Simply Organized - The Pantry

 Our pantry wasn't crazy bad, but it was bad enough that it wasn't easy to put groceries away each week after going to the store. I knew when the water and Gatorade were still on the floor next to the pantry that it was time for a little organizing.

Before

First, let me stay that I really like our panty. I have had everything from deep pantries to no pantries over the years. I definitely prefer shallow pantries. It's hard to lose things in a shallow pantry because you can pretty much see everything that is there.

The best way to organize a pantry is to keep it simple.

Tips for keeping pantry organization simple:

 - Don't feel like you have to have a Pinterest worthy pantry. Uniform containers for everything instead of boxes are pretty, but not realistic for our family. I could have purchased baskets that all matched, but it really just isn't that important to me. I just want our pantry to function well. (There is nothing wrong with matching baskets and containers if that is your thing.)

-Take everything out and group like items together. (Ex. drinks, breakfast foods, canned goods, sweets, dinner items, snacks)

- Check those dates and discard anything that may have expired.

-While everything is out, give the shelves a good scrub.

-Corral small things in baskets or containers so that they are easy to find and put away.

-Put everything back in a way that makes sense for you and your family.

- Label the shelves/baskets/canisters so that everyone in your family knows where things are supposed to go.

The green floral pattern in our pantry is wrapping paper that I put up with tape 3 years ago. I didn't want to commit to paint, and this is still working out just fine. It wasn't necessary, but I do enjoy the nice pop of color and pattern.

There isn't a good way to store bread and chips in our pantry, so I keep two large baskets on top of our fridge. One for chips and one for all of our bread items. It works for us.

What kind of pantry to you have? Do you find it hard to keep organized or do you have a system in place for everything?O


linking up with: iheartorganizing

Home Sweet Home - Free Printable

 I have a free printable for you today.

I made some updates to our front entryway and needed something to frame. I decided on  "HOME sweet HOME".  Henry says it more like, "HOME WHEAT HOME", and it just melts my heart when he does.

It is available in two color options.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!


 *All printables are for personal use only. Right click on the image to save to your computer, and then print wherever you have your pictures printed. This one prints best as an 8 x 10 or smaller.

Henry Turns FIVE

Henry has been FIVE for a whole week. I am still trying to wrap my head around this.

He has changed so much this past year. He has gone from wanting to be a baby, to wanting to be a big boy.

We went bowling Friday night as a family, and then had a small family get together with grandparents, and aunts and uncles on his actual birthday. I was sick the whole week of his birthday, so that made it kind of interesting. My MIL came to the rescue and helped prep the food.

His favorite things right now are fishing, Lego Juniors, weapons, Alabama football, and movies. The boy still likes his movies.

Why Carry Grace?

 I have been blogging since 2007 about all kinds of things at Nikki's Nacs. I have mostly blogged about things that are related to DIY, home decor, my kids, homeschooling, and homemaking.

At the beginning of 2015, I thought I was done blogging. I started the year off with big plans for the blog, but after one organizing post, and one meal plan in January, I just felt done. I have always enjoyed blogging, but was really okay to be done.

I was sitting in church during a Wednesday night service, and the Lord dropped the words, "Carrie Grace", in my heart. I was all, Whoa! What?. You see, Carrie Grace, was the name we had picked out in case we ever had a little girl. We are done having babies, so I wasn't sure what to think. I sat there a minute, and then asked, what does that mean? I know we are DONE having babies!

I just sat there, and then I heard (not in an audible voice, just in my heart), Carry with a "y".

I then knew that it was the name of a new blog. Carry Grace.

Being and wife, mom, teacher, and homemaker can be hard, but it doesn't have to be. I can hold on to His grace in the midst of the everyday stuff.

The things I blog about will still be very similar to the posts at Nikki's Nacs, but I hope to also be here to encourage you in your journey as a wife and mom.

 I am planning to move some of my posts for Nikki's Nacs to Carry Grace, but I haven't decided exactly how I am going to do it. I may tweak and revamp some as new posts, or they may show up in the archives. I'm pretty sure it won't be a quick, all at once, kind of thing.

I am glad that you are here, and hope you stick around. 

Give Thanks - Free Printable

Thanksgiving is just a few short days away. I'm sure most of you that are hosting Thanksgiving this year already have your home decked out for Thanksgiving. Your house is probably super clean and you have just a few things left to mark off of your TO DO list. I also know that some of you are waiting until the last minute to get your junk together. I created a Thanksgiving Printable for those of you that need a last minute something to decorate with. You know you should be finalizing your menu and grocery list instead of trying to craft something from scratch. Just have this printed and stick it in a frame.

To Get Your 8 x 10 Print - Download Here

 *For Personal Use Only

That's What He Said - Deer Leg?

I should be kicking myself for not starting this sooner. Cade and Henry say some of the funniest things, and I really want to remember them. I didn't write down all of Cade's funnies because I thought I would just remember, but that really isn't the case. I forget, and I don't want to forget. There have been a few that stick out in mind from the last few weeks, so It's time to just start.

Me- what do you want for lunch? 
Henry- not PB crackers. I want a SANDWICH...with no PB, and no lid. Just jelly. 
 Me- do you want it toasted? 
Henry- yes Me- so you want a piece of toast with jelly on it? 
Henry- yes  

This one is actually from today. Cade and Henry were playing nicely together. No yelling or fighting, just fun imaginative play. Cade built them both pretty impressive looking guns out of legos and tinker toys. They were on some kind of special mission when I heard this.  

Henry -  It's time for lunch, I think we'll have chicken and a DEER LEG. I think I'll have salsa on the deer leg.

 

  Easter 2014

I am so blessed to be their Mommy!

Henry Turns FOUR

My sweet Henry turned 4 today.

He has been really excited about his birthday for a few weeks.

I have been a little bit sad.

If you know Henry well, you know that he likes his sippy cup full of milk. He also frequently asks for me to hold him like a baby while he drinks his milk. He told us several months ago that when he turned 4 he wasn't going to drink from his sippy cup anymore. The night before his birthday I asked if I could hold him while he drank his milk. He of course let me, and I cried like a baby thinking about my baby not being a baby anymore. He woke up super excited about his birthday. He also requested his milk in a big cup, and said he wasn't kidding. That boy!

He put on a birthday hat and had a cupcake for breakfast before church. He was REALLY excited about church today. Turning 4 means moving up to the next class. He will now have a memory verse to memorize like big brother, and earn Bible Bucks. This is a big deal to this little guy. When we got out of the car he looked at me and said, "I can run with Cade now, because I'm 4!" I wasn't far behind him, and heard him announcing to all of the ushers and our Pastor on the way in that he was now 4! All of our family came over for lunch and cupcakes. We had fun celebrating his big day with everyone.

He took charge opening gifts. Then it was time for cupcakes. I took this opportunity to snap some pics of the birthday boy with everyone.

 

Sweet boy!