Summer Subway Art {Free Printable}

I have always been enthralled by the huge popularity of 'subway art' right now.  A bunch of words together on a page?  Yes...  But, the really cool thing about subway art is the meaning of the words and how the creator of that piece chooses to place them... 

This new found craze of 'subway art' actually stems from the Subway Signs of the 20th Century.  (The 20th century was the period between January 1, 1901 and December 31, 2000.)  Seems so long ago, huh?  Subway Signs actually had all of the names of the stops on that particular train's line.  Because of the length of the different names of the stops, each word was a different size (even if it was the same font).  Hence, the look of the 'subway art' craze.

So, this is my first venture into designing my own subway art.  Let me know if you like it or if there are any suggestions on changes or additions...

Summer is here!!

Celebrate summer with this fun printable!!










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4th of July Outdoor Wreath

I love wreaths!  I don't know why I am so very obsessed with them because I never have been--other than a real pine wreath at Christmas time on our door.

So, I made a simple, but elegant and refined.  Here's how I did it...

 

Items Needed:

Vine Wreath form (I used one I purchased at the Dollar Tree)

Red, White & Blue Garland (I purchased 2 sets at JoAnn when they were on sale)

Blue & Red Wire Ribbon with White Stars on them 

Red, White & Blue Felt Stars 

(you can make them yourself, but I purchased mine on sale at JoAnn)

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Summertime Pantry Challenge 2013: PLAN MEALS

This part of the Challenge has been the most difficult so far.  You just feel overwhelmed by the idea of trying to plan meals with only the things that you have in your house.

Then, I just started to sort out our recipes based on how close the ingredients matched to what I had on hand.  I laminated empty pieces of paper so I can use them with dry erase markers to switch out meals each week.  These items are attached to the Menu Board I recently made:

{I'll post a tutorial on our board soon! (sMiLe)}

So, here is how I sorted the meals that fit in this Challenge:

1st Round--Exact matches on recipes to what is in our pantry/freezer.

2nd Round--Good matches on recipes and pantry items, meaning that there are 1 or 2 ingredients that I would have to purchase.

3rd Round--Decent matches.  These were last to get added into our meal plan choices.  So, they will be used towards the end of the month.

Seeing the names of the meals in front of you on the strips of paper and knowing how the recipes fit in with what you currently have is so much easier that not having any semblance of organization...


How do you meal plan?  Inquiring minds want to know...


-Kim 

Summertime Pantry Challenge 2013: INVENTORY

This part of the Challenge was not actually that difficult for me.  Just a bit time consuming.  Like others taking this Challenge, I cannot believe all of the hidden "frozen leftovers" that I found and cannot use.  I need a more manageable way of keeping an idea of what is going into our 2 freezers, etc....  I am on a mission to try to figure that out during this Challenge. 

Take Inventory:

I inventoried our inside fridge and freezer and pantry.  I also took an inventory of our outside freezer, our outside refrigerator, and the non-perishables that we store outside.  Here is the printable that I used; I found it at Mom on a Mission.   

The first page says Freezer Inventory, the second does not have a header.  So, I used the first page for both freezers/fridges and the second page for pantry items.  I found that to be the easiest and most organized way to see what we have...

Will you be doing an inventory?  Let me know in the comments below!

-Kim

Summertime Pantry Challenge 2013: GOALS

So, this is my first time doing a Challenge like this one, and the first part of the Challenge is to make goals.  Here are my goals for these next 2 weeks--well, pretty much the next month. 

GOALS:

1.     Inventory the pantry, the freezers (we have two) and fridge.

2.   To make and keep a large percentage of our meal plans to what we have on-hand.

3.   Make meal preparation lists (i.e., meal plans).

4.   To lower our grocery spending.  

5.   Eat as much as we can out of the freezer in the garage.

6.    Try to buy more fresh fruit and veggies.

7.    To eat breakfast & lunch at home / or BOO (bring our own), if we go somewhere.

I want to hear about your goals!  Post them below...  I'll keep you updated on mine!

-Kim

Introducing the Summertime Pantry Challenge 2013

Jessica over at LifeasMOM (her day-to-day life as a mom of 6 kiddos) has another blog called Good Cheap Eats.   There, she is facilitating a challenge for the summer.  It called the Summertime Pantry Challenge 2013.

The challenge pretty much consists of NOT buying groceries like you normally would, but focusing on what you already have in the pantry.  Jessica is only doing a 2 week Pantry Challenge this time around--she usually does a month.  So, I figured it was a better time than ever to go along for the ride!!  Is anyone with me?  It starts on July 7th (Sunday) and ends on July 20th (Saturday).  Seems doable, right?

So, the first order of duty is to make goals for yourself during this challenge.  I am in the process of doing those right now, so look out for another post shortly!!

Thanks much for stopping by...

SUMMER SURVIVAL CHALLENGE: Week 3

I am a week late on posting about the Summer Survival Challenge I am following over at Hello Mornings.  Just like Jenni at that blog, I am having trouble planning and staying motivated for this summer planning.  This 2013 Summer Schedule is such a great resource of ideas, etc.  However, I think what I will be doing is just using it as a source of ideas for when I get stuck with what to do on 'empty' summer days.  I'm still going to complete the homework that Hello Mornings is prepping for us.  After that, who knows?  I'll definitely keep updating, though... :)

Here was Week 3's homework (direct from Hello Mornings):
1) Be Summer Organized Training Session
Supply a backpack for each of your kids and use the worksheet to teach them how to think through what they need for a trip and have them pack for themselves.
2) Brainstorm Mom Time Activities
In order to keep things running smoothly, you’ve got to recharge your personal battery.
3) Team up with Other Moms
Pick a few friends with kids and send out an email about doing a few kid swaps, group outings, play dates or other activities and get some dates on the calendar! Outings are always easier and more fun when you take along a few (adult) friends.  {That's for darn sure!!}
4) Local Research
Start searching in your area for free or low-cost activities to do with your kids.  Start a list of all the local things that look fun to try and start filling in your calendar.
5) June Calendar
Armed with all your great worksheets along with four copies of the Summer Weekly Planner, map out your June calendar.

I am not sure how I will get with this, but I hope to get most of this organizing done before our family starts its official summer on June 10th!!

Thanks for stopping by...

SUMMER SURVIVAL CHALLENGE: Week 2

Time for another update on the Hello Mornings Summer Challenge.  Last week, we read through the planner, made loads of lists, etc.  This week, Jenni is still having us make lists for our homework for this week's Meetings and Test Runs theme.

Here is my schedule for the Summer Challenge for the week:

{Monday}       
Plan your Morning Routine

{Tuesday}       
Brainstorm Family Traditions

{Wednesday}  
Schedule a Family Meeting

{Thursday}     
Schedule a Kick-off Event

{Friday}          
Weekly Planner Worksheet (Practice Run)

{Saturday}      
Weekly Meal Planning/Grocery List (Practice Run)

{Sunday}         
Be Summer Organized Worksheet

Last, but not least, Susan Heid of The Confident Mom posted an audio blog on her site about our Summer Challenge.  Take a listen...

SUMMER SURVIVAL CHALLENGE: Week 1

Yes, yes...  It has been awhile since of posted.  But, I hope to be more consistent now.

But, the reason I am going to be much more consistent is because of this weekly challenge for the summer that I found through the Confident Mom Facebook page.  It turns out that Jenni over at Hello Mornings blog is going to be breaking the Confident Mom 'summer planner' for us, so that we can p.l.a.n. an enjoyable summer!!

So, we will be having weekly homework (I do miss school somewhat??, so this should be doable).  The first action item is to block out 1 hour of time each week for the next three weeks of assignments.  So, I am going to use 10 minutes per day, for each of the 7 days.  I plan on completing 1 homework assignment per day--it's only 10 minutes of my time...  I can do my "time" in the bathroom--a well needed break out of my hectic days!!

The first week's assignments are:
1.  {Monday}  Read the entire The Confident Mom’s 2013 Summer Survival Calendar
2.  {Tuesday}  Assess and tighten your current schedule--make space
3.  {Wednesday}  Complete the Quiet Time activities worksheet 
4.  {Thursday}  Complete the Important Summer Dates worksheet
5.  {Friday}  Complete the Ideas for Summer Fun worksheet
6.  {Saturday}  Complete the Summer Goals worksheet
7.  {Sunday}  Determine goals on the Standard Operating Procedures and Expectations worksheet

Wow!  That's all for this week...  I'll keep checking in on the progress of my 'summer journey'.  Let me know if you're going to do this plan or something similar!


Thanks for stopping by...