Mission: Pantry Closet Reorganize/Purge

So after finding out where to buy shelf helpers (Thanks Sandy!) and doing extensive research/measurements, I decided to purchase some. I went to Lowes to check out some prices for that and I have decided we need a new water hose and holder for outside. I was also checking out prices for insullation and sheetrock for the den ceiling. Anyways, I had seen that Target had some shelf helpers for a little cheaper so I thought I would travel down the road to see what it was all about and pick up some up possibly.

When I got to Target, I randomly walked thru the store first finding some cute bikinis (but of course none fit lol), cute underwear, some make up for my neices christmas presents, Arm & Hammer cat litter 40 lbs boxes (just have to share this...reg $15.39 sale $12.99 and I had (2) $3 off coupons what a SUPER deal!!)

...I finally found the shelf helpers at an amazing price of $5.99 for generic Target brand (online $7.99 for Rubbermaid). I grabbed up 2 and then found a rectangular container for about $4.99 on clearence to put crackers or pasta in to conserve space. (I wandered more to compare water hoses with Lowes's price ...cheaper for same thing at Lowes just about.)

So I paid and traveled on home to get started. Yes you may be shocked at the before picture(s). But what most of you do not realize is that is was a broom closet to begin with. My father converted it and made do with the things he had to make it into our pantry. There are 2 shelves above these 4 shelf areas as well. I reorganized them as well. Everyone has clutter/messes...but only the brave are willing to show the before and afters lol...I think this was why it was so hard for me to relate to other people's blogs on organizing their pantries because none look like mine. BUT I went pushed forward with determination lol.

So....before:

Yes there are items in front of where it should close. My whole goal was for it not only to be organized but to close all the way so we could walk by without stubbing a toe on a can lol.

This was to the right of me as i was pulling stuff of the shelves lol:

And all the way at the bottom in the back was this:
(my mom explained she had bought this in memory of her father because he and her used to enjoy eating them. There was no expiration date but I will pass on them. lol)

Finally with everything wiped down and cleaned, I started to reassemble the new organzed pantry:)!!!

As you can see on the bottom of the picture that is where the cereals go. There are actually 4 areas/shelves you can only see the top 2 and part of the 3rd one here. Very helpful shelf helpers though. I'm glad I invest in at least 2. I also decided to move the 2nd one to the opposite side to show contrast instead of similiar.

I started pilling stuff back in, but in an organized manner LOL. Mom specifically wanted her soups, fruit, and veggies all together but where she could find them. I said fine and this is what I came up with (except to change it after I took the pictures LOL).(sitting on the floor as far back as possible LOL)

(above) So we have soups under on the 1st shelf, fruit on lazy susan, and veggies next to it. I later reoganzed it to where all fruit was stack on 1st shelf next to soups and found an even larger lazy susan on the way top shelf above these shelves that I later put all the veggies on.

(above) This is the before picture of the 2 shelves up above the pantry shelves that I was able to shut the doors too:)! Needless to say I really needed to think about how to reorganize these 2 shelves. So I sat for a second thinking about all the nifty stoarge containers I had seen on other people's  blogs. I looked at what I wanted or thought should go back onto those shelves...I darted off to the Dollar Tree to get some shelf paper too. Well they only have gripping type of shelf stuff..but i decided it was better than nothing. I picked up about 4 different containers.

This is what I had as an ending result:

A dish washing pan to hold the unopened sugars (brown/powdered), crate for rices, crate for sides item pouches, a rectuangler basket for mixes and baking condiments.The top shelf just go a reorganizing of the was there. I don't feel like it is user friendly but I might go back and re-do it some more.

So after all that was said and done..this is the small stack of expired items and donate items (plus mess to sweep up LOL)..

So after all that...I would say I felt very accomplished:)...I am looking forward to tackling even more areas we just walk by on day to day basis. Next weekend might be the plasic storage for food shelves LOL..:)

Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions:)

Becca~