My kids changed schools this year, and that means they no longer have a dress code. One of my selling points for the new school was that my sons could wear T-shirts and sweat pants every day—and after spending their entire school career in polos and khakis, they are reveling in the pure enjoyment of casual wear. Sweatpants are wonderful things. They are soft and warm and don’t need ironing. Sweats are so delightful that you can sleep in them quite happily. Which my children do. … [Read more...]
Our New System for Mail & Family Documents
Need a tried-and-true plan for managing all that paperwork that comes in and out of your house, as well as docs you need to keep on hand? This pretty little box came from Target and has made it's home on our entry table for the last few months. It's done wonders in eliminating unsightly paper piles around our abode. Let's take a peak under the hood, shall we? … [Read more...]
Your Entire Family’s Schedule, All in One Place
photo credit: Johan Larsson I've got something both fun and incredibly useful for you guys today. The lovely Carley from Digitwirl has kindly agreed to stop by and give us a break down of the best apps out there for managing your whole family's schedule in one place. Is that just what we need to start our POYEL new year off right, or what? In case you're not familiar with Digitwirl, it's a gem of a site in-which Carley schools busy folks like us on how to use killer tech tools that … [Read more...]
How to Make Removable Wall Paper
My friend Allyson from Day to Day Wonderments recently completed a project that was just too good not to share! She, like many of us, is a renter and not allowed to change the paint color or wallpaper her home. But she LOVES the look of wallpaper, don't we all? Enter a creative solution to an annoying problem. Allyson created fabric to look like wallpaper and starched it to her wall. Once they move, all they have to do is wet the walls and peel it off without doing any damage to the wall or … [Read more...]
Announcing the Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life eBook!
I'm overjoyed to announce today what I've been dying to share with you guys for quite a while now - POYEL has an eBook in the works! The Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life series has grown more than I could have ever anticipated over the last 8 months. As amazing as it's been, I've started to feel like there's an essential piece missing. Now that POYEL has amassed a significant number of posts, I get the same question again and again from new members, "Where do I Start?". So I decided to … [Read more...]
Two Dinners from One Tasty Crockpot
Any recipe that starts with the words “double duty” has to be good, right? We are all looking for a few recipes that cut down on our time in the kitchen. I’m excited to say I’ve developed a slow cooker recipe that provides you with not one, but two flavorful meals. Jackpot! If you are already a fan of Thai food, you’re going to love this double duty dinner. If you’re a little timid when it comes to trying new things, I encourage you to give Thai food a try. These meals are flavorful, but not … [Read more...]
Easy Entertaining Idea: Pretty Fridge Storage
Summer is coming to a close but, for many, entertaining season lasts far beyond backyard barbecues and patio margaritas. While we don't host dinner parties regularly, my husband and I do like to invite friends and coworkers over for a casual drink and some snacks on a whim. When we host an impromptu get together, I find myself buzzing around the kitchen trying to make the hodgepodge of items in our fridge into something presentable. This usually means taking out my dips du jour from the fridge … [Read more...]
No More Nagging for Something to Drink
Being a parent is a test of efficiency. It reminds of waiting tables many years ago. You have a million things to accomplish in about 10 minutes and impatient customers will let you know how you're measuring up on the job. Except now days you're serving kids, and sometimes they can be a teeny bit impatient and you may hear a lot of, "Mom, I'm thirsty", "Mom, can I have a drink of water?", "Mooooom!". This summer, I tried putting a water jug outside with cups for the kids to … [Read more...]
The Many Benefits of Family Camping
I love this picture. At first glance, it looks like C is pouting a bit. But further inspection reveals he's actually softly smiling to himself. Content just to be surrounded by nature, doing nothing more than breathing in the mountain air. The family and I have been doing more than our fair share of camping lately and this photo reflects exactly why I've fallen in love with our weekends away. The great outdoors has exactly the same effect on me as it does on my … [Read more...]