Pantries can take on a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the space your kitchen affords you. A pantry can be anything from a single kitchen cupboard to a freestanding hutch to a spacious walk-in-closet – or even some dedicated shelves in the garage. Sometimes we have to think outside of the box!
Mine, as you can see by this picture, has swinging doors. I wanted to be able to move in and out freely, in case my hands were full. I love my swinging pantry doors! (Read about the wall that my pantry is on in my kitchen, with black and white pictures frames of food and family.)
The secret to an effective pantry, whether it’s large or small, is keeping it organized. Because it defeats the whole purpose of being “prepared” when planning a dinner party, when you let your pantry get out of control. The Nester is doing a whole series this month on 31 Days to a Less Messy Nest, and I’m telling you – she is the Organized Queen. I need her to come whip me into shape 
One year ago we completed our kitchen remodel and I had everything neat and tidy, and it was so easy to find what I was looking for. But one year later, it’s time to pull everything out and put it back in, check for dates, and wipe down the shelves. This will be a job that I will probably accomplish after the holidays, and I’ll share more in detail at that time. (Unless I can talk Nester in to coming out to see me in Oregon!)
A well-stocked pantry means different things to different people — depending, in part, on how much you entertain and how many people live in your home. And we all know that pantry perspectives change over time as our families grow and change. -RE
In the meantime, my pantry is not over-sized, but it meets my needs. And one thing I love is that I have my Hip Hostess aprons hanging and accessible for use – right in my pantry! Easy to quickly tie one on!!
The Giveaway …
Today Debbie from The Hip Hostess and I are teaming up to give away a beautiful Hip Hostess Apron AND a copy of my new book, The Reluctant Entertainer. This makes a beautiful giveaway and I am so grateful for all of the 31-Day readers who have joined me in this series.
-COMMENT to win by telling Debbie and me if your pantry is organized. Or share any tips on how you keep it organized!
-You will be eligible to win a COPY of The Reluctant Entertainer plus a beautiful HIP HOSTESS apron! Both, just in time for holiday entertaining.
-Please feel free to TWEET, FACEBOOK, or POST on your BLOG for a second entry. You will need to come back to tell me.
-The winner will be posted on Wednesday, October 20th.
-Contest is open to USA residents only.
(I want to show you this adorable, sweet cafe-style apron that my daughter just opened last night for her 14th birthday. It’s called Blonde Martini – and she loved it!)
Good Luck to all!
Join my wonderful 31-Day Friends in this series during the month of October.
Chatting at the Sky, Nesting Place, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, My First Kitchen, Life With My 3 Boybarians, Remodeling This Life, The Inspired Room
Hi, I'm Sandy. Five years ago I stocked up on beautiful glasses from the Dollar Store. As I started writing about dinner parties, I realized that this "icon" portrays a great message. 
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my pantry??! well, it’s also my laundry room…need I say more?
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I wish I had a pantry! I dream of a pantry, or at least enough kitchen cabinets to adequately store all my stuff, and then have space for more than a week’s worth of groceries.
The one thing I do keep track of is my spices….I try to use them or replace them frequently so that they’re always fresh!
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My pantry is an old pie safe and a few cabinets in the kitchen. I try to keep it organized. One cabinet is filled with spices and things like that. Another cabinet is filled with oil, vinegar, and things like that. And the other cabinet is filled with things like lipton onion soup mixes, chopped pecans, seasoning packs. My old pie safe has everything else….In the top is snacks and can goods. In the bottom part is paper towels, soap, and large can food.
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I love this! I JUST organized my pantry today! It was seriously OUT OF CONTROL! I feel like I can finally breathe again now that it’s clean and tidy! I dream of having a walk-in pantry like yours one day, but for right now, I have a pretty decent sized closet that works just fine. And those aprons are to.die.for! I would love to win a copy of your book and an apron! Here’s hoping!
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Right now? well no, not really. I do go through every 3 months and tidy up the pantry. Ours is a walk in pantry that is original to our 195o home. The shelves are clean and one can find items; the floor tends to get junky. It’s nearly time to tidy up in preparation for the holidays.
Yup! the date to tidy the pantry is on the calendar, otherwise I would overlook it.
Thanks to both of you ladies for the giveaways.
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My pantry is very small but right now it’s pretty organized because I’m trying to use what’s in before I go buy more food, therefore it’s kinda empty, plus it’s just the hubby and me so we don’t need too much. HOpe I win. I’ve already bought your book for my two daughters for Christmas and I need a copy for me!
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My pantry is moderately organized. Although, I do wish it was larger. But, a small pantry is better than no pantry!!
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It’s been over a year since I last pulled everything out of my pantry and went through everything so it’s only semi-organized at this point. Thanks for the chance to win!
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I tweeted!
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We order in bulk here and I store it on my enclosed balcony off the kitchen because that’s about the only thing our balconies are good for (storage)- plus we have no other place to put it. During the summer months when the balcony was 100+ degrees, we moved the food into our sauna which is in our master bath- it’s really quite comical. Anyway, it’s all in boxes or on some metal shelves I brought with me, knowing I’d need them for the oodles of American goodies I’d want and couldn’t buy here. Which brings me to my pantry organization in the States- it’s easy- I don’t keep too much in there because I’m usually so sick of buying bulk after a 2 year assignment overseas that I simply love going to the grocery store weekly.
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I don’t have a pantry, though I do have a small wall of cabinets that serve as my pantry. I totally get the benefits of an organized pantry…mine isn’t there right now. My hint has always been to alphabetize my spices on the spice rack. In the cabinets, I keep the savory spices together and the baking (sweet) spices together. I do try to keep like items together but I either buy too much ahead of time or seem to buy the same things over and over. I think I need a wife to help me out…LOL. Will you marry me? No? Well, then I just have to get a helpful, handy husband!
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I have a good-sized closet in the laundry room next to the kitchen. It can be hard to control since it is deep, which brings its own problems. I empty it every 6 months or so and re-organize it. So I would say that my pantry is briefly organized! (then it falls into messiness).
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Right now my pantry is in need of some serious cleaning out, especially before restocking it for the holidays. I have lots of clear plastic and or glass containers with labels on them as well as baskets of all shapes and sizes to keep it organized. I have three little helpers who are constantly rearranging it for me for its a big job to stay on top of the organization of it. But I do love my large pantry.
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I am blessed to have a pantry but it is not organized! Most like items are together on one shelf but that is as far as it goes!
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I don’t have a pantry in my small kitchen. I have a couple cabinets I have completely stocked full. Since I don’t have a lot of room I have to keep them relatively organized; however, I was just noticing the other day I need to do some cleaning of the cabinets.
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By doing our grocery shop “once-a-month”… It makes my need for organization – a must. BUT. Organization is for one what for another is just “organized confusion”.
I really appreciate my many kitchen cabinets – some deeper than others. Canned goods stay limited to one or two cabinets. Baking supplies tend to be scattered (I’m talking because I buy in bulk a lot) to several cabinets. It’s weird – yet, I have my system.
One fun thing I’ve done is this. I love nostalgic, vintage things – so I have a lot of old-time large chip and pretzel cans with lids around (or even my canner). I’ll use those to store “bulk items” or extra’s of things… in a cute and “fits my decor” sort of way.
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I posted this on my Facebook page… thanks!
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My pantry does actually stay pretty organized. Can’t always say that about absolutely EVERY area of my home, but the pantry? Yes.
I would love to win a copy of your beautiful book and I’m a fan of the hip hostess aprons. Great giveaway!
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My pantry is just a cabinet and it is not very organized but then it is small. I do pick up things that get knocked over but that is it.
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My pantry is an old pie-safe too! That’s fun, but not nearly large enough. It overflows onto a newly-acquired shelf I brought in to hold appliances, onto counters where often-used cooking oils, etc. reside, and onto open shelves above the “baking” area. . . .needless to say, keeping it NEAT is a big challenge, especially when kids help unload groceries–which is a must!
The aprons are beautiful. I have enjoyed your 31-day series.
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We are renting a home and the pantry is large for what I am used to….I just try to keep it organized by putting away everything when I get home from the grocery store… I love having such a huge pantry. Easy to get messy so I try to go through it every other month and check dates on items to make sure it gets used and not thrown away…
I would love to be entered in your giveaway…Thank you
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I have a pantry. It was organized. however, I had to move things around. Like the glass containers are not on the bottom anymore! thanks to my 2 yr. old who constantly reorganized mine for me!
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My pantry is only organized because I found ants crawling all in it about 2 weeks ago. They’d gotten to a jar of preserves that apparently was leaking. We took everything out, checked it all for bugs, wiped down all the shelves and reorganized it.
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My pantry is in need of a clearing out before the holidays arrive. It is just ‘closet style’ with shelves but sufficient and nestled amongst the counters and stove. I have considered lining the back walls of the shelves with decorative scrap paper ‘ala-Nester’ to give it some ‘unexpected charm.’ Thanks for hosting such a wonderful giveaway. Congratulations on your book!
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I don’t have a pantry, just a few shelves in the garage for overflow. It’s not very organized. But I have a great collection of vintage aprons.
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My pantry is semi-organized – we have lived here a year so it’s probably time to re-do and tidy up.
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I tweeted it here: http://twitter.com/#!/JulieGTweets/status/27729755048
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You know when we bought this house it had NO pantry. *Gasp* I know! My Dad was here helping us move in and he quickly built shelves in the adjoining laundry room and that now serves as my pantry. Is it organized? Well most of the time. That is until my children start “helping” me put away my groceries. LOL!
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I have a pantry part A and pantry part B. Part A is a closet in the eating area off my kitchen. That is by far the messier of the two, especially the “snack food” area. It seems to spill over into everything else. Part B is in the basement. When we bought our house, the previous owners left behind a (filthy) old cigarette display shelf. I peeled labels off, washed it and covered the shelves with contact paper. That pantry is organized but I would like to get to the dollar store and buy plastic wash tubs to label for cans. They seem to travel the shelves too.
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My pantry regularly goes from being neat and organized to being cluttered and messy. It’s a constant struggle:)
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My pantry shares space with my laundry room and I also have a pantry closet in my kitchen. HERE’S A TIP IF YOUR HAVE WIRE SHELVES IN YOUR PANTRY: Add lucite sheets cut to size to place on top of your shelves. (I got mine at Lowe’s. They will cut them to your specified dimensions.) It helps to keep small items from slipping through and also allows for added stacking shelves to be balanced to further add storage space. The other thing I’d like to do is add a light in the closet. It’s quite dark and difficult to see what’s stored in the back/corners of the closet.
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Yes. My pantry is pretty organized. But, it can always be just a little bit better! And, I’m slowly collecting glass containers to store food in. Would love to win this giveaway!
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My pantry isn’t as organized as I’d like; I do keep like canned items together, have tall cans in the back, etc., but that’s the extent of it.
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I remodeled my pantry 3 years ago and have been able to keep it organized (although not always neat and tidy!) by labeling the shelves. I just made labels on the computer and taped them to the shelf fronts. I keep the family snacks at eye level where my “boys” (hubby and stepson) can easily see them without asking, “Where is the…?” Cans and staples are just below that, then dog items on the bottom shelf. Top shelf is for paper towels, storage containers and unopened items (the in-house grocery), and the wastebasket and footstool take up the floor space. Small, but organized. (Oh, and I have my one apron hanging on the wall too!)
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My pantry is for the most part organized. However, I need to go through it and wipe down the shelves and check for any expired items. I am really enjoying your 31 days posts.
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We just moved into a new house about 3 weeks ago. I have not figured out my new pantry yet and how it will work for us (smaller than before). I have moved things around a few times, I think I am beginning to figure it out. Working on getting the kids things organized so they can easily get their own snacks and cereal.
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Today is the day I clean out my pantry! Funny how we put it off for so long…but it feels so good when we get around to doing it!
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I use some shelves in my laundry room as a pantry. It is fairly organized and it works for me!
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Like many others here have said, I too am blessed to actually have a pantry (we didn’t have one in our old home.) I’ve always dreamed of having double ovens and a walk-in pantry, but I’ve learned to let that go and be happy and grateful for what I do have! My pantry is smallish, but recently organized (yes!) The only thing I struggle with is how deep the shelves are – it’s easy to “lose” items in the back, especially on the shelves above eye level. I’ve tried different things to help with this (a list of the items on that shelf taped to the front being one of the most recent), but cleaning out each shelf (about once every couple of months) seems to work best. I have each shelf organized for different things (ie baking, main dishes, snacks, etc) and my best tip is from my mom: I lined each shelf with a rubberized shelf paper. That way when something does spill, it’s easier to clean than a wooden surface and, if the spill was really bad, I just throw away the paper and start again! I commented on an earlier day – thank you so much for your personal response! I really hope I win because I’m very interested in reading your book and I LOVE the Hip Histess aprons! I don’t have one yet, but keep drooling over them on the website. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s post!
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My pantry is fairly organized. I use a lot of the Tupperware Modular containers to keep things straight!
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I used to have a pantry, and boy, do I miss it! Love the swinging door idea! Maybe next house!!
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First off, I am loving this series for the month. I’m learning so much and am being challenged to open my doors much more often. Second, I love cute aprons and those you showed are adorable! Third, my pantry is kind of organized, but it’s definitely due for a cleaning and tidying up. We moved into this house 2 years ago and I’m so thankful for my walk-in pantry. It’s not huge but I love it.
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I don’t have a pantry per say, I’m not that organized but constantly trying to be- love the apron.
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My pantry is for the most part organized. I am now collecting glass containers from yard sales and goodwill to make it pretty too!
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Well, when I come home from the grocery store, my pantry is well-organized. Then it gradually gets unorganized as it gets lower on well-used items, until I reorganized to see what is needed in the next shopping trip. Hmmm…need to work on “all the time organization.” Thanks for your 31 Days posts! Would love a copy of your book! and an apron to boot?!? Wow! So generous.
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I would love the combo giveaway…I thought my mama and I were the only girls who still wore aprons, I’m so glad we’re not….as for the pantry…Mine was organized 3 mos. ago because I completed emptied and cleaned it out, but it is a job that needs to be done on a regular basis. One of the things that helps me is keeping all of my food organized by type…all of my pasta is together, all of my different kinds of rice, all my canned veggies…etc. This really allows me to be more efficient when I cook and entertain, but also when I shop. The last time I cleaned mine out I realized I had enough rice to last me for months but it was so scattered that I had no idea until I pulled it all together. Just loving the series and planning on visiting the Nester site for tips on more organization at home☺
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organized? not so much. But it’s not for lack of effort. We actually just finished building new pantry shelves and they filled up really quickly! Is it possible for a girl to have too many shelves? =)
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I don’t really have a true walk-in pantry (only in my dreams), but, I do have a large cabinet with pull-out drawers. Yes it is organized, except for the poptart boxes that my boys refuse to close each time! Would LOVE, LOVE to have your book!
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I have a walk in pantry. At times it is very organized but right now it could use some work. It is so much easier to have a clean pantry— I can quickly do my grocery list!
Lynn G.
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My pantry is currenty half of the last shelf of my bookcase.I’ve got plates and bowls stacked, followed by soupcans that act as bookends
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I do have a pantry and it’s “good enough” for organization – everything does have a place and I pretty much know what’s there! I am lucky to have my pantry just off the kitchen with many cupboards, but as there are few in the kitchen, the pantry is most of my kitchen “stuff” as well! (Actually just this morning as I looked for a marker in the junk drawer I realized I only use half the items in it. So I cleared out all the things that don’t get used regularly and put them in better locations – not in my way!)
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Right now my pantry is simply open shelves until we can afford to put cabinets in them, but I try to keep it organized because it is open for all to see. I have several baskets that I purchased at Costco and I keep cereals, crackers, chips in them. There are bulk items in clear glass jars. I can’t wait to have pantry cabinets someday (C:
I shared this post on FB
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I don’t have a full pantry; our home is older and was renovated to make the old butler’s closet a laundry room and bathroom (which is probably more practical than a pantry for us!), but I have shelves inside a walkway to our basement. It’s organized now…but that’s because I just cleaned it. I have to sort things monthly or it becomes a disaster and life always changes so the systems that worked before don’t forever. Thanks for the chance!
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I have a small pantry “set of shelves”… it is the one piece I gave up with a kitchen remodel. I am using extra space in my laundry room and yes, it is good enough and no complaints! I am so thankful for your book. I have given up on any sort of perfectionism and am just enjoying the teenage years with my 15 and 17 year old before they venture off……
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My pantry is organized…..it’s just too small.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win ~ I’d LOVE to have the book especially.
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My pantry is about 1/2 organized and 1/2 not organized. Would love to have a professional come and just organize the whole thing!!
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I wish I could say I had a big ole butlers pantry, but I do not, I have a small little closet type pantry in kitchen, and it is way to hard to keep organized because it is just too small. I am constantly struggling with it. But I do try to keep baked items, spices, cereals, canned items, all on their own shelves, but there just isn’t enough room. I would LOVE someone to come and organize it for me. Any takers?
Great giveaway, and I have loved following you on this 31 day challenge.
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I have a tiny pantry and therefore have to keep it organized. I love organizing so it’s not hard. I have a copy of your book, but if I win I’ll pass it on to my friend. I don’t have an apron though, so I’ll keep that for myself! I’ve always wanted a cute apron!
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I give a good attempt to keep my pantry organized. Been investing in containers for things that come in bags to keep things more tidy.
Gorgeous aprons!
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And I retweeted your giveaway.
http://twitter.com/#!/JustTuesday/status/27744063867
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Ugh, I wish I had a pantry, but I’m thankful for the little bit of space I do have. I have a lazy susan cabinet that holds pots and pans on the top shelf and some pantry items on the bottom shelf. I also have a large corner cabinet above the lazy susan that holds a variety of items. I must admit, this cabinet is not really organized at all! I also have a little piece of a wall in our laundry room that I have some wire basket hangers on that hold our stocked items – mainly canned tomatoes, corn, green beans, peas, etc. and some pasta. I try to keep these organized and grouped by type as best I can. I can’t wait to one day have a house with a pantry!
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My pantry consists of a couple larger sized cabinets as well as shelfs in the basement. Since I don’t have a lot of room I have to keep them relatively organized. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
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I’ve been slowly acquiring glass and plastic containers to use for strage in our pantry. I also use washed out spaghetti, jelly, and salsa jars. They do a great job. My biggest tips would be to have designated places for everything: canned goods, dry goods, baking mixes, cereals, snacks… and to label, label, label. Labeling is super easy now with so many vinyl options, not to mention how adorable your containers can look!
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My pantry is above my basement stairs, so it is not a walk-in pantry. The bottom is a large shelf/raised floor a little below waist level, with shelves on the back wall and the left side. This is a problem for me, since it’s kind of deep, and I’m short. So I have to climb up into it to get at the back of the shelves or to the upper shelves. Still, I’m very thankful for it since it really adds a lot of storage, and I have a small kitchen. When I moved in, the first thing i did was add a spice rack under the shelf on the left to make use of that angled wall where the stairs were (my brother built it for me). The shelves are arranged pretty well, I am manic about keeping like stuff together. However, now I realize that I can’t climb into it any more – the bottom area has become FULL of stuff – too many times i just threw something back in there without bothering to really put it away. I love the paper roll rack i put up on the right-hand wall, it holds all my foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper and wax paper rolls. I also found a light that I could put on that wall, which took a while to find. It’s an LED light, so not too bright, but it didn’t have to be hard-wired and I can reach the switch. It does the job. Now to clean out that bottom level! Short of growing a few inches, and not being lazy, I don’t know how to make it easier for me to keep my pantry clear. I guess I’ll just have to climb in to put things away more often!
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My pantry also doubles as a laundry room. Neither side is particularly organized, though this room is on my list of things to tackle. I should say it has been on my list of things to tackle. With holiday guests coming up, I’ve got some new much-needed motivation to get it done.
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oh, and I shared this on Facebook – not sure how to send that link to you though!
I need to order my book, it is on my list!! I should add too that my pantry does have a full size door, so that is a big plus. When I climb up on the raised floor, it’s not like climbing into a cupboard. I need to do some reorganizing to keep things up high that I don’t use often. And put away the stuff on the floor that is supposed to go up high!
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Well…my pantry is somewhat organized. It’s a bit too full right now. Like you, I need to pull everything out, check expirations & purge. And I need to just make a few meals with what I have and quit buying more at the grocery store! Our kitchen doesn’t have a huge amount of storage, and is next to the rear entry of our home. There was a coat closet with a set of bifold doors that we renovated into a pantry – pulled out the clothing rods, etc. and installed shelving. It has been the single best improvement we’ve made to our home. I love having a big open pantry!
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I put wire shelves on the back of my pantry door for my spices and other essentials and a rack on the pantry floor for onions and potatoes. I use a cloth “sleeve” to store plastic grocery bags in.
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I don’t have a conventional pantry…but I do keep my cabinets fairly organized by separating foods by uses…all baking goods on one shelf…all soup/dried beans/canned veggies on another shelf…all snacks on their own shelf…etc. My biggest pantry challenge is cooking enough so the food doesn’t pile up and gets used before it expires!!!
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You always have great ideas. I miss having a pantry. I miss my old kitchen.
BTW – I had a friend tell me recently that they checked out your blog and was inspired to go to a flea market to find some goodies to add to her home for hosting occasions. I think you have a new fan.
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I have a block of cabinets in my kitchen with pull out shelves for my pantry & I love them! I would like to have a walk-in pantry with more space, but having the pull-out shelves allows me easy access to the whole shelf so I don’t lose things in the very back!
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I just Tweeted from: DebsHeartHome
“@SandyCoughlinRE & @TheHipHostess are hosting a giveaway! http://su.pr/1QiMYb”
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We organize it about once every 3 months. We have a small one so we purchased the large storage racks at BJ’s for the garage. All of the surplus and cleaning supplies go there. The important thing for us (I say us…my husband does the majority of the organizing of the pantry, fridge, well the whole kitchen) is to tackle it frequently and buy only what we know we’ll use. Then we buy most of those things in bulk.
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Tweeted! @LNeal0608
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We made a couple of pantries in our basement. One is just a set of freestanding wire shelves that we put at the bottom of the basement stairs. That’s where we keep the paper products so that we can quickly access extra boxes of tissues, paper towels, and TP. Then, we have some great built-in shelves further in the basement for storing food. The shelves are right next to our extra freezer, so on Costco days, we just unload everything right there. We’re not super organized, but we do try to keep the things we use the most (peanut butter, Annie’s mac and cheese, tuna) in the front so they’re easy to spot. I hope to have a real pantry upstairs someday!
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Just tweeted about the giveaway. @fieryboots
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I don’t have a walk-in pantry, but a group of shelves in my kitchen. Said shelves are in need of some organizing – yipes. This post is a good reminder to tackle them before the holidays hit in full force. Thanks for the awesome 31 Days posts! I’ve been drooling over your book since it came out and the Hip Hostess aprons since I saw them on your blog!
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Right now, my pantry is amazingly organized. This is really just a fluke – the only reason it’s so orderly is because there’s almost NOTHING in it. Our daughter left for her first year of college in August, and except for milk and fruit, I don’t think we’ve been to the grocery store since she left. I think I like it this way – I’m looking at it as an opportunity to minimize and simplify.
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ah… my pantry is organized to a point. We use an old cupboard as a pantry; baking what nots on the left, canned on the right. Oatmeal and coffee are in a cupboard by the sink, etc. I’d love to have a pantry tucked into the wall or something cool. Not the case… atm. =)
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My pantry is not in the best or worst shape. I am in to bulk buying so it is really important to organize before re stocking. I also make sure to have space in my garage for items that can be stored in any temperature.
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I have a pantry, my main motivation for keeping it clean and organized is to keep the mice out of it. (We live in the country) I am dreaming of “the perfect pantry” though, and taking lots of ideas. What I really want is rolling containers for my bulk foods, and room to hang up my apron. I have ONE apron that I wear and people think I am crazy, but I love it and I would love to win your book and an apron. I tell everyone about your blog, I enjoy it so.
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My pantry used to be one of those really narrow (maybe 9″ if that) but deep as my arm lower cabinets plus a couple “normal” sized upper cabinets for my baking stuff. The baking stuff was organized (as I much prefer to bake sweets than to make dinner), but the little narrow cabinet of canned goods constantly had to be pulled out anytime we were looking for something. Right now it’s all “organized” in boxes while our house is being remodeled and, even though we couldn’t remodel the kitchen as part of the project, I do at least get to have the old laundry space in the kitchen converted into a pantry which excites me to no end.
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Our pantry is scattered among cabinets of dishes and pots and pans in our kitchen. I’m sure the organization made sense when my mom and dad first moved in but it is in serious need of reorganization now!! We have a tiny closet next to the kitchen which was probably intended to be a pantry but honestly, you could barely fit a vacuum and some coats in there!
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I just blogged about the giveaway!
xoxo
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I posted on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=524808542
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My pantry seems to work in a pattern, one month of clean, one week of disorganized, one month of clean… When I can’t find things without moving a million other items, I know it’s time for a clean month!
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Just moved into a different house. Same width of pantry (about 2 1/2 feet), so I just tried to put everything in the usual spots, but I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working. I finally realized that the new pantry is about a foot shallower than the old one. So, I’m working on paring down a bit. Hopefully it’ll work out soon!
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Well, we’re currently living with my parents while we wait for our house to sell 3 states away
, but in my home I did have a make-shift pantry. It was two big yard-sale bookshelves that were deep enough to store food on, in our office. My kitchen was too small to store much food, but once I figured out this arrangement it actually worked pretty well! I would *love* to have a real pantry whenever we move to our next house!
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My “pantry” is a tiny closet in my kitchen. Just enough space to keep the basic supply of things. Additional pantry items are kept on a shelf in my laundry room… downstairs. Not the best arrangement but it’s what I could come up with for now. I’m trying to figure out how to repurpose a couple closets upstairs…
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Oh, and since both of these items are on my Christmas wishlist, I blogged about your giveaway! Oh my gosh, I hope I win!!!!!!!
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My pantry is so very tiny (and, sadly, often empty and the opposite of organized). Instead, I turn my attention to HOW I fill up the pantry. I learned from my parents how to turn grocery shopping into a quick, date night activity by having a list organized by the aisles in the store. I’m sure it’s a tip many have hear of before, but I think my parents are brilliant! For years, they used a pre-made list sorted according to aisle; all they ever had to do was circle which items were needed for that trip to the store. Brilliant!
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We have a large walk-in pantry. I naturally group like items together but would still end up with a mess from open cracker packages, half eaten bags of chips and baking items in bags (chocolate chips, coconut, etc.) I finally bought some bins and made labels, it has made a huge difference. They’re together and not falling all over the place and I can easily see if I need to buy more. Thanks for the opportunity!
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my pantry stays fairly organized because i try to use up what we have each month. we have four small shelves in our pantry, so it’s just enough space to store what we need. i tried the couponing/stockpiling method of shopping for a while, and it did NOT work for our family!! for us, this simple method works much better – and is MUCH easier to organize!
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Pantry……it is on my wish list…..wish I had a walk in one. My pantry consists of shelves above my basement stairs….Now that is scary, not ideal but at least it keeps the overflow somewhat at hand. I Try to organize by like items, tomato products, fruits, beans etc keeping like items on the same shelf . Love your encouragement. Thank you once again for a chance to win your book. P.S. Very cute apron hook!
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If my pantry is non-existent, does it count as organized?
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My pantry is overdue for a total makeover. But I like your plan to wait until AFTER the holidays!
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Yes, our pantry is organized….at the moment!! We added additional shelves for extra space Which has really helped with organization. Love the apron. Hope I win.
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My pantry is semi-organized. All the canned goods are separated from boxed goods and sorted according to what they are.
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I also tweeted! Thanks.
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Well, I don’t have much of a pantry, just some extra cupboard space next to the fridge. We try to keep it organized by putting baking supplies on one side, canned food on the other, etc.
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My pantry is some cabinets under my bar. Totally unorganized…but I will tackle after the holidays!
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Our family of four lives in 594 sq. ft. of student housing while my dh is in grad. school. Needless to say, we don’t have much room, but I have managed to turn half our coat closet into a pantry by placing shelves in it. As far as it being organized? It’s seen better days. I do have my aprons within reach, hanging on the side of my refrigerator.
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we were able to just remodel our kitchen and my husband added a huge pantry {huge to me:)}. i still haven’t figured out the perfect spot for everything!
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Baskets help keep my pantry organized. I still have a tendancy in a hurry to not put things away the way I should. Thanks for the great ideas…
Blessings
Roxanne
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Yes organized…It used to be all the cans that would make it disorganized. Then one day I decided to buy two Cansolidators (Shelf Reliance brand) at Costco. Really has been a great purchase and easier to see what I have/don’t have on hand!
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I too love an organized pantry and an organized home. I have two areas in my kitchen that I use for my pantry items. I keep things organized by storing like with like….that’s my biggest help. All of my paper products are stored together, my canned veggies, my cereal and my snack bars. I use baskets for smaller items like rice mixes, etc. I also try to steal 15 minutes or so every week to sort and look through my goods to remind me of what I have.
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I do have a pantry and I enjoy keeping it stocked and organized…however, it does change from time to time. I like to buy canned goods when they go on sale at certain times of the year. Right now, my pantry is quite full but as the holidays draw near, I know there will be lots of trips to the store to purchase something needed for a recipe. One tip…put most recent cans to the back and rotate so that the oldest expiration date gets used first.
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We are remodeling our kitchen as well. Half is old cabinetry, half is the new. I haven’t totally organized the kitchen due to the progressive work being done. But I do love organized spaces
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My pantry is constantly being reorganized by my almost three year old. So, from my waist up-it’s decent. From my waist down-guacamole jars are paired with Jello boxes and the occasional Hot Wheel. Oh, and plastic ice cream cone.
Love the aprons!
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I tweeted! @smacjj
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My pantry is in need of some reorganization!!!! I have the tools, I just need to put them to good use!!
Lori
lhammons@ma.rr.com
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My pantry is organized. But is about due for a cleaning. And maybe some cute baskets like the Nester suggests. Love the aprons.
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My “pantry” is one of my larger cabinets, but it’s awkward and hard to hold alot of items. So I took over a shelf in the laundry room and a portion of another cabinet. So it always *feels* unorganized, because it’s all over the place, even if it is truly organized!
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My pantry is pretty organized. There are a few extras in there that should be relocated (non-food type items). But overall, all the food items are in their place – grouped by type with labels facing out. We keep all the like items together. I only clear the shelves for a deep clean about once per year. It seems to be enough at this point.
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I am blessed to have a large pantry in my kitchen. Fairly organized, but what I am excited about is that we will soon be replacing the solid door with a French door. I can’t wait for my new accountability partner to arrive. Plus I think it will add a lightness to the room. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Blessings to you!
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I really do try to keep my pantry organized. It is all grouped and stacked in an order that makes perfect sense to me. However, my husband won’t take the time to learn where everything goes. I’m thankful he sometimes helps cook, and often helps clean up, but I always have to go in after him and figure out where he misplaced everything!
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I live in an apartment…enough said! BUT I do alphabetize my spices and categorize all my things, making the most of even the small spaces. Someday–soon, Lord willing–I will have a larger home and a tremendous pantry in which to hang an adorable apron!
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I wish I had a big pantry to organize! But, there is a place for everything and everything in it’s place…does that count?
That blond martini apron is AWESOME!
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I have a small pantry that is some-what organized!Not as organized as I would like, but not as messy as it could be… I keep all my like items on the same shelf and I put it that way every time I go to the grocery store. I keep my pasta, rice, flour in tupperware clear container’s that I can see when items get low. I keep all my canned vegetables together and cooking canned goods, like mushrooms, soup, rice wine, etc. on a separate shelf.
Thank you for the opportunity to win! I have so enjoyed reading all the 31 days blogs.
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I believe my pantry is ‘decently’ organized
I would like to find a better way to store some of the most commonly used items in our house, but for the most part everything is where I can see it and is pretty neat most of the time.
Would LOVE to win your book and the too cute apron! Maybe it will inspire me to entertain more!
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My pantry is organized, and then destroyed,,,organized, and then destroyed..it is a constant battle w/3 kids!!
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I would love to have a pantry one day! I do keep my cabinets organized by only buying what we need and organizing as I go when I buy groceries.
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I live in a small rental, but I do have a pantry. It is small, but I try to keep it organized.
Thanks for all the tips on your website!
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I only have a little bit of storage space in the laundry room for extras.
I’d love to win your book!
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Our apartment’s shelves are too high, so we resorted to using a cabinet. It’s pretty organized, but I try to organize it by what I use most frequently towards the front and then put items together with what might be used together.
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Oh, I know exactly who would be gifted with this book were I to win! And as for the apron, I’ve wanted a “hip hostess” for a long time! Thanks for the opportunity!
As for my pantry, I don’t have a pantry in my kitchen per se, but I do have a couple of cupboards that I have taken over for such a thing. One for dry goods and one for canned goods. Yes, I do try to keep them both organized. I also have an area in the basement that I keep overstock and I try to rotate it and keep it organized as well. I’ve found it’s the only way that I can really see what I have.
I’ve really been enjoying this Oct. series! Not that I don’t really enjoy your blog all the time.
Keep up the great work.
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My pantry is very organized. The most important shelf is the lowest one which holds kid snacks – so they can fend for themselves. Thanks for the opportunity!
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NO WAY… organized pantry???? that would cramp my style…..
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We don’t have a pantry or a garage, so we’re kind of limited as to how well-stocked we can be. We do keep most of our everyday china in a china cabinet in the dining room though, which frees up a little extra cabinet space. It is not organized; I really need to go through there! After reading someone else’s comment about using their laundry room, maybe I will clean out a little space in there and start using it! Ours is really just a laundry closet, but I could make space in the corner to keep some cans and things…
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My pantry is awesome–I couldn’t live without it! It is reasonably organized but spirals out of control when my kids are off of school for the summer. I love tiered shelf organizers so that I can have multiple rows of cans and bottles in a narrow space. I alphabetize my herbs and spices (I know, I know) but separate the baking spices from the others.
I have plastic canisters that aren’t necessarily pretty but are very functional because the large one holds a 5 lb. bag of flour, the next largest holds 5 lbs. of sugar, etc. I use baskets to corral the stuff that gets everywhere. For example, I have a basket for paper supplies: paper/plastic plates, straws, plastic cutlery, lunch bags, napkins, etc. I use my garage shelves for the paper and plastic stuff I buy in bulk, like ziplocs, TP, paper towels, and tissues.
I have a hook in my pantry to hold aprons, and I would love to have a Hip Hostess one since mine is kind of a *yawn*.
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I have a closet pantry. It has shelves and is semi-organized. I love it because if I put the groceries away then I know where they are and what is missing. It works for us! Our house is for sale and this will be the thing I miss the most. I check the pantry out in every new place. I like the hanging of the aprons….I might just add a decorative hook for mine.
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Sadly, I don’t have a pantry. But it would probably be filled with more stuff if I had one. So, I would not call myself organized. But then, I would also consider myself a reluctant entertainer; thus, the need for this contest. : )
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My pantry if part of a wall of shelves in my kitchen. They are built in and I’d never seen one like this till we saw this house. It is all open, but with my dil’s help my pantry shelves will soon have a folding door. I am so excited.:)
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I am in need of a pantry. I have some space but it now holds a small wire shelving unit. I do try to keep my spices alphabetized and used to do my cans that way too.
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Sandy, this is such a terrific giveaway! My computer blew up {having had an entire glass of water spill on it}… so I’m happy to be back online and just in time for this.
Having just moved into our home a bit over a year ago… our pantry had reached the MESSY stage at the end of summer. When the kiddos went back to school, I went to work getting it put back in order. I’m fortunate that it’s a new house and a large pantry where everything can have a place. The trick? Making sure the family knows to put things back where it came from. 
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I have a fairly large, walk-in pantry. I use large jars for bulk items and baskets to help keep it organized. And about once a month, when we make the big buying trip to Costco or Sam’s and buy bulk I tend to shift and reorganize based on what we purchased that trip.
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Just tweeted!
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My pantry is two LARGE pull out drawers in the island in my kitchen. I have them filled with glass jars and labels on the lids so I can see them. I love it. It is convenient and easy to keep organized! ingredients get rotated quite frequently {since I do a lot of cooking!} so the staples are kept fresh. I would love to have a walk-in like yours, but I would most likely stock it with dishes!
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Our pantry has two folding doors and is in the back hallway. My tip? This is a great project to do w/your children. They love to check the sell by dates and wipe down the shelves. They will also probably insist on using some, still fresh, item you bought but forgot about to enliven your palates!
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I live in a turn-of-the-century home without much storage . . . but I love my pantry! It’s a closet under the stairs and it even has a diamond-shaped window in it! (What were they thinking when they put a window in the closet?!) I’m inspired to reorganize it every week when I get home from the market.
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I don’t have a pantry. Our kitchen is really small so I started a cabinet in the laundry room. I found I didn’t use up the food in there b/c it’s down the hall from the kitchen, so…. now we are painting an old armoire to use as my pantry and keep it in the dining room. I like to keep the food together and not in so many cabinets so I can find it and use it!
I would love a kitchen redo like yours. I love your kitchen and your site!
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A couple of years ago I emptied my pantry, which was really just a closet with sliding doors. I painted the shelves white and the walls a deep, rich red, and installed some battery operated spot lights. All of my pantry items were put into big storage jars or stashed into matching wicker baskets on the shelves. I hung a few pretty serving plates on the back of one shelf, and displayed a few more pretties on the shelf in front of that. It was so pretty! But the trick to keeping it fairly neat and organized on an ongoing basis was removing the doors. Since it’s open for the world to see, I’m highly motivated to not let it get too disorganized.
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my main pantry is in my basement. adjacent to my laundry room. i try to maintain its organization monthly. not always able to. i love the space however if i am not careful it can become a catch all for a variety of things!
love your blog so much and have your book on my “must read soon” list! thanks for the giveaway!
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We have a tiny pantry in our rental that is less than organized. We’re building a house and will have a sizable pantry, so trying to find ways that I can organize it.
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Our apartment actually has a pretty good sized pantry for the size of the apartment. I love my tiny kitchen here more than the larger one in our old apartment – it just flows better. Anyway, there is a floor to ceiling cabinet of all pantry space! LOVE IT! I usually keep all of my baking goods on one shelf, all my pasta and grains on another shelf, all my canned goods on another shelf, and the floor hosts my sodas, juices, and foils and wraps.
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Unfortunately, I only have 2 small cabinets that I consider to be a pantry. It’s fairly organized….we keep ‘like’ items together: all canned goods, cereals, lunch items, etc. Works well for us, but needs to be cleaned out fairly regularly of all the half eaten, unclosed bags!
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We’ve got a closet in the hallway next to the Kitchen. Not too organized, but fits our needs with 3 kiddos who love to open the door a lot and find snacks! It would be nice to have it a little brighter and easier to find those cans hidden in the back!
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My pantry is pretty organized but it does take work to keep it that way. I usually clean it out at the beginning of summer and again around the holidays mostly to prepare for the season. Thank you for sharing with us all Sandy. You inspire me!
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well our house is small, so we don’t have an official ‘pantry’ but we use our front hall closet as a pantry and yes I do like to keep it organized. it’s not always though. sometimes it can get really messy in there! I like to use baskets and bins to seperate and sort things and keep it organized. =)
kathy k.
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Organized?? well could you be more specific! haha, I thought if it doesnt fall out then all it good.
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I am moving in two weeks . . . so my pantry is a little bare. But under normal circumstances . . . my pantry is always mildly messy.
Fondly,
Glenda
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Yes, my pantry is pretty organized. I get in there and keep all like items on a shelf and regularly maintain it.
Now I just need to get inspired with entertaining!
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Our London pantry was built from scratch and every day that we venture deeper into our lives in Arizona I long for that carefully crafted pantry…I adore stocking up in October for the long winter ahead, my husband calls me a squirrel for that reason. Fabulous give away…I just adore the Hip Hostess Apron and your style….would love one of your books, and one can never have too many Hip Aprons.
My pantry is rather ship shape and Bristol fashion…I have a number of posts dedicated to the topic….I promise I am fun regardless of my passion for cleanliness.
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Debbie and Sandy, my pantry isn’t as organized as I would like. You have just inspired me though. Also, I just tweeted this. http://www.twitter.com/mndloo
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My pantry is my laundry room… It’s not the tidiest place by any means, but it’s been worse. I have flours, sugars, etc. In airtight containers, as well as cans, cereal boxes, and the bigger items there (next to the detergent, Cascade, and liquid soap refills, out of reach from my toddler!) Baking goods, spices, and things I use every day go inside one of my kitchen cabinets. The one thing that helps me keep everything under some control is keeping a list of what I use and writing down what we run out of so it can be replaced.
I love your blog! I hope I win, your fabulous book is on my wish list!
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My pantry is right in my kitchen and I love it. It is not super big, but it works great for me. Everything has its place and I try to keep it organized that way so that I know what I have, or what I need to get, at a glance. Due to our high AC bills this summer we have been eating from our pantry the last few months so my pantry is pretty sparse right now. But when the next month comes I will go shopping and know what I need to get because I know what goes where. On the back of my pantry door hang some hooks for different items and that is also where my aprons hang. I have really enjoyed getting back in to wearing aprons. It just feels good.
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Super cute apron! I don’t have an actual “pantry” per se, but I have a section of floor to ceiling cabinets that are full of shelves and I use the bottom half for our “pantry.” I think it’s pretty organized, with matching bins from the dollar store, but someone else may look in and think otherwise.
I can quickly and easily find what I’m looking for though, or direct someone else to what they are looking for.
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Oh what a shame, I wish you could include non-US residents as well…
Anyway, I have 3 large cupboards that I use as a pantry. It is enough as I live in a small city apartment. And since it is a small area, it is easy to keep tidy…with the exception of multiplying jars..but I deal with it 
Greece is not that far away
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I wish I had a pantry. I only have kitchen cabinets that are hard to see what’s in them. I do keep the products in my cabinets organized by type. At least I know where to look for something.
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My pantry is on a cycle or organized to slowly becoming chaotic. I do keep my spices alphabetical on a 3 tiered rack.
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Our pantry is a large cabinet in the kitchen – one section has pullout shelves and the other section is deep shelves. It started out being organized but about every 3 months or so, I try not to go grocery shopping in the hopes that it will force me to finish up stuff in the pantry.
We just had twins earlier in the year so time to go shopping is limited. I’m slowing making my way through all the stuff in the pantry. Once that is done, we’ll be able to buy more stuff to clutter it up – hehehehe!
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I would love his book and apron. The book sounds like it would help me do more entertaining which I love to do and the apron would definitely help me do it more stylishly. Thanks for the opportunity!
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I just cleaned out the skinny 6 inch cabinet next to the stove where I keep the spices. Wiped the shelves and threw out the old stuff – found some bottles dating back to 2004! Nonperishable stuff sits in another cabinet and I always check to see what’s in there before shopping because I don’t have enough space in this one cabinet to hold any extras, but it’s pretty easy to take inventory!
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I do not have a pantry in my current house. We are looking to move and I always check the kitchen to see if it has a pantry. My husband thinks a two car garage is more important. I’m going to show him this post tonight. Thanks for doing this topic at the perfect time.
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We have a large walk in pantry which I clean out about every 6 month. It is very organized and I can tell just by looking at the selves what I am low on. Old stock gets moved to the front when new items are put away. I can’t remember having expired can goods (I don’t keep too much stock on hand). My freezer is pretty organized too. I hate waste.
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My pantry is in the basement and is fairly organized even though it’s a long way from the kitchen!
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My pantry is also the laundry room. It’s a work in progress. We bought pedestals over the weekend for the front-loaders. That will help tremendously for my small, small space.
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Sadly, I have no pantry! At least, I thought I didn’t until I read some comments, and now I wonder where I might fit a little one in! Love the comments, love the aprons!
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I’d give myself a B in pantry organization. Each shelf has a purpose, but since I’m often pulling things out quickly to pack lunches or make dinner with a baby on my hip, it gets messy. I like to purge a shelf at a time to time to keep it in order.
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Not even close to organized..it is of course on my “to do list”!
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Well my pantry stays organized (for the most part) unless my husband is the one that puts the groceries away. We just moved into this house in mid-February. I set up the pantry by dishes…for example: all baking stuff was together, all canned veggies, all pastas, etc. However, my husband put the groceries away yesterday (which I am thankful for) and things are not quite in their correct space. However, they did make their way into the pantry and for that I am grateful. Thank you for the give-a-way opportunity.
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LOVE my walk-in pantry, but we are moving in 2 days and I won’t have one any more (sad face). Anyway, I group things–like a shelf for flours and other baking products, a shelf for cereals, pastas grouped together, etc. little plastic step shelves (expandable) really maximize the space for canned goods, jello boxes, etc. Seasoning packets are, of course, in a little basket. Vinegars, oils, etc. are grouped in a plastic basket so it’s easy to pull out the whole basket at once and lift out the bottle I need rather than move around a bunch of bottles all the time. It’s also easier to wipe out the solid plastic bottom of the basket if there are any drips or spills from the bottle, rather than cleaning all the shelves of the pantry.
SUPER giveaway. I’m a big apron fan and have Reluctant Entertainer book on my Christmas wish list!
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I have a teeny, tiny broom closet serving as a pantry in my first house. I can’t get my shoulders through the doorway, lol! I have small boxes and plastic containers at the back of the shelves holding pasta, misc. baking supplies, so I can put other items in front and still be able to see what I have
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My pantry goes in cycles–Sometimes it’s bedlam and sometimes it borders on being obsessively organized. It depends on how many people are rummaging thru it
I could not live without my turntables to help me organize it. I would LOVE to win the book and apron. I also keep my aprons easily accessible. I love your philosophy on entertaining! Thanks to you and Debbie!
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Yes! My pantry is organized. This is one area I really try to keep up with because it makes things much easier everyday … someone’s always in the pantry. Keep things down low within kids view and reach, makes little ones feel big. Keep things up high within husband’s view and reach otherwise he doesn’t know what’s in there. Great giveaway! Would LOVE to win those goodies!
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Right now, the floor of my pantry is a disaster! Need to put that on my list in the next week or so….it always seems to get out of control during the holidays…maybe I can nip it in the bud this year.
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My pantry is actually a small double cabinet in the hall next to my kitchen. I must confess after a summer full of guests, it was a mess and overflowing with a lot of unused items. Last week I took out everything wiped it clean and started fresh. Such a great feeling when your pantry is in order! We have a local food pantry, so I decided to bring all the excess items there. I tend to stock too many staples and this is a good way to make sure nothing will go to waste! Love the photo of your hanging aprons, always handy and ready to go to work!
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My pantry is semi organized – I use baskets to gather the little things like taco seasonings, lentils that just seem to get lost. I use an extra closet in the hallway for my stockpile stuff.
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Part of my tiny closet/pantry/laundry room IS organized….but part of it is not. I find it difficult using such a small space for so many needs. We now live in a 129 yr. old home. While I always thought I wanted an old home it provides challenges I never dreamed of.
I could use ideas…thanks for the chance to win.
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My pantry is mostly organized, but its on the small side. Trying to get the most out of that space is challenging. I love the RE web site! Thank you!
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I have a closet pantry. I love it! It is semi-organized, but it makes it easy to find what we need. I loved the decorative hanger in yours with the aprons. I need to add that to mine!
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Pretty organized, but mine is very deep and that is always an issue….
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My pantry is a freestanding locker, the type that stands four high. Big metal cubes! There’s a lot of wasted space because they are each so high. But it’s unique and I live in Mozambique, Africa and it came in a container of donations years before I arrived and I’m blessed to have it! Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway.
Lauraleighanderson(at)hotmail.com
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My pantry is very small, just a cupboard really. It actually is organized right now! It isn’t always though, so every couple of weeks I do a really quick clean. It only takes 5 minutes or so, I don’t wash any shelves, or take everything out, I just straighten up. I save the big clean for a few times a year. It works for me.
(I have to do the same in my fridge everyweek or things can get pretty scary…)
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I love Debbie’s aprons !! That girls does aprons right and I would love to own your book
I have a tiny pantry and it is always a mess, I need the Nester too : )
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My pantry is tiny. It serves its purpose but I dream of a day when I have a beautiful expansive pantry with lights and baskets and deliciousness all around. It’s not too difficult to keep it organized because if it is not, the new groceries won’t fit. Each time I stock it I “reorganize” to keep everything accessible. I have really been wanting your book! I hope I win
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The pantry police was just at my house and gave me a whopping pantry clutter ticket!! I think Nester sent them over.
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I have Pantry A – a small shelf just off the kitchen and Pantry B on a shelf in the garage for longer term items. They are both small enough that even is they are disorganized I can still tell what I have. But mostly I keep them organized. In fact maybe today I should do that…
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posted (again) on fb. my earlier post from this a.m. had disappeared!
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My pantry is a deep cupboard. A bit challenging at first, but absolutely organized!
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Posted to facebook!
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Unfortunately, my pantry is not very organized. Seems like I just stuff things in where I can find a space. I was cooking last night and after spilling on my clothes, I was thinking that I could certainly use an apron. Then I spotted your giveaway for an apron and book. Being a minister’s wife, I could certainly use the encouragement to get back to entertaining without the stress. Thanks
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I’m new to reading your blog through the 31 days series. I am a reluctant entertainer, and I appreciate your ideas. My pantry. Well, the top half, where the canned and boxed foods are stored is pretty organized, but the bottom half that contains random and infrequently-used items is a mess because I just stash stuff down there. It needs some organizing!
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My pantry is organized, but it could use some improvement.
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My pantry is organized as long as I can keep my kids out of it! The 20 month old just learned to open doors! Arggggg!!!
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I try really, really, really hard to keep my pantry organized, but it is usually not organized! I have twin 5 year old boys who LOVE to rummage through the food. I’ve even found cereal boxes in their beds in the morning! So I try as hard as I can!
My best organization tip is to use baskets for bulk items (snacks, poptarts, puddings, fruit cups). I get rid of the packaging right away and store them in baskets. Makes it easy to pack lunches and grab snacks! Thanks!!
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We live in an apartment, so there’s not really a pantry so we use a small, old bookshelf. Since everything is out in the open, I have to stay organized. We use Ikea containers to hold our rice, pastas and baking implements. Snacks stay in an open ceramic pot so they can be grabbed easily. Only the canned goods have a place tucked away in a cabinet. A pantry (the closet type) is definitley on my list for our future house!
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Earlier this year, my father-in-law helped us turn a closet we didn’t really use (or should I say,it was the “catch all closet”) into a pantry and I lOVE it …. and it is organized…. my husband and kids love to shop my “little store”
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My pantry is my laundry area as well. Organized? Not so much. But everything is of necessity visible.
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Oh I used to have a pantry and if it wasn’t nailed down, it was eaten. Raised two sons. So we devised a method of if there was a sticky note (could be blank) on the item it was off limits. Now it’s just husband and myself and a grocery store 3 minutes away. There is always something in the freezer and the pantry has staples and I guess I could fix ‘something’… thanks for a chance to win, but even without any prizes, i’d still be here every day!
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My pantry is just a closet with 5 shelves. It stays pretty organized and is always put back in order when I put up groceries…otherwise they wouldn’t fit! Great giveaway!
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My pantry is a bunch of shelves in the basement. In one of my more “organized” moments, I made a list of everything that was on the shelves. I then taped that list to the door to the basement that way I wouldn’t have to go downstairs to see if I had what I needed on hand. The idea was to update the list every time I got something from the shelves and I could build my shopping list from there too.
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My pantry is organized most of the time. I keep all my canned goods sorted and stacked so I have a green bean, tomato, soup, etc….section. It does help when I’m looking for something.
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So, so organized. If I lived alone, there would be a place for everything and everthing would be in it’s place in our two pantry cupboards. However, I do not live alone and my family does not follow my strict (ya right) rules to organization in the culinary department….sigh.
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My pantry? Organized? Blahahahahahahaha.
Need I say more?
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I don’t have a pantry but if I had one I’d need tips on how to organize it!
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I facebooked this too!
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I made a pantry in my laundry room from industrial looking shelving from Lowe’s Home Improvement store. I used baskets to organize the cans, boxes and bags of items. It serves me well. The baskets don’t “match”, they are just baskets that I already had and re-purposed them for my pantry.
Thanks for the entry in this giveaway. Lovin’ your blog.
Tasha
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I sure which my pantry was organized. I could use all the tips and help anyone would like to give me to make it the best pantry ever.
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We recently moved into a new home, and it has a big pantry with lots of shelves! I love it. LOVE IT! The fact that I love it inspires me to keep it organized.
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So glad I made it in time for the giveaway! Yes, I have a pantry, you might laugh, but it is actually what was meant to be a linen closet in our hallway. I had no place for a pantry, and with the top to bottom shelves, this made perfect sense, and yes I do keep in organized. Periodically I straighten, check to see what may need to be restocked(when hubby is putting things up, it can get a little disorganized. When I add to it, I add all canned items to the back and rotate the goods. This works well, it means I have pretty much everything to put together a meal quickly, and when the kids come home, sometimes they shop my pantry, and I share my sale items. Jackie
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I just moved to a house that doesn’t have a pantry (gasp!) but has lots of cabinet space. My cabinets are very organized and recently decluttered, but I haven’t found a good home for my potatoes yet…
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I have a a relatively organized pantry. Though it’s about time to de-clutter the top shelf.
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My pantry is organized. However, it is only a couple of cupboards in my kitchen. I keep planning my “someday” pantry.
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My pantry is somewhat organized, but I could do better. I would love mine to look like House of Smiths’ pantry! Thanks for the giveaway offer!
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Well, the pantry looks pretty good–but the laundry/mudroom it’s in…well, that’s another story! It’s ready for a make-over! Soon, I hope!
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I have just posted on my Facebook page. Oh’ I hope I win! (crosses fingers)
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Last year I added several wire shelving units in my basement at the base of the stairs that lead to my kitchen. This has allowed me to be more organized even though I do not have a true pantry. I would love a real walk in pantry off my kitchen. Maybe in my next home.
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My pantry is semi-organized and getting better. One thing I use is small baskets to corral packets of spices or soups. I also have a couple larger baskets that I keep condiments, salad dressings, jellies, etc. in. It does help finding something when you can just pull out a basket to find what you want.
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My pantry is small and somewhat organized. You have inspired me to make it more organized and after seeing your photos in your pantry I have decided to do something similar with mine. Thanks for the post and thanks for hosting a give away!
Kathiey:-)
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I’m bummed that I’m a little late to sign up for this. I just read a review of your book over at The Mommy Rambles and would have LOVED to win!
As for my pantry, I don’t have one! The only closet-type space in our house is the closet in my bedroom :-/ Makes it tough to stock up on food, but at the same time, our little cupboard doesn’t require much cleaning!
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My pantry goes in and out of organization. Usually I need to take stock of how it’s looking every couple of months and then tidy up a bit. Pantry beauty is not a strength for me, but I can find everything quickly, so I’m happy.
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My Pantry? It’s a giant MESS!!!
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