Organizing All My Couponing Finds

Today as I was putting away my Kroger finds, I was thinking about posting about how I organize my couponing finds. Then a friend of mine asked, "Where do you put all that stuff?" Here's the answer.

I will preface by saying that we have a great amount of cabinet space and two pantries in our kitchen. Plus I am a complete organization junkie so I get a lot of stuff in any space I have to work with.

Here is our refrigerator:

I love this refrigerator. I dreamt of it for years before we got it. It is a french door, freezer drawer on the bottom. It has a ton of space and storage options as all of the shelves are adjustable, pull out, and the top 1/2 flips up. I can pretty much fit anything in here.

I keep all of my condiments in the side doors as they don't have to stay as cold as other things. I like to group like items (ie salad dressings, sauces, marinades). It helps me to be able to find stuff and know if I need to pull something from the pantry.

This is my dairy and deli drawer. I love this drawer as I can lay flat things like eggs, yogurt, cheese, and deli meat in it. I like to keep 2-3 bags of cheddar and mozzarella cheese in the fridge as we use it frequently.

This is a drawer that I put stuff like Pillsbury products in so that they don't roll all over the fridge and potentially fall out. I just stocked up at Harris Teeter this week.

This is my veggie drawer. As you can see I forgot some things at Kroger in my Mega Deal craziness today. I usually re-stock my weekly fresh items on Sunday. I like to put the peppers in a ziploc bag as it keeps them fresh longer.

I keep my puddings, jellos, and canned fruits on this shelf as it is low so Luke can reach it. I like to put my milk and juice right up front so that I don't have to move anything around to get to it.

The other 1/2 of the bottom shelf is my canned soda shelf. I like to keep them in the fridge packs so they don't get knocked over or roll around and fall out. On the shelf above, I keep leftovers and meat that is thawing out.

This is the top pull-out drawer of my freezer. I keep ice cream and treats on one side and veggies and frozen entrees on the other.

This is the bottom drawer of the freezer. I keep all of my meat on this side. If you've read my previous posts, you will see how I prep meat for the freezer. I stack it using the FIFO method (sorry a little bit of accounting came out there).

I keep meals that I have prepped for the freezer on the bottom of this side. I keep cheese and bread on this side as well.

This is my "meal prep" cabinet. I keep broths, creamed soups, gravies, bread crumbs, onion mixes, and stuffing mixes in this cabinet.

This is my "baking mix" cabinet. I like to keep muffin, pancake, cookie, and brownie mixes in this cabinet.

This is my baking cabinet. On the bottom shelf, I have 2 sets of canisters that I keep all of my baking needs in. On the left side, I keep all of my flours and on the right side I keep all of my sugars. On the 2nd shelf, I keep other baking needs like yeast, baking soda, baking powder, chocolates, honey, vanilla, salt, and pepper. I like them where I can reach them. On the 3rd shelf, I keep all my back up flours. On the top shelf, I keep all of my back up baking needs (things found on the 2nd shelf).

This is the cabinet above the stove/oven. I keep all my oils and shortenings up there.

This is my cleaning and personal care pantry. I keep all of the backup cleaning and personal care items in here as well as my cleaning basket, 1st floor vacuums, brooms, and mops.

I put this shelf up over the doorway. I keep all of my paper towels here.

On the top shelf, I keep food storage and sponges.

On the 2nd shelf, I keep all our personal care items (hair care, shaving, body products, hygeine, medicines). I like to keep all of similar items in containers with lids. It helps me control the clutter.

On the 3rd shelf, I keep lightbulbs, air fresheners, deoderizers, and wipes.

On the bottom shelf, I keep cleaners and dish care.

This is my kitchen food pantry.

On the top shelf, I keep breakfast items and backup snacks.

On the 2nd shelf, I keep condiments.

On the 3rd shelf, I keep snacks.

On the bottom shelf, I keep pasta and rice products.

On the floor I keep drinks, potatoes, onions, and plastic drawer containers filled with various snacks.

In one 3-drawer container. We put salty snacks in the bottom drawer, sweet snacks in the middle drawer, and fruit snacks in the top drawer.

In the other 2 3-drawer containers we keep bars like Kashi bars, Fiber One bars, cereal bars, granola bars, and protein bars.

In my laundry room, I keep all of my laundry products (prewashes, detergents, softeners, dryer sheets). This helps so I don't have to run downstairs everytime I run out of detergent, plus I have this whole shelf so I might as well use it.

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of my cabinets, pantries, and laundry room.

I hope you can use some of these tips to help you organize. :)

Kroger Mega Deals 2nd Trip

I got all of this for $56.42. It would have cost $164.38. I saved 66%. :)

Here's the breakdown of how I got all of it:

4 boxes of CapriSuns - $2.11 each, on sale for $1.99 each, used 2 $1.00/2q (50c off each), 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $3.96 for all

8 Kraft cheeses - $3.89-$3.99 each, on sale for $1.49 each, used 3 $1.00/2q (50c off each), 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $4.92 for all

2 Parmesan cheeses - $4.99 each, on sale for $3.49 each, used 2 $1.00q, not part of Mega Deal - $4.98 for both (I needed these and they were on sale and I had a coupon)

2 2lb Velveeta blocks - $4.64 each, on sale for $4.29 each, used 2 $1.00q, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $5.58 for both

1 Toaster strudels - $2.69, on sale for $1.99, used $1.00q, 50c off (Mega Deal) - 49c

1 Cookie dough - $2.19, not on sale, used $1.00q, 50c off (Mega Deal) - 69c

4 Snyder's pretzels - $2.99 each, on sale for $2.49 each, used 2 $1.00/2q (50c off each), 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $5.96 for all

2 Ritz crackers - $2.99 each, on sale for $2.49 each, used 2 $1.00q, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $1.98 for both

2 Wheat Thins - $2.20 each, not on sale, used 2 $1.00q, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $1.40 for both

8 Goldfish - $2.18 each, on sale for $1.38 each, no coupons, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $7.04 for all

2 Pudding - $1.75 each, on sale for 99c each, no coupons, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - 98c for both

4 Mac 'n Cheese - $1.69 each, not on sale, used 2 $1.00/2q (50c off each), 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $2.76 for all

6 Granola bars - $2.49 each, on sale for $1.99 each, used 3 $1.00/2q (50c off each), 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $5.94 for all

12 Tomato sauce - $1.19 each, on sale for 99c each, used 6 45c/3q (dbld) (30c off each), 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $2.28 for all

2 Deli meats - $4.49 each, on sale for $2.99 each, used 2 $1.00q, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - $2.98 for both

2 Butter - $2.29 each, on sale for $1.49 each, used 2 $1.00q, 50c off each (Mega Deal) - FREE for both

4 cans Cream of Chicken soup - $1.39 each, on sale for 99c each, used 2 40c/2q (40c off each), not part of Mega Deal - $2.36 for all

Half of the coupons came from the paper and half were Internet coupons.

To find a more detailed run-down of what you can get and where to get the coupons, go to www.southernsavers.com. :)

Valentine's Day Gifts

I know that most of what you see on this blog is cleaning, cooking, laundry, organizing, and couponing, but that is just the logistics of my home. The heart of my home is to create an atmosphere that my family (especially my children) can create great memories. One of my favorite ways to make memories is by making holidays, even the little ones, special for everyone.

I like to cook special meals, give out treats, bake and decorate cookies, do crafts, and give small gifts. You can do all of these things without breaking the bank. I will be posting more on meals, treats, cookies, and crafts closer to or on Valentine's Day, but I thought I would share my gift idea for Luke (my 4 year old son) now, so if you like the ideas, you can get them before the holiday.

One of my favorite stores in the world is Target and one of my favorite spots in Target is The Dollar Spot. It's an area on one side of the store right as you walk in that has lots of small toys and other miscellaneous items for $1.00 - $2.50. I love that they usually have things related to the upcoming holiday.

Here's what I got for Valentine's Day for Luke:

- A cute gift bag (you can hardly find a plain gift bag for $1.00, so this is a great deal)

- A big heart-shaped lollipop

- A small box of jelly beans

- A Toy Story notebook

- Some Toy Story double-sided crayons to go with the notebook

All of this cost me $5.00 plus tax, but the excitement and happiness on his face Valentine's Day, and hopefully the memories these things will create for him, are priceless.

They had a ton of stuff for boys and girls of all ages there today. I would go before things get picked over. I hope this helps :)

My Top Ten Kitchen Must-Haves

Let me start this post by saying that I am not in any way trying to tell you to go out and buy all (or any) of these items. I know that setting up a kitchen costs a lot of money. If you do like or need any of these things, I would recommend talking with your spouse and checking out your budget and acquiring them at a pace that won't break the bank or upset your spouse.

My Top Ten Kitchen Must-Haves:

1) A good cutting board - This is a Kitchenaid that I got at Target for under $20. I recommend anything Kitchenaid makes as it is quality and will last you a long time. It's better to invest in quality than to have to replace a cheaper item more frequently. This one is great because it has grips on the bottom so the cutting board doesn't slip when you are chopping on it which is a great safety feature, especially if you are clumsy like me ;)

2) A good supply of measuring devices - I like to have a few different sized wet measuring cups. As you can see I have a plastic 4-cup, a glass 2-cup, and a great Pampered Chef 2-cup that measures dry and wet ingredients. I highly recommend Pampered Chef as they are high quality products. I also like to have a few nesting dry measuring cups. I got the red set for $1.00 at Target and it included 1-cup, 3/4 cup, 2/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, and everything from 1/2 tsp to Tbsp. It's also good to have a few tsp and Tbsp measuring spoons. I love these as you can measure any amount with the same spoon. It's great to have a lot of these so you don't have to waste time cleaning one set every time you need one.

3) A good pair of kitchen shears - These are great. They came in a kitchen knife block set that I got. You can just pick up a set without buying a knife set. They are great for opening packages, clipping the fat off of meat, and anything else that might require scissors in the kitchen. You can get a pair of these for $10.00 at Target.

4) A good Santoku knife - If you have ever watched The Food Network, you see chefs using these fancy looking knives. Let me let you in on a little secret...Kitchenaid has them at Target for under $20.00 for a set of 2. They work awesome. They are great for chopping anything from veggies to fruit to meat.

5) A good peeler - If you have ever made homemade mashed potatoes or needed to peel an apple, you know that a good peeler is essential. You only cut the peeling and it takes a lot less time than a cheap peeler or kitchen knife (unless of course you are like the deceased wife in Sleepless in Seattle). This came in a set of Kitchenaid kitchen tools, but you can get a peeler for under $10.00.

6) A kitchen scale - I bought this at Weight Watchers back when I was on my weight loss journey after Luke was born. I thought it was a great investment when I needed to weigh out my food to lose weight, but I soon found that it was awesome for weighing out meat or pasta so that I didn't use too much for a recipe. You can get a good digital scale for about $25.00 at Target.

7) A colander - You must have a colander in your kitchen if you ever plan to make pasta. You can get one of these at Target for under $15.00.

8) Lots of mixing bowls - I love having a lot of different sizes and types of mixing bowls. It helps when you are making a lot of food and you don't have time to keep washing and drying bowls. You can pick these up for as cheaply or expensively and as simple or fancy as you like. They have nesting bowl sets. They come in plastic, stainless, ceramic, and glass. I like to have a few of each.

9) A good set of cookware - Lee and I have a great set of iCook. It was expensive, but we had just gotten a bonus and Lee wanted me to have a nice set. A good set of cookware will last you a long time. It's good to get a set that is non-stick. It's great to have a small, medium, and large cooking pan and a small, medium, and large cooking pot.

It's also good to have some great bakeware. I recommend non-stick bakeware as well. I like to have a couple cookie sheets, a couple 12-cup muffin pans, a roasting pan, a bread pan, a square pan, and a casserole dish.

10) A microwavable cooking dish - Lee actually had this when we got married. It's from Pampered Chef ($10.50). I love it because I can toss in some veggies and throw it in the microwave for a few minutes while I am finishing up the rest of the meal.

What I Learned When Selling our House - Repost from My Other Blog

As most of you know, Lee and I are selling our townhome and building another home on contingency. I have learned so much about real estate, houses, interest rates, mortgages, equity, and contingency contracts, but more importantly I have learned a lot about better home management practices and patience (which is something I always feel that the Lord is working on instilling in me).

Things I Have Noticed that Have Helped in Home Management:

De-clutter: I have never been a person that is big on clutter, but I realized through cleaning out our townhome and storing about half of our "important" belongings for over 3 months, that we don't need (or even want) as much stuff as we have. Luke has been living on a few bins of toys (about 1/4 to 1/3 of what he is used to having, not to mention big things like his train table and basketball hoop). I do have to say it has made me realized what stuff I really desire to have (my books, my scrapbooking supplies, and my elliptical machine). At least we are going to have twice the space when we move, but I am definitely going to re-think all of the stuff in storage.

If you get something out, put it back: It sounds really simple that you shouldn't leave stuff out, but how easy is it to not put all the dishes away (or even wash them in a timely manner, but that's another point) or just leave shoes and bags by the door? I know before my house was on the market and things had to be immaculate I would leave stuff until the next day or meal. It is so nice to have things cleaned up and put away. I have been unloading the dishwasher so that dishes don't pile up which is proving to save me a lot of time and energy, plus it just looks a lot nicer. I have been putting the laundry away right out of the dryer, which saves time and frustration over wrinkles. It is really nice.

Make the beds first thing in the morning: I used to do this every day, but I had gotten a little slack before we put the house on the market, but now we have to do it. It looks nicer and makes the bed feel better at night. Luke has been working on doing his as well. I think this is definitely a habit I would like to keep.

Swish and swipe bathrooms and kitchen everyday: Before we leave the house for the day I have been wiping down the bathrooms and kitchen (I do the kitchen after each meal and snack as well). It just makes it so nice and clean feeling.

Vacuum every other day (or at least twice a week): It sounds really hard, but this really keeps the floors looking great. I even use the hose to do the kitchen and bathrooms.

Turn on ceiling fans and open the blinds in the morning: It brings light and fresh air to each room. I never did this before, but it makes a major difference in the feel of our home. I really like it.

Take out the trash every day (or at least every other day): This keeps it from overflowing and/or smelling. I love having an empty (or at least not full) bin when I go to put stuff in it. It keeps things running smoothly.

Do 1 load of laundry to completion every day: It keeps it from piling up and keeps you from having to re-wash or iron clothes since you wash, dry, and put them away promptly. This is another habit I am planning to keep.I know these things sound a little wacky, but since I have been implementing them, I have not once had to freak out when I have a showing or think I might have a showing. The house looks immaculate and smells clean. I love it. I also have not had to do any deep cleaning since things don't ever get really dirty. I am really going to try to keep up with these things when I move into my new house.

A lot of the ideas presented here are also available through a highly recommended system called FLYLADY (www.flylady.net). If any of you have any other ideas on how to keep a house running smoothly, please let me know.

Fish 'n Chips

Ingredients for Chips:
5 baking potatoes
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Directions for Chips:
Peel the potatoes - I peel them on a paper towel so that I can toss the peelings faster ;)

Cut them into similar sized strips

Toss the potato strips with olive oil, salt, and pepper and lay on a cookie sheet in an even layer.

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour (tossing occasionally).

Ingredients for Fish:

1 lb tilapia (or some other type of white fish), cut into 3-in pieces

1 egg

Bread crumbs

Salt

Pepper

Olive oil

Put aluminum foil on baking sheet, rub with olive oil, and bake in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes.

While the pan is heating up, set up the tilapia pieces, beaten egg (in a small bowl), and bread crumbs, salt, and pepper on a small plate.

Dip the tilapia into the egg.

Dip the fish in bread crumbs.

Bake the tilapia at 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Flip. Bake for 5 more minutes.

Here's the finished fish:

Here's the finished french fries: