getting reORGANIZED in the pantry

before on the RIGHT after on the LEFT

It's really hard to see from the photos and really appreciate the difference purging through the pantry has made, but this morning that is what I did. I gated off the twins in the den watching "Dora & Diego" on the Noggin Channel and worked on it yesterday morning. I'd say about a good 2-3 hours..?

Above is only 1 of 2 boxes that held all the store bought boxes that our groceries are purchased in... I wish I'd thought to take a photo of both of them together before setting them out for Mr. Trash Man.. but man did it make a difference! I have so much more space now! and I can see what I need!

I had a neat trick with my Hamburger Helper boxes I'll share with you.

Making only 1 box is no longer enough for our family of 5 so just this week I started buying double and making 2 at a time. That way both Nora and David have enough to take to work and school for their lunches the next day.... MMmm Leftovers!

So I took the large rectangle # 4 and opened up all of my Hamburger Helper boxes up - cut the front and directions off the back and stapled onto one another.. then I took a sharpie and wrote what they were on all the pasta and seasonings bags. and I was impressed that it SAVED SO MUCH SPACE and easily would hold 10-12 Hamburger Helpers into only one container!!!

Above you can see how easily 6 boxes of Hamburger Helper fit into the bottom of Tupperware's Rectangle Container #4 and on the right photo another 2 hamburger helper meals sit on top of them... I'm sure if I had another 3-4 boxes they'd easily fit! WOW! even room to spare...

The only thing I'd do different is take more time being neater about cutting out the boxes. I had written the flavor onto each of the directions before I realized that hello I can staple them! LOL - which is something you'd only have to do ONCE and reuse them in the box when you buy new...

Also as I was taking photos today I realized when I opened up the container I could smell marker - I'm letting it sit with the lid off for a day to let the sharpie marker smell escape. I wasn't thinking about that yesterday during my mad dash to get reORGANIZED. The smell should leave.. if I notice much smell after today I'll just use pen next time.

I'll admit that when I was first married we ate it more than most people do - probably a good 3-4 times a week! Hey..."Hamburger Helper Makes a Great Meal" and it made me feel like a good cook when I was a newlywed in my early 20's.... however David was sick of it after a few months... so I'm guessing for at least the last 8-9 years I haven't bought the stuff.

However this fall when Nora started school and extra activities 3 nights a week..(life got crazy) - I took back the "Hamburger Helper Makes A Great Meal & MY LIFE EASIER" motto and declared Tuesday Nights at home a Hamburger Helper Night, and "we"started making it again.

"We" as in Nora and I ;) She loves to help and this is a really easy thing for her to help with without getting in my way - it's her job to read the "instructions" on the back of the box to me... and not let me forget what's next.

Also as with everything else she helps cook she also helps EAT it b/c she made it ;) So it works out great to always have it on the night Nora has soccer practice. Fast and easy... and the twins love it too!

And my box number #4 is holding a month's worth! And taking up very little space!

Above are two more closeups of how they look now. I already had some plastic storage that I still use but after I hosted my Tupperware Party in August, I earned 2 Modular Mates Super Sets at half price each... for a total of 20 pieces for less than $7 each that are guaranteed for life!

I also received a set of the Vent-N-Serve FREE with my hostess dollars and a Freezer Mate Family Set too so now the kids pizza rolls and chicken nuggets stay nice and fresh ;)

This was only my 2nd show with Tupperware... my first being over 10 years ago (wow I just made myself feel old saying that) but hosting is the way to go if you know there are several things you'd like to have! I still use and love the stuff bought at my first show 10 years ago - and it's holding up GREAT! Did I mention that the Vent-N-Serve does NOT stain!!!

I think a lot of my friends liked that idea too - b/c that is mostly what they bought at my show... ;) I'll have to get out my old and new to photo together sometime and see if you can tell which is the new and which is the used....

I had two friends book parties and hope they each have theirs during different months b/c lately I've noticed form the main website they have monthly fliers where items are DRASTICALLY reduced a good 40-50% off the regular price!!!

When was the last time you hosted or went to a show? I'd love to know what is your favorite piece....

Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch, it isn't - I do NOT sell Tupperware.. I just can't help it - I'm just born this way! haha

Years ago I made good money selling furniture and knew nothing about it before walking into the store to purchase an Entertainment Center when we moved to SC and the movers busted up ours... same day of their Grand Opening I just happened to be talking casually to the manager and was offered a job without even looking for one! Bingo! I was born a natural salesperson... from Girl Scout cookies, to parking spaces in my dad's cow pasture... and many, many more.... my family would always say, - OH no, what are you selling now Bonnie? when they'd see me comming! haha)))

oh but that's another story for another day.. I really would like to know what your favorite Tupperware product is ;)



Love from Texas!