Keep important documents organized with this simple binder system
I’m not a fan of file cabinets. They’re bulky, expensive and inconvenient. I like everything within reach so I use three-ring binders filled with sheet protectors and keep them in my kitchen cupboard. One of my favorites is my important documents binder. I’ve got dividers for Vital Records, Insurance, Mortgage, Cars, Credit Reports, etc. The sheet protectors keep all of these critical documents safe. Each member of the family has a sheet protector in the vital records area. I keep their birth certificates, passports, SS...
read moreQuick and easy Reward System for your kids
I used to be a complusive chart maker. I would go through phases where I’d make a sticker chart for various things like brushing their teeth, eating their veggies, cleaning their rooms, etc. Unfortunately though, after the ‘this new system will solve all my problems buzz’ wore off I’d often forget to keep track and the charts would lose their effectiveness. Over time I simplified, and created this simple sticker system. I bought an inexpensive book of sticker sheets at Target and cut each page into thirds. I printed and...
read moreHelp your kids get their own shoes on with easy arrows
We all love the easy on/off shoes. However, no matter how much velcro and stretch they put into them, the hardest part is usually figuring out which is which. I found this bright idea in Family Fun magazine. A mom contributor recommended putting arrows inside to help your kids figure it out for themselves. I found a magic marker and did this to all my 3 year old’s shoes. I can’t believe the difference. She grabs her shoes out of the shoe basket, points the arrows together and then gets them on all by herself. This is a bright...
read moreAn easy-access weekly planner for your kids
During the morning rush to get the kids off to school, I found myself checking multiple papers to find out what was happening that day. Did we need to pack library books or p.e. shoes? Is it a hot lunch day or do I need to pack a lunch? Does she need to bring her girl scout vest or ballet shoes? Some things were on the calendar and some were tacked up on the fridge. I felt like I was wasting time that I couldn’t spare, so I created this weekly planner to help my first grader manage her own schedule. It’s a very simple velcro...
read moreLiven up St. Patrick’s day with this fun tradition
St. Patrick’s day was always a little dull at our house. We usually do the green pancakes and such, but I wanted something a little more fun for my kids to look forward to in March. One year my oldest daughter fell asleep on one of those green beaded necklaces. When she woke up on St. Patrick’s Day, she had a strange green marking on her belly. She didn’t realize what had happened, so I told her that a lucky leprechaun must have snuck into her room late at night and left her his good luck mark. I told her the mark was very...
read moreUnder-bed Daily Clothes Organizer
This is not a novel idea, just a new twist on an old one. I really wanted my kids to be able to get themselves dressed in the morning, but found the current systems were not designed to be kid-friendly, they were designed to look nice in perfect magazine closets. I created this system as a handy alternative. I bought a rolling under-bed wrapping paper box from WalMart. I created the dividers by trimming a sheet of white foam core posterboard and then attached them with clear packing tape. I also covered the edges with clear packing tape to add...
read moreKeep your kid’s drawers organized with these cheap dividers
I’m not a big fan of dressers. They take up a lot of room in our tiny bedrooms and they’re tough for my little kids to use. The drawers are always heavy and most of them are out reach for my little ones. I bought 5 of these plastic drawers for each of my kids and stacked them in their closets. They’re easy to open and see through so my kids know just where to find what they need. My kids have a tendency to dump everything out when they’re digging for socks, undershirts, tights or other little items. I created these easy...
read moreHelp your kids clean their room on their own!
How many times have you told your kids to go clean their room only to find them pulling out more toys 20 mintues later? I felt like I had to sit in my kids rooms and direct them from one thing to the next in order to keep them on task. Then I came up with this simple cleaning chart to help my kids do it without me. It breaks down the normal clean up into the most common tasks (make your bed, pick up toys, pick up books, etc.) The chart has two columns, To Do and Done. When we go in to the room, I have them pull off all the jobs (they’re...
read moreA Great, Reusable Grocery List
I don’t know about you, but most of my trips to the grocery store involve buying the same basic items each week. I created this listpad to save me the trouble of rewriting. On it I’ve got lists for my three most common stores (Sam’s/Costco, Grocery, WalMart/Target). I list my most common items by category (ie produce, dairy, houseware, etc.). I’ve left one or two blank spots under each category for those random items you only need now and then. I left the WalMart/Target store list blank because my list changes...
read moreStop the arguing with this handy Busy Bee chart
With three kids under 5, I get very sick of listening to the whining and fighting over petty little daily problems. I don’t like playing the referee all day, so I created this fridge Busy Bee chart to help me. Each day, one of the kids is the assigned to be the Busy Bee. They are the little decision maker for the day. They choose everything from what movie to watch at quiet time to who gets scrubbed in the tub first. When the kids are fighting, the busy bee gets to be the ref and decide who should win. I know it sounds simplistic, but it...
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