Planner Addiction

Goodies from Happy Scrappie!

Michael's Loot

How I plan my days.

I thought this was a passing phase.... the planner/scrapbooking/organizing thing.  I have opened up a whole world that I didn't even know existed!  As I posted here, I jazzed up my 3 year old Russell and Hazel planner.  That wasn't good enough.  I wanted the weekly view on a bigger page, and all of the "Plan With Me" videos use a different format.

What is a "Plan with Me" video??  Search in youtube... you will be addicted within the hour.  Usually, it is a very cute and bubbly and creative girl that sits down with a bunch of stickers and washi tape and colorful pens, and plans and organizes her week.  I love them.  I have discovered there are lots of these "Life Planners" out there that make this even more fun.  Erin Condren is the big one, Kikki K, Happy 365, Filofax, and even Mead has a great family planner.  As a result of this, there are wonderful etsy shops that have been created that feature all sorts of unique stickers/tools to use on your planners.  The stickers are color themed, and it makes me want to have a ton of appointments.

I have ordered from Happie Scrappie, and I have also been led to do a Swap from Oh, Hello Stationary Company.  If you don't know, a swap is where you are paired up with another person who signs up, you send them a package of items specified in the swap.  This one was great, in the sense that they gave you the email, and you could chat with your person first.  The idea is to find out what kinds of things that they like and tailor the package to that.  You send your swap partner (brand new) things from your stash, as well as items you have purchased--ideally items that they cannot find locally.  I can't wait to get my package, yet making the one to send out was really fun as well!!

Also, I now have a pen pal that I plan to send things to in the future.  I often buy paper craft supplies that say, have 6 sheets of the same sticker.  I get sick of that design, and then am stuck with those items that I am "over".  I plan to send her these as time goes on:)

Sunday Cook Ahead Day

I've said it before, and I will say it many more times again... Life is way easier if I plan meals out ahead.  (And yet, I still don't do it every week! What is wrong with me??)

Here is the plan for this week, on last week's planning sheet, because I am lazy.

Brunch Bake--I made it ahead of time, and I can reheat each morning.  I don't like sweet breakfasts, and it is hard to make eggs every morning.  Because it is all ready to go, I will actually eat breakfast and/or avoid buying a bfast sandwich while I am out.

Brunch Bake Recipe: 

Scoop of Cream Cheese+1/4 C milk heated and mixed. 

Add 8 eggs (when cooled) and beat.  

Add veggies, fresh herbs, ham or sausage, s&p,  cheese if you like it.  

Bake for 30 minutes at 350F/180C

Here is the Waldorf School Chicken Recipe.  It is amazingly easy and yummy!!

I am stealing this from another parent.  Every week, one night a week, they have Pu Pu Dinner.  (Like a poo poo platter!)  Every one gets to choose what ever they want, to make their own little bites of yumminess as long as most of the food groups are involved.  Parents are also served wine with their Pu Pu platter/antipasti tray.  

(Or Poo Poo Platter, as we will call it in this house.  Emphasis on the POO, for giggles.) 

And while I was at it, prepping all the veggies for the weeks meals, I decided to pack some salads that are ready to go for me.  I just cut up whatever veggies, herbs, fruit, & nuts I had and put it together.  (Keep the dressing off until ready to eat to prevent getting soggy.)

My Command Center

My Command Center.  I did not create this term--my little brother, Andy, gets credit for the title.  My mom has a place in her house that is where she sits with her coffee and her computer, a blanket, a dog or 2, and settles in.  He calls it her Command Center. I have one of those places as well, and the red couch is it.

I start my day here, and usually end it here, too.  I plan things, plan to create things, drink coffee, facebook, email, and sometimes even just sit and listen to music.

My favorite "Command Center" activity: drinking coffee. 

I leave my pile of magazines in this spot, and use it to rip out inspiration.  I write down or "pin" new recipes here, and review my week's itinerary.  It is one of my favorite spots in the house.
Where is your "Command Center"??

A recent magazine article that inspired me.

Organizing Home

We rented a home in Norfolk sight unseen.  That means we had never seen it before moving in, and since Paul arrived first, I was calling him frantically asking "how many rooms?  Is it cute?  Can the chaise fit in the living room?"

I tend to hole up until my house is a home, and therefore, have been horrible at correspondence of any sort.  Here are a few photos of what we have been up to, and I will get back to being social once the boxes are all unpacked.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

This took an ENTIRE day.  If something new comes in, something else has to go out!

And because we can't clean and organize the entire time, we have been...

At the beach.

 Making Crock Pot Meals.  Check out crockin girls.   They are my favorite inspiration!

 We found an indoor Farmer's Market.

And the ocean air has given me permanent Mermaid Hair!

The best part of moving for the kids:  The Boxes!!!

Picnik alternative

I used to love adding text to photos using picnik.  It is no longer in existence, but found out from a friend that picmonkey.com is a good alternative.  Here are a few pictures that I altered this week, and I have to say that I like it just as well.  It makes me excited to scrapbook.  

And in order to scrapbook, I must find my scrapbook stuff.  It all seems like it is slightly organized, but really, behind the drawers and storage units, it is a complete mess.  I found this site http://craftstorageideas.com/  and now I am super motivated!  I noticed that when my scrap stuff was in the main room that we hung out, I created more.  I also blogged more!  I am considering moving it all out of the craft room into our main family room.

And now back to my Alias marathon.  It makes me want to be a secret agent.

Mama Craft and Easy Lunch

I am addicted to Pinterest.  Seriously.  If you don't know what it is, it is another way to waste lots of lots of time, like Facebook.  But, like FB, it is fun.  People post pictures of things that are linked to the original source, so that you can make/find/buy/be inspired by whatever it is.  

I found the tutorial for these fabric baskets, and I had to make 3 of them in a weekend.  

Thanks, Leslie! (I don't know her, but the pin of her baskets led down this road.)  The baskets are now used for Little People, marbles, teeny books, whatever kids want to put in them.  

And if you are really lazy, but are starving, take some premade dough (JUS ROLL in the UK, Cresent dough in the US) , wrap it around cheese, ham, and a little mustard and bake.  Yummy!

 I also just started doing this to make life easier...I put all the dishes on the tray to take to the table, and then use the same method of taking to the sink.  Simple, but it saves time.