Honestly, I don’t see a big problem with this.  The fact of the matter is that I rarely use most of the items that are back there – like the fragile glass salad bowl we got for our wedding or the trio of cheesecake pans I purchased years ago.  In my opinion, you should focus your organizing efforts on areas that get the most use and not stress over the spots that are rarely seen.  That being said, it is important to make things accessible.  After all, every now and then we have company over and I have to pull out the glass salad bowl for Sunday dinner.

One way I’ve found to simplify this process is to add inexpensive tap lights to the insides of my lower cupboards.  It’s amazing how much easier it is to find what I’m looking for when there’s a little light to guide my way.  Just being able to see the back of my cupboard without pulling everything out helps a ton.  For one thing, it helps me remember what I have – so when I’m trying to think of what to make for Sunday dessert I can check the pans cupboard and remember how many different dessert options I have.  Secondly, it helps me actually use what I have – because when the belgian waffle maker is easy to spot and easy to put away I’m much more likely to pull it out and whip up some scrumptious waffles for breakfast.  Finally, it keeps me from over-spending – because when I actually can see how stocked my cupboards are I’m far less tempted to buy the latest kitchen gadget.

I found my cheap tap lights at Wal-Mart.  I bought a pack of 4 for around $2.  I used 3M command adhesive strips to attach them to the ‘ceiling’ of the cupboard.  After using them for a few weeks, I ended up moving them down to the upper wall of the cupboard so I could see and tap them a little easier.  I’ve also upgraded to the LED-style tap lights (available at WalMart, Target or the dollar store).  They’re a little more expensive but they take far less battery power so you end up saving money in the long run; especially when you’re toddler discovers how fun tap lights are to play with.

Remember, the benefits of instant lighting aren’t limited to the kitchen.  They’re great for all your dark organizing trouble spots – like in the bathroom cabinets, under the backseat of your car, or under your kids beds.  I’ve got them stashed all over the place.  They’re simply a great way to keep things organized and under control.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

Not one to give up on my new-found dishwasher freedom, I decided to simplify the task.  I pulled out my labeler and went to work.  I labeled everything from the inside of the drawers to the shelves in the cupboards.  In areas where multiple things are stacked together (like the pots & pans cupboard) I placed labels on top of each other to show which items go on top.

When the kids came home from school I gave them a little walk-through on the new system and followed it with a pop quiz.  I pulled out a bunch random kitchen items and asked them to use the labels to figure out where everything should go.  It took them a few attempts, but they figured it out eventually and managed to earn their ice cream cone prize.

I’ll admit it, my cupboards look a little OCD at first glance but it can’t tell you what a difference it has made in my kitchen.  My kids (and husband) are TONS better at putting things in the right locations and I never have to waste time digging through my drawers.  It’s not perfect system – but it’s a huge improvement.

Want to try this idea in your own house?  Well, I’ve got the perfect tool for you – a brand new Brother P-touch 1010 Labeler for one lucky commenter.  I gave the P-touch 1280 (pictured at right) a try earlier this year and I’m a big fan.  I had been using a Dymo handheld for a few years but the P-touch was much easier to work with and produced a much better label.  If you’re in the market for a new labeler, I definitely recommend giving the p-touch series a try.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below and tell me what you’re dying to label.  I’ll choose a winner at random at midnight on Friday night (April 10th) and post the results here.  The shipping is free.  Thanks everyone.  Good luck and happy labeling.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

*This giveaway is now closed.

AND THE WINNER (randomly chosen by the iPhone app iChoose) IS COMMENTER #10, DEE.  Thank you to all of you who participated.  I’m thrilled to see that you all love labeling as much as I do.  More great giveaways to come soon.

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.

Recently I got a great question from April regarding my many charts.  She wondered where I stash my charts in order to keep them accessible without making things look cluttered.  Although the fridge is a tempting solution, I like to reserve it for things like my Kid’s Weekly Planners and their current homework.  Consequently, I have to stash my other charts and lists elsewhere.  My favorite stash spots?  The inside of my kitchen cupboards and doors.

For example, the picture above shows the inside of the cupboard door nearest to my fridge.  On it I keep my Mom Game Plan, my Stash Box Challenge sheet, a pack of post-its and a clip of quick-reference school sheets (like the lunch menu, and the school calendar).  I’m not crazy about taping things to the inside of my cupboards and doors, so I use removeable hooks to hold things in place instead.  When used in combination with small binder clips they’re an inexpensive, flexible way to keep everything close at hand.

I use the same basic solution on the inside of my pantry door as well.  Here the clips and hooks hold things like this ziploc bag of clipped box tops, the kid’s lunch boxes, and my Reuseable Grocery List.  As for your question regarding the Picture Job Chart, April, I keep that one on a similar hook inside the hall closet door.  When Saturday morning rolls around I grab the chart from the hook, adjust the jobs, and then post it on the outside of the pantry door for easy viewing.

So there you have it, April.  By keeping my charts and lists in these hidden stash spots around the house, I’m able to keep everything accessible without adding clutter to the public areas of the house.  It’s a simple, cheap and easy way to keep things organized and out of view.  Just thought I’d pass it on.

First off, I used a magic marker to write the first letter of the spice on it’s lid. Then, I divided the spices into 2 groups (A-K and L-Z). I bought these cheap containers at Wal-Mart and labeled them with a magic marker.

Now, when I need a spice I just pull the whole bin onto the counter and find the first letter. Usually I can find any given spice within a few seconds. It’s not perfection, but it’s tons easier than maintaining a full alphabetical system and takes much less room in my cupboard. Plus, when I’m done, I just toss the spice back into the bin and put it back in the cupboard. Anything that allows for a quicker clean-up is a keeper on my list.   Just thought I’d pass it on.