Spring Cleaning Anyone?

One of my big pet peeves if having stuff we don't use. Especially, stuff we don't use that I don't know what to do with it. With Spring just around the corner, I thought I'd offer some inspiration in case you were planning some Spring Cleaning! First, (idea from Martha Stewart) you can take basic metal boards and wrap with you desired fabric. Then, attach to the walls. Instant magnetic message board! Here are the detailed directions. Second, these basic colored bins can be used anywhere in the house. You can organize sewing supplies, toys, electronics, or even dried food goods in these if you have a walk in pantry! If you are helping teaching small children to help clean up, place pictures on the outside/bottom of the bin so they can tell what goes in what bin! Third, an electronic docking station can help you stay organized with your electronics. It holds your electronics on top and cords in a small compartment in the back. You cords "run" through the top and allow you to plug in your electronics! I got Daniel one for Christmas, and he really enjoys it! Fourth, a house-hold binder helps you keep everything in order from birth certificates to financial documents. Be sure to keep it in a safe place though for your security. You can print forms and get more helpful hints on Tip Junkie. Finally, (my favorite of all!) you can make personalized tote bags to organize specific items! This would be adorable to organize clothes for each day of the week. Each tote bag would hold everything you need for that day. A great way to help small children be able to "independently" get ready for school or church if you have your hands full in the morning time! I think I am going to use this idea to organize scrapbooking supplies. Each bag could hold a page's elements or an entire scrapbook's supplies. It would be super simple to carry your supplies to and from and easy to clean up! Don't forget some adorable hooks to hang your personalized tote bags on!

Photos from/property of MarthaStewart.com and TipJunkie.blogspot.com

Ah hah... creative ingeniousness...

I have a terrible time keeping up with everyone's birthday in our (Courington) family. So, I found this adorable idea on a crafty website. It's a birthday calendar that is timeless; you don't have to change it from year to year! Write each month on the piece of wood and on each star (or whatever shape you choose) write the date and name of whose birthday it is under each month!!

My Idea: Put pictures on the shapes instead of names and it could serve a dual purpose! A birthday reminder chart and a great place to teach a child family members names!! A cheap alternative would be to do it on a posterboard and let a child decorate it; then, laminate i t!!

Source: http://lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com/ (They will make it for you if you would like!!)

All is well..

We made it to Gatlinburg safely. We're having a blast, of course! I can't complain I've eaten out twice and heard a great lesson already! Doesn't get much better than that! We are resuming in the morning at 8:30 "georgia time" and 7:30 AL time. So, to bed I head! Take care and much love to everyone!

PS I even got some Christmas shopping done for the young'ns. NOT BAD for February 22nd!!

Challenge Youth Conference 2008

This weekend we are going to Gatlinburg for CYC. This will be our second year to attend this event. You can listen live here! Also, they have their devotionals in PDF format. Alex will be there; so, I'm looking forward to seeing him some this weekend!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Survey in Words...

I took a survey not to long ago with pictures. Now, I want to elaborate with words so you get to know me a little better!!

1. I turned 22 on February 9th!
2. I cannot wait to travel to NYC. It's been a dream of mine for quite some time. I've actually saved about $500 to put toward our trip already!!
3. My favorite place is at home with my hubby!!
4. My favorite thing to do is smile, laugh, or have a good time.
5. My favorite food/candy is a caramel apple from Gatlinburg! I'll get one SOON!!
6. My favorite animal is a puppy dog! (All dogs are "puppies" to me!!)
7. My favorite color is red. There is red in almost every room at our house!
8. I was born in Gadsden, AL.
9. I currently reside in Glencoe, AL. (Same thing as Gadsden. One side of the road is Glencoe the other is Gadsden.)
10. A longgg time ago I had a dog named Prince.
11. My husband's name is Daniel! (Big suprise, huh?)
12. My nickname is FHUbabe. (See blogger address.)
13. My middle name is Minnette. Definitely a unique name! Sometimes I forget how to spell it because I never write it down anymore. My mom is the only other Minnette I know.
14. A "bad habbit" of mine is sleeping late!! It's only a bad habbit when I need to get up early the next morning!
15. My first job was teaching the Talented and Gifted Students of Blount County Schools! I basically taught the smart kids. It was the best first job ever!
16. My grandmother's name was Edna.
17. My favorite song of all time is "Born to Fly" by Sara Evans.

The little things I look forward to in the future...

The little things that I look forward to in life...
I dream about the day I am able to stay home with my beautiful children and can cook supper for Daniel and be a wonderful house wife. I long to be able to go grocery shopping and clean the house for him. I look forward to the day our house is truly ours, that we no longer owe the bank a monthly mortgage payment. I look forward to seeing new things (outside of the southeastern USA) with Daniel (even our children). I cannot wait to have an "argument or discussion" about whether our child can have coke or chips rather than milk or fruit. I look forward to someday going to pick out tile to replace our current harvest yellow and avocado green tile in our bathrooms. I look forward to rearranging our furniture ten more times in the upcoming years.

Favorite Game Console

Favorite Game Console Xbox 360 Playstation 3 Wii Original Xbox Playstation 1 Playstation 2 Super Nintendo Nintendo Other

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This article says that the Wii will soon displace the Xbox 360

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Part 2)

10. The name of a past pet:

11. The name of your current or past boyfriend/girlfriend:

12. Your nickname/screen name:

13. Your middle name:

14. A bad habit of yours:

15. Your first job:

16. Your grandmother's name: 17. Your favorite song:

A picture is worth a thousand words (Part I)

1. The age you will be on your next birthday? TOMORROW!2. A place you would like to travel?

3. Your favorite place:4. Your favorite thing to do:

5. Your favorite food/candy:

6. Your favorite animal:

7. Your favorite color:

8. The town in which you were born:

9. The town in which you live:

The small things...

As Valentine's Day fast approaches, I think about all the small things people have done for me over the years to show me they care.

Valentine's Day is all about showing not only that special someone you care, but other people that are also close to you. I enjoy this day because of the "giddy" feeling that comes along with it.

I've also always been a BIG fan of care packages and think they send a special message of love. However, I've learned that I can't make enough care packages to send to EVERYONE I love and admire. Therefore, handmand cards have become a favorite of mine!

I just wanted to share a cute and quick idea for making your own cards!! To see how to make doily cards, click here!!

Other great Valentine Craft Ideas

Photo © 2008 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Work for Extra Credit?

I was surfing the internet looking for activities to do with my Pre-Algebra class. I found an article about extra credit work. Rather than giving an assignment, students have jobs in the classroom and their pay is extra credit points! They even have to apply for the jobs by filling out an application!

Here is the list of jobs.

Would this have encouraged you to act better in class when you were younger? Let me know what you think.

I thought about trying it with my kids (with different jobs of course).