chalkboard spice jars ... ♥

i've been bitten by the organize your life bug

:)

i love when it's a new year

cause it's reason to start fresh & throw junk out

i feel like my word for this year is 

simplify

not that that's official or anything

well maybe it is since i just typed it?

i yearn for simple

i yearn for peaceful

a more organized home

so that my time is spent with my family

spent doing things i love to do

and not spent looking for the paprika

which i need for the dinner i'm making right now that's burning on the stove cause my spices are a heaping mess in the pantry then all fall out of the bucket cause i'm looking for the paprika which happens to be at the bottom of this bottomless bucket of spices other expired things

really ... you think i kid

i do not.

this is what we're starting this project with ... a few buckets of heaping confusion

everything looks like paprika when you're in a rush to find it

(what is paprika anyway? does it really do anything??)

(besides make things red?)

to get this act together i used half-pint mason jars

spray paint the lids with Krylon chalkboard paint (joanns)

and i painted the rings with Rustoleum 2X coverage in aqua

(not a necessary step in the whole organizing process)

(necessary step for cuteness factor process)

(plus it matches the polka dots in my drawer liner paper)

.... and! some polka dot wrapping paper (Target)

what's the best place for spices in your kitchen? 

i wanted to move them to a half empty drawer that really wasn't being used to it's fullest of potentials 

 instead of running around my island over to the pantry (in a hurry) ...

opening a drawer and scanning names seemed like a much more efficient way to store & locate what was needed (and save a dinner or two from the jaws of scorchment)

i like the idea of using wrapping paper to line drawers ... the top side has a bit of a gloss finish to it, great for clean up ... when it gets stained or torn, it's easy enough to toss and cut a new piece ... and a much cheaper alternative to the typical cabinet & drawer liners found in most houseware sections

(fyi: Hobby Lobby has a great wrapping paper selction, 

very thick paper and super durable)

measure, cut and fit

i sprayed my lids with 2 coats of chalkboard paint ... i would highly recommend a primer first

as i later found that my chalkboard marker tip scratched some paint off a few of the lids

i prefer the markers to real chalk, it has a finer tip to fit more letters into small spaces :)

and it doesn't brush off as easily

now all you need is a set of cute measuring spoons 

for all the measuring & using of spices you'll be doing

cause your spice drawer is so dang cute

paprika anyone?

i hope to purge & simplify other problem areas in our house throughout the year

in hopes that our home will run more efficiently 

then our time together will be spent more ...well ... together!

i'm still working on my year long menu plan

that i can't wait to share with you

(with printables!)

i've been working on a few other spots in the kitchen this past week too

i will be back to share those soon

oh! and my craft room feature in Better Homes & Gardens comes out in 10 days!!

the February issue will hit newstands on January 15th

i'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited :)

look for me on the I Did It! page on the inside back cover!

a more detailed tour of the room will hopefully be published in one of the BHG special interest magazines sometime this year! can you believe it?? in 2 BHG magazines??

wow ... i feel so blessed

loves to you & happy weekend ♥

linking up to ...

i{heart}naptime ♥ Sundae Scoop

Live Laugh Rowe ♥ Live Laugh Linky

Funky Junk Interiors ♥ SNS

Tatertots & Jello ♥ Weekend Wrap up Party

Organizing Made Fun 

Tip Junkie ♥ Tip me Tuesday

the 36th Avenue ♥ Party Time!