I Pinned It & Did It! {pantry}

Pinterest. It is such an amazing resource. However, I don't feel like I have been using it to its full potential. I pin so many wonderful organizing, cleaning and decor inspirations, and I feel like I need to be using them to better some aspect of my life. Right? So I picked an area of my home (apartment) that needed some serious work, our "pantry closet". For all practical purposes it's a pantry, it's just actually a closet. But its right off our kitchen, which also happens to be right when you come in the door. It should be a coat closet you say? You're probably right, except that there actually is a coat closet a little way farther down the hall. So the pantry closet it became.
When we first moved in back in August this baby was a beauty. Probably because we weren't really using it yet. I posted about it here.

Here's what it looked like a few days ago: (brace yourself for these photos)

 Let me break it down for you a little, I know its a lot to take in at once!

Bad right?? It was not at all functional and the farthest thing from pretty. You had to like lean in from the door to get anything. The situation had clearly gotten out of control.

So I popped over to my kitchen board on pinterest for some inspiration and ideas. I already had some bins in place, but I knew that they could be improved.

Here are a few of the ideas I thought I could actually put into use: (click the photo to view source)

I really liked her use of matching containers- bins, backers, and jugs. So clean and organized. But purchasing new well anything, was not in the plan. But I do like her unboxed like item storage in the baskets.

I love these pretty labeled containers. Again I love the uniformity, but that will have to wait.

I love the stadium risers for canned goods. My current can situation was a disaster, I had no idea what I had in there or where any of it was. I knew this was something I could actually do, even if it meant spending a little money.

I think this pantry was a big source of my inspiration. It was a small space, packed full of storage. She had risers for her canned goods and baskets to store smaller things. Doesn't get much better than that.

Feeling totally inspired and ready to go, I dove in. I started simply by clearing the floor so that I could actually get access to the "pantry". 

Everything on the floor came out. Everything. If it was going to go back in the pantry, it stayed close by. If it was wasn't going back in, it got relocated. Like the toilet paper. I vacuumed the floor also while it was completely clear.

There wasn't technically room for it in the bathroom since I got a bigger package than I usually do. But it got shoved in anyway. Not so pretty, but its out of my pantry so its going to work for now.

Next up was the shelving units. They are just as bad.

This is actually two units stacked on top of each other. They were like $9 at Menards during back to school time. This one sits in the back corner and is the smaller of the two shelving units.

I didn't actually remove much from this shelf. I did however group things together so they made sense and were easier to access.

This is the top section. The less frequently needed cereal made its way to the tippy top shelf. Along with a spare box of saltines.

 The middle section holds some snack food and box of household items (batteries, tools, flashlights, etc) I didn't want to move it up any higher because we need to get things out of it fairly often. I know the box isn't pretty, but it works. I also popped some cereal that I scored on mega sale into a basket. The bags are a bit harder to store, but we put them in rubbermaid containers once they make it to the kitchen. So they store nicely in the basket for now.

Here's a peak in our blue snack bin. Super healthy right?

And the bottom two shelves hold some more non-food items. The upper shelf holds paper products (cups, paper towels, kleenex, extra large zip lock bags) and a baking pan that doesn't get used very often. And apparently some random vitamins. The lower shelf holds the big grocery cooler bags that we used when our grocery store was in a different town, they aren't used quite as frequently now. My 31 thermal pouch and some old lunch boxes also live on this shelf. The thermal pouch is so nice for tossing water bottles in to take along. And I have been known to forget my lunch box at school, so the spare is nice for those occasions when I'm searching like crazy for my lunch box.

Now we move on to the other shelving unit. This one actually used to be in our bedroom closet before we moved. But it found a much better purpose as our pantry shelving.

Someone forgot the before picture for this shelf. But I didn't do anything drastic here. I just moved the spare baking supplies down from the baking shelf. And moved the blender and mini crock pot over from the other shelving unit.

The next shelf was a doozy. This baby was a disaster.  These cans are horrible. Can't even tell what's in there!

 So I took everything off and sorted it out into like items. I then sent this picture to my friend, who lives about 3 1/2 hours away, along with the words "I swear that I am not sitting IN my pantry". And like any good friend she immediately responds "I'm jealous that you can sit in your pantry". Everyone needs a friend like that people! Someone who supports your insanity, instead of saying "get out of your pantry,  you crazy woman!" Because I was in fact sitting in my pantry. Quite convenient actually.

The can shelf might be the most drastic and pretty change. I popped that riser in that I grabbed at Target and it was wonderful.

And then I saw on pinterest that someone just used 2 x4's to make their risers. Duh, my father is a contractor and I couldn't come up with that? Seriously. fail. 

Glorious isn't it? *angels singing* Except that my sticker didn't peel of nicely. I'll get to that later. It did cause my canned goods to take up more space, but I was prepared to deal with that in exchange for being able to see what I had. 

Now I need to backtrack for a minute. As I was putting things back on to the shelves I was also making a list of what I had so I that I could use it to fill out my pantry inventory and plan my meals for February.

Now, on the next shelf. 

This shelf didn't get a drastic make over either, but things were inventoried and rearranged by their like items. A few things exited the shelf as well.

You now that my hamburger helper are grouped together too. I thought about alphabetizing them too, but it seemed like a bit much. The spare ranch and mayo made it to this shelf too, just because there was a small empty space and I didn't have a better home for them.

And finally the top shelf. I wasn't looking too pretty either. 

The cups and pan got moved to the other shelf that I mentioned in the beginning, along with the popcorn.

I recruited the last few baskets from my extra basket stash to complete this shelf. Being able to stack the last two baskets was a big help. 

I moved the labels that were on the shelves on to the baskets. Being able to reuse all of my labels saved me a step. Woo-hoo. But really, not like making labels is a bad thing, just saved a little time on the project.

the breakfast basket

the snack basket

After completing all of my shelves it was time to bring the floor things back in.

The vacuum, "mop", and broom live in the corner. The mop and broom sit in a basket so that if the mop isn't completely dry when it goes back in, its not getting the carpet wet and gross.

Drew's big lunch box cooler went on the floor next to the other coolers and the soda boxes popped on top of it. The potatoes on the floor next to that. I know they would stay good longer if they were in the fridge, but there's not always room for them in there. 

Here's what I see now when I open the door:

{swoon}

And here's what got cleaned out and tossed in the trash

The Oxi-clean went to the laundry closet and filled up my pretty container that was nearly empty and that box got tossed too.

I spent probably an hour and half total on the project. So not too bad really. Closet cleared out, cleaned,  and put back together in an organized manner. Each shelf got wiped down with an anti-bacterial wipe while it was empty too. Not that it was probably very dirty, its just what you do. When a shelf is empty, you clean it.

Here's the before and after. ((wow))

I love that pinterest was able to motivate me to get my pantry cleaned out and organized (again)

A few good reads...

We have had such a mild winter here in Northwest Iowa, but now its actually starting to look and feel like winter; which leaves me wanting to do nothing more than cozy up with my blanket and a good book or magazine in the evenings. So that's exactly what I have been doing. I made a big step and bought my first storage/organizing magazines at the store. I have subscribed to Real Simple for a year or two but have never bought magazines at the store. And since one of my favorite bloggers, Jen at Iheart organizing was featured in this BH&G Storage issue, I figured now was as good as time as any to take the plunge. I also snagged up an HGTV magazine. I also had an All You magazine that I receive as a subscription, it came along with my Real Simple magazine that I ordered as part of a school fundraiser. I'm going to combine all three by category, my brain just works better that way. Instead of oh look at this nice kitchen space, then four pictures later, oh hey, another kitchen.
(I apologize in advance for this insanely long post.)

Even the covers are glorious! If I could just like have these catalogs move into my house, that would be perfect! Of course I would need a house first, but if we're just dreaming here, game on!

So first up, my most favorite subject, organization.

Greeting card storage- Get a cute little box with dividers and pop your cards in, in the appropriate section. Super Simple and functional.

A suggestion list of organization projects you can complete in 15 minutes or less. That is my kind of project. With three jobs, I don't have much for big projects. So everything that I do is broken down into small sections if it can't be completed in a very short period of time.

Stash those everyday items in a cute bin or tub in your entry!

Corral supplies in a cute, functional and portable caddy. Who doesn't love a good caddy?

These adorable bins make me want to do better at recycling! 

And look at this amazing resource! Just cross check what you are looking for and they suggest awesome sites for your project. woo-hoo!

Many of you have already read  my whining about not having a nice office space,but if you haven't, I have been searching for a brilliant solution to my need for a work/desk/office space in my apartment since I moved in, back in August! Obviously since there has been no post shouting, jumping up and down, and singing about how I found something amazing, one can assume that I am still stuck with my random weirdo corner desk in the living room.
 Please enjoy the following photos that I was drooling over   admiring in my magazines.
(yep, I put post it flags on the things I really liked and thought I could maybe actually pull things from to put to use, don't judge)

 A great way to turn a teeny tiny space into a work and storage area.

 Those cute little friends double as seating and storage, a win win situation.

 These little cuties could easily find a home in the classroom or my home office space!

This beauty could just move right into my house.

 Another super adorable desk that could just make its way over to my apartment. I would love to have a fun chair!

 Making use of your vertical space is always important in a small space. I am using some of my wall space, but I know that I could do much better.

Another cute and functional desk.

 This is a dreamy craft area. This would be great for the room at my mom's that we affectionately call the "scrapbook room". Except that if we did that, the closet couldn't be full of all my stuff...

 I am actually in the process of getting a little beauty like this! Mine won't be near as high tech as this guy, but I'm still excited that I am putting an idea from a magazine into practical use! hooray!

Bringing extra color into a space is always fun! And these were decorated with duct tape!

This could be a practical solution for my desk? or building a command center?? only $15.

There are always so many great ideas for storage solutions in the kitchen...like plates in a drawer, sideways (rather than vertical) silver wear drawers, and utensils stored in divided and labeled drawers.

 I would love to have a pretty storage rack that sits out like this.  Pretty and practical. Double win.

A cute little coffee cupboard would be wonderful. 

Or a cute little coffee nook

 Use a cute side table with a door to stash away board games. We sort of have this going on in our "entertainment center" (its really not an entertainment center at all- its itso cubes from Target put together to form something similar to furniture)

When I get to have my own big girl house with a guest room and bathroom, it would be so nice to have a handy little tote with extra items that could be forgotten.

I love pretty closets and clothes storage. I think my dream closet would have a pretty hidden hamper like one of these two.

And pretty drawer organizers like these. Dividers make things so much easier.

A pretty boot hanger like this would be delightful! I only have two pairs right now, but I can get more!!

I love this double function space. It would be perfect in a room that doubles as a office space and guest room! 

Simple labeled bins in the laundry area.

A space efficient kitchen cupboard. I love the matching jars and that you can quickly see what you are running low on.

I love this scarf organizer. Mine are currently on shower rings, strung on a hanger. I think I could transform my system into something like this. Just connect the shower curtain rings together- maybe a pretty ribbon?

A cute coat hanger to keep your everyday coats and jackets within easy reach.

A pretty crisp white built in to house the television.

Use duct tape to brighten up so many things in your home!! Its a super simple way to spice up any room in your home!

I love that this island is pretty and functional, but not permanent. A great solution of apartments or rentals.

Crisp white kitchens are so pretty :)

I think these lovely little bowls should come live in my kitchen.

And these should live in my kitchen too.

I love this pretty entry solution. Its something that I could *in theory* duplicate in an apartment or rental house. Nothing permanent would need to be attached, so no troubles there. And its so pretty and personal!!

A great guide to holiday returns--good to keep on hand for next year.

It will be getting warmer soon, so motivation to workout side is a good thing.

A quick fix to common hair mishaps.

More workout encouragement!! I need all the help I can get.

A guide to what is normal and when to visit the doctor- a great resource to keep handy.

 The ultimate couponing guide- I need to read this. I am trying to do better at using coupons and shopping sales for our groceries.

 This article has great tips on food storage. Also a good thing for stocking up when I have coupons and good sales.

I think I could use some of these tips in our apartment. Its not a teeny tiny apartment, but making it seem bigger cannot be a bad thing.

I seriously spent hours staring into the glorious pages of these magazines. hours, glorious hours. I'm hoping that I can actually put some of these wonderful ideas into practice. But don't worry, if I do, I will share all about it.