Let's get organized, organized, I want to get organized!

Let's get it organized, ladies! Here's how!

1. Vertical Storage: When you think vertically you utilize more space. ie: Bathroom vanities that have a cabinet w/o drawers underneath the sink. If you can see the wall, that is space that can be used if you store things vertically (like with a Jumbo helper shelf)
2. Grouping - activity centers- Group things together that are used together ie: scizzors, tape and a pen go with your wrapping supplies (store things together)
3. Get it on the wall!!! Get things up off the floor and out of your way ie: brooms, garage items, swiffers
4. Double Duty Doors- Don't let them just hang there...
+Door way doors
+Locker doors
+Cabinet doors ie: spice rack
+Refrigerator doors
5. Be motion minded-Big time saver
+Point of first use
+Trash cans in each room
+Dishes near the table
+Hot pads near the oven
+Tape by VCR/Stereo
Minimize Steps
+Cleaning supplies in each bathroom
+Activity Centers-like a traveling bill pay center with checkbook, stamps, envelopes, and pens with storage for bills
One-Motion Storage
+most often used items-store in front or on top
+least often used items-store in back or on bottom
6. Four ways to store--shelf, floor, drawer, hang-CLOSETS!!! You may use a hanging shoe rack for many, many things. When purchasing one, make sure it secures to the hanging bar. Also, if you have clothes that you don't wear try turning your hangers around and if they remain that way for 3 mo, 6 mo or a year, you know it is time to get rid of them. Also, purses, scarves, belts, necklaces, bras, and scrunchies (for moms stuck in the 90's) can all hang on a tie rack.
7. Throw things out... or garage sale it or give it away . If you keep it, you must organize it.
8. Want vs. Need... save time and money
**Ask yourselves, do I want it? Do I need it? Do I want to dust it? Do I want to store it?
9. "To Do" Baskets, use while waiting at home, in the car, at the doctor's office to reduce paper clutter
+To Do
+To File
+To Read
+To mend
+To pay
11. Label, Label, Label...save time and aggrivation
Use labels, not permanent marker (because relabeling gets confusing). This way, everyone knows what is in the box, where to return things to, and where to find them.
12. Art projects from our kids- a few suggestions:
+A Xerox paper box for storage
+School supply kits boxes for storage
+Videotape the picture with your child explaining or reacting to the project
+Photobook of scanned or photographed images with your child's comments for captions
+Holiday artwork gets packed up with the holiday decorations, other artwork gets displayed on the bulletin board then thrown away
13. Where to Shop?
www.containerstore.com
Target, K-mart, Walmart, Lowe's Menards, Home Depot, Office Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond, but I start at the dollar store :)
14. Sorting -- toys, take a picture of the toy and place it on the outside of the container.
-As submitted by Carrie Soares, thank you!!!

Food Volunteer Schedule

Here's the food sign up schedule for Spring Semester'09

Please let me know if the date you signed up for does not work for you.

I'll send out a reminder email before your Friday.

Thank you for volunteering!

Stephanie

Feb 6 Courtney T & Missy T Kids snack Cheryl S

Feb13 Michelle M. & Iris Kids-Michelle M

Feb 20 Everyone brings a dish to pass Kids- Stephanie R

Feb 27 Patty H.& Denise M Kids-Patty H

Mar 6 Drinks only Amy Samet Kids-Rebecca G

Mar 20 Michelle B & Ashley R Kids-Denise M

April 3 Rebecca G & Barb S Kids- Heather B

April 17 Carrie S & Kristy H Kids-Elana H
April 24 Charlene H & Ashley N Kids-Cara S

May 1 Drinks only-Stephanie R Kids- Amy S

Books We Love to Read Part 2

Adult books from the table I was at (Stephanie Rayniak)
Sheet Music Kevin Leman
Is there really sex after kids? Jill Savage
Professionalizing Motherhood Jill Savage
Really Bad Girls of the Bible Liz Curtis Higgs
Christmas Jars Jason F Wright
The Wednesday Letters Jason F Wright
Mitford Series Jan Karon
TheYadaYada Prayer Group Series Neta Jackson
Anything by Jodi Picoult
Janet Evanovich
Swim to me Betsy Carter
Anita Shreve--Sea Glass, Last time they met and Light on snow

Kids Books
Once upon a potty
Everyone poops
Giving Tree
I love you forever
Magic Tree House books
Secrets of Druin books
Pinkalicious
Parts Tedd Arnorld
ABC books from places you vacation to or visit
Little Red Hen makes a Pizza
Manana Iguana
Clown Of God Tomie dePaola

Great website to find books www.paperbackswap.com

Books We LOVE to Read--Part 1

Adult Books:
The Glass Castle-Memoir by Jeanette Walls
The Kite Runner-Khalid Hosseini
Thousand Splendid Suns-Khalid Hosseini
The Shack-WM Paul Young
Any Janet Evanovich Book, 1st Book in the series, One for the Money
Little Earthquakes-Jennifer Weiner
Any Nickolas Sparks books
Heres the Story-Maureen McCormick (Marsha Marsha Marsha from the Brady Bunch)
Five People You Meet in Heaven-Mitch Alborn
The Last Lecture-Randy Pausch
Any Sharon Kary Penmen book (that aren't mysteries)-Here Be Dragons (1st in Trilogy)
Other books by Penmen: When Christ and His Saints Slept, Time and Chance, The Devils Brood
Michael O'Brien Children of the Last Day Series-Father Elijah (1st Book)
Chronicles of Narnia-CS Lewis also, Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce
Phillipa Gregory Books
Harry Potter Series
The Inheritance Series (Eragon, Eldest, Brisninger) by Christopher Paolini
Inkheart, Inkspell, and Inkdeath by Cornilia Funk as well as, Thief Lord and Dragon Rider

Reference Books/Magazines/Websites:
Birnbaum's Official Guide to Disney World
Taste of Home Magazine
Cooking Light
Southern Living
Family Fun
Tip: Put articles/recipes into a binder with clear pocket inserts into categories

Websites:
Goodreads.com-you can go to the website and enter books you've read/reviewed and add friends who can then see what you've recommended

Childrens Books:
Little Miss Spidern books
Fancy Nancy books
Runaway Bunny
Dr Seuss Books
The Story of Valentines Day--also other books like The Story of Jesus, Christmas
Click, Clack, Moo
Jan Brett Books
How I Became a Pirate Series
Richard Scary books
Stellaluna
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Joseph had a little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Older Children:
Fly Guy Series
Skippy Jon Jones Series
Andrew Lost Series-1st Book is Andrew Lost on the Dog