Buying Books at Bargain Prices

I love reading books. The problem with this is that my family of seven all have the same affection for books. We love to read, and we love to continually build our growing library of books. The truth is we have officially run out of bookshelf space for our growing collection.

My parents also love to read – just ask them about the many, many heavy boxes of books we had to move as children each time we moved into a new home. You would think I would have learned my lesson!

So where do we purchase books without breaking the bank?

Click here to read where I find books at bargain prices over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

De-Clutter Children Clutter

Our children arrive into the world empty-handed and within days of their birth, the clutter begins! The clutter starts off with diapers, clothes and rattles and as they begin to grow, so does the amount of items and clutter they obtain. You may begin to ask yourself how much stuff does one little person really need?

Maybe your children are now in elementary school or have entered the teen world. No matter what stage of life your children are in, their items can clutter and overtake their rooms and your home.

To de-clutter it all and keep it under control you have to begin with a system that works for you and your children so they can help maintain their clutter.  Click here to read my simple De-Clutter Children Clutter steps over on the SC Johnson Home Economics blog.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly article

Organizing Instruction Manuals, Receipts and Warranties

With the upcoming holiday season upon us, my family will soon acquire a few new items that will arrive with instruction manuals, receipts and warranties. Every year after the holiday cleanup, I find them piled on my desk and waiting for me to find a safe place to keep them just in case they are needed at a future date.

Click here to read about my latest solution for storing and organizing my pile of instruction manuals, receipts and warrantiesover on the SC Johnson Home Economics blog.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Online Tips to Save You Time

Not only has the Internet given us the ability to search for information in seconds, it has also given us the convenience to pay bills and shop through many online services. Check out my list of ways to begin saving time and money using online services on the  SC Johnson Family Economics blog.  Click here to read  them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Start Preparing for Thanksgiving

By Leslie Pleasants

Yes, it is the beginning of November but now is the time to start planning/organizing for your Big Thanksgiving Day!  If you are hosting it at your house you know that it can be a little stressful.  There is so much that needs to be done.  If you wait till the last minute you are going to stress yourself out and possibly stress your guests out too.  Your goal is to make everyone feel comfortable and have everything that they need available to them with out them having to ask you.  Here are some ideas for you to start doing to help you along till the big day!

1) Halloween Clearance:  Halloween just ended.  Now is the time to scoop up some of those clearance items to use for Thanksgiving.  Orange candles, Orange lights, Orange dishes/glass wear,  Plastic orange bowls,  Foam carvable pumpkins (don't carve them but you can paint them with glue and sprinkle glitter on them for a nice centerpiece),  Little trinkets/toys that you were supposed to give out for little treaters..  you can use them at the kids table.  Just make sure they don't have Halloween pictures on them.  If they do then put a sticker over them.  Garlands,  Wreaths,  Hay barrels and don't forget to pick up those mini real pumpkins.  They are usually gone by the time Thanksgiving comes around and they are wonderful for tea light holders or just for decorations!!

2) Invites:  Invites are always nice.  Either electronically or by mail.  If you are inviting people to your home for Thanksgiving you should also delegate some of the food so you do not have to do it all.  Make a list of the things that you are going to make and then make a list of food that you still need... like rolls, pop, etc..  That way they can mark down what they will bring and let you know.  That's why I like doing it via email or evite that way everyone can see it. 

3) November Calendar:  I like to make a November calendar that I post up in my pantry just for me to use.  Its great to have because I can put when to take out turkey from freezer,  when to make a pie,  Chores around the house that needs to be done, I even put times on there too...  What time to put turkey in,  Time to eat for Thanksgiving dinner,  etc...   They are like mini goals.  Makes me feel organized.  Click HERE to get your free personalized calendar

4) Weekend Before:  The weekend before is when I get a lot of the set up done.  I figure out the table arrangements and decor,  seating,  buffet table,  write out my food place cards,  get out all the serving bowls and place on my buffet table and label each one on what is going to be going in it and put the right utensil in it.   I also do a deep clean around the house (w/ husbands help).  I do all of this the weekend before so I can focus on food  and shopping during the week.  

5) Keep Them Busy:  Trying to keep everyone entertained at all times can be challenging.  Try setting up different stations in your home.   A puzzle room for those that just want a more of a quieter place.  A craft area for kids and adults (i like to have Christmas ornaments that they can paint and take home with them).  A TV room where of course you have to have the football on to keep the men entertained.  I also like to have another TV on either playing Christmas music or watching some kind of Christmas show.  :)  I have made a slide show in the past using PowerPoint and hooking my computer up to the TV and showing all the previous years of Thanksgivings.  It was a huge hit!  Then there is also the video game room area.  Those are great for the younger men (or older)...keeps them busy and away from the kitchen.  :)

These are just some of my ideas that I use to make it easier on me.  :)  This year I am having 30 people over!!  So I am planning now....  going to have every square inch of my house being used.  :)  lol  But I don't mind at all.   I just love being with my family, it is all worth it!

Free Week at a glance printable

Each Sunday I sit down and break the upcoming week into days so that I know what I need to do, where I need to go and what events we have on the calendar that week.  This helps me  see what I need to prepare ahead for and be ready for my week s a mom.  Stephanie over at Taylor Gray Designs created a FREE week at a glance printable that yo can print our for free and use to organize your week into days.  Click here to get your free printable

Morning Routine Organization

By: Trisha Novotny
24/7 MOMS 

From what to wear and eat, to requests regarding where to go and what to do, moms are bombarded with tons of questions while trying to get their children out the door. Sometimes the morning routine can be complete chaos. How do we eliminate the stress and get our children off to school in peace?

You can read my  Morning Routine Organization steps over at SC Johnson Family Economics blog.  Click here to read  them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

DIY Fun Halloween Decorations

Here are some fun and easy Halloween decorations that you can even get the kids to help you with!

Floating Eyes See YOU By Family Fun

Materials you will need:

Ping-Pong Balls

Battery Tea lights
Permanent Markers
Construction Paper
Glue dots

Instructions:
*Cut an X in the ping-pong ball and place securely over the battery operated tea light flame.
*Draw eye details with permanent markers.
*Embellish eyes with construction paper details secured with glue dots.



Owl a Glow Paper Lantern By Family Fun
Materials you will need:
Paper Lantern Globe from craft or party store for the body
Scrapbooking Paper for eyes, facial features and wings. Secure with glue dots.
Jute Twine and orange construction paper for talons. Insert twine through bottom center bar of globe. Attach paper talons to each side.
8.5 by 6 fan-folded construction paper inserted under to center bar for head feathers.

Hang from an appropriate light fixture with a low-wattage bulb for an "Owl A Glow" craft or simply from a clear fishing line for an "Owl In Flight".

Signs of Danger by Woman's Day

Materials you will need:

Glue stick

Colored construction paper

Cardboard

Garden stakes

 

Give ’em fair warning with “Caution,” “Danger” and other pleas to turn back before it’s too late. Using a glue stick or spray glue, attach colored paper to corrugated cardboard (for strength), then cut out desired shape. Glue on words and designs made out of more colored paper, then attach the entire sign to a garden stake placed askew in the ground.

 

 

 

 

Peek-a-Boo Pumpkins by HGTV

Materials you will need:

3 to 5 miniature pumpkins

a mixture of 3 to 5 small bowls and lidded dishes

spray primer (if any of the dishes are not black or white)

black and/or white spray paint

googly eyes
craft glue

Collect Dishes


Pull together a grouping of small, inexpensive bowls or lidded dishes. Tip: Search flea markets and thrift stores for super cheap options with character.   The idea is to paint all the dishes black or white, so use spray primer to coat any of the dishes that aren't either of those colors.  Once the spray primer is completely dry, use black and/or white spray paint to coat all of the primed surfaces.  Apply craft glue to the back of a pair of googly eyes (Image 1), then attach one set of googly eyes to each pumpkin (Image 2). Tip: Place the pumpkins in the dishes before you attach the eyes so you can make sure they're positioned correctly.

Spider Tea Light Holders By Real Moms Real Views

Materials you will need:

Mini pumpkins
Black pipe cleaners
White Tea light candles

Scoop out top of pumpkin just enough to fit the candle in it.  Use a hand drill and drill 8 holes (4 on each side) for the legs.  Add the pipe cleaners and bend to make them look like legs. 

Concussions - Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments

After three of Nate-no's fellow team mates have experienced concussions this season on his football team.  I thought it was time to once again share with the 24/7 MOMS on this topic - I posted this article two years ago  after learning some valuable and new information every mom needs to know:

Concussions and Your Child

I recently sat in a school meeting listening to one of our High School athletic trainers share  with us the  latest information on our children and concussions.  You would think that with 5 kids and  all these years on the MOMhood journey I would have this down.  What I did not know was they have new findings and information that this mom was unaware of so knowing that -  I thought  every Mommy should know the latest info on  Concussion and our Children so that we can be equipped  should one of our sweet children incur a possible concussion.




It's estimated that more than a half million kids in the U.S. go to the hospital each year with a concussion.  That's an average of a kid per minute- every minute of every day

The term concussion conjures up the image of a child knocked unconscious while playing sports. But concussions — temporary loss of brain function — can happen with any head injury, often without any loss of consciousness. And many head injuries occur off the playing field, in car and bicycle accidents, in fights, and even routine calamities and falls


What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a disturbance in brain function that occurs following either a blow to the head or as a result of the violent shaking of the head

In the United States, the annual incidence of sports-related concussion is estimated at 300,000. Estimates regarding the likelihood of an athlete in a contact sport experiencing a concussion may be as high as 19% per season. Although the majority of athletes who experience a concussion are likely to recover, an as yet unknown number of these individuals may experience chronic cognitive and neuro behavioral difficulties related to recurrent injury.


Common Signs and Symptoms:
Signs observed

-Appears to be dazed or stunned

-Is confused about assignment

-Forgets plays

-Is unsure of game, score, or opponent

-Moves clumsily

-Answers questions slowly

-Loses consciousness (even temporarily)

-Shows behavior or personality change

-Forgets events prior to hit (retrograde amnesia)

-Forgets events after hit (anterograde amnesia).



Signs reported by athlete

-Headache

-Nausea

-Balance problems or dizziness

-Double or fuzzy vision

-Sensitivity to light or noise

-Feeling sluggish

-Feeling "foggy"

-Change in sleep pattern

-Concentration or memory problems

Consulting w/ a Doctor:

Recovery

Athletes that are not fully recovered from an initial concussion are significantly vulnerable for recurrent, cumulative, and even catastrophic consequences of a second concussive injury. Such difficulties are prevented if the athlete is allowed time to recover from concussion and return to play decisions are carefully made. No athlete should return to sport or other at-risk participation when symptoms of concussion are present and recovery is ongoing. In summary, the best way to prevent difficulties with concussion is to manage the injury properly when it does occur.


NEW Laws to protect children in Washington state:



A Washington state bill, soon to become law, will add a new rule to kids' organized sports.

A child won't be able to return to play after a concussion until a health care provider gives the OK.    

    

De-Clutter It Daily

By Trisha Novotny
24/7 MOMS

Do you often feel your home has become out of control or overwhelmed with clutter and mess? I did until I discovered how to stay on top of our family’s daily clutter and cleaning with a few easy steps. Make these steps a part of your daily habit and soon the clutter and mess within your home will feel under control!

You can read my De- Clutter it Daily  steps over at SC Johnson Family Economics blog.  Click here to read  them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Fall Porch Decorating

I can't deny it any longer Summer is over and the Fall weather is here in the Northwest. So, I'm really trying to get in the fall mood and thought maybe if I decorate my porch it would be a fun welcome to our guests and each time  I arrive home.  I also thought if I get a move on decorating it now I could at least enjoy it until Thanksgiving.  What about you are you decorating, baking or creating some other way to get you in the fall mood?

Here are some of the fun porch ideas I discovered as I went searching for fun ideas for my own home.

Hay Bales and cornstalks with the added large chrysanthemum plants make this a fun fall porch that we found over at Sense-ational living.com

 I thought Centsational Girl was creative with her live plants and a variety of pumpkins and gourds to create a fun porch entry.  Click here for her how to create instructions.









Add in a piece of furniture for a fun fall touch on your porch.  Hey Now, Who Now added a fun chair to her porch.

Use a wheelbarrow or wagon filled with fall leaves, plants, pumpkins and gourds to create a fall effect on your front porch.

21 uses for BOUNCE Dryer Sheets

Quick, run to Costco or Sam's Club and grab your enormous box of Bounce dryer sheets, because today I have 21 uses for those fresh-smelling dryer sheets.

1. All this time you've just been putting Bounce in the dryer! It will chase ants away when you lay a sheet near them. It also repels mice.

2. Put Bounce around foundation areas, or in trailers, or cars that are parked for a time. Will keep mice from getting in.

3. It takes the odor out of books and photo albums that don't get opened too often.

4. It repels mosquitoes! Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.

5. Eliminate static electricity from your television (or computer) screen.

6. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling.

7. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a sheet of Bounce.

8. To freshen the air in your home, place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang in the closet.

9. Put a Bounce sheet in vacuum cleaner.

10. Prevent thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce before beginning to sew .

11. Prevent musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing.

12. To freshen the air in your car, place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.

13. Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in a pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agent apparently weakens the bond between the food and the pan.

14. Eliminate odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.

15. Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.

16. Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resettling.

17. Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used sheet of Bounce will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.

18. Eliminate odors in dirty laundry. Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.

19. Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight.

20. Golfers put a Bounce sheet in your back pocket to keep the bees away.

21. Put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them. It will keep them smelling fresh.

Thanks to my Mom for these great Bounce tips. She always has great MOM stuff to share.

What MOM tips do you have to share? Email me at trisha@247moms.com and share your MOM tips with the 24/7 MOMS.

No More Kitchen Spice Disarray

By: Trisha Novotny

I used to dread opening my spices cupboard. At one point, there were at least 30 or more various size jars and bottles of spices stuffed inside my cupboard in complete disarray. When I would sit down to do my weekly meal planning and grocery list, I would often give up searching to see if I had the spices needed for that week’s recipes. I’d then place them on my grocery list only to buy additional spices that I already had.

It was definitely time to organize the spices in my kitchen. Had I only known how simple it was to organize, I could have been saving myself time and money for the past several years.  Are you ready to conquer the spice disarray in your kitchen?

Read my complete how to organize your spices overt at SC Johnson Family Econmois blog.  Click  here to read now.

Click here to read about them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Holiday Planner Binder

By Trisha Novotny

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you begin to think about all of the shopping, planning, cooking and preparing you will need to do this holiday season.  We all know that the more prepared and organized we are the less stress there will be during the holiday season and the more we will enjoy it!

Nearly 15 years ago, I simplified all of my planning and preparing by creating my first holiday planner binder, which I continuously use year after year to keep track of everything. This binder is filled with past gifts purchased, favorite recipes, our holiday card list along with pictures that I have taken of my home decorated so that I can remember how I decorate from year to year.

Create your own Holiday Planner binder with my full how to instructions  over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

Simplify Your Childrens Morning Routines

As moms we are constantly training our children - with a new school year and trying to get our kids back into the morning routine you might be feeling like your the drill Sergent each morning asking your kids if they brushed their teeth, backed their backpacks or to go get dressed.  Simplify your Sergent role by using a morning to do chart with your children and help them to become responsible for getting themselves ready and out the door each school morning.

 Here are two ready to print charts to simplify your mornings:

Iheart Organizing created a simple free printable kids morning to do chart for those just beginning their school years - Click here to print out your chart to help your kids become morning responsible children.

 Priceless Parenting created a chart perfect for the older student.  Click here to print out Priceless Parenting's morning routine chart.

Keep Track of Your Daily Deals

The number of daily deal websites offering money, coupons and online shopping deals is constantly growing. I find myself purchasing an assortment of deals and coupons from local restaurants and shopping services, only to forget when they expire, which daily deal site I made the purchase, or what deals I even purchased!

I decided it was time to find a solution to keep track of them.
 
 Read the solutions I found and wrote about over at SC Johnson Home Economic blog.  Click here to read them now.

Be sure to leave me  a comment over at SC Johnson

*Each week Trisha Blogs on SC Johnson Family Economics website as a paid writer be sure to read her weekly articles

New Neighbor Gift

Today more families move across the country arriving into our neighborhoods without the slightest idea who we are, where to go out to eat, which Doctor to choose, what parks to take their kids to or even who to contact to sign their kids up for local sports teams.  Why not welcome them into your neighborhood with a simple gift of treats and a list of your favorites to help them as they settle into their new community and neighborhood.   30 Handmade Days created a FREE printable and neighbor gift idea.  Click here to get your printable and complete how to instructions.

Free Home Project Checklist

It's time to create a list of things that need to be doe around my house. After 11 years of our family of seven living in our home there are plenty of need to be fixed, need to be replaced and need to be cleaned projects in my home. This free printable home project list from I Heart Organizing will help me to begin my lists for both my husband and I so that we know what needs to be done and to begin getting our home projects completed.

Click here to print your FREE Home Project lists.

Free Goal Sheet Printables

Feeling overwhelmed with two much to do, your brain feels on overload and your not sure where to begin.  It's time to free your brain of all your goals, to dos' and to get's with this free Goal sheet printable from Julie Ann Art.   Use this sheet for your daily, weekly, monthly or one time project goals to create a plan of action.  Click here to get your free Goals sheet printables.

DIY Moms Closet Dividers

Organize your little ones clothing in their closets by size with these DIY Closet Organizers that Under The Sycamore created or if you have older children create these only place the days of the week on your dividers rather then the sizes and use to organize their daily outfits for the week. Click here for how to instructions.

*Stop by each week for our DIY MOMS feature. 

Do you have a DIY Project you would like featured here at 24/7 MOMS ?  email us at trisha@247moms.com