Fun Plans!

I just wanted to share some plans that I am super excited about starting next month! I got some great feedback about the idea of doing some themed weeks on our Facebook page - if you don't follow us on Facebook you might want to think about it! I love that it's becoming a place where people can ask questions and share ideas

Like how to decorate a spring hat for the spring hat parade (I have no idea we don't do those here but I knew you all would have ideas) - come share some ideas or ask anything you like!

Back to themed weeks. I thought it would be fun to do a few months of themed weeks. Here are some ideas that have been suggested:

• Star Wars / Space
• dinosaurs
• art
• simple machines
• science
• detectives
• camping
• cowboy
• Harry Potter
• bugs
• reptiles
• animals in general
• cars
• woodworking/building
• ninja
• digital to real life (full sized angry birds, minecraft etc)
• knights
• wipeout
• gross

I'd love for you to add your ideas here or on the Facebook post as well! We'll do 13 themes from April - June so you can take these ideas and use them for summer break! If you have something you'd like to submit for theme weeks you can use the contact form here on the page. I'm also thinking maybe a link party for other bloggers might be fun?

And so I don't leave you without inspiration for your Monday morning here are some awesome ideas I've pinned lately!

Source: tarawhitney.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: thismummaslife.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: ana-white.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: younghouselove.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: headoptedmefirst.blogspot.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: thecontemplativecreative.blogspot.com via Allison on Pinterest

Source: modernparentsmessykids.com via Allison on Pinterest

Travel Tuesday: Organize

I'm going to admit very publicly that I am not an organized person. That being said I try hard to teach my kids to be! One trick to a happy family on a road trip is organization. Someone spills something and you're looking for the towels for 10 minutes is not helping anything! I found some car organizers that you can make yourself to keep the kids organized in the car all the time not just on roadtrips!

Lasso the Moon has instructions this backseat organizer

Here's one from Fabulous on a Teacher's Salary

This one sits in the middle from CraftApple

I like the smaller pockets on this one from Sew4Home

We often do the same as the Happy Family Movement and load up boxes for each boy

Do you have a blog post or tip for organizing on road trips?

Pinterest Party!

If you love Pinterest, organization, or The Container Store - you'll want to be around on Tuesday night!

On Tuesday, February 12th from 8-9pm MST (7-8pm PST, 10-11pm EST), I'll be pinning live on Pinterest with a few of my bloggy friends! We will be pinning organization ideas and inspiration with the tag #homeorganization. You have the chance to win a $50 gift card to the Container Store!

To participate, follow the board, "Home Organization". That board will be empty until the party starts. To prepare you can pin to your own boards with the #homeorginazation tag (we'll be searching for good things to repin). Once the party starts, follow the Home Organization board and just repin/comment on our pins during the party for to increase your chances of winning. We'll be tracking entries (and randomly choosing a winner) through the Rafflecopter form below (this is how a winner is chosen so make sure you enter here!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are the bloggers that put this together and who will be pinning Tuesday night!

Room Inspiration

ROOM INSPIRATION

I have seen some awesome rooms lately and figured if I am loving the inspiration then you probably will too! I have to say I'm really struggling with my boys' smaller rooms so I can use all the ideas I can get.

I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar has some awesome display and LEGO organization ideas

There are so many fun ideas and details in this room by Nellie Bellie (love the lights!)

I really, really love this pipe shelf unit from House Inhabit

Handmade Charlotte created the perfect art station for under $50

I have to figure out something for them! I think first we need to work on a bed with storage like this one from Pink Toes & Power Tools

Organization

Can I tell you all a "secret" about myself? I am not an organized person. I LOVE organization, but I am definitely not an organized person so I can use all the help I can get!

You may have pinned a post from my friends over at Modern Parents Messy Kids POYEL series this last year (Project organize your entire life) a LOT of people did (over 400,000) and rightly so! I am so excited to delve into their new ebook/Kindle book!

Here's a bit more info on what's in the book:

• Step-by-Step action plans for conquering some of the biggest obstacles to living the simplified life you’re yearning for: decluttering, cleaning, organizing, meal planning and more.

• Customizable strategies for it all.  We’re of the belief that one size does NOT fit all. Which is why the quick start guide is full of resources for a variety of lifestyles, schedules, and personalities.

• A built-in support network.  Yeah, we know, a support system for organizing? Sounds a little over the top – but you’d be surprised how motivating a facebook group of over 3,500 fellow simplifiers can be.

• No unattainable goals, only real-life expectations.  If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that simplifying and organizing is a journey, not a destination.  So we’ve set up our quick start guide accordingly.  By offering lots of different strategies for tackling a problem, we’re arming you with the tools you need to be successful when life changes on you.

I am excited to start reading/studying my copy! You can get one for only $6.99 if you need help like me ;) Other versions will be out shortly.

I think my favorite post from that series is the toddler creativity center

I'm still working (ok trying to get back to working) on organization that works well for the boys' rooms. If you're in the same boat as me here are some more posts I've found inspiring

Organize and Decorate Everything has TONS of great ideas for room organization

 I love the idea of a peg board to store lots of things! from Just Between Friends

We've talked about LEGO storage a few times here, here, and here

Who else has organization on the brain?!

Disclosure: Post has an affiliate link

Our Backpack Station & A New Favorite App

Today I'm sharing our "backpack station" for this year. It has slowly evolved over the last 5 years starting with the chalkboard calendar (which I highly recommend) and then adding backpack hooks and this year the addition of the wall file holders (bought these at TJ Maxx). 

I HIGHLY recommend having a calendar for your kids. My goal for them is to be better organized than I am! Even in 3rd and 4th grade it is their job to know to wear tennis shoes for PE day or bring in supplies for an upcoming party etc. There are no surprise dentist visits or dinner dates. It's all there for them to see at all times (the things that they need to see).

The backpack hooks keep the backpacks off the ground (where the dogs like to carry them around) and the addition of the file holders this year gives them a place to drop off their binders.

Weekly homework gets stored in the file folder until Friday when they need to go back, papers I want to save stay in there until I have the time to file them, and signatures needed go back into the binders and into their backpacks for the next day. So far this system has been working great for us!

This last week I went through piles and piles and piles of schoolwork papers. (photo from instagram)

I photographed all the ones I wanted to save and loaded them into my new favorite app Artkive

 It stores all your kids' artwork by name (grade and date if you want) and you can then have them printed in a book (or just keep them on your iPad/iPhone). I have made a book before and love this system. This app just makes it that much easier!

Do you have a system that has been working great for you? Share it for all of us in the comments or on Facebook!