Sunday, November 16, 2008

Cleaning Before and After ~ Giving Thanks

I will be cleaning and organizing my kitchen and dining room this week, since it's the messiest. Well, there's the linen closet, but we won't talk about that. ;0) Maybe if I'm feeling extra energetic, I'll get to that, too.
Spice rack
This spice rack over my stove, was a wedding present from my parents. It is in major need of dusting and I know for a fact that the ground coriander is 14 years and 5 months old.

Spice Rack
I will give everything a good cleaning and fill up the jars with fresh dried herbs and spices. Oh, and hopefully locate the missing jars in my pantry.

Canisters
I will also be cleaning and refilling my glass canisters. I will post "after" pictures later this afternoon.

Here are my "after" pictures...

Spice rack

Spice rack

Canisters

Canisters
All ready for holiday baking! Several of you asked about my canisters. I got them at World Market (Cost Plus), but I know Target has them, too.

Are you working on any cleaning projects today?

18 comments:

P. said...

I need so much to declutter and clean my spices. I have some too old, some duplicated... God knows.

Alfazema

Everydaythings said...

Kelli your spice rack story made me smile, as I got one for a wedding gift too from a friend, and some herbs just never get used, so after sitting in a jar for 28 yrs, when we moved I gave all the jars a spring clean and filled up only with herbs I do use. lol! I bet others so the same!

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

I want to work on my cupboard in the bathroom. It needs a good cleaning and organizing.

M.K. said...

Your "before" pictures look better than any "after" pictures I'll ever take :)

Anonymous said...

Even though I don't have a blog and can't participate like the rest of you....I am going to follow along and deep clean some of kitchen this week. I really need to clean my oven and the outside of my cupboards. Thanks for getting me motivated. Love, Debbi

P.S. Love the "Cornucopia" pictures. Gave me some ideas for nest year.

Heather said...

can't wait to see the "After" look!

Huskerbabe said...

Your spice racks looks so pretty there. And I think I have coriander in my spices too, but it's never been used. Hmm, what do people use it for? LOL
Where did you get your square glass jars? They would be so much more efficient than my round ones!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

I'm pretty sure I have spices that date back to wedding showers--which would be something like 12 years ago!:)

I love your storage jars in your pantry!! Pretty storage is so nice, isn't it?

Love Bears All Things said...

I love these big jars and they are so inexpensive. I'll show mine, later.
Mama Bear

Brenda said...

Since it's Monday, I'm going to need to just get caught up on the post-weekend clutter.
Brenda :)

GlorV1 said...

Oh you are just so darn organized. I wish I was organizing, but I've come down with a cold, so I'm coughing and coughing. Hey, you had a cold the other day, maybe I caught it here.:)) Take care.

Susie Homemaker said...

You are amazingly organized...I am hoping it rubs off on me...yet, here I am on the computer...HELP!

Susie

Anonymous said...

I love the big jars. Those would be perfect to keep in the pantry. I need to get my kitchen cleaned and organized before I even attempt to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

You always have such good ideas, and beautiful photos to share!

Thanks for doing Giving Thanks again this year. So fun!

Katherine

Jules said...

my friend has those same canisters. you did well on cleaning and refilling. :o) I've alreayd typed my post for tomorrow and that is what mine will be about. "before and after"

Marianna said...

Ikea is a good source for glass canisters too. I do have a question for you...do you reuse your jars or buy new ones each time you run out of something? I have a ton of jars, but am not sure if the bulk spices at Central Market or Whole Foods are a better price than just rebuying a whole new jar each time.

Kelli said...

Marianna, the spice jars are 14 years old. Since the McCormick brand tends to be expensive, I fill them up with generic brand spices and herbs. I like IKEA, too!
~Kelli

Kay said...

Kelli, Your spice rack looks great behind the stove but if you want your herbs to remain fresh and last as long as possible they should really be stored in a dry, dark cupboard. The light is going to change the color of the herbs and the heat and moisture from being next to the stove will deteriorate the herbs as well. You might want to consider moving the spice rack, or using it just for pretty and fill the jars so they look good and actually use the ones that you store in a cupboard. Also the life of herbs is about 9-12 months... I've got some oldies but gooodies too!