Calendar Pages

As an avid scrapbooker, I tend to preserve almost all of our memories in some way.  I was introduced to calendar pages when I was working at a scrapbooking company.  For those of you that don't know what they are, they are scrapbook pages that have the calendar template printed on them.  But, just as soon as I got hooked they discontinued the pages and I had to find another way.  My sister started using calendars by making her own with a word template and then printing them off and adhering them to a regular scrapbook page.  I have since adopted her version of the calendar page and it works wonderfully!

I love calendar pages because it makes it easy to capture those everyday moments that happen right in front of you.  As soon as they happen, I have my calendar page hanging in my kitchen to journal the word said, the funny thing the child did, milestone reached, etc. I have done them for each child until they are around 2 1/2 or 3 years old.  It is so great to have the page filled each month and so fun to look back at previous year's pages as well.  It doesn't need to be fancy.  You could even use a regular calendar to journal the memories.  It is just another way to capture those little things in life that make it so precious. 

Here are a few examples of the calendar pages used in my scrapbooks.  I found some calendar paper at a local scrapbook store that I use as the background and then just put the calendar page on top, embellish the the page a little and it is complete!  If you don't want to scrapbook the calendars there are many other options to keep them too - put them in a folder, 3-ring binder, etc. 

Wall Letters

My sister has a knack for crafts.  When we had our last two daughters she did these WONDERFUL wall letters for in their room.  It was a long process, but what a beautiful end result - we are very grateful.  It makes the whole room!  I am hoping the style and colors will be appropriate and "cool" enough for the girls to want to keep them in their room for a very long time.  I know their Aunt spent quite a few hours on them so they will always be treasured, at least by me if not the girls.

If you like these and are interested in learning how to do them or would like my sister to do some letters for you, just let me know and I will get you her contact information.  They also make a great gift.

Many uses for fishing supplies

I have heard the saying "If you can't get it at Fleet Farm then you don't really need it."  The store does have a lot of stuff, but I don't think I could live on just that store alone.  They do have great items including fishing organizers that can be used for scrapbooking and organizing toys!

Here is a lure organizer being used to seperate all the little beads that the girls have to make their own necklaces.  It works great!

The picture below is of something that is used for fishing and I am embarrassed to say that I don't even know what for!?  Some of my scrapbooking friends introduced it to me and we use them to store our ribbon. I am displaying the bigger size with wider ribbon but they also have a smaller one that works perfect for the narrower ribbon.

Next time you are near a Fleet Farm, stop in, you might be surprised what you find. Things are not always what they seem, you can always find a new use for something.

Emergency items for your vehicle

I think it is a good idea to have an emergency bag at all times in your vehicle.  I have been caught too many times without an extra set of clothes, extra wipes, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. that I now make sure that I have an emergency/essentials bag in my vehicle.  Most of the items can be used by anyone, so it isn't just necessary if you have children.

Here is what you will find in my emergency bag:

• extra set of clothes for the kids
• extra bib
• extra pullups, underwear, diapers and wipes
• a bottle of water
• snacks for all the kids
• sunscreen ( in season)
• bug spray  (in season)
• extra hair accessories
• extra nuk
• sweatshirts for the kids (in season)

Other items that I tend to have in my vehicle:

• re-usable grocery bag
• magazine/book
• sunglasses
• nail file/polish
• umbrella
• boots, hat, mittens (in season)
• double stroller - if you have room just leave it in your car and you will always have it
• a bag full of books, coloring books/markers and other items to entertain the kids when needed

It may seem like a lot of "extra" stuff to have in your vehicle but when organized and put into the right compartments, it won't make your vehicle look messy. If you ever need to use any of the emergency items, it will be worth it!

Silverware/Hair/Toothpaste and Brush organizer

I know many of you have these in your house, but probably in your silverware drawer and junk drawer.  With a house full of girls we have MANY hair accessories and these drawer organizers come in handy to organize all the clips, pony tails, head bands, etc.  Most of the time things get mixed up a little, but it is still better than what it could look like if they just threw them all in a pile.

I am also using more of a "junk" drawer organizer to organize all the kids toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, etc.  I even found compartments for the girls' earrings and clippers.

Gotta love cheap organizational items!!

House Décor put to good use

Sometimes the common kitchen organizational tools just don't quite fit.  So, I took a few home décor items that I am not using now and tried them out in the kitchen.  The vase worked perfectly for all my favorite kitchen utensils that I use often.  (I have seen many people do this, so I am not taking any of the credit.)  I also decided to use this wooden leaf platter to store fruit and other items that I want to sit out on the counter. 

Neither one cost me more money and they added something new to the kitchen!

More uses for magazines and a 3 ring binder

I love my magazines and should probably read more books instead of them, but I do get a lot of valuable information from them and I keep it for further reference. Some of my favorite magazines are Real Simple, InStyle, Fitness Magazine, Rachael Ray Magazine and Kraft Foods Magazine.

Here are some things that I tear out of these magazines to keep in a 3 ring binder:

• Organizational Tips
• Home Decor ideas
• Gift Ideas
• Recipes - I have a seperate binder just for recipes and organize them by type of dish.  It is amazing how many recipes you can find in all of the above magazines
• Activities for the kids
• Workout tips and moves - I have a seperate binder for all the exercise moves and have them organized by body part.  You could take one sheet from each body part and you would have a workout for the week and then the following week get another sheet from each.  It is an easy way to add variety to your workout.
• Perfume Samples - Recently I was in the market for a new perfume.  I started collecting all the perfume samples from magazines and tried them out.  It was a great way to sample so many perfumes.  It turns out that I really liked the Mariah Carey perfume, which I would have never bought if I wouldn't have tried it.
• Outfit Ideas - I have listed this before but you really can get so many different wardrobe ideas from magazines.  It saves you money and really makes you use what you have.

What would I do without my storage bins?

I am a sucker or anything organizational.  Like I have said before, if I would have the money, I would have many things to better organize my home. But, like everyone, you make do with what you can.   I do have a few organizational items that are great though and inexpensive...

The GREAT plastic storage container

These things are a steal and work wonders! The bins are perfect for organizing all sorts of toys.  They are being used here for play food and snap-n-style dolls/puppies.  I am also using them for polly pockets, littliest pet shop and my little pony sets as well as legos and puzzles - you name it!  I love these particular containers because the top snaps on tightly yet they are not to hard for young children to open and close.  The kids can get out the container they want to play with and easily put it all back!

I have also used the containers with drawers to organize the play kitchen utensils, plates, and cookware as well as all their play doll clothes, food/bottles, diaper bags, etc. 

I like that the kids know they can play and make a mess but that everything does have a spot to go back to.

Make Plans

I heard a saying lately, "Failure to plan is planning to fail."  (not sure who said it or where I saw it)  I agree with this statement.  It can apply to many aspects of your life.  For me, it rings true when planning meals.  If I don't plan out what we are going to eat, then we just throw something together quick, which is most cases, is not very healthy at all.  I have an image below of a meal plan that I use for a meal plan for our family.  I normally do them on Sunday night. I plan out the full week and then do any grocery shopping I need to on Sunday or Monday. It is a good way to go through your fridge, freezer and pantry to use up items that have been in there a while that you may have forgotten about. 

I enter ideas for meals at the bottom of the template so that I can use them to help me think of things.  If you need more ideas, the Kraft Foods website and magazine are great.  You could email a few friends and have them all share 5 dinners that they prepare and that will easily up your listing.   I have also used our school lunch menu to get ideas.

This plan is a template from word that I changed just a bit.  They have many to choose from.  If you would like to use mine and change for your family, just send me an email and I will send it to you.  I also use the word calendar templates for many other things; workout schedules, daily activity schedules for the girls, chore charts, calendars for my scrapbooks, etc.  They really have many possibilities.  There is something about writing things down and seeing them on a calendar that makes you stick to it.

Shoe organizer, not just for shoes anymore

Whether you have no kids or many, there are always things that can be organized.  Last year I was overwhelmed with all the hats/mittens combinations, so this year I used our extra show organizer for a hats/mittens organizer.  Each row is designated to a child.  The 3 lowest rows are low enough for Ethan and Avery to get their own hats/mittens and of course put them back too! (which helps me out).  I really like this particular one because it is see through, so you can see all of the contents of each compartment.

I also use these to organize scrapbook stuff, shoes and toys.  I actually need to buy a few more.  I have seen them used in nurserys too to organize all the stuff you need for a new baby.  Depending on what kind of pantry door you have, they would work great in that area as well to organize plastic utensils, napkins, paper plates, etc.