Let's get organized

Happy fall!!! This is my favorite season. Warm drinks, cool air, soup, knitting...some of my favorite things. I also seem to get in a organization mood in the beginning of each season. 

I do not know about you but I just hate paper flow of disorganization!  I have tried many different system. Now that my daughter is in school, we get so many paper items. So I decided to try a new system. I love it so far, I have NO loose papers on my counter any longer.  I modeled off of this great post from the nest effect: http://www.thenesteffect.com/2011/10/october-project-conquer-paper-clutter.html

Here is what you need 

File folder box

hanging file folders

Print out of your monthly night time activities/tape

folders

Pouch

Super simple. Just make your tabs...if your interested in my tabs they:

Incoming mail

Outgoing mail

To file

Bills

reciepts

coupons

Grocery ads

recipes

Family members names

School work

Church/faith

After I made my tabs, I printed out a calendar on Word just putting in our monthly night time/weekend plans.  I taped the plans to my box, so it is easily seen by all.

Next for my coupons I used 2 folder. I use to coupon a lot more then I do now. But I still like to keep/use the ones I get. I put both folders inside the hanging coupon folder for easy access.

In one folder it is for retail stores. One side is for FREE items/rewards/vouchers and the other side is for any coupons I get in the mail.

the next folder is for resturants/actitivy coupons

-one on each side.

Lastly I put a pouch in for loose coupons, I use to be way more into couponing....now i just have a few here and there I do not want to loose. 

DIY hand painted sign

I have been wanting to make a DIY painted sign for years! Not sure why it took so long...must be the little ones running around and sheer exhaustion during nap time with lack of sleep. But I finally got the chance. This is a super easy project and may even go on my wish to sell one of these days when I get myself together and get a etsy shop going....Anyway here is the how too...

Need:

Long Board, this one was about eight feet (really whatever size thin board that will fit your space, it was bought at home depot)

White or off white paint

Paint markers, I used black

Print out in the type of font/size you want (I just made in on word)

Scissors

Pen or Pencil

Steady hand

backing (bought at home depot)

The process:

1.Paint board the color you would like.

2. Let dry completely (couple hours..great time to have a warm drink and grab some quiet time)

3. print out your saying mine says "In Christ alone my hope is found"

4. Tape saying to board

5. Trace works hard with pen/pencil to get a indentation

6. in GREAT light (and in my case without my 2 year old around, he would definitely want to grab everything) use your markers to color the words in carefully

7. put a backing on the board

8. hang it up and admire your great work

painting my board

Paper taped to my board

all done on..great to move inside on a table to paint the words..make sure you have AMAZING lighting for this project...good sunny day

Calling All Pickle Lovers: Refrigerator Pickles

A few years back I made some awesome pickles while my daughter was in school. She has been wanting to make pickles with me for quite some time. This past weekend we finally had a mommy/daughter date and made pickles. I made them a bit differently..so we made DELICIOUS refrigerator pickles. I did it this way is because I didn't trust that my 6 year old would not contaminate the jars and I thought 3-6 months might be a long time for her to wait to try them out. Honestly I love these better then the ones I made with the whole canning processes.

Here is the recipe I used... I adapted it from: redefined mom

Ingredients:

pickle cucumbers, the little guys (I had about 4 pounds for 8 jars)

Seasonings: (to put in each jar)

ground pepper- about a teaspoon (eye ball it)
dash of red pepper depending on the heat you want
Fresh dill, big pinch for each jar
fresh minced garlic depending on how many you make about 1/2 clove per jar

Brine: (makes 6-8 jars)

6 tablespoons Kosher Salt
4 Tablespoons  Sugar
2.5 cups distilled white vinegar.
4 cups cold water

The process:

1. cut pickle cucumbers how you like pickles. We did spears.
2. add seasonings above to each jar
3. make brine by first combining all brine ingredients except the water
4. stir the brine until sugar/salt  is dissolved
5. add water, give it a few stirs
6. pour into jars
7. close jars, shake them a bit (after closed of course)
8. put in fridge for about 24 hours
9. keep refrigerated





They stay good up to 1 month. These are so good I doubt they will make 2 weeks in my house.

Enjoy!!!