In a house with three little kids and a husband who tries his best (bless his heart), creating an organization system can be as successful as herding a group of turtles. You can establish all the places and all the plans, but if they can’t follow it, then it’s never going to last. I’ve tried methods and places with little to no avail and have had to start over and over again. But I will tell you that the following pieces have held their place over the years and actually WORK in my home and I’m dishing it all for you now to hopefully start your new year off on an organized way!

Magnetic Measuring Scoops

Measuring cup chaos? Not anymore! Last year, I tackled a major kitchen headache: those pesky measuring cups and spoons catching on my drawers and making them impossible to open. Separating them helped, but they still hogged way too much space. So, I found the perfect solution—storing them on the inside of my cabinet door!

Using these 12 adhesive magnets from Amazon, I transformed the inside of my spice cabinet (right by the stove for easy access!) into a sleek, organized space for my metal measuring cups and spoons. Just be sure to avoid placing magnets where the shelves meet the door, and you’ll have plenty of room to store.

If you’re looking to upgrade, I can’t recommend my metal measuring cups and spoons enough—durable, easy to clean, and perfect for this setup. Kitchen game = changed!

You can watch how I did it in THIS REEL:

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Pantry Without All the Boxes

Our pantry is hands down the MVP of our home. Between cooking three meals a day for my family and my kids’ undying love for snacks, this space gets a lot of action. But let me tell you, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

I used to come home from grocery runs only to find I had two jumbo bags of tortilla chips hiding in the back or, worse, no bread crumbs when I needed them. More trips to the store, more wasted money. No thanks.

In 2021, I finally said, ‘Enough is enough,’ and gave our pantry the glow-up it deserved. I grabbed a bunch of Better Homes & Gardens acrylic bins from Walmart and went to work making our pantry FUNCTIONAL. Now? Every ingredient has a home. Every snack is in its place. I can literally stand in the doorway and see what we have—no more guessing or digging!

Here are my must-have containers:

• 6.5 Cup Flip-Tite Food Storage Container: Perfect for snacks, bread crumbs, panko, and hot chocolate mixes.
• 11.5 Cup Flip-Tite Rectangular Food Storage Container: Ideal for cereals and rice.
• 19.4 Cup Flip-Tite Food Storage Container: Great for pasta, crackers, and marshmallows.
• 5-Piece Airtight Acrylic Canister Set: A lifesaver for flour, sugar, powdered sugar, and brown sugar—everything stays fresh, and I can actually see when we’re running low!

To make it foolproof for everyone in the house, I bought the 157 Pantry Labels from Amazon. These labels are a game-changer. They stick beautifully to the containers and have every label you could imagine already pre-made. I’ve even moved them from one container to another over the years, and they still stick like a charm!

Now, my pantry isn’t just functional—it’s a joy to use.

Invest in a Knife Block that Actually Holds Them All

Let’s use the word invest loosely here because you can grab one of these for around $20 on Amazon. But still, a knife block isn’t exactly the most exciting thing to buy for yourself. That said, this $20 changed my kitchen game entirely.

Before this, I lived the wild life of loose knives floating around my silverware drawer—a super unsafe system I held onto for years (don’t ask me why). Enter the In-Drawer Bamboo Knife Block.

This beauty fits right into my silverware drawer and holds up to 16 knives—8 smaller ones (paring and steak knives) and 8 larger ones (think bread knives or big choppers). A lot on the market ONLY house steak knives or fall short of the amount of knives that most of us receive as wedding presents. 🙂 This is one of the few affordable options that will hold every knife I own!

Now my drawer is safer, more organized, and my knives are staying sharper for longer. Total win.

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Under the Sink Storage

This is the place that I keep all of my cleaning products from window cleaner to dish soap to extra garbage bags to floor cleaner. EVERYTHING is under my sink. That quickly becomes the wild, wild west. To solve that issue, I purchased a package of clear acrylic bins to keep everything sorted and standing.

But dishwasher tabs: the struggle was real for way too long. Keeping them in their original bags or plastic containers just meant constant opening and closing—and I never knew when I was running low until it was way too late.

Enter my new best friend: the Adhesive Acrylic Bin. I stuck this gem right on the inside of my under-sink cabinet, and it’s been a game-changer. At 11″ wide x 6.5″ tall, it holds a ton of tabs, and I can now reach in effortlessly to grab one. Best part? I can see when I’m getting low and know it’s time to restock. Plus, the adhesive is super strong and has held up flawlessly for two years now—zero issues.

Seriously, this simple solution has saved me from so many last-minute grocery trips.

Lazy Susan In-Cabinet Storage

Spice organization doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I love being able to spin my spices around and see every single option—no fancy bottles required (though I do love how they look!). Forget taking up an entire drawer; I simply store my larger bottles and seasonings in the middle of the lazy susan and keep the smaller, more frequently used ones on the edges. A quick spin, and I can grab exactly what I need in seconds.

I’ve been using the Copco 9″ non-slip lazy susans for years, and they’ve made my pantry so much more efficient. They’re easy to clean with soap and water, stay put in my cabinet instead of sliding around, and come in several sizes (9″, 12″, and 18″) and colors. Right now, the 12″ version is marked down 20% to just $7.99 on Amazon! (Prices are subject to change, so grab it while you can!)

Extra Storage

Okay, so this one might not be a weekend project, but it’s definitely one to keep in your back pocket for the future! In 2022, I pulled off my favorite IKEA hack using BESTA shelf units, and it’s been a game-changer. You can read all about the process HERE, but in short, I took 4 BESTA units, added wooden legs, screwed them together, and topped it off with a cushioned bench seat. And voila—a multi-purpose space that’s a reading nook, breakfast table, extra seating, puzzle table, homework station, and—wait for it—extra storage!

This project is hands-down one of my most-loved ones on Pinterest, and for good reason. These storage bench seats are such a lifesaver. One of the units holds all of my small appliances—juicer, blender, hand mixer, food processor—all tucked away, leaving my kitchen so much more organized. If you’ve got appliances you don’t use all the time, consider relocating them to a credenza, buffet, or extra cabinet. No need to purge, just find a better spot to store them!

I just recently finished this DIY Dry Bar section to my kitchen and you can check out the whole process on THIS REEL:

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This isn’t a quick fix, but thinking outside the box (or cabinet) and using your space creatively can totally transform the flow of your home.

Cleaning Out My Fridge & Pantry Every Grocery Day: My Sunday Routine

Grocery shopping on Sundays is a ritual in our house, but before I even think about making my list, I start with a quick but essential task: cleaning out the fridge and pantry. It’s a game-changer for keeping everything organized and minimizing waste. Here’s how I do it:

First, I take an inventory of what’s in the fridge and pantry. I go through all the leftovers, condiments, and open containers. If anything’s expired, it gets tossed. I’m especially vigilant about leftovers that have been lingering for too long. I also make sure to toss empty containers (because somehow, they always seem to multiply!) and anything that’s just taking up space. This helps me avoid overbuying items I already have, which is key to saving money and reducing food waste.

Next, I scan the pantry. I check the shelves for any items that are nearing their expiration date or things that I haven’t used in a while. I’ll also take note of anything that needs restocking—whether it’s spices, grains, or canned goods—so I can add them to my shopping list.

By taking inventory and cleaning out the fridge and pantry before I shop, I save time, reduce food waste, and make sure I’m only buying what I truly need. It also allows me to have the SPACE I need to fill the fridge and pantry again. If I have a slew of leftovers, I’m not fitting what I need to put in fresh. It’s a simple routine, but it sets the tone for a more organized and efficient week ahead!

How a Simple Notebook Took the Grocery Load Off My Shoulders

Grocery shopping used to be a solo mission, and the mental load that came with it was no joke. I’d be in the middle of my day, and someone would ask, “Hey, can you pick up more milk?” or “We’re running low on bread,” and I’d have to mentally add it to my shopping list. By the time I was at the store, I’d sometimes forget a thing or two—or three.

So, I came up with a simple but game-changing solution: a notebook on the counter. Now, anyone in my family who notices we’re running low on something or needs an item can just write it down in the notebook. No more mental juggling or hunting down the one person who’s in charge of the grocery list. If it’s not written down, it doesn’t get bought—simple as that.

The best part? It’s taken the pressure off me and has made everyone more accountable for the things we need around the house. My kids know that if they want something specific, they need to write it down. My spouse, too, is now in the habit of jotting things down when they notice we’re out of something. It’s a small change, but having that notebook right on the counter has completely shifted how we handle grocery shopping.

Now, instead of carrying the mental load of keeping track of everyone’s needs, we all share the responsibility. It’s a small step that’s made a big difference in keeping our grocery trips smooth and stress-free. Plus, it’s a simple, no-fuss way to stay organized and ensure I’m only buying what we truly need.

Eight ways that I keep my sanity in my kitchen. Which way could be the most beneficial in your home? Tell me in the comments or share another great idea that works!

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