Kitchens

Welcome to my Huge Birthday Giveaway Celebration!!

Instead of receiving gifts this year, I’ve decided to give YOU an opportunity to win a bunch of awesome products I currently use and love.  I’ve partnered with 26 amazing companies to offer 26 different giveaways for my 26th birthday. There will be multiple giveaways every day from June 13-18 — so make sure you come back!

You will be able to find all 26 Birthday Week Giveaways here — just keep scrolling down to view them all.

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Giveaway #3: Aladdin Food Storage 6-Piece Set

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Remember the other day when I mentioned how much I LOVE organizing and storage containers? Well, my love for FOOD storage containers reaches a whole new level!

If you’ve never heard of the Aladdin brand before, you seriously, need to check out their amazing food storage products. Aladdin has actually been around for over 100 years, but I first heard about them earlier this year…and now I’m hooked. They are my all-time favorite brand for any type of food storage. Period.

And thanks to their generosity, you have a chance to win the gorgeous 6-piece set pictured above. The set includes:

1. 24-oz. One-Hand Watter Bottle {I’m drinking from mine right now and LOVE it!}

2. 16-oz. Travel Mug {Dave has officially stolen this from me}

3. 32-oz. Collapsible Steamer Set

4. 4-oz. Collapsible Bowl {Purple}

5. 16-oz. Collapsible Bowl {Green}

6. 32-oz Collapsible Bowl {Red}

Obviously, I love the gorgeous bright colors of all the Aladdin products. But I also love that they are ALL microwave and dishwasher safe, spill-proof, and SO space-saving!

Enter to Win!

Simply answer the question below by leaving a comment on this post. You can even gain bonus entries for doing each additional item listed below (just make sure that you leave a comment for each one).

REQUIRED ENTRY:

• Check out all of Aladdin’s products and let me know — What are your favorite products?

BONUS ENTRIES:

• Subscribe to Simple Organized Living via email or RSS

• Follow Simple Organized Living on Facebook or Twitter

• Follow Aladdin on Facebook

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Just a reminder that any comments left on Facebook or Twitter will not count for my birthday giveaways, and you must provide a valid email address to be considered. All giveaways during my birthday giveaway week will close on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 EST. The winners will be selected at random and announced via a full blog post on Tuesday, June 21. I will also notify all winners via email.

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My friend Kim of Art of Domestic Living sent me an email {several months ago} asking about good ideas for storing and organizing spices. She said… “I have been thinking about organizing my spices, can you give me a few ideas?”

I responded to her email with a few ideas… but I figured you might be interested as well.

How I Organize My Herbs and Spices:

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• I have 2 small drawers, one for savory and one for sweet

• I store them in the plastic/glass bottles they come in

• I label the tops of the bottles so I know what they are — I keep them in semi-alphabetical order

• If my spices don’t come in bottles, I buy these bottles from Bed Bath and Beyond

Here are a Few Other Ideas:

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1. Square Tins  – Paper Mart

2. Turntables — Bed, Bath, and Beyond

3. Spice Shelf — Bed, Bath, and Beyond

4. Over the door Shoe Organizer — Target {hang on your pantry door and put spices in the pockets — I did this at our old house}

Before I go any further, I wanted to take 5 seconds to educate you on the difference between herbs and spices. I think it’s important to know…but if you aren’t interested, just skip down to the next heading

The Difference Between Herbs and Spices:

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Do you use the terms “herbs” and “spices” interchangeably? I often catch myself mixing the two thing up! However, herbs and spices are completely different.

Herbs come from leaves and bulbs.

Spices come from from roots, flowers, and seeds.

Take cilantro and coriander as an example. They both come from the same plant but Cilantro {herb} is the leaf and Coriander {spice} is the seed.

Check out this website for more information about herbs and spices.

And now…the rest of the  post.

Storing Herbs and Spices:

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Sometimes, I think  we can get so carried away with cute spice racks and fun organizing tools that we overlook the proper way to store our herbs and spices.

And since herbs and spices can be quite pricey, I try to keep mine fresh for as long as possible.

The best way to store your herbs and spices is in air-tight containers, away from direct light and heat. This means they should NOT be sitting out on your counter and they should NOT be near your stove.

It’s also best if they are not subject to fluctuating temperatures {like taking them in and out of the freezer}.

The Shelf Life of Herbs and Spices:

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photo source

Yes, herbs and spices have a shelf life…but it is only because they lose their flavor over time. You rarely have to worry about herbs and spices “spoiling” or going rancid.

And contrary to the “6-month-rule” I’ve heard my entire life; I did some research and found out that herbs and spices stay fresh for much longer than I thought {if properly stored}.

• Whole Spices — up to four years

• Ground Spices — two – three years

• Dried Herbs — one – three years

You can test your herbs and spices by crushing them between your fingers. If they still have a strong aroma, they are most likely fresh enough.

Now, aren’t you glad you kept reading!

How do you store and organize your spices?

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Linked to I’m Loving It over at Tidymom.net

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I was supposed to announce the winner of my Stack Mates food storage giveaway yesterday…but I totally forgot; oops! My weekend was crazy and I played ” catch-up” all day yesterday… but I’m sure none of you can relate

So since you are still wondering;  the lucky winner is — #6, Amiee!!! {please contact me to claim your Stack Mates!}

I had so much fun clearing out my “storage container clutter” AND reading all your comments this past week. If you are struggling with kitchen clutter, just head on over to the comment section and read about the others who are right there with you!

OK, back to my storage containers.

I started with this cluttered mess…

and ended with this!

It’s still not perfect, but all the containers have lids, there are no more gross stains, and I have room for my new Stack Mates!

But I didn’t stop there!

I literally went through every drawer and cabinet in my kitchen and took out anything we haven’t used recently or don’t need… I was ruthless! {In case you can’t tell, this is my 6.5 foot kitchen table completely covered with stuff to donate!}

What a great feeling!

The best part about my decluttering session is the extra space I have in my kitchen. I now have three totally empty cabinets and a clutter-free pantry!

Don’t feel like you have to organize your entire kitchen in one day {this is just the method that works best for me} but DO take 15 -20 minutes to declutter one drawer, one cabinet, or one section of your counter top.

Every little bit helps!

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Linked to the Nester’s Less Messy Nest

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If you are like most people {including myself} you probably have some pretty grungy looking food storage containers hanging out in one or more of your kitchen cabinets. You might even have some stashed away in your basement or garage — just in case!

Am I right??

Well, this weekend, I was in the mood to purge — so decided it was time to purge some of my food storage containers.

I’ve seen worse, but for me, this was out of control and WAY too cluttered with items we don’t need or use.

Thankfully, I was recently contacted by Karen Norris — the inventor of Stack Mates — who sent me a full set of Stack Mates to try out in my own kitchen. Woo-hoo!

If you’ve never heard of Stack Mates {a.k.a. the most ingenuous and amazing food storage products ever!} it’s probably because they are a very new invention and are only advertised and promoted via TV infomercials.

But thanks to Karen’s generosity…you can enter to win a brand new, squeeky clean, 10-piece set of Stack Mates right here! {Keep reading for details}

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And just in case FREE products aren’t enough motivation, here are 10 reasons why you could use a set of Stack Mates.

1. Your containers don’t have matching lids.

Stack Mates have interlocking lids that attach to the bottom…which means you’ll never lose a lid again.

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2. Your containers are forever “pink” because of the pasta sauce and chili you stored in them.

Stack Mates don’t stain — even after several “tests” in the microwave and freezer.

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3. Your containers are actually reused yogurt, cottage cheese, or sour cream containers.

Stack Mates will look so much prettier in your fridge…and you’ll actually be able to see what’s inside.

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4. Your containers no longer have a tight seal.

Stack Mates have a super tight seal. I even tried shaking them with chicken broth inside!

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5. Your containers are coated with a white film from washing them a few too many times in the dishwasher.

Stack Mates are dishwasher safe {top rack} and won’t discolor or get that nasty white film.

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6. Your containers are warped and don’t hold their shape anymore.

Stack Mates are made out of a heavy-duty plastic that won’t warp or lose it’s shape.

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7. Your containers are more than 10 years old {I would say 5 years…but I don’t want to ruffle too many feathers!}

Stack Mates = brand new!

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8. Your containers were supposed to be “disposable” containers when you purchased them 3 years ago.

Stack Mates = brand new!

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9. Your containers don’t stack or nest nicely inside of each other.

Stack Mates nest perfectly inside each other. A 10 piece set stands only 3″ tall.

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10. Your containers have somehow migrated to the home of your college kids, friends, neighbors, or co-workers and you’re not sure when {if ever} they will come home.

Stack Mates are only for you…no sharing!

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Watch this 2 minute video for more information about Stack Mates. Click here if you can’t view it.

So, who would like a FREE 10-piece set of Stack Mates?

To enter, simply leave a comment telling me how Stack Mates would help you to simplify and organize your life.

You may get ONE additional entry by posting the following message on Facebook or Twitter and telling me you did so:

Enter to win a FREE set of Stack Mates food storage containers at Simple Organized Living — @LivingOrganized — http://ht.ly/2R85I

Also, for a limited time, you can purchase a 20-piece set of Stack Mates for $19.99 and get a second 20-piece set FREE!

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This contest is open until Saturday, October 16, 2010, at 11:59pm EST.

ONE winner will be selected at random and announced on Monday, October 18, 2010. Please read my full disclosure policy or contact me with any questions you might have. I received a free set of Stack Mates to review; however all opinions are my own!

linked to Top Ten Tuesdays

45 comments →

Is it time for you to eliminate some of the clutter from your home and your life?

You know it’s time to get more organized if…

• You can’t close your closet doors
• You open your cabinets and wonder what will fall out
• You don’t need to dust anymore – because all your surfaces are covered with junk
• Your junk drawer has morphed into a junk room
• Your storage area has reached capacity
• You can’t park your car(s) in the garage

However, knowing it and actually doing it are two totally different things!

It can be difficult to eliminate unnecessary and useless items from your home, even though you know it will give you more order and organization. However, taking a logical “love it or lose it” approach should make it easier to clear your clutter and regain your cherished storage spaces.

Let me show you what I mean:

Kitchen:

Love it –> Plates, bowls, cups, and glasses that easily nest into other pieces; and Double-duty kitchen gadgets

Lose it –> Storage containers that are missing their tops or bottoms, dishes that are chipped, broken glassware, and unused water bottles and coffee cups.

Click here for 3 more reasons to organize your kitchen

Media:

Love it –> Any movie that you watch repeatedly and classic books you enjoy revisiting.

Lose it –> 8 tracks, records, books you never intend to read, your entire collection of CD’s (after you transfer them to your computer or MP3 player).

Clothing:

Love it –> Your favorite sweatshirt and jeans, an appropriate mixture of business and casual clothing, and at least one of each basic clothing item.

Lose it –> Clothes you hope to fit into some day, stained, damaged, unflattering, and outdated clothing.

See how I organize my closet.

Mental Clutter

Love it –> Great ideas, happy thoughts, and things you can control

Lose it –> Negative feelings, other people’s problems, and anything that’s out of your control

Kid’s Stuff:

Love it –> Their latest treasures, craft project, and artwork; clothes that fit;  toys and games they play with.

Lose it –> Old artwork and treasures, books and toys that are too “young” for them, and worn out clothing

Remember, you are the adult, and your children will want to keep EVERYTHING!

Memorabilia:

Love it –> A FEW keepsakes and family heirlooms, your favorite vacation souvenir, and small collections (as long as they can be beautifully displayed)

Lose it –> Everything else!

Taking a “Love It or Lose It” approach to getting organized should help to simplify the decision-making process for your next organizing project. These deciding factors can serve as your guidelines for which items will stay and which will soon find another home.

What was the last item you purged?

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