Time for Some New Systems

On Tuesday of this week, I had one of those days. The kind that started at 3 AM with a sick kiddo, the kind that found some sort of ants on steroids looking bugs infesting the playroom, a broken glass, and a bad report from the veterinarian. It was the kind of day that left me feeling very out of control.

So I decided that I would do something to feel like I gained that control back - set up some organized systems for our lives (focusing especially on summer...it's right around the corner!). So starting next week I will be sharing what I learned and came up with. Here is the plan:

Monday- Our completed command center
Tuesday- Our summer essentials basket
Wednesday- Stocking a natural first aid kit
Thursday- Organizing the car part 1
Friday- Organizing the car part 2 (packing for a road trip)

Here is a little preview of a new tool I have that has made a huge difference:




via

I hope you'll join me next week as we get organized for summer!

Anyone else have a way to deal when they feel out of control? I'd love to hear about it!

-Griffin

31 Days to Clean

Have you heard about this fabulous new e-book? 31 Days to Clean offers a month of challenges to turn your home into a haven and focus on your heart as well! I am a huge fan of both ideas and love that I will be able to follow along with specific steps to turn my home into a haven for my family.

To learn more about this awesome resource visit 31 Days to Clean




-Griffin

Kreativ Blogger Award!

Thanks to Samantha from I Love Organising for the Kreativ Blogger Award! Here are ten facts about me:

1.) I love being a wife and mommy!
2.) I sell an amazing all-natural line of products called Norwex, I love them.
3.) We have two dogs - Bo and Stella.
4.) Putting laundry away is my least favorite chore.
5.) Cleaning the kitchen is my favorite chore!
6.) I love diet coke!
7.) I spend too much time reading blogs some times hahaha.
8.) Target is one of my favorite places.
9.) Organizing makes me very happy!
10.) I am going to start posting on my blog more regularly!

Thanks again to Sam for the award - check out her site, it's great!

-Griffin

Kitchen Spring Cleaning...Lots of Pictures!

This week is the Heart and Home Challenge over at Our Simple Country Life. Day 1's Assignment was the kitchen. I decided it was time to tackle two projects I had been putting off...under the oven and under the refrigerator!

Here is the oven drawer BEFORE...

And AFTER...

Under the oven BEFORE...(how did all that stuff get there...a shelf?!?!)

And AFTER...

Under the refrigerator...(well, all the stuff that came out from underneath...)

Kitchen sink BEFORE...

Kitchen sink AFTER...(the Crate and Barrel vase was my present to myself for finishing these projects! You can find it HERE)

BEFORE...

AFTER...a well-stocked coffee station!

BEFORE...

AFTER...


Here is my refrigerator...medicine is stored on top in Dollar Tree baskets, and a homemade dry erase board is below.

And on the side, a dry erase schedule board for my daughter (13 months.)

Here is my kitchen command center (has my homemaking binder, my recipe binder, meal planning supplies, post-its, and pens) along with my Scentsy warmer...right now my kitchen smells heavenly...LOVE it!

-Griffin

Outdoor Fun!

Hi everyone!

The past few days we have been having beautiful weather, so I decided to start setting up an outdoor area for us to spend time in. We have an enclosed patio that we have really only been using for grilling. I cleaned it up and was left with this:





The bare bones for something fun I think! The first thing I did was to set up a water play area for Molly. She loves it!





This is a $5.99 tub from Target filled with kitchen tools from the Dollar Tree (a set of measuring cups and spoons, a ladle, a watering can, a strainer, and sponges - 10 for $1!) Stay tuned for more springtime fun!

-Griffin

Time Management

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend! We had a blast making fun of the Oscars - some good moments but not my favorite ever.





Today I thought I would share with you a new technique I have been trying for planning out my days. This has been floating around the blogosphere in different forms and this is my take on it!

Step 1:

Write down the major things to be done in your day. For today mine looks like this:

Morning Routine
Computer Work
Norwex Work (more about this later!)
Molly Playtime
Tot School
Molly Outdoor Time
Teach at Dance Studio
Molly Dentist
Meal Plan
Evening Routine

Step 2:
Assign a time value to each task.

Morning Routine - 30
Computer Work - 60
Norwex Work (more about this later!) - 30
Molly Playtime - 60
Tot School - 30
Molly Outdoor Time - 60
Teach at Dance Studio - 180
Molly Dentist - 90
Weekly Cleaning Task - 30
Meal Plan - 30
Evening Routine - 30

My total time here adds up to 10.5 hours.

Step 3:
Now that you have done this for one particular day, you can make a more generalized daily format.

Morning Routine - 30
Computer Work - 60
Norwex Work (more about this later!) - 30
Molly Playtime - 60
Tot School - 30
Molly Outdoor Time - 60
Time Outside the Home - 180
(For me this includes: teaching at dance studio, doing Norwex parties, taking yoga, etc...)
Errands - 90
Household Management - 60
(This includes all household bills, budgeting, meal planning, deep cleaning, organizing)
Evening Routine - 30

One of the things I enjoy about this way of scheduling is that it gives me structure without a schedule!

How do you manage your daily tasks?

-Griffin

It's a Rainy Day!

It is cold and rainy outside so we are cozy and hunkered down in the playroom.

I have had some time to shop online and found the most awesome iPhone case!





All of their designs are so unique and so functional!!

Get one of your own HERE.
-Griffin