This is a D-I-Y spice rack that I LOVE! I went on-line looking for a tiered rack that could be expanded, or modified to hold my spices inside the cupboard. After looking for two hours finding nothing, I finally got out my pencil and paper and designed one that, while not pretty is exactly what I was looking for and cost me $3 in materials.

Here’s how I did it:
I got 3 1×2” boards (8 feet in length) and get them cut into 24” pieces. I then stacked them (no glue, no nails) three high in the back. For the next row, I stacked 2, the next 1, and the bottom row was flush with the base of the cabinet. It was a little difficult getting the back spices out without knocking some over, so I ended up doubling each row up. But what I ended up with was exactly what I was looking for, a tiered, modifiable spice rack. The fact that it was so inexpensive made me all the more excited! (As I was doing this on a Saturday night, I was mocked mercilessly from my husband – but every time I look in the cupboard, it makes me smile that I am such a nerd!!)

***Click to see more pictures of this DIY project (more…)

I love this Quick Tip – I got the idea from my sister.

Put a clear plastic sheet over your nice expensive tablecloth. I love it! It looks about a million times better than vinyl but has the same functionality (plus easy cleanup). It is also great that you can pull the plastic off in a flash if guests are coming over and have a beautiful, crisp non-wrinkled tablecloth on the table.

*Hint: The best way to store table cloths once cleaned and pressed, is with minimal folds and hung over a (non-wire) hanger and stored in a closet. For the most part, they look great just pulled off the hanger and laid on the table.

I recently went to a parenting night held by our local school board. It was called “Raising Children of Character: 10 Principles” by Dr. Thomas Lickona and it was absolutely outstanding!! If you have kids, I highly recommend checking out some of his books, or his website as they are FILLED with amazing parenting advice. This leads me to one of his points about character building through hard work. Now we are back to ORGANIZING!! Dr. Lickona recommended that each child in the house works, independent of any monetary reward (allowance), are to do one chore per year of age. I thought this was fantastic and the perfect way of teaching the kids to help around the house, as well as helping me let go! I could pick things that wouldn’t take very long and that I was confident they could do well enough that I could live with it!

I spent some time today making a chore chart for my kids and bought 1000 stickers at the dollar store last night so we should be all set. While I was at it, I made a list of most of things I also need to make sure I am doing on a daily basis, and funny enough, there were just as many things on my list as how old I am!! I can’t wait to get the kids started on their own habits tomorrow, as well as remembering all the things I want to do in the order in which they need to be done! I hope you take the time to look at Dr. Lickona’s site, or just make a chore chart for yourself (no stickers needed for you unless you really, really want them!), for your kids. You will soon all be working together for the goal of a tidy house while teaching your kids some great principles while you are at it. WIN WIN!! Good luck.

Additionally here is a site that offers examples of age appropriate chores to help spark your chore chart mania:  Ideas for age appropriate chores

A dream of mine would be to inspire each of you to keep the bulk of your children’s toys out of their bedroom. To a few of our readers this may sound a bit backwards, and of course I understand it may not work if you don’t have a family room or basement, however for the rest of us the idea has a lot of merit for a number of reasons:

1. The first reason is that it keeps your little ones bedroom as a good place for a time-out. If there are tempting toys in there, your child’s room doesn’t make a time-out effective, it’s just way too fun in there!
2. It designates their room a place to sleep, calm, and read (isn’t that what bedrooms are for?)
3. Can’t help but keep the bedroom tidy and uncluttered.
4. Helps to encourage your children to play together outside of their bedroom – they then have to be in the same room together, and I believe that this helps foster little relationships.
5. (This is the most important one) It helps you keep an eye on your kids so that they don’t get into trouble!

Some children need a few comfort toys in their rooms and that is definitely ok, but try to keep the toy clutter it to a minimum. It will save your sanity. Your life of keeping things organized, and your children’s space staying tidy will get a lot easier.

While this may not be up everybody’s alley, I always look forward to spring & getting a garden in! My husband grew up in a house where his mom made him help plant their garden and consequently, he knows what he is doing. My experience in a garden is eating fresh peas… and that is ALWAYS fun! Unfortunately for me this year, Paul is right in the middle of preparing for some large exams and so if I want a garden, it is up to me!

Accepting the challenge, I have decided to roll up my sleeves and dig in. So the task for this Friday is to think about the potential for a garden where you live. We all know there is nothing better than fresh veggies, so even if your garden is a planter on the balcony with tomatoes - plan for it!! Today is the day to think about why you might like a garden, what you LOVE to eat, how much you want of it… For those who are more experienced - you can try to plan growing durations and various shade plants… all too overwhelming for me this year… but maybe next year! I can’t wait to plan my garden and know that this year, it will all be the fruits (ok - veggies only in this Northern climate) of my labour! I will definitely be enlisting the help of my soon to be six year old as well. Hopefully, by the time he is an adult, he will be more garden savvy than his mom! Happy planning!