Sunday, August 15, 2010

Pantry Organization & Giveaway!

You know something that is really disappointing? Finding groceries on a great deal, only to have them expire in the back of your pantry. Likely, you continue to buy that item or a substitute, blissfully unaware that one is in the back of your pantry expiring.

I have a small pantry and the organization of my pantry is a challenge for me. I can clean it out regularly and still, it manages to get messed up and things become hidden. Part of it is everyone looking through the pantry for a snack or dinner or ingredient for dinner and part of it is that desire to sometimes just get the groceries off the counter - not necessarily "put away" just out of the way. Together, these two things lead to my organized pantry quickly becoming a jumbled mess and making it harder to use thing up in a timely manner.

One way to help make sure that I use my groceries up in the order that they were bought (or at least the order that they expire) is to regularly clean out my pantry - but as good as it feels to accomplish, it is just something that I struggle to make the time to complete.

I partially resolved my issues a few years back when I finally located my first canned goods organizer for my pantry. The biggest challenge that I had then was that I only had 6 compartments that could hold cans, so somethings had to be grouped together which meant moving more cans than I like to get to that one thing I wanted. It certainly was leaps beyond what I had before, but still I could use some help.

A few months ago, I learned about Cansolidator from Shelf Reliance. I recently received one to review and let me just say - I love it. As much as I love the other canned goods organizer I have, this one is so much better. One feature that I really like is that the tracks are set up on a bracket that allows you to customize the spacing between tracks. What this allows is the option to allow it to accommodate tuna cans or tomato paste cans or family size cans. This was something my current organizer did not allow. In addition, with the size of the tracks, it is much easier to accommodate larger diameter cans as well. With my first organizer, when I would use it for cans like Progresso soup, they would sometimes hang up in back, but with the Cansolidator, the larger tracks allow this size and larger cans to easily be stored. The height on this organizer is shorter than my old one. This allows me to put the rack directly on my pantry shelf. There is even room above it, where I have placed some boxed goods for easy access. However, if you have the room, the Cansolidator is designed to be stacked one on top of the other or expanded end to end. I love this flexibility. The pantry unit lists a capacity of 40 cans, but really, this will depend a lot on the size of can that you are storing. I'm guessing larger cans won't fit as many. In addition, if you are storing some cans that are smaller, you have the option to purchase an additional track as an accessory to gain an additional row of storage and increasing your capacity.

The Cansolidator was very easy to assemble. Start with the end track and then, using your cans and the numbers on the bracket as a guide, determine where to place the next track. It is all plastic construction and seems very sturdy.

You can see how I am using mine:

I am using it for a lot of my smaller cans - tomato sauce, tomato paste, tuna and then one row of larger soup cans. Since I have another organizer that is working for my small soup cans, as well as for vegetables, beans and canned pasta items, it made sense for me to use this more flexible unit to organize the different sizes. You can see also, that I have room to the right side of mine and could accommodate another row of cans if I purchase an additional track. Right now, I am using this space in my pantry to store peanut butter, since the bracket forces there to be a gap between the right row of cans and the wall - it works for me now, but at some point in the future, I probably will pick up an additional track.

Would you like to have a Cansolidator? You can purchase them from Shelf Reliance - the prices range from $35 - $63 for the Cansolidator Cupboard to Cansolidator Pantry Plus. Right now they are available at a discount of 25% (not sure if this is limited time offer or not, it doesn't say).

Giveaway:
You can also enter to win a Cansolidator Pantry. Shelf Reliance has provided one Cansolidator Pantry for giveaway to one A Busy Mom of Two reader.

To enter - Leave a comment letting me know you would like to win.

Additional Entries (leave a comment for each additional entry)

  • Follow A Busy Mom of Two on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. This can be once daily, please be sure to leave a link to the tweet in your comment.


  • Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your post.


  • Sign up to receive daily updates. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribe (or that you already do).


  • Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook. Leave a comment letting me know you did.


  • Giveaway will remain open until August 26th at 6pm. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.

    No compensation was received for this post and the opinions are all mine. Shelf Reliance provided one Cansolidator Pantry for my review and another for the giveaway.

    90 comments:

    Tracy Harper said...

    I would love to win this!

    tharper31@hotmail.com

    Tracy Harper said...

    I'm an email subscriber.

    tharper31@hotmail.com

    Anonymous said...

    Wow - I really really really really need to win this!!

    deborahcraft at yahoo dot com

    Nancy said...

    I'd love to win this. It would improve my pantry.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    Nancy said...

    I am an e-mail subscriber.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    Anonymous said...

    My tiny pantry is in desparate need of organization--I'd love to win this!

    Anonymous said...

    This would help my cabinets so much!!! Would love it!

    angela_paulsen@bellsouth.net
    (Check out my blog giveaway!)

    Melissa said...

    I could really use this as I live in a tiny apartment!


    giveawaymommy at yahoo.com

    Debbie said...

    I really want to win this! My pantry is overwhelmed with cans, and this would make it so much more organized!

    Debbie: rebbiedeed(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Unknown said...

    I love our shelf reliance shelf (except that it doesn't fit IN our kitchen pantry *lol*) I'd love some of these that would! amber@darlingdiapers.com

    NeedANap2 said...

    I'd love to win this!!

    NeedANap2 said...

    You're on my bloglines. :)

    Mary Jo - Savin' Green Mom said...

    I would LOVE to win this!!!

    gubbymj@new.r.com

    Mary Jo - Savin' Green Mom said...

    Shared the link to this contest with my FB friends :)

    gubbymj@new.rr.com

    Mary Jo - Savin' Green Mom said...

    Follow you on Twitter and tweeted the giveaway!! :)

    mjplus4

    gubbymj@new.rr.com

    Shawna said...

    I'd love to win this!! Thanks for the great giveaway!

    shawna at couponladyonline dot com

    LeAnna said...

    Would love to win this!!
    leejeagle@hotmail.com

    Shelly T. said...

    I would love to win this!

    s-tay(at)cox(dot)net

    Liz said...

    This would really help in my smal pantry!

    Chaos Cottage said...

    My pantry is deep and it is hard to know what is in there. I could really use more organization.

    Theresa said...

    I would love to win!

    Theresa said...

    Email subscriber

    Heather! said...

    You have NO IDEA how badly I need a product like this! :) Seriously...it's one of the most annoying times of day when I have to go to the cupboards and try to find a can of such-and-such and I have to remove half the cans in the cupboard first just to find the one I'm looking for. Not to mention the problem of things expiring before I've used them, as you mentioned. The Cansolidator would be amazing!

    Thank you!
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Heather! said...

    I follow Busy Mom of Two on Twitter as hybroanglid, and I tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/21421165639

    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Diseños de Uñas said...

    I want to win this?
    adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

    Diseños de Uñas said...

    Follow A Busy Mom of Two
    tweeted
    https://twitter.com/adalia080/status/21428253733
    adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

    Diseños de Uñas said...

    I'm an email suscriber
    adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

    Diseños de Uñas said...

    I shared this giveaway on FB
    adalia montalvo
    adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

    Connie said...

    I have always thought it would be great to own one of these. My pantry would look so much neater......I hope!

    Hifam said...

    I would love to win this. My pantry is a mess and this would really help!
    hickenfam at hotmail dot com

    Hifam said...

    I subscribe to emails.
    hickenfam at hotmail dot com

    Jennifer said...

    I would use it for my cream of "" soups!!! I have a ton of them!
    thekillerbeesx3 at yahoo dot com

    Anonymous said...

    I want to win this!! Definitley would be put to good use in our kitchen!! -Liz, chlives at hotmail dot com

    Anonymous said...

    I would love to win this, would be perfect for my cabinet.
    tcogbill at live dot com

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/21562525417
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/21649414864
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/21820181666
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/21902485278
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Paulette said...

    I am a stockpiling mom, so I have lots of little cans. I think this product would be a huge help!

    mullinsp3@gmail.com

    DM said...

    I would love to win this! Thanks!

    doodlebugsplanet (at) gmail (dot) com

    Jay said...

    Thanks! Would love to win!
    rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/21980600401
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Christie said...

    This would help me rotate oldest out, newest to the back in my stockpile!

    MKB said...

    I need this for all of the can goods so I can see them! I would love to win!

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/22088221102
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Janice Richardson said...

    I'd love to get my pantry organized! Thanks for the giveaway!
    jltreasure at gmail

    Rachel said...

    This would help!

    rstcere@gmail.com

    Rachel said...

    Tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/MsGatorRN/status/22117807498

    rstcere@gmail.com

    Melissa said...

    I would love to win this!

    beleecame@yahoo.com

    Isabelle said...

    I'd love to win too!
    izzie0129 at yahoo dot com

    Anonymous said...

    I want this, My cabinets need it.


    randycrai@yahoo.com

    Anonymous said...

    I signed up for your emails



    randycrai@yahoo.com

    Melissa said...

    I signed up for your emails

    beleecame at yahoo dot com

    janetfaye said...

    I would like to win!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

    Monica said...

    I would love to win

    couponmoni at gmail dot com

    Heather! said...

    Daily tweet!
    http://twitter.com/hybroanglid/status/22166112704
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Karen said...

    I really want to win this!

    karenbog at yahoo dot com

    Kate and Wes said...

    I could really use this to get my pantry organized!

    katrinasouthwick at gmail dot com

    Kate and Wes said...

    subscribe via email under kpsouthwick@

    katrinasouthwick at gmail dot com

    Hifam said...

    I would love to win one of these. They look wonderful!
    hickenfam at hotmail dot com

    Randi said...

    I would love to win this! Thanks! mommy saves at yahoo dot com

    Jeremy J. said...

    Great storage solution, would love to win it. nmbr1dftpik at yahoo dot com

    Hifam said...

    I subscribe to your emails.
    hickenfam at hotmail dot com

    Michelle said...

    I would love to win this!
    Missmich911 at aol dot com

    Randi said...

    Signed up for your daily emails, thanks! mommy saves at yahoo dot com

    degood said...

    I have very little kitchen storage so i keep my cans in the hallway linen closet. This would help organize them and i would love to win.

    kerrie@mayansfamily.com

    Katherine said...

    I would love to win this! I am always moving around my cans of beans and veggies to find something else.
    Katherine
    peachykeen817 at hotmail dot com

    Anonymous said...

    I would LOVE to win!
    rosanova_family@comcast.net

    LJD said...

    I would love to win! My kids are always complaining that my pantry is a mess (they really just want to be able to see the cookies better!).

    Laura said...

    I would love to use this to organize my hurricane supplies. Thanks for the giveaway!

    laurapita4(at)gmail(dot)com

    Anonymous said...

    This would be awesome! Thanks!
    shakenafist@ yahoo.com

    Ashley R said...

    I would really like to win this!!
    reynoldsmommy at gmail dot com

    Ashley R said...

    I receive daily updates via google reader!
    reynoldsmommy at gmail dot com

    Ashley R said...

    I follow you on twitter and I tweeted! (@reynoldsmom)
    http://twitter.com/reynoldsmom/status/22206712832
    reynoldsmommy at gmail dot com

    tristatecruisers said...

    i would love to win this--i need it in my kitchen really bad--been stockpiling and this would help a lot. :)

    marci
    tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com

    tristatecruisers said...

    subscribe via e-mails :)

    marci
    tristatecruisers at yahoo dot com

    Baby Mama said...

    I would love to win!
    sarahlovesvegas@hotmail

    Baby Mama said...

    Im an email subscriber
    sarahlovesvegas@hotmail

    Jes said...

    I'd like to get this!

    jswaks at gmail dot com

    Jes said...

    Subscribe via email

    jswaks at gmail dot com

    Christi Williams said...

    I would love to win this. I have been working hard to get my food storage built up and using my coupons. It would help a lot!!

    Jessica cobb said...

    I would use this for my obsessive coupon deals on organic diced tomatoes! We have tons of cans!

    cobb.ja@gmail.com

    Anonymous said...

    i hope i win, i would love too.
    tcogbill at live dot com

    Christi Williams said...

    Following on Twitter and tweeted about this giveaway.
    http://twitter.com/ChristiWilliams/status/22211746699

    Christi Williams said...

    I Signed up to receive daily updates via emails.

    Christi Williams said...

    I shared t his giveaway on Facebook.

    Anonymous said...

    I would love, love, love!!!!!!

    JAdams4871@aol.com

    Emily said...

    This would help me so much. I don't have even a small pantry so I am trying to store everything nicely in a cupboard. It ends up in a mess all the time!

    emilystevens03@yahoo.com

    Sylvia said...

    I would love this. I want to win
    sylviawhit@gmail.com

    Sylvia said...

    I subscrbe to you emails
    sylviawhit@gmail.com