Birthday Card Collage Posters

As I was cleaning the girls room a while back, I noticed a large pile of cards tucked away in a basket. Cards given to her at birth and birthdays that I didn't want to toss. Letting them pile up, however, was no good either. 


Soooo......... 

I went to the dollar store and bought two white poster boards. When I got back home, I sat down with the white boards, some glue and all those cards and got to work. I didn't use all of the cards; some I cut down and some I toss because they were duplicates. I overlaid  many of them to get in as many as I could. I also glued them shut so they weren't all flying open when I hung it.

When they were finished and dry, I clipped them up on the kids' Dignitet curtain wires that we bought from Ikea. They are perfect for displaying the kids' artwork. (And mommy's in this case!) What I really love about this project is that we can all enjoy the cards instead of having them hidden away and they add wonderful color and joy to the kids' rooms.  
  

And, bonus, none of the cards have come unglued and they have been hanging up for about six months. What do you think about this project? What have you done with your kids' cards from over the years?

Anticipating Spring

 The sun has been peaking out from behind the clouds more and more lately. 

It has me anticipating Spring's arrival and the garden that I will be planting soon.  

As I plan out my planting calendar, I am remembering last years great harvest. 

Lettuce, basil, carrots, radishes, peas, bush beans, basil, mint, strawberries, and tomatoes. 

So many wonderful tomatoes. 

This year I plan to add a few things too. Kale, cilantro, parsley, spinach, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions. 

So I wonder.......

Do you plant a garden? 

What are you anticipating with Spring's coming? 

Bulk Spices meet Mini Containers

Yesterday, as I ran my errands, I went to my favorite local health food store, Chuck's Produce, and they had their bulk spices on sale for 30% off. I jumped at the opportunity and stocked up on a few spices that I am out off. I love getting my spices this way because most spices I don't use up a whole bottle worth before the suggested throw out time. This Food Network article states pre-ground spices should be replaced about every six months, which is what I try to stick to. 

Spices hand bagged from the bulk section of my local grocery store. 

 
 My next stop was the dollar store. I was looking for party supplies when I spotted this package of ten mini storage containers. Light bulb moment! Before, I have kept my spices in the bags I bought them in but they lose their flavor faster because the bags are not air tight. The spices smell up my cupboard which is also no good but these.... These are perfect! Small, clear, and stackable so they don't take up too much room. 

Showing their size compared to a normal size spice bottle.

First step before adding the spices, hand wash and dry all the containers. Then, I transferred all the spices from the bags to the containers. I hand wrote the labels and taped them to the front as I went along. (If I only had a label gun, the things I could do!) I put them in the cupboard and I am so happy how little of space they take and how perfectly easy they are to read and find, I think I will be switching most of my spices to these wonderful little containers. Oh, the possibilities!   

So, what was going to be just another day of errands, turned into a wonderfully organized spice cabinet update. I can't wait to get to cooking something spice-tacular! I wonder what else I could organize with these great little containers.....

Getting ready for school with Mom's Manager

So, everyone that has a school aged kid knows it's back-to-school time. Time to gear up, stock up and get back to a routine. Well, my little guy is starting kindergarten this year and all this back-to-school stuff is new to me. Okay, yes, I did go to school when I was his age so it isn't completely new to me but, now that I am the parent, this planning out new routines and stocking up on supplies and getting mentally prepared, is new. 

And a little overwhelming. And exciting. And worrisome. And fun. 

Mom needs a manager. 

Well, what to my pleasant surprise, while shopping for school supplies, there it was. Mom's manager. Ready for me to take it home at the sale price of $3.99! A full 18 month planning calendar to keep the whole family on track and together. I am so excited. I love these calendars because you can give each member a color so everyone knows what is going on with who. And, as a helpful bonus, it comes with some stickers to flag certain events and doings. 

I am in love!

Their sample page of how to effectively use
the planner. 

The stickers that came with the calendar.

With our manager in play, I feel like we are ready for school to start. And for our first ever school year start, I hope this helps to keep us organized, on track, on time and, most importantly, sane! What helps you get your school year off to a good start?