Label Love via The Social Home

When we started this mudroom-pantry-laundry room update

on that same limited budget, I was drooling over all of the 

awesome pantry inspiration found on Pinterest.

One thing I really wanted to do was pretty up my containers.

OK, I had zero, zilch, nada on the container front.  

My shelves were lined with ziploc bags full of ingredients.

I knew while I love the OXO containers, I would nevah, evah, 
be able to shell out upwards of ten dollars for one container.  

Not even upwards of five.  Nope.

I seriously have no doubt as to the awesomeness of how they store food, 

but the container would cost more than its contents.  

I was also getting super tired of things being past their expiration date, 
like way past not safely past, or getting lost in the mess, 

especially baking ingredients.  I don't like how I feel when I waste food,

knowing some of the tough spots we and so many others have been in.   

Our pantry is usually not overflowing because I cannot...

1. afford to keep it stocked to the rim

and 

2. I try to buy more fresh food having boys with medical histories 

{cancer survivor, coronary heart anomaly}

I would love to extreme coupon, and I know we aren't in a position to be picky, 

but I like when my pantry is stocked with the healthy staples we need, 

the things my guys like, including some treats.  

Seriously I just feel good when there is enough on the shelves for us. 

So what could I do on a very limited budget to pretty up my pantry?

Well take a look at one of the inspiration photos from my new friend

Jen at The Social Home.  

  

  This is her Pantry Pretty: Dollar Store Pantry Makeover!  

Gorgeous right?  


And yes, her containers came from the dollar store, seriously!
So I headed to our Dollar Tree {Jen is in Canada, they  admittedly have some better options,
but do not despair} between there and IKEA I did find some containers that would work well
and more importantly, I bought ten containers for TEN bucks and change not fifty!!  


I also wanted to organize and label them nicely like in Jen's makeover,
especially as our pantry is large and open in our mudroom.  


Well I was in luck because Jen also has an ETSY shop
The Paper Society full of label awesome-ness!!


I adore the Custom Kraft Pantry Labels in both designs.
Here, I used the flourish to define a little breakfast area in our kitchen....

{looks like it's time to get to Trader Joe's for some more cereal
for the big guy, I wish my boys would eat it...nope pancakes, eggs,
they want the good stuff!}

and the chevron looks great on the dollar store containers in the pantry....

I have to admit too that getting so many of our staples into 
containers makes it much easier for me to see what we need.
While when I bring the groceries home there is a little more work,
it is so worth it to be able to plan better, visualize what we have,
what we need, and just feel like I now have a pantry plan,
which really is necessary for us.


It's so purty now {smile}.


I will be sharing more soon, we are about 90% done to our midway plan. 
Someday we will have the budget and time to finish up the master plan.
For now, I am thrilled with my containers and labels and no more wire shelves
thanks to the hubs and I putting our heads together to come up with 
an inexpensive solution. Doesn't take much for me!


In case you missed it, here is the 

Kids Chem Lab {How-To}
my real favorite part of the mudroom!  

You just have to stop by Jen's lovely blog, 
take a look at some more of her amazing ideas...


A Nine Dollar spice cupboard...so clever and neat...

Dollar Store Spice Cupboard

Free printable mini-labels...just to get you started...

Free Printable Mini Labels

I promise you'll love her carrara marble backsplash too...
she has fantastic taste and finds the bargain to match in this one!

Carrara Marble Backsplash and Kitchen Tour

Until soon!
{michelle}