Binders Can Organize Your Life Series! ~ Part 3

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Part 3 in the "Binders Can Organized Your Life Series." It's the Child Edition - Girl/Boy Scouts, Catechism/Sunday School and School Information.

If you missed Part 1, you can click on the first link below to take you there and to see why I'm doing this series and how I store my binders. The second link will take you to Part 2.

Part 1 ~ Manual & Warranties, Holiday Ideas, Decorating Ideas & My Recipes

Part 2 ~ Crafts, Gifts & Tips and Christmas Planner.

There are 2 more weeks of binders and here is the schedule for the next 2 Wednesdays:
Part 4 ~ Home Management Binder
Part 5 ~ Financial Budget Binder

Okay! Let's get started on The Child Edition!

If you have kids, you know they bring enough paper home to wallpaper the whole house. . . on a weekly basis! Seriously, it can just pile up if you don't take control.

I created binders for each activity that my daughter participates in. However, as I was taking this picture, I realized there wasn't very much inside these binders. Each activity certainly doesn't warrant having a binder of it's own. So with that being said, this week I am going to downsize it all into one binder with tab dividers. I've been needing to make a binder for her gymnastics anyway, so now I can just consolidate all of Allison's activities into one binder.

What do I keep in these? I keep anything that has to do with that activity. Phone lists, schedules, copies of forms filled out, etc. If you have more than one child, make a binder for each one. It will definitely cut down on all that paper clutter!

Let's get on to the "School Info" binder!

This binder has saved my life! Well. Not really. BUT it has kept me organized with all the goings on of school stuff. I have made one of these binders every year since Allison started school. I will tell you that I touch this binder every day! It is my most frequently used binder. I don't keep them every year because as you'll see, it's not necessary to keep all of what I put in there. I just keep reusing the binder every year. A little note here is that I use a 2" binder for this one. I use to use a 1" but as she has moved along in school, there seems to be more that comes home.

This is the cover. I have Allison's name, the name of the school, the grade, the teacher and so on. You could probably leave it plain but I like to pretty things up. :)

This is the inside front cover. In the pocket, I keep all the report cards for the quarters, any certificates, results of any assessments and any receipts for monies sent (i.e. yearbook, logo merchandise, after school activities, fundraisers, etc). I also keep anything that I haven't read yet that came from the school. As you can see there is a letter from the Principal about the upcoming PSSA which is next week. I have since read that and moved it to it's appropriate section.

Here is the right side when you open the front cover. I keep a 3 hole punch right in front. This keeps me from laying things down until I can run and get the big 3 whole punch and then never going to get it. . . and then I end up with a big pile on the counter! Under that and in front of the first tab divider is where I keep the school calendar. I just cut it apart and 3 hole punched it. We have 11 elementary schools in our district so I go through the calendar at the beginning of the school year and highlight in yellow anything that pertains to our school. If it's a very important thing like early dismissal or a no school day, I trace the outside of the yellow highlighted item in green highlighter so I will be sure not to miss it. I also transfer those important items into my calendar that I carry with me so I have it on my "main" calendar when I'm making appointments and such. Since I write notes about snow days and when we make them up, I move the page of the month we just ended to the back of the other calendar pages.

Also, behind the school calendar, is the monthly school lunch menu. Allison takes her lunch every day but I still keep it just in case and throw it out at the end of the month. This has come in handy for the 3 times she did buy her lunch this year.

My 5 tabs for this binder are: Class Info, Spelling Words, School Info, PTO Info and Handbook.

I didn't take pics of every section but here is the first section. It's Class Info and I keep any items that pertain to her class. Announcements from the teacher, family letters on what they are working on, their daily schedule, etc. The Spelling Word section is just that. . . their spelling word lists so I can go back periodically and spot quiz Allison. The School Info section is any letters or information that comes home from the school itself. . . bus assignment, letters from the Principal, etc. The PTO Info section is for all the newsletters and info that come home from the PTO. The last section is for the school Handbook. They send home a new one every year so I just tear it apart and 3 hole punch it and put it in the back so I know where it is when I need it.

The back pocket of the binder holds the PTO Handbook since it's too small to 3 hole punch it.

That's it. That's my binder! I keep it on the corner of my kitchen counter. It's just under the bulletin board where I keep the current spelling words or papers of upcoming activities before they get filed in the binder.

What? What's that you ask?
Where do I put all of the work papers and tests that Allison bring home?

Ooooh, you are asking about the 876 papers that come home in ONE DAY?

Well. Do you see that basket in the picture above?

Yes, that's the one. The pretty one.

It houses all of my active files that I use frequently. That's a whole other post but a couple of folders in that basket are for Allison's work papers and tests. I look at them when they come home and then place them in the files. At the end of the quarter, I go through them and decide what I want to keep and then the keepers get put into my file box that I keep in my Command Center. If you can throw them out, more power to you. I'm a little more emotionally attached to anything my daughter completes. I find that if I wait and have a whole stack, I become more detached to them. However, I would recommend not throwing out the tests until after the grading period. Everyone makes mistakes and a teacher can make one recording your child's grade. You want to make sure you have the back-up to support any incorrect grade.

I hope you enjoyed Part 3 in the "Binders Can Organize Your Life Series" and be sure to come back next Wednesday for Part 4.

You can become a follower or just come back to:

Works-for-me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family
or
Show and Tell Wednesday with Blue Cricket Design.

I'll be sharing this series at both places.

Have Fun!

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Binders Can Organize Your Life Series! ~ Part 2

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Part 2 in the "Binders Can Organized Your Life Series."

If you missed Part 1, you can click on the link below to take you there and to see why I'm doing this series and how I store my binders.
Part 1 ~ Manual & Warranties, Holiday Ideas, Decorating Ideas & My Recipes

This week I'm sharing my "Crafts, Gifts & Tips" binder and my "Christmas Planner" binder.

There are 3 more weeks of binders and here is the schedule for the next 3 Wednesdays:
Part 3 ~ The Child Edition ~ Girl/Boy Scouts, Catechism/Sunday School and School Info Binder
Part 4 ~ Home Management Binder
Part 5 ~ Financial Budget Binder

First let me say that I'm so sorry I'm late in posting this today. I usually like to post in the morning but yesterday I was a bit under the weather and didn't feel like getting to the computer. I'm sorry about the quality of these pics. The camera and the sunlight just didn't want to cooperate with me today. :(

This first binder up today is my "Crafts, Gifts & Tips" binder. It is where I put all of those amazingly clever ideas that I love and know I will use or want to reference some day. Again, I use a front view binder and made a cover and spine insert using images I found on Google Images.

My sections for this one are: Mom's Tips (This isn't tips for Moms but tips for this Mom. Things like painting tricks, organizing ideas, etc.), Cleaning Tips (everything from how to clean windows to how to whiten doilies), Gift Ideas (self-explanatory), Kid Stuff (any craft ideas for kids or good ideas to do for kids) and MCNO Ideas (Mom's Craft Night Out which is a craft night I do with my friends and I'm in charge of the craft. You can read more about it here.)

Here is a view of the inside. This is a page in the Kid Stuff section. As you can see, I just cut the idea out of a magazine. If it's not a whole page, I use glue stick to paste it on a piece of copy paper.

This is "My Christmas Planner." It's where I keep everything I do for Christmas so I don't forget anything that's important. It drives me crazy when I forget something and this binder helps me to remember all those things my memory forgets.

My sections for this one are: Gift List, Card List, Tradition/Memories, Decorations and Recipes & Menus.

When I converted my closet into a Command Center last month, I cleaned out this binder so there really isn't a whole lot to show you. I actually got the idea of a Christmas Planner in 2003 from a Family Fun Magazine (love that magazine!) and modeled mine after their suggestions. Here is a link that will take you to the online article. A couple of differences I made to mine were: 1. I added Traditions to the Memories section because traditions are very important to me and I don't want to forget one in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. 2. The other difference is the Decorations section. This section holds all of the decoration ideas and such that I currently do. Any ideas that I've cut out of magazines and such, go into my Holiday Ideas binder that I shared with you last week. After I've tried them and liked them, they get transferred to here.

Here is the inside back of my binder. It holds a zippered pocket that I use to keep my receipts so they are easily found for returns or exchanges.

I hope you enjoyed Part 2 in the "Binders Can Organize Your Life Series" and be sure to come back next Wednesday for Part 3.

You can become a follower or just come back to:

Works-for-me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family
or
Show and Tell Wednesday with Blue Cricket Design.

I'll be sharing this series at both places.

Have Fun!

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A Handy Dandy Little Gadget!

I like tuna...but it has to be DRY tuna.

Yes, you read that right. D.R.Y.

Let me explain.

You know when you open the can of tuna and there's all that tuna juice in the can with the tuna...like in the picture below?

Well, I can't stand it...any of it!

So the solution to my problem is this little beauty!

See how handy it is?

You can put it in the tuna can and give it a push and all that tuna juice comes to the top.

Wow! Look at all that juice!

See what my handy dandy little gadget did? It got rid of all of that yucky tuna juice!

You can also turn it the other way and drain a can of beans or corn or whatever you wish!

Okay. Now that you know I love this can strainer thing, can I ask you...

WHERE DID I PUT MINE??!!??

Seriously friends, I had one several years ago and it disappeared.

So. I bought another one.

And now...

THAT ONE HAS DISAPPEARED!

I think I accidentally throw them in the garbage can when I take them off the can because I think subconsciously in my mind, they are the lid...so I pitch them in the trash.

Oh well.

If you see it, let me know but I won't be holding my breath.

Nope. I'll be at Target buying another one. Let's just hope it's my last!

**I'm linking this post up to Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family.

Have Fun!

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Which Color Do I Pick?

Did you ever go to the paint store and come home with a ton of paint cards?

Which color DO you choose?

Seriously, how are you supposed to make an educated decision for a whole room from a swatch that is 2" x 2"???

Well, here is your answer!

Sample paint pots!

They are about 7 or so ounces of any paint color you choose. They are a few dollars but can save you some cash, time and a whole lot of frustration in the long run. They did for me!

I picked out this color for my kitchen. It's Laura Ashley for Valspar Apple 5. Let me tell you. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it on the swatch in the store. I could have just stood in Lowe's and licked that color right off of the card. I LOVED it that much!

Even though I loved it that much, I bought the sample pot and brought it home. I thought I would need it to ease Curtis into such a change in the kitchen.

WELL!

After painting four patches of it around my kitchen, I decided I HATED it! I know...hate is a strong word but I typed "strongly disliked" and that just doesn't quite describe how I really feel about that color in my kitchen. It turned out way to yellow for me!

See for yourself!

Yuck!

So as you see, sample paint pots Work-for-Me!

Stop over at Kristen's of We are THAT Family for her Works-For-Me-Wednesday blog party to see what works for other bloggers!

Have Fun!

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WFMW ~ Pantry Help!

I'm one of those unlucky women that don't have a big, beautiful pantry in my kitchen. My kitchen is probably the size of some people's pantry. I'm not complaining...just stating a fact.

So. What does one do when they have a small kitchen, no pantry and too much kitchen stuff?

They get creative and find alternative methods for storage!



This rack/organizer thingy that you see in these pics has saved my life! Well...as far as food storage goes. Seriously. You didn't think that this thing could solve all of life's problems, did you?

Anyway. You can pick one of these racks up at Lowe's or Home Depot. Ours is on the wall on the way down the basement and since it's verticle it doesn't take up much room. As you can see, it holds a ton of stuff! The soup on the second shelf from the top is a double row and the bigger cans can be zig-zagged to get more on the shelf. I also have a little wire basket on the front of one of the shelves to hold seasoning packets.

This wire storage rack is definitely what Works-For-Me! Stop by Kristin's at We Are THAT Family to see what works for other bloggers!

Have Fun!

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Taking a Spin with my Lettuce!

I'm linking up with Kristen over at "We are THAT family" again for her weekly blog party of "What Works for Me Wednesday." If you need things working for you, click on over there when you are done here to see what works for others.

My friend, Sherie, and I were talking a while ago and the subject of a salad spinner came up. I never really thought much of them...just another kitchen gadget I didn't need or have room to store. Sherie said she couldn't "live without my salad spinner!" Wow! Maybe it's something to look into!

Well. I did. Look into it that is and I decided that I just couldn't justify spending twenty or more dollars to spin my lettuce dry.

Well patience is a virtue, right? Or maybe frugality is...I'm not sure but waiting worked for me and so does my salad spinner!

This is my salad spinner. It's a Tupperware one. It's retail price was $37.50. Wowza! I know! Crazy!

However! I picked mine up at Goodwill and let me tell you I don't think it has ever been used. Well okay...maybe once but it looked brand spankin' new!

Are you ready for what I paid for it???

Are ya?

::::drum roll please::::

$1.99!

I know! I couldn't believe my luck too!

By the way, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my salad spinner and to quote Sherie "I couldn't live without my salad spinner!"

Mine even has a lid that keeps the lettuce fresh in the refrigerator if you don't use the whole head. I just chop up the whole head, put it in the spinner in ice cold water and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then I dump out the water and take my lettuce for a spin. Oh my! The lettuce is crisp and dry. I'm definitely loving my salad spinner!

If you decide to get one, just remember NOT to open the lid until the inner basket stops spinning. If you do, you'll have lettuce all over the counter and floor...although your 8 year old will find it "hilarious"...mine did!

Have Fun!

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Ice, Ice, Baby!

Okay. Corny title, I know. I'm sorry but I couldn't resist!

I'm joining Kristen over at "We Are THAT Family" for her blog party of "Works-For-Me Wednesday."

Before I share what works for me, I want to be clear that this is not my original idea. Nope. I blog-thefted it off of several blogs! Quick! Hide me before the blog police come and take me away!

Enough of this silliness! On to my tip!

I have this fear of not being able to keep my sweet Allison's lunch items cold enough. It's not that it keeps me up late at night but I worry. What can I say? I'm a Mom. Isn't it my job to worry?

So. I've had this ice blanket for a couple of years just hanging out in my freezer. Yup. It just sits there until I'm ready to use it. Truth be told, it's only been used once. :( It's a little too big for the insulated lunch bag that I bought for myself so I don't use it.

HOWEVER! Some Mom (because you know it had to be a Mom) out there in blogland, decided to cut the little cubes apart to make mini ice packs! I know! Ingenious! She deserves a Gold Metal...whoever she may be!

Well! I ran right to my freezer and grabbed my scissors, cut some off that too big of an ice blanket and LOOK what I have now!!!! Mini ice cubes!!!

I scored double with this AWESOME idea because now not only do I have mini ice cubes but I have a smaller blanket that fits in my lunch bag for when I go back to work. Oh gosh...that time is coming soon. Please excuse my tears...I'll be fine. Okay. Let's refocus here. The mini ice cubes fit perfectly into the compartments of her new Bento Box. Look at the pic below. One fits perfectly in the smallest box so now my baby will have ice cold grapes or whatever I put in her lunch.

Now that you are done with my tip for "Works-For-Me Wednesday", click on over to Kristen's blog and see what works for hundreds of other Moms!

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It's All in The Bag!

I'm linking up with the blog "Rocks in My Dryer" this week for her weekly "works for me Wednesday" feature she does every Wednesday. Several hundred bloggers gather there every Wednesday to share a "what works for them" tip. I have to be careful when I visit her blog on Wednesdays because it's a time sucker. There are so many great tips shared that I find myself saving a ton of them and spending way more time on the computer than planned. I think I may play beat the clock and set a timer to give myself so much time when I visit today.

My tip this week is probably something most Moms already do but I'm sharing it anyway. Several months ago, I decided that I was tired of carrying a huge purse so I could get everything in there that I needed for the day...and it also made for a messy purse when I needed to find something. I started carrying a tote bag. One that I had gotten free with purchase from Lancome cosmetics. It did the job okay but it wasn't the right size and I didn't like being a walking billboard.

So I set off to find me the perfect tote bag. Yes, that's right. Frugal Cindi was going to buy a pretty tote bag. Yes. I have several in the closet that was free with some promotional logo on the front...after all everyone gives them out! But that's not what I wanted. I decided that I was worth a pretty classy bag and I was going to find myself the perfect one...and I did!

I found her on Etsy from Janine King Designs.
Yes. She's a her. Only something this pretty could be a her!

Can I tell you that I just LOVE this bag?!?

It has held up so well and I carry it every day! The workmanship is beautiful. It's nice and big and has three different size pockets inside that are very roomy. The straps are long and hang on my shoulder at the perfect length. I also love that it has a strong zipper. Some that I looked at didn't. I didn't like the idea that anyone could see into it or grab anything out of it. I have it hanging on a hook in the picture so you could see it but I don't usually hang it. I carry a lot in it and I don't want to put the added weight on the straps. I'm sure it would be fine since it's so strongly made but I'd rather not hang it too much. It sits next to me at my desk at work on top of the paper shredder.

As you can see it holds a ton! These are the items I am currently carrying in it: my red folder which houses my important papers that I need to deal with currently, a large white envelope with papers I need to fill out, another large envelope with Girl Scout Cookie order sheets and stuff (which by the way we are selling and I will ship to my friends in the continental United States for free if they order 6 or more boxes), a BeautiControl Product Guide, my Home Interiors candle sheet for taking orders, my organizer (that I've customized and can't live without), a zippered pouch (which hold those little things you or a desperate friend may need at a moments notice), a little Tupperware mini midget with vitamins in it (for those days I forgot to take them at home), packets of Crystal Light to flavor my bottled water when I want something sweet, my TomTom (because you can't leave it in your vehicle and fits nicely in one of the side pockets) and a pen (because the 10 in my purse may not be enough)!

I just looked at Janine King's website and she's running a sale! Check out the Madison French Blue one. I gave that to my Mom for Christmas because she commented on mine a couple of times. It so pretty and $5 less expensive than I paid for it.

And before you ask, I do not know Janine and I am not paid for this post. I just LOVE the tote and like sharing what I like with all of you!

Have Fun!

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My 1st Works-for-Me Wednesday!

Every Wednesday I check out a blog carnival at "Rocks in My Dryer" called "works-for-me Wednesday." Hundreds (and I'm not kidding) woman link their blogs and share something that "works for them." I've gotten quite a few ideas from there so I thought I would share something that works for me this week. You can click here to see what others have posted this week but be sure you have some time, there's a lot of links!

We have a small bucket that sits on our counter with pretty pink ribbon on the handle. We use it to measure good deeds and behavior for Allison.

It all started when we were sitting at Open House at school. Her teacher told the parents that the Guidance Counselor did a presentation to the kids about filling someone's bucket. She explained that you can fill someone's "bucket" by doing or saying nice things for or to them. Some of the things could be picking up their pencil when they drop it or telling them you like their shirt today. Basically anything that can fill them up and make them feel good. She also explained that you can take from someone's bucket and make them feel sad.

When the teacher was explaining this concept, a light went on in my head. Yes. Occasionally the light switch does get flipped and I come off with some good ideas. Anyway. I thought I could make this "Fill the Bucket" speech work for us.

I went to Michael's and bought a small galvanized bucket, floral stones and ribbon. I went to work and made the bucket look pretty and fun. After all, little girls like pretty!

I then cleared a place in our kitchen junk drawer for the stones. We actually call them pebbles. Oh...and I can't believe I'm showing you my junk drawer!

After I was prepared, we presented the idea to Allison. Basically she can earn pebbles to help fill her bucket by doing nice things or good behavior. We use it to reinforce what is expected of her. We do not have a list with how many pebbles she gets for doing a specific task posted anywhere. This isn't a "payment" or reward system for doing chores like setting the table or feeding the cats. She knows those things are some of her responsibilities of being part of a family. They are things that need to be done in the home and it's our job to get them done. It's also not a bribe system as in "if you do this, you'll get a certain amount of pebbles." The pebbles are given at Mom and Dad's discretion so she doesn't know when she will earn them or lose them. It keeps her on her toes this way. If she does something without having to be reminded, she'll earn a couple of pebbles but she also doesn't earn them every time she does something either. As an example: If she makes her bed three days in a row without being told, I'll throw a couple of pebbles in her bucket each day. If she makes it on the fourth day, I don't throw pebbles in her bucket. If she asks about it, I explain to her that it's her responsibility to make her bed and not having to remind her was wonderful for Mommy and that she shouldn't be making her bed because she thinks she's going to get something for it but because it's her responsibility. She usually understands. I then pray that I taught her a good habit and she'll make her bed the next day without being told!

Some of the things she can earn pebbles for are: doing something extra I ask her to do with no fussing, doing something without me having to tell her, eating her whole breakfast without me having to say "Allison, please eat", doing homework correctly, putting the kitties down when they squirm (she loves to hold and love them to death), giving compliments (she earned 10 the other day when she said the dinner I made was the best she's ever had in her whole life!) and she's also earned some for reciting a prayer she needed to learn for church.

Some of the things she can lose pebbles for are: not listening, sassing (yes, my sweet daughter can sass...I'm hoping it's just the age!), me having to repeat myself more than a couple of times when I ask her to do something. This one is my favorite. Through my frustration of her not doing what I ask, my voice gets louder. I admit it but I think most of you Mom's out there can relate. However, with the bucket system, I just walk over to the bucket and reach in and take a pebble out. I make sure that I make a lot of noise when I do this which is sure to result in Allison's change of attitude and she immediately does what I was asking her to do. When her stubbornness kicks in though, it does take more than one pebble at times but I make sure I am very dramatic in my actions when I take them out of the bucket and eventually she gives in. You may think this is cruel but I say it's effective.

What happens when the bucket is full, you ask?

Well. Allison gets to pick an activity. Some of the ideas I've offered up to her are: going to a movie or renting a movie of her choice, sled riding, a picnic in the park, going to the library, baking something special or anything she wants to do. She is currently working on a family picnic in the park. I told Curtis that it may be 30 degrees and snow everywhere but by golly we'll be there with our picnic basket!

Wait! Did I just say "by golly"???

Have Fun!

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