Kitchen organizing 2022, easy creamy vegan tomato soup, DIY terracotta pinch bowls, and more.
Lifestyle 101
If decluttering your home is at the top of your 2022 list then we have you covered. Something about the new year makes us want to clean out our closets, organize our drawers and donate all the stuff we no longer have a need for. Above is a small kitchen list of products I personally have and love. I also love the natural organic feel of bamboo in the kitchen. Just click the Amazon products below to shop for each item. Also, Target has some exciting organizing news, which I’ll share below in the organize 101 section. Your world just got cleaner and your bank account will thank you!
Handled Bamboo Storage Bins: Contain the chips and loose items in your pantry with bins. This set is pretty and functional. You can find them here.
Bamboo Drawer Dividers: I love these dividers and have them in my kitchen and bedroom drawers. They are adjustable and keep order in a drawer that is larger. I have two in my kitchen towel drawer to keep my file folded towels tidy. Also, two in a kitchen drawer where divided organizers aren’t large enough. It divided the drawer into thirds for serving spoons, spatulas, etc. Linked here.
Black Counter Stand: This stand is great for a coffee area or for fruit storage. Works great in the kitchen and bathroom. Linked here.
Egg Holder: This is a basic necessity I assume everyone must already have or maybe it’s time to replace? Linked here.
Bamboo Ziploc Holder: I love these because they match the bamboo theme I have in my kitchen but also because they are not all connected so I can choose the best layout for my drawer. Link up here.
Minimalist Spice Jar Labels: I love the look and clean lines of these labels, add them to your spice jars for a cohesive pantry. Linked here.
Bamboo Expandable Drawer Organizer: I have several of these in my kitchen and they fit so well because they are adjustable. They look nicer than plastic and really elevate the drawer. Am I the only one who opens a drawer and falls in love with its aesthetic? Shop yours here.
Product 101
Olive & June
I might be the only girl who hates getting a mani/pedi! I don’t actually hate the process but I hate that it takes so much time and I can’t multi-task while it’s happening. So, yeah, maybe my self-care game needs some help but anyhow…. I recently received the Olive & June Mani System and I must say it’s pretty fabulous. It came with the full mani set and I chose the Winter Collection polishes. There are a few things in the kit that were game changers for me and up’d the old way of painting your nails at home. I forgot how fun the little polish remover pot is and the cuticle serum is pretty awesome and I love that they give you a brush to clean the polish of your cuticle, but the thing that I love most is “The Poppy”. It’s a little pink flat top that slides on the polish bottle and makes control of the paint so much easier, especially on your non-dominant hand. My mani lasts just as long as my salon service and with a twice a month mani and pedi I’m saving more than $100 a month. This means I can now buy home decor which is what I really want! :)
Food 101
Easy Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup
My daughter’s and I love sharing new recipes with each other when we make something we think is worth a re-make. Amanda shared this recipe with me last week and it’s an easy one but oooo so yummy and hits the spot on those cold winter days. The key to the in-depth flavor is the slow caramelization of the onions. I served mine over some ravioli, Amanda did tortellini, but you can also just enjoy it straight up, it keeps well and makes for a great next-day lunch. You can print the recipe from the ambitious kitchen here.
DIY 101
Clay Pinch Bowls
When I started this project I wanted to use my white clay and some gold paint. Turns out my white clay was dried up so I used the terracotta clay I had on hand. The terracotta works well here in the desert but I think the white would be beautiful just about anywhere. These are simple to make and can be used for just about anything, except food, they are not food safe. I used my small one for jewelry on my nightstand, and she is so cute. :)
What You’ll Need:
Modeling clay or air dry clay in the color of your choice I got mine here.
Rolling Pin
Parchment or something disposable to roll the dough out on
Bowls of different sizes. I used a small and a medium bowl
A small bowl of water
Step 1:
Make sure your clay is room temperature. Cut a portion off the end of the block. My entire block made 3 small bowls and 2 medium bowls. Roll the clay into a ball with your hands..
Step 2:
Roll the ball out on a piece of parchment with a rolling pin until it’s approximately 1/8 in thick or however thick you’d like your bowl to be. Remember this is your bowl, there are no rules. we are having fun, right?
Step 3:
Next, place the clay over the bowl letting it naturally fall into shape. Make sure your bowl is smooth with no pattern or your clay will pick up the pattern marks. I wanted a very natural, not perfected look. I pinched the sides in a few places until I liked the look. Use larger pieces for larger bowls, you’ll have an idea of what each size needs after you make your first one. Once you like the shape, gently remove the bowl from the clay.
Step 4:
Once all your bowls are made let them dry for 2 days. I placed mine in a sunny spot, occasionally turning them and eventually flipping them over.
Step 5:
I wanted to play around with some paint so I tried using some white craft paint to lightly paint the edges. I love how in some light they look like leather.
Boom, you did it!
Organize 101
Target’s Launch Of Container Store Dupes
This week Target announced the release of their new brand Brightroom. The Brightroom storage brand features a range of containers and organizers including shelving units, plastic tubs and totes, storage baskets, closet organizers, and more. At launch, the brand will have more than 450 items, with most under $25 and a few as low as $1.
"We know the new year brings opportunities for new beginnings, including an eagerness to organize our homes for the year ahead. To help our guests do just that, we're excited to introduce Brightroom, Target's first dedicated storage and home organization owned brand," says Samara Tuchband, Target's senior vice president of merchandising for home. "Brightroom is all about helping guests easily organize their homes with hundreds of well-designed and functional pieces—all at an incredible value."
This is super exciting for me as an organizer but also for you as a consumer since we typically use The Container Store for our projects this will reduce the cost for clients because sometimes the products cost more than our service. It’s a win-win! If you haven’t seen it in your Target store yet, keep your eyes out for the rollout near you in March.
Thank you for joining me in another year of all things beautiful, I enjoy our time together. In this new year I will be scaling my weekly blog posts back to twice a month as the increase in work makes it hard to get it all done. The truth is being the creator, the blogger, the designer, the event planner, the bookkeeper and more can be a lot! Growth is good, maybe someday soon an assistant will be part of 2022! Thank you guys for the growth, I’m here for it!
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