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Kitchen Pantry Organizing Ideas Part 2
Hey there! I am back with more kitchen pantry organizing ideas that will help you get your kitchen in tip top shape! You can go back and check out part one here. The first post that I did focused on the upper half of my pantry which houses canned goods, pastas, condiments, etc. The bottom half of hour pantry hold chips, crackers, snacks, and other miscellaneous items.
The bottom cabinet is where we keep chips and crackers. I try to go through and clean it out regularly, so we don’t end up with a bunch of bags of half eaten chips. I also try to keep unopened bags in the back, so the opened bags get eaten first.
I used the same labels for the bottom half of the pantry as I did in the upper half. They are from Amazon and I really like how simple and clean they are!
Above the cabinet where the chips and crackers live is a drawer where we keep lunch items. Since the drawer is a pretty good size, I like to use small bins to keep like items together. This makes it easy to find what we are looking for when packing lunches. And by the way, I absolutely love using smaller bins in any drawer to keep smaller items together.
Right above the large drawer, are three smaller drawers that are perfect for holding smaller items. Each drawer holds a different category of items and I try really hard to keep it that way. This drawer holds items like bacon bits, sardines, tuna fish, etc.
Another of the smaller drawers holds packaged spices that will not fit in my spice rack. The third drawer (not pictured) holds granola bars and oatmeal packets.
And there you have it! I organized the pantry in a simple way that didn’t cost a lot of money and I hope it inspires you to do the same!
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Simple Bathroom Organizing Ideas
Recently, I asked a lot of people which room in the house is hardest for them to keep organized. Everyone’s answer was the same… the bathroom! I honestly believe this is because we live in a world of creams, gels, and sprays for every hair and skin problem known to man. So, my first piece of advice is to clean out your cabinet and drawers and simplify your beauty routine. Once you have thrown out anything that is expired, or doesn’t work for you, it’s time to organize.
I absolutely love these storage bins from Target. I discovered them a little over a year ago and I think they are fabulous. I have an average size bathroom cabinet and six of them fit in there perfectly. The best part is they are very inexpensive!
The thing that is great about using these bins and this storage system, is that you can group like items together. As I mentioned before, I have six bins and they each hold one of these categories of items: make-up; facial products; body products; hair products; travel products; and miscellaneous.
This system is a great way to know exactly where an item is when you need it. If you are ready to put on make-up, just pull out the make-up bin. When it’s time to go to bed and you want to do your nightly skincare routine, pull out the bin that holds your facial products. Once you use an item, put it back in the bin where it belongs. This system has been working for me for the last year and I highly recommend giving it a try!
Another positive to using a system like this is it makes it easy when you do your shopping. When making your shopping list, you can easily see what you have, or what you don’t have.
If you try this system, or another one like it, I would love to hear what you think. I would LOVE to connect with you over on Instagram and Facebook. Just search Heather Loves Home! I hope you enjoyed these simple bathroom organizing ideas!
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Kitchen Pantry Organizing Ideas
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Having an organized pantry is one of the best feelings you can have when it comes to your home. If I’m being honest, and you choose to only organize one area in your home, it should be the pantry! Having an organized pantry makes it easier to meal plan, make your grocery list, and eat healthy. If you are looking to make your life just a little bit easier, check out these kitchen pantry organizing ideas.
We do not have a traditional pantry in our home, so we had to make space in our kitchen cabinets for one. This area actually turned out to be the perfect spot because the small drawers are perfect for holding small items. Of course, the first step to organizing any area is removing all items and starting fresh.
One thing I have slowly been doing over time is purchasing containers to hold sugar, flour, pasta, etc. The ones I bought are from Walmart and I love them! They come in different sizes and have a lid that locks to keep contents fresh. I am glad I invested in these and will use them for a long time. Now that I have the containers, it is time to label them.
When I saw these labels on Amazon I knew they were exactly what I was looking for. I labeled all of the containers and now they look neat and uniform.
Don’t they look nice? I am pleased with how they turned out and now there will be no more getting the flour and powered sugar confused! Believe me, that is one mistake you do not want to make with your french toast! Ha!
Now the only thing left to do, is fill the pantry back up. There are four shelves in the pantry, so I tried to group similar items together on each one. As you can see here, I put rice and pastas together on this shelf.
On the bottom shelf, I grouped together the items we use the most which are soups, broths, and sauces. The next shelf holds the rice and pasta, the third shelf holds condiments and other items we don’t use as often. And last, but not least, is the top shelf which holds everything I need for baking.
This is one project I am glad to have complete. I will be sharing part two soon showing how I organized the bottom half of the pantry. I hope you found these kitchen pantry organizing ideas helpful!
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Simple Christmas Kitchen Decor
The kitchen is the heart of the home; especially, at Christmas. There is always a lot of hustle and bustle in the kitchen with all of the baking, cooking, and entertaining. That is why I like to keep my Christmas decor simple by adding a few festive touches around the room.
I usually keep my normal decor out and about through the kitchen and then decorate around it. All of the decor I am currently using is the same decor I have been using for the last several years. It is the perfect simple kitchen Christmas decor.
The hood over the stove is my favorite thing to decorate in the kitchen. My sister-in-law made the wreath a couple of years ago and it always has a place front and center. Decorating with pretty greenery is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas and I hope to do more of it in the future. The Merry sign is from Home Goods and I love the pop of gold against the white.
A Christmas kitchen isn’t complete without a Christmas coffee bar! I spend a lot of time in this area of my kitchen, so I want it to be pretty and festive. I use the ornament cookie jar to hold my coffee pods, which is really convenient. And, what about the snowman mugs? Those came from Dollar Tree and they are the cutest! Coffee tastes better when you drink if from a cute mug!
My kitchen island got glammed up a bit with a pretty vase and some pretty Christmas floral stems. This is budget decor at its finest because I already had the vase and the stems came from Dollar Tree. It really does make a big impact though.
And of course my favorite movie has to get some love in the kitchen! This adds a fun touch and keeps the decor from feeling to formal and fussy. Plus, I had to throw in my favorite Christmas mug that I love to drink my morning coffee from.
There you have it, my simple Christmas kitchen decor. I hope you enjoyed the tour and this inspired you to decorate your kitchen for Christmas. Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive, or complicated. Just decorate with what you love!
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Elegant And Festive Christmas Table
I know I say this a lot, but this is my favorite Christmas table I have ever done! I knew I wanted the table to be a little more elegant than the rest of the house, but I wanted it to be festive at the same time. One of my favorite things about Christmas is bright and cheerful Christmas decor; however, sometimes I like for my decor to have an elegant touch as well. Here is my version of an elegant and festive Christmas table!
Here is my naked table except for the new table runner I found at Walmart. It is a creamy neutral, so it can be used year round, but I love the texture that it adds. Plus, it keeps the table from feeling too formal.
This black ribbon is also from Walmart. I am a big fan of using small amounts of black even when decorating for Christmas. I put a strip right down the center of the runner and love the mix of casual texture with a dressier ribbon.
These floral stems are from Hobby Lobby and when I saw them I knew I wanted to incorporate them into my table centerpiece. In the past, I have used a lot of what I already had, but this year I decided to change up the florals a bit. I am so glad I did!
The wood piece with the bottles came from Kirklands several years ago and I have used it every Christmas. This part is so much fun and it’s nice to let the creative juices flow. There is no perfect or right way to arrange the floral stems. It is all about what looks good to your eye, so just have fun!
One unexpected thing I added to the centerpiece were ornaments that I found at Walmart. They are so pretty and add a little something extra. There are three ornaments, so I tied them to three of the bottles.
And here you have it! I think it came together so nicely. I love the mix of gold and red and the pretty script on the ornaments.
I used gold, silver, and white ornaments as a filler in the wood piece. I have never been one who likes to use things that go perfectly together. I like mixing old and new with casual and elegant.
Christmas trees are my favorite Christmas decor, so I had to incorporate them into my table decor. These came from Walmart and they are the perfect height for the table. I also placed each one on a mirror to help reflect light and add to the elegance of the table.
On Christmas Eve my family is going to gather around this table to eat dinner, laugh, and play games. I hope they look at this centerpiece and it brings them joy! I also hope that it inspires you and brings you joy!
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Red And White Christmas Tree
This is the first time I have ever written a blog post about our Christmas tree, so it is long overdue. Our tree has pretty much looked the same for the past few years and I am changing it up next year, so I thought this would be a good time to give you an up close and personal look at it. We have a red and white Christmas tree because I like traditional Christmas colors. Plus, I think the red and white are so festive!
Most of the Christmas decor in our home is red and white, so the tree fits right in! We also use some black, silver, and gold to mix it up a bit. We’ve had our tree for several years and I really like it, but I would like something a little taller in our great room and I am even considering do a flocked tree next year.
I absolutely love this ornament! It is by far my favorite because this is what Christmas is all about. It hangs front and center on our tree as a constant reminder. This is such a busy time of year and when I lose sight of what matters, I just look at this ornament and it gets me in the right frame of mind for the season!
A lot of my ornaments are from Walmart and the Christmas tree skit is from Walmart as well. It is soft and has a great texture and adds another pop of red and white. As you can see, I even wrap the gifts in red and white paper!
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. This is another favorite ornament of mine. I believe it also came from Walmart. It is so pretty and is another great reminder to slow down and enjoy the little moments during the holiday season.
Red, white, silver, and gold look so pretty against the lights as well. I love the tree most at night when it is lit up and the fireplace is going. It creates such a warm and cozy environment.
How about that bow Christmas tree topper? It is a black, white, and red plaid and I like how it makes the tree look not so formal. I really enjoy decorating our tree every year and I hope you have enjoyed looking at it. I said this might be the last time I do a red and white Christmas tree, but who knows, maybe I will do it again next year!
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Brussel Sprouts With Bacon
There are a lot of people out there who do not like brussel sprouts, but I promise you will LOVE these! It took me a while to get these just right and now that I have, I want to share them with you. Now, who’s ready for some brussel sprouts with bacon?
Here is what you will need:
- Brussel Sprouts (I use the bag from Costco)
- Bacon (I use the real bacon pieces)
- Onion
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
This is one of those recipes where you don’t do exact measurements. It is all about getting the brussel sprouts to the taste and consistency that you want.
The first thing I do is finely chop the onion. I love the flavor, but I don’t want large chunks mixed in with the brussel sprouts. Also, I typically don’t use the entire onion. Usually about three quarters of it is good enough for my taste buds.
Next, cut the brussel sprouts into quarters. If I use the bag of brussel sprouts from Costco, I use about half of the bag. If I use brussel sprouts from Walmart, I use the entire bag since it is smaller.
You will then take the olive oil and cover the bottom of a pan with it and turn it to medium heat. Add the onion and about half of the bag of bacon to the olive oil and sauté until the onion is tender.
And now, it’s time to add the brussel sprouts! I always add plenty of salt and pepper and stir often. I cook them until they are nice and tender.
These are so good and make a great side dish to go with chicken, fish, or beef. They are also perfect for Thanksgiving dinner! Let me know if you try them. I would love to know what you think!
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Easy Cheesecake Dessert
There are so many delicious flavors when it comes to cheesecake. You can get plain, chocolate, turtle, raspberry, strawberry, chocolate and peanut butter, and so many more. One of the only downfalls of cheesecake is that it can be time consuming to make, but that is about to change right now! Check out how you can make this easy cheesecake dessert that will be a hit at your next party!
When I discovered the Philadelphia Cheesecake No Bake Filling everything changed for me. I absolutely love cheesecake, but it isn’t something that you can quickly and easily whip up, until now. There are so many different things you can do with this filling. You can use a regular size pie crust to make a cheesecake, you can crush Oreos and mix it in the filling and then put it in an Oreo pie crust, or you can just eat it plain! My new favorite thing to do is to get the small individual pie crusts, so each person can top it with whatever they like.
It’s like a make your own cheesecake bar. You can fill the individual pie crusts with the filling and then your guests can top it with whatever they like. You can use chocolate chips, Oreos, raspberries, strawberries, peanut butter chips, whipped cream, nuts, and so much more. This is just a nice way for your guests to personalize their cheesecake and make it what they like!
This is a perfect dessert for parties, showers, potlucks, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. You gotta love how quick and easy it is and there is no cooking or baking involved. You literally buy the ingredients and then sit them out in pretty dishes and they are ready to serve! My family has even done this for a weekend dessert because we have a hard time agreeing on one cheesecake flavor.
And there you have it! An easy cheesecake dessert that will be a crowd pleaser at your next get together. If you try this, please let me know what you think. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Heather Loves Home email list!
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Classic Christmas Sitting Room
I am a big fan of classic Christmas decor. I love the reds and the whites and the greenery. When you put those three things together it feels so cozy. It reminds me of exactly what Christmas should be. When I decorate our sitting room, it is important to me for it to feel cozy and inviting. It is the room right off the kitchen where friends and family gather; a classic Christmas sitting room.
The greenery with the red berries came from Hobby Lobby and I placed them in a vase I already had. This is the same vase I used with my fall decor, so it was easy to switch out the stems. I also used the pinecones with my fall decor and decided to keep them out through Christmas.
One of my favorite things in our sitting area are the small windows. Every year I hang a wreath on them and this year I added the banner that says merry and bright.
Last year, we put our tree in this area, but this year we opted to put it in the great room. I miss having a tree over here and will probably get a small one for next year.
I even added some Christmas cheer to our desk using a vase I already had, some berry stems, and vase filler. Small, simple touches like this can make a big impact.
And of course, I couldn’t forget my favorite Santa Llama pillow. I found it at Marshall’s last year and thought it was adorable. All of these traditional items look nice together and really add to the classic Christmas feel.
This room is always a favorite of mine to decorate; especially, during the holidays. It is a bright and cheerful spot to sit and relax with a cup of coffee, or to sit at the desk and work. It definitely looks like a classic Christmas sitting room. And, I’ve already decided, I definitely putting a tree up in here next year!
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Foyer Winter Wonderland
I have always decorated for Christmas using a lot of color. I especially like to decorate with traditional colors like red. Last year, I made the foyer look bright and cheerful. This year, I decided to change it up and go a different route. I made our foyer into a winter wonderland.
Everything I used I already had. Normally, the white decor would be mixed in with the red decor throughout the house. But this year, I put all of the pretty white together to make a winter wonderland.
Collecting Christmas trees that are different shapes, sizes, and colors is something I have been doing for a few years now. I’m really glad I tried using them all together this year. I even mixed a couple of green snow covered trees in. It is different than anything I have done before and I love it!
When I see something like this come together it is a reminder to always try new things around the home and when decorating. It’s easy to want to do the same thing every year, but sometimes you’ve gotta mix it up and see how different decor pieces work together.
Now I’m ready for a good snow so the outside will match the inside! While I really don’t think I will ever do an all white winter wonderland through our entire home, it was fun turning our foyer into one. The three flocked trees on the log are my favorite. They remind me of being out in the woods on a beautiful snowy day!
Have you turned your home into a white winter wonderland? If you have, I would love to hear about it. You can follow me over on Facebook and Instagram and share photos of your white Christmas decor. In the meantime, stay warm and cozy!
Heather Loves Home Blog
