Clearly, that was not the case. My spice drawer didn’t look terrible, but it certainly wasn’t organized. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I needed some new spice jars for organizing my spices.

I did some research and finally decided on the Aozita brand on Amazon. They are not only affordable, but they are available in three different sizes – 14 jars, 24 jars, 36 jars, and 48 jars. Labels and a handy expandable funnel that folds flat are also included. Best of all, these jars are squared so they won’t roll in a drawer and they optimize use of space when standing on a shelf or in a cabinet. My jars arrived a couple days later and I got to work.

This is how I did it, and how you can too!

• Pull all your spices out and place them on the counter.
• Put them in alphabetical order across you counter.
• Discard any spices that you never use.
• Wash and dry your new jars.
• Fill your spice jars alphabetically. This will make it easier to find the labels that you need quickly.
• I used the funnel included with my jars for some the spices, but found that some spices stuck to it and I had to stop to wash the funnel. I then switched to an old plastic funnel that I have had for years. It worked very well on all spices. The collapsible funnel is better for filling one time.
• Discard/recycle your old spice containers
• Place a nice non grip drawer liner in your drawer (optional)
• Put your jars in alphabetically.
• Stare at the results and pat yourself on the back.
• Open your drawer frequently. It will make you smile.

I am so happy with the results of my spice drawer organization. I absolutely love the way these jars look in my drawer. Of course, you don’t have to put the spice jars in a drawer. They would also work great in your cabinet or on a pantry shelf.

By the way, I have also found the very best measuring spoons! I’ve always hated when my large measuring spoons wouldn’t fit into spice jars. Then I came across these Spring Chef Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Metal Measuring Spoons that will fit into any spice drawer. Now, I keep them right in the drawer with my spices. As of the time of this writing, they are priced at $12.97 and get 4.8 stars out of over 8000 reviews!

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First, you will need three things – a tray, a small flower vase with flower, and 20 – 30 loose flower stems. For spring, I absolutely love these artificial tulips. They are so affordable and are the best faux tulips I have ever seen anywhere. And they come in lots of colors!

Place your flower vase in the center of your tray. If you are going to be using your centerpiece on a table, be sure that your vase is not too tall or your guests will be talking through it. If you want a taller vase in the middle, use your centerpiece on the counter instead of your table.

Place the first stem so that the head of the flower is snug against the edge of the tray and the stem is against your flower vase.

Place the second flower stem in the same manner and cross the stem over the first flower stem.

Continue around the tray, placing the flower heads about the same distance from each other and crossing over them stems. As you are approaching the first flowers, be sure to tuck the stems under them. Continue until you have completed your circle around the tray.

If you make your own DIY Spring Table Centerpiece, I’d love to hear from you. I just love the way this one turned out. It took me awhile to think of it. I knew I wanted a simple centerpiece with white flowers but didn’t know where to start. I already had the tulips (love love love them!), but they were too tall. One night while I couldn’t sleep I started thinking about the centerpiece and how I might use the tulips in a different way. That is when this idea came to me. I was so excited to try it in the morning. I am so happy with the result! Let me know how yours turns out!

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She knows I have two coffeemakers in my kitchen but she said she couldn’t endure a week without her Nespresso coffee. “You’ll see. Once you try it, you’ll love it,” she told me. I’m certain I rolled my eyes. One more thing to store in my pantry after she leaves, I thought.

The first few days of her visit I declined her offer when she asked me if I’d like one of her coffees. I had to admit, the aroma was amazing, but I had iced coffee stored in the frig so I stuck to that.

The third day my decanter of iced coffee was empty so I took her up on her offer. I grabbed my Yeti (I live in Florida where owning a Yeti is mandatory), filled it with ice, and waited while she made me a coffee. After a very short time, she handed me my coffee with a smile, anticipating my response. I had to admit, the coffee not only had a heavenly aroma, it also looked delicious! It had just a little creamy foam on the top. My coffee makers can’t do that in one step. But still, I wasn’t convinced. I liked the coffee from both of my coffee makers. I poured a little creamer into the coffee cup and then poured it into my ice filled Yeti. And then. I took. A single sip. I was convinced.

Lee Anne watched me, smiling. “Right?” she asked.

I nodded. “Make me another one.” After all, my large Yeti was only half full.

“I told you,” she said as she laughed and made me another coffee.

Now, every morning, it’s me, some ice, my Yeti, and two Forisso Lungos. That’s my favorite flavor. The Nespresso Essenza mini is actually a coffeemaker that makes espresso – basically small cups of strong coffee. It makes two sizes of coffee. ESPRESSO setting is 1.6 oz. LUNGO is 5 oz. One capsule makes one coffee.

You can use either of those settings or you can “train” your Nepresso Essenza mini to make the perfect size coffee for you. Simply hold down either the Espresso or Lungo button on top of the coffeemaker until the coffee cup fills to the appropriate level. Then the next time you use that particular flavor capsule, your coffeemaker will remember your desired level and fill it appropriately. I absolutely love this feature! Totally custom coffee every morning (and, who are we kidding, sometimes in the afternoon too!). One capsule makes one cup of coffee. I make two cups every morning and pour them over ice in my large Yeti cup. Instant iced coffee!

As I said, my favorite flavor is Forisso Lungo and it is one of the flavors that is included in the Nespresso Original Welcome Kit that comes with the coffeemaker linked below. The welcome kit has 16 capsules of different flavors. The capsules are recyclable, which is really nice. This coffeemaker takes up very little space on the counter and makes an amazing cup of coffee in about 30 seconds. Every morning, it’s a treat to just stand in the kitchen and smell the aroma. It’s like owning my own little coffee shop.

My other two coffee makers still get used by my husband. He uses one for hot coffee and the other for iced coffee. He says he doesn’t need “fancy” coffee. As of this writing, he still hasn’t even tried the Nespresso. Is it bad that I’m happy about that? I really don’t want to share. If I ever went to the pantry to find that he had used the last of my Nespresso coffee capsules, it would be really ugly. So, it’s just best to avoid that. Right?

As for me and Lee Anne, we loooooooove our fancy coffee. I have to say it. She was right. The Nespresso Essenza Mini makes the best coffee ever.

As I write this, I’m on a plane headed to Lee Anne’s home. She texted me this morning – I just ordered some extra coffee capsules for us.

That’s my girl.

SHOP this post here.

Related posts:

• How to Create a Coffee Bar In Your Home
• Shop All My Coffee Bar Decorations

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What is Sous Vide?

Sous vide is French for “under vacuum”. Cooking with sous vide is basically sealing your food in a plastic bag and then cooking that food in temperature controlled water. The food cooks at the same gradual and controlled temperature throughout the cooking process. Since the water is circulated around your food, the food is cooked evenly throughout. Plus, you can leave it in the water bath (with the sous vide still on) for up to an hour after it is finished cooking if you aren’t ready to eat. It won’t overcook because the temperature is kept at a steady constant. Awesome!

Benefits of Sous Vide Cooking

There are many reasons to use sous vide for cooking your food.

• No overcooking – your food is done to perfection every time
• No guessing if your food is done or not
• Seals in flavor and nutrients
• Lower cost cuts of meat are more tender and juicy
• Low stress and low mess
• Absolutely delicious

What You Need for Sous Vide Cooking

Sous vide cooking used to be possible for restaurants only, due to the cost of the equipment. Now anyone can do sous vide because there are low cost and convenient sous vide cooking machines available for home use.

My husband did his research (he does with everything lol) and we purchased the same sous vide cooker our son-in-law uses.

Sous Vide Cooking Machine

We use the ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide (1100 Watts) machine. It is small and easy to store, and uses your phone for control. The phone app is super simple and even includes recipe suggestions. My husband says that it’s so easy a monkey could do it. 🙂

Plastic Freezer Bags (BPA Free)

We use gallon sized Ziploc Freezer Bags. They are heavier than other brands and BPA free. They hold up to some of the higher temperatures you need for some meals.

Cooking Container

The beauty of the ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide (1100 Watts) machine is that you can use any of your existing cooking containers. Just add water and drop in the machine (it has a clamp to attach it).

But if you want to take it up a notch, my husband bought the EVERIE Sous Vide Container 12 Quart. It is made for the ChefSteps Joule and is clear, easy to store, and makes it even easier to use the ChefStep.

Last Step for Meats – Searing

When you cook meat in a sous vide there is no contact with a heat source such as a pan or grill. The meat therefore comes out looking gray and bland. The solution to this is to sear it very quickly on a pan or my husbands favorite – the grill. Searing gives your meat a yummy caramelized look.

Sous Vide Mistake Proofs Cooking

The thing my husband loves most about the sous vide is that it mistake proofs his grilling. He no longer has to worry about overcooking and burning, or under-cooking and grossed out guests. The thing I love most about it is that he does all the work (but don’t tell him that!).

We love everything we cook using our sous vide cooking machine. You will too!

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When my toaster quit working recently I started looking for a new one. I wasn’t looking for a “coastal” toaster but when I saw the colors available for the highly-rated Cusinaid 4 Slot Stainless Steel Toaster, I just HAD to have the blue one! I mean, really, how cute is this toaster? And I can safely say that is a question I have never asked in my life. Ha!

The toaster has 7 browning settings so you are sure to find one that is perfect for you. We like number three. It has a defrost setting for frozen bread, but I have to admit I’ve never used that feature. It also has a handy Reheat feature that lets you reheat your toast without over browning or burning it. This is convenient when you time the toast wrong. As I did this morning. Darned bacon just took too long to cook. But, come on, its bacon so it was worth the wait!

This is also the only toaster I have ever bought that actually adds to the look of my kitchen. I normally put the toaster away after using it, but I have been known to leave this one out on the counter for a couple hours just because I like the way it looks. And if you want your friends to have toaster envy, this is the toaster for you. Everyone that sees this toaster wants one. Again, I’ve never experienced that before. A toaster is a toaster is a toaster. Right? Not with this little ! And gem you are not feeling the blue, it is also available in silver and red!

Some more great features in this Cusinaid Toaster include 1.5 inch slots and a removable crumb tray. If you don’t want the four slice feature, this toaster is also available in a two slice model. Either way, you are going to add a little beauty to your kitchen when you buy this toaster. I have to admit, this is the first time in my life that I have ever been excited about a toaster. You will be too!

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