Day 18. Pantries and Aprons: Organized and Useful – RE Book and Apron GIVEAWAY!
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
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” :)
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!
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!!
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!!!
My pantry is organized, but it could use some improvement.
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!
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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Posted to facebook!
My pantry is a deep cupboard. A bit challenging at first, but absolutely organized!
posted (again) on fb. my earlier post from this a.m. had disappeared!
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…
The pantry police was just at my house and gave me a whopping pantry clutter ticket!! I think Nester sent them over. :)
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 :)
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 : )
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…)
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
Pretty organized, but mine is very deep and that is always an issue….
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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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.