Mason Jar Monday - Salt, Pepper, and Toothpicks Oh My

Fluer de Lis Set/Holder

I have been looking over my household inventory to decide how to best start paring down all this detritus and carve out what I want to keep for my Tiny House. I plan to sell off things I don't need (nick-knacks, extra household goods, etc.) to acquire things I do (building supplies, smaller versions of things I parted with, etc.). I have decided to stick with Mason Jars as a theme in the kitchen because they are so versatile. Mason jars work for storage, are inexpensive, recyclable, reusable, and look great. On Amazon this morning I found both a toothpick holder and salt and pepper shakers that look like mini Mason jars. Why, you may ask, is this worthy of a Mason Jar Monday blog post? There are several reasons:

Perfect Size: Both the salt and pepper and the toothpick jar are 3 3/4" tall x 1 1/2" in diameter. Not too big, but not too small. This means they have a small footprint, they easily fit on a window sill or small shelf, and/or don't take up much space in even the smallest of cabinets.

Mason Salt and Pepper Shakers

Aesthetic: Fitting with the "homey" theme of my tiny house, the jars are new but made of recycled green glass, complete with bubbles and waves just like the old school jars, and include an attractive tin-look screw on lid with appropriate size holes for dispensing what they store.

Mason Toothpick Holder

Easy to Wash: Soap and water or dishwasher, both can be used. The salt and pepper shakers hold enough product to be useful, but not so much that having to empty or refill them is an issue. The amount of salt and pepper each holds will be consumed in a reasonable amount of time, so the pepper won't lose its "pep."

The price is ok, not great, but ok. I found a deal on Amazon for the salt and pepper set in a little caddy for $6.80 with Prime shipping, so I suggest you hunt around for the best price. The toothpick holder was $7.49 with Prime. I have never purchased a toothpick holder before, but I don't like having a box of toothpicks in my pantry because I always end up spilling them. Doing that last night inspired me to go searching for a toothpick holder and that is how I stumbled across the Mason jar style one. I figure this is a nice way to corral them and it is attractive at the same time. If you like them too and would like to purchase a set for yourself, you can click on the pictures for a link to my Amazon store. I think they would make a lovely housewarming gift or holiday present. Think pairing them up with a cookbook, some wooden spoons, and some napkins in a gift basket.

What do you think? Do you like the look of these? Do you think they are too small or just right? Do you have any clever uses for Mason jars? Share with us!