Clean Out The Clutter Challenge: Kitchen Pantry DONE!

Ok – so here is our follow-up of the results! What do you think?

The Pantry Before! Go HERE to see all of the BEFORE pictures!

The Pantry After!

The Pantry Top Shelves After!

The Pantry Bottom Shelves After!

First, it was so great to complete this! We really needed it! I am looking forward to getting the rest of the house cleared out too!

Second, I highly recommend NOT trying to clean, organize and declutter with a 14 month old running around!! Our 14 mo. old was quickly attempting to undo what was done – and she was having a hay day! I was so exasperated that I stuck her in her play yard and had to endure her screaming for a bit 😉 Oh well!

So here’s the scoop:

We had several bags of food and baby food to give away! I know someone who has had twins recently and may appreciate a bag full of Beech Nut baby food 😉 Probably donate the rest of the food items to our church’s kitchen!

Here is the part that is unbelievable and crazy. The shelves are relatively deep, and I can barely see what is on the edge of the very top shelf (without a stool). But when I got in there to clear it out, I found about 20 lbs of candy that I was throwing up there to “hide” it and give out sparingly! I must have forgotten what was up there!!! Have you ever done this? But the crazy part is…… last years Easter baskets filled with candy, 5 unopened bags of Hershey’s kisses from last Valentines (probably after holiday clearance?!?!), sealed valentine boxed chocolates and my Christmas Stocking filled to the brim with candy from last year (I didn’t have my normal stocking this last Christmas because I couldn’t find it!). I must have dumped everyone’s candy into my stocking. Alex was just watching me throw bag after pound after bag of candy out and wondering where it was coming from!

After that, I think I really need to reconsider buying candy altogether! Apparently we don’t eat it, and apparently we don’t care! Why waste money (even if it was all really cheap!).

So now the top shelf if filled with my flower vases (looking forward to fresh flower season!), and the odd and end kitchen items that get used here and there! There was one container that I did fill with some candy and treats and stuck it on the top shelf where I can see it! You never know when you might need some candy 🙂

After it was all done, the kids were like “WOW – I can actually find my favorite cereal!!” Alex and I were also very thankful to see what we had and what we need to use, and be able to give someone the things we will not be using!

Thanks Money Saving Mom for organizing this challenge! We look forward to continuing the decluttering!