Give a kid a box

Does anyone remember when a box was the greatest thing to play with? I would make all kinds of things out of boxes--from Barbie condos and cars to homes for critters found in the wild! Do kids even do that stuff anymore? Not for long once the growth sprouts in their hands.

I see kids younger and younger playing on devices--I cringe or shake my head every time. I hate seeing the world deteriorate into mindless, addicted zombies. Where has all the real life interaction gone? I really love my school for outlawing phones during the school day and sticking to it! The kids seem much more engaged than at most other schools.

I continue to promote creativity and imagination without technology (as you read this on a screen, ugh). And I still love boxes and use them for all sorts of things. So, here are some non-screen activity ideas for kids with just a box!

• Large boxes
• Pretend Vehicles and TVs are good old standards for large boxes.
• Puppet shows are great fun and imagination stirrers.
• Forts are always a big hit--and if you don't have enough boxes, use sheets and chairs!
  
• We made a Fun House Tunnel once and it was hilarious!
• Open them up and cut them up for armor or props or sliding down a grassy hill!
• Paint on them or use them under art projects
• Large boxes are also great for keeping bigger toys organized

• Smaller boxes
• Tissue and shoe boxes are a perfect size for vehicles or furniture for stuffed friends and action figures
• boxes are great for making up games, like tossing stuff into them or stacking them...
• Even toy-makers know the value of a box, selling brick-painted boxes for kids to build with. How nice of them--but I say, collect your tissue boxes and you're all set!

  

  not what I had in mind
  but this is cool!

• Plant herbs or flowers and watch them grow
• Make a photo box for grandma
• I used to make robots with my little guys out of the cardboard and duct tape
• These boxes are also great for storing the small stuff--from art supplies to happy meal toys

These are just a few suggestions. And though you know you can find tons of ideas and instructional videos online, sometimes sitting down with the kids and brainstorming creativity yourselves is part of the fun. We have to keep trying to balance tech with hands-on. Make those brains work instead of vegging out looking at a screen all day!

I'd love to hear your suggestions, too. Old or new, boxes are fantastic imagination kick-starters!

Tis the season of STRESS!

I loved Liz's post last week. We are still moving (since we moved only a short way from our old house and it isn't sold yet, we are taking our time moving some things every day and organizing as we go--we sure have a lot of junk!) and I'm only bringing over what Christmas decorations I can handle putting up before bringing more. December 12th is coming! I'm looking forward to it and hope I can get enough done that I don't have to keep decorating while they're here.

Besides the move, I'm also stressed about presents, parties, expenses, work, etc. At least I got my Xmas cards out early to give everyone our new address. And I finally decided we wouldn't travel for the holidays, even though I really wanted to, so I just finished up the easy gifts, wrapped them, and will ship them tomorrow. But I still have so much to do! It never ends! I like being busy, but this is ridiculous!

So I've come up with some ways to de-stress during the holidays (and beyond):

• listen while you work - I love music. I like to sing, too. Whether just listening to some soothing holiday music or belting out my current favorites, music is a big de-stresser for me and makes the work less of a chore.
• watch while you work - then there's the other option of watching a Christmas special or other favorite movie or show while you get your wrapping/cleaning/online shopping done. I scroll through the guide and schedule shows to record on my DVR - then I can watch them later and FF commercials, they stress me out too!
• get physical - I was doing well with my eating plan (diet) and lost 10 lbs this summer. But as soon as we got back from vacation and began our selling/moving process, my scale and my diet went into storage. It worked before, and it will work again--starting right after the holidays. In the meantime, exercise is a great stress reliever, so I set an alarm on my phone to do some exercises each night. I hope it works!
• organizing and prioritizing - writing down my to do items in a nice neat list, I feel I can accomplish them. I also know my limitations, so my daily list is reasonable. When I cross things off the list, stress recedes.

Some people bake, some jog or do yoga, and some take long baths... How about you--any de-stressing ideas or techniques? Please share!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Hooked on Hooks!

Hooks come in handy and not just for fishing! I love hat hooks, coat hooks, towel hooks, etc... I have many traditional and several non-traditional hooks in my house. And since I love to share my ideas, here are the creative ways I use hooks...

Add a hook in the pantry for aprons & chips!

A hook just outside for the dog's lead

hooks in the garage

I added a hook to find my keys easier - I just clip and flip them in

hooking the curtain tie-backs--but wait, didn't have a hook so I used tacks!

Do you like hooks? There are so many uses! How do you hook?

At Home Entertainment

With summer coming to a tragic, way-to-soon close, it's time to start thinking about bringing the entertainment inside. My niece, Stacey, came up with a great way to enjoy movie time sans theater.

She hosted a movie night! There was popcorn with every seasoning Wal Mart had to offer, movie-sized treats from the dollar store, and drinks.

And to keep it handy, she had bath caddies as snack carriers. She got them at the everything-for-a-dollar store. Everyone had their own personal caddies! They worked perfectly. The caddies are separated for use with toiletries, but we used the separations to hold the drink, popcorn, and the candy.

I was so enthralled by the carriers, I couldn't help but think of all the other uses these caddies could have, such as...

*To-go meal carriers. Forget eating out of the flimsy bags or boxes. With the caddy, you can separate food and drink in a sturdy, easy to carry unit.

*Art supplies. Use the shower caddy to keep craft items, paints, brushes, or even crayons sorted and separated.

*Cleaning supplies. Load up a caddy and you're ready to clean, carrying supplies easily from room to room.

*Manicure/pedicure time. Toss your nail polishes, remover, emery boards, and clippers all together in one easy to grab and go spot.

*Make-up caddy. Same as the manicure and pedicure idea, a caddy is a great way to keep make-up organized.

*Picnic helper. Place the utensils, napkins, and condiments in a caddy and you're ready to go.

*Car washing. Stock a caddy with the cleaners, waxes, and cleaning rags and you're ready in an instant to give your car a quick clean.

Can you think of some genius uses for these caddies?

Easy Beach Tips!

Sand, sand everywhere!

so long ago... miss those days!

Well, I'm on vacation in Florida this week so I thought it would be a perfect time to give some summer vacay tips!

First, check out this post by Liz: Life's a Beach for some awesome sand aversion advice! Great minds think alike, as I have an essential, go-to packing list too (I love lists!) But my favorite is the Sheet Seat:

"I’m lazy. I hate lugging chairs and stuff to the beach. I throw a few sheets in my beach bag and I’m good to go. I can dig a “seat” in the sand, cover it with my sheet, and I’m comfy. Then when I’m ready to go- sand whips off a sheet much easier than a towel or blanket. No more gallons of sand going in the washer!"

Thanks, Liz!

Here are a few more beachy and vacationing tips...

• Apply sunblock before you get on the sand - then it won't stick as much, and you won't have to keep your kids from having fun as soon as you arrive. And don't forget the lip balm with SPF!
• I'm going to re-emphasize the importance of resealable bags:
• to keep stuff protected - phones, money, sunscreen, a book, snacks
• but also, to bring back souvenirs - shells, driftwood, even sand and critters!
• A golf umbrella is a saving respite if you've had too much sun - I need shade! And it's usually several degrees cooler, a good place to put phones and drinks.
• Freeze bottled waters the night before - when you're at the beach all day, they melt slower and stay cold longer.
• Don't forget your sunglasses:
• easily lost and broken, I suggest having a cheap, fun pair just for the beach
• but if you wear prescription specs like me, you're blind for the day with regular shades or get a headache with perma-squint. (I've tried the specs that shade in the sun - not a fan; they always looked dim, even inside!) So, I found these clip-on shades for my glasses. They're not too expensive, and they come in lots of sizes/styles (thank you, Walmart). I love them!

• Back at the "house" we love playing games, so we always bring some with us. And we even come up with a few of our own (look for an upcoming GAMES post!)
• Lastly, check out this video I found on Facebook with a bunch of easy, demonstrated beach tips. I especially love the Flip Flop Fix (with a pop can tab!) and the Frozen Aloe Sunburn Relief!

So, get out there and enjoy the blistering summer! Do you have any summer vacay or beach tips to share?

IRL Tips for Staying Sane

The other day, I was feeling sorry for myself (again? don't worry, this is a more upbeat post!) I was driving home to an empty house for the weekend. No one to cook for, no one to watch TV with, no one to talk to or play games with. It was awful! Wah, wah, wah.

Then, as I changed radio stations, I heard three songs referring to being ALONE!! I thought that only happened in movies. I had to crack up--actually LOL!

As Liz said last week, time has flown. My middle son just graduated high school as well and is joining the Army, but he was a ghost his whole senior year - except when he crashed stuff and needed rides. *eye roll*

With active teens flying the coop (pun on my son, Coop) there will be many lonely days ahead (husband doesn't count, but that's another post) Empty Nest Syndrome is real! Though some of you may not know what I'm talking about yet, I know there are days where you find yourself with unexpected, unplanned extra time on your hands and wonder "What do I do now?"

So here are my... Tips for Making the Most out of Alone Time!

• Reconnect! - And I don't mean get on Facebook and look or even just texting/messaging. In Real Life Face-to-Face time!! Do it! We used to have play dates that were just as fun for the Moms as for the kids. No matter how busy our lives get, we need our friends.
• Do something! - A job or hobby or volunteer work is a great thing to keep us active and social and sharp. Being alone, I can get loads of neglected chores done, but I start to get down if I'm alone doing thankless tasks for too long...
• Go somewhere! - It's tough to find time to reconnect. We can't just sit around and wait. Try doing something by yourself! Shopping and taking a walk are awesome and not so bad to do by yourself. I'm going to try hiking again, something I used to love before kids. I also suggest eating out or going to the movies, worth a shot to get out of the house!
  
• Travel! - Go further than your part of town. Spend some time with relatives or friends you haven't seen in a while. I'm going all by myself, driving 8 hours to visit my parents next week and see a bunch of my friends. I can't wait! So excited!
• Do something for you! - Above I mentioned a few things to keep you busy. But this one is all about you. Writing is for me, but I'm trying to turn it into a job... And I can't do that all the time, so I turn to my Wish List - not for things I want, but of things I've been meaning to do, and it's a mile long. I love to organize, so purging closets and our basement always needs to be done. Scrapping/organizing my boys' sports memorabilia is another item that gets pushed aside. ETC!

It's funny--I've been complaining about not having enough time to do things most of my life with kids. Now, I can see the readjustment coming when the kids will be gone--thank goodness they're never really gone and they still need us sometimes!

Have a pleasant week!

F: Freezers

It's confession time! How many of you  have that dreaded bottom drawer or shelf on the freezer that - should you brave its frozen depths - might have anything from decade old frozen peas to near desiccated freezer pops?

*Raises hand*

Our freezer has been a bottomless pit that was starting to approach critical mass, but we DID start taking some steps toward making sense out of the chaos. Here are some of the tricks we've used:

From Food and Nutrition

• Ditch the bulk bags! If you buy a giant package of meat, vegetables, or ANYTHING, take advantage of a vacuum sealer and repackage it into serving sizes appropriate for your family before sticking it in the freezer. This way you're more likely to use it before it becomes a permanent resident of the ice fields, AND you're less likely to risk losing it to freezer burn.
• Label EVERYTHING. Forget the mysterious packages that you never bother with opening until the power goes out - from now on nothing goes in the freezer without a label AND a packaged on/eat-by date. Decide on the amount of time you're willing to store something and commit to throwing it out after that. Freezers can extend the life of your food, but it's not a magic time machine that will keep it delicious indefinitely. Eventually, that beef will make some seriously manky burgers.
• Lay bags flat to freeze. If you've ever tried to untangle a mound of frozen ziplocs or pry them out of the bars on the shelves, this one needs no explanation.
• Use organizer bins. Just like with your closet and bathroom drawers, sometimes breaking up a huge space into more manageable chunks is the best way to keep from losing your mind when you're digging for that one little bottle of vodka. I mean, frozen peas. Yeah, that's it...

This has actually even saved us money by helping ensure we waste less food in the house, and you know I'm all about pinching a penny. If only it would finally stop the freezer from ejecting that one single ice cube into the floor every time we opened it...

If you'd like some more ideas on freezer organization, check out this awesome slideshow from Good Housekeeping! How are your freezers shaping up these days?

Survival in a Tub

This is our last post on those end of summer blues, but sometimes those blues are brought only by the overwhelmingness of the looming school year. So hear is how you kick it. You get prepared to tackle the school year. This task made simple by Tupperware.

Technically, this isn't Tupperware. This is a store brand, but you get the idea.

Make sandwiches and wrap them tightly in cling wrap. Cut, chop, and bag fruits and veggis as needed/desired. If you send your kids with other snacks, chips, or pretzels, bag these babies too. Color code if it will help. Put sandwiches and snacks in a bin with a blue lid and fruits and veggis in a bin of a different color. Let the kids grab one of each item and put it in their lunch box. They can make their own lunch and the only time you put in is on Sunday. Having all the baggies contained to a bin saves room in the fridge as well, and my family uses this for after school snacks too. I paid $10 for two bins last year when I started this, so there may be an initial investment but it saves money in the long run because it makes it easier to buy family sized items or fresh produce that hasn't been pre-bagged. And knowing that lunch is made for the entire week, made me feel much better about tackling the school year.

Easy as A, B, C

Get into a routine right away!

We get a jillion forms to sign during the first week - Emergency Medical forms, rules and procedure forms, permission slips, PTA forms, volunteering, handbooks, pictures, etc!!

This is great time to get your kids into the habit of emptying their backpack as soon as they get home! Have a special place for them to dump their info for you - then when homework starts, they're in the habit and there it will be - no more, "Oh, I forgot about that!"

Bonus Tip:
I keep a copy of a "generic" Emergency Medical form with all those phone numbers I have to look up... That way, I just fill in the names and dates for each kid!

Happy first day of school!!

(sorry I was late today, had a change of heart for my post)

Let's Make This Beach Easy

Vacations are great for energizing the soul, but the getting ready for vacations? Not so much....

Like I said on Monday, I just came back from the beach. Two weeks of fun with the family. Visits to lighthouses and the spot where pirates are said to gather- all exciting stuff! And most of which went pretty much undocumented because I forgot to pack the freaking camera! 

Yes, we had iPhones and got some good shots, but that Nikon I forked out a fortune for? The one with the crisp zoom that would have gotten me pictures of my family of ocean swimmers from my comfy spot on the beach? It sat at home.

That wouldn't have happened if I had better execution. And planning. 

On the ride home, as I moped about coming home reflected fondly on our trip, I came up with a solution- I need to put an end to harried, haphazard packing.

I decided to make a master packing list. One I can keep on my hard drive and print out when I’m ready to start tossing stuff in the trunk.

Now, next year, when I pack, I’ll print one out and I’ll check it twice. (And I’ll print one for the man and each kiddo, so they don’t have to keep asking me what to bring!) 

Print one for this trip...

Save one for later...

Life's a Beach!

Life’s busy. Kids, work, chores- even Fido can be a time sucker. No other day of the week feels more pinched and chaotic than Monday. That’s why the Really Real Housewives are devoting every single scattered, yet to be fried brain cell to bringing you quick tips we hope makes your life a little easier....even on a Monday. 

Summer is closing fast, but I'm not ready to let it go. Still got a vacation coming up? Maybe an end of season trip to the beach? Here's a few tips that make beach travel a bit more simple. 

1.       Foil. We stay at vacation cottages that come equipped with kitchen essentials, but they never have food storage containers. Foil or a roll of plastic wrap turns every bowl into storage.

2.       Baggies. Gallon size and sandwich size. These are handy when traveling for everything from left overs to packing shampoos, lotions, or other items you don’t want to leak. Also great for dropping your phone in so it doesn’t pick up any sand at the beach.

3.       Plastic cups. My kids are snacking travelers. Instead of giving them access to entire bags of chips or boxes of cookies, I add a serving to a cup and send it back. The cups fit in the holders, so there are less spills and less mess. (And it’s much cheaper to separate large bags into servings than buying serving sized containers!)

4.       Clothes pins. Not only are these great for hanging wet suits and towels on the line, but they’re great for sealing bags of chips, cereal, or other dry goods. Just roll down the top and clip. Much cheaper and smaller to haul than regular chip clips.

5.       Sheets. I’m lazy. I hate lugging chairs and stuff to the beach. I throw a few sheets in my beach bag and I’m good to go. I can dig a “seat” in the sand, cover it with my sheet, and I’m comfy. Then when I’m ready to go- sand whips off a sheet much easier than a towel or blanket. No more gallons of sand going in the washer!