THAT'S THE COOLEST THING!"

Baby Legs for newborns

2011-06-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Baby Legs for newborns are awesome. Diaper changing is easy and their little legs don't get cold.

Just in....Fourth of July Toe Blooms!

2011-04-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

How cute are these!!

http://www.toeblooms.com/

Cool new product - TOE BLOOMS

2011-03-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

When I saw these I knew I had to rep them. They are original and so so cute!!

The creator of Toe Blooms is Halley House. She is clevvverrrrr!

There are two types :

Bloomin toes and Bloomin wraps.

So dang cute! Ask for them at your local boutique.

These will be so awesome in portraits of babies!

motivating post on a perfect pantry

2011-02-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

Every so often I just like to gawk at the organizing projects of others. It's kind of like watching an exercise show...while sitting and not doing. The link is to the Idea Room, a favorite blog.

Click HERE to see the whole post.

Cool NEW site for kids clothes, toys and more

2011-01-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

GROMVILLE

It's mostly the Knuckleheads and Hula Brands right now, but other brands are coming. Bookmark this page!

Atlanta Gift Show

2011-01-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

The famous Atlanta gift show is going on right now at the great and spacious building... I mean, merchandise mart. It's a huge show with thousands of buyers from all over the country going to visit hundreds of temporary booths of 4 floors of the mart. I enjoy walking around and seeing all the fabulous and creative products that will be in retail stores later this year. Everything is sold wholesale to stores only BUT on Tues morning, most of the booths sell off their samples at wholesale. I'm scoping out products to buy then.

I'll post a few of my favorite products over the next few days.

The Baby Dipper bowl, spoon and fork set. I love it. My grandson Van needs this badly cuz he won't let anyone feed him anymore, and its hard to scoop food out of a thin little plastic round bowl.

The Baby Dipper is made out of a nice heavy weight (stays put on the high chair tray) tritan copolyester...whatever that is, It feels like a nicely weighted acrylic or something.

The retail cost is only $10.00 retail. Every mother should have one of these! you can totally feed one handed! See their website here

Cool new Tween fashion Blog!

2011-01-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

SEE IT HERE

These girls have been part of the fashion world since birth. Their mom is the designer of Knuckleheads clothing and Hula Mula. Their faces will be familiar to anyone who knows those lines.

This blog will not be promoting their mom's line though, they have had their own fashion opinions for some time because of the exposure they have had to the kids fashion world through modelling, trade shows and the kids fashion trade mags that hang around their home.

They will be writing about the fashion, trends and crazes that their age group is into....messy room and all.

In the spirit of the several women's "what I wore" type blogs, theirs is the first TWEEN FASHION and TRENDs BLOG! Kids clothing manufacturers and store owners...you may want to keep an eye on these two and what they like cuz they represent what this this age group wants!

If you have a tween who maybe a budding fashionista or blogger send them this link.

The photo is of Brooklyn and Lily modeling for a CHOOKA boots ad a couple of years ago.

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-18T06:46:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of a painting that my Great Uncle, Simeon Oquist from Stockholm

painted many years ago. A snowy Swedish country scene.

I love it!

Holiday Decor III

2010-12-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

Where should we go now?

How about the kitchen and sitting area.

my favorite pillow...

on my favorite chair... in my favorite part of the house.

This used to be a dinette area.

Now it is a "come sit and talk to me while I cook" area!

I bought the tea towel at Williams Sonoma after Christmas sale on year

and

the red Le Creuset pot stays on the stove the whole season!

Notice the simplify sign...It's my new theme

I was going to take more photos but I ran out of time...
taking off to spend Christmas
with the grand youngens our west

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Home Decor part II

2010-12-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

I didn't feel like doing much with lights this year but I did haul over some big leafless branches, put them in pots with topiary forms in them and twisted little silver and gold balls and lights on.

It looks pretty cool at night.

In the Library I like to hang Delft blue ornaments from the chandelier.

(My husband was born in the Netherlands)

I keep them up year round because I have a lot a of Delft blue vases in there.

and...It's a Dickens thing...keep Christmas in your heart all year long ya know!

Now to the dining room right off the kitchen....I love the whole Father Christmas thing

The Joyeux Noel framed Christmas card was bought on Ebay after a long bidding war.

My parents grew up in Quebec and I'm from Winnipeg so,

this is an nod

to all the Frenchiness I grew up with.

Santa was bought at a resale store three years ago

This one is my favorite as it reminds me of my mother's Swedish heritage. I love anything Swedish!
I bought it years ago after Christmas at the Ballard Design clearance center.

The table is always set

...doorway to family room that was added on a few years ago.

Dang I love red white and black together!

I brought in a garden statue...why should it be all lonely and cold outside.
Wreath is from the dollar store and the topiaries? I dunno

Our Holiday Home Decor part 1

2010-12-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

This is the last time I'll be decorating this house for Christmas so I'm feeling a little (a lot) sentimental. We empty nesters are down-sizing and simplifying this next year. I really want to...but...it will be hard. My husband takes one look at my office and shudders.

So now, here's Christmas at the Boot house 2010:

I love my white tree, it shows all the jewel toned ornaments so well.

A few years ago I found some ornaments on sale that matched my living room furniture

Which I love! Yup I'm a black and white and jewel tones girl. The pillow (Pottery Barn outlet... only comes out at Christmas) just has gift wrap ribbon tied around it.

I love my nativity set, I bought it at a Dollar store...really!

I made a huge ornament topiary out of all my left overs.
Use it or lose it is my motto this year.
I brought in a metal topiary form that I had out in the garden and stuck it in an urn I had
and wired on the Norna - ments...that's what my daughter, Melissa calls them!

I like the way it turned out.

Bright and shiny - that's how I like everything.

Garland is hung everywhere....and not a penny was spent in decorating!!!

Santa, please... Bodabing !

2010-12-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

Apparently, this is the perfect pant and I love EVERYTHING spanx!

Bod-A-Bing! Pant

$72

The secret slimming liner found in these perfect-for-travel pants keeps tummy, thighs and rear looking totally trim. Pair with a tank for a day about town or dress it up with a tucked-in blouse.

New! Secret slimming liner now in black
Improved true-to-size fit!
Slims tummy, hips, thighs and rear
Wide waistband won't dig in
Wrinkle-resistant fabric is ideal for travel
WEBSITE HERE

Last Minute (really?... already?) Gift

2010-12-13T10:05:00.000-08:00

Last week I got my very first pair of fake Uggs....changed my life!!!

Sooo comfortable!

I could shop, run around a few airports like I do every other week (really)

...and I was comfortable without feeling shlumpy

BUT

I've been trying to figure out how to get jeans to fit snug in without being all bunchy

Well here is the perfect solution!

WEBSITE HERE

Cool notice board & unique gift

2010-12-12T21:23:00.000-08:00

If you happen to have a silver tray with one leg broken off like I do....you can do this!! Just wack off the other three legs!

Awesome little gift

2010-12-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

I love it when photographs explain the use of a product perfectly. This perfect little bracelet /utility hook sells for $20 and is totally useful.

I love it as a purse hanger in the car.
See the website HERE

Christmas wreath - big and beautiful

2010-11-28T10:59:00.000-08:00

THIS..I will do...and probably tomorrow. This wreath is simple to make (just a low melt glue gun needed) and packs a punch. I like how it shows off particularly beautiful ornaments that sometimes get lost on a tree. I will be putting mine over a large round mirror that I have in the living room.

If you live in Atlanta...

2010-11-07T00:32:00.000-07:00

The fall immediates show at the Atlanta mart is this Tues, Wed and Thurs.
(Oct 9-11).

This show is cash and carry EVERYTHING! Kids clothes, womens, gifts.

Showrooms will be selling out their samples at wholesale.

The OVERHERE showroom will have a ton of Knuckleheads and Hula Mula samples. Let me know (in comments) if you want me to email in a guest pass for you.

Once you're in, you will have access to ALL the show rooms and all the samples.

Yup, I'm nice like that! I would have loved to have that offered to me over the years.

silver leafing furniture

2010-11-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

I'm a magpie. I love anything shiny or glitter. See furniture photo below. This is a very expensive piece I'm sure.

I love this post I saw here on Little Green Notebook on how to silver leaf furniture yourself. There are great before and after photos.

The OVERHERE showroom is finished...for now

2010-10-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

There are still many things to do...add racks...find a couple more apparel lines...

Here is the showroom window.

I love the vintage mannequins for Knuckleheads!

Oh...we decided to change the name of the showroom...the old name was also the name of a brand...
that I don't rep!

...and from the back of the room...the rack between the two tables is to hang clothes on as store owners put together outfits and decide what they want to order.

That whole wall on the right is all Baby Legs, then Diaper Dude (cool diaper bags for dad...it's time has come), then Hip Babies pearl jewelry, Mini Maniacs Bibs, Me in Mind and on the back wall is Pink Axle, then Ma Petite Amie, Scout Hula Mula and Knuckleheads

I love the Eames Eifel sp?...tower chairs at the writing...as in orders... tables

Showroom - In process

2010-10-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

The showroom is finished and we had our ribbon cutting and first show.

We never took pictures of how it all looked when it was done. Will do that tomorrow.

Fresh grey walls and a lot of decision making and nail biting!

I had samples and information on several new lines all coming in at the same time, and I would still have to memorize it all.

Those scissors were real! and very sharp

Ribbon cutting - (what a cheezy grin!)

We have room for another full apparel line. You know what's fun? Looking around the kids fashion world and going after lines that you like and want to rep.

The Beginning...

2010-10-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well here it is...It was the Baby Lulu showroom and now it will be Little Threads Showroom.

Just a bunch of nothing right now.

But the location is GREAT! It's right by the escalator...in the busy aisle!

Opening up a Showroom!

2010-10-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

Now for something a little different. I am opening up a children's wear showroom in the Atlanta mart (a huge combination of connected buildings in downtown Atlanta that I affectionately call "the great and spacious building" I'm fairly certain that it is the largest merchandise mart in the world. The building that my showroom is in (see photo) has about 15 floors, a huge interior atrium and houses women's and children's wear, jewelry, purses and everything else a woman could possibly drool over. There are samples, fabulous jewelry, and purses all at wholesale prices - if you can get it - which ain't easy!

There are plenty of blogs about design for the home, fashion, organizing, and saving money (all topics I love) but none that I have ever seen on an inside look at the kids clothing industry, with its trends, insider tips and hot topics.

So, here I go for awhile..... Come along with me and my new direction and new life as a kids clothing rep as I set up a showroom and see all kinds of fun things happening.....warning: THERE WILL BE GIVE-A-WAYS, donated to me by my generous brands, to give out to YOU from time to time.

Personal history - one day a year.

2010-09-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Love this! ....Once a year books..... Its a family history project that you update only once a year! One photo of each child, once a year.

Unless you have more than one child.....

Brilliant Bench from....

2010-09-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

a coffee table!!

I saved these photos awhile back they are from Melissa at 360 SYCAMORE

What a cool conversion! Totally worth going to Good Will to find an ugly old coffee table.

Mini Family Tree or branch

2010-09-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

I always collect ideas like these. SEE HERE
This one looks really do-able and would make a good gift.

Three simple ideas to organize your clothes

2010-08-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for new clothes organizing ideas...and I like these.

CLICK HERE to read

favorite recipes at your finger tips!

2010-08-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

I've been taping recipes to the insides of my cupboard doors for years...and they are pretty messy looking. I found this idea tonight on the blog Maillordville Manor. Cork squares ....Perfect. Neat and convenient for all your faves.

Praise for the zippered pencil pouch!

2010-08-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

I LOVE back to school supplies time! Everything is so cheap. This is the time of year when I stock up on basic supplies and a couple of things in particular - like zipper pencil cases. They are on sale right now for $1 at Walmart. I can usually find them for $1 at dollar stores year round. I use them for a million things:

1. Individual learning games for the grandkids - easy to use at their home or mine.

2. Travel bags - I have separate ones for creams and liquids that are screened at the airport that you have to pack separately. I have one for toothbrush, paste, floss etc. (easy to just pull out that at night )

3. One labelled RECEIPTS that is kept in the car....makes returns easy.

4. One labelled EATING OUT for coupons

5. Fill one with stamps, checkbook, mini calculator return address labels to use for paying bills or writing letters.

6. Separate pencils, pens, colored pencils, highlighters (of all types), markers, (washable and permanent), sharpies, erasers, paint brushes etc. Store upright in a drawer or shoe box

7. Little pieces to games - dice etc.

8. 1 per family member: social sec card, immunization info, passports. Put them all in an "ESSENTIAL INFO BINDER"

9. CRITICAL CAR INFO - in other words, you just got pulled over and you have to pull out the insurance info, etc. (I know about this one all too well)

10. Label one : "WHAT IS THIS?" for miscellaneous stuff that floats around the junk drawer that you want to throw out cuz you just know it's important but don't know where else to put it!!

NOW: Where to put these fabulous little organizers?

File in a shoe box ....or in a 3 ring binder .....or put a string or ribbon through one hole and hang it.

I buy a bunch this time every year - I LOVE THEM!

PLEASE write in the comments if you have any other uses for these little miracle organizers !!!

What kind of water do you drink?

2010-08-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

The story of bottled water.

IT IS PRETTY....

UGLY!!

I learned a lot from this short presentation...worth the watch! I'm going to stop being so lazy that I must grab a plastic water bottle on the way out the door when I can have refillable bottles ready to go in the fridge. My fussiness is that I don't like drinking out of metal so I have a sturdy plastic one that washes up easily. I do think its smart to always have a couple of cases in storage in case of emergency though.

WATCH IT HERE

Ruffle front T-shirts

2010-08-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Ruffles are everywhere and I LOVE how they cover up lumps and bumps.

Read THIS LINK from Teas Rose Home for the excellent tutorial.

A new Use for...a cookie sheet, a tray and a cake pan

2010-07-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

No more Sippy cups part II

2010-07-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

One of these days I'm going to bust out the "Montessori at home" info. Once I start I won't be able to stop and I haven't even finished my all time favorite aha ideas yet.

So anyway...I've thinking more about the no sippy cup thing:

#1. One of the main jobs of a parent is to teach independence. A mother does her child no favors by doing everything for them. A classic Montessori saying is "never do for a child what they can (reasonably) do for themselves!.

I got a Montessori magazine in the mail the other day called "for small hands - a resource for families" that is FABULOUS!!! google it and order it - its free! I love everything in this little catalog. Page 2 - Durable Juice Glass, set of six $6.95 ....deal!

You can buy them HERE AT SMALL HANDS

I would love some feedback if you find information like this helpful.

No More Sippy cups

2010-07-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

Love the article HERE at Small Notebook

Why DO we use sippy cups? They get lost, are difficult to wash (plastic bits fly all over the dishwasher if they aren't corralled) Some are difficult to hold for a little one because the width is NOT child sized so they slip out of their hands.

I am a Montessorian. We teach that all practical life items be real but sized for a child. So a shot glass or plastic medicine cup is perfect to teach a child how to drink....before they give up the bottle so the transition is easier. They should be taught how to use it. Model how to drink out of the cup, then hold it for them as they grasp it, then let them try it themselves. Stay with them. Take the cup with you when you leave their side. If they ever toss the cup, the natural consequence would be taking it away from them until they learn to place it down.

So many children's products are designed to make things easier for us and not the child. Hmmm, something is backwards!

Great article on saving $ on Household products

2010-07-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

It's definitely worth reading THIS LIST of ways to save money on household products and ways to clean better.

Sometimes I forget that just a damp rag is the best way to clean furniture and that wood cleaning sprays like Pledge just give you buildup!

I highly recommend reading this short list.

The Return of Financial Wisdom

2010-07-21T08:39:00.001-07:00

Short and sweet...I love what was written by Gary Hart HERE

Managing the Mixer

2010-07-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Great " DUH, why didn't I think of that before !" tip ....HERE

The cords of a hand mixer are a pain to store !

Got Rope?

2010-07-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

Got kids? Got a backyard with trees? Here's fab activity that does all kinds of good things.

See the homemade jungle gym HERE at The New Ramblings of a Creative Mind

Go Holland!!! WIN the World Cup!

2010-07-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

Lovin' the Lego Table

2010-07-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

Legos just seem to get more popular and more popular with little kids, but a million little pieces can drive a parent mad. Now take a look at what my brilliant son-in-law did for his son (the original Knucklehead) who is pretty obsessed with Legos.

Here is Otto standing by his lego play table

but wait!! It's also a...

lego storage table!

This piece of furniture, from Ikea, used to be a desk height table that my daughter used to store jewelry. It was cut down to kid desk height and now its the PERFECT place to sore and play Legos!! Brilliant.

Big Sale on Carter's Kids clothes...but...

2010-06-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

$3.99 and up on Carter's children's clothing CHECK IT OUT HERE

Although this company will never have the unique and high quality items that children's boutiques have,
there are some cute things from time to time.

BUT... beware...

of the tagless items...

here is a consumer alert, whatever they are using for tagless can burn skin in the heat!

so buyer bewary!

Makin' pancakes, made easier!

2010-06-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

I have a son-in-law Tyson who makes pancakes every morning for who ever is around...every day! So when I saw this idea from Real Simple I knew this was made for him. Make the batter every few days instead of every day and keep it in an empty ketchup squeeze bottle.

Day 1, make a bunch of batter, put the leftovers in the bottle.

Day 2, shake and pour.....repeat every day till gone.

Cool!

New clothes from old....Awesome

2010-06-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Check this wardrobe makeover out!! really awesome....gets my wheels turning.

This blouse used to be a long sleeved ordinary old thing, but look at it now...wow.

Be sure to click on the little linky things at the bottom of her blog to see the before and afters and tutorials. The photo shoot was done "stealth-like" in Home Depot w/o permission. Love the background, love the contrast!

What can you makeover instead of just chucking? Some things are just too good to be threw! (ha)
Now.... how do I get that figure?...oh ya...stop eating.

4 kids in one bedroom? Why not!

2010-06-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Free up other bedrooms in your house with some creative furniture placing like this. Add curtains to draw across for privacy. Brilliant!

My dad worked for CNR (canadian national railway) and this reminds me of the berths I slept on in the sleeping cars...at least your kids wouldn't be sleeping near strangers like I did. I had another friend in Vancouver BC that shared a pretty big bedroom with 3 other sisters. Their dad had a big X shaped wall (s) built in the middle of the room and each girl had their own section. You could walk around the entire thing to get to each other's space. I remember thinking how cool that was. It was like they each had their own little bedroom.

Photo from Southern Living.

Help with Tissue Issues

2010-06-11T08:42:00.000-07:00

Awesome idea from ....Meck Mom Blog

this is in the category of "This is too simple, why didn't I think of it before!

The photo says it all...no explanation necessary....( umm, apparently this photo does need an explanation I just found out, The EMPTY box is for USED TISSUES. No flinging on the ground anymore!!....) except for the large elastics....just buy the kind that are for holding garbage can liners on. Voila.

Note Books...one more thing

2010-06-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

Inside view...the grid size is perfect

I was blog hopping the other day and found, then lost, a blog about

an interesting journal concept that was new to me.

You take a notebook like this that has no spiral binding ... and lays flat, then... you just write down everything you want to remember, one thing after another as you think of it.

It's like a traditional journal and to-do list all in one, very free form.

and... it becomes a snapshot of your life as it happens.

You date each day, then write down experiences, interesting things you want to remember,

a running to do list,

that cute thing your child said... an old friends phone number that you got....

don't forgets, notes from that how-to tv show, that wise quote,

....no photos, no magazine clips....doodles and sketches are ok cuz they are from you...

just notes and lists and experiences and whatever, in real time.

I think I'll try this for awhile and see how I like it.

One notebook for everything going on in your life....

except work.

(I think I would keep certain lists separate and together though...like blog ideas)

It would have to be glued to you for it to be useful... bringing it everywhere you go,

a steady stream of the thoughts that go through your mind.

Fill one up in a couple of weeks then start #2.

Click! a snapshot of your life...

and... you will know exactly where to look
to find the things you wrote.

Listing your Lists! AHA moment #2

2010-05-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm a crazy list maker...rather, I make lists like crazy!

If I don't make notes and lists, my great thoughts and ideas are gone with the wind!

I have bought notebooks upon notebooks over the years, searching for the perfect notebook. It must not be too big or too small or too fat. It must be thin enough to pop in any purse and it must be able to lay flat without any coil binding (hurts my hand). It cannot be wide ruled...(waste of space) and it must be cheap. Well I found the perfect notebook for me to keep track of my great thoughts and ideas.

It is about 5x7 inches and comes two to a pack for about $3 or 4 (don't remember exactly) at Target. The best thing about them is the graph lines inside. I seem to write so much neater and smaller on graph paper but they are available in regular lined also.

I started with just one book. It's my master book of lists. Each page is titled a particular subject....like: ideas to blog, books to buy, decorating projects to do, freezer meals to make, things to make for grandkids, garden to do's, gift ideas, stores in foreign countries to go to...REALLY did you know that in Italy you buy good makeup in pharmacies? and if I ever go to Florence I will go to Farmacia di Santa Maria to buy fab face creams! hey, it could happen, but if I didn't write it down it wold NEVER happen!

and I have lots of ideas for booklets I want to write (and sell here) .....

It's my brain in a book! I love it!

After awhile, I found that I had so many ideas on certain subjects that I gave a few their own notebook..and they all fit neatly is this cheap little plastic napkin holder that fits on my desk.

Now one is just for blog ideas

one for gardening

one for scripture study

one is a hair diary...I love this one,

I've pasted photos of my various hairstyles over the years, ( so I know what style to never do again what products work well for me, and hair color (the formula from my stylist)

one is for travel (don't forget to pack list) that is part journal and part lists like favorite restaurants

What lists do you habitually make that you could benefit from a list book?

BE SURE TO SEE THE COMMENTS SECTION FOR MORE IDEAS!

How to Organize your Makeup Stash!

2010-05-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

I've never seen anyone with this much makeup BUT there are some good organizing ideas here.

Genius concept for kids socks!

2010-05-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

I've been out of the country for awhile and slowly getting back on schedule.

I have to interrupt my aha series to add this plug for a brilliant sock company that we've just had contact with.... .blindmicesocks.com and here's the reason why I had to add this now.

My last post was about laundry and that one of the biggest pains was matching up the kids socks. Well ...with blind mice socks, you don't have to!! They are purposely made to wear mismatched!!! AND they come 3 or 5 to a pack cuz they just know you're going to lose one. Genius!

I love the bright colors and apparently they are made to fit perfectly with no sagging..ever. I will be getting these for my grandkids for sure.

even their packaging is cool!

#1 Buckets

2010-05-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

As I write this I am stuck at the Vancouver BC airport. Looks like I will be able to get to Seattle and then sleep on a bench somewhere till morning, then hop a flight to Salt Lake in the morning and then on to Atlanta in a couple of days. So.....I will be blogging since I have my laptop with me.....and a ton of Canadian candy. Ya that'll be an interesting dinner.

I wish I had a photo of the colored plastic buckets or dishpans that I used when the kids were growing up.

I found this photo online that has the same idea. It's super pixelated though.

I put a tall open shelf in the laundry area and put in one "bucket" for each child (6) and one for my husband and me and one for loose socks. They were labelled with their names but the colors were better identifiers.

The kids were responsible for getting their laundry down to me and separating into the "whites, colors and towels" hampers that I had. If they didn't bring them down their laundry didn't get done. (I was real big on natural consequences". )

When the laundry was done I folded everything and placed in their buckets. They were responsible for getting them back to their rooms. It worked well when they were little. Once they turned 12, they were given new privileges and new responsibilities and doing their own laundry was one of them.

The socks bucket was for loose socks. I would call the clothes dryer the "great Burmuda rectangle"because pairs of socks would go in but then some vanished. Every once in a while I'd put the bucket in front of someone watching tv and said "here, match these up"

I loved my Buckets system!

Starting Something NEW!

2010-04-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

Over the next month, I'll be featuring my top 30 + "Aha Moments" These are ideas or concepts that have changed my life in one way or another. They may be practical or philosphical. As you read these perhaps you will be prompted to think of your own Aha moments and hopefully share them in the comments.

The photo? ....This is my husband and me about to take a buggy ride on Christmas Day a few years ago, in Central Park NY. We became empty nesters that year and were escaping a lonely empty house for the holidays and this was on my Bucket List. (It didn't work, Christmas is nothing w/o family at Christmas!) The photo is my corny way of symbolizing the journey...of life, from being a new mom and trying to figure out home management things, child raising and education issues to just growing and learning about myself and others.

I hope you will enjoy some of the things I've learned over the years.

No more cryin' over spilled...... salt?

2010-04-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

We get so used to how some things are packaged that we never wonder if there is a better way. Well here is a better way to store...SALT.

We always pour it out of that little silver slider thing and its easy to pour too much or spill, right?

Well..since we measure salt with measuring spoons why not just scoop it from a jar instead of pouring it from a box ??? It's really a no-brainer! (courtesy of "making this home")

read about it here!

Cute little cheap notebooks

2010-04-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

No more little bits of paper to lose! Thanks Martha!

Instead of writing messages on easily lost slips of paper, make notebooks to keep by the phone. Cut scrap paper and a piece of decorative paper about 1/2 inch larger on all sides for the cover. Stack with cover on bottom. Fold in half, crease, and open flat. From inside, push a needle threaded with waxed twine through the center of the crease. Bring back through the crease about 1/2 inch from one end. Pass through the center hole again, and bring up about 1/2 inch from other end of crease. Pass the needle through the center hole to complete a figure 8 of thread. Knot ends together.

Ant Control

2010-04-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

I 'm doing this for sure...beware the cider vinegar you little creeps. This is from small notebook

5 Simple, Natural Ant Control Remedies

Posted: 21 Apr 2010 05:17 AM PDT

A few years ago when I was trying to sell my home, the realtor called and said that a potential buyer was coming in fifteen minutes. As I raced around doing a last-minute pickup, I saw a ten-foot long ant parade marching across the center of my kitchen floor. I about died.
We know to keep kitchen sinks and counters clean and dry to prevent ants, but Marcy Tate from Networx shares other natural ways to keep ants out of your home in this guest post.

With spring in full force, tiny ants across the country are building their ant farms and reproducing by the millions. Spring brings upon a feeling of renewal, but it also brings upon a feeling of fear as ants successfully make their way into homes. A few ants here or there aren’t a problem, and most people aren’t afraid of an ant or two. However, when the ants living in the anthills on your front walkway start coming in the front door, you’ll need to do something about it.
The good news is that there are many simple, effortless and inexpensive ways to naturally control small ants in and around your home — and they actually work. In fact, the ingredients for natural ant control can be found right in your pantry. Keep in mind that if you have a major ant problem (or ants other than small brown ants), then chances are these natural tips won’t help the problem go away entirely. In that case, you may need to hire a professional pest control expert to handle it for you.
If you notice ants coming into your home and they are bothersome, try following some of these tricks:

Cinnamon Sticks & Garlic Cloves

Place cinnamon sticks or garlic in areas where you have seen ants enter, such as in window tracks, by doors and in corners around your home. While garlic cloves aren’t as aromatically pleasing as cinnamon sticks, they work really well. Just peel and slice a few cloves and place them where you notice the ants. Last year we had some unexplained ants that kept invading my daughter’s dresser so we placed the cloves on the dresser. After a day or two, we replaced them with fresh cloves and the ants never returned.
You can also place cinnamon sticks around the pantry for extra protection. Once, I ran out of cinnamon and used cloves instead – it worked just as well. I actually witnessed ants crawling away from the cloves.

Vinegar

Place white vinegar or apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spray on areas where you have seen ants. The fungicidal and insecticidal properties in the vinegar help prevent ants.

Black Pepper

Sprinkle black pepper where you see ants. The ants will immediately scatter. Pay attention to where they run; chances are they will be exiting your house and you’ll be able to treat the entry area with pepper too.

Boiling Water

For serious anthill problems in your yard or walkway, pour boiling water over the anthills. It sounds a bit cruel, but pesticides can be equally, if not more, cruel.

Mint

Mint destroys the smelling capabilities of ants and prevents them from entering your home. There are several ways to use mint to prevent ant infestations. First, plant mint around your home, especially near doors and close to areas where you have seen anthills. Second, place mint leaves in and around windows. If ants are entering your pantry, place some mint leaves on the shelves and in the corners.

Other Plants

Here is a list of some other plants which have been known to be effective at warding off ants. The idea is the stronger the smell, the more likely the plant is to keep the ants away:

Basil
Chili peppers
Eucalyptus
Garlic
Lavender
Peppermint
Rosemary
Thyme

Persistence is the key when trying natural ant control remedies. If one of these methods doesn’t work for you, then try another. You may need to repeat it a few times.

How have you gotten rid of ants in your home?

Marcy Tate is a blogger at Networx, the Home Improvement Network. She has been working with ant control experts for over a decade on ways to naturally control ants.

T-shirt jammie pants

2010-04-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

What a GREAT idea. Apparently these super soft jammie pants or shorts are a zip to sew up. The hem of the t- shirt is the hem of the pants. A fab use for those super soft old (unstained) t-shirts of dad or big brother! ...and free! ...except for the elastic. See photos and turorials HERE

SNOT SUCKER - a product way overdue!

2010-04-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm in Rexburg Idaho with a darling, crawling grandson who has a nose problem and HATES to be wiped. Mommy needs to buy the amazing snot sucking NoseFrida nasal aspirator ($15 on amazon) or this other thingy... I hear they work a lot better than those blue bulb things. Cool, non?

This...I'm doing!

2010-04-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

I like to keep a dish towel hanging on the cupboard door below my sink. It's there so that when any one rinses their hands, a towel is right there to wipe hands dry. Makes perfect sense. My husband and son are constantly pulling the thing out and leaving it on the counter. It drives me crazy! It's put there to stay there and for drying hands ONLY - not mouths and counters.

Then I found the answer to a "stay where I want it towel" !

Somethings Fishy!!

2010-03-26T21:03:00.000-07:00

Watch this Atlanta report on the dangers of eating foreign fish !! HERE

Definitely not cool!

For all mommies out there

2010-03-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

"House work" is really "family serving" This blog portrays the right attitude.

read here Changing Lives - One laundry load at a time

....and if you do it right now, you will probably get some awesome adult children, like I have. All the personal sacrifices..... the biting your tongue when you really wanted to scream, the sticking to your family rules to teach them accountability, making them clean up there own messes (literal and figurative) to teach responsibility, the "new baby" and the "staying up late till the teens get home" sleep deprivation, the family vacations with all disasters included, the "can't hear a thing at church cuz you're out in the foyer with a noisy one, the crazy hunt for perfect Christmas presents and all parents give each other is a knowing smile, attending all those sports events and actually

watching when you'd rather be reading a book, the homework help, birthday parties, enduring sleep overs, (I wouldn't do those any more if I did had it to do over...seriously), the endless cleaning, the spilled everything, the driving, cooking, being on alert, ALLLLL OF IT!!!......TOTALLY worth it!

There are huge pay days ahead along that will make up for the heart break days......and they will start giving you great presents that they had to hunt for, and they will be your friends, and they will give you grandchildren (there is a reason they are called grand) that will adore you that you can love and have fun with and send home.

Every toilet that you cleaned, every nose you wiped, every sleepless night....TOTALLY WORTH IT!!

Here's my philosophy that got me through the homebound years and gave me a "I love my life" attitude:

This is the life I chose...so learn to LOVE IT and enjoy it.

I also learned that:

ALL THE FUN...AND ALL THE JOY LIES IN THE SECOND MILE!! Get really good at doing the things you must do, home management, educating the young, decorating, cooking, child rearing...I found motivating books and classes that taught me how to do all of that and have fun doing it.

To this day I have a son that really gets a kick out of organizing because he saw me having so much fun doing it and enjoyed helping me! (future wife..you may thank me later) A daughter picked up on my love for Montessori, another daughter is a great cook and cleaner (ok she didn't get a joy of cleaning from me but other passions rubbed off. One is very entrepreneurial like her dad and loves fashion and photography like me. SHARE YOUR PASSIONS. Let them see what mom has a kick out of doing. It's not ALL about them!

Read the scriptures regularly (you will be blessed with more patience) and let the kids associate the scriptures with the sound of your voice. (RMN)

In other words, read them scriptures to them along with story books.

Teach them that motherhood is the MOST important job and that you love this PART of your life - even though there are years that it will be your WHOLE life, every waking hour.

Wow, this was going to be a little short post....but as you can still I am still very passionate about the fun of being a young mother. I miss it sometimes.....just love the season of your life...it doesn't last long....

and it really is ...

THE COOLEST THING!!

What businesses have increased during the recession?

2010-03-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

I like to keep a finger on the pulse of America. I think it's interesting to see where people's minds are at. Here is a list of companies that have grown during the recession (click on the slideshow) and one booming young company they didn't mention...

-products-that-boomed-during-the-recession. and... (warning.....shameless plug)

knuckleheadsclothing.com

A great post on decorating

2010-03-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

A great post here by littlegreennotebook on "how to decorate a bedroom in four weeks." She shows the processes of conceptualizing, designing and shopping. It will be interesting to see the "after".

How to Thaw Meat

2010-03-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

"whatever you do, don't zap meat in the microwave." says the owner of Lobel's butcher shop in NYC
"It cooks the meat from the inside out, which removes moisture, retains the freezer aftertaste, and leaves your meat gritty." Instead, he suggests (as do I) wrap your cuts in small resealable packages (I like butcher paper wrapped over the bags to prevent burn)

... before you freeze them - one steak, two pork chops. Then when dinner is just a couple of hours away and you haven't had time to thaw the main course in the refrigerator, soak it, bag and all in cold water for about two hours. Warm water is bad because the outside of the meat gets too warm and the inside won't thaw - not to mention the food-borne illness that can breed that way."

Individually freezing meat portions is key to flexibility in meals...in case of unexpected company or parent who feels unsatisfied after what the kids had for dinner and wants a steak! ( I am married to Mr Steak!)

Blogs FOR you !

2010-02-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

I have been keeping a -just for me- blog for awhile to save interior and exterior design ideas...like this mirror on mirror photo.

I've blogged about this idea before but I think it's worthy of another mention because I think it's such a great way to keep track of web photos and ideas that you want to have access to and not forget about. (thanks to Penny for expanding my mind with this idea). I've named this private blog "In my dreams" for obvious reasons.

The great thing about blogs is that they are searchable data bases, easy to use, accessible from any computer and FREE. I have 5 or 6 blogs at present. One for my recipes, one for quotes, one that is more family oriented and a couple others to keep track of other info and ideas. Ya I'm a saver but at least blogs don't take up space!!

Do you know who YOU are??

2010-02-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to this new TV show. I LOVE family history stories!

It took a few years for youth-obsessed TV execs to pick up on the big dead-relative trend, but now two -- count 'em two -- new series have made it to the air.

First came the PBS series "Faces of America with Louis Gates, Jr.", which, in typical PBS fashion, is like a cheek-swab "Charlie Rose Show." IQ-busting, culture-making types find out about their dead ancestors, who, it always turns out, were no slackers in their own times either.

Next month, the Lisa Kudrow-produced show "Who Do You Think You Are?" -- which is glitzier and less high-brow -- starts on NBC. (In fact, Kudrow has partnered with the genealogy site, Ancestry.com on the project.)

So, while "Faces" does include some poets and the like, they add snazz by including Meryl Streep, Mario Batali, Yo-Yo Ma and Stephen Colbert.

I was riveted to find out that skater Kristi Yamaguchi's grandfather served as a decorated US soldier in WWII, while his Japanese-American family was living in internment camps back home.

Meanwhile, I couldn't stop watching Kudrow's show as the backgrounds of famous folk like Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Spike Lee, Emmit Smith and Susan Sarandon came tumbling out.

While Parker might not have been Cleopatra herself, in a former life her ancestors go back to the revolution and, it turns out, lived more exciting lives than Carrie Bradshaw. Her great-great-etc-grandmother was the last woman arrested as a witch in Salem.

If Kudrow's show hits big, you won't find a network next year that doesn't have a dead-relatives show.

Why? It's sure cheaper -- and more interesting -- than hiring living actors.

Cool Family History Calendar

2010-02-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is a calendar I came across from a store in Sweden. It jumpstarted an idea in my head.....but first you ought to know what makes my juices going.

My passions in life, after my family are... and not in any particular order

photography / personal and family history
Montessori education
home management / organizing, saving $, cooking fast and cheap and healthy.
design / interior, exterior , jewelry, whatever
preparedness / food storage
scripture study

...and this blog is for writing about, and keeping track of all the cool ideas I come across or already do in any of these categories.This idea fits into the family history category.

Back to the calendar - I love implementing quick ways to record family life. Journals work for certain kinds of writing (and I could write a whole book just on creative journal keeping) but sometimes you just want to make fast notes of what was DONE and NOT upcoming events. This calendar would work for that.

The calendar showing looks homemade and I like that, but an easier way would be to buy a big blank calendar that is HANDY to write something down EVERYDAY. It could be a doodle or a note, colored or etchy looking black and white. You could write, or the kids could take turns. It could record gratitude, events, projects or goals completed, books read....whatever!

OH CANADA, I GOTTA HAVE THOSE OLYMPIC MITTENS!!

2010-02-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

I'm a CANADIAN living in the US....and a Vancouver born Canadian at that! I must have these mittens but they are out of stock everywhere that I look online. If anyone sees them available anywhere please, please let me know. I need them! Even though I live in Atlanta, (we had SEVERAL INCHES of snow yesterday!) it gets cold...and...and...my Canadian-ness just needs them!) I loved how those little maple leaves on the mittens waved at everyone.

How about those opening ceremonies?? I was so proud. It was an education for my grandkids that watched it with me. (It is widely known that my opinion is pretty low of the American school curriculum in regards to their neighbours, Canada and Mexico. Americans rarely know who the head of state of Canada is or the names of the provinces (not providences pleeease!))

I loved how they highlighted the various parts of Canada, from east coast to west. My teen years were spent in Winnipeg - very prairie, and I hoped the whole floor would be one mass of waving wheat and then it was! The prairie has a beauty all its own. (very 60'S photo of me in Winnipeg )

My family lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was I was little. There were wheat fields across from our house and I remember running through them, making paths and laying on my back looking up at the clouds naming the images that I saw... I was a serious day dreamer... so when that kid went running through the fields and flew above them, feelings stirred and I was there again. Ahhh the blissful memories of youth.

Ok, rant and stroll down memory lane over.....back to the original thought....

I WANT THOSE MITTS!

Best bathtub for a baby that I've ever seen

2010-02-12T13:53:00.000-08:00

If I were a mom with a new baby, I would sooooo buy this! Brilliant. At $40, it's not the cheapest thing but the convenience would make it worth it.

Watch the video HERE You've got to see how this works.

Cool Valentine's Day Ideas for kids!

2010-02-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE to see Blonde Designs

It's a little late. I know all the school parties are tomorrow so this post is late but hey, you could bookmark it for next year? I have a "favorites" file entitled 'to make'. I slide blog posts over that have ideas I don't want to forget.

Does your fridge look like this before photo??

2010-02-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

I love a great motivating picture

Here's the after...

and the story HERE

Mommy Money Improved!

2010-02-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

When my kids were little I made my own mommy money from colored paper to use for chore incentives and rewards during the summer.

The kids earned the money by doing chores without being asked, being kind, honest, whatever! It worked well and our kids remember it better than any chore chart I ever made.

One of my daughters found THIS idea the other day from "The Idea Room." I think it's a brilliant incentive system for kids. Check it out.

you want to know how to save a lot of money?

2010-02-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

I just read an interesting TIME blog article click here about a large group of women who did something that I did last year - BUY NO NEW CLOTHES for yourself for one whole year.

I had always wanted to challenge myself to do this and last year I did it! I didn't buy a thing for myself. It occurred partly out of the shock and awe of the economic nose dive. I just didn't feel like spending any money and my closet was too full anyway from days of shopping out of boredom at times. So I dove into this new project. I got organized, rearranged my clothes into FAMILIES, and would shop in my own closet. It wasn't as hard as I thought and I felt a little noble about this little accomplishment.

I agree with Coco Chanel: Have a minimum of clothing but it should all be very good quality and I would add...at half price!

I Want a Food Pod!!!

2010-02-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

This is the most clever new kitchen gadget I have seen in a long time ! At first you will say to yourself "What the heck is that?" ....... and then you get it.

view here to watch the clever ad/movie

AND it's only $15. totally worth it ! ..... and no more burning the hand while trying to get the metal fan basket out of the pot with boiling water!

Really brilliant calendar!

2010-01-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

here

Click above to see a great post from Chez Larsson . I think this is the perfect layout for a family wall calendar. I was always frustrated trying to put everyone's schedules into the monthly boxes or too skinny days of the week formats in calendars here!

The only problem with this one is...it's Swedish! It works for me because of my Swedish heritage and all the family history research I've done ...but it would be so nice to have this in English and in this format - which I have never seen! Being an empty nester I don't need this anymore but it would have been nice a few years ago. If I had seen this then I would have made my own!!

Has anyone ever seen anything like this in English??

mother-in-law advice

2010-01-25T15:12:00.000-08:00

Grandma died a year ago. She was as close to perfect as any person I have ever known. She taught me to love home.

She survived living through Nazi occupied Holland with very little food or anything else. Her husband survived work camps ( concentration camps) and other horrors of the war. They emigrated to America in the late 50's and began a new life with their family of 7. They were sponsored as "war refugees" by the congregation of a church in Newark NJ. A year and half later, her husband was killed in a work related accident. Even though she was alone in a strange country, she continued the dream they had of moving to Utah to raise the family. Her English was as limited as her options.

She eventually got a job as a cook in a school lunchroom and became a manager years later. She was an engaging storyteller (of her life in Holland) a fabulous cook, and an extraordinary homemaker....which is the point of this blog. We lived with her as newlyweds and I learned so much just watching how she did everything. I learned how to be a homemaker from her and to love it! She taught me that keeping a homey home for your family; being a home-maker, IS the coolest thing!

Here is a little of her good advice:

buy food storage items in small sizes. Yes it's cheaper in larger sizes but for freshness sake and less waste buy in smaller packages.
make your own slice and bake cookie dough. Make dough, roll into logs, wrap in wax paper, freeze, thaw, slice and bake. She always made the dough for her Christmas cookies in November.

this one's for me...keep up the house during the week so you don't waste your Saturdays cleaning up and reorganizing.
Fix your meals with a variety of color. She would never give you a plate of all white food (chicken. potatoes and cauliflower or corn and a roll. A variety of color gives you a variety of vitamins.
Change your dishcloth every day. Her father said this was the mark of a good housewife.

Another mark of a good house wife is a clean fridge top.
Since you are pregnant for 9 months, you should stay down for 9 days to recover. (I loved having her come after I had a baby - she did everything for me, made all the meals, cleaned the house and guarded the treats from the kids.

She believed in olive oil as a"keep skin young" treatment. (She got that bit of wisdom from an old Italian lady with beautiful skin)

She dried her sheets outside so they would smell good, was diligent about spring cleaning and started cooking her Sunday meals on Sat. night (My husband loved being home on Sat nights because the house always smelled so good!)

and finally..."never raise your hand to your parent (in anger) or you're hand will come out of the grave" !!

I have a new goal...

2010-01-23T17:02:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, my computer crashed, along with all my digital (and scanned) photos. It made me sick to my stomach. It was expensive but I hired someone to get my files back. Since then I have been trting to decide the best way to store my photos and not keep 6000 + on my computer (its just so handy though..)

I had decided that the easiest and cheapest way is just to make your own CD/DVD/s of everything. Several of my techno mac geek design friends did it this way also. (I would also like a cyberspace backup but I don't want to depend on that totally.)

I found this photo today of how one organized mom (from Real Simple) stores her digital photos. A great photo always motivates me. So.....this is how I want my photo storage to be/look like!

She color codes the disks ; blue= trips, yellow, parties etc. I wouldn't get crazy here. I think I'll just date them and list the contents. I do like how she divides the years with empty disks sitting vertical instead of horizontal though. I LOVE this!

Meals in a Minute!

2010-01-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

Impossible I know, but that's what I'd like. I don't get home from work until 6:00...and I'm hungry and have an equally hungry husband.

His name is "Sugarboots".

That's what the girls called him in high school

so from now on, in this blog he shall go by that!

Back to I want dinner fast! I made a list of quick to fix meals on a 5x7 index card. I'll start referring to that each night or on Saturdays when I plan meals for the following week. to see what I need to buy and what has to be pre prepped (Is that correct grammar?) Yes, meals in a minute will involve some advanced prep and it's totally it's worth it.

Here is one meal I can make quickly this week. Grilled steak (defrosting in the fridge during the day, slice and grill when I get home) salad (out of a bag plus some crunchy stuff), and garlic (opt) mashed potatoes. These delicious potatoes will be ready in a minute! Here's how....

I will get out my freezer bag of mashed potato balls and take out however many I want. Nuke them for a 30 seconds or so in their little bag (explanations in a sec) ...stir or smoosh heat a little more and scoop onto a plate which has the lovely meat and veg already on.

Here's the back track. Today I made garlic mashed potatoes. Here's how.

1. boil a 5# bag of Yukon gold potatoes (no peeling necessary and they freeze well, (russets do not)

2. drain when soft and add 2 T butter, 6 oz cream cheese, a handful of bacon bits (I used Hormel bottled bacon bits), and some garlic salt or 4 cloves of garlic finely mashed. (or leave the garlic out, this is all to taste.) Add milk, 2 green onions, finely chopped, 2 T. seasoning salt, and cup or so of shredded cheddar cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. Let cool.

3. Scoop out the mashed potato mounds with an ice cream scoop, put on a tray and freeze.

When frozen enough to pick up, put each ball in a baggie...

twist shut (no air) and put all little wrapped balls in a larger freezer bag.

Voila! Fab mashed mashed potatoes that can be heated through and have on a dinner plate in...seriously...a minute. Isn't this a great idea??

Cool new way to tie a scarf - love it

2010-01-16T17:55:00.000-08:00

click here to see

Why must a family tree be a tree?

2010-01-11T07:04:00.000-08:00

I had never thought of that question before this morning when I saw these "modern family tree" charts for sale. Brilliant!! Who else loves this??

Why can't it be a an ever blooming flower?

or a ray of sunshine?

or ripples in the sea...or cosmos??

To keep track of the end of the packing tape

2010-01-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

just stick to the end of it...no more clawing to find the end. Another "why didn't I think of it before idea!

(photo courtesy of Real Simple)

Really cool necklaces / scarf

2009-12-31T08:10:00.000-08:00

This is not a home related post.....but seriously, these are the coolest necklaces for winter !

to see more look at Nitca at Etsy

Saving homemade chicken stock

2009-12-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

store bought stock is not cheap...and they are salty! The best stock is homemade. When I cook a turkey, or roast a chicken (even one from the grocery deli)

1. I stick the bones in a big pot and simmer for a few hours.
2. put in fridge over night, skim off fat the next day.
3. add carrots, celery, bay leaf onions, parsley, (if you have it) thyme, garlic, pepper and simmer again
4. strain and freeze in muffin tins for easy use.

I use my stock for everything: steaming asparagus, soups (duh), gravy, stir fry...wherever you might want some richly flavored water.

inspiring desk top organizing

2009-12-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

organizing birthday cards

2009-12-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

I have used a dutch birthday calendar for years. There are no years on it, only days. It hangs on the back of my bathroom door (that's the obligatory place where all true Dutchies put them) and a box that birthday cards go into to lay in wait, but I now put it all together in this BIRTHDAY BINDER. It is divided by months and a couple of occasions at the back. Plastic page protectors go behind each month (to hold said cards) and a month at a glance list of birthdays and anniversaries goes right behind each tab. I love it.

...another great Martha Stewart idea

organizing belts

2009-12-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

another great Martha Stewart idea. Those hooks shouldn't be too hard to screw in, right?

Closet organization - Idea for scarves and belts

2009-12-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

If I had a wall in my closet, I would do this....what a great new use for towel rods! Add hooks to the rod for belts. Visible and accessible! Love it.

Cool trip-logue

2009-12-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

I love documenting family life. Years ago I remember hearing a a great lecture about raising kids. The psychologist said that kids (teens in particular) want to relate to a group. Parents want their family group to be the one they relate to so...coming up with ways to accomplish this have always been high on my list. Among the things we routinely did, visual reminders of "We are a family that has fun together and love each other" has been important to me. If I had seen this bulletin board years ago I soooo would have done this.

Organizing - Quick trip pill box

2009-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

A great use for an old contact case!

New use for old eyeglass case...

2009-11-30T07:40:00.001-08:00

your backdoor brain

2009-11-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

great system for "out the door "reminders

Need placecard holders for your Thanksgiving meal?

2009-11-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

Use pumpkin colored paint strips!

Chic brag books

2009-11-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

As a photographer, I love new ways to display photos. These would fit in a purse or sit on a desk and make a unique statement. Thanks for the idea, Martha S.!

Around the blog and back

2009-11-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

I found a new blog I like. It's called Organizing Life.
Photos motivate me more than text. I can see at a glance what she did and I love it.

Baby's Photo Flip File

2009-11-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

Laminate some photos of "faces in the family". and it becomes a great learning activity for an older baby or toddler for their eye hand coordination and visual recognition. A great toy to keep them engaged in a crib, at church, in the car (till they drop it and wail)

You know those cheap little see through napkin holders ?

2009-11-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

'nuff said !

Girl's Accessory catchall

2009-11-02T09:12:00.000-08:00

A flat frame bought on sale (of course) with added knobs and ribbon stapled to the back, corrals all the dodads! Love it!

An Organized Glove Box??

2009-10-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Some people call it a jockey box..some people call it other things, but you know where I'm talking about....its that compartment in the car that when open, spills all over the floor!! The photo of the coupon organizer says it all. The, uh-hem, several times I have been pulled over by our local Georgia speed trappers, I have had to nervously fumble around the box for the license and registration. This will make ( would have made - it won't be happening again! ) retrieving all info faster. Add a section for receipts for car repairs, car maintenance etc. Voila! an organized glove compartment.

"Cool" idea for freezing ground beef!

2009-10-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

It's not often that I see a great new ideas for freezing food, but this is definitely one for the books, uh, blog.

Take a pound or two of raw hamburger meat, put it in a freezer bag and flatten and measure off portions with a chopstick!! When you want to use some (like make just one fresh hamburger just open the bag and break off however much you want to use. This is a really practical idea. I still love my gravel also though.

Grab and go Travel Laundry kit

2009-10-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

for the car, in a suitcase, or just in your house....neat and together, just grab and go. While you're at it you may want to put in a stain chart also, for quick reference.

idea courtesy of Martha Stewart

frame to tray!

2009-10-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

pretty self explanatory!

REALLY Cool Site for Black Friday

2009-10-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Americans Click Here for Black Friday specials ....as it gets closer to Thanksgiving, to see what the big sales are at all the big stores.

No more slip and slide

2009-10-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

...just elastic bands