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Organizing My Pantry & Some Tips For a Efficient & Simple Kitchen

New Nostalgia's organized pantry
 

Now that the kids are back in school, I am eager to continue on in my series of Minimalizing Our Home.  I can’t tell you what a difference it has made in the areas I have already organized/minimalized. It has been so very easy to keep those areas clean and tidy.  It motivates me to get busy and continue on in my mission of embracing the slow life.  Part of living life to the fullest is eliminating that which takes up precious time, and for our family, that means anything excess that I would have to deal with.  
Everything we bring into our home will need attention, whether it needs to be put away continuously, dusted or cleaned, or simply sitting there taking precious space in our home.  Because of this, I have become very thoughtful about what is worthy of my time and attention, and have enjoyed getting rid of anything that does not fit in that category…hence my minimalizing series!
Before and After organizing a large pantry
Back to the pantry, it is a space that really is important to keep tidy.  In my pursuit of health, I need to know what I have available to feed my family, and make sure it is accessible so we will actually eat it or I will actually bake with it.  
I love mason jars for this very reason.  With a glance I can see what we have and how much of it we have.  My kitchen is plastic free for the most part.  I don’t trust what is in plastics, and mason jars are just so cute and easy for me to store and use.  I keep all the lids in one big bowl, and the empty jars on one shelf.  The small jars can stack which really helps with storage.  I love not having nasty, stained plastic containers and lids of every color and size.  I love the simplicity of mason jar lids.  One bowl, very accessible.
Basket and spices

As you can see, I use mason jars to store my dried goods.  They are great for rice, nuts, seeds, coconut, & nutritional yeast.  I also love using a lazy susan in my pantry for the few things that come in their own resealable bag.  I also keep my peanut butter there, which I use every day so it needs to be in an easy- to- grab place.

The basket holds all my tea.  I like that I can quickly grab it and have everything I need for tea.

Under my tea basket are my place mats.  Again, easy to see and grab when needed.

Shelf for foil and wax paper
This little shelf works great for storing my foil & wax paper, etc.  I keep my extra boxes of tea underneath.

Using containers for certain foods

I like using containers to corral certain foods.  I have 2 white tubs on this shelf.  One is for pasta, the other is our snack bucket.  I keep bagels and bread in between the white tubs and the brown wooden tub holds all our nuts.  See the wooden clothes pin sticking out of that wooden box?  This is another way I simplify my kitchen.  I keep a large mason jar full of wooden clips and use them as chip clips.  I like that they are all the same neutral color, and it gets rid of bright colored- plastic chip clips that are all sizes and hard to store.

Salad spinner and rice cooker

This shelf holds some of my larger items.  My salad spinner, rice cooker and large salad bowl.   I keep clipped bags of chips in that large wooden bowl.  I also keep our cereal and oatmeal on this shelf.

The very top shelf holds any paper products we have, and I have put hooks up to hang our mop, broom, dust pan, mop bucket (in corner, not seen) and a plastic bag dispenser.  The wire basket holds my hand blender and potatoes when I buy them.  I have a large lazy susan for small appliances up top.

Organized pantry with trash can and mops
We recently invested in a larger trash bin with a swivel lid.  It works SO much better than this one in the picture.
Door to kitchen containing a hanging shelf
This door is in our kitchen right next to our pantry.  It leads to the garage and to our downstairs.  Our kitchen does not have much storage space, and our pantry is small, so I bought this over-the-door organizer about a year ago.  I keep hand towels & dish clothes in the bottom rack, as we only have 2 drawers in our kitchen…yep…I said 2!  I will share with you in an upcoming kitchen post how I deal with that!  Kids straws (Momma uses glass!) and our daily vitamins in the rack above that. Coffee & coffee filters on the next shelf. Above that are ingredients that I use often in my baking…baking powder, baking soda, salt & cocoa powder.  I usually keep vanilla there, too.  And again, extra tea boxes!  I love tea!
White organized kitchen and sink
While we are on the subject of baking, it is really helpful to be super purposeful about where to keep  ingredients if you want baking to be a “piece of cake” so to speak. I keep my flours and sugars out on the counter, then just need to turn around and grab the rest of my dry ingredients from the door organizer in the pic above.  My measuring cups and spoons are all right there.  Having everything so accessible has made a BIG difference in my motivation to be more purposeful in whipping up healthy foods for my family.  It makes me WANT to bake.
Recap of tips:
~Use mason jars–they are good for environment, they replace stained plastic, are see-through, and use the same lids which can be stored in one area and simplifies the kitchen.
~Use wooden clothesline clips as chip clips.  They are cute, small, and can fit in a mason jar for storage. Get rid of those big, multi-colored plastic chip clips!
~Use hooks to get your mop, broom and feather duster off the floor.  I have added more hooks against the pantry wall that is hidden for my girls lunch boxes.  Hooks are great for using vertical space.
~Use a holder to corral plastic bags.  This frees up a drawer or shelf/cupboard.
~Keep things that you use often front and center.  Be thoughtful and purposeful about where you place each thing.  This keeps your kitchen running efficiently and simplifies the baking/cooking process.
~Keep like with like.  Pasta together, nuts together, cereal together, vitamins together, snacks together, small appliances together….I really should put all my boxes of tea together…seeing them separate in the pics above is now driving me crazy!
~If you are low in drawer space, get creative with storage.  Use racks for foil, etc.  Use baskets for dish towels/dish cloths.
For More Minimalizing/Simplifying Posts:

Got any more kitchen tips for me?

Are any of these tips helpful for you or “jive” with you?

FAMILY/ Healthy Eating/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Meals/ Parenting/ RECIPES

14 Healthy School Lunch Recipes Your Kids Will Love

 

How do I  know your kids will love these? Because mine do!  With summer break coming to an end, I decided to gather my favorite recipes to add to my girls school lunch boxes.  I will refer to this list often, to keep me out of the “peanut butter and jelly sandwich” rut.  Even if I do give them a pb & j sandwich, at least they will have some interesting and yummy sides!

Heavenly Hummus Sandwich
The apples and sweet dried cranberries make this sandwich kid friendly.
Udon noodles with sesame seeds and peas
The clementine juice in these noodles give a hint of sweetness.  We never have leftovers when I make these noodles.  Can be eaten hot or cold.
orange homemade fruit roll up
These are so easy to make and very versatile.  Use what fruit you have on hand, especially those that are starting to go soft.
chocolate peanut butter chia pudding with raspberries
This can be breakfast, lunch or snack.  It has wholesome oats in it and the amazing superfood, chia.  Chia has great fiber, protein and more omega’s than flax!  They are flavorless and help thicken  this pudding.
slieced applesauce bread
This bread is simple and delicious.  Uses ingredients that we always have on hand.
Peanut butter banana chia seed roll ups
Another great way to use those chia seeds!  These are protein filled thanks to the peanut butter and chia.
Whole wheat banana honey muffins
These muffins are so moist and this recipe makes a ton of them!  I freeze at least half.  You will love this recipe.
Crockpot apple sauce in mason jars
Great fall recipe, but really we make it all year long.  Just grab an extra bag of apples when you are at the store, throw them in the crockpot, and enjoy the amazing scent this recipe gives the entire house!
These are delicious and have gone viral on Pinterest, with many raving about the recipe.  It is a must try!  You will love knowing there are no preservatives and less salt in your kids crackers!
Black bean soup with spoon
This soup is perfect for a lunch box thermos.  It is a breeze to whip together the night before.  It is one of my MOST easy recipes, and has lots of great fiber and protein.
Crunch roasted chickpeas
I’m amazed at how a simple bean can become a healthy crunchy snack with just minutes in the oven.  Use these in place of chips!  Much more healthy & full of nutrition.
Lunch box smoothies
My girls LOVE when I put these in their lunches.  I take them straight from the freezer and by lunch time they have thawed perfectly.  I love knowing they are getting such nutritious berries and fruit in their lunches.
Cheesy Kale chips
These are actually vegan, but get a cheezy flavor from nutritional yeast.  Nutritional yeast is packed with vitamin B12 and is a popular ingredient in the vegan world, often used in place of Parmesan cheese.  These kale chips are a weekly staple in our home.  So nutritious. So delicious!
Orzo and roasted fall vegetables
My girls beg me to make this recipe.  They love the little bits of pasta, and the amazing flavor comes from roasted veggies that have been chopped so small that the girls have no idea that they are eating kale and a load of other veggies.  Winning!

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Other posts on School Lunches from New Nostalgia:
School Lunch Plan: No More Baggies & A Free School Lunch Planner

HOME/ Homemaking/ Sponsored

3 Favorite Cleaning Tips From Clean Mama

Clean Mama Sponsor Spotlight from New Nostalgia
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As you know by now, I am a huge fan of Clean Mama.  I’d love to share 3 of her favorite posts with you!  They are all 3 that I have used and loved, and know you will too!
How to wash hardwood floors with vinegar
Clean mama's cleaning routine

How to use microfiber
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 More about Clean Mama:

Original and organization documents that help you take the *Work* out of organizing your life. Looking for a little guidance or a lot, Clean Mama Printables has something special to get your home in order with a stylish & simple method. 

Clean Mama Printables

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HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Minimalizing My Teen Daughter’s Room

Minimize your teen's room
Crafty teens room

My teenager is 13 and is very artsy and creative.  She finds beauty in all things and I love learning from her point of view.  I knew minimalizing her room would be a balance.  I want to respect her artistic eye and creativity, and allow her to keep things that make her happy and feel at home in her own space in this great big world!

But…her room was becoming a health hazard!  Keeping all things that are beautiful to her eye quickly ends up in clutter.  Plus she is your typical girl teen that loves makeup and girly stuff.  I had to get creative with how to corral all of this type of stuff so we can get in there to even dust!

I did her room while she was at school (much more peaceful that way if you know what I mean!) but kept reminding myself to respect her stuff.  The items I thought she could get rid of I placed in a small bin and had her go through it when she got home.  When she was younger, I would just get rid of stuff on the sly, and she never knew. Now that she is older I want to respect who she is and keep trust in our relationship, so I made sure I didn’t get rid of anything but trash….which really cleared up the room!

We will start with some “before” pics so you can appreciate the “after.” {smile}

Messy teens room

We only have 2 bathrooms and the 2nd is very small and upstairs, so Teagan gets ready in her room.  The mirror area is where she does her makeup/hair.  By having her desk so close to this area, it constantly was being used as a catch all instead of for homework or getting creative.  I knew we needed to remedy this problem.

Trash under bed

Under her bed?  90% of it was trash.  Easy to clean up.  I also grabbed a bed frame that was in our garage that sits quite high so sweeping under her bed is now a breeze.  It is high enough to see under from the door so I will know if things start getting stuffed under there.  {smile}

Desk for crafts

Ok, enough before pics.  Here is what I did with her desk.  I moved it over to a different wall, away from her beauty area.  She now uses it for her duct tape business, creating & studying.  Do you love how she made a smiley face on her plant pot?  That made me smile.

Crafting bins for teen room

I topped her desk with things that I knew were important to her.  The beaded elephant was her special purchase from Disney.  The white pot she made herself.  The wooden piggy bank she also made in shop class at school.  Her little water fountain is a fun touch to the room.  Those baskets hold crafting supplies.  Isn’t the stool cute?  She painted that one day & I just love it.

Teen room and bed with sock monkey

See how high up her bed is now?  Very helpful for keeping it clean.  I put her table and lamp right by the bed and a little catch- all bowl.  Right now it has packages of gum and mints in it.

Teen room after clean

If I would have taken “before” pics of this area, you would see all kinds of stuff (scarves, necklaces, whistles) hanging from those shutters.  I couldn’t stand the clutter so I found creative ways to deal with those things, which I will share later in the post.  I did allow her to keep her Roo’s hanging there.

Shelves for teen girls room

Oh if only you could have seen the “before” of these shelves.  It looked very much like the “before” of her desk.    I found those plastic drawer organizers on sale at Target for 2 bucks each.  So perfect for all the little things my girl values but has no place for.  Can you see her creative brain working on the top of the bookshelves?

Art area for teen girl

The little wooden sticks in the bottom left corner with goggly eyes belonged to her Great Grandpa.  I love how special they are to her…she is the perfect person to cherish such a fun and quirky object.  She made the gargoyle in clay class, and drew the dragon a couple years ago.  In that box is her wand from Harry Potter World.  All things that matter to her.

Twisted Tape and inventory

She has a business called Twisted Tape.  These two shelves hold her tape and inventory.  There are cabinets under these shelves that hold her mailing supplies.

Accessories for teen girl

I had to get a system for her accessories.  They were just scattered and made dusting impossible.  I brought in little platters, one for bracelets, one for rings, one for bobby pins and hair elastics.  I took a good look what made up the bulk of her clutter and made little homes for those items.

How to organize a bedroom

I took my own advice from my post 14 Ways To Organize A Bedroom, and used #2 to organize her 10 scarves.  I also used the idea of #7 and put a tension rod across the bottom shelf of her bookshelf where her necklaces now hang.  I didn’t get a photo, but both have been working really well!

Beauty products

It is helpful to use platters to corral beauty products, too.  I’m so glad I had these on hand.  Garage sales and thrift stores are great for finding these.

Snow globe collection

I only allow one collection displayed per girl.  This is Teagan’s snow globe collection.  She has been collecting since she was itty bitty.  Also a couple clay pots she made in school when she was younger.

containers for makeup

More containers to organize her makeup.  I did her room a few weeks ago these little containers make the world of difference.  She has been able to keep her room quite clean…and if it does get messy, she knows exactly where to put things.  Everything has a home in her room now.

Clean teen girl's room

The finished product.  She was happy with it and ended up getting rid of most of the stuff in the bin.  I would not call her room minimal, but it is organized and she feels happy when in there, and it is no longer a health hazard!

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More of my Minimalizing Series:
HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing

Minimalize and Get Organized

Definition of minimize
We are halfway through a minimalizing series here at New Nostalgia.  I have loved every minute of it…truly!  I cannot tell you the difference it is making in our home.  I have done the below spaces, plus 2 teen rooms, my lil’ ones room, my room & our kitchen.  I have yet to put those posts together for you, but I can’t wait to share with you!  I also can’t wait to show you our landing are upstairs.  It has become the catch all place, and it is a danger zone!  A complete wreck.  But..the rest of the house is looking great and I will get area at the very last.
It is summer break and I actually feel like I am on break!  REALLY.  I am not spending my days clearing clutter, dusting clutter, putting away clutter thanks to the work I put in the last few weeks. Now I am on a slow pace now that most of the house has been done. We have taken 3 jeep loads of stuff to the local Goodwill and I have about one more left.  I can’t believe we had that much stuff as I am one who gets rid of stuff quite regularly.  But, when looking at things in my house through a minimalist eye, asking myself..”do I really want to dust this?” “Do I love this enough to deal with it on a daily basis?”.. it really makes a difference in what I keep and what I don’t. This also applies to what I buy.  Even if it is on sale, is it important enough and special enough to take my precious time on this earth dealing with it? Yeah, sales seem less appealing now, for sure.
My Minimalizing Series-we are halfway there!

 

Minimizing living area
Broom, duster, vacuum, and trash bag .
Before and after organizing living room
Living area organization
Some posts on organization:
Organize your measuring cups and spoons
 
Organized fridge
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HEALTH/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Natural Products

Vinegar-Free Homemade Glass & Floor Cleaner

homemade glass and floor cleaner

Most homemade glass/floor cleaner recipes call for vinegar. And I can see why. It’s inexpensive. It kills germs. It’s safe enough to drink. But if you can’t even use it because your husband and kids won’t stop complaining about the smell, it’s just not going to work. So I switched to an alcohol-based recipe that no one has complained about yet! I think it works better than vinegar and water, which left streaks when I used it. It’s super easy to make and it only cost me $0.86 for 24 oz! Streak-free, smell-free, and stress-free. What’s not to love?

Vinegar-Free Homemade Glass & Floor Cleaner Recipe

16 oz. water
4 oz. vodka
10-20 drops essential oils (optional)

I used the cheapest vodka I could find. Lately I’ve been loving pine essential oil in my homemade cleaners for the “clean” aroma and extra disinfecting power.

What homemade cleaners do you make?

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Kendra blogs at Our Homemade Happiness and writes about all things homemade, especially cleaners, skincare & healthy eating.  
 
Kendra Drake
Kendra Drake
Natural & Homemade Contributor
 
 
Kendra started her blog after her husband suffered from mono symptoms for over two years and his blood results showed some liver disease.  Since the liver is responsible for filtering out chemicals and toxins from the bloodstream, she started to realize how many chemicals are in everything we buy, from processed food to household cleaners, lotion, and even air freshener.  She has become inspired to rid her home of as many chemicals as she can, one product at a time, and write about it along the way.
 
You will love Kendra & all the great things she has to share! 

 

 

HOME/ Homemaking/ Kids/Family/ Sponsored

Bringing The Element Of Fire To Our Backyard

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TIKI Brand® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
IMG_8222

Our weather hit a record high yesterday, a 100 degree Nebraska day in May was a pretty big deal!  I love the heat, and it made me excited to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors.

Backyard patio and christmas lights
We have a teeny, tiny backyard, and I am always trying to think of ways to make it a cozy outdoor area that we want to be in as a family.  We are slowly making it into the space we imagine it could be.  I have done that with comfortable seating, a few pots of flowers, an in- ground water feature & some fun lighting.  We are getting close to having the outdoor space we have imagined, all that is left to add is a hammock, and a table with an umbrella so we can eat outdoors.
Fire
One of the things I recently got to cross off my list was the element of fire.  I wanted the ambience that fire brings, but did not want to mess with a fire pit.  Tiki torches were an option, but I wanted something more simple, that would be easier to store than a bunch of torches.  I was not sure what I was looking for, until I saw the new TIKI Brand Fire Sculptures.
Flame sculptures for backyard
These sculptures are great!  They are the perfect bridge between a garden torch and a fire pit.  They bring the ambience of a large, natural flame but with less mess and smoke than a fire pit.  If easy flame is what you are looking for, than TIKI Brand Fire Sculptures are a must have!
If you want one of your own, they are sold exclusively at The Home Depot.  They can be used with OFF! /BiteFighter Torch fuel which will provide mosquito repellency, which is a good option for us as our in- ground water feature can attract mosquitoes during certain summer months.
The TIKI Brand Fire Sculptures is a BREEZE to use.  I couldn’t believe it was so easy.  You simply fill the canister with fuel, screw the lid on, and light it.  It could not be easier.
Tiki fuel canisters
My girls were super excited about the Fire Sculpture.  My youngest just came in and saw me writing this post and said “Mom, that is going to be your best post EVER because I love our new fire ‘thing'”  Ha.  So cute.
I have found that if I want the family to hang out in the back yard, all I have to do is light the sculpture and they come running.  It just sets such a nice atmosphere, and is such a simple and minimal way to bring the beauty of flame to our backyard.  I love it!
Girls enjoying the TIKI brand outside
What about you?  Is this something you think you would like?  If so,  you can follow the TIKI Brand on Facebook.  They have other styles of Tiki Sculptures that are really beautiful. I’d love to know which one is your favorite and what you like about it.

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