Bib Organization 101

My husband and I are always looking for bibs right at the WRONG time---feeding time. Not good when you have a hungry infant right? Well, I found a solution---or so I thought. I cleaned out a drawer in our kitchen just for bibs. Oh how organized and neat. Yay. NOT. They kept getting caught inside---every time I open the drawer they end up in the cabinet below. Ugh! Solution number 2 and this DOES work.

So all you do is buy a command hook (any large size would work). Attach the hook to the back of the high chair. And---you're done. Bibs----right when you need them. Now, just make sure you always have some clean hanging on the hook. :) 

Now, I thought I was pretty intelligent and came up with this idea all on my own...but after looking it up on pinterest--- I have failed. Darn. Oh well--- just thought I would share it with you. Perhaps you are having the same issues. If not--- pin it and share with someone else. :) 

HOME Binder...Check!

Hello all!  I planned on doing this post yesterday, but...welllllll, let's just say this "little project," has taken a considerable chunk of time that I was not planning on.  I FiNaLlY finished at 4:30 am this morning!  Yes, I stayed up almost all night...crazy, I know!


Anyway, last year, I made a Home Organization Binder, but it wasn't working for me and I have a strong need for my organizational tools to do their job.  I had seen so many cute planners out there and I almost bought one, but it was very pricey.  I just couldn't bring myself to pay that money, just to have to pay again next year for a new planner.  I thought to myself, somebody should make printable ones.  Then, you would just have to replace the calendar pages the next year.  The rest stays the same.  Hey, wait a minute...I'm a graphic designer (or try to be) and I have an etsy shop...ding, ding, ding!!!   Take a look at the finished product.  ***All of these printable files are now available for purchase in my etsy shop.

I have had this pretty fuschia binder for a while.  I just inserted my Personalized Cover into the front to make it extra cute!

I'm planning on using the first cover pocket to store any greeting cards I need to send out for the month.  Also, I added a pencil pouch for a pen, calculator, and our checkbook with register.

I bought several packs of these super cute file folders from the Target Dollar Spot and simply punched holes in them to use as dividers.  I labelled them with my label maker.

On the first page, I put my 2012 Year at a Glance calendar inside some clear sheet protectors.

Then comes my 2-page monthly calendars (with to-do list and goals list on each month).  I searched Pintrest to find some of the best uplifting quotes for each month too.

I also have a Week at a Glance page to use either as a scheduling page, to track things like workouts, keep food diaries, or whatever.

 

In the "Household Info" section, I typed out driving directions to our house from nearby cities.  This is simply because I am TERRIBLE with directions and couldn't find my way out of a paper bag.  So, when guests or delivery people need to come to our house and ask me for directions, I will be prepared!  I also included my packing lists (for Noah & me).  I keep them in clear sheet protectors and use dry-erase markers to check things off as I pack.

Next comes the "Food & Shopping" section where I keep extra copies of my personalized grocery list, menu planner, & take out menus.

 Then, I have my "Special Occasions" section.  I have a "sweet occasions" page where I recorded all our family & friends' birthdays and anniversaries.  This makes staying on top of the card and gift buying so much easier.

This is my Thank You Note Tracker, which would have been helpful at Christmas.  Now, I'm having a hard time remembering all the awesome gifts Noah received to write my thank you notes.   I also have a Signed, Sealed, & Delivered page to keep our addresses.

 The finance section comes next.  I plan on using this folder (also from Target Dollar Spot) to hold our bills to be paid.  

Here is my Monthly Budget Sheet.  My family decided after Christmas to start The Dave Ramsey Plan, so having our budget in plain sight each month will help tremendously!

To help us keep track of our bills, I made this year-long checklist.  Love it!  :)

 My housekeeping section includes my weekly cleaning checklist.  I'm not sure exactly where I want to keep this, but I want to display it somewhere.  I heart checking things off my to-do list?  Anyone else?

I've been doing this for a while, but I re-designed my sign to match the rest of my printables.  When Noah is asleep, his room is so close to our front door that the doorbell wakes him up.  So, if I'm home, I put out this sign (especially if I'm expecting a guest or a delivery)...it has proven to be invaluable to me...ah, naptime!  ;)

Today, I did tackle one organization task ( just 27,415 left to go).  I printed out my Weekly Menu Plan onto cardstock and framed it in an inexpensive frame.  Then, I moved my adhesive chalkboard from my craft room to the fridge.  I attached my frame with command strips.  I love it so much!

So, what do you think?  It is a whopping 45 pages long.  If you want your very own copy of my HOME Book printable pages, I offer them in several different options...

the calendar bundle

the personalized cover page (with family photo and name)

the finance bundle

the housekeeping bundle

the baby sleeping sign

the sweet days bundle

AND...Everything together!!!

Also, just for our sweet readers, I'm offering a 15% discount for all the HOME Book files for 5 days (so until Thurs. Jan. 19).  All you have to do is enter the discount code: HOME15 during checkout.  

Have a blessed weekend, friends!!!

Blogiversary Giveaway Winner & My Home Preschool Room

WOW!!!  Thank you so much to all of you who sent us well wishes congratulating us on ONE YEAR of blogging & left us so many sweet comments!  We love sharing our teaching journey with all of you!  


So, the winner of my Back to School Unit and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Unit is...

Congratulations, Mrs. Richling, check your email for your prize!!!

Both the Darling Dolphin and Queen Bee are busy getting ready for their kindergarten kiddos to come into their classrooms this week. Yesterday was my very first day of "Flight Preschool" with my little one!  I have spent countless hours transforming my playroom into a make-shift school room and I am very pleased with the outcome!


I woke up, however, with a severe migraine on our first "school day," and Noah came bouncing in our bedroom bright and early yelling, "Mommy, I'm ready for school!"  It warmed my heart!  If only my heart could have cured my head! ;)


I braved my aching head & had so much fun (along with a few challenges...he's only 3 after all) teaching my sunshine!


I thought I would share the pictures of our school room with you.  ***Warning: you are about to be overloaded with pictures...sorry, but I just had so much to share!***


Our Sight Word Caterpillar: we will add a new word each week.  If you want a caterpillar for your very own, it's available HERE in our shop!

My new ABC & number posters look great on the wall!

I found these shapes and colors posters at Dollar Tree.

our Raising Rock Stars focus board

I made this F.L.Y (Filled with Learning for You) notebook for Noah.  I'm using it to hold all the pages from my units in sheet protectors.

Then, Noah can use dry-erase markers to write on the pages.  That way he can do them more than once and I can keep them at the end of our study.

I had to show you a pic of my cute lesson plan notebook...I hadn't made one of these in a long time!

On this shelf, I used my Dollar tree fabric boxes to store all of my manipulatives for each month.  I've been collecting things for a year!

I labelled each box with the month name.

Each week, Noah will have three Tot Trays with activities to do that match our theme (right now it is Back to School).  

I put up a short rain gutter bookshelf outside Noah's room for our seasonal and theme books.  He LOVES it!  :)

Our Morning Board is actually the door to Noah's Play/School Room.  We do weather and calendar here every morning.

I found this magnet board with a border of cork at Target & I love it.  I make a magnet board activity each week for Noah to enjoy!  This one is in my Back to School Unit.

Here's my desk.  It used to be my Assistan't desk in my classroom, but I have always loved it because the colors make me happy! :)  The chair was a flea market find, complete with feathers, glitter, and beads (oh my)!  

These stacked sliding trays are from Ikea and I'm using them to store the pages that need to be laminated or assembled.  On the top tray, I made folders for each day of the week.  I downloaded the cute labels from Lesson Plan SOS that I attached with clear contact paper.

This cabinet holds all of my craft supplies and teacher materials.  

The side door is made for cassette tapes (I know, I know, I'm old,  right?!?)  I found small plastic baskets at Dollar Tree that fit perfectly to store my collection of ribbon.  

My Cricut and Laminator live on top of the cabinet, along with a wooden organizer I found at Michaels about 2 years ago for 50% off.  

I'm keeping Noah's extra school supplies in the organizer right now.

Here's Noah's Raising Rock Stars Notebook, which I love because it also doubles as a Memory Book for his first year of preschool!

Whew, ok...I think that's all for now!  I wish all of you the best as you start the new school year, with a room full of bright-eyed little ones, ready to learn and excited about having YOU as their teacher!  Good luck, my sweet friends!  :)