Starting Fresh, Organizing, and A Quick Healthy Snack

Hey all!  Like many others, one of my goals this year is to eat healthier.  So on New Years Day rather than spending my time taking down Christmas decorations, like I usually do, I cleaned out my pantry and refrigerator.  Then I restocked with lots of good healthy food.

I painted the fronts of the pull out drawers with chalkboard paint a couple years ago, and that has helped to make things easy to find.  To make things even simpler, I brought in a few bins and baskets to  help corral a few items.

The Coca-cola bin was a Walmart purchase from back in the summer.  I used it quite a bit for entertaining during summer parties, but it seemed silly to leave it unused in a cabinet when it's the perfect size for my baking essentials.

I also decided to re-use a few of the gift baskets we received over the holidays.  Here's to hoping these new changes help to keep things a little better organized!

The newest addition to my pantry is one that I'm ridiculously excited about - my hub just didn't get what all the fuss was about - so I'm really hoping you do.  ;)   I'm forever pulling out recipes from magazines or printing out recipes I find on blogs, but I've never really had a great place to put them.   Until now......

duh, why have I never thought to do this before?  I cut down a couple of cork panels to size and used super thin command strips to adhere them to the inside of the cabinet door.  Now I have a great little spot for all those recipes I want to try.

Those are just black letter stickers from my craft stash.  I don't know why, but little things like this put a giant grin on my face.  I realize I have issues.  We can still be friends right?

Moving on to the refrigerator......

do you hear that?  Yes, the angels are singing!!  Okay, maybe not really, but they should be because my refrigerator has never looked this clean before - ever!  This may seem small to you, but again big ol' grin over here.  It just feels so good to start the year off on a super fresh note.

And in keeping with my "start fresh" approach this year, I made my own spa water, you should say it in a fancy voice, because it makes it taste better.  ;)

I'm all about more water this year.  And this lemon and cucumber infused water takes drinking water to a whole new level.  It is sooooo refreshing!

And speaking of cucumbers, here's a yummy healthy snack you won't feel guilty about devouring.

Kimchi is a traditional Korean dish that is made with napa cabbage, but I prefer to use cucumbers.  This is the easiest recipe because there basically isn't one.  I never measure anything.  I always make it to taste.  I love making things that call for throwing a bunch of stuff in a bowl, mixing it together, and calling it done.  Don't you?

So here's what you'll need: 

Distilled white vinegar 

Tamari - or for those that aren't gluten free, Soy Sauce

Fresh Lemon Juice

Ground Ginger

Red Pepper Flakes

I like a combination that includes more vinegar than soy sauce.  I never measure anything.  I just combine the ingredients to taste.  Then I put my cool spicy hot cucumbers in the refrigerator........

and when I want to have a snack I grab a little bowl of these guys.

What are your go to healthy snacks?  Are you on a "start fresh" kick too?  Here's to hoping this lasts  - for at least the month of January.  ;)