Easy Notepads

This year I made a planner for my cousin as her Christmas gift.  I also did a little notebook project for her hubby that loves the Boston Bruins.  As I was finishing up their items, I saw this post on Pinterest.

This got me started to think I could make them both little notepads to go with their items.  Well the Padding Compound was super expensive and I didn't have time to order it seeing as how it was now 7 days before the holidays.  So I did some research and found this idea at Skip to My Lou.

To do this project you really only need binder clips, a home printer, basic knowledge of creating items on Word/PPT, Sillicone Sealer, and Patience.

Silicone Sealer.  I got at Target for like $3 I think.

Notepads ready for the sealer.  I clipped with binder clips at the sides and bottom.  However after I added the sealer I had to very carefully move the clips from the bottom to the top.

Hard to see but I'm trying to show the sealer.  Yeah, it's clear.......

Finished notepad

See you can tear the sheets off!

Directions:

Gather materials

• printed papers for padding
• silicone sealer
• binder clips

Attach binder clips to sides and bottom.  

Run sealer along the top edge.

Wet your finder and smooth out the sealer. 

Then carefully move the binder clips to the top edge.  Be careful not to let it touch the sealer you just applied.

Let it dry for 3 hours.  

Reapply sealer.

Let it dry for 3 hours.

Done!

TIP:  Skip to My Lou recommends putting a blank sheet at the front and/or back.  The Silicone will drip down a bit and if you like clean lines like I do, it will bother you on your front page.  So it's nice to have a blank page you can tear off and throw away when you are done.

Pantry Reorganized!

So when I went to that fabulous store the other day I got some of these Linus Cabinet Organizers.  When I got home I put some food from our disorganized pantry in them and was very happy with the improvement.  But this little voice in my head said....."Carrie, you need more!"  Don't you hate love that?  Well apparently this voice spoke so loud that my cuz up in PA heard me and got me 4 MORE for an Xmas present.  Yeah you heard me 4!!!!  JACKPOT!

Tonight I attacked that cabinet.  I'm sorry that I don't have a before shot for you.  But I think the after shots more than speak for themselves!

So pretty!

Missing Labels so I added them digitally!

The other item I bought at the container store was a lazy susan for all the oils and spices.  I'm always afraid that I'm going to knock the bottles off the shelf.  The lazy susan takes up more space, so it is not a space saver,  however from an ease of use, it is well worth it!   I put all the stuff I use most often on it or at the front right to the left of it to grab quickly.  

Organizing your own pantry:

Start by taking all your food out.  Everything!  Throw out expired food, put food that expires in the next 3/6 months somewhere so you can put it towards the front when you put everything back.  Then think about what you use most often?  What do you need to grab quick?  Organize like things together!  Organize like shapes together.  We put the new Linus drawers on the top shelf.  We are small people so it is not only hard for us to reach the top shelf, but stuff gets lost.  I'm not even going to gross you out with what I found up there way in the back!  So everything on the top shelf 1) We don't use THAT often.  2) Is in a drawer so we can easily pull it down grab what we want and put it back!

Final Details:

• On the cabinet doors, I'm looking into adding some cork/metal so that I can put up our weekly menu and a reminder to purge the pantry every three months and throw out what has expired.  
• I'm also going to buy some of the Avery Circle labels to make simple labels for the tops of the spices so we can pull out the spices and glance down to see what we need.  I might will even alphabetize them! 
• I also have to label the containers when I get my label maker.

Credit:

I have to say that Alejandra at alejandra.tv inspired much of these ideas.  Her pantry organization tips and ideas really helped get me focused.  What I love about her philosophy is that by being able to see everything and get to everything quickly, you know what you have and can use it.  If you don't use it, then you don't need it!  Get rid of it!  =)

Let the Organizing Begin!

2013 isn't here yet, but I'm starting on a few small projects around the house to get myself moving.  Today was a fun trip to the Container Store for some lovely items!  Tonight after T went to bed, I tackled a very small task.

THE MAKEUP DRAWER!

The drawers in our one and only bathroom are so narrow!  So originally it looked something like this. A big pile of makeup!

BTW I love Bare Escentuals Makeup!  An investment in the beginning but now I very rarely have to buy anything, it LASTS FOREVER!

Now it has been updated and the makeup is organized by where it goes on my face.  I probably could have gotten another one of the larger trays pictured for the odd and end items in the back that I don't use that often.  There are three main compartments: face, cheeks/lips, and eyes.

These acrylic trays are great for narrow spaces and they are easy to clean.  They were relatively inexpensive as well.  Get yours from the Container Store!

One thing I have heard over and over the last few weeks as I've been researching and learning about being organized is finding a way for you to SEE all your stuff.  If you don't see it you won't use it.  By organizing my makeup this way, I can see EVERYTHING!  Plus it is organized by how I put on my makeup!  Brushes are kept in the pouch on the side.  Not my first choice but I don't want to put them on the counter so for now they will stay there.  It works!

365 days of Organization

Ok so here it is.  My master plan for 2013 and my 365 days of Organization is starting SOON!  I'm seeing this as a similar experience to the movie Julie and Julia.  Only I fear I might cry more than Amy Adams did.  =)  I am going to try to give myself a heavy month and then a light month and prioritize as best as I can.

Up on Deck aka The PLAN so Far!
Over Winter Break - Foyer Closet and Upstairs Bathroom
January - Kitchen
February - Taylor's Room/Closet
March - Master Bedroom

This coming Friday I will be taking a much needed trip to The Container Store in Rockville to buy plastic and other fabulous organizing ideas to help with these tasks up on deck.  I need to measure my little heart out over the next few days prior to the trip!

I've started to pin ideas to my 2013 Organizing Pinterest Board
I've also begun my Container Store Wish List so I know what to look for when I go to shop!

Stay Tuned!  =)
My husband says this project is let's see how long I can keep this up before I fail miserable......so GAME ON!  Now I have to complete this project!

I have a confession.....

So my biggest confession yet.  I'm a messy person.

Those of you that know me from work are probably SHOCKED right now.  Well.....to be the awesome, talented and fabulous teacher and classroom organizer that I am, something has to give.  Well the house.....it gave.....and then gave some more.  I can lie and say I really don't know how it happened....or I can be honest and say I just gave up.

Today I choose honesty.  I gave up.  Now for the most part the areas in the house where Taylor spends her time are cleaned.  But the areas that she never goes.....well those areas are awful.  And quite frankly, it's my fault.  I can't blame it on anyone but me.

I've been sick the last few days and have been home in the house when it is at rest.  While refreshing,  I don't think I've been home all day by myself in over two years, you start to see things you don't necessarily notice (or choose to ignore) when you are rushing around after a two year old or you are making dinner, or you are just putting on Caillou to have a few minutes (11 or 22 to be exact) of quiet.  I'm not proud of what I have noticed.

This post is more for me than anyone else. But thank you to those who are reading...... Blogging about this is my way of holding myself accountable for my plan of action.  So my plan for 2013 is to organize my house.

Each month I'm going to tackle 1 area of the house.  Tear it apart, reorganize it, put it back together and keep it together.  I'm going to buy my iPad earlier than expected, meaning I might have to settle for the 7 inch version and download the Motivated Mom's app that is expensive (for apps anyway) and follow their weekly chore schedule.  Along the way I hope to share photos, ideas, inspiration for what I'm going for and in the end hopefully this time next year I'll have a nice clean house to share.  I'll probably at that point own stock in the Container Store as well!

So  I took some photos today and I have a few to share.......Please turn away if you don't like to see Messy Houses!

The dreaded bookshelves.  They need some reorganization if the hubby will let me.

At the very least I need to scale down the knicknacks.

The table.....right now doesn't look too shabby. 

We I need to keep it that way.

Go through and purge DVD's.  We have over 500.

We got this new island for the kitchen, right now it is doing nothing but taking up space.  

Need to make it functional.

Oh LORD!  The dreaded mail and communication station.  

This one could take a whole month itself.

Wonder why the table is clean?  

Here is the rest of what was on the table.

Come up with a plan for this closet.  Most of the stuff up top are things we take outside to play.

Need better grab and go options!

Switch out the bookcase.  It's old and falling apart.

Taylor's room - Looking GREAT!

Well the closet needs a big overhaul.  

Oh and the finale......my side of the bedroom.  

So now you know my confession.  And now it is time for me to own up to my plan of reorganizing the mess that I have created.

Soon I'm going to make a monthly plan and share my 2013 Organize my House Board from Pinterest.

Try not to hold my messy house against me......=)

Saving $ on Crafts

I'm always looking for ways to save $ on Crafting Items.  This is key when you are making homemade gifts, especially around the holidays!

In the past I have used apps on my Smartphone such as the Michael's, Jo Ann's, and GeoQPons to help me save $ on one item that I'm purchasing.  I usually buy only a few items at a time and in the end don't save all that I could.  Enter my new friend: competitor coupons.  =)

I saw this post on Pinterest a while back.  Seemed simple enough.  Well things have changes with Michaels since I first saw it and as a Michael's addict I'm slightly perturbed but you know what.....if they don't want my business I will take it elsewhere.

Enter JoAnn's.  We have a Superstore near where I work so it has a very good selection of most items I would need to purchase.  So today I went into JoAnn's with the following list:

Glass Jar/Vase
Sticks (didn't have what I wanted)
Fall Ribbon - Got two spools
Fall Scrapbook Paper - got a stack so I would have extra to share
Twine - got two small wraps
Cupcake Wrappers
Cupcake Box - only came in packs of 3 but I have more now for this project again
Coloring Book for T - Not on the list but it was $1.

Total for this before coupons was $47.00!!!  Insane.

Enter My Coupons - before leaving my house I went through all the local papers and cut out the printed coupons from flyers for Michaels, JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby.  Then I went on all three websites and printed all the coupons I could online as well.  Finally I checked my JoAnn's App on my SmartPhone for coupons there.  Here is what I ended up saving.

50% off one item (Michaels printed flyer coupon)
40% off one item (JoAnn's printed flyer coupon)
40% off one item (Hobby Lobby Internet coupon)
50% off one item (JoAnn's SmartPhone app coupon)
40% off one item (JoAnn's SmartPhone app coupon)
25% off your entire purchase (JoAnn's Internet coupon)

AND I got to USE THEM ALL in ONE Transaction!  Key at JoAnn's is as long as they have a unique barcode you can use them.

I saved a total of $20 making my total $27 which is a 43% savings on my entire purchase.

So this self-confessed Michael's addict may just have become a JoAnn's Girl!

Onsie-cakes

Saw this idea on Pinterest and my daycare is about to have a neice in a family of boys!  So figured it was a good opportunity to test out this little craft and see how it would turn out.  I will definitely be doing it again.  Super Easy!

Taylor helping didn't go as well as planned.  There was a fit over the cupcake wrappers.....she did NOT want them to go in the box with the onsies......she didn't really understand why she couldn't eat what we were making.....yes on the day when the clocks change and she is a frantic tired mess I tease her with making onsie cupcakes......cause I'm just an awesome mom!

All of the supplies

Pack of Gerber Onsies, 2 pairs of Socks, 

Cupcake Boxes (came in a set of 3 so I have two more), and cupcake wrappers

Wrap the onsie around a sock and sit in cupcake wrapper.

This is a random photo taken between fits of tears and crankiness......she was NOT this happy during this project.

Finished box!

Box closed.  I added some purple organza ribbon to the box and it is ready to go.  Fairly inexpensive too.  The most expensive part was pack of onsies.

A Planbook ala Carrie

Inspiration:  I {Heart} Organizing Of Course! With a Dash of the Nest/Learning Effect!

So earlier in October, I saw a post by the fabulous Jennifer Jones about how she created her own Blog Planner.  She printed her own pages, added free dividers, and had it bound inexpensively at Staples.  This got me thinking........dangerous I know.

As a teacher I have this ugly, boring, county-issued plannbook.  In fact most of my teacher friends have the same one.  While it is functional, it lacks personality.  I find myself trying to make it my own and failing miserably every year.

Here is what I have come up with. (Pardon the Glare)

I made a cute cover using a Chevron Paper, Embellishments, and my new favorite font KG Be Still and Know (thanks Tiffany@Learning Effect for getting me hooked!)

The first section is my schedules section.  I included my schedule that I turned in to the tech office as well as all of those crazy schedules our school makes: early dismissal, late opening, celebrations, etc.

The next section is my calendar.  I opted to just put in our county-created calendar.  Although next year I think I may print my own calendar to make better use of the page.  This was a last minute addition.  I use Google Calendar for most things so this is more of the permanent copy.  Currently this calendar is hanging on the board by my desk.  I like having it in my book all in one place.  However, I still think I like having it out and up on the board.......so we will see if this section gets used.......

After that is my To Do sheets.  I borrowed this idea from Nest Effect.  Tiffany posted a free printable on her blog.  I liked it but I ended up making some adjustments so that it worked for me.  This allows me to record all those To Do's that need to be done but aren't URGENT.  It allows me to put down Due Dates and check off when they are finished.

Behind that are my Notes Sheets.  Sometimes, I meet with teams and we do collaborative projects.  This is where I plan on writing down info about those projects.

Next are my lesson plans.  I have always felt that my planbook pages never worked for me.  I rewrite the same info (Teacher/Grade) each week.  Once I tried to run it through the printer, that looked like CRAP.  What I LOVE about my pages is my Week at a Glance column on the left where I will record meetings and other important things to know about the week.  Then plans for classes in the middle and on the right my specific To Do's and Most Important Tasks that HAVE TO GET DONE!

The last two sections are my Gradebooks.  Here is where my school has its advantage.  We have limited transfers in or out of our school during the actual school year.  So I'm able to print up sheets for my gradebook with student names, logins, computer numbers, and passwords.  One of the sections is for 1st Semester (1st/2nd Quarter) and the other is for 2nd Semester (3rd/4th Quarter).

I had all of this bound at Staples after I printed it. ALL DONE!  It cost me approximately $5.50 to have it bound.  CHEAP!

So now that I had this sucker bound....how can I doll it up a bit more.  The tabs are a bit white PLAIN.  Following along with my Inspiration, I went in search of washi tape.  I found a ton at Target.  I originally was going to use a bunch of different colors but in the end, I caved and went with just one of the rolls, which was a super cute black and white polka dot.  Then I stuck it down on the tabs and used my label maker to create labels.  I'm sure I'll find some other craft project to use the other washi tape for. (insert Evil Crafting Laughter)

I got a pencil pouch (even decorated that with some polka dots) and filled it with some Sharpie Pens in fun colors, post its, and I'm good to GO!!

What do you think?!?

Sympathy Card

I wish I was crafting for a better reason but one of our staff members had a sudden death in their family.  So I volunteered to make a sympathy card for our team to sign.  Figured that would get my crafting card crafting butt back in gear.  I got a new stamp set a while back called Betsy's Blossoms and found this cute idea.  I didn't have the colors in the picture or the ribbon but I had the basic other supplies.  Here is what I ended up with.

Paper: Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Island Indigo, Lucky Limade

Embellishments: Itty Bitty Banners Dies, Random White Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Rhinestone Basics.

Classroom Remodel

I took some photos of my room now that the first week of school is over.  I still have several things to do around the room.  But this will give you the idea.  I'm going to be working on an interactive classroom map but I'm just not ready for that yet.  The kids have really enjoyed all the changes and I'm looking forward to the second week of school!  =)