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7 Easy Ways to Organize Super Messy SNACK Cabinets and Pantries

January 21, 2015 by Jenni 1,500 Comments

organize snack cabinets

7 easy ways to organize snack cabinets and pantries!

Do you have to close your eyes and brace yourself when you open up your snack cabinets or pantry door? Does stuff come flyin’ outta there and poke you in the eye? Shew! Glad I’m not the only one. Living in an old farmhouse, you’d think I had plenty of cabinet space, but I don’t. I don’t even have a flippin’ pantry. If I had a pantry, I’d live in it. You wouldn’t be able to drag me out of it!

Sooo, upon perusing Pinterest and Amazon I found some really cool ideas. Some that I think are life-altering genius. The other night, I literally pulled everything out of my cabinets and started a “pitch” fit. I think I filled 2 whole trash bags of stuff to dump and/or donate. It was like 9:15ish or so at night. The husband comes into the kitchen as I’m wollering this stuff all over the kitchen floor – and he just turns and walks out the door. I would have turned and walked out if I were him too!! I always start these projects late at night. Why?! I don’t know.

 

organize snack cabinet

1. Toss the boxes and the bags. I Heart Organizing shows us how she created more space in her cabinets with this method. There are several other awesome reasons to do this, including portion control!

 

 

organize snack cabinets

2. Use shoe organizers. I loved this idea from Money Saving Queen! Perfect for pantries and cabinet doors. In the comments on her post, I saw a reader mentioned that if you can find a shoe organizer with space in the rows between the pockets, you can easily cut them and attach on the inside of cabinet doors so that when the door is shut, the pockets with stuff inside doesn’t bump up against the shelves, for a perfect fit.

 

 

organize snack cabinets

3. Use open front stackable bins. Find out how A Proverb’s Wife got hers from the Dollar Store. This is such a space saving idea and I love how clean it keeps the cabinets. It also forces you to do tip #1 (toss boxes and bags!). Woot.

 

 

organize snack cabinets

4. Use all the space in your cabinets wisely! Do you have a lot of empty air space at the top of your cabinets? Use metal or plastic cabinet shelves to create more space to store things above and under. When I realized this, I almost felt stupid for not thinking about it before.

 

 

organize snack cabinets

5. Canisters. These are a great alternative to bins for many reasons. They’re pretty to look at and it’s easy to see what’s inside. You can consolidate lots of similar things in canisters for instance oatmeal packets, granola bars, fruit snacks. Individual bags of chips, crackers, cookies, etc. I found these clear glass canisters on Amazon but you can also find some at your local dollar stores or Walmart.

6. Label, label, label. These chalkboard labels are realllly cute! They’re great to label bins and canisters which is super helpful when you’re ready to organize snack cabinets and pantries. I love being able to see things quickly and clearly!

 

 

organize snack cabinets

7.  Hanging chip clips! These are GENIUS! Keeps chips fresh yes, but the genius part is that you can hang these in your pantry, leaving space on shelves for other things. The only hanging ones I’ve seen are these Rubbermaid chip clips from Amazon.

 

Don’t miss these other helpful household tips:

  • How to Organize a Small Closet on a Budget
  • Ways to Reuse Diaper Wipe Containers
  • Ways to Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles
  • Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans
  • Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags

 

Do you have tips on how to organize snack cabinets or pantries?
Please drop us a comment….we’d really love to hear!

 

Filed Under: Featured, Organizing, Thrifty Household Tips Tagged With: Household tips, Kitchen, organization, organize

13 Perfectly Useful Ways To Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

February 22, 2013 by Jenni 2,096 Comments

Coffee Creamer BottlesCreative Ways to Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

 

I’ve been on a lightning streak lately with ways to reuse some perfectly good containers vs. throwing them in the trash. If you use creamer in your coffee then you probably go through a lot of coffee creamer bottles. Here are a few really cool ways to reuse them instead of throwing them out! Here are some awesome ways to reuse coffee cans too!

 

Coffee Creamer Bottle

Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles In the Kitchen:

Makeshift sports bottle. This is another way I use mine. With the flip top lids, they’re easy to drink from and fit perfectly in my fridge!

Store dry cereal or the Baby Goldfish Crackers. These little bottles are great to throw in a diaper bag and the cereal or crackers don’t get crushed like they do if you just use a baggie!

Store sugar or cinnamon. Having the easy pour spout on the coffee creamer bottles makes it easy to add a little sugar to your coffee or cereal without having to drag the bag of sugar out. I keep mine by the coffee pot! Keep some cinnamon in another one. Great to pour out into a measure spoon when cooking.

Homemade Creamer. If you make your own coffee creamer, reuse your creamer bottles to store it in.

Homemade Dressing. Same as above…if you make your own dressings, add a label to a bottle and store your dressing. Easy pouring onto a bed of pretty greens!

Keep chocolate chips in. If you bake a lot, then you probably always have chocolate chips on hand. I hate when the bags tear, so you use a creamer bottle and pour them out as needed.

 

In the Bath and Utility Room:

Keep homemade laundry detergent. If you make your own detergent, use one of these bottles to store it in. It’s perfect with the easy pour spout and the smaller bottles will fit nicer on the shelf than a big ole’ bottle. If you’re going on vacation, this is the perfect size to take too. Just enough if you have to do your own laundry while gone!

Epsom Salt. If you add some Epsom salt to your bath water, keep a small creamer bottle full next to the tub.

Shampoo or Body Wash. A lot of people make their own shampoo and/or body wash. You can store yours in these bottles. Also, if you buy the bulk size containers, it’s much easier to refill these bottles than man handle the giant bottles in the shower!

 

Kids and Crafts:

Make Bowling Pins. Fill 10 creamer bottles up with water, sand, or gravel. Set them up and let them go bowling in the yard!

Music Shakers. Add rice or beans to a bottle. Perfect music makers for your little ones!

Store Glitter. If you use a lot of glitter when crafting, store your glitter in the smaller creamer bottles. This way you can have better control over how much is being used.

Store Glue. If you’re a major crafter or teacher, you might buy glue in bulk containers. Pour some over into a smaller creamer bottle for fun projects. Just label accordingly.

 

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful. If you have any other fun ideas about how to reuse coffee creamer bottles we’d love to hear them. Just leave us a comment below! Here are some other tips that you might find useful. Some reader favorites are:

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

Filed Under: DIY Ideas, Money Saving Tips, Thrifty Household Tips, Thrifty Thursday Tagged With: coffee creamer bottles, Frugal Tips, Household tips, recycle, recycle coffee creamer bottles, thrifty tips, ways to reuse coffee creamer bottles

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

February 18, 2013 by Jenni 1,561 Comments

plastic recycling

Plastic Recycling – Reuse your plastic grocery bags!!

 

No. I’m not a master at plastic recycling or any other kind of recycling but I do try to find ways to make the earth a wee bit greener and cleaner. At our house, we do this by doing some plastic recycling and reusing our plastic grocery bags. When you have drawers and cabinets throwing up plastic bags you kind of tend to find ways to reuse them. Like I said, I’m not an expert recycler but I do try and I think that counts for something!

When I come home from trips to the grocery store, I keep all of my plastic bags. Well, at least the ones that didn’t have a leaky package of meat – yuck! I roll them all up and shove them into a drawer (which is slap full at the moment) and reuse them for many different things. If you find yourself overflowing with plastic bags, you might find these tips useful too. Plus you can maybe start your own journey to recycle with these plastic recycling tips!

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

1. Makeshift plastic gloves – easier way to handle raw chicken or other meats. I have a serious issue with touching raw meat, especially chicken. I tend to use a fork to flip meat or move from package to skillet or pot. I use the plastic bags to pick up the meat, flip the bag inside out and pitch in the trash or the “scrap” bowl to be thrown outside. We live in the country so the wild critters appreciate the leftovers!

2. Produce peelings – While in the kitchen I also re use plastic bags to put produce peelings in. I just lay the bag flat on the counter and peel into the bag. Then I can either throw the bag into the trash or you can take to your compost pile outside.

3. Unmatched socks – In my utility room, I keep a plastic bag hanging from a shelf to keep unmatched socks in. When it gets full, I empty the bag and match any and leave the unmatched ones in the bag. Hopefully those will find their mates soon!

4. Quick pickup – Use a plastic bag to pick up trash through the house daily. Just make a quick sweep through the house and pick up trash and throw in the bag to pitch. Works great for toys too. Throw toys in the bag as you’re making a quick walk through the house and dump in the kids’ room! This is a super useful plastic recycling tip! I do this EVERY single night!

5. Plastic bag crafts – Did you know that you can make all sorts of fun things with plastic bags? Check out this book called Bags to Beads: Recycle plastic grocery bags into gorgeous beads. You can also knit plastic bags into AWESOME things!! Here’s a book called Eco-Friendly Knits: Using Recycled Plastic Bags (Twenty to Make). I also found this tutorial on how to make a reusable shopping bag from plastic bags!!

6. Fill flower pots – If you fill up flower pots halfway with plastic bags you’ll use much less dirt. I do recommend also using gravel, rocks, broken up bricks or blocks to partially fill them too. Water would have a harder time escaping if you use only plastic and could cause mold and/or water log your plant roots.

7. Knee pads – Wrap a couple or 3 plastic bags around each knee. It’s perfect padding for those DIY projects and garden work outside.

 

Reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recycling

8. Wrap your paintbrushes – If you’re in the middle of a paint project, wrap your wet paintbrushes up in a plastic bag to keep them from drying out. I just open the plastic bag, stick the paintbrush into it and then twist the bag tightly around the handle It’ll stay moist for 2-3 days or longer depending on the humidity level outside.

9. Make a doggy bed – Fill a pillowcase with plastic bags to make your pooch a nice pet bed! You can put velcro on the end so that you can empty the bags out when the pillowcase needs a washing.

More plastic recycling tips…

10. PooPoo scooper – Keep plastic bags handy to pick up your pets doo doo from the yard. Stick a plastic bag in your pocket if you’re taking your dog for a walk in the neighborhood to clean up their mess along the way. You can also reuse plastic grocery bags to clean out your kitty litter pans to dump!

11. For dirty diapers – I know this is probably an obvious plastic recycling tip, but I’m sure there are some people who still use those diaper disposable bags from the baby section at the store. Plastic grocery bags and even bread bags work just as well and you don’t have to pay for those!

12. Car sickness and car cleanup – Keep some plastic grocery bags handy in the car. They’re great to keep hanging around your gear shift to throw fast food bags, trash, and bottles in vs. just throwing them in the floor board – like most kids do! Also, you never know when you or one of the kids might unexpectedly get car sick!

13. Packing materials – If you ship stuff out regularly or even once a year, reuse plastic grocery bags as packing materials vs. buying bubble wrap or packing peanuts. It works just as well!

14. Makeshift Umbrella or rain hat – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this! Use a plastic bag to cover your head if you can’t find your umbrella. If you can find your umbrella, you can use a plastic bag to keep your wet umbrella in the car!

15. Trashcan liners – Here’s one more obvious plastic recycling tip but I just had to include it. Reuse plastic grocery bags to line your small bathroom or office area trash cans. This is a pet peeve of mine. I can not stand to see a bathroom trashcan without some kind of bag in it. Just grosses me out!

16. Winter shoe covers – If you’re going out in the show and don’t want to get your feet wet, cover them with plastic bags. It keeps your feet nice and dry. I usually pull the bags up to just under my knee especially if the snow is very deep. Obviously, if you have rain boots that would work too but for those who don’t…this is a great idea in a pinch!

17. Keep mud and wet grass out – This is one of my favorite plastic recycling tips!! Keep some plastic bags outside on your patio or porch. In the summer months, mud and wet grass tends to get tracked inside if you’re doing gardening or mowing the yard. If you have to run inside for a split second, throw some bags over your shoes to keep from tracking it all in. My husband HATES taking his shoes off and on in the summer when he’s going in and out. This trick works great for him!

18. Yard or Garage Sales – Keep some bags handy to put items people have bought into for them to easily carry. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a yard sale customer pay for something and walk off with an armload of stuff. Much easier for them if they have a bag to carry it all in. PLUS…as the day gets later you can pass bags out to customers and say, “Fill a bag for $3” just to get rid of what’s left!

19. Separate dirty clothes when traveling – If you’re traveling, pack a couple of plastic grocery bags to keep your dirty clothes separated from your clean ones. They’re also great to pack shoes in so you don’t get any dirt from your shoes onto your packed clothes.

20. Use to insulate old window frames – We live in a very old farmhouse. The windows are not the original farmhouse windows BUT they’re still OLD windows. We use plastic bags to fill the gaps to keep cold air from creeping in. Just use a butter knife to shove the plastic bags into the gaps. Works like a charm!!

 

reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recycling

 

reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recycling
Hold plastic bag length wise and use a butter knife to shove bag into the gap. You want it tight so no air can squeeze through.

reuse plastic grocery bags - plastic recyclingPush the plastic bags in as far as you can so they’re not so visible. I used a brown plastic bag so any extra wouldn’t be so noticeable. You can barely see it now and when I push my curtain back in place, it’s not visible at all. It’s February now and I can feel cold air coming in where I haven’t added the plastic bags. Where the plastic is, I feel nothing!! My dining room is the draftiest room in the house so I’m happy that this works!

21. Thrifty party balloons????? – Okay ya’ll. This was my husband’s idea. I know better than to ask him for ideas but I did anyway and this was the one he came up with. He also suggested adding cheap LED lights to them to make them fun for night time. I have to give it to him….that’s pretty original. He also mentioned using them as parachutes for  G.I. Joe action figures. What can I say? Boys will be boys and men will be boys – most of the time!

If you have any other ways to reuse plastic grocery bags or other plastic recycling tips, please leave a comment! We’d love to hear them!!! If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my other useful and thrifty household tips! Some reader favorites are:

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

Into Green Cleaning? Try the New Heinz Cleaning Vinegar!

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reuse plastic grocery bags – plastic recycling

Filed Under: Money Saving Tips, Thrifty Household Tips Tagged With: 21 ways to reuse plastic bags, frugal, green living, Household tips, plastic recycling, recyle, thrifty tips

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

May 23, 2012 by Jenni 1,911 Comments

Photo Credit:  Findavet.us

If you have pets that go outside regularly then more than likely, they have encountered a flea or 2…or 2000!  I have a Rat Terrier dog, named Pepper, who has had her fair share of flea encounters!  If you’ve had trouble with them, then you know how miserable it is for the poor pooches so I’m here to tell you how to get rid of fleas – the natural & thrifty way!

We live in the country where fleas are abundant!!  I usually associate the word abundant with GOOD things, but fleas are – well…the pits!! We’ve tried all of the medications, shampoos, pills, and sprays known to man to help us get rid of fleas, but they kept coming back.  I would even give her her monthly dose of “down the back” medicine a week early and it still didn’t keep them at bay!


I started doing some research and found that there is a little household staple that works in getting rid of fleas and I decided to give it a try. Within a week, she was FLEA FREE…literally!!!  Apple Cider Vinegar! Yep…that’s it!  Now, I will say that since we’ve been doing this (which has been for about 3 months now) I still see a flea or 2 every once in awhile when she’s been outside but they don’t stay on too long.

Fleas can’t stand the smell or taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar, however,  for humans vinegar is a natural remedy for many ailments…some even say for Cancer!

Side note: check out this Health book on the Benefits of Vinegar…it’s crazy what all vinegar can do for our bodies!!

Personally, I use about a teaspoon a day of Apple Cider Vinegar added to Peppers food.  You can also add it to their water, but I tried that and she wouldn’t drink it so I just started putting it in her food daily.  Also, I have a small spray bottle that I add a 50/50 mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water to.  I use it to spray her down sometimes before going outside to keep those little buggars from jumping on her.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is very good for many other reasons…check out how I clean with vinegar!  Getting back on track – if your dog has skin that is too dry or too oily, this will help in balancing the PH in their skin!  It’s also great for dogs who suffer from arthritis or even dust mite allergies.  When you give them a bath, put a drop or 2 in their ears and it dries up any excess water which can cause ear infections.

Extra piece of advice.  If your dog has fleas bad enough that you’re finding them on your couches, in your carpet, or in your bed – lightly spray those areas with the mixture I mentioned above. After the sprayed areas dry, vacuum really REALLY well. Take your vacuum away from the house immediately AFTER you’ve vacuumed and dump the filter/canister so the fleas don’t get back out and any eggs don’t hatch.  I recommend doing this EVERYDAY or even a few times a day until you see less and less, then eventually none!

If you’re tired of paying all those high prices for Flea medications and shampoos that just aren’t working…give this a try.  I think you’ll have success like I have!!  Be sure and let me know if this works out for you!

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Miscellaneous, Money Saving Tips, Pet Deals, Thrifty Household Tips, Thrifty Thursday Tagged With: All Natural remedies, Flea control, fleas, Heinz Vinegar, Household tips, Miscellaneous, thrifty tips

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Double Duty Divas Mom It Forward: Contributor

the chick behind this blog! I'm your ordinary, everyday wife and mom to an incredible pair of stinky guys! I am a self diagnosed coffee addict with a ginormous sweet tooth, preferably baked goods!! My hope is to help you, teach you, and entertain you on your way to a more thrifty and frugal lifestyle! Along the way, you'll find awesome recipes, great tips, and tons of randomness! We have loads of fun, so ya'll come back now, ya hear?!

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