Comments on: The Silly Box and the Bag o’ Fun - good tips from smart moms http://www.rachaelray.com/blogs/index.php/2009/11/03/the-silly-box-and-the-bag-o-fun-good-tips-from-smart-moms/ Blogs from Rachael Ray and her friends Mon, 21 May 2012 08:39:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Sara http://www.rachaelray.com/blogs/index.php/2009/11/03/the-silly-box-and-the-bag-o-fun-good-tips-from-smart-moms/#comment-28435 Sara Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:03:43 +0000 http://blog.rachaelray.com/?p=4725#comment-28435 Hi... when we first moved into our house we each had an extra drawer in the kitchen, we have a huge island so one drawer went to bills, one went Mom, one to Dad, one to our son. We quickly out grew our drawers. We typically come into the house through the garage which take you into the laundry then the kitchen so I bought 3 matching baskets, each with the removable liners (Mom's Pink, Dad's Blue, Son's Green) So we didn't get them confused. And anything you have that doesn't always get out away ie.. keys, sunglasses, wallet go into the baskets, that way you never need to find your keys when it is time to leave! It's all in your basket, these are lined up on the washer and dryer. Once the baskets get full it's your responsibility to clean your own baskets and find homes for things if you want to keep it, or toss it. It makes mornings go a lot easier. Lunch boxes and everything are in your basket, grab it and go! Now I realize most people have more than 3 family members but you can buy the basket covers in any color of the rainbow, just need to find a place to keep them, on the steps or on a nice shelf by the door you most frequently use! Hi… when we first moved into our house we each had an extra drawer in the kitchen, we have a huge island so one drawer went to bills, one went Mom, one to Dad, one to our son. We quickly out grew our drawers. We typically come into the house through the garage which take you into the laundry then the kitchen so I bought 3 matching baskets, each with the removable liners (Mom’s Pink, Dad’s Blue, Son’s Green) So we didn’t get them confused. And anything you have that doesn’t always get out away ie.. keys, sunglasses, wallet go into the baskets, that way you never need to find your keys when it is time to leave! It’s all in your basket, these are lined up on the washer and dryer. Once the baskets get full it’s your responsibility to clean your own baskets and find homes for things if you want to keep it, or toss it. It makes mornings go a lot easier. Lunch boxes and everything are in your basket, grab it and go! Now I realize most people have more than 3 family members but you can buy the basket covers in any color of the rainbow, just need to find a place to keep them, on the steps or on a nice shelf by the door you most frequently use!

]]> By: joyce blackwell http://www.rachaelray.com/blogs/index.php/2009/11/03/the-silly-box-and-the-bag-o-fun-good-tips-from-smart-moms/#comment-27538 joyce blackwell Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:47:32 +0000 http://blog.rachaelray.com/?p=4725#comment-27538 The old rule of getting rid of an item before you purchase a new one is the best idea. If the kids want a new toy ask them which one they want to donate. If I want a new handbag I have to sell one I have on ebay or give it away first. It keeps things from getting out of control. If you think about it you always go back to your favorite few tops and jeans, pants etc. so why have so many hanging around taking up space. The old rule of getting rid of an item before you purchase a new one is the best idea. If the kids want a new toy ask them which one they want to donate. If I want a new handbag I have to sell one I have on ebay or give it away first. It keeps things from getting out of control. If you think about it you always go back to your favorite few tops and jeans, pants etc. so why have so many hanging around taking up space.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.rachaelray.com/blogs/index.php/2009/11/03/the-silly-box-and-the-bag-o-fun-good-tips-from-smart-moms/#comment-27519 Sarah Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:48:59 +0000 http://blog.rachaelray.com/?p=4725#comment-27519 If you seriously want to stop the clutter and the useless stuff quit buying things that you really don't need, minimalize! Children really don't need all the things we feel they need or all the things they want. Our biggest example is clothes. My three kids seems to get too many clothes from grandparents etc. My two girls really do not need 10 pairs of pants. Keep clothes neutral colors and rely on a staple, black pants and jeans. They can mix and match a lot with basics. If you seriously want to stop the clutter and the useless stuff quit buying things that you really don’t need, minimalize! Children really don’t need all the things we feel they need or all the things they want. Our biggest example is clothes. My three kids seems to get too many clothes from grandparents etc. My two girls really do not need 10 pairs of pants. Keep clothes neutral colors and rely on a staple, black pants and jeans. They can mix and match a lot with basics.

]]> By: Carlie http://www.rachaelray.com/blogs/index.php/2009/11/03/the-silly-box-and-the-bag-o-fun-good-tips-from-smart-moms/#comment-27518 Carlie Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:45:39 +0000 http://blog.rachaelray.com/?p=4725#comment-27518 As a way to organize my preschooler's papers from school, I have a 2" 3-ring binder filled with empty paper protectors. We display the papers on the fridge and then when he is done studying the letter of the week, his papers go directly from the fridge to the binder. Now there is room on the fridge for the new papers and he has an ABC book that he made. He feels I value his work and he knows that he can be an "author." The biggest bonus is that I only have to move the papers once. Plus, it is an instant scrapbook! One way that I entertain my 2 year old in the car is that he is responsible for putting toys in a soft sided lunch box. It is small, lightweight and he love carrying it to the car. Plus it has a zipper that has taught him how to zip and unzip. He always changes what toys he wants but he cannot select toys that are too big for the car or at a dinner table because they don't fit in the lunch box. Ahh, one less battle... As a way to organize my preschooler’s papers from school, I have a 2″ 3-ring binder filled with empty paper protectors. We display the papers on the fridge and then when he is done studying the letter of the week, his papers go directly from the fridge to the binder. Now there is room on the fridge for the new papers and he has an ABC book that he made. He feels I value his work and he knows that he can be an “author.” The biggest bonus is that I only have to move the papers once. Plus, it is an instant scrapbook!

One way that I entertain my 2 year old in the car is that he is responsible for putting toys in a soft sided lunch box. It is small, lightweight and he love carrying it to the car. Plus it has a zipper that has taught him how to zip and unzip. He always changes what toys he wants but he cannot select toys that are too big for the car or at a dinner table because they don’t fit in the lunch box. Ahh, one less battle…

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