I am a natural-born organizer but if I may be truthful... I only like to do the fun organizing now that I am an adult and busy and can’t stay up until 3 a.m. every night alphabetizing my cassette tapes and CDs. So until recently, I avoided organizing my files at all costs. Oh sure, once a year at tax time I would vow to finally get it all sorted the right way (you know, the “Martha Stewart Way”). This new system would last 3 minutes and I was back to just cramming everything into a file based on whatever month I received it. When I moved a few months ago (which always gives a fresh start to any area in need of organization in your life), I did some research online (you know, like searched Pinterest for hours) and found some … [Read more...]
5 DIY Chore Charts for Kids
Every year I feel the need to re-assess the current chore assignments, or the chore charts, in our home. With five kids, if done correctly, our family could have a tidy home on a daily basis. Of course, I keep all of our chores age appropriate. My twelve-year-old does things like cleaning the bathrooms and starting laundry, where as my seven-year-old works on his bedroom or sweeping off the back porch. I also don't want to overwhelm them. Each child has 1-2 chores per day. In the last couple of weeks, I've been on the lookout for a chore chart that would be both easy to follow AND fun for the kids. I've come across a few that I think are both practical and fun. I think you'll agree. /1/ Family Photo Magnetic Chore Chart - Create magnet tags with chores and place them on or near the … [Read more...]
Ultimate College Shopping List!
303fc7c2950e2a00896d7c4d0e4c9a3fc4df3fbe0a6dd14202 Last year I sent my eldest off to school & so I reached out to some current college students to ask them what items they couldn’t live without. This comprehensive list is a great start to the process & it should hopefully make the task a little easier (maybe even a little fun), enjoy! Click here to download & print As you can see it is packed full of goodies from Lilly Pulitzer & kate spade new york to items you can find at Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Kmart, HomeGoods, etc. I love the “move in day essentials” which include a rubber mallet for pounding your bed together (or the futon you bought for your common room) as well as the tape measure & screw driver. I know that a few of the girls I spoke too … [Read more...]
8 Tips for Navigating Home Life as Newlyweds
The reception luncheon is over, all the wedding gifts are opened, and you and your spouse just got back from your two-week honeymoon on a tropical beach. Now is when the real adventure starts. The first year of marriage will be a challenge — you’ll have to find a way to blend differing expectations of house-related responsibilities — but it’ll also be a time to grow closer to your spouse as you build your home together. To give you a head start on making some happy memories, here are eight tips to help you manage the day-to-day dealings of home life as newlyweds. Decide what style you want your home to be Most newlyweds don’t have their home completely put together by the time they move in. Chances are, you’ll be adding new pieces of furniture over the next few months and years. … [Read more...]
Holiday Parties Made Easy and Yummy with King’s Hawaiian and Walmart
(Sponsored) This blog post was sponsored by KING’S HAWAIIAN® Holiday at Walmart but the opinions are all my own. Are you ready for the holidays? ‘Tis the season of festivities, and I can’t wait to plan a holiday party with friends and family. My first rule is to make sure that preparation and clean-up is simple and easy! I want to be able to enjoy the party and not worry about the food and mess. We usually invite families with a mixed age group, and, therefore, the menu has to be appetizing for everyone. To minimize the holiday stress, I rely on King’s Hawaiian and Walmart to help! The party planning begins with a quick trip to Walmart. My one stop go-to store for all my holiday needs! I grab a cart and get ready to conquer my holiday shopping list. The list is simple and … [Read more...]
How to Build an Entryway Kids Locker
Since school has started and all three of my children are going to be in school. I knew that I needed a more dedicated area for their school things. I love this idea of them having a cubbie/locker just like at school. Perhaps the familiarity will inspire them to use it as intended. I have a place in each locker for their bag and a jacket to hang up, along with a pair or two of shoes at the bottom. If you need measurements, check out these plans for a kid's locker. Supplies to build these DIY Storage Lockers for your entryway: 2- 1" x 12" x 8' 1- 1" x 12" x 6' 1- 1" x 12" x 4" 2- 1" x 2" x 8' 1- 1" x 3" x 4' 1 sheet of 1/4" plywood, or similar. (mine was thinner, I couldn't find 1/4" plywood.) 2" Screws 2 inch Finishing Nails Circular Saw Drill Wood Glue, I … [Read more...]
