Financial Freedom {Printable}

It's that time of year again, Christmas hangover and we renew last year's resolutions.  Actually, my resolutions are from 2013 and I'm picking away at them.  1. Lose 10 lbs (done, it's back though) 2.  Pay off credit cards 3.  2:15 half marathon (2:20 so far!) 4.  Pay off Student Loan . 5.  Take family to Sea World (check!) 6. Disney Family Trip (One and done for this family).

 A few years ago, I designed the simple printable to track bill payments.  

So, if you are planning on getting organized and want a fast & simple place to track monthly expenditures, download it here.   The first column is where you list your payees.  Each monthly column, I include that month's payment amount.  At a quick glance, I can see what's been paid and what's left.  Getting paid once monthly, this is important information so nothing gets left behind.

Alright 2015.......here I come!

Screen Time List {Printable}

Is the Xbox your worst enemy?  Since Christmas, it's ALL my kids want to do.  But, it is the best bribe going.  In order to "control" xbox time, I use an kitchen timer and my boys must "earn" xbox time. Additionally, they must have been "good" all day.  

Here is a list I came up with for ways to earn some evening screen time.

Download it HERE

Comment with your ways to knock xbox (PS3, Wii, etc.) down on a few notches on kids' priority list.

End of year gift for the bus driver(s)

End of the year gifts for teachers is all the rage, but I like to do a lil' something for our drivers.  Afterall, they are carrying around special cargo.  

I picked up $10 gift cards for our local grocery store (I'm thinking they'll be buying something fun like beer), created this fun printable, then mounted on cardstock.....done!  Easy peasy.

download 4x6 HERE

Here's my completed project

Two sided cardstock is my favorite.  

Enjoy your summer!!!

New Home {Printable}

Yesterday, while pulling together a new home gift for a neighbor, I noticed that Pinterest was lacking in New Home Printables.  Especially free ones.

Here is my quick solution.  I printed on resume paper, cut down to size, and put in my gift of a Scentsy warmer, wax, and room spray.

Welcome to your new home Neighbors!!!!

Download HERE

Grocery List Revisited

I posted  Grocery List printable some time ago.  While it was working, it wasn't really working.   A minor change was necessary.  I needed the weekly menu to be listed down the side of the page.  You see--I like to fold this sheet in half while I'm shopping.  Then later, I store on my refrigerator along with the recipes for the week.  The prior sheet didn't fit just right, causing me to have to re-write my menu. 

 Ain't nobody got time for that!

Download it here.

Hockey Birthday

My friend has a soon to be seven year old girl that has fallen in love with Hockey.  When it came time to plan for her birthday, Kim was disappointed to the selection of hockey merchandise available for girls.....like, there was none.  Not even on Etsy.  What she did find was for ice skating and it was too princess-like for a hard core hockey player.

With a few minutes, here's what I came up with:

I used the free digital download for the background available from Shabby Princess found HERE.   If I had the commercial license for this background, this design would for sure be found on Etsy :)

If you want my file, email me at jennnydawn@gmail.com.

Meal Planning Shopping List

My first list {here} wasn't doing it for me, so I threw another one together yesterday morning.  I was inspired by this post on Pinterest.

Source

This list is good, I just prefer my ingredients grouped together.  If you are anything like me, you hate to have to go back down isles in the grocery store to find what you forgot.  My store was recently revamped, there is no way I could find anything once I passed it.

So, with a few minor tweaks....here ya go.

Download 

Superhero Birthday for 4 Year Olds

My twins were born in March.  To say the least, we have unpredictable weather in March.  It could be warm, could be snowing, we've had both.  So, I have to use a "location" for birthdays.  But, I do try to have fun with the theme, even if it doesn't coordinate with the venue.  You'll remember last year's COWBOY Theme. 


This year we went with Superheros, but not necessary Marvel.  Just generic all around SUPER.


The invites were scraplifted, thank you internet:

I printed them on resume paper and tied with twine, then mailed in regular #10 envelopes.

I made choke free capes, inspiration HERE.  Basically, backpack style {and cheap}.  My boys can be rough, I didn't care to have an choke outs at this birthday.  


Grab bags were simple cellophane bags picked up at Hobby Lobby filled with Marvel  themed candy (found at Dollar Tree), silly straws (left over from last year), stickers (Superhero and Disney Princess), and Captain America fruit snacks.  All tied with primary curling ribbon, just to be fun.

Handmade (choke free) capes and grab bags.  

I personalized what what I could, using felt and Wonder Under.  

The hand sanitizer was covered with this:

which was meant to be a water bottle label, but that idea petered out at the last minute.

One of my friends made cupcakes for men (they were yummy, I ate 4), I found the toppers  HERE

the Main event.  A little intimidating, but even the smallest kids tried it out

The smallest guest

Show us your capes!!!!  The super fancy capes are from  Baby Pop including L&Ks, last year's gift from the BK Special.  

Even Papa had a cape.


For the thank you cards, I went easy on Mixbook.  {love their flat cards}

plus, everyone got a photo from the day :)

Get It, Got it, Good List {printable}

I've had a theme lately with printables and I have another one to share.  There are tons of grocery lists out there, but none that really worked for me.  So, I came up with  my own. 

Not fancy or complicated.  Just simple, cute, and FUNctional.

I don't meal plan exactly, but I do buy enough meals for the week.  You know, meatloaf doesn't sound good tonight but tacos would be awesome.   I like to write the meals down, then list the ingredients needed in their categories.  

Want it?  Grab it HERE.

You can also get the Voice Mail Log and Weekly Quit Slackin' List and be all sort of matchy-matchy.

Voice Mail and Phone Log {Printable}

Follow suit from my last post, I'm giving you another printable, office edition.


I was being overwhelmed with sticky notes, then trying to find a past client was a night.mare.  I came up with this, I can simply file away and scan through when I need to contact someone I worked with last year, last month, or yesterday.


Oh, and there is room for a check mark.....since I need that in my life :)

Want it?  It's available to download HERE.  This time it's a pdf since I realized that you may not have the fonts I used.  {Budmo Jiggler & Honey Script in the header}

Enjoy!!!  Get your checkmark on!

Quit Slackin'

I'll have to admit, I've been slacking....a LOT.  There has been some crafting, just no photos.  Why?  I don't know......maybe because it's been in the wee hours of the night & at the last minute.  Still, not a good excuse.


Along with all things neat & organized in 2012, I've got a project to share.  I'm a lister, I'm obsessed with the check mark.  So much that, if I complete a task not listed, I write it down to check.


I made up this "to do" list to incorporate everything I need to do each day, all on one sheet.  Work, Home, House, Exercise, Hydrate.  I have lots of opportunities to check, check, check.

Want it?  It's available to download HERE.  Plus it's editable for you to personalize.

Enjoy!!!  Get your checkmark on!

Best.Day.Ever.

I needed an inspirational / uplifting quote to frame for my command center (more on that soon), so I reached out to pinterest for inspiration.  I found this:

Source: etsy.com via Rashmi on Pinterest

Super cute, right?  Well it links to Etsy.  Not that I have a problem paying for it {ok, maybe a little} but I'm impatient {and cheap, but you know}.

so, here's mine:

& because I love you, it's free.  Prints to 5x7.  I think it will look fab in a red frame, which is exactly where mine will be going.....

Monster Repellent

We've been invaded by Monsters.  I'm not sure where this fear came from, but bloody murder screams in the middle of the night at 3 1/2 years old is no fun.

I had to come up with something.  I've heard of monster spray that is water and essential oils.  My local grocery store didn't have water bottles, so I had to improvise. Plus, it had to be cute.

 I got room spray in a bottle that had an easy removable label.  I really wanted something "green", but the selection was scarce.  I keep this high on a shelf so it doesn't get tasted.  Yes--that would happen here.

Not much of a tutorial, take this:

cut off label, print this:

Modge podge your little heart out!  

viola!

Monster spray.  Hint: it's keeping the bad monsters outside when the room smells fresh.  That's my story anyway.

Download printable HERE!!

We'd love to hear other ideas of sneaky ways to trick your kids.

Boo Boo Box

With an upcoming road trip vaca, I needed a way to corral all our medical supplies, most of what is squishy and one quick step from a disastrous mess. 


I picked up a bead box from Joann's for 50% off, similar to what Sara used for her Teacher Appreciation Gifts.  I then grabbed my vinyl, dusted off my cricut {remember those?  I still use mine} and made this.

Here's the inside.

If you'd like my svg file: DOWNLOAD here.

Car Mats

My boys are completed obsessed with cars, trucks, airplanes, and trains.  I wanted to make them something that would be good to take with us somewhere to help keep them entertained.  

Here's my take on a car mat.

Firstly, I'm not quite a sew-er.  Before this, I've only made crayon rolls.  And this isn't quite a tutorial, since I winged it.  But, there are step by step photos to show you what I did.

Here's what I started with:

The fabric was Timeless Treasures Airport Bright with Multiple Choice Black purchased from UberStitch on Etsy.  Here are the details, how cute is that all the boys favorites are incorporated right into this fabric.

I convo'd UberStitch for a coordinating fabric suggestion.  She made a fantastic choice.  

Late night Saturday in our house, this is what my husband stayed up late watching while I set up shop on our coffee table

First step: add velcro to coordinating fabric for car/plane pockets.

Other side of Velcro goes on the pocket material.  I chose black felt.  I wasn't concerned with stretching since the Velcro would act as a stabilizer.

Sew on pocket.  Sew tunnels for individual cars.  I just laid the cars & planes down as a guide.

With right sides together, sew around 3 sides.

 Flip and press.

Fold and press a hem for your unfinished side.  Sew all 4 sides.  Don't forget your loop of elastic to hold your roll together.  I backstitched for added strength.

Here is the finished product on the back side.

Just add cars.

Fold in half, then roll!

Secure with elastic cord and you are ready for some fun on the go!!

Thanks for reading, please comment if you have any suggestions on posts, something you'd like to see, or any mistakes {even typos} that need to be corrected.

Happy Crafting.

End of Year Teacher Gifts

My boys recently celebrated their last day of their first year of preschool.  We wanted to do a little something for the staff, but needed to be budget friendly.  Additionally, this had to be quick since I waited until the very last day to throw it together.

Between the two boys, there are 2 teachers, 3 aides, 1 bus driver, and and aid for the driver. 

Here's what we came up with:

I was inspired by:

http://www.nothingbutcountry.com/

with their clever "Mint to Teach" gifts

along with "fortunate to be my teacher"

I was able to pick up vinyl paint cans and take out boxes at my local Michaels on the cheap.  I also grabbed a hand full of ribbon in fun, primary colors.  I then headed to Target for goodies.  I needed something mint for the teacher pails.  When I discovered the Wint-o-greens were sold out, I went with York Peppermint Patties.  For the take out boxes, I just used a general chocolate mix.  My boys helped me stuff all the containers.

To jazz up the boxes, I made a quick graphic in Photoshop {I use Elements} very similar as is available to download HERE.  The polka dot is a digital scrapbook paper freebie available HERE. My circles were about 4" in diameter, so I used my creative memories circle template system because I lack the skills to be a neat cutter.  I wanted to personalize the tops so at the end of the day we got all the credit we deserved for such cute packaging.  I simply made a smaller version of the circle as shown here.

Here they are, all together:

For less than $40 {including ribbon}, we have personalized, thoughful, edible gifts for seven special people that keep my kiddos safe and happy 4 days a week.

If you want to read more about my boys, visit our family blog here.