Getting More Organized in The Pantry with Good Ol' Pencil and Paper
THE FARMHOUSE
After breaking in our new pantry over the past month, I realized the space was missing something. We desperately needed a spot for writing down meal plans and baking schedules. Nothing fancy, just a whiteboard or a chalkboard or something to keep us more organized. (But actually, something prettier than a whiteboard.) Keeping our family’s pantry stocked and organized are tasks that fall to me - for the record, Garrett is the primary cook in our house - and I felt myself getting a little lost in it lately. Wouldn’t you know it, a solution was sitting in our basement…
wall-mount paper roll, art, faucet, Cathy’s tank & denim shirt, other pantry sources here
our wall-mounted paper roll
Some 3 odd years ago my mother-in-law gave me this paper roll for Mother’s Day (or my birthday, neither of us can remember which). It’s one of those wall-mounted numbers that comes with a roll of craft paper and I love it! In fact, I had mentioned here on the blog in a Friday post prior to Nana very sweetly buying it for me. But despite loving it, I never found a good spot for it so it sat unused in our junk drawer before we finally moved it to the basement after the kitchen remodel was finished.
Once I remembered we had this lovely roll sitting in our basement (probably sometime in the middle of the night when such things are remembered), I planned to hang it on the other side of the pantry so as not to disturb the vintage gallery wall. But alas I’m right handed so this side was most comfortable (BTW the ‘stern lady’ piece is now in the kitchen). Garrett mounted the paper roll onto the back of a clipboard (minus the clip part) to assure a flat writing surface and we were in business!
Taking notes
The main thing I’m using this writing roll for right now is my baking and Sourdough bread schedule. If you’ve never made sourdough before let me just say it’s a multiple day process (you can see that whole process in fast motion here). So writing down which days I’m starting a new loaf and which days I’m baking a loaf, allows me to maintain the starter correctly and know when to remove it from the fridge.
I’ve also been tracking recipes I want to try on this roll (both baking and cooking recipes) and noting special occasions I don’t want to forgot. Because let’s be honest, when you’re homebound 24/7 days tend to blend together.
craving a simpler, more-organized approach
Something to do with this extended time at home - plus Spring no doubt and settling into a newly-renovated space - has me trying to improve our food routine and pantry storage. Anyone else feeling it? In addition to the new writing roll, I’m trying to optimize our grocery shops, simplify the food we keep on hand, and tighten up our food budget. I know these are trivial and inconsequential topics at a time like this (heck they probably always are) but I’m eager to make our days at home run smoother, control the sliver of the world I can control, and prepare for what will surely be another recession (that last one hit us hard).
So these past couple weeks I’ve been taking stock, making notes, and reading lots from my favorite minimalists, especially Melissa’s pantry posts and her minimalist kitchen course. The new paper roll is one part of the puzzle but there will be other changes as well. Stay tuned…
Disregard those dirty floors. This time of year brings muddy boots and little feet running in and out. It’s hard to keep the floors clean and I’m cool with it. The inexpensive jute rug from IKEA has been awesome, by the way!
craft paper rollers for the Kitchen
I thought I’d share a few different craft paper rollers in case you were looking for one too. I’m eyeing that big one for the kids!
Hope you’re all well and safe! We’d love to hear what projects you’re taking on during isolation.
