I love birds, but those Swallows........

"Oh, Mommy!  Look!  There are birds flying all through the front porch.  I think they are building a nest.  Yea.....we're going to have baby birds - we're going to have baby birds!  Can we keep them???"

I peered out the window and there they were the busy little things.  Flitting in and out.  

Day 1 - Cute.  Good educational activity for the boys.

Day 2 - Oh my gosh, where did all of this mud sliding down my pretty white column come from???

Day 3 - Stepped in bird "you know what" while going out to water the ferns and there was even MORE mud!

Day 3 1/2  (afternoon in carpool coming home)

  

      "Boys, we have a mission when we get home.  Do you accept the mission??"

      "Does it involve getting dirty?"

      "Why actually it does.  Here's the deal.  I'm getting the ladder out and seeing if these little boogers have laid eggs yet.  If they have, that's fine.  I'll clean around them.  BUT if no eggs - they are getting cleaned out!"

      I think I heard an "Eyre Matey" from the backseat..............

Note:  Looking back, I wish I had taken "before" photos of the lovely mess that this couple had made.

So, for over an hour, we scrubbed the entire front porch - ceiling to floor.  They whole time the "cute couple" kept swooping us.......annoyed.........I think I heard a bad word or two........from them.  

I thought to myself - they're just going to come right back and we'll have to do this all over again.  

OH NO - we will not lose!!!  Son!  Go to the playroom and grab the dinosaurs...............

Dinosaurs?  Really?  Dinosaurs.........

The tired troops retreated after battle, changed clothes, grabbed a cool glass of water and pulled the blinds up in the dining room.

"Grab a chair kids!"  The entertainment was funny.  The swooped in and out, squawking at these plastic dinosaurs for the rest of the afternoon.  They were MAD!

"Mommy, don't they know that they are not real and that their feet say "Made in China?"

"No, honey...........they're swallows.........."



Hope the UPS man doesn't look up the next time he delivers a package.  Might think I'm weird!!

Cloth Napkins

I have been back and forth with paper vs. cloth napkins for a while now.  Well, I just decided - that's it - I'm doing it.  Something about cloth makes me feel happy - makes me feel grown up - makes me smile during a meal - so why not??

I found two "older" sets (ones that aren't fancy ones for company) and put them in a basket on my lazy Susan.  (By the way - definitely one of my favorite things in my house - the lazy Susan on my kitchen table.  I special ordered it with strange looks from hubby....shhh...he loves it now too.  I think he purposely asks to be passed something just so he can spin it.)

ANYWAY, I don't sew - not a stitch.  I can do buttons and maybe fix a short hem (that would not be in an obvious place on a garment.  So, I found some CUTE flannel napkins on an Etsy store called Cottage Mom.  I have to say, I'm in love.  Check them out...........

How cute are these???

Don't you just love the colors???

I especially love the birds :)

 Now I smile when I set the table.  Very mix - matchy !  Love it.  

Also, I am in no way profiting for any purchases from Cottage Mom.  I did buy these napkins full price, however, I am so impressed with them that I wanted to share such a wonderful "find."

I would love to hear if you've had the battle in your house cloth vs. paper.  Who won???

My Home Organizer Binder

I started this about two years ago and am SO glad I did.

  It is the one place I put my "important" papers so I can easily find them. 

 You can make one for your home very easily.  

I keep mine here.

Next to my kitchen sink I have my most favorite cabinet

It is the only one in my kitchen with glass doors

so for that - its my favorite

In in, I have my cookbooks and other binders:

Home Organizer

Cleaning Binder

Menu Planner Binder

Christmas Binder

Yes, I love office supplies too (can you tell?)

Today I'll walk you through making a Home Organizer Binder.

You'll need:

1. Three ring binder (I use 1 1/2 inch, but you decide on how much

paperwork will go in your's for your size.)

2. Subject dividers (I like the plastic ones with the pockets)

3. one pack looseleaf paper

4. Sheet protectors

Optional: a label maker

OK, let's get started.

In the front on mine, before any dividers I have several things in sheet protectors:

• current school calendar
• county dump / recycling hours
• library hours / storytimes
• credit report contact numbers (I'll get to that in a later post)

These papers I refer to often - whatever you refer to often should be put here.

For example:

• Babysitter lists and numbers
• stores / businesses you call frequently
• you could put your address book info here
• monthly list of birthdays and anniversarys

You get the idea

Side note on birthday / anniversary cards:

In January and July, I make a list of upcoming Bdays and anniversaries

for the next six months.

I go to the store with this list.  Usually buy several sympathy,

baby shower, blank generic cards as well.

When I get home, I put the person's name on a post it note

then stick it to the card.

I have a decorative box I got from Hobby Lobby that I store

all of my cards / stationary in and put them in there.

When I see on the calendar that someone's Bday is coming up,

simply go to the box, find their card and send it off.

Easy enough!

And I love only going card shopping twice a year and

also the fact that I don't have to run out last minute to

get one!

The first divider I have is "Kid Activities"

In the divider pocket, I have our chore charts for the fridge

Each Saturday night, we pay our oldest his allowance

and change his chore chart (which he fills with stickers)

FYI: $4.00 for taking out trash, organizing recycling,

food and water cats, bringing laundry baskets to mudroom when asked.

Pretty good deal, considering my allowance was a buck!  But

that was in the 70's - boy, am I dating myself??

In the Kid section I put any interesting craft ideas.

I just tear out of a magazine and punch holes in it or slide

it in a sheet protector, then pass along the

magazine to a friend or recycle.

I am a BIG magazine "sharer" by the way!!

.

Any info sheets about art / craft / sport activities in our community.

Mapquest directions to several out of town activities (so I don't have

to look them up again and again).

Carseat regulations for the growing kids

Educational website print outs / receipts that we order from frequently.

My second divider is "School"

• bookstore hours / receipts from purchased uniforms
• supply lists for current class
• tuition price listing
• standard testing results from each grade
• AR reading test results from the end of the year
• directory of classroom kids info

My third divider is "Projects" - my favorite

When I see a photo I like, I tear it out and punch holes

in it or slide it in a sheet protector and in the binder it goes. 

I don't have it organized like someplaces I've seen

by rooms / paints / furniture / craft ideas

It just all goes in this divider.

This is the "someday" that would be cool

to do/ make/ have/ buy, etc.....

My fourth divider is "Yard"

In this is guides on plant and tree care.

Composting ideas.

The care sheet from our deck finishing stain.

The care booklets from our Cracker Barrel rocking chairs - LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

Birdhouse ideas and suet recipes

landscaping ideas (again torn from magazines)

maintance list dates

My fifth divider is "Take Out Menus"

This one is pretty self-explanatory!

The last divider is "Trip Ideas"

This includes just "hubby and me" trips

as well as with the kids.

Again (from magazines) or websites.

This binder is a great place when you see something and it

triggers your mind, "That would be great for....."

It gives you an easy accesible place to put those

things - keep it organized and eases your mind.

I'm a strong believer in lists and things like that.

The best way to simplify your life is to ease your mind

and to ease your mind is to write stuff down or put something

where you can easily find it again.

The more your mind has to remember, the more stressed you will feel.

I printed out a cute "cover sheet" with a photo of hubby and the boys

and labeled it Alison's Home Organizer.

Pick a cute photo / pattern / color scheme

so you'll smile and feel good when you get it out! 

Its all about the simply things.....

Put it in a central place so its easily accessible

and start using it. 

You'll love it!!!