Easy Peasy Kids Chores

The kiddos have their basic chores that they have to do every day such as pick up their rooms at the end of the day and put their clothes in the laundry basket.  I wanted a little more help than that.  With a family of six no matter how small or large your house is, sometimes it seems like you never have enough room or organization.  The kiddos are now 10, 7, 6, and 2 they are all big enough to help out, at different levels it's true but any help works at this time.  I needed something to organize the chores, make it slightly fun and I needed to actually utilize it!  I ran to Pinterest, but really everything that I saw was honestly too much of a time investment (just to make the silly thing) or I didn't have the supplies on hand. Some I couldn't see our family really utilizing the Chore Chart the way it should be.

I wanted simple and workable!

I pulled up Microsoft Word on my computer and started playing with the clip art options, found the pictures I liked and printed them off the computer.  The pictures printed black and white, so I colored them with colored pencils! Then I simply cut them to size and attached them to my adhesive magnetic sheets I had left over from the wedding save the dates! They were leftovers so the magnets aren't perfectly cut to size but ohwell!

 I bought these at Wal-Mart I don't think I paid much more than $1.00 per pack.

Here are all the chores that the kiddos can pick from.  I simply placed the magnets in a small bag and each day the kids (Monkey, Bubby, and Babydoll) pick two.  I don't let them see what they are picking.  If a particular chore really doesn't need to be done that day I simply remove the corresponding magnet from the bag before they pick.

• Laundry- Each child already puts their own clothing away the child who picks the laundry chore simply helps me distribute the clothes to the correct rooms, and are learning to help fold.
• Feed Dogs/Cats- Pretty self explanatory 
• Pick Up Toys- At the end of the day it seems a lot of toys have deserted the kids rooms and have made new homes through the house. The kiddo simply places all the run away toys in a bag and then distributes them to their original room.
• Dust- They don't have to dust everything, just a few things here and there.
• Vacuum- We have very little carpet in this house so there are a few area rugs that need to be attended.
• Sweep- Because there is so little carpet, I only have the kiddo with this chore sweep one or two rooms.
• Bathroom- I make my own bathroom cleaner mixing vinegar and dawn, this allows the kiddos to help scrub the tub (with a dish brush thingy) and wipe the counters off.  They also pick up any clothes someone may have left in the floor and put them in the laundry basket.
• Dishes- Depending on the child who picked this it could mean un-loading the dish washer, or simply picking up any stay cups and bowls that may have made it into different rooms.
• Help Mommy- This chore just allows me to have a kiddo help me with anything special I may be doing. If I am going to mow the yard they can help pick up the toys outside, or if I am cleaning out the fridge they can help me wipe it out ect... you get the point.

 I also made a little marker for each kiddo that is on the fridge with their initials.

 I simply placed the magnets in a small bag and each day the kids (Monkey, Bubby, and Babydoll) pick two.  I don't let them see what they are picking.  If a particular chore really doesn't need to be done that day I simply remove the corresponding magnet from the bag before they pick. 

If no one picks a chore that really needs to be done that day, such as feed dogs/cats I simply ask if anyone would like to help me with it.  If I don't get a volunteer it's not that big of a deal I don't mind doing it myself! Except the run away toys, they drive me insane! So each child has a tote bag that I give them at the end of the day, then each child goes from one side of the house to the other filling their bag with their own toys.  The kiddos then put the bag in their room and are allowed to leave the toys in it until the following day.

I bought the cheap little vinyl bags from Wal-Mart or a craft store and they are holding up just fine! Even baby Boogie helps out with the capture of the run away toys.

I know that this is a very simple and not so adorable chore chart, unlike some that are out there, but hey it works for my family! I was able to put it all together in one night, and we started implementing it the next day.  Besides, I had that super kick butt magnet already on my fridge (Oh you must be confusing me for the maid we don't have) so this idea went right along with our odd sense of humor! We don't give the kids money for their chores I want them to understand that because they live here they should contribute, plus they should pick up behind themselves.  I sure don't get paid for all that I do around the house and one day they will be walking in my shoes so hey it's an early education.  

I don't think that parents who do give money for chores are doing anything wrong, it's just not the choice that Jerm and I made!

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT....NO GRATING NEEDED!!!

Three simple ingredients, no grating, and cheap...perfect laundry detergent!

The Inspiration!

I found this great detergent HERE!

All you need is:

3 Tablespoons of Borax

3 Tablespoons of Washing Powder 

2 Tablespoons of the Blue Dawn

Mix the Borax, Washing Powder and Dawn in a microwave safe container, add four cups of boiling water and stir the mixture.  

Why did I say microwave safe container...well because if you buy a cheap container to use as a dispenser for the laundry detergent and then add the boiling water well...this happens!

Jerm, Monkey and I laughed our butts off watching this happen, luckily the container was in the sink so it didn't even make a big mess!

After the mixture cools, place it in the container you wish to use (gallon size) and fill the container with cold water.  If you add the water at an angle the mixture doesn't bubble as much.

Use 1/2 cup to 1 cup per load. I paid a total of $8.00 for the ingredients and each box contained 3-4 LBS of powder while the detergent only uses 3 Tablespoons per batch of each!  The blue Dawn only used 2 tablespoons and Dawn lasts for a while in my house! See super cheap!  I have washed a few loads of clothes and they have all come out super clean and smelling so fresh. It's a nice clean smell!!

Ninja Star Coasters....?

Back in the days of Wedding scrambling planning, I learned how to make coasters out of bathroom tiles. I found a picture on Pinterest, figured out the basic way to do it. (Am I the only one where half the pins I find, link back to nothing?)  I was going to use the coasters as favors for the wedding using the stamps I used for the invitations as a way to decorate them.  Then in all that scrambling planning I lost track of time and it was one of the few DIY projects that had to be tossed. I gave the two boxes of bathroom tile to my dad minus the few I had practiced stamping on.  The other day I decided to make our family some coasters out of the left over tiles.

My basic inspiration came from here, but I did change a few things due to my tiles being stamped and just for my own preference.

source

Supplies:

1. Four Ceramic Tiles: Bought these at Home Depot $25.00 for box of 80, I had a gift card so none of this came out of pocket.  These particular tiles are 4.24 x 4.25 they also sell them individually for under $0.30.
2. Mod podge
3. Foam brush
4. Cardstock: I am sure you can use regular construction paper, news paper anything you like, but I wanted cardstock because it was thicker, and less bubbles. I bought four sheets for $0.29 each, but I still have enough to make another set, or use for some other small project.
5. Felt: I changed it to an all felt bottom instead of felt circles because I didn't like how the bottom of the tile looked.  The felt was $0.25 per sheet, and I used one sheet to make all four coasters.
6. Lacquer: this cost me like $4.00 but I can use it on a lot of other projects, the can is still really full.

Total Cost: about $5.50 for four coasters!

Step 1:

You want to cut your paper down to size. I had to cut my paper to 4.25 x 4.25 because of the stamps on the tile.  If you would like a nice edging around the paper simply cut the paper down to 3.75 x 3.75. It gives you a pretty edge of what ever color your tile is. This is where those handy paper cutters really come into play.

Step 2:

Apply a thin coat of mod podge to the tile using your foam brush.

Then place the paper where you want it, the plus to card stock is that it is thicker so you can slide it around till you get it where you want it.  Let the paper sit until it is dry, I just continued with other tiles while letting the ones before dry.

Step 3:

Apply mod podge to the top of the paper, this is really important if you cut the paper smaller than the tile, it will prevent the edges of the paper from peeling up.  

I allowed the first coat to dry then gave each tile a second coat.  The thinner each coat the faster they will dry.

Step 4:

Spray each tile with a good coat of the Lacquer, make sure you are in a well ventilated area!

I gave each tile two coats of Lacquer, letting them dry in between.  The lacquer allows the paper to stay dry when glasses of liquid have condensation dripping down.

Step 5:

Coat the back of each tile with mod podge (only if you are attaching a full sheet of felt)

I don't like the way that the tiles look on the back, so I used a full sheet of felt to cover the back!

You can buy the little circles of felt at most craft stores, or in craft sections, some are even self adhesive.  You are using the felt to prevent the tiles from scratching your tables.  Just go with whatever you think would look better!

Finished Product!

We like to use Fall colors in our decorating.  I love fall, I am originally from Oklahoma and there isn't a season called fall there! :) I love the colors and Jerm says they are relaxing and not girly.  After thinking about these coasters I realized that with an almost two year old who uses our living room as a play room that these may become weapons for her.  I think that for now I am going to place them on the Dining Room table and use them as bases for pillar candles ( the electronic smell good kind) At least until I can trust her not to ninja star them at my head!

Not that this sweet baby would ever do something like that right....

P.S I linked this post up with Make It Yourself Monday so head on over there and check out some other cute ideas!

Ants....I just can't stand them!!!

In Kentucky you end up with ants everywhere during the summer!!! In the weirdest of places and of course the places you would expect them.  I despise ants, they are the bane of my existence most summer months.  Ok, that may be a little extreme, but they really do annoy me!!  One day while enjoying my timed pintrest fun (yes I set a timer otherwise I lose all track of time) I found a recipe to kill the little boogers.  I want to share this...need to share this for all those other unfortunate souls who are going ant crazy!!!

Ingredients:

Yield:4cups

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons boric acid
• 3 cups warm water

Directions:

1. Mix the sugar and Boric Acic well.
2. Add the warm water slowly, mixing all the while so it won't be too lumpy.
3. Store in a jar.
4. When ready to use, put cotton into the top of a jar lid to fill it, and then saturate the cotton to the top.
5. Place where you want it; make several if you need it.
6. Will keep for a long while.
7. NOTE: I usually drip a drop or two over the edge of the lid to rest on the counter so they will find it sooner.
8. It sometimes takes a little while for them to find it, but find it they will.
9. When they do, let them alone; you will want to kill them because they look so creepy; but don't because they will hang over the edge of the lid and drink, drink, drink, and then take it back to the nest.
10. Almost over night, they will be gone.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/get-rid-of-ants-ants-ants-203233#ixzz20ZL3mGke

The Pinrest picture led me to the site above.  So I followed the directions, except I have a basket of random sock and since we were gone all day, and I ran out of containers, well yeah some socks got used :)  I have two cats, they sniffed one container and left it alone, but  I would still be careful where you placed it!!

This is what I found when I got home, and the white socks well they were almost black.....it is very hard not to kill them all....they are just sitting there easy targets and all....but they need to take that back to the hill, so for now there they stay.....I will update on how it works!!!

UPDATE:

After about 24 hours I no longer have ants in my laundry room ( where the cat food is) there are none on my computer table, (where I have a tendency to spill drinks on the floor) and there are very very few in my living room and kitchen, I say success!!! I think that I am going to put these little containers down each night till they are all gone!