It’s just a few days from the first day of Spring, and we’re still wearing scarves and gloves here in the Northeast! Will Spring ever come? *sign*
For someone who really doesn’t like a lot of ‘stuff’, it sure seems I have a lot of items I want to share with you all! So here’s my third installment of some items I really like and recommend.
Clear shoe organizers are so convenient for storing small items that can otherwise get lost in the shuffle in your pantry or cabinets, and they make great use of the often under utilized real estate behind your doors. Don’t just limit them to your pantry items though. They can be useful for storing small items in your bath or craft space, and of course, they’re great for their original purpose of storing shoes. This is a picture of ours at our rental which I use for teabags, cupcake holders, sprinkles, straws and chocolate :).
At our last home we had ceramic tile in the kitchen which tends to be very hard to stand on for long periods, so I purchased this mat at one of my favorite catalogs, Ballard’s, and it’s served its purpose well. I use it currently at our rental by the kitchen island, which is where I spend most of my time cooking. It’s a lot more attractive than most of the gel mats designed for comfort, don’t you think?
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I love my Braun Immersion Blender! I use it nearly every time I make soup and it’s so much handier than transferring everything into a blender or food processor! You can also whip up some cream and make smoothies in a flash. They come in all different price ranges so there’s bound to be one that works for you.
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I was introduced to these hangers by our daughter, and I’m hooked (no pun intended). They take up less space than traditional plastic hangers and clothing stays put. The only negative is you wouldn’t use them for pants. Oh, and they’re a bit more expensive than regular plastic hangers, but so worth it.
I can’t say enough good things about my pull out drawers! When we bought the cabin eight years ago, there were a few already installed in the kitchen and Fisherman install a few more to maximize the space. I think every kitchen would benefit from a few of these. Again, not cheap, but they’re a purchase that you will never regret. If you’re handy, they’re fairly easy to diy for far less moolah.
Nana Diana says
Great idea about the shoe organizers as a pantry addition. I LOVE my pull out drawers. They almost double your usable space. I found I don’t push things to the back and “lose” them now. Hope you have a great Tuesday afternoon/night- xo Diana
Angela says
Come to Texas….we were 81 degrees today!!! I’ll have a nice glass of wine waiting! ~~Ang
p.s. I have those hangers too and I LOVE them!!!
Doreen says
I’m grabbing my backpack and sticking out my thumb. If that doesn’t work, don’t be surprised if you see a news headline ‘blogger moons cab driver in a pathetic attempt for ride to Texas’. Pretty sure that will just end with me in the slammer…who says you can’t go home again? :/
kelly says
Those are some great items. I once had those pull out shelves in my last house and they were nice. Wish I had them in my current home.
Poppy says
I love the idea of using the shoe organizers for anything that we need at hand, quickly, and efficiently; how versatile! Have seen the velvet hangers in various stores and always wondered why they were a little pricier than the regular metal ones; yes, they’re definitely worth it; I always end up losing my patience when clothes don’t stay put! The mat is very stylish and would work in any kitchen, and I think and the immersion blender is fantastic for achieving those silky soups and swirls of perfectly whipped cream! Thanks so much for your opinion on all of these useful items; your stamp of approval makes for a done deal!
Poppy
Jane says
Great stuff, Doreen. I am going to check out those hangers. I just cleaned out my closet and everything that slides off the hanger is stuffed between other things to keep them up!
I have an immersion blender and love it, too. Just don’t lift it out of the liquid while it’s on! Ha!
XO,
Jane
Cynthia says
I have that same Braun and I love it and use it all the time. I love pullout drawers too and my new love is pot drawers. We are getting them in our new kitchen. I can’t believe this weather either. This has been a long hard winter for us Northeasterners. I can’t believe how cold it still is and it seems the sun rarely shines. It is depressing. Our poor pups have had it with the cold too.
Cynthia
Manuela@A Cultivated Nest says
Good to know that you like those hangers. I saw some at Target I think and thought they’d be good for all those tops that always slip off my hangers. I got an immersion blender a year ago for Christmas and I think I’ve used it once! I wanted it for making soups but somehow I never pull it out to use it!
Doreen says
You know something Manuela? I had mine for a VERY long time before using it too!! Once I realized how easy it was to use, especially for soups, I was hooked. I just used it yesterday for some broccoli cheese soup (recipe to come).
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
My mom gave me an immersion blender as soon as I left her house when I was a student. We don’t know how to live without one in our family!
Andi says
That rug from Ballards has caught my eye many a time. I feel like I should know what to do with an immersion blender, but I don’t have one and I don’t feel like a part of my life is missing. Thanks for letting me know I need one!! =D
-andi
Amy @ StowandTellU says
Once again, Doreen, you really know how to zero in on those handy dandy helpful gadgets. The over the door storage in a pantry?? I’d have never of thunk of that ;P The velvet hangers… perfect keeping the clothes from falling of the ever so slippery plastic ones. Handy ideas, thanks for sharing