Organizing + Savings

Sorry posts have been slow. I've been working on organizing the house, no small feat around here, especially with a toddler "helping."

I did want to mention a sale I found as I was trying to get me linen closet in shape. Container Store is having 20% off everything. Use code SAVENOW when ordering online or print a coupon to take to the store from here. I found a few bins for less than what I would have paid even at Wal-Mart, so I was trilled. Also I love Container Store's Click and Pick-up service, you order and pay online then go straight to the check out in the store sign for your items and leave, such a great service for moms!

I am organizing the house by starting with my storage spaces, once they are in better shape I will have "a place for everything" so that I may have "everything in it's place." I am choosing this project now as I am putting away summer's clothing and getting out winter's. Wish me luck.

Have any great organization tips? storage solutions? We'd love to hear about them, just leave a comment.

Now back to work for me.

Do you have a little helper?

If your toddler is like mine he loves to help. My son is great about putting his dirty clothes in the hamper. I'll often hand him items like bibs out of the washer to throw into the dryer. Now I've found a way to include him in other aspects of laundry. I put his folded clothes into a small clean shopping bag (one I had from old navy) for him to carry to his room. Much easier for him to navigate than a basket. And it really does help me out as my hands are free to carry my own clothes. And he looks pretty cute with his bag slung over his shoulder like mommy. He's very proud to be mommy's helper and when he is involved it is so much easier to get what I need to get done done.

Pancakes....keeping them warm

This one certainly falls under "why didn't I think of that sooner"
Making pancakes with my son this weekend I was in a dilemma. If I served him pancakes as they cooked he'd be done before I had cooked the whole batch, but how to really keep pancakes warm and yummy...hmmm....then the answer came to me....stoneware!! I heated a piece of stoneware in the microwave, put the finished pancakes in the stoneware and covered with a clean dishcloth. They all stayed nice and warm as the others cooked and were still warm when we had finished eating. Complete success. This is definitely going to be my new pancake routine.

Fruit Fly Solution

If your baby is like mine you have a constant supply of ripe bananas which means you likely also have. . . fruit flies! Well, I stumbled across a great solution. I had a wine bottle that was emptied but of course as it set there by the sink waiting to be recycled a little more wine pooled in the bottom. I few days later I went to rinse the bottle, and to my surprise there were many fruit flies floating in the wine. I assume the sweet wine attracted them into the bottle and then they couldn't find their way out. A lucky coincidence for me. Unfortunately I had already poured what was in the bottle out before I realized what has happened. Since then I have refilled the bottle with a little sugar and apple cider vinegar, this doesn't work quiet as well as the wine however but will work in a pinch. What a cheap and easy solution! Hope it works for you too.

Quick Tip: making the beds

Make your child's bed with a sheet, mattress protector, then another sheet. This way if they are sick or have an accident during the night you can just strip off a layer and still have a made bed. You can then take care of your child, get them clean and back down a little faster. In the middle of the night seconds count.

something from nothing

So this may not be a beautiful center piece, but it sure does perk up my window over the kitchen sink. And who doesn't need a little smile at their sink? To make this I just cut what I saw in my yard. Some flowers from monkey grass, a few little poof-ball-I-don't-know-whats, and some mint that has started to flower. Not a masterpiece, but I have to say I like it.

So get out there. Cut some stuff. Use what you have. and create something from nothing. It just might make you smile.