Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Pantry Talk...

noooooooo, I said "Pantry", not what ya'll thought I said :)

several weeks back I decided to be Suzy Homemaker (my middle name is Suzanne so I can say that and it be true...well, my last isn't House or Home or Shanty so it is half-true), delve into the chest freezer, the two pantries and the cabinets, make a list of everything food-related or household-care related and...

and what? I realized after spending the better part of two days getting this list together that I had no clue how to keep a running up-to-date list of all of these things...

a couple of grocery store trips blew by and I realized my hard work was oh-so-quickly becoming just an exercise in wasting time (and not Fun Time Wasting like on-line shoe shopping for a kitten-heeled pointy-toed pair of leopard print pumps)...I needed a way to keep track of this stuff...

now, in my household binder (DO NOT LAUGH) I have some sheets from organizedhome.com for keeping track of pantry items...but repeatedly printing those lists out whenever I need to update is not my idea of Fun or Frugal (printer ink is freakin' expensive...and those leopard print pumps aren't cheap)...and since I obsess about sloppy lists with cross-outs and write-overs this qualifies as An Issue...
I slogged through Office Max and H/M and looked on-line tryin' to find a sleeve (plastic page protector) where I could print out my lists, insert the lists into the sleeve and then mark the sleeve...but here is where the going got rough...I wanted to be able to have the marks be both smudge-proof and removable so I could update the lists...

I tell ye such a product does not exist*...

Bright Idea Time...

after stewing about this for a week or two, I had my Bright Idea...

our second pantry doors need cosmetic help anyway...they're just plain ol' luan doors with a coat of plain ol' soft white paint on them...we put them up to make the second pantry area once the washing machine and dryer moved on out to the garage...

I've been wonderin' what to do about the pitiful doors...and now I know...

I'm turning the doors into chalkboard doors so I can mark my pantry list there, hang a piece of chalk on a string and involve the Whole Household in keeping the list up-to-date...

look...it's my dream, leave me alone...

the beginnings of the project...lines courtesy of DH who can Draw a Straight Line unlike my Crooked Line self...(please note the new little hook at the top)and I slopped the chalkboard paint on this morning...I'm leanin' towards painting the white area some nice wild colour....like my leftover Autumn Ridge (a wonderful orange that I used in the dining room)...and then there is leftover quarter-round in the garage to hide edge around my uneven chalkboard spaces...

naturally, it was only after putting the first big swipe of Chalkboard Paint on one of the doors that a word flashed through my mind...

Erasermate*....

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*or maybe it does exist and I just don't know how to Google It

*however, now that I see Erasermates are made by Gillette, the point was moot before it arrived in my brain...

13 comments:

Deb said...

Shelia, you're a better woman than I. I'm too tired to take on a task like that. I'm having trouble getting together the stuff I want to use for a yard sale. First I let the fact that I did'nt have a box to put all the stuff in to take it down stairs stop me. Now I have the boxes from my plates and I'm too tired still. I had my husband take the empty boxes downstairs. Now if you can take on your task at hand, I should be able to get busy with mine. Anyway, I would love to see your finished product, you're off to a great start. hrfmyjxb Deb

Susie Q said...

Oh my gosh. This is a wonderful idea!
Re-working a pantry is an awesome task and look how well you have done it! I look forward to seeing it all finished!

Hugs,
Sue

Darla said...

Love the chalk board doors. There's no way I'm organizing anything tho. If it was organized I'd never know where to find anything, LOL!

Darla

Deb said...

Hi Shelia, I love the area myself, because I love having people over. We'll be having just some family over this weekend for a cook out. I'm planning to have it outside though. But later on if anyone wants to sing off to "The King's Lounge" we'll go.LOL Deb

homespun living said...

Great idea! I've been wanting to try chalkboard paint for some time.
Deb

PAT said...

Absolutely brilliant Sheila!

I love it!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Pat

Deb said...

Hi Shelia, just stoppin in to say hello. What are you up to? I'm sure something very interesting. We had a ball yesterday and I'm relaxing today. I've just finished dinner and I think I need a nap but I'll try to keep going. I don't want to be up all night. Well, didn't want to stop by and not leave a note so, see you soon. Deb

Kimba said...

Ok. You are way more organized than I can ever hope to be. I'm impressed and I love the chalkboard doors. Kimba

Julie said...

You are NOT kidding about that printer ink! I am so chinchy with that stuff. Hubs says it's gonna dry up before I use it -- but it never does! Smarty pants!!!
And I d-r-a-i-n those suckers DRY before they get changed!

I've had the door between my kitchen and laundry room painted with the black chalkboard paint for yeeears now! Don't know what I'd do without it! You are going to LOVE it!

Blessings,
Julie

Deb said...

Hi Shelia, how are you, I been stopping by and wanted to leave a note. Where are you? You couldn't still be working on the pantry, you know we're waiting on the pictures, and I hope everything's okay. Deb

Laurie Anne said...

I did this to my pantry doors and I LOVE it. It makes list making so much easier :0)

The Berry's Patch said...

Dear Life at Number 17,

Is everything okay? No recent post lately? No pressure or anything. I realize your probably very busy! I'm just checking to make sure all is well.

kari and kijsa said...

Love the chalkboard pantry!! Perfect idea!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa

it's all about the journey...