8.26.2008

Organizing Spices

**Updated at the bottom with additional information!

Today I am linking to Shannon from Rocks In My Dryer, who hosts a weekly "Works-For-Me-Wednesday" feature where people share tips that have made their lives easier.  Shannon's blog was one of the first I found when I was a new mama.  I can remember being up in the middle of the night with my newborn, reading her old posts on parenting and life with tears rolling down my cheeks.  I wrote an email to thank her, and she wrote me right back with the sweetest message.  So I guess I will always have a special little place for her in my bloggy heart!

Today I am sharing with you about something that works for me in the kitchen.  I used to have a cupboard all cluttered up with spices of varying sizes and shapes, and I could never find what I was looking for when I needed it.  I got this idea to put all my spices in jars of the same size, all labeled and organized.  Below, you can see the results:

Some of you will call me Type A (and you would be right!) but this has made a world of difference to my sanity.  I shopped around online for a place that sold these little tins, printed the name of each spice onto clear address labels (in a cute font, of course!) and there you go!  It saves me some time when I am cooking, but it is also secretly pleasing to this organizing junkie to see neat little rows of spices every time I open my cupboard!

Works for me!  (And I am sincerely sorry to those of you who this does not work for!  I know this is a pretty boring post if you are not a Type A chick like me!)

**To answer a few questions:
I found these tins a few years ago and the name of the company escapes me.  But I did a quick Google search for "spice tins" or "spice containers" and came up with this website.  I know there are others out there.  You buy them in bulk.  I think I had about 100 of them when I started!  The name of the font I used for the labels is Cezanne.  Lastly, yes I admit it, the spices are in alphabetical order!  Yikes, I need help! 
 


50 comments:

Mrs. O said...

Wow! It looks great. I would love to see that instead of my hodge-podge of spices in a plastic bin.

Where did you find those tins? They're the perfect size.

Anonymous said...

WOw, Wow thats awesome! All my spices are thrown in the cabinet and we count it good lol

Jyl @ MommyGossip said...

Go Martha! Boring is far from how I would describe this pic. Honestly, I think it is pretty enough to put out on the counter. I guess you'd need a rack to house them, but seriously... it is beautiful. And, your handwriting looks great too!

Joy said...

I am NOT a type A person, but I am incredibly impressed with the beautiful way that you organized your spices. If mine looked that good I'd probably use more, just so I could open the cupboard and see those pretty little cans in rows.

Shannon said...

Hi~ Stopping by from Rocks in my Dryer. Love this tip- especially since I recently purchased some organic spices wholesale through a co-op with a friend. They came in vacuum packaged foil containers originally, but I would really like to transfer them into something more user friendly. This gives me a few ideas ( : Thanks for the tip.

Lisa & Gerald said...

Carrie I love your Idea!
Thanks for sharing!

Marcia Francois said...

They look gorgeous and yes, I'm a type A chick like you are :)

Marcia from Organising queen

ZONE F DG TEAM said...

I had to look twice to see if they were alphabetical or not.

I know my personally would of had to make them alphabetical in addition to organized.

Mine are like you said all different sizes and what not. I may have to give this a try.

Mamajil said...

I love this!!CUTE Tins!! My spice rack contains the industrial size spice containers from sams....all the same size but not very pretty...I wonder if there are super size tins for a super size family like mine???
GREAT POST LOVED IT!!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

That looks great! Where did you find those containers?

As for the Type A......Birds of a feather flock together.....you and me both sister!!

So not boring, keep these post coming they are fantastic!

Lisa

Shell in your Pocket said...

Love love love it! I am type A but I don't know if I am when it comes to my spices! They are neat on a spinning thingy but that's about it! Is that your writing on those labels or a label maker?
Sandy Toes at www.shellinyourpocket.blogspot.com

Wendy said...

Personally, I LLLOOOOOOVVVVEEE it! But, the first thing I noticed was the font on the labels (I'm a typography lover...wierd huh?) What font did you use?

Unknown said...

What a great idea I love your blog it is very cute with some really good ideas!

Michelle said...

Great idea!

Marie said...

Forget about the time saver! It looks BEAUTIFUL!! I love how it looks. Even the font you used is gorgeous! :o)

Davene said...

Really? You're Type A? Who would have guessed??? *wink*

Seriously, I love the way this looks! My spices are alphabetical, but having identical tins makes a huge difference in how it looks. Well done!

Honey Mommy said...

You don't want to SEE my spice cabinet. I'll have to keep an eye out for some new containers.

Anonymous said...

Love it!!

Sweet Simplicity said...

Can you come organize my spice shelf for me? C'mon, puh-lease!!

Chris said...

I Lu-huve organizing posts. I don't necessarily consider myself "type A", but I have a passion for neatly organized things. This is a great idea!

Darlene said...

Wow what a great idea and too cute! I'm quite impressed with your organization of those spices!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's so pretty! My spices are in alphabetical order, but I don't have matching containers for them. That might be my next purchase!

Anonymous said...

There is no way I am Type A. I wish I were. This is a fantastic idea so neat and organized.

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

Oh this is so exciting for me! I love organization, ha! I have all my spices in a pull out drawer in a lower cabinet so most of the spices are labeled on top so you don't have to pull each one up...but! yes they are all different sizes though! Oh I'll have to figure something new out :)

Jenni said...

I just buy mostly the same brand (so they're in matching little glass bottles, but I can see in them and tell how much is left). Then I sort by type (sweet/savory--basically herbs from spices) and yes, I alphabetize. Why would anyone not alphabetize?!
(Yup, it's true, I'm another Type A, red, oldest child, blah blah blah! LOL!)

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I love that you love to organize - me too. I live in Denver, well, Parker and wonder what are your favorite stores you are talking about?

Tiffers said...

You most definitely DO NOT need help! This is the MOST amazing sight. And, quite frankly, I'm stealing it. In the last few months it has come to my attention just how much I am unorganized in the spice department. FUMBLING constantly looking for what I need. My fall project is organize the spices. BTW, LOVE your title!

Shilo said...

You are tooooooooooooo cute!

Whitney said...

Um, WOW! I wish I had all my spices labled like that. That is such a great idea. And I agree - the tins are the perfect size. Come do that to my kitchen.

AngiDe said...

Wicked good idea! I hate my spice cabinet! thanks for the tip!

Angie
Nana's Box

Rae said...

Oh my, oh my, oh my!! I am giddy with excitement and anticipation to do this is in my kitchen! Marvelous!!!

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

I love this idea! I'm a spice junkie, and I have to dig through my Pendery's spice packets to find what I'm looking for. Your idea would save me some time and trouble. It might even allow me to keep all my spices in the same place. I can dream...

Amy said...

Does it make you smile every time you open that spice cabinet? I'm such a wannabe Type A -- I love and appreciate the order, but am too lazy to actually follow through. Great tip! Thanks for sharing it! I think I can handle trying this one.

Anonymous said...

I am a Type A personality too but my cabinet doesn't look like that! I do have them organized, but not in pretty tins, I love them!

Anonymous said...

I love, love, LOVE this idea!! My fiancee gives me a hard time about whether I'll be so inclined to alphabetize the spices...I'm no longer alone!! This is great information; thank you for sharing!!

Jodee said...

My husband, our cook, would love this idea! I will show him tonight!

I am very Type A too so I am in the same boat!

Stacie@HobbitDoor said...

This might be a little to type A for me, but I do really like it!

Genny said...

From one Type A to another...I LOVE this! How fun to have a spice cupboard that looks so great!

And I really like Shannon's blog too. She is such a beautiful writer and she sounds like such a wonderful mom.

Empty Nest Full Life said...

Great idea and alphabetical order is the easiest way to find them. Makes perfect sense to me. Jackie

Anonymous said...

wow, if only mine could look anywhere near that good, and they're in alphabetical order, phew...

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

WOW!!!!! Come by my house and do mine!!!

sweetfunkyvintage said...

Wow! I want that to greet me when I open the spice cabinet!
Missy

Amanda said...

love your blog- am just starting my own!

Amanda said...

what size are the tins?

Kristen said...

How could something so pretty NOT inspire you to cook?! I LOVE LOVE this idea!!!

Kristen said...

What size are yours? 8 oz? 4 oz? (Um, because I need to know to copy you) :)

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

Hi Kris!
I think the smaller tins are 4 oz. and the larger ones are 8 oz. I use many more of the 4 oz. size and the 8 oz. size is great for things like rosemary, which tends to be bulky and won't fit in the smaller tin. I hope that helps! Let me know if you do the project!
Carrie

Jerralea said...

Wow, I love this! Gotta try it and thanks for giving us the specifics.

I do have my spices alphabetized but they don't all fit in the same place.

Lacy said...

I dont think you need help, just help finding your way to my house. I am a type a wanna be. I love the prettiness of it and I guess functionality is good too. Hee hee. Nice work. Im jealous.

Anonymous said...

My Walmart use to carry the those exact spice tins. They sold for a dollar each. I needed some more so within the last year I went back but couldn't find them. They must have stopped selling them. But it's worth a try, maybe your Walmart carries them. They were in the aisle with all the odds and ends kitchen utensils.