1. Menu Board
I found this wonderful pin and just had to try it out for myself. I have always tried to meal plan, but to sit down and write it out on a calendar just didn't ever seem too fun. Here is the one I made. I just used spare fabric on the back of the frame and on the card holder boxes (made from Dove soap boxes). I made a list of 40 dinners and printed them out on construction paper then cut them out individually, and finally laminated them. I glued card stock onto clothes pins with what day of the week printed on it. I make sure that I add new recipes (that I most likely have also found on Pinterest) every now and then to keep it exciting.
2. Bow Kite
This is a super easy project that you can whip up in 20 minutes. I found this pin here. It is a kite made from a wire hanger that you can clip all of your little one's bows and barrettes on. This one looks so sweet hung up on the wall too. To make it I first stretched out the hanger to make a diamond shape. Then I straightened out the hook part. I hot glued my fabric to the hanger and then added the cross of ribbon on the front. Then I wrapped ribbon around the part of the hanger where the hook part of it was, glued it in place and left a long piece hanging. I also painted on an A for my daughter's first initial. Both she and I love this project!
3. Memory Jar
This is another really simple project that will mean a lot to you and your family. This pin popped up a lot right after new years, and I just had to try it. Essentially all it is is a jar and you write down things that have happened to you and your family throughout the year, then on New Years Eve you can all gather around and read all the funny, sweet and wonderful things that have happened. I cannot wait to go through these with the kids on New Years Eve!
4. Anything to do with Jars
I have a feeling that Pinterest has a stock in Mason Jars, because you can find a million uses for them on that site! And this is where I started my obsession with any sort of jar. I love the way they look all lined up together, I love how they can organize a messy cupboard, and I love how they keep stuff so well. I have bought a lot of jars at Dollarama (best place by far to get jars). I use them to keep my baking stuff in, and spices. I now just need to buy some adhesive labels or chalkboard paint to put on them...oooh the possibilities! I also have a few that I use for the kids, my Calm Jar, and my Incentive Jar. I will discuss those ones a little later.
5. Lunch bins
I LOVE organization, it really does make me feel soo good! I also dislike very much making school lunches, I tended to leave it to the last minute and then I would have stuff all over my kitchen counters in the morning while trying to rush to get everything ready. This pin has greatly improved my mornings! I bought two plastic bins at Dollarama, one for the fridge and one for the cupboard. On Sunday night I cut up all the fruits, veggies, cheese and other refrigerated snacks my son will need for his lunch and then bag them and put them in the bin. Then I bag all of the dried snacks, goldfish crackers, animal crackers, raisins, granola bars, muffins, popcorn and whatever else we have and stick them in the snack bin. Because we buy a lot of our snacks at Costco and in bulk this works great, then I don't have to have huge bags and boxes of stuff cluttering my cupboards. I also find making a big batch of popcorn then bagging it right away in smaller bags helps with my snacking too, makes it easier to grab something healthy when I am wanting something salty.
I put the fridge bin at the bottom of the fridge so that my 2 year old can pick out her own snack when she wants something too, she loves this!
6. Chocolate Covered Katie
I cannot say enough good things about this site!!!!!!!!!! I have been trying to follow my IBS diet restrictions, along with trying to lose weight, but I still love to have treats and this site is my favorite!!!!!!! She makes wonderful decadent treats, but with all healthy and vegan ingredients! There is a chocolate pie to die for that is made with tofu (even my husband who gags at the site of tofu loved it!), cookie dough dip made with chickpeas, 1 minute chocolate cake and sooooooooo many other treats! You HAVE to check out this site and try some of her recipes, you will not be disappointed!http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/
7. ALL OF THE FOOD PINS!
Pinterest is a foodies heaven! I LOVE looking at all of the wonderful recipes, and I have tried out quite a few of them as well. Here are my favorites:
Four Cheese Ravioli (I made this for Valentines Day)
9. Calm Jar
I sometimes have trouble getting my son to calm down when he is upset or frustrated. I saw this on Pinterest and Facebook so I thought I would give it a shot. It really helps him calm down enough for us to be able to talk about what is going on with him. I will give it to him when he starts to get really angry, I tell him to think about whatever seems to be the problem at the time, and then I tell him we will discuss it after he is calm. I shake the jar and he knows to just watch it until all the glitter has settled. He has even started to ask for the calm jar when he gets upset. I really like this idea, it gives both of us the time to collect our thoughts, rather than trying to deal with him right away which never seems to be a good idea.
10. Incentive Jar
This is a new one for us in the last couple days and I am already seeing the benefits of it. I bought a bunch of Jelly Belly's and filled a jar with them. I told my kids that they have to earn a jelly bean if they would like one. In order to earn a jelly bean they must clean something up without being asked to. It can't be something like making their bed or cleaning their room because that is already expected of them, they must find something that is out of their usual chores to do all on their own. My son has really got into this, he is cleaning up messes before I can even think of getting to them.
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