Kids Reading Lounge

It's a rainy day in D.C., so our new outdoor reading lounge is packed up at the moment, but you can head over to Honest to Nod to see how we roll it out when the sun is shining! So easy and super cozy.

Tips to Organize Sports Equipment

Yes, we're still here!! As you might have noticed, we've been busy doing all kinds of things other than posting on the blog. But I've been planning a bunch of new projects, including getting our house ready for summer break, so just stick with me. 

As I count down the last days of school (I think I'm more excited about it than my kids), I start making a mad dash to organize the house for full time kid occupancy. And no where needed it more than our sports equipment area. Head over to Honest to Nod to see my attempt at helping the kids keep track of the ever-growing gear! 

p.s. this is Penny's blog debut and she's doing exactly what she's good at: getting into things and looking adorable doing so. 

Kids Maker Area

I'm sure you've noticed that Cam has become a prolific maker of all kinds of arts and crafts. I can hardly keep up with the projects she's got going on at any given time. So we decided to make her her very own maker space. Head over to Honest to Nod to check it out!!

5 DIY Plant Ideas for Spring

I spent a lot of the winter season looking forward to spring and the return of outdoor gardening, but there are significant benefits to planting indoors, too. Along with adding design details and a great punch of color, house plants also help clean and filter the air inside your home. Plants can actually filter out mold spores, bacteria, and a variety of toxins, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Don't have a green thumb? Don't worry. Many of the indoor plants that help improve indoor air quality are also of fairly hardy stock. We have some mother-in-law's tongue plants prominently displayed in our home year round, but I've also been keeping my eye on some fun DIY planters to add into rotation this spring. In particular, I've been looking for projects that the kids would enjoy too. Here are a few of my favorites.

Recycled Faux Marble Planters

It's no surprise by now that I have a serious love for all things marble. But I also love that there is a recycled component to these faux marble planters that makes this DIY project even more green. The fact that succulents are low maintenance is an added bonus.

Fun Toy Planters

 This is technically another recycled DIY project. Try using one of your kiddos' old toys to make a modern and fun planter. I particularly like the idea of spray painting the toy gold for a chic look. Cam would be all over that.

Kids' Hair Planters

These silly hair planters double as science lessons for your kids. The grass will grow quickly, but you could also try planting a crazy succulent to give your kiddo's photo a fun looking hat.

Air Plants

There are so many different DIY projects out there for air plants. Check out this roundup that has a good range of easy to more complicated projects. You can't beat a plant that doesn't need to be watered! In addition, I think some of the hanging versions would be great clutter-free ways to add color to a child's room. Because, let's face it, probably the last thing they need is another tchotchke on their dressers.

Indoor Herb Garden

An herb garden is one of the first outdoor projects we get going in the spring. We have a sunny spot in our side yard, and we use big planters to grow my favorites for cooking. If you don't have the outdoor space or if you simply want a smaller version handy in your kitchen, think about planting a series of pots or organizing them on a tray. I like this DIY project that also offers extra space to store kitchen necessities.

Honestly, there are so many cute options, it's hard to pick a place to start. You can't go wrong with any of these low-maintenance DIY projects that serve double duty to keep your indoor air clean and give you a healthy boost for spring.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Bounds Heating & Air. Thanks for helping to support the sponsors who support us!

5 Tips for Spring Cleaning Prep

This winter hasn't been particularly harsh, but for some reason I've had the itch to kick off spring cleaning for a while now. Maybe it's just because our kids seem to have amassed a ridiculous amount of stuff this winter or because we've all had a never-ending cold, but I'm ready to whip our house into shape. In years past, I've let the cleaning impulse simmer only to lose my mind finally and start upending closets willy-nilly. Since then, I've become much better about preparing for spring cleaning, and I have a few tips to share.

Plan in Stages

I break down any real cleaning effort into three stages: purge, organize, and clean. Going through these sequentially seems like a lot of work, but I find that it really saves time in the end. There is no sense cleaning toys you end up giving away. I like to start on a level of our home and go through one stage at a time for all the rooms on a floor. 

Involve the Entire Family

I always loop our kids into a cleaning effort. It helps teach them to be responsible, to take care of their things, and to appreciate the daily efforts of maintaining a household. If they balk, I let them know that they can help make the purging decisions or that I can ruthlessly do it for them. Think of some ways to make it fun for them, too. Whip up a silly product like cleaning slime or turn making labels for their stuff into an art project.

Take Stock of Supplies

Go through your cleaning and organizing supplies and make a list of what you have and what you need. Planning ahead ensures that you have whatever you need to get the job done once you get started. I also find that buying supplies in bulk makes the effort more cost-effective.

Outsource Maintenance

There are several home maintenance items that you'll likely need to outsource to the pros. Plan ahead for things like sprinkler system, pool, and air conditioner maintenance. Service providers book up quickly, and you don't want to wait until you really need these systems.

Make a Schedule

It's easy to let all of this slide, so I like to make a schedule to hold myself accountable. It doesn't need to be a Martha Stewart-worthy calendar, although Martha has a great checklist that I use as a starting point. Making a simple list with dates for each stage is enough. I always like to give everyone a reward for crossing items off the schedule. Let the kids pick a small prize for doing a good job organizing their rooms. You don't want to go overboard, since a big part is of spring cleaning getting rid of excess things. A little incentive never hurts, though!

This might seem like a lot, but with a little bit of planning, I find these to be effective tips that get me started on spring cleaning. Now I just have to tell the kids.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Merritt Heating & Air Conditioning. Thanks for helping to support the sponsors who support us!