got toys?

**Updated on 2/4/08: The Shabby Nest & The Pretty Organizer are hosting a linky party for tips on how to tame the kid clutter, and this post just fit it perfectly!! Head on over to visit and find out more ways to organize kid clutter!

I thought it might be fun to share some of my toy storage ideas that I use in my play room to help keep the toys a little organized (when at all possible). I have a color coordinated play room, so many of my storage pieces that are seen "have to match", but only if they don't cost me a lot of money.

Storage Idea #1: baskets

Baskets are an organizer's best friend!

This cute little basket holds my daughter's play food in her little kitchen. When we first set up the kitchen, I was on the hunt for something to keep the food in and I just so happened to find it in my "baskets and containers" box I keep in the garage. I had originally bought this at an after summer clearance sale from Target a couple of years back (probably less than $2). I just knew I would/could use it for something! Oh, and did I mention it just happened to match? Double bonus. I don't have to tell you how excited I was to find it.


Storage Idea #2: cheap

There are many stores that carry inexpensive, but rather cute, storage solutions.

I found this little bucket at the Dollar Tree. It holds all of the play cleaning supplies. When I bought it I had intended on using it for a gift basket, but I bought a couple of them in different colors and so I had extras. I found that it works really well in the corner of the play room.


Storage Idea #3: something that holds a lot!

I think I'm not alone in admitting that we have a quite a few toys. Many of them are little, so I needed something that could hold a lot of toys without having all of these little containers everywhere. You've probably seen this darling storage unit a lot (they also have it in primary colors). I drooled over this for quite some time and had found it *almost new* on Craigslist, but I was just a few minutes too late because when I called, the gal was already loading it up in someone else's car. So, I was patient and waited for it to go on sale at Target and decided just to buy it new.

Each of these compartments holds its own kind of toy. For example, Mr. Potato Head pieces, cars, musical instruments, Little People set, etc. My next organizing mission is to make little tags for these saying what they are.


Storage Idea #4: keep it hidden

I like to try and keep a few things hidden away so the room doesn't look so cluttered. We bought a new TV unit when we redecorated the playroom and they just so happened to have some space at the bottom for a couple of baskets. I re-used some storage containers I had originally used in my classroom before I stopped teaching. These cuties are the Sterilite brand from Target during the summer season many years ago. I have some in lime green, too, but don't have a spot for them yet. The colors in my classroom (lime green and blues) were the same colors I decided to use in the play room, so I was able to reuse quite a bit, which saved me some redecorating money!


Storage Idea #5: make your own!

Another idea for storing your toys, is making your own. I try to save a lot of larger containers that get emptied because I just know there's something I can use them for in the future. Oftentimes they do hang out in the garage for awhile, but I do end up using them!

I created this storage container out of a 1.25-gallon ice cream bucket and used it for storing a Little People set. I actually made this for my mother-in-law to use at her house. It's quite simple to make: I cut out a circle using fun scrapbooking paper, matching the size of the top of the lid. Then I used Modge Podge to glue it down and finished it off with some alphabet stickers, and a thin layer of Modge Podge for security.


Organizing toys is always tricky because it seems like they're always out of control. Making their own little "home" for the toys is pretty important in our house. One reason I do this is because I'm an organized freak and I just can't help it. The other reason, and most important, is because I want to teach my children to be organized and having places for things helps them do that. I think my daughter has definitely caught on because when a toy is in the wrong place, she lets me know about it! "Silly, mommy," she says. It cracks me up every time.

Feel free to share some of your own toy storage ideas. I would love to hear them!!

let's play!

No excuses for being MIA in blogging world...other than I'm still sifting through piles of things that are "undone" from a busy weekend and start to a week, so stay with me a little bit longer and I'll be back soon with lots of fun stuff to share!

So for now, in honor of Wordless Wednesday, I'll leave you with some pics of my two sweet blue eyed blessings PLAYING with each other...there's nothing better than to watch your little ones having so much fun TOGETHER.

preserving Christmas greetings

During the month of December, I love going to my mailbox. I look past the bills and junk mail, and on most days I get at least one Christmas card. Once Christmastime is over and the mailbox seems a little empty, it's not so much fun anymore.

About 3 years ago, I came up with a plan on what to do with all of the photos and photo cards we get for the holidays. Since I love to scrapbook, I decided to start a scrapbook just for these photos. As much as I wish I could include the Christmas letters and cards in my scrapbook...there's just not enough space. I do, however, keep them in a special box. I think it will be fun to find them later on, but for now they are tucked away.

In the picture below is where all the cards "lived" during the holidays, but next year I think I'll find something where I can display them a little better. I have something where you can hang the cards, but it's too small to hold the many cards that we receive. One of my friends puts them on the back of her front door, which I really like.


Creating a Christmas Scrapbook

Step One:
Look through your greetings and find all of the cards with pictures. Trim the pictures from all the photo cards and photos. I almost hate doing this because then it doesn't preserve the actual Christmas card (which for a photo card designer, is kind of ironic). Unfortunately, I just have to think more about the space and it works better to crop out just the picture.

Step Two:
Find some Christmas-style background paper. I like to alternate each year and try to pick different colors/styles. That way each year can have a unique look so you can distinguish the years as you're looking through the book.

Step Three:
Make sure all your photos will fit by laying them out on the paper.



Step Four:
Put a backing on each picture with coordinating colors.


Step Five:
Add simple embellishments and names for each picture. I don't like a lot of stickers and extra embellishments for this particular scrapbook because there are so many pictures that I want to be the focus. I print the names of the family or person in the picture off the computer and then trim them, back them with cardstock, and glue them next to the picture. I also include the year on the first page for that year.


The Finished Product:

Starting with the title page...

2003

2004

2005
2006 (& part of 2005 on the left)

more of 2006

2007 (& part of 2006 on the left)

more of 2007

2008

more of 2008

I love looking back over this album and seeing growing families each year and how big the kids are getting. Since 2003, I have had to keep adding pages each year because of the growing number of photo cards and photos we get. I love it! I also really enjoy the letters, so keep those coming friends. It's so fun to read your family updates each year.

One tip would be to wait a couple of weeks after Christmas before making pages for that year. You never know if you'll get a stray card in the mail. It's happened to me two years in a row. You think I should learn my lesson!

This is what works for me in preserving memories of Christmas greetings from friends and family.

Find out what works for others at Rocks in My Dryer.

you can never be too organized

Today I'm talking more about organizing and house stuff. Go ahead, roll your eyes. Get it over with. It's OK. It won't offend me.

I just can't help it and it gets me motivated to actually do my organizing and household duties the right way and that's why I blog about it. You never know, it might even motivate you! Is it your New Years resolution to be more organized? See? I'm just helping a friend out.

I packed up Christmas last week (except for the snowmen...they get to hang around for at least one more week). I decided to organize my totes as neatly as I could, so that when I pull them out next year, I can ooh and aah over them.

Don't worry I won't bore you with the contents of every tote, but just imagine everything fitting so neatly inside, tissue paper included for all the fragile things.

For this project, I got out my handy label maker and went to town. I've had the totes labeled in the past, but this year I really got specific and they deserved the large size this time.

What's in your totes, you might ask? Christmas lights, Christmas gift wrap (see contents below), Christmas containers including basket fillers (see contents below), Christmas tree decor (see contents below), Christmas misc. decor (pretty much anything besides snowmen, which includes stockings, stocking holders, and my nativity), 2 totes of snowman decor (I know, I know, this might be a little much), and Christmas candles (which I have learned NOT to keep in the attic...I found melted candles one year...very tragic)

organized and ready to go for next year!

Christmas gift wrap tote includes...
flattened gift boxes, squares of leftover wrapping paper, gift bags of all sizes, and tissue paper

Christmas containers tote includes...
cute tins, baskets, and misc. containers, including shredded basket fillers
(FYI: I can't explain why this picture is turned the wrong way)

Christmas tree decor includes...
boxes of ornaments for each of my children, a box for both mine and my husband's childhood ornaments, and a small organizer for our ornaments we have collected together since we've been married,
also included are bulbs and other misc. trimmings including our new "after-Christmas sale" star topper

I even have a cute box that holds my Christmas stationery, cards, gift tags, stickers, etc.

I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of my 2 smaller (no, seriously) organizers of ribbons and bows and my wrapping paper collection (or should I say addiction?) before my husband put them in the attic. (I think he was tired of seeing this stuff laying around.)

If you'd like to see my Christmas decor before I put it way, check it out here.

That's what I tackled...what about you?

Get motivated...go see other Tuesday Tacklers at 5 Minutes for Mom.

returning to normal

Slowly I'm getting back into a routine...

The snow from the "Arctic Blast" has melted (except for the big piles you see in the parking lots) and the holiday madness has died down, so now I have no excuses but to get back into my normal way of living. That sounds so boring...it's really not that bad. I look forward to having a schedule again and feeling productive.

I'm crossing things off the list, getting housework done, and maintaining my organizing madness. However, I have yet to buy a 2009 calendar and am going crazy without one! Dates on sticky notes just don't work the same. You would think that if I was that desperate I would just start using my electronic PDA. There's just something about doing things the old-fashioned way sometimes.

To help trick my brain into setting up a normal weekly routine again, I thought I would start out the week with a muffin tin lunch we fixed last week to celebrate Muffin Tin Monday over at Her Cup Overfloweth. My last muffin tin consisted of goodies to decorate gingerbread men. Oh, I'm missing the Christmas season already!

I quickly realized after setting this heaping tin of food in front of my 2-year old that she was not going to manage eating it all. (I've got to get me a 6 cup muffin tin.)

Want to guess what got eaten first? Here's the order: pears, yogurt, one bite of cucumber, peaches, a "forced" bite of chicken nugget, 2 tator tots (she didn't even use the ketchup!), and the rest of the 15 minutes I was desperately trying to get her to finish her chicken. Since when do kids not like chicken nuggets? Truth be told, I only made her eat two because there's only so much a mom can take...nap time was in the horizon, you know?

I tried something new this time around and had a little treat hidden under a liner for when she was done with her lunch (after negotiation, of course). I found this idea a few months ago while blog browsing and thought it would be worth a shot. Her "surprise" was a piece of licorice broken into bits. Surprisingly, it didn't do much for the motivation factor, but I'll try it again.

top row: apple-water juice, the "surprise"
middle row: dino-shaped chicken nuggets, tator tots, ketchup
bottom row: peaches, pears, yogurt, cucumbers

Now, if I really was on top of things, I would have my menu planned for the week, as well. But that didn't happen yet again, so I'll be heading on over to Menu Plan Monday for some great meal ideas for the week! If only everything came so naturally.

movin' on up

Mikayla started off the New Year with a big girl bed. We had purchased her bed almost a month ago, but because of our vacation, snow, and the holidays, we hadn't been able to get a mattress yet or even put it together. I fell in love with a trundle day bed at IKEA and I can't complain one bit about how it looks in her bedroom (decor pics to come...just waiting to find the right comforter). We've had 3 successful naps and 2 successful nights (going on our 3rd) and all is well. Mikayla loves it! She even waits for us to come get her before getting out of bed in the morning or at naptime...something we wanted to make sure she understood. We'll take her "good behavior" as long as we can get it! It takes all I have not to snuggle with her in her new bed, but I know that if I do it once, it will become a nightly habit and we're good with the night time routine we already have in place. I'll just have to make up for all the snuggling at other times.

As much as it pains me to see her growing up, she is becoming quite the little big girl.

One more "first" checked off.

Mikayla's first nap in her new bed

Christmas family fun - part four

More Christmas coming your way...

A couple of days after Christmas we headed over to Ryan's parents' home in Gresham. We had previously scheduled our Christmas get together for the 27th, and thankfully the snow on the roads had melted away in time for us to make it there safely. We were also able to celebrate it with Ryan's brother and family, so that was an added bonus! As always, the cousins had a great time together and the meal was delicious.

Of course Mikayla was super excited to find out that she got to open more presents. I think her favorite part was opening the present. Although she was excited to find out what was inside, she enjoyed helping open it a little more. On the other hand, it seemed like we had to hold Austin down to get him to partake in the frenzy. He was much more happy roaming Boppa Charlie & Bobba Ruth's house.


If this doesn't say "cheesey", what does? I love this little girl!


My sweet little elves...

The Boos Cousins
Riley (3 1/2), Parker (17 mo.), Austin (15 mo.), Mikayla (2 1/2)
Parker, Eric, Riley, & Kristen Boos
Our Family
Boppa Charlie & Bobba Ruth
and the grandkids

The next day, we also got together with my mom's side of the family (her brothers and families, and my grandparents). We do an annual Christmas exchange where each of us bring a $10 gift that starts with a particular letter (we just finished spelling C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s, so this year's gift had to start with an S). It was a full house...our family just keeps growing!! My cousin is expecting the next little one in just a couple of weeks. We had lots of fun, but I failed to take some good pictures. Just picture chaos, fun chaos, but still chaos.

And, to end my rambling of Christmas, I thought I would share a few more pictures of the two kiddos in their "Christmas best". Unfortunately, we didn't quite make it to the Christmas services, so last Sunday, I dressed them in what would have been their Christmas outfits.


Thanks for letting me share my holidays with you. Some great memories were made and moments captured. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and that the year 2009 brings you lots of love, laughter, and happiness!

Christmas family fun - part three

Before I share a little more of Christmas, I thought I would say Happy New Year! I hope you have all been blessed in the year 2008 and continue to be blessed in 2009.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Christmas morning, the kids were shocked to see that Santa had arrived...


...and boy, did he deliver!

Since my sister's family and our family were both staying at my parents' house, things were pretty wild in the morning!

After our 2 families did their own thing (in the same living room), my brother and his family came up again and joined us for Christmas brunch, which included breakfast casserole, grapes, pineapple, caramel pull aparts, and OJ.

Austin couldn't get enough of those pull aparts...

After brunch, we opened some more gifts from each other (the adults) and gifts from Grammy & Papa to the kids.

So, to spare you from being overloaded with the kids opening presents...

...how about a Christmas morning collage??
I got a waffle maker, gift cards to both JoAnn's & Michaels, and a Gold Club Membership to Life's A Scrapbook here in Sherwood (this gives me one free crop each month and 10% off all my purchases). I also got a Pampered Chef Simple Additions serving set and gift card to JoAnn's from my sister. We "draw names" with the siblings/in-laws and get each other one gift.

And, Ryan got a Wii! I "worked my magic" and rallied his parents and my parents to go in together on one. This works for me since we didn't have to put any money towards it. He also got a gift card and money for more accessories and games, and another game that he has been playing with since we came home on Saturday. I think I've lost my husband for awhile...


The rest of the day we relaxed and enjoyed being together. All the kids had given my parents a pool table for an early Christmas present, so the guys spent most of the day playing. I even got in a game! Plus, they set up the Wii and spent some time with that. Go figure! My Grandma & Grandpa Johnson came over for dinner and we enjoyed the traditional turkey and trimmings.

After the events of the day, we were all tired and stuffed. Most of the family turned in early and we stayed yet another night since it was late and we didn't feel like taking a trip on the roads at that time. It's so good to know that we could be with family for yet another day. And we weren't going crazy yet!

Next up...Christmas with the Boos side of the family.