How to Organize a Refrigerator

(Keeping Home in the City)

Happy Monday!  It's a new week with a new list of things to do...like spring cleaning.  Growing up, my mom always enlisted my brother and me to help with the cleaning.  And keeping us occupied long enough for her to scrub down the fridge was probably one of many perks to family cleaning. 

Mom kept a clean and organized fridge.  And I've kept those traits alive from my first mini-fridge in college to my fridge-for-one on the Upper East Side.  Wiping it down every few months seems worth it; it just makes sense to keep your food in a clean space.  My flair for organizing the items within might be a little much, though.  My friend once asked, 'why do you keep the food stocked like it's at a grocery store?'  I guess I kinda view it that way: labels out, produce in the drawers, condiments in the side, butter up top.  Makes me feel like opening the fridge is a little grocery run.

(Organize.com)

Shopping in bulk is cost effective, especially for a family, but often times loose food gets lost at the back of the fridge.  These containers allow you to keep like with like, as well as adding an extra drawer element, enabling you to see what's shoved away.

(Clean & Scentsible)

I like this idea of labeling the drawers and shelves.  In a way, it guides you to what you're looking for, or should be looking for, when you take a sneak peak for a snack.  Often times, I open the fridge without much thought for what I'm looking for.  I think labels would direct me to healthy energy options and keep me away from the easy carb choices.

(The Container Store)

My biggest organizing tip for a refrigerator is utilizing the given compartments for their intended use: produce in the bottom drawers, condiments on the door shelves, butter in the top, protein and cheese in the small, mid-section drawer and sodas in the hanging rack.  The structure of the fridge already lends itself to organization if following properly.  But if you need some more ideas, or extra receptacles, check out this list of tips and ideas.

And if you're prepared for a full fridge makeover, follow this step-by-step How To on cleaning your fridge before you attempt to get organized.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you keep your fridge organized?

Organization Inspiration

Being from the South, I have a deep rooted love of glass jars.  My grandma used to can veggies and preserves from her garden and I remember the endless shelves of Mason jars in her basement.  Nowadays, in an effort to repurpose old materials, glass jars can reinvent themselves into useful ways to stay organized.  Take a look:

A salad in a jar! Pour in the dressing and shake...so easy.  You can use the jars for other kinds of snacks, too.  It's great for a picnic or packing a lunch.

Create more storage space by clearing off your counter top.  Mount a magnetic strip underneath your cabinets to hold smaller, matching jars for your spices.

Glass jars shouldn't be limited to just your spices (or canned preserves).  This Appleshine client used glass jars for all her pantry staples.

Oooh, look-y here, crafters!  Keep your yarn bottled up and manageable by poking a hole in the tops of the jars.  This could work for wrapping ribbons, twine or other spools of materials.

Use chalkboard labels to keep your desk, playroom or kitchen closet organized and all the items in their place.

Haha!  These photo frames made me smile.  You could also stand the jar upright and fill it with olive oil to give your picture a sepia effect like this.

Oh, so many ways for glass jars to help organize your lifestyle.  And if those weren't enough, check out these other fun ideas, too.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you repurpose old jars for new organization?

Recipe Boxes

As soon as I'm done Appleshining for the day, I'm scootin' home for a dinner date.  The weather's still cozy enough for lasagna and I found a great recipe from Southern Living last month.  (You can take the girl out of the South but you can't take her SL mag away.)

I like tearing out recipes from magazines or finding them online.  Once I've prepared the dish and determined if it's a keeper, I'll write it by hand to put in my recipe box.  There's something so comforting about handwritten recipes.  I remember watching my mom and grandma pull out their recipe boxes every holiday; kinda makes me feel like I'm passing along an heirloom.

There are a few different ways to categorize your recipes.  When in book form, it's best to sort by course.  Although, with loose recipes, I like to sort them alphabetically by the title/main ingredient (put chicken dishes together, lasagna recipes under 'L', etc.)  This helps avoid confusion when searching for recipes. 

If you're looking to get a new recipe box, here are a few to pick from:

A bamboo twist on the classic wooden version that I grew up with.

Cutesy saying on a marigold colored box.  (Wonder if it says, 'good lookin' on the backside?)

A vintage tin box from eBay.

Look at all the bright, preppy colors the Jack and Lulu boxes come in.  I like the yellow honeycomb print.

Tell me, Appleshiners, how do you sort your recipes?

PS- Here are some gorgeous letterpress recipe cards and dividers!

Cozy Duds

Are you still enjoying your three-day weekend?  I certainly am.  A cozy cabin in snow-filled Vermont is a lovely way to spend a winter weekend with friends.  Whether I'm cuddling, reading or baking (everybody has a sweet tooth on vacation), I wear my favorite loungewear to keep me comfy cozy:

Snuggly thermal and sweater from J. Crew.  I love the bright orange and navy combo and the layers keep me extra warm.

These pants are so soft and flowing and more importantly, have a stretchy waistband ;)

My parents got me these for Christmas.  The shearling lining keeps my toes happy.

No cozy outfit is complete without a great blanket.  The aqua chevron pattern is classic and the blanket travels well.


Tell me, Appleshiners, what keeps you cozy and warm?


PS- While the guys were out taking late runs on the slopes, we made a batch of Caramel Witch Brownies.  So good!  I've been obsessed since I had one from Chelsea Market last week.

Party Seating Solutions

Football, friends...and Madonna.  That just about sums up this coming Sunday.  I'm going to Jersey City for a Superbowl party but if you're hosting your own, here are a few ideas for extra seating when the couch gets full:

The bright color and soft fabric makes this a comfy seat to settle into.

I've always liked the versatility of rattan furniture. It's the right amount of rustic for any space.

A print is fun, especially when you pick a light, neutral color like this shadow gray.

Foldable and iconic, a director's chair is easy to add to any party space.  

Or maybe you want a natural, organic look that doubles great as a side table.

Of course you could always throw a couple large pillows on the floor or pull up a fancy moroccan pouf.  However you do it, make sure you have enough spots for everyone to enjoy the game and the food.  

PS- Since I'm not hostessing this year, I've picked my favorite party dish to bring: buffalo chicken dip.  Delicious, especially with homemade potato chips and celery sticks!

Tell me, Appleshiners, what are your seating solutions?