A Herb Garden of Many Varietals....

So I asked for herbs for Mother's Day (instead of flowers...)which have patiently sat in their purchased containers on my front deck for over a month.....waiting, waiting, waiting for someone to decide where/how to plant them. For awhile I thought I would get a strawberry pot (highly available when you are NOT looking for one!) but then gave up my search! Then I came up with the idea of using some wine crates I had laying around. These were the perfect destination for my fresh garden of seasoning....moveable and fashionable!!!
I stained each crate with mineral oil (which is safe to ingest by the way - instead of those other stains on the market) and filled them with dirt, chalked full of MIRACLE GROW!!! (which probably isn't safe to ingest!! LOL!!!)
Then I simply transplanted my herbs into three different boxes....I still left some room in the last box, because I want to pick up a couple more (oregano, mint & dill) so I needed a little space to plop them in.

Here are my pots that I did this year....
I wanted lots of green with a little splash of white to them, so I filled them with Hostas, Ivy's, Coleaus and White Snap Dragons. I also found this curly spiky plant that added some great texture!

Love the crispness and freshness of everything right after a spring rain!
Ready to welcome SUMMER with arms wide open!
~MWAH
Bootybella

A Spicy Re-org...

And now to tackle that hideous "SPICE CABINET".....
Listen...I am going to spare you the confusion, disgust, and trauma that a photo of the "before" would have given you!

I am just going to cut to the chase - long story short - THESE are the containers that used to house my many spices!!! They would fall all over you when you opened up the cupboard, IF you could get the lid off without ending up with spices all over you, you would be pissed to find out that you were completely out of chilli powder whilst the chilli was simmering on the stove, awaiting it's last ingredient!!! Something HAD TO BE DONE!!!!

These are the AWESOME Tupperware containers that the spices are GOING to be in!!!

I used my handy-dandy Dyno Labelmaker and clear Dynotape to make the labels, trimmed them and put them onto the containers.

Filled the containers with the coordinating spices and ta-dah!!! No more mayhem!!!
Off to prepare a spicy dinner!!!
MWAH~

Basket Labels How-To...

In my last post I showed you these baskets that had labels hanging off them for my pantry organization project. In this post I will show you my simple method of assembling them.
What you will need for this project:
Labels - go here to purchase mine or make your own
A Laminator (Walmart)
Laminating Pouches 4x6 Size (Walmart)
Scissors (Your house probably!)
A Medium Round Hole Punch or Crop-a-dile (Michaels)
Paper Cutter (Michaels)
Small Black Zip-ties (Walmart)
Black Baskets (Dollarama)

The first thing you are going to do is print off all of your label on regular 8x11 printer paper. I used white because I didn't want anything affecting the final color of the labels.

I then cut them into squares, then I cut them out individually around the label. Good time to note that you may want to pour yourself a little cocktail and turn on the "Bachelor Canada" and enjoy the next while of therapeutic cutting!

Next, take your cut out labels and place them into the laminating pouch. I used the Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches 4x6 size and got four labels comfortably into each pouch.

After your laminator has heated up to proper temperature, feed the laminating pouch containing four labels through it. I don't know if this really makes a difference or not, but I let it rest for about 10 seconds when it comes out and then I re-feed it through for an additional seal?!?! I have never had anything come apart on me yet.

Now you are going to want to use a paper cutter to make straight and evenly measured labels. My finished label cards were 3.5 inches wide and 2.5 inches high.

Next you are going to take your hole punch and punch two holes, one on either side of the top swoop in the label.

You will then take a black zip tie and feed it through the hole, connecting it to the basket, and zipping it up to secure. Repeat on the other side. Your label will now be secure to your basket.

Now you are left with the excess pointy zip tie poking up - simply slide it so that it faces the inside of the basket and clip it off.
Now all that is left is for you to fill your baskets up!
MWAH~

What's In YOUR Pantry?

So I have been on a mission to organize my pantry (or the Bomb Shelter as my dahling hubby refers to it as)into a state that he has NO choice but to conform to the impeccable organization of each and every piece of it!! This has become a weekly chore of "straightening out" the disarray that it has ended up in because he continues to just toss stuff WHEREVER!!! I got a little carried away and personalized baskets and carried on into my spice cabinet so I will be posting three consecutive posts to break it down a little!
So ladies and gents, please let me introduce you to what "Tupperware" meets "Dollarama" meets a little "CREATIVITY" can do for you....

Welcome to my pantry! I got this wreath at Homesense about two years ago - I love love love it!!!! Spilling with olives, artichokes & pears with many hues of green, I think it screams..."Come In..."

Can you hear that????? Ahhhhhhhhhhh - that is "Organangelo", the organization angel singing his utmost praises to this immaculate pantry!!!!

This is the top two left hand side (LHS) shelves! The modulars are from Tupperware (I hosted a party and earned a lot for free, but did shell out some of it) and I purchased the little black baskets at Dollarama (3 for $2). The modulars house loose ingredients (i.e.: flours, sugars etc.). The baskets house things I want easy access to that are self contained (i.e.: jello, seasoning packets etc.). I will show you how I assembled the labels for the front on the baskets in the next post.

Second from top shelf on LHS - Major "go-to" daily use modulars...

Second from bottom shelf on LHS - all my baking supplies (chipits, nuts, etc) and oils.

Bottom shelf LHS - home of my "must-have" Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer for easy-peasy access, breakfast supplies, crackers, popcorn seasonings and snacks.

Here is a close up of our popcorn seasoning basket - it it great because when we have movie nights, you can just grab the whole thing and bam - they are all together for your choosing!

Floor bottom LHS - my bag-o-recycled-bags, my onion bin and my potato bin (both Tupperware - vented so contents don't spoil as quickly.

Floor bottom right hand side (RHS) - this area won't normally be so "POP-CONCENTRATED" - there was a great sale on these and we were having a party so stocked up! This area will be refurnished with large baskets that will hold my tupperware containers that I will use to put leftovers in the fridge or freezer (one for containers, one for lids. Convenient easy access!

This is the RHS bottom shelf - it is home to my morning routine of COFFEE!!!! There is our Costco K-Cup Box, along with a basket that holds other ground coffees. To the right of it is our film/foil station. To the left - other powdered bevies...including the hubby's "Workout Protein Supplements"(whatever is in them?!)

This is the second and third from bottom RHS shelves - I recently had these "soup shelves" added into my pantry, as well as the very top shelf on both the LHS and RHS of the pantry for additional shelving space! It has made a world of difference!
Right now the bottom soup shelf is holding Jaxon's baby food in the jars, as well as baskets at the end with his snacks and rice cereals. This really makes it easy to see what I have for stock and what I am running low on (currently NOTHING at the time of this photoshoot! LOL!!) The main shelf holds canned goods like pasta sauce, cheese whiz (don't judge me!)jams, jellies, salad dressings and boxed products. PLEASE NOTE* These are all UNOPENED, as they are not shelf stable once the seals are cracked!

Baskets containing Jaxon's snacks and rice pablum...

Middle shelf on RHS - baskets in the corner containing snacks and sides...soups and all canned goods, followed by my collection of Epicure Seasonings tucked into the far right corner...

These baskets hold stuff I "shouldn't" have in my pantry probably...but do! Cookies, candies, pre-done sides like rices and noodles, oh yah...and the healthy granola bars are tucked way back in the corner!!! Might need to re-visit this set up!

Second from top RHS shelf holds all of our cereals - Tupperware containers keep these fresh with pour spout tops.

And finally the top RHS shelf with stuff that I don't need all that often...excess garbage bags, excess Ziplocs, gloves - stuff I need to call the hubby to help me reach!

I put a couple hooks on the wall on the LHS to hang aprons off of...for a quick grab!

I simply love this apron my girlfriend sent me in the mail - "Chefabella" - how fitting!!

Well, that's it folks - hope you enjoyed a little sneak peak into my secret obsession of ORGANIZING!!! Stay tuned for my spice pantry re-vamp and learn how I am going to tackle my fridge and freezer!
MWAH~

Recipe Card Dividers Tutorial...

So those that know me know I am a recipe junkie!!!! I have recipes collected from my grandmothers to my mother to friends from near & far. I also love to play with recipes and alter them to create wonderful yummy concoctions to please my palate!!
But I have struggled with how to "organize" all my treasures!!!! And then I found these...



I have purchased 4 (yes...four...as I said I have ALOT of treasured recipes!!!) for my project. I print all my recipes on 4x6 recipe cards, so these tins are the PERFECT FIT!!!!

This tutorial will teach you how to make some amazing recipe card dividers that will have your recipe box gasping in sheer excitement!!!!

We will start off by talking about some of the products you will need to make these beauties....

A Scotch TL901 Thermal Lamintor - awesome investment!!! My DH bought this for work, but I have scooped it up and totally earned it's value back ten fold!!!! We got it at Wally World for $35 - best price we could find around!


1-2 packages of Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches (20 pouches per pack - 5mil - 135x185mm) - I found these as well for the best price at Wally World at approx $5 per pack...


One package of velum paper and my pdf of "The Ultimate Recipe Label Collection"...


DSP packs...I used two of these to complete this project, but keep in mind I made ALOT of dividers...


Word Window Punch (SU), Making Memories Chocolate Brown Paint, & Make Up Applicator Sponges...
You will also require adhesive (I used my PINK ATG gun which worked marvelously!!!) and a pack of recipe card dividers (I picked mine up at the Dollar Store for $1 for a package of 50! Smokin' deal!!!)


LET'S GET STARTED: Place adhesive on one side of recipe divider card. I did two cards per 12x12 DSP piece. Place them on one edge of DSP, butting right up on top of each other. Once adhered, use exacto knife and trim them off DSP.


Flip your recipe divider card over and run adhesive on the unfinished side, lining up on the excess paper from your DSP sheet...


If you haven't done so already, turn your laminator on to heat up. I recommend with this laminator to change the Heat Setting Switch to 5mil from the regular 3mil setting, as these are thicker objects going through your laminator...


Trim the excess DSP from around the recipe divider card...


I then took a chocolate brown paint and some make-up sponges (these are cheap and work great for edging!!) and applied a quick coat of paint to all edges of the recipe divider - it antiqued it up a little!!! It also helps to cover the edge of those nasty cream colored divider cards from the Dollar Store!!! LOL!!!


Finished altered recipe card dividers.....



Place your altered recipe card divider into the laminator slip...Next you will have to take the categories that you print out on velum or card stock (I used velum as I liked the finished look it gave my projects!) and the Word Window punch, and punch out your category title. Carefully place this on the top tab part of the recipe divider (I chose not to adhere these down as you can see the adhesive through the velum - it just sealed it in place when I laminated it! - If you are using regular card stock you can definitely adhere to divider!)


Feed the lamination sheet, sealed side first, into the laminator and watch the magic begin...


Coming out of the bottom of the laminator...


When it comes out of the laminator, this is what it should look like...carefully trim the excess with an exacto knife.


And here is the finished product!!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and I would love to hear everyone's feedback on this project.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me via email at bella013175@hotmail.com
MWAH!!!