Countertop Salt Jar

I cook a lot. I think I might have mentioned that. So I wanted a salt container that I could leave out on the counter that I wouldn't have to go to the spice cupboard each time. I've seen some salt cellars at specialty stores that were incredibly expensive and didn't have a wow factor for me. So, I set about re-creating something in my own style.

Over the next couple thrift store visits, I found a perfect little white crock for a couple dollars. It had no markings and clean lines.

Back at home, I searched online for an image I liked and saved it to my computer. From one of my favorite fellow bloggers, Just Something I Made, I'd already learned about inkjet waterslide decal paper. I LOVE it! You can make so many cool things without having a pricey machine, just using your printer. Cathe from JSIM recommends getting the decal paper from here so I did and was happy with my order but I've since seen it on Amazon too. Maybe you can even find it locally?

Another Pantry Makeover and a little sumpin' sumpin'

When I was laying this crazy blog idea on my best friend Cathy, she offered to let me organize her pantry. I know...do I have awesome friends or what?!! But mind you, I have never in 15 years seen her house anything but spotless so I doubted whether I had anything to offer her. Her husband is a master craftsmen and built their dream house a couple years ago. She has a beautiful and good size pantry.  I took a peek into her pantry and saw a couple things I would do differently but thought we’d be done in an hour or two at most.  I shopped the thrift for baskets and glass jars and found tons of good stuff for under $20 (my personal goal). Sorry, I wish I had taken a picture of all that I bought.

Before:

On pantry day, Cathy gave me free rein to do whatever I wanted in there. I do have a bossy gene but its nerve wracking trying to forget that you care about this person and don't want to mess up her system too.  Finally I got into my groove. No kidding, I can lose myself organizing. I’ve been known to sort my husband’s little screw chest just because.  

What I did:

• moved all smaller appliances together to one side which delegated two sides for food.
• put appliances she rarely uses up higher and the ones she uses all the time at eye-level.
• put all like small ingredients in baskets (drink mixes, pasta, snacks) and labeled them with cute chalkboard signs I'd made earlier.

Sidebar please. Cathy is keeping me company while I’m doing my thing and we’re talking drink recipes (nothing new there)  Cathy drops a bombshell on me by telling me about this new Whipped Cream Vodka! Wha…aaatt?!!! I thought I must have heard her wrong. Two of my favorite things; whipped cream+vodka?! I immediately wished I had invented it. She just happened to have some and poured me a small glass. I asked if she had some root beer which she did.  By time she got it and got back to my glass, it was almost empty. Oops. I kid you not…my lips felt all smooth and whipped creamy for a long time. Cathy said I shouldn’t have drank it so fast but I wasn’t complaining. You have got to try this vodka. This stuff could make an alcoholic out of me.