and the puppers. The weather is BEAUTIFUL!

Q: What are you up to today?

Q: Do you have a in-home business center? If so, is it in the kitchen? Any tips or things our center may be missing?! I can't wait to start benefiting from having it in place!

Spice Organization Redux, Casserole Mania, New Asian-Inspired Recipe

Well you bloggies sure know how to make a girl feel better! I'm not the only person whose fallen recently, and some of you had some really bad falls. A concussion?! OMG No complaining on my end from here on out - eek! On another note - HAPPY FRIDAY! I'm so glad. So very glad. Before chatting about the weekend, here's what went on yesterday!

So I had purchaed my spice jars, labeled them and reorganized the kitchen. Oh happy day. However, I was still having a hard time finding what I needed. Especially because all of the jars were the same. It was like my organization had turned on me. Then I discovered that the height of the jars was PERFECT for the drawers- like made for them. Perhaps they were? Anywho, so I reorganized again taking large spoons/spatulas out of a drawer and getting a container on the counter for them, which freed up space in a drawer right next to the stove where I need the spices the most. However, they now needed labels on TOP, not just on the side. So me and my new best friend that truly brings out my OCD like no other label maker got to work - here are the results!

The magic is in the left drawer

See - love it. Have spice jars and small containers for packets at arm's reach

Close up

As a refresher, here is the before:

And the other AFTER:

I cooked 5 recipes with the new organization system - bliss! I made 4 casseroles: Burrito Casserole, Spicy Spaghetti Pie, Brushetta Bake and Taco Pasta Casserole.

Taco Pasta Casserole close up

spicy spaghetti pie close up

Yes, in case you're wondering, Austin was out of town. This is what I do when I don't have my better half here - I go crazy. Clearly. haha Also, it was a rest day so no gym, no Austin = cooking + organization projects! Lastly, in addition to the 5 casseroles, I made a new Asian-inspired recipe - Hoisin Chicken Rice Bowls.

Hoisin Chicken Rice Bowls
Adapted from a Dinners for a Year and Beyond Recipe
Makes 4 Servings

Nutritional Information: 433 calories, 62 carbs, 6 fat grams and 33 protein grams.

While Austin didn't get to try it, I can vouch for it - YUMMY! Here's the recipe on Healthified Kitchen! Thankfully, Austin is back today - yay! I'll update the review once I know how it reheats and i'll add any of Austin's comments which, no offense to my cute sweet husband, are usually "it's gooood". When prompted, no but really, what do you like it about it? "The taste." Oy. Can't complain though - he eats everything I make happily! :)

Q: It's Friday - whatcha doing this weekend? We're staying around the house tonight, then tomorrow i'm going to body pump and to see my sis and Dane, and tomorrow night is book club - yay! Sunday is hopefully church and more home organization projects - I am in FULL spring cleaning/organizing mode.

Q: Do you have a recipe tester? If so, who is it? Mine is Austin - I halfway kid above, he's getting better at telling me more about what he likes or doesn't like. There are actually some recipes I haven't posted because he just really didn't like them (and I didn't either.... but I needed that confirmation!).

Book Review, New Product, C25K, Giveaway Winner

You. Guys. Rock. THANK YOU for totally supporting us - the neighbor is CRAZY and OMG, I agree, they TOTALLY need to pay for it! I loved Runi's response - my TIME. I've now been up there 3 times for this dang dress and the 4th will be to pick it up. That's ridiculous!! All right girls - i'll keep you posted on A: if neighbor goes psycho again and B: what happens with the dress! Thank you again for the advice/thoughts/support!!

So Yesterday was a pretty great day! On the way into work I finished my audio book: James Patterson's You've Been Warned. So this book drew me in. I liked the main character, Kristin, a photographer/nanny. I don't want to giveaway the plot, but it was written in first person so you really got to know her and her life and her... indiscretions. I got into it quick and it had TONS of chapters and almost every one was a cliffhanger. This book got mostly bad reviews but I honestly thought it was interesting. I could see how some would HATE the endings, but I think it tied it up nicely and was actually pretty surprising all along. A couple of things I didn't buy, per se, but i'd definitely listen to it again. And I loved that as weird things were happening to her, she was even like THIS IS WEIRD, as opposed to just letting it go, if that makes sense. I give it a 3/5. It would have been better if there had been a couple of additional clues as to the ending, and if a few more loose ends had been tied up.

After finishing my audio book, I just worked, walked 4 miles during lunch, worked more, had positive meetings, and then after work I headed back to the gym! I did C25K (still doing the lower run). I walked 2 minutes at 4.0 mph, ran 24 minutes at 6.3 mph/1 minute at 7.5 mph, and then walked at 4.0 mph for 3 more minutes to take me to 30 minutes/3 miles. I hopped off the treadmill, did upper body ST, then headed home to try a new product:

Seeds of Change Korma simmer sauce.

Just added a pound of chicken and some white rice and bam - a yummy Indian curry dish! I will say this one was higher in calories/fat and had lots of excess sauce - next time i'll make it 5 servings (add 4 oz. more of chicken and another .75 cups rice) to take down the counts. GREAT sauce though - really creamy, I love coconut milk!

After dinner the Aqua Wash guy came to pressure wash the house/patio/windows - YAY! And then we headed to Fedex to laminate some signs for Austin's birthday, then the liquor store for more birthday party liquor! Then it was chill time, two beers in the backyard. Love . It. Forgot to tell you some fun stuff!

I won an awesome coupon for an entire meal from 2 from Jenn & Slim Shoppin'!!

Thanks, Jenn! I'll post once I buy one - can't wait! Great giveaway!!

I also got this EXCITING coupon from Cabot - Regan, my new Cabot friend/Auburn grad/Team Edward teammate - woo!! You guys know i'm slighting obsessed with Cabot 75% so you know this will be gone in a heartbeat! Cheese with low calories, a little bit of good fat and it MELTS?! I'M IN!

Check out their new Random Acts of Cheddar Campaign - it's pretty cool! I'll post stats tomorrow - hope you all had a great night!!

Q: Do you like cheese? If so, what's you favorite kind? Brand?

Q: Won any giveaways or great coupons lately? Can I tell you how excited I am about Buitoni and Cabot???!!

Before & After: Lighting, Painting & Crown Moulding Project...

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE


AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Three Words: I'm So Excited.

Three More: We Love It.

Three More: Hope You Do! :)

Three More: Reuben does too...

I'll be back to regular programming tomorrow. :) Hope you're all having a great night - I am!!!!