8.09.2018

Lockers {here we come}!

How in the world do I have a daughter starting 5th grade this year?!  Where did the time go?  It seems like just yesterday she was starting Preschool!  Well ready or not, 5th grade here she comes!  AND she has a locker!  


New school building, locker, lots more students....so many changes this year!  One thing the school lets you do is come in the week before school starts and check out your locker, try the combination and find your classroom.  So off we went!  


You know if you have a locker you have to decorate it, right?!  {I guess you really don't have too, but my girl sure couldn't wait to personalize her space.}  We started with a locker set that included a pencil holder, dry erase board and mirror.  The color was light pink, so we went from there with other decor.   


You are discouraged from using any tape in your locker, so we made sure everything was magnetic. We got a variety that were decorative, some food themed and a couple magnetic clips.  We also found some magnetic polaroid outlines that you could add pictures inside.  So G picked out what photos she wanted to display in them.  Then we added some cute cards with sayings and bible verses on them. 

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Proverbs 4:13



One thing we created for the locker was a cute banner.  To do this we just tied some twine to each of the magnetic clips and then added some washi tape wrapped over and cut into banners.  This was so simple and adds such a cute touch to the top of her locker!


Last thing we added was a shelf in the bottom to utilize that space better.  This sure was a pain to get in!  Another mom was nice enough to help me, as I was getting frustrated!  LOL!  


Just about any place you buy your school supplies will have decorations and organization for your locker.  We shopped at Walmart, Meijer and Five Below.  Target and Dollar Tree had some fun items as well.  Don't feel like you have to spend lots of money on locker decor.  Use what you have and get creative!  Planning ahead is always a way to save money too.  Watch end of seasons when things start to get marked on clearance.  That's when we picked up her pink dry erase board and mirror set!


She has gotten lots of practice opening her locker and is ready to begin a new adventure!

8.05.2018

Back to school organization...

We recently redid Little Bits room and made it more grown up!  She is going into 5th grade this year and I can't believe it!  Where does the time go?!  Well, remember the homework area from this post?  She's quite outgrown the little table, so we moved it out and moved the whiteboard into her room.  


She now has a place to keep track of her weekly schedule, homework, bus times, etc.  She really loves having her own space to display postcards and artwork.  The whiteboard is also great for working out math problems, practicing writing, etc.  


She has loved keeping track of her weekly schedule this summer on a dry erase calendar I made using an Erin Condren "Oh What a Week" tear off sheet.  She can write down what we've got going each day, so she knows what to plan for.  She also will be able to keep track of what she has each day once school starts. 


We also created a shelf in my office with all kinds of writing materials and a clipboard.  She loves to grab the clipboard and a pen or pencil to work on her homework.  She can sit on the couch, floor, dining room table or in her underbed fort in her room! 

I love that as Little Bit gets older we can adapt our homework and organization system to what works best for her.  What are you doing to get ready for back to school at your house?

7.27.2018

Big things in a small town...{day trip}

Summer is flying by and we wanted to take a quick family trip before the back to school busyness begins.  We had heard about a place not far from us that had some of the world's largest roadside attractions so we decided to check it out!  Casey, IL is just over 2 hours east of Springfield.  Big things in a small town is the tagline of this quaint little place.


We got into town around lunch and headed straight for Richards Farms to eat.  It is a classic American style restaurant in an old 1930's barn.  They offer a hot bar filled with mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, mac & cheese, fish cakes, BBQ pork, fried chicken, chicken livers, bread pudding, apple crisp, etc.  Plus they have a salad bar, bread station and a variety of soups.  You can also order off the menu.  The food was wonderful, especially the homemade bread!  They had whipped butter, cinnamon/sugar butter, apple butter and strawberry spread toppings to choose from.  After eating you can walk around the grounds, explore the flower gardens, see the chickens and goats out back and view the world's largest pitchfork!


Most of the world's largest items are right along Main Street in downtown Casey.  You can park and walk up and down the street, viewing the large attractions and stopping in the unique and interesting shops.  Our favorite was the world's largest mailbox!  You could actually walk up inside of it.  The red flag even rises when letters are submitted! 


If you walk back behind the mailbox, you can see the world's largest wooden shoes inside the Casey Candy Depot.  Pick up a sweet treat after you view this fun attraction!  There is also an ice cream shop beside the mailbox if you'd like to satisfy your sweets craving with that instead.  ;)


Just down the street you can view the world's largest wind chime and rocking chair.  They are also working on more items and getting them world record certified.  There is a teeter totter currently being built across from the wind chime. 


There are also other large items throughout the town that aren't necessarily world's largest but just big!  My favorite was this giant pencil!  I love writing utensils, so of course I was getting a pic! 


My daughter loved the large bird cage.  You could open the door, go in, and swing on the perch!  We loved all the interactive elements of these attractions. 


We thoroughly enjoyed this day trip over to Casey and would recommend checking it out for yourself.  Or if you aren't near Illinois,  I encourage you to research your area and discover an interesting place within a few hours and plan a visit!  

1.15.2018

2018 planner

It's 2018...time to get yourself organized!  Who out there is a planner girl?!  I am, I am!!!  I am enjoying keeping myself and my family organized in an Erin Condren Life Planner.  People ask, "Why do you use a paper planner?  Especially when you have an electronic calendar on your phone!"  I do use my phone calendar because my husband and I can share events but I also keep a paper planner. 


Here are 3 reasons why I love planning...

I like writing things down.  Pen and paper is my jam!  I have loved pen, pencils and notebooks for as long as I can remember.  Having dates and events in my phone is nice but the act of writing them down helps me remember what I have going on each week.

I love the creative outlet is gives me.  I am a papercrafter but don't always have time to do it on a regular basis.  Writing in and decorating my planner gives me that creative outlet on a weekly basis.

I like being able to keep track of memories for my scrapbooking.  Writing down events, activities and family memories in my planner gives me something to reference when I get around to scrapbooking them.

Are you interested in ordering an Erin Condren Life Planner for yourself?  If so you can save $10 by clicking here!  Already have an Erin Condren Life Planner but need some accountability when it comes to using your planner to the fullest?  Join our Simple Organized Erin Condren Planner Group on Facebook.

Happy Planning!!!