MeckMom.com

Sorry for the delay guys.  My kids had Spring Break last week so it was tough to get to my computer.  I’ll try to post a few times this week to make it up to you.

Like most stay-at-home Moms, I spend a lot of my day in my kitchen – planning, prepping, cooking, cleaning, – it’s a non-stop cycle.  As much as I love to cook, I’d much rather spend my time somewhere else.  Like taking my kids to the park or watching 24, for example.  Consequently, I try to incorporate lots of little organizing tricks to help me minimize clean-ups and maximize functionality.  This week I’ll be posting a few of my favorites.

So let’s start with the kitchen cupboards.  Here are a few tips to keep your cabinets cleaner and more functional.

Lazy Susans: Those of you who have been readers for a while might remember that I love using these little spinning disks in my fridge.  They work great for a cabinet as well.  I use this one to hold all the cooking supplies I use daily (olive oil, salt, pepper, etc.).  The Lazy Susan helps keep everything within reach and make clean-up a snap.  I simply pull out the entire thing when I need to clean out the cupboard.

Sticky-proof Baskets: Don’t you hate when you reach for the syrup or honey and the bottle sticks to the shelf?  So do I!  Since training my kids to wipe down the bottle after each use seemed a bit unrealistic, I opted for the next best thing – a cheap little basket to catch the goo.  Now, any drips that wander down the bottle end up in the plastic basket – not on my cupboard.  Plus, when it starts to get too sticky I just throw it in the dishwasher for a quick clean up.

Clear, Plastic Containers: When it comes to cabinets, excess packaging is a real space waster.  If you’ve got certain dry-good supplies you buy on a regular basis (like the baby formula pictured here), you should invest in a few of these handy containers.  Not only do they help you keep things neat and organized, but you’ll always know when you’re running low.

I know these ideas seem pretty simple, but that’s the beauty of them.  They’re not hard to set up or maintain and I promise you they can make a big difference.  You can find all these organizing supplies at your local WalMart or kitchen supply store.  More to come soon.  Just thought I’d pass it on.