Spicing up My Life!

I have lived with this chaotic spice cabinet for years. I dreaded having to look for any spice while cooking, but I just couldn't come up with a good way to get it organized.



So, I decided to call in extra help. I left the cabinet doors open the other night while having supper with my three guys and told them I needed ideas on how to get my spices in some kind of order. The four of us brain-stormed all through the meal and came up with a plan.

First thing next morning I made a trip to the Dollar Tree with a list of the sizes and quantity of baskets I needed for the job. (Did I mention that my group of guys consist of an engineer, a carpenter, and a mathematician? Meaning, they gave me a very specific plan and very precise list.)





Then, I came home and pulled everything out of the cabinet and set it on this counter top...



...and this one...



...and this one. I know it looks like a mess, but I actually have them grouped together alphabetically.




Then my area of expertise came in. I made cutesy labels (I am the artsy one. :), and attached them to the basket fronts with contact paper. And, I am rewarded with an organized, and pretty-to-look-at spice cabinet!



I tested it's efficiency the very next night. Needing garlic powder, I went to the cabinet and threw open the doors expecting the normal scavenger hunt. Lo, and behold, organized perfection stared me in the face! I stood there and just smiled a few seconds before reaching into the D-L basket and pulling out the garlic powder!!! It works, it actually works!!! I plan on working my way around the whole kitchen this way. Sounds like we are in for some interesting suppers for the next few weeks, doesn't it?