Snack Bento Boxes for Kids

Summer is here, which in my house means a constant chorus of "Can I have a snack??"  It seems like every time I turn around my son is telling me he is hungry.  After awhile I run out of ideas to offer him.  I finally had an aha moment today and I think it may just save my sanity and his.

Ready-to-Eat Snack Bento Boxes

I made one "cold" box and one "hot" to be kept in the pantry and refrigerator.

I keep them low on a shelf where my son can help himself.

I explained that these are snacks he can choose from when he is hungry.

He can have 1 of anything in the box as long as he has asked permission.

This saves me from having to think up a snack on the spot and he is excited to be able to choose from a variety of foods.

Here is what I included in the "cold" box:

• plums (already washed)
• grapes (washed in individual bags)
• mozzarella cheese sticks
• cheddar cheese cubes
• yogurt

Here is what I included in the "hot" box:

• reduced fat Cheez-its (in individual bags)
• Honey Teddy Grahams (in individual bags)
• raisins (snack boxes)
• fruit leathers
• granola bars
• popcorn
• peanut butter crackers

Have you come up with any simple, sanity-saving, ideas lately??

Join Me, Won't You?

There is strength in numbers, right?  I need some serious motivation to get my baby books under control.  I am one of those moms who has kept journals for each of my kids.  I always start one as soon as I get pregnant and continue it as they grow.  I chose to do journals because I like to to write all the details to capture what I was feeling and all the aspects of their developing personalities.  I write their journals in almost a letter-form in the hopes that they will one day read them.  Maybe they will toss them and not give a flip but I will treasure them forever.

As with most things, the journals have started to go unnoticed the older my kids get.  I used to write in the journal once-a-week for my oldest son and now I am lucky if I get a chance to write in my younger son's once-a-month.  As for baby #3...I haven't even bought a journal!!  This is a habit that I really want to keep up and I need some help.  The best plan I can think of is to have a set day once a week to jot things down.  I know that sounds too frequent but I have found that if I only do it once a month I wind up forgetting things or get too busy.  Doing it weekly will allow me to just write down little chunks of information and will hopefully keep things manageable.

I am choosing Sundays as my journal days.  I will mark it on my calendar to really make it feel like an obligation and then find a chunk of time each Sunday to write down a few things.  I like to keep it pretty simple...what they are doing these days, funny things they have said, their favorite foods, and any major events that have happened (i.e. first steps, lost tooth, last day of preschool, etc.)  And just so you know, I have used the same journal for my oldest since I was pregnant and I am barely half-way through it.  I write 1-1.5 pages on average and he is 5 years-old.  That should give you an idea of how long a journal will last.

So, who is with me?!?  Let's rally and get these baby book sunder control.  Sundays it is!

ps...Once I have this little schedule under way I will be tackling the big daddy...pictures!  I get queasy just thinking about all the downloading, uploading, organizing, and ordering that it is going to require but I am determined to tackle it this summer!

Are you a lefty or a righty?

When organizing or decorating it is important to know your personality.  This helps you find a style that works for you.  If a system or decor does not flow with your personality type chances are it won't last or you'll end up hating it.  Take this quiz from Real Simple magazine to see if you are a left-brainer or a right-brainer.  This should get you one step closer to a more appealing home.  *Click on the picture for a larger, easier-to-read version.

DIY: Bulletin Board

Since Thursday is my free-for-all day I wanted to switch gears a little bit.  This week I have been trying to pass along some tips for getting organized and I hope that you all are starting to make some changes.  By doing so you will make your days run smoother and will hopefully teach your kids some healthy habits.  

Make this calendar during the 2 hour delay...

Here's a project that you could work on with the kids while they are home for the 97th 4th morning in a row.  It comes from good ole Martha and looks pretty simple.  *Click on the picture and it will bring up a larger version that is easier to read.

Organizing in the New Year

This week we are going to start to tackle my very favorite resolution: ORGANIZATION!  If I had to list my hobbies organizing would be one of them.  For me it is therapy.  My life can be chaotic with 2 kids so small things like, an organized utensil drawer or a color coded closet makes me feel a little more in control.  I also just love to look at things when they are in bins, baskets, and compartments.  Throw in some labels and I am smitten!
*I will be adding organization projects to this post as the week progresses so look out of more tips!