A night out with daddy!

Sometimes I'm not so organised (ok a lot!)
Like booking a ballet concert for my girl to see on the same night as I am working a graveyard shift (so need to rest!)

Sometimes my disorganisation leads to something really special - like last night.

To let mummy sleep (or try to) Daddy took Miss E to her concert.

She was so excited. She got dressed in her prettiest dress ready to suprise daddy.
And she looked beautiful.



I love my man and I love my girl. And I *adore* the daddy he is to her!

I have such special memories of going to see musicals with my dad (when I was much older). I think every girl needs time alone with her daddy.

(and it's kinda nice to see them bonding over something other than footy!)

Arrghhhh! Me hearties!!

Sometimes you just can't be organised because the schools give you one days notice!

Good thing is we have a house full of fabric and we can make a dress up out of almost anything!

I give you Pirate Miss E. She says she is a girly pirate. Doesn't want a scar thank you very much. And says the dolphins will save her if she has to walk the plank.

Oh - and she gets a LOT of fun out of telling me to scrub the poop deck! (what on earth IS that!)

Bath toys ... again!

I hate bath toys. Hate hate hate.

Stupid untidy things that get all mouldy and slimey if you're not careful.

HATE them!

I did a deal with miss e today - I would buy her a set of mermaid bath toys if she got rid of all the gunky yukky ones. Worked ;) Mummy knows her girl!

To make it easier for her to pack them up where they can drain and dry I am trying this bath caddy from the 3M command range.




Just like the hooks, it adhears by tape to the tile, and it pulls off easily if you want to move it. Unlike the hooks it is suitable for wet areas.




So far so good!


Little does she know that any toy that is not put away in the bath is going to become mummy's. Somehow I think that will work when she loses her first mermaid!

Organising Hair accessories

I didn't really have it in me for any big organising jobs this weekend. So instead I did a little job I have been looking forward to doing.

Miss E loves cute things in her hair! And she loves too match.

We decided to bring some order to her many, many hair accessories!

School coloured bands and clips are kept in the bathroom in a small ikea lidded container for ease of use. However, I wanted to make the fun ones easy to see and handy to access.

We used a Small jewellry organiser from the storage section of Big W.



I love the small pockets and that each row is zippable to stop the contents falling out.

And this is a work in progress. It's not finished because Miss E wants to do it herself (and bedtime caught up with her!)

As always, I used the command hooks to hang on the inside of her wardrobe door. I love that I can remove them with no marks or holes in the wall! They are my most favourite thing ever! In fact I think they deserve their own post one day!

Being organised for kids after school activities

Somehow I don't remember being this busy as a kid. At least not at age 5.

Since I often work right up until school pick up time, it is important for me to be ready for any after school activity and not have to run around looking for lost swimmers, goggles, shoes etc.

For each activity Miss E does I have a suitable bag. These hang on the inside of her wardrobe. As soon as she gets home from ballet or swimming, she puts her clothes in the wash and I repack goggles, ballet shoes, hair things etc into the appropriate bag. As soon as the clothes or togs are dry they go back into the bag, and then the bag is rehung in her bedroom.

The night before any activity day, I grab the bag, add a snack and water and put it in the car so we are ready to go.

This works really well for us, and saves that last minute scrambling for a forgotten item (or two!)

A clear cut sign the girl has far too many clothes

Before (and that is just one drawer!)




After

Most of her clothes are hanging (and we know she will mainly wear dresses in summer)





We've cut her other clothes down to three skirts, some tshirts, leggings and a couple of pairs of pants.




And we do not need jammies! Some how she has 7 pairs of new or almost new jammies for summer!

Even though we have packed away two bags of too small clothes, and two bags for charity, I still feel these are too many clothes for a girl who is at school 7 days a week. I guess there are 8 weeks of school holidays in December/January ... she might need a few more then...

Getting rid of so much stuff should make it much easier for her to handle tho!

Super organisational FAIL!

I normally do so well.

Got Miss E to school this morning, and just as we drove in, she said "Why is she in normal dress?"

Then my heart sinks. Jeans for Genes day. Free dress. UGH.

I am so lucky I live in a small town. In Brisbane I would have just been the forgetful bad mum.

SO in the car, and home again, change, and back again. One happy girl, but one very flustered mummy. Not how I need to start my day.

I have a diary. It usually works. But this didn't. I feel like I need a more in my face solution than my diary for school things .... and a way to sync it with Paul.

Just not sure what.

Shout out to READING EGGS! - Things I LOVE

We LOVE love LOVE !reading eggs!
This is an online program of games, phonics learning, sight words and FUN for ages 4-8.
Miss E loves it - and is on the last map. My school teacher sister loves it too.

Reading eggs rocks and really has helped my girl be a better reader!

Right now the annual "Great literacy challenge" is on, and you can try FIVE weeks reading eggs for free! No credit card needed to register.

I really recommend it - give it a go!

(and how does this relate to organising? Well - miss e is allowed a game a day ... and while she is playing it I am attacking our clutter box of a garage/office

Train up a child .... or is it bribery works???

I think I learnt this from my mum and dad. I know like any kid I hated it at the time - but like many things, now I am a mummy I understand!!!

If you live in this house - everyone helps.

We have practised this ever since miss E was little. Even an 18mth old can help wipe cabinets down (vinegar and a cloth is a safe cleaning agent that any child can use!)

Most jobs are done because you are part of the family. The end. Just the way it is.

But I must admit I am not beyond a reward for certain jobs that I really want a hand with! And the great thing is, since we have stopped paying for rides etc when we go to the family events around home, Miss E loves money too. She saves and saves and thinks so carefully before she spends. (Maybe there is more than one lesson in this :)

Creating a family room (playroom)

I could never really justify a playroom. With just one child it seemed so excessive.

But then more playdates started happening, and I hated it when they locked themselves away in the bedroom.

And the bedroom was SUCH a disaster!

Then she would want to play NEAR us so during the course of the day every toy would end up in the lounge room and THAT would become a disaster zone.

And then the family room just annoyed me every day - it was the layout I hated. It was a room with a heap of stuff in it and no real function.

So we decided to make a change. It is not a "playroom" as such, it is more a family room. A space to play, watch tv and movies, for the playstation and board game storage.

Besides the fact that Miss E actually plays in this room instead of all over the house, it has the benefit that I can re-sort and tidy at night while I watch tv.

No before pics - I just didn't think of it. But here are a few of our work in progresses.


Board game storage



These are stored in a large timber chest that my dad and I picked up from a garage sale, and my mum restored. I love it. It keeps them all hidden, but there is room for our huge collection of games





Our calendar, and learning to tell the time clock.

(This is a great clock! It has the "to's" and the "pasts" the hours marked on it.) (and it is coming up in this weeks Aldi catalogue for anyone interested)






Our books (these are still getting sorted so could be a little tidier yet!)


The books are in an ikea Expedit unit that was in Miss E's room housing toys. We have repurposed it as a bookshelf and each "section" houses a specific type of book(eg readers, chapter books, information books, stories, books about fairies!)




Our toys - this is the larger ikea Expedit unit.

I love these units for organising toys, and they aren't childish so we will be able to use them as Miss E grows.
There will be labels made for all these sections soon, to help my little reader learn more words, but also find things.




The pink and green baskets were a fantastic target bargain. They were over $12 each. I got them for $2.87. *must go see if they have more!*






The large boxes down the back were previously in use in Miss E's bedroom. They are from Ikea as well.





Our Rosie cottage and doll corner






Doll houses on top of the bookshelf where Miss E can reach them. (this will swap around at times - it might be lego, the farm set, ... who knows!)




So that's about it. There is a tv corner but I need to do a makeover there. Will post before and afters when I work out what I am doing!

Anyone want to come play??

Back to my regular blogging

OK - things have been SLOW on the blogging/organising front.

I think my excuse is a good one. The last month has been full of school holidays, the end of my nursing course and a lot of doctors visits (nothing wrong - don't worry!)

But I can feel myself coming up for air!

This weekend has been spent rearranging three rooms in our home. We have created a playroom, removed all toys and books from the bedroom/hallway, and are pretty happy with the results.

Miss E seems to love it and I do too.

Pics will come as soon as I've had a chance to vacuum - but for now we are off on a family adventure!

I love a rainy day ...

Nothing better than staying home while it pours outside and pottering in my home.



First job today -to tackle Miss E's overwhelmingly full drawers! In my defence- they were done a few months ago - but changes in seasons brings a whole new wardrobe ... + hand me downs are wonderful but they increase the clutter too!

BEFORE




AFTER




and the smaller sizes to put away *just in case*


Plus a whole garbage bag for lifeline.

What I hadn't realised was how many of her clothes are too short for her. Thank goodness she is in uniform 5 days a week! But I do think I need to get her a couple of tracksuits and a few skivvies to get us through winter!

How to organise ... colouring supplies

The question was asked of me yesterday - how do I organise colouring supplies?

The bulk of our supplies are in my craft cupboard away from busy hands. Miss 5 is allowed to access them, but by being packed away I find she tends to only look when she needs something - and I don't end up with supplies from one side of the house to the other!

Until recently I had a basket of supplies in the kitchen. But now Miss E is at school and a BIG girl she loves to do colouring and practise her handwriting skills independantly.

I have set up a small ikea table in our lounge room. Under this is a basket which contains all our current colouring books. On top she has a metal bucket (which is divided into sections) that houses all her pens, pencils, scissors etc. (this was from Spotlight) There is also a small plastic basket with the craft supply of the moment - right now she is into stamping to decorate her work.

None of this cost money - it was all about the house already and has been repurposed.

We have found since she has had her own space, her supplies are tidier and her work much more contained.

Overheard from the naughty spot last night ...

"If you don't let me out I won't let you be my mummy and daddy anymore and I will go to Caleb's house RIGHT NOW and marry him and then I will live with him and be MARRIED. SO let me OUT."

Blessed ...

I hope your Mother's Day was a blessed one.
What more can I ask for? Dinner cooked, new cuddly pj's, a new cookbook to drool over ... and more cuddles and love than a mama could ask for.

I don't forget where I have been. But I REJOICE in where I am now!
Blessed to be called Mama. Mummy. Mum. Sweetest name of all.

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

This is my Mother's Day Gift that Miss E made at school.
I think her teacher has all us mum's pegged.

I'm working this morning - and blessed to be spending my day serving 40 odd women who are amazing mum's on their special day.

But in the afternoon ... I am so looking forward to some kisses, cuddles and maybe even some "mummy time"

My wish for you all is you get a lot of love and a little time out today.
Being a mum is a tough job. But I love love love it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Birthday gifts don't need to be big ... or expensive

One of the favourite gifts we gave Miss E for her birthday was a dressup box. I went op shopping and to the $2 shops and bought a heap of "accessories". Necklaces, fake flowers, beanies, shoes ... just stuff to dress up in.

It has been the best fun! Great entertainment for the girls at her party ... and occupied her over and over again.

And the best thing about it is the outfits she creates! Just like THIS one! Stylish? No??!

Of course I forgot ...

forgot to take a photo of our super girly birthday dressup tent!

but let's just say sheer curtains and lots of them, blankets, ribbons, flag banners, balloons makes the perfect girly place to escape from all those BOYS!

Miss E turned five today.
I could not be prouder.
She was royally celebrated and had a wonderful day.
And today I got a glimpse into the beautiful young lady she is becoming ... she was a kind, loving and gracious hostess and made me proud.

So - to leave you ... here are a few of the photos I DID remember to take!

It's not perfect ....

I'm still learning.

BUT I know a certain little FIVE TOMORROW girl who will love it.



I'm wondering though - does the day come when I get to choose her cake? This thing took close to two hours. Maybe more. And that was JUST to decorate it! Good thing birthdays come but once a year!

Things I love! My cupcake carrier

On Monday Miss E is FIVE! Since Monday is a public holiday - she celebrated at school on Friday.

CUPCAKES!!!



Sometimes it is worth investing in items that only have one use. Normally, something large like this cupcake carrier would not stay in my home - especially since it doesn't have multiple uses.

But with school celebrations, and the ease this carrier makes taking cupcakes to school/parties/the park etc it has been an excellent investment! Best thing was it was only $10 at coles/bilo.




And cupcakes are great for school celebrations. No need for a knife, no need for plates and easy for the teacher to serve and distribute.

I have my recipe down pat now. These are a celebration staple around here!