Summer Goods: Keeping the House Clean

We all know how it goes during the summer with the kids home from school.

More bodies at home ='s more bodies to make messes.

Here is my plan for battling the clutter trail that seems to follow my children around the house in the summer.

A Ransom Box!

No big surprise here, I found this idea on Pinterest.

This cute and free printable comes from Just Another Day in Paradise. Head on over to print your own ransom box sign.

Here are a few of our chores:

-Get a wet wipe and wipe down all the bathroom sinks

-Clean the toilets

-Write a letter to a friend or relative

-Make your bed and your siblings bed

-Clean off the trampoline

-Call a relative

-Dust the windowsills

-Dust the family room

-Clean the clutter off of the stairs in the garage

-Clean out the van

So far the ransom box has worked pretty well.  Sad to say, however, we have so much stuff around here that half of what ends up in the ransom box isn't missed for days. Not only that, our children aren't really motivated to do chores to get everything back. I think there are a pair of Crocs, some random toys and a few books that have been in there for two weeks! Hmmmmm...well, I can't really blame them. Why would you choose to clean toilets to get your Crocs out if you have 5 other pairs of flip flops, sandals, or sneakers to wear???  My solution is this: we are going to DONATE the items if they aren't rescued from the box within one week.  If our kids can live without it for a week and they aren't willing to do a chore to get it back, then there is probably someone else out there who needs it more than they do. 

Wait a minute.

Ummm...

Maybe grownups need ransom boxes too! ;)

Hope you are finding ways to have a clutter free summer!

xoxo,

Elisabeth

Summer Goods: The List

We made our summer list today.

I got the idea here. 

Meg's a pro at the summer list.

Here's ours:

I hope you are planning lots of fun this summer!

xo,

Elisabeth

christmas gift goods: top ten

ok, there are actually 11. 

top ten just sounds so much better, doesn't it?

1. fao teddy. our youngest requested a giant teddy bear from santa. this large, classic 28" cuddly bear is going to be perfect!

2. robe. well, sometimes you just need one. and santa really liked the price and polka dots on this one.

3. nerf. every christmas has to involve gifts that shoot things.

4. minetonka boots. real leather and what little girl doesn't love fringe? (shop around for the best price on these)

5. caboodle. did you have one? i did. i wish i had saved it. santa found some at target in the cosmetics department.

6. flashlight.  santa thinks our children are outgrowing their old flashlights that oink and moo. time for the real deal. shadow puppets anyone?

7. flip flop socks. we love little miss matched goods!

8. bodyboard. this one is on the official santa list!

9.  dress. so in love with this holiday party dress from target. it is so puffy and twirly...just how my little goods like it!

10. judy moody.  santa loves giving books.

11. hot wheels. santa brings a few, every. single. year. you can never have enough!

don't you wish you could be a kid again on christmas morning? it really is the best.

today is the day a lot of online retailers offer free shipping. also, don't forget to search for coupon codes and take advantage of sites like ebates. (ebates is paying me over $25 directly to my paypal account, just from the holiday shopping i did online!)

xoxo,

elisabeth

valentine goods: u r gr8 :)

the girls and i made valentine's today.

we got the idea from family fun.

go here if you want to make the same ones.

or different ones....they have so many cute ideas!

they were really easy.

and fun!

we may have eaten some candy in the process.

best of all....valentine's day isn't for two weeks!

 

that makes me :)

~elisabeth

perfectly imperfect goods: matilda jane

i have been spending way to much time on the matilda jane website and blog lately. every heard of it? the most adorable girls clothes (some boys and women's too) you will ever find! you can purchase through the website or host a trunk show at your home. i just love the quirky spirit of this company, not to mention the stinking adorable clothes. the combinations of colors and patterns are perfectly imperfect. sometimes when i'm dressing my girls i try and achieve the unmatched, gypsy, bohemian, girlie thing but it never quite looks right. matilda jane has got it down to a "T". i think it's about time for me to be a jane.

i am in love with this dress.

oooo...are those linen pants?

doesn't this just look as comfy as can be???

my girls would die over this lace. we have a dress up skirt like this. maybe i should incorporate it into their every day wardrobe....i may be mother-of-the-year after all.

adorable.

one of the best things about spring? chubby legs for all to see!

now THAT is a perfectly imperfect outfit. well done!

i'll take one of those skirts please! 

tween sizes too, at matilda jane. (it's hard to find tween clothes that don't look like they should be in the pages of maxim magazine. matilda jane to the rescue! up to size 12.)

(all pictures from http://www.matildajaneclothing.com/)

pretty adorable, eh? i am currently trading emails with a "trunk keeper" as they are called. trying to decide if i should wait and do a "back to school" trunk show or do one now for spring. hmmmm...may have to do both. i'll keep you posted.

hope you have a perfectly imperfect day!
~elisabeth

kitchen goods: before and after from design*sponge

we've all seen these types of nightstands/end tables. you might even have one in your garage...sitting there without a purpose...you might have painted it white and then black and then used as a nightstand but then you got sick of it and it wasn't your "style" so you threw it out in the garage and can't figure out what to do with it...you might feel guilty getting rid of it because it was your brother's back when you were kids and if only you could figure out the perfect thing to do with it. if only someone would post a before and after on their blog of just the perfect thing to do......

isn't it perfect? this has got to be one of my favorite furniture before and afters. if only santa had seen this before christmas. this adorable play kitchen was featured on design*sponge a few days ago. what a brilliant idea!