This weekend, I decided my pantry was in need of a little tune-up, so I decided to turn it into a photo tutorial for you.  


Here is our starting spot.  It's been about six months since I re-did it.  Yeah, I know I have a lot of junk food - don't judge!  Even though I label the shelves and try to keep order, everyone always just shoves stuff in wherever there is room.  Typical guys!


This is the upper section where I keep most of the basic staples and items for side dishes.  





On the bottom, there are drawers where we keep our soups and all our little snacks and goodies.  They're even more of a mess because the kids get in there and shove stuff all around when they're looking for something or when they're putting the groceries away so they can move onto something more fun like video games.





Here is my starting point - rather than clear out large areas, I start with just one section of one shelf.  I just take everything out and put it on a shelf or a chair, just to get some breathing room.  Then I start sorting stuff out and grouping it by type.  It's important to put like with like so you can clearly see what you have and where to find things.  Also, once you get things stacked up and put away neatly, you'll find a lot of additional space.  


This is about the halfway point, which really only took me about 10-15 minutes to get this far.  See I have all my staples and boxed items stacked up, all my spaghetti and beans are neatly stacked in my little bin and see how much clear space I have and how easily I can see things.


I also threw out a lot of out-of-date items and combined a few things that were in multiple containers.  All my baking supplies are up on the top shelf, all my spices and soup mixes are all organized and it's just nice to have so much room and visibility.


My snack drawers are all sorted out and organized, so the kids will be able to find items to pop in their lunches, and we can see what snacks need to be replenished when we go shopping.


Total time spent - about 30 minutes, and it was so worth it.  I love that feeling of aaahhh when I open up the pantry and see all that empty space and have everything all organized.  


Come back again soon for a fresh dose of Clutterbugs.  If you'd like to see more posts on the subject, you can click on the Label below for a complete list of posts.  



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Wow, I didn't even realize I was going to be guest posting today.  I'm spouting forth over at In Be-Tween Moms about the importance and benefit for showing appreciation for your teen (works on husbands too, or really just anybody!). C'mon over and have a look.  This is a great forum for teen parenting run by my friend Melissa Smallwood.  





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One of my friends who read my blog reminded me that I've overlooked something fairly major in my life lately.  My husband had surgery a couple of months ago - rotator cuff surgery.  I'll tell you, this is about the worst surgery I've ever heard of.  


Most surgeries you have, you're pretty sore for a week or two, but then you're able to get up and around pretty well after that.  I mean, I had two C-sections with 9 and 10 pound babies, and I still was able to take care of myself, a newborn baby, my husband and our pets in about a week.  But shoulder surgery like this is a whole different deal.  He had his surgery in mid-October and I think it was nearly Christmas before he was able to even use his arm for even the slightest thing.  You have to be sling-bound pretty much 24 hrs a day for about the first 8 weeks.  


I sort of thought the doctor was kidding when he told us that before the surgery.  Just imagine taking your dominant hand and arm and strapping them to your side.  Now you don't get to use them at all for the next two months.  For anything.  No, not ANYTHING, not even a little sneak to pick up a french fry or balance your cereal bowl.  Someone (guess who?) gets to help you shower, dress, put your shoes on, open your pills, fix your meals, drive you around, just about everything!  


Even better, you can't lay down.  For months.  Literally.  The poor guy has spent the last 3 months sleeping in the recliner.  This weekend was the first time he was able to sleep laying down for more than 2 hours.  I tried to sleep in the recliner once when I had bad heartburn.  It was pretty comfortable for about the first 3 hours, but after that, I wanted to lay DOWN.  I can't imagine how he did that one.  Fortunately, I realized BEFORE the surgery that our recliner had a right-handed lever - oops!  We managed to find a La-z-y Boy Sofa on Craigslist with a recliner on each end for a whopping $30 bucks!  It's butt ugly and pretty worn out, but it's been a lifesaver.


Then there are the exercises.  The only way to get the use of your shoulder back is to do these horrible, painful exercises - six times a day starting the day after surgery.  I wouldn't wish that on a dog!  Even now, they have him lifting weights every day.  A whole 2 pounds and he can barely lift it, but that's all the therapist will let him do.  


They say he's going to be able to go back to work in a couple of weeks, but I think it's still going to be a part-time, very limited situation for a while.  We're just lucky they've managed to hold his job open.  He works as a the only welder at this tiny little company that makes truck bodies, but they've been really good about it and have kept his job open all this time.  

Plus we've had a lot of help from our friends and neighbors.  I've had to work most of the time through this whole thing, so we've had friends and family who have provided meals for us, helped with his therapy, driven him to appointments, etc.  Our son even moved back in to help us with all the stuff Tony can't do - lawn moving, snow removal, carrying heavy things around, etc.


There have been some benefits to having him home all the time though.  Once he got his sling off, he's been doing most of the cooking and some of the cleaning.  I managed to guilt him into wrapping almost all the Christmas presents.  He's been able to make Blake do his homework when he gets home from school.  And once he could drive, he's been able to run a lot of my little errands for me - bank, post office, etc.  


But on the other hand, it's kind of like retirement - half as much money and twice as much husband!  I think he's picked up a major TV addiction.  I swear he watches that thing for about 20 hours a day - mostly reruns of old shows, and reality shows like Pawn Stars and Pimp my Ride.  Even when I was on maternity leave, I managed to do a ton of stuff and take care of a newborn baby besides.  Oh well, guess it's a guy thing.  


The weird thing is that we don't really know how he even hurt himself.  I think it's a combo of work, bowling, moving furniture and stuff around the house, and working in the yard.  He's always digging up sprinkler lines, or trimming trees or some darn thing.  It's a wonder he doesn't hurt himself more often!  


Word of advice - take good care of your shoulders.  Warm up well before sports, and watch yourself on ice.  Just like when you buy a new brand of car and find out everyone else is driving it, we've met dozens of people who've had this surgery and some who've even had it in both shoulders - ick!  Oh well, we're almost through this and hopefully, he'll take better care of himself in the future.  He'd better, or next time he is going to be a rotator cuff/lobotomy combo surgery!  




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Every once in a while, I run across an article that is really worth sharing with you.  I've mentioned before that I am not a Costco fan.  I know there are some savings to be had there, but it just isn't for me.  I never once when in there when I didn't spend at least $100-$200 in addition to my regular grocery budget and I had no willpower to resist the movies, books, clothes, and other goodies to be had there.

But I've always wanted to research it and actually PROVE that it isn't as good a deal as everyone says it is.  I've just nevre had the time to do it.  However, this blogger did a great job of researching dozens of items and proving exactly which items were better or worse deals.  If you are a Costco shopper, you definitely want to have a look at this article over at SquawkBox.

Stop by on Thursdays for my Smart Money posts.  To see additional posts on the subject, click on the Smart Money link below for a complete list.  


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Just after Christmas I got an invitation I was really excited about.  My local bloggers group was sponsoring an event at our local El Pollo Loco.  Well, it's not exactly local for me, it's in Lehi, which is about 20 miles from me, but what's a bit of a drive for some good food?  

When we lived in California, El lPollo Loco was one of our favorite places to eat and we've missed it.  So when they invited us to enjoy a delicious complimentary lunch with a great group of our blogger friends, I was there.  I even begged to bring my husband because he's missed our trips to El Pollo Loco too.  


This is my darling friend Kathy from Danish Mama with her two cute kiddos.  


This was my husband's first blogger event and he thought it was hilarious when we all whipped out our cameras when the food came.  I told him it was kind of a rule in the blog world to take pictures of your food so you can blog about it.  I don't care if he thought it was funny, this was a meal worth taking a picture of.  I had the dark meat special with the corn cake and the best sweet potato fries ever!   I also had the flan for dessert which was done just right, very sweet and creamy.  I'd forgotten how good their chicken was - it's done in a special fruit juice marinade that makes it delicious without all the fat of frying - you don't find something this yummy at the Colonel place!


Tony dutifully took a picture of his meal too.   He went the traditional route with a 3 piece chicken, rice, beans, salsa, and tamales.  He gave me a bite of his tamale.  I didn't think to order one.  I haven't had one since our friends used to make them for us for Christmas - yum!


 I'm kicking myself because I didn't think to grab a picture of the two of us while we were there.  The closest we got was a closeup of my fancy New Year's nails - gold 'n silver. 

Tuesdays are the best day to visit El Pollo Loco because KIDS EAT FREE on Tuesdays.  Kids 13 and under get a free kids' combo with every regular combo you purchase.  That's a great deal and they usually have some special activities for the kids on that night also.  Last week, they had Karaoke Night.  You don't get that at that "Golden Arches" place - ha!  And did I mention the big screen TV with kids movies?  That'll keep 'em happy!  If you want to bring your sports team, they can even watch their game replay on the big screen TV's.  This is a fun place!

If you're looking to have a fiesta any time soon, they cater as well.  I know my friends would enjoy a nice El Pollo Loco spread and I'll bet yours would too.  It's muy delicioso!


I'm hoping that they will be able to open more restaurants soon - hopefully closer to me.  But for now, the only one is this one here at 88 N. 1200 E State in Lehi, right in front of the Costco.  C'mon down and check it out. 




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I am guest posting today over at In BeTWEEN Moms where I share my method of turning your teen into a smart shopper.  It may be the best lesson you've ever taught them.  Pop over and check it out.




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