Organizing Embroidery Floss

My daughter likes to make friendship bracelets.

This is what her stash of embroidery floss looks looked like.

 I was wasting time on my new favorite website (pinterest.com),

and I saw a photo of embroidery floss wrapped around clothes pins.

I just happened to have two packs of

clothes pins from the dollar store (30 pins for $1)

I used two packs.  $2.00

Looks so much better, don't you think?

I guess I didn't totally waste my time.

Have you become addicted to Pinterest yet?

(If you have no idea what on earth I'm
talking about, go here for an explanation.)

Here are my Pinterest Boards.

Menu Plan Monday

I'm joining I'm an Organizing Junkie today for Menu Plan Monday. Here's what I've got cookin' this week:

Monday:
Baked Spaghetti, Salad and Garlic Bread

Tuesday:
Chicken Fettucini, Salad

Wednesday:
Hamburgers and Corn

Thursday:
Mango Crockpot Chicken Tacos from 4 Reluctant Entertainers (cooking on Wednesday) and Rice

4RE's post with the chicken recipe was about making a little extra for a friend. I have a friend who has a sick mother, so I think I will throw some extra in for her family, too, and while I'm at it, make some of those yummy snicker doodles Sandy made to go with the chicken.

Thursday Night Bunco:

Brie baked with pineapple preserves, crackers, Prosciutto Panino (I bought this log of mozzarella and prosciutto from Costco and I'm not sure what to do with it. I think I will slice it and serve on crostini. Any advice on this one?), and Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars from Tea in My Cup. I've never tried this but they look yummy. I'll let you know how it goes.

Friday:

Pizza. I'm putting goat cheese on mine. Yumm.

Saturday:
Carne Asada (Bill Bailey's from Costco). This stuff is awesome and too easy. I would love to stop by the international market and find some uncooked flour tortillas to go with. There is no better tortilla friends!

Sunday Morning:
Orange Sweet Rolls (Pillsbury)

Stop by I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menus and recipes!

I've been organizing things around the house lately and I thought I'd show you a couple things I did.

I got this cart at Costco for school supplies. I couldn't find new tape for my label maker (I'm thinking a 7 year old has something to do with this), so I used a sheet of laser printer labels. Now, with all the school supplies neatly organized and labeled, you would think my children wouldn't ask me where the paper is ... every time they do homework ... but yes, they do.

A bucket on top for pens and pencils.

Some candy for homework motivation. Finish a page, get a piece.

The fridge fell victim to my labeling, too. I changed the deli drawer into a snack drawer for kids. I ended up changing the fruit/veggie drawer to just veggies, and the meat drawer below it to a fruit drawer.

You can't read the labels very well, but we have a taco bin, a dairy bin and a lunch bin (lunch meat and cheese). I put the bins in because you can easily slide them in and out, so the food doesn't just pile up on the shelf and you have to stick your head in there just to find something in the back. You know what I'm talking about?

Next up is the cord monster that was growing in my kitchen cabinet. All the chargers had become tangled in a big ball. These storage cubes were at Walmart: 2 for $2. They fit perfectly into our entertainment center. We have cubes for computer cords, cell phone chargers, battery chargers, etc. There is even one for "unknown" which has been fabulous. Every time Mr. Jones says "Do you know where my ______ charger is?", I point him to the unknown cube and it's always there. Whoopee. He thinks I'm a rock star!

I almost forgot ... one thing I've started doing with our chargers and cords is writing down on an Avery label what the cord is for (we have about 5,000 cell phones and video game players in our house), and then I fold it over the cord. That way, any one can tell what it goes to and we don't keep old chargers because we don't know what they are for. Have I told you I love Avery labels?

It's time to save money!

We're trying to get more frugal at the Jones house, so we're cutting coupons and cleaning the house. I have the kids cut the coupons for me on Saturdays, which also helps them with fine motor skills. I use The Grocery Game so it is not as time consuming. GG continues to frustrate me, however, because I am always finding mistakes or discrepancies. Like, a lot. But in the end I still save a ton of money so it is worth it.

I let the cleaning people go this week (I started working last year as a substitute teacher so I could hire them). So I have gone back to the Motivated Moms Chore Planning System. It is a calendar that gives you chores to do every day, and if you do them you will stay caught up. They have a version with a daily bible reading, and one without. And it is only $8.00!! You download it, print it, and put it in a binder. Love it!

Click here to view more details

Find little ways . . .

. . . to beautify everyday life.

I forgot something

I completely forgot to include these pictures in my post last week on painting the kids' closet. I found these baskets at Walgreens, and almost all of them were a natural color, but there was one that was a chocolate brown that I loved. I thought it would look better against the blue background, too. But I wasn't about to drive around to all the Walgreens in the area and see if they had the chocolate colored baskets. So I went shopping in the basement for some brown paint and this is how they turned out.

I paint baskets all the time. I have a big basket in the living room for all the little blankets the kids use. We just throw them in, because I'm not going to fold all the blankets every day. It was a tired, old natural basket that I refreshed with a couple coats of brown spray paint.

Do you paint closets?

I do. If I had the time, that is. Because I believe in decorating spaces that my family sees all the time, so we can be happy and enjoy our home. If I had time, I would paint all the closets. But I don't have time for that yet. I did find the time to paint this little closet, though. Instead of doing laundry. You might say I was just finding a distraction from doing boring housework. That would be true. But this is a tiny space that the kiddos and I see every day. And it is dirty and boring. I think looking at builder-white-dirty-scuffed-up walls is depressing.

Anyway, last year we converted this closet for the kids to use for their backpacks and school papers. I cheated on this "before" picture because the "before" was really filled with books, papers, junk, trash, dirty socks, soccer balls, etc. So I decided to do a quick update on this depressing little closet. I went shopping for paint in my basement (The one and only time I forked over $$ for Benjamin Moore paint, I picked the wrong color. So this is what I ended up using it for.)

And the finished product:
I just happened to find these cute, lined baskets at Walgreens for $5 each! Even Walmart wasn't that cheap. I did get the green shelf liner from Walmart. A tag for owner of each shelf.

Wall pockets for library books. I didn't have time to be perfect on this project. Exhibit "A": Sometimes I don't patch holes or nail pops.

The long strip on the door is a backpack holder, and then I put a towel rack halfway down for jackets. It's low so short people can reach it too.

No staging going on here, folks. I just left that laundry in the background, because I'm too lazy to move it for my pictures. Actually, this is considered clean for my house.

How do you organize school junk?

I'm a Storage Star! Wooooohoooo!

I woke up to such a nice surprise today! I received an e-mail from Laura at the blog I'm an Organizing Junkie, saying that she has given me her "Storage Star" award for this post. I'm so honored! Thanks Laura!

Check out her blog, because she has lots of great information on organizing your home. She also highlights organizing products, and has started a new blog for her product reviews. My newest favorite is the Back Pack Rack. It hooks onto a door and has clips for bags and backpacks. You can slide the hooks up and down, so each Jones kid has clips at his/her level. The company didn't even charge me for shipping!

She is also having an Organizational Challenge starting November 1, which I will be getting in on. There are lots of messy spots lurking in the Jones Home that need an overhaul.

What Works For Me Wednesday: Filling Out Kid Forms

My tip this week for What Works For Me Wednesday, is a more efficient way to fill out forms for our kids. You know what I'm talking about . . . all of the forms you get the first day of school, when they go on a field trip, join Scouts, play a sport, etc. Well, I used to gather all the information I needed *every* time I filled out a form. Or I would start filling out the form, then realize I need the shot records, get up, find the shot record in the filing room, start filling out forms again. Then I need the doctor's address, get up, get the phone book, continue filling out forms. One day I decided to type up a sheet that has all the information I will ever need to complete a form. It has insurance information, last tetanus shot, emergency contacts I use and their phone and address, and anything else I have ever been asked for on a form. I keep it in my calendar/phonebook binder. If I am going somewhere and know I am going to be asked to complete a form at that location, I just grab my binder.

Now you guys may have figured this out years ago, and I'm the last person to finally get it. But if you're with me and still hunting for that info every time, I hope this helps.

I have a blank version of my form saved in MS Word, and if you would like me to e-mail it to you, just post a comment asking for the form, and I will be happy to send it on!

That is my contribution to What Works for Me Wednesday. For more WWFM tips, go visit Rocks In My Dryer.

What Works For Me: Organizing Coloring Books

I read this great little tip in my new favorite magazine, Real Simple. I've had kids for 12 years, so the pile of activity/coloring books we have collected is impressive. They are always a mess, though. Or the kids can't find them. And we have too many. My favorite new coloring book organizer is a cheap dish rack. Pick your favorite books out of the pile and put them in the rack. Anything that doesn't fit in the rack goes in the round file (when I worked at the law firm, this is what we called the trash can). Use the utensil cup for crayons and scissors.
One of my other, most favorite kid-craft organizers is paint buckets. You can get clean, empty, new paint cans for about $3.50 at The Home Depot. We have 1 for color pencils, 1 for pens, and 1 for paint brushes/paint. They fit perfectly on shelves. You can leave them just how they are or you can decorate them with paper. The one in the picture doesn't have a handle, but they do come with the standard paint can handle.

That is my contribution to What Works for Me Wednesday. For more WWFM tips, go visit Rocks in My Dryer.

I Think I Need This . . .

I think these are just what I need for my garage sale. Aren't they cute?! They are from Sassy Signs, and you can get signs for parties, babies, whatever you need. Now who wouldn't stop for that!

I Think I'm Insane (in other words, I'm Having a Garage Sale)

I have *SWORN* off having garage sales, but with the Tween room makeover (remember my little Peter Walsh was ruthlessly tossing things out) we have enough stuff to have a garage sale, and she wants to use the money to buy new bedding. I know all of my friends who know me well, and have heard "I'm never having another garage sale" ad nauseum, are all rolling their eyes.

Question ... and please pipe in with any opinions you may have, Tween wants to get rid of all American Girl dolls and accessories. I will let her sell almost anything, but this collection I cannot part with. I must save it. Am I being a clutter rat or is it ok to save something really special for our family (grandchildren, nieces) and future guests? Am I saving Tween from selling something that she may want to keep in the future, or should I let her get rid of her possessions the way she sees fit?

Ok, so my honey is also cleaning the garage, which is a source of much, much, much more junk to sell. I think there is more eye-rolling going on from the friends, because you all know what our garage has looked like for ages. He has already installed shelving and cabinets, so the real test is next week when he is going to de-clutter. I think Tween may have inspired him though. Keep your fingers crossed for me ladies.

So with Garage Sale plans full steam ahead, I thought I would brush up on my garage sale skills. I found a great little check list on my new favorite organizing website, OnlineOrganizing.Com:

BEGIN BY PREPARING YOUR SALE ITEMS
sort items into categories (kitchen, books, kids, clothes)
clean and repair items as you go
price items and label with a description when applicable

CLARIFY YARD SALE REGULATIONS
call city or county government for local yard sale regulations
find out about "signage" rules (size, shape, placement)
find out if you need a permit to hold a yard sale in your area

DECIDE ON NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING
call for prices and deadlines (don't forget "free" and local papers)
include date, time, address, directions, and items of interest
run your ad at least 1 day before and day of your sale

DETERMINE YOUR YARD SALE POLICIES
determine the length of your sale (number of days and hours)
decide if you will accept checks or hold items for people
decide if you will allow early birds or let people in your home

GATHERING YOUR SUPPLIES
decide if you will allow early birds or let people in your home
"checkout" items (cash box, extra bags, tissue / newspaper)
"try-before-you-buy" items (extension cords, batteries, bulbs)

MULTI-FAMILY SALES
ask friends, neighbors, and family to join in
have each participant mark his / her items differently
keep track of each person's sales in a notebook

PUTTING UP SIGNS
put posters at major intersections and along your road
put up fliers in local stores, laundromats, and churches
include address, hours, arrows, and major items of interest

SETTING UP YOUR CASH BOX
get change ($20 in coins, $50 in ones, $40 in fives)
create a list of "minimum prices" you will accept for each item
make arrangements for a charity to pick up your leftovers

SETTING UP YOUR SALE AREA
make sure nothing is blocking traffic flow
display like items / complementary items together
make sure everything is clearly visible

TIME TO ASK FOR HELP
make arrangements for a charity to pick up your leftovers
recruit helpers (at least 2 people to stay the length of the sale)
educate helpers about your pricing / negotiating

WEEK BEFORE THE SALE
put up fliers in public areas around town
place your newspaper ad
gather supplies, get change, and confirm "helpers"

WEEK OF THE SALE
put up directional signs around your neighborhood
block off any areas you don't want shoppers to enter
get a good night's sleep

WHAT TO DO DAY OF THE SALE
start setting up 1-2 hours before sale scheduled to start
put one person in charge of cash box -- never leave unguarded
have fun -- let your kids sell snacks and play some peppy music!

Anyone else hosting a garage sale this summer?

A sneak peak . . .

As you may recall in this post and this post, I am working on organizing my sewing/craft room. I started this project a while back, and I have been making progress, so I thought I would give you a sneak peak. It will be a while until I post pictures of the final product because I am going to repaint the entire room (including master bedroom and bath). I was walking through Home Depot the other day, and a brand new paint chip caught my eye while I was walking by (is this a sign that I have spent too much time in the paint chip department??)

I digress . . .

The tool peg board is my favorite addition to the room so far. It was so easy to do. The cost was $5 for the board and a pack of all the little doo-dads to hang things was $10. Not bad. I think I need one in my laundry room for all my tools.

My second favorite is the curtain rod-wrapping paper holder. That cost $0 because I shopped in my stash (originally bought them at Wal-Mart so they didn't cost that much anyway).


Here is my new stamp/stamp pad holder.















And here is the inspiration board. I think it needs a little distressing.

Work Room Redo Part 1

I'm trying to come up with a basic plan to redo the work room before I yank everything out. Knowing me, I will pull it all out and my poor honey will come home to an enormous mess in the bedroom. DivaDeb stopped by and gave me the fabulous advice to break each part of the room into sections for each purpose of the room (eg, sewing, crafting, scrapping, etc.). So here are the plans. If you want to see the actual room, click here. The scanner cut stuff off and I'm not going to be anal-retentive today like I normally am.

Here is my major dilemma, which is why this place is a mess in the first place: I have boxes and boxes and books and books of photos, which need to be put in scrapbooks. The books of photos are those old yucky magnetic page books, all different sizes and shapes. I need to take the photos out and put them into nice scrapbooks. I'm afraid to take all the photos out and put them into boxes, but I also think it just looks like a complete mess the way it is. I need you scrappy, organized people out there to give me direction on this. I simply can't figure it out on my own, and it is giving me a great deal of stress.

Thanks!!

30 Day Organizational Challenge

I **REALLY** hate doing this, but I just can't help myself when a good challenge comes my way. I'm an Organizing Junkie is having an organizing challenge this month, with some great prizes.

I'm throwing my hat in the ring, and posting pictures of the room I need to straighten up. It is my workspace. And I hate showing the world my greatest mess. But I do need some motivation. When we moved, I unpacked and organized the entire house, and this is the last room. I have come a long way. I really wish I had pictures of this room full of boxes (I had some, but lost them in the bad-hard-drive-incident). Can you believe it actually looked worse than this at one point? I need to get this room to a place where I can actually function and get things done, and enjoy my surroundings too. I have a gazillion pictures that need to be scrapped, and all kinds of other crud that needs a special home. Wish me luck!

Here are some of the questions Organizing Junkie wants me to consider when reorganizing my room:

1. What do I want the purpose of my room or area to be? A workroom for me only. For scrapping, sewing and crafting.

2. What do I need in or near the room to serve that purpose? I need a sewing work table, and a separate scrapping work table. I also need storage for projects and supplies.

3. What can I remove from the room? junk. And all the pictures that still need to be hung up in my house . . . they can go on the walls!

4. What problems do I see with the room? Mostly, thousands of pictures that need to be put in order and then in books.

5. What organizational tools might solve those problems? Bins and baskets. I also think I need special container for each scrapbook and the pictures that are going to go in it.

6. What habits need to change to solve the organizational problems? Actually finishing my projects, and cleaning up after myself!

7. What kind of a budget do I have to create the organized room of my dreams? I give myself $50. Hopefully it will be less. Probably will be more.

8. What kind of a time line is necessary to organize the room? I need to set my deadline for the end of April so I will be motivated to finish this room.

9. What is my plan of action? Read the complete article with descriptions of each of the questions here. I will have to get back to this question. Haven't read the article. My kids are home from school right now and I'm in a hurry.

10. Who can I ask to help me with this? I will do this project myself, and my family can help by getting their chores done so my house doesn't look like a hurricane blew through when I'm done.

The Perfect Scone and Utility Closet Makeover

I absolutely love scones, so when I saw a recipe for fruit filled scones on the blog OliveJuice, I had to give it a try. All I can say is **WOW**. They are the best I have had. You can make fresh blueberry, strawberry or blackberry scones from this recipe. I didn't have oranges for the zest, so I used orange extract and that worked too. Thank you OliveJuice!

A few days ago I saw a linen closet on the blog Notes from a Cottage Industry, and that gave me an idea. I have wanted shelves in my closets, but even the wire shelving from the hardware store is more than I want to spend on closets. I saw the tall dresser Tracey used in her linen closet and I ran down to the store to see what I could find. I picked up a used, warped, pressboard bookcase that fits perfectly in my closet. Here is a very scary "before" picture (yes, many closets in my house look like this).
I primed the entire bookcase with spray primer. Then I took off the back and covered it with toile wrapping paper I bought at the grocery store. I painted the rest with a very light blue paint I already had.

It's not bad for a closet. It also helped me de-clutter because anything that doesn't fit on my beautiful shelf is getting the boot (the pile in the garage is growing, and I'm still debating whether to have a garage sale).

The closet is very tall, so I also put hooks in the ceiling to store the chandelier and plate stand that were previous hanging from the wire shelf.


"My soul finds rest in God alone; My salvation comes from Him."

~Psalms 62:1

To Garage Sale or Not To Garage Sale

My house imploded this weekend (it all started when I was sick for an entire week). I spent the whole day putting stuff away and decluttering. I paid the kids $5 per box of junk they want to get rid of and they went to town (worth *every* penny). But now I have a bunch of stuff, and a dilemma. Every time I have a garage sale, I vow to never have one again. But I have good stuff to sell this time. Aaaaanndd I am totally inspired by these ADORABLE garage sale signs by Sassy Signs (check em out). If I saw one of those signs on the road, I would make a b-line to that garage sale. So what do you think? Am I TOTALLY insane?