For the Love of Boxes

I have a weakness.  I am a storage junkie.  Well, I'm a moderate storage junkie.  I do not own a Cricut or a Silhouette, nor do I insist on labeling every bin, basket, and box.  Honestly, I tried labeling everything neatly but the tornado that is my son is chaos incarnate.  I think the labels lasted a week before he had removed them all.  I gave up.  And, honestly, most of our things migrate, especially in the play room where collections grow and shrink perpetually.

Buckets and Green bins from Dollar Store

After reading many postings on Google Reader from organizing blogs ("iHeart Organizing" and "Organizing Made Fun" to name two of my favs), I ventured into the land of budget organizing.  I purchased bins and buckets from the local dollar store and found the perfect home for many toy collections.

The toy storage is made possible by the Expedit system from Ikea.  We have the older model, but love it nonetheless.  I am able to put things up high that I don't want the kids into and keep their stuff on the bottom.  It works great for us.  Some of the bins on our unit are from Ikea, but others came from the ClosetMade collection available at Target (purchased cheaply on sale).  It's a mishmash, but it works. This system allows a mess to disappear in seconds, which is a good thing since our room usually looks like this:

I was pretty proud of myself when we took a field trip to Ikea today and I walked away with only a set of the Glis small storage boxes for Anna's Legos and a set of miniature cutting boards.  I considered this a victory in attempt to bring fewer items into our home....until I decided we should head to Costco for another set of clear plastic shoe-sized storage boxes.

I cannot say how much I love these boxes.  They have been perfect for organizing Anna's art supplies and Legos (of which, honestly, she has an oversupply).  I wanted her to be able to locate what she wanted and then get them herself without having to ask for help or dumping small pieces (and or messes!) all over her closet and my kitchen.

I have also used these boxes to organize the hubby's space.  He collects things like old pre-paid cell phones, sim cards, and gadgets, not to mention what I perceive to be a lot of random junk.  Now his items also have a home.

Costco has the best deal on these boxes that I have seen at about $1/piece in a package of 14 boxes (with lids) and they are made in the USA!  Now, the boxes don't stack the greatest.  They do slide.  But, they function as I intended and therefore I was able to overlook this small inconvenience.

Getting organized does not have to be expensive, especially if you take the time to purge before you start shopping for a way to contain what's leftover.  The purpose of organizing in my home is to make our daily activities function more efficiently and neatly, not to simply make my home look pretty.  And, this can be done on a budget and without the latest labeling gizmos.  Get rid of stuff first, and then you won't need all those labels as you'll know right where to find something when you need it.

Holiday Home: Photo Tour

Here are some snippets of our home from the holidays. I  hope you enjoy!

The kiddos decorating our heirloom ceramic tree my mom painted back in the '70s.

My snowflake garland.

Felt "mittens" made by my cousin.

Bringing a little humor to the kitchen from the BEST holiday movie ever!!!

Dining room entry decked out.

Wreath decorated by yours truly.

Daphne, our elf, just hanging around.

Mantel garland.

The "Hall of Hallmark" sponsored by my wonderful MIL.

It's About That Time

....Yes, it's about time I wrote a new post.  AND, it's about time I explain just why I haven't posted in way too long.  This holiday season is a culmination of so many of life's events--the end of my cookie-eating, belt-busting season, the end of another great (and busy!) year, and the end of running around like crazy people attempting to start a new chapter in our lives.

We have been debating since September what to do about our lovely, though overly-large home and what it means for our lifestyle and sense of emotional and financial security.  Let's face it, we have the luxury of being in the middle class and having a choice in this matter, but that does not belittle that it was a difficult decision to make.  We have, indeed, decided to put our house on the market.  The fact is, that what we had assumed was our "dream home" does not fit our changing vision of what we want in our life.

What do we want, you ask?  Well, we want to maximize our savings while reducing debt (aka mortgage).  We want to decrease spending on outlandish energy bills required by soaring ceilings and two mammoth air conditioning units.  We want to decrease the time and energy required by cleaning and maintaining such a large property ourselves.  We want to minimize the spending on huge windstorm insurance bills and property taxes.  In other words, we want to downsize our home to upgrade our lifestyle.

We may come across as being insane.  Who wouldn't want a home with bedrooms for all, a guest room, a great location, a big back yard, a giant kitchen with granite countertops, lovely flooring, etc, etc, etc? Well, we are reaching the conclusion that we just don't.  We want to teach our kids that there is more to life than living in a beautiful home.  A home should work for you, not make you work more.  A home should bring us together rather than spread us apart and make us yell to be heard from one room to the next.  A home should be about the people in it rather than the stuff we fill it with.

We are working hard to make this house look like a home to someone else.  If it needs repairing, we're doing it now, and I'm not just cleaning, I'm detailing my abode.  I've moved past decluttering to donating, distributing, and selling the stuff that weighs us down. I'm desperately trying to remind myself with everything I touch, "You're going to have to pack and move that, you know.  This time, no movers to do it for you."  Funny how stuff seems way less important when you think about whether you want to pack and haul it yourself.  Then you realize how much stuff does, literally, weigh you down.

Every night (and throughout the day!) I say a little prayer that when our house does sell.  I just pray that when it does, there is a real home waiting for us nearby.

'Tis the Season

Thanksgiving is almost here.  Given that this week's highs are in the low 70's with overnight lows in the 40's and we've actually had a few overcast days, I can almost, just almost, believe the holidays are rapidly approaching!

A couple posts ago I posted about our Thanksgiving leaf banner.  Today, I am holiday prep series by sharing a favorite recipe of mine: pumpkin cookies.  I wish I could take all the credit for this recipe, but I can't.  I based this recipe on my favorite source for holiday cookie recipes:

Betty Crocker's Cooky Book (1963 ed.)

Need a present for someone who likes to bake?  Get them this book!  The colorful illustrations are awesome and the recipes are easy to follow (no, I am not being paid to endorse Betty Crocker, but hey, if someone wants to pay me to do so, I'll gladly take you up on it!).

Before I give you the recipe, let me say that I tweaked it a bit because I didn't have the nutmeg the recipe lists.  I substituted all the dry spices for 1 1/2tsp Kroger Brand Pumpkin Pie Spice.  This worked out fine.  So, the recipe below is NOT Betty Crocker's exact recipe.  If you want that, you can go buy the book (or call me)!  :)

Without further ado....

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2c. brown sugar (packed)
• 1/2c. shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1 15oz can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
• 2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1Tbs. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• Note: Betty's recipe calls for raisins and chopped pecans, 1c. each.  I omit these as I like mine plain and simple!

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream together brown sugar, shortening, eggs, and pumpkin puree.
3. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.  Slowly add dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture and blend on medium speed until smooth.  (I love my 4-Cup Pyrex measuring cup!)  



It looks yucky but the consistency improves with addition of flour mixture.

4. Use a spoon to drop cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for approximately 10min, or until edges are slightly browned.

Baked pumpkin cookies!

These cookies are great when topped with cream cheese frosting, butter cream frosting, or just on their own.  Serve with a good cup of coffee or a glass of milk and you have a fantastic cold-weather treat!

Be ready, more holiday fun to come!

Keeping Busy

I won't lie--it's hard being home with two kids, but it's also the most rewarding job in the world.  But, like most jobs, some days are harder than others.  My girlie has been sick with an upper respiratory virus and fever for a week.  This has meant that this on-the-go mama has been under house arrest with the exception of a few workouts and an understanding husband who actually told her to go shopping one night.    I feel for those parents who have children whose illnesses are not of a temporary nature.  My heart goes out to  you.  I don't know how you do it.

Girlie asleep in the middle of the chaos

I love routine.  I love being around my friends at mommy group.  I really LOVE going places and exploring things with my kiddos in tow.  And, I love when they are at school and I get a few glorious hours to myself.  My kiddos are the same way.  They thrive on activity and friends.  So, when we are stuck at home all together we all go a bit, well, nuts.

To combat the boredom, I stock our house with art supplies (paint, card stock, glitter glue, popsicle sticks, Play-doh, coloring books, etc.).  I also drag them outside whenever possible.  Thankfully it's finally a "cool" 80 degrees here, so we can actually go outdoors without sweltering.

I've also discovered that bubbles in the kitchen sink is a great way to keep my youngest entertained for a good 30+ minutes!  But, my most fav thing to do with my kids when we are stuck at home is bake!  Yesterday we made some cut-out cookies and they turned out awesome!

Giraffe made by Logan

Cut-out cookies are an excellent way to entertain kids (just segregate the "sick kid" dough on a cookie sheet of its own!) when stuck at home.  The multiple steps of this process make it a great way to suck up time.

Have your kids help you measure out ingredients.  This is a wonderful way to teach numbers.  Anna already knows some fractions because of all the cooking we do.  She can also recognize a tablespoon and a teaspoon.

Mixing it up!

After chilling the dough (play a game or do a puzzle while the dough chills!) they can partake in rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters to make fun shapes.  Create patterns on the cookie sheet.  I worked with Logan on a simple two-shape pattern by asking him which came next.

Last, they can help whip up some frosting to decorate the cookies (I also keep sprinkles on-hand at all times!).  Watching the KitchenAid whirl around can provide much entertainment in itself!

Here's my recipe for Kid-Entertaining Cut-Out Cookies:

Ingredients

• 1.5 cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick (1/2c.) butter
• 1/2 c. vegetable shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1tsp almond extract
• 3c. all-purpose flour
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1tsp salt
• butter-cream frosting, if desired (I like Wilton's recipe, found HERE)

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar, butter, and shortening until smooth and creamy.
2. Add in eggs and almond extract and blend until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Slowly pour dry ingredients into sugar mixture.
4. Blend all ingredients until well-mixed.  
5. Chill cookie dough for 1.5hrs or more.
6. Once chilled, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out dough in small batches on a lightly floured surface.  Dough should be about 1/4in. thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut out dough.  
7. Put dough on un-greased cookie sheet.  Bake approximately 6min.  Length of bake time depends on size of cutter used.  Keep an eye on them!  Remove when edges are only slightly golden.
8. Let cookies cool before frosting.  You can use Wilton's recipe (see link above), canned, or make your own!  Decorate with sprinkles and candy pieces and you have lots of messy entertainment on hand for your kiddos!

M.I.A.

I have been, and might be, MIA for a bit.  I chose to start this blog and then my daughter got sick.  She's been sick with something resembling Influenza type B since last Tuesday.  We've been stuck at home and the kids and I are starting to go a bit stir crazy.  I may have to do a post on what to do when stuck at home with a sick kid!!!

One of the benefits of being a transplant to a warmer locale is enjoying doing things you normally could not do at this time of year.  Although I do miss fall, don't get me wrong, I can't say I mind not freezing either.  I know, I'm a contradiction.  But, if I were back in Michigan my kids would not have done this yesterday:

Note the bare feet!

I credit Pinterest for many of the activities I do with my kids.  There are so many creative people out there, and having one place where so many of those ideas are shared is invaluable!  I found this idea on Pinterest, but, unfortunately, I cannot say where it originated; the educated person in me cringes every time I see someone pin or use something without proper citation.  

I love this activity.  My daughter already knows how to mix colors, but this is new territory for my son.  Both the making and the painting can be educational and fun!

Sidewalk "Paint"

Supplies:

• muffin tin
• corn starch
• water
• food coloring
• cheap paint brushes
• old clothes for your kiddos to wear

Directions:

1. Put approximately 1Tbs. corn starch into each muffin spot.
2. Use your food coloring to add 2-3 drops of color into muffin cup to make desired colors (if you are brave, have your kids help with this and teach them how to combine colors to make new ones!).
3. Add water to fill each cup 2/3 full.
4. Stir gently until mixed.
5. Take your kiddos outside and let them paint your driveway or sidewalk.

Just a disclaimer, I think it's obvious but the food coloring has the potential to stain.  The corn starch mixture should wash off your driveway but no guarantees for clothing/skin!  This is not a clean activity.

Painting the driveway became body art.

If your kids are like mine, this activity can get messy!

Sometimes the dog doesn't know what to think either.

This activity kept them busy for almost two hours.  Any activity that lasts that long and is so cheap is a keeper.  Thanks again, Pinterest!

Fall Colors

Here in Texas there aren't really seasons; we have winter, a month of spring, summer, more summer, and even more summer.  I miss the fall colors and the cool days.  I yearn for my comfy sweaters and sweatshirts, picking apples, and curling up with a warm cup of apple cider and a good book.  I also miss being able to wear jeans every day (and the not shaving my legs because I am wearing jeans every day, but perhaps that's TMI).  Yesterday did not feel like Halloween and today definitely does not feel like the first of November.

In order to make this northern girl feel more at home here in the South, I am attempting to bring pieces of autumn into my home.  I didn't do any decorating for Halloween.  I'm just not a Halloween junky.  I prefer traditional to cheesy in my home decor.  I think, perhaps, this stems from the fact that I try to decorate on a budget and can't afford to be going out to buy new things for each season.  I try to keep my seasonal decor affordable.  And, almost all my rotating decorations are things that I have either had for a while, made very cheaply, or constructed with my kids.

My most recent creation cost nothing.  As my daughter is home from school today with a fever and cough, it also served the dual purpose of keeping us busy for a few minutes.

Supplies for today's project:

• twine
• construction paper in fall colors
• printer
• scissors
• single whole punch
• leaf printable (click here for the one I used)   
• black marker

Directions:

1. Load your printer with fall-colored construction paper and print the desired number of leaves using the leaf printable.
2. Write things you are thankful for on each leaf.
3. Cut out the leaves.
4. Whole punch each leaf at the top.
5. String the whole-punched leaves along the desired length of twine.
6. Hang up (I used Command hooks on my mantle leftover from last year's Christmas stockings!).

That's it.  Simple, cute, a fun family activity, and (my favorite!) cheap.

Welcome!

Welcome to Northern Girl in a Southern State!  Here are my adventures in mommy-land, crafting, and what it's like to be a girl from the North living where it's 80 degrees on Halloween!

Let the adventures begin!

The kiddos and yours truly