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Just A Night Owl (photo cedit above): I love the simplicity and whimsy of this crafty wood wall art. I think she had me at "play". She has instructions to make your own!

I want one of these canvas wall photos by GeeZees on Etsy. So amazing! Write out your vows, a special quote, or lyrics from your "song" and add it to the photo!

Fancy Pants Prints: Cah-uute! Free Lunch Box Note Printables. I just want to squee! when I look at them!

Do you have a Cricut Cutting Machine? Imperfectly Beautiful shows you how to cut fabric with it! I have always wanted tolearn how to do that!

1. Our bedroom is upstairs. Anyone who lives in a 2 story home knows what the pain of lugging large quantities of clothes up and down the stairs does to a person's soul. It makes you. Never. Ever. Want to do a load of laundry again.
2. We had one of those canvas and aluminum "laundry sorters": a.k.a. "The Pit of Despair". Sure it might work downstairs, in an actual laundry room- but I thought somehow it would work upstairs in the closet, since we didn't have room near the washer and dryer. Big Mistake. Big.
3. 4 people in our family + a week's worth of clothes = 9 loads of laundry. Do I need to say more?
4. The Sock Monster: He lives in our dryer. And eats socks for lunch. I can never get the same amount of socks that go in, to come out.
5. Getting them in the wash is enough of a chore. But, get them out, fold them and then put them away? You have got to be kidding me.

1. I decided the cornerstone of my my epic laundry failure was that hideous excuse for a solution called the laundry sorter. It had to go. Now. I picked up a simple vertical hamper from Target. The less laundry it held the better. I would be less inclined to let the clothes pile on top, creating a veritable Mount Olympus.
2. And instead of lugging heaping piles of clothes down the stairs, I just threw it all over the side of the stairs. Problem Solved.
3. Along with the new, smaller (albeit taller) laundry basket, I purchased a 12x12 inch mesh laundry bag. Every sock we own goes in there. When I want to do a load, I throw the bag in with the other clothes. Magically, the same socks that go in, come out.
4. I then purged excess clothing that I no longer need, want or wear. Repeat with husband's clothes. Donate.
5. Next up, I try and do a load every few days or every day. Usually, we don't have enough of the same kind of load (i.e. darks, etc.) to do an entire load. And I hate doing little kid clothes with grown up clothes. And really, who wants to do laundry every day? Call me weird. So, it's about a two day turnover for us.
6. When I must do multiple loads of laundry, I try and alternate the types of loads. I do a load of darks, then a load of towls, then a load of lights, then a load of jeans. Thereby, alternating the amount of items needing to be folded and allowing me to catch up.
7. My husband's stinky running/coaching clothes get their own separate, small basket, away from everyday clothes. Underneath that I stack extra sorting baskets, for days when there are multiple loads.
8. I also keep a small  basket on top of the washer for dish rags, hand towels, and the odd piece of child clothing that mysteriously makes it's way downstairs.

So far, I am on week 2 and it's working out. Less clothes + smaller hamper size = less overall laundry. And the laundry I am doing, has a working system.

It feels good.

*photo by antwerpenR

I've been a little MIA recently. Everthing is fine around here, I am just taking on some real life challenges that are requiring more of my time. One of those challenges, was a Laundry Intervention. More on that coming this week. I also have some stellar reviews and crafty projects coming up. So, stay tuned.

On to the linky goodness. Who needs that depressing Sunday paper, when there are links like these:

Mayhem Studios: Practical steps for protecting your blog content from those that would steal it and claim it as their own.

bkids: oh my word. I about died when I saw this foam letter and wooden block printing activity on The Crafty Crow. so doing this!

Confessions Of A Homeschooler is one of my favorite reads. She has excellent letter of the week printables and much much more. Even if you aren't a homeschooler, a lot of her activities are great for anytime. For example, her "One Another" post about talking to her children about how to love one another (using scriptures from the bible) - so simple and yet conveys some core biblical/moral concepts. How did she know I would need this?

Kabooze: Mother/Daughter Togetherness Ideas -spend time with your daughter celebrating her special unique gifts and bonding over some of the age appropriate activities listed.

**I was unable to locate a particular link from earlier this week,due to some compute "issues", if that's you, I apologize. Look for the link in next week's links round up.

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow's muffin tin monday theme is orange.


His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.


For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Did you know that there is a special celebration that happens at schools across the country on the 100th day of the school year? Well, there is! The 100th day celebration is a great way to mark a milestone in the school year, to celebrate learning, and to have fun! It is typically celbrated in the lower grades (K-5).

Muffin Tin Girl recently celebrated her 100th day of school with these fun and simple ideas:

I recieved a delicious Spiced Tea Mix as a gift over the Christmas Holiday. And a gracious friend shared this easy chicken marinade recipe to use with it:

• 1 Cup Orange Juice
• 1 Dollop of Honey (really, can you ever have too much honey?)
• 2 Tablespoons Spiced Tea Mix

Mix OJ and Tea Mix. Stir. Add Honey. Stir. Pour over Chicken Breast. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

* don't have the tea mix or don't want to make it? Add just some of the ingredients: It's made up of tang, white sugar, ice tea mix, ground cloves, cinnamon, and ginger

Easy. Peasy. Lemon. er...Orange. Squeezy.

Happy Monday! I realized that this week might also have been a great opportunity to have done a Presiden't DAy theme. So, if you did that, wonderful!

Here's what we did!


What did you do for Muffin Tin Monday? Won't you share it with us? Leave the url to your blog post or photo in the form below.

Such a wonderful holiday, Valentine's Day! I absolutely love blogging about all things hearts and love. I even love making a heart with my index fingers in mid air. And right now as I type this I am making that "sign" with my fingers to say "I heart you!" Let me tell you dear readers how much I appreciate you. Let me. Some of you I have met in real life and have devloped lasting friendships with, some of you are family (that's you mom!) and some of you I only know through the tip tap of the keyboard. Thank you for stopping by as you do, I would not be writing if it weren't for you. Well, maybe I would, but it wouldn't be as fun. Your comments and emails, and our back and forths every day are a treasure. I hope to keep blogging long into the future.

What is it about Valentine's day that brings out the "crafty crazy" in me? I seriously. Can't. Get. Enough. Cuteness!  This week I have found some real gems. I hope you like.

Katherine Marie Photography: Upcycle an empty box of chocolates - put lunch in it a la "Muffin Tin Meal" style. Soooooo awesome. Makes me think: Why didn't I think of that! Special Thanks to The Masked Mommy for letting me in Katherine's awesome photos!

Kaboose: How adorable is this cotton ball "powdered wig" craft for President's Day? Go see for yourself!

Everyday Mama: Christine recently posted a great round up of crayon inspired artwork ideas.

Between The Lines: I love this 3D paper heart garland with  it's unique design and charming colors

Lastly, I'll point you in the direction of both The Crafty Crow and One Pretty Thing for further crafty love!

*photo by helga

Muffin Tin Monday has simply exploded across the web over the last 18 months. Over 100 blogs and parents have participated, ensuring a brighter more cheerful Monday with each Muffin Tin Meal made. There’s even a Flickr group dedicated to MTM (come on over, I’m the moderator!). I am also working on a MTM Blogroll, I'll keep you posted when I am ready to compile the list.

This Week:
There’s no theme lined up for this week’s link up. (Upcoming themes can always be found in my sidebar (over that way -----> ). If you follow me on twitter, you may have seen my tweet about scoring these adorable butterfly silicone cups for $1. That’s right, friends, just one dollar!


In The Tin:

• Carrot Sticks
• Peach Yogurt with Sprinkles
• Celery Sticks
• Chocolate Chips
• Mozzarella Cheese Circles
• Shredded Turkey On Toothpicks

Want to join in on the fun and link up with all of the other Muffin Tin Mamas? SImply enter the URL of your Muffin TIn Monday Post in the form below. Not sure what to do? Check out past MTM Posts here and on all the participating blogs as well as the MTM FAQ

Happy Sunday to you all. I hope you are with the ones you love today.

Here are this week's links. Fresh "off the press". Who needs the Sunday Paper with links like these:

Found this super cool video on how to curl your hair without rollers or a curling iron! Iris shares the video tutorial on via http://www.wonderhowto.com/ Kind of a morden pincurl...

Pink and Green Mama: Crayon Valentine Heart Cards. Simple. Personalized. Handmade. Colorful. I just love it!

Do you enjoy pouring over all the photostream's on Flickr that feature Playrooms? Check it out!

Good Morning! Muffin Monday is here!

The theme this week is Dr. Seuss!! It's his birthday next month, and one of us Muffin Tin Mamas thought it might be a great idea to do a Dr. Seuss theme. Thanks Jamie!

• A "one fish" sandwich
• "two fish" gummies
• Blue Ocean water
• A school of "glad" Fish
• "new fish" fish eggs
• Stars (some of them have stars of their bellies!)