Everything In Its Place

Do you have a dumping grounds at your house?  We have a few such areas in our home.  One of ours was our front entryway.  Everything from keys, the GPS unit and a bunch of... stuff would continually pile up and patiently wait for someone (Mom) to come along and clear it away.  

I tried a little experiment.  First, I started sliding the pile into the drawer beneath.  After a while, the family caught on and pretty soon the dump ended up hidden away.  That it what I call 'winning the battle.'  Now for winning the war.

Before

Dumping drawer got organized with some leftover plastic Chinese food take-away containers.  Talk about a "win-win" situation.  My tupperware cupboard got cleared out and so did this drawer!

After

So far so good.  We're going on 5 weeks now and I'm happy to report it looks just as tidy.  And would you believe it?  We can always find the keys.  And the hairbrush.  And... well, you get the idea. This is one of my home organization success stories.

Now, I don't claim to have every inch of my home fully organized to perfection...  Yet.  But I do have a few ideas that have worked successfully and might just be the solution to an unsightly dumping ground in your home.

Assess the Situation

There are two ways to approach a home organization project.  One, and most common, is to already have an area (or 2) in mind that needs some help.  Another approach is to walk around your home with a notepad, opening closets and cupboards and creating a list of projects to tackle.  Pay particular attention to areas that are continually needing sorting/cleaning.  My front entryway was a good example. Children's play rooms are also infamous for needing good organizational help. When compiling your list - whether mentally or on paper - you can even rank your project sites according to their level of needed attention! 

Sort-On-Site 

Before you begin to devour a cluttered area of your home, be prepared to sort-on-site. I like to take 3 boxes, buckets or bags with me. One is for trash. I have learned that no matter how often I clear out cluttered areas, there is always trash. The second box is for items that need to go to another room. This is an important box as it will save you time in the long run. Without this box I often become distracted from my de-cluttering process because I have left the room to put something away! The third box is for items you intend to put back into your current project area. Sometimes I add a fourth box/bag for items I don't know what to do with. (Save that one for later...)

Storage Containers

Once you have disposed of the trash and delivered the items from Box 2 to their proper location, you can begin to re-assemble your project site.  Often you may need the use of appropriate storage containers.  Assess your needs and determine the size, shape, and quantity of containers you need.  You may be able to re-use something you already own, such as a shoe box or a clean Chinese food take-away container (as I have pictured above).  The 'Home Storage' section of your local supermart may have lots of neat-looking containers, but you can save money while achieving the same objective by searching what you might already have on hand.

A couple personal examples:

Top shelf of my utility room: Planters/ window boxes (for flowers) hold medicines and first aid items.

An old watercolor paint palette serves as a tidy organizer for my sewing notions and hides away neatly inside a drawer.

Label
Not a lot to say about this one, it's pretty self-explanatory.  Not every container will need a label as its contents might be perfectly obvious. I like to use picture labels for anything that kids might need to interpret.  Otherwise, some self-adhesive address labels and a Sharpie are my preference.

Above: I have labeled some staple baking items that reside in a pull-out drawer in my kitchen.  I am happier reading which container has sugar and which one has flour instead of hefting out both every time I am baking.

Practicality

Finally, some practical advice: Put things in a place that makes sense. Store your shoes near the door you enter/exit. Put your tools in your working area. If you tend to comb your kids' hair as they're walking out the door for school, keep the hair accessories near the front door! You get the idea.

Be sure that medicines, cleaners and other harmful chemicals are stored out of reach of children and pets.  On the other hand, if your organization project involves the kids' playroom, think about arranging things in a way that is convenient for them to access. 

Along with that, don't be tempted to over-organize.  Having too many containers can be overwhelming to maintain.  If you want your 4-year-old to put away her dress-up clothes, perhaps provide one large tote box for everything, not 8 separate containers for hats, accessories, dresses, tiaras, etc. (This is the voice of experience speaking).  Grouping items into general categories can be more effective than having things color-coordinated, alphabetized, etc.  However you decide to organize, be sure that it is done in a practical way that will be manageable to maintain.

Happy Nesting!

Lowly (and Lola) Worm

My girls have been asking to do a sewing project for a while now and after reading some of our favourite Richard Scarry stories one night, we decided to create our own cuddly version of Lowly Worm.

 

For variety, we also decided to create a female version. Meet Lola Worm:

There isn't too much to say about these creations. Basically, you just sew together two pieces of fabric - one colour for the shirt, one for the trousers, then attach it to the head (my girls found an old pair of socks that they deemed "worm color") and the foot (we used an old baby sock and shoe). 

I sketched the outline of the worm head on the sock before cutting.

Then the kids stitched on top of the pencil markings.  We carefully trimmed away the excess fabric.

For the worms' clothing, we chose fabric from my bottomless bin of scraps.

I turned the sewing speed down to 'low' so the needle moved slowly no matter how hard the kids pressed the pedal.  They learned how to follow markings, sew a straight stitch and backstitch.

Out came the polyester fiber-fill.  This kept the kids occupied for a while.

Once stuffed, we just needed to hand-stitch the socks onto the worm bodies.  The 7-year-old did fine with this; the 4-year-old required much assistance.

The eyes, mouth, hat, bows, skirt, etc. were all created with scrap fabrics and hand-stitched into place.

Sewing worms turned out to be a great beginner project! 

Prairie Bonnets

In honour of Pioneer Day (24 July), our Primary group from church (kids ages 3-11) gathered together for old-fashioned games and activities.  We invited the children to come dressed in their "frontier finest" so I felt obligated to come up with something appropriate for myself and my girls, who were invited to attend. 

I found this great (and simple) bonnet tutorial from a fellow blogger and I recommend it if you're in the need for some Pioneer costuming, a comfy sun-hat, or something new for the kiddies' dress-up box. 

Here are some pics of the ones I made:

Quilted Journal Covers

I just made a few of these...

In my quest to find a unique (and affordable!) end-of-the-year gift for school teachers, I came across this fabulous journal cover tutorial.  It motivated me to dig out my old quilting supplies and dust off my sewing machine. A big 'Thanks' goes out to my friend, Karyli - I got this idea from her hobby blog - Sew and Sew On.  Check it out for more inspiring quilting projects.

How to Leave Your Kids

That's right.  I'm outta here.  It's our 10th wedding anniversary and my husband and I have cleverly and expertly planned a trip to Italy to celebrate.  For a whole week.  And thanks to my lovely mother, we are going without the kids (thanks Mom!)

Of course I've found leaving my kids in someone else's care - even in the hands of the most capable - requires some planning and preparation.  This is for both my peace of mind as well as theirs.  Last year I had to make a trip back to the USA for 10 days (immigration issues) and left my husband at home to single-handedly manage my role as well as his employment obligations.  In other words, he got to experience single parenthood temporarily.  We both learned a few things from that experience: 1. mothers do a whole lot that, for the most part, goes unrecognized; 2. with a little thoughtful preparation things can go on smoothly without mom (for a limited time); 3. having a plan in place will ease the inevitable tensions that both the care-givers and the children will experience.

Here are a few things that worked really well and are in place for Grandma as we embark on our upcoming travels:

Freezer Meals.  It's just one less thing to have to hassle with in the evening when everybody is tired and the kids want some attention.  The hardest thing about freezer meals, reportedly, is deciding the night before which one to take out of the freezer to thaw for tomorrow night's supper. 

I always involve the children in deciding the meal options.  It's best to have meals on hand that the kids will enjoy and eat without fussing.  It's also a great way to ensure they will get some good nutrition.  For this next week, we prepared 9 entrees that Grandma will have the option of presenting.  (The remaining 2 will be enjoyed upon our return when I am too tired to cook!)

1. Spaghetti & Meatballs w/ vegetable
2. Chicken Enchiladas w/ fruit salad
3. Ham + Swiss Cheese Bake w/ salad
4. Pizza w/ carrot sticks and salad
5. Wholewheat Waffles w/ fruit and yogurt
6. Chicken Nuggets with oven-baked potatoes + vegetable
7. Meat Loaf, twice-baked potatoes and vegetable
8. Hot dogs, chips, carrot sticks and fruit
9. Cottage Pie w/ vegetable

All meals are labeled as to their contents and baking instructions:

Any aspect of the meal that is not frozen is set aside in a tote and grouped according to the meal.  For example, the spaghetti noodles and sauce are bundled together in a basket.  Canned/tinned fruits and veggies also go in the basket coordinating with their meal.  Fresh and frozen veggies and fruits are in their obvious locations (refrigerator, fruit basket, etc.).  Organizing the meals in this way helps Grandma know where ingredients are and makes the preparation time quicker and easier.  I keep a list of meals posted on the fridge so Grandma and kids can keep track of what they have on hand.

For more freezer-friendly recipes, click here.

Money.  We leave Grandma with cash for two purposes: Fun and Emergency.  We hope she doesn't have to use it for the latter.  "Fun" includes trips to the local Sweet Shop, Happy Meals at McDonalds, and whatever other entertainment they desire.  It's important for both Grandma and the kids that they all have a really fun time together.

Schedule.  Keeping up with a family's daily schedule can be an intimidating task for any mother.  For someone taking over her role for a week, it might seem impossible.  When I left my husband in charge last year he found it helpful to have a schedule in spreadsheet format to refer to throughout the day.  There is a lot to remember with everything from school drop-offs/pick-ups, after-school clubs, dance lessons, piano practice, etc.

It only takes a few minutes to type up a little schedule for each day highlighting main events and their coordinating times.

Instructions.  Someone who is not used to running your household on a daily basis will have many questions.  What trash bin gets put out on Tuesday morning?  What items need to be packed for school each day?  How do I operate the television/DVD player?  Who do I contact in case of an emergency?

Since Grandma does not live in our household, I spent some time observing my daily routine and jotted down notes about how to keep things running smoothly at home.  I typed things up and organized it by the following topics: Emergency, Contacts, Medical, School, Appliances, General Household Info.  I even wrote instructions about where to find further information. For example, where the instruction booklets for each of the appliances are located.

It's important to go through this information before you leave, too.  I had Grandma read through my info in case she had any questions and then I toured her through the house, showing her where things were located (first aid kits, electrical circuit box, etc.) It was helpful that she arrived a couple days before we were set to leave so she could see the daily activities in action - everything from piano practice to bedtime routines.

I even had her practice CPR on the children.  Just kidding.

Countdown.  For young children especially, it's hard to grasp the concept of time.  How long until Mommy & Daddy come home?  For most things, like upcoming birthday parties, we count "sleeps."  It is ___ sleeps until the birthday party.  For holidays and bigger events, like Christmas, we sometimes make paper chains and cut off a link each day until the special day arrives.  Last year when I traveled to America on my own for 10 days, I made treat countdowns for the kids (and my husband).  They liked it so well that we have done it again for this trip:

It is easy to make.  Simply lay out a stretch of plastic wrap, insert the treats at regular intervals, wrap, then tie between each treat with ribbon or yarn.  I added a loop of yarn at the top of each one and hung them on the fireplace mantle.  There is one treat for each day Mommy & Daddy are away.  When the treats are gone, Mom and Dad will be home.

Presents.  This last idea is totally optional.  (Okay, technically all of my ideas are optional).  But this one seems to work well in creating some renewed enthusiasm for the adventure of having parents and kids separated for a while.  Years ago when Grandma babysat for us, I wrapped some puzzles and hid them in a cupboard.  One night, about halfway through our trip, I called home to check on things and told the kids that because I'd had a good report from Grandma, I was going to tell them where to find a hidden treasure.  They were really excited.  Even better - they gained a new toy to play with, thus easing Grandma's burden of coming up with new activities.  This time, since our kids are older, we are leaving them with a gift on the day we leave - a new computer game - which they can earn time to play on by completing their chore charts.  Ideally this will give them something new and exciting to play with and encourage them to complete their tasks with enthusiasm!

Another idea I've used (to diffuse boredom over the summer holidays) is to create a "Boredom Box."  Basically, I find toys and activities they haven't played with for a long time (beads, puzzles, skipping rope, bubbles, play dough, activity books) and tuck them inside a large tote or box.  When the kids come to me and say they're bored I tell them to go find something from the box.  The rule is they're only allowed one thing at a time.  (Usually, they see all the many fun things they haven't played with for so long that they want them all at once).  The "Boredom Box" works on a library system, ie - you take one thing out and have to return it before you can have something new.  It's simple, but it works really well.  The key is to be sure and rotate things through the box so the activities are always something fresh and new for the kids to try.  Another variation of the Boredom Box is the "Rainy Day Box."  Same idea, just a different name. 

In conclusion, I've heard it said that "the best gift you can ever give your children is parents that love each other."  (I think my Mom said that, actually...)  And hopefully the kids will appreciate that their parents are headed off for a fun-filled week of adventure and romance in Italy - without them - because we love each other.  And even if they don't, we think they'll have way more fun at home with Grandma than they ever would being toted around through another foreign country with us.  (We know we'll have it easier without dragging them along!)  And hopefully all my planning will even help Grandma have a great week.

Gift Basket

Recently, I co-hosted a baby shower for a dear friend of mine who is adopting twins from Ethiopia.  Since she already has two older children and is experienced and well-stocked for the tasks of motherhood, we thought it would be fun to focus on drumming up some consumable items that new babies need - nappies (aka 'diapers'), wipes, shampoos, lotions, etc.  I read about an idea to have a gift basket raffle where guests can 'purchase' tickets by donating such items and thought I would give it a try.

I came up with this:

The "Date Night In" gift basket - very appropriate for soon-to-be parents.  (snicker)

Here's a better view of its contents:

Some DVDs, microwave popcorn, Pringles, some luxury toffee-almond popcorn, M&Ms, Starburst, and a few other goodies you might take along to the movie theatre - all packed into a basket, then wrapped in cellophane paper and tied off with a bow.  Simple, fairly inexpensive and so darn fun that my own family was begging to keep it (the ultimate sign of success on my part!)

The sky is the limit when it comes to designing a gift basket.  There are so many themes to choose from and they are very versatile gifts.  From luxury soaps to collectible toys, you can be as creative and budget-friendly as you like while simultaneously producing a homemade and meaningful gift.  The best part is they can be custom made to fit anyone on your gift-list or generic enough that anyone would love it. Possibly a solution for what to get Granny for her birthday, or that co-worker you have to play 'Secret Santa' for or even the kids' school teachers.  (Or piano teachers. Hint, hint).

And yes, it was successful for the baby shower as well.  Not only did our Mom-of-Honor go home with a load of baby consumables, one of our lucky guests made off with my Date-Night-In basket, which reportedly has been useful for several movie nights at home.

Kids in the Kitchen

You may have noticed by now that I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and with the kids home from school this week, we are getting quite inventive with our culinary-based activities.  Here are a few ideas that can be a part of your next "Child-Entertainment Plan."

One of our latest successes: Peanut Butter Play Dough.  It's quick and easy to make and best of all - it's entirely edible - making it the perfect "messy play" option for indoor playtime.
Combine 2 cups dry milk powder, 1 cup clear honey, and 1 cup peanut butter. Creamy-style peanut butter works best, but I didn't have any on hand, so we used 'extra-crunchy' and it was fine.

Then roll out and play away!  My little girls love to pretend to bake cookies with this play dough because they can eat their creations afterwards. 

When you're finished playing, store remaining play dough in an airtight plastic baggie.

If playing in the real kitchen is too overwhelming for you, then here is an idea for the toy kitchen/ play food.

All you need is a file folder and some clip art images. 

First, choose a name for your 'restaurant' and have the kids decorate the cover.

Next, take an inventory of your play food collection (we had quite a bit!).  If you have a child who can write, allow them to write the list.  Younger (non-writing) children can help categorize foods by genre - fruit, vegetable, sweets, etc. 

Using clip art images for the food items you have, print and cut out the items for your menu.

Help the children to lay out their menu design on the file folder, then glue the images into place. 

Not only was creating the menu a fun activity in itself, but my kids enjoyed using the menu to play 'Restaurant' for hours afterwards.

For more free and printable file folder games, visit the File Folder Fun website.