31 Things to Do in October

(Photo via www.history.com)

My friend Jill made this list with fun ideas to do every day in October. A few of the ideas are local to Utah, but most can be done no matter where you live. Pick a few from the list or try them all. October is a great month to do fun things as a family.

Delicious Autumn

(Picture taken by my hubby)

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." ~George Eliot

Color-Coded & Labeled Containers

Happy October! Have you pulled out your Halloween decorations yet? I started this afternoon, but got stopped in my tracks when I realized that the totes all look the same. Some have labels and some don't. (For those of you who know me, you're shocked, I'm sure!) So today my post is organizational advice for myself and for any others who want to organize their holiday decorations.

1. Buy storage totes that are all the same size. It makes stacking and storing them easier.

2. If you can, buy the colored totes. They make orange and black ones for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, and pastel totes for Easter. If you keep your eyes open, you can probably find about any color to coordinate with your holiday.

3. Label, label, label! Make your labels detailed. For example, I have one container with pumpkin decorations. I use the Avery adhesive address labels and I put a pumpkin icon next to the title "Pumpkins". I make sure to stick the labels on the side of the container that faces outward.

4. Next I make a list of all the items that are stored in that box. I print the list on Avery adhesive paper, trim to size, and stick that beneath the title. This makes searching for just the right item easier and it makes putting the decorations away easier too. Hubby knows just which container items go in and they get packed back up so they all fit!

5. As you buy or receive new decorations, keep a list of them and update your content list when you pack your decorations back up at the end of the holiday season.

Hopefully these tips will help you organize your holiday cuteness. Happy decorating and even happier organizing!

Spooky Black Halloween Branches

I saw these darling black painted branches on a display at Oh Sweet Sadie this last weekend. Doesn't it look darling for displaying spooky ornaments and halloween decorations? Go find some twisty, branches and spray paint them black. Place them in a cute vase or jar and decorate the container with some cute ribbon.

Here are some other cute black branches used as Halloween decor:
Design Mom's branches
Spooky Halloween Tree
Branches w/ Halloween Garland
Bewitching Branch w/ instructions

30 Minute Almond Chicken

I got this recipe in my email from Kraft Foods last week and thought it looked delicious.

It calls for:
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups green beans, trimmed, halved
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup PLANTERS Sliced Almonds

You can find the complete recipe here.

Ready, Set, Christmas Shop!

Thursday marked the 3-month countdown to Christmas. I like to get all of my Christmas shopping done early so I can enjoy the holidays without the stress. Today I want you to sit down and make a list of all the people you need to buy for. Start brainstorming gift ideas and get clothing sizes. Keep all of your information in one place. I keep my list on my computer and print out a copy for my purse. For the next few months, I can keep my eye out for sales, deals, free shipping and buy one get one free deals for the recipients on my list. It spreads out the financial burden and keeps those costly last-minute purchases to a minimum. Help yourself to a stress-free holiday this year.

One Day as a Lion

(Photo courtesy from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com)

"It's better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb."

~the quote that inspired Zack de la Rocha (formely of Rage Against The Machine) to call his new band 'One Day as a Lion'

This is one of my hubby's favorite quotes, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Go be bold and lion-like today.

Do-It-Yourself Charging Station

(Photo courtesy of http://www.momready.com/)

Are you drowning in chargers and cords? Between the iPods, the cameras, cell phones, and portable video games, we've got cords everywhere. That's why I fell in love with this simple do-it-yourself idea from MomReady. Go here for a step by step picture tutorial on how to make your very own charging station. Best of all, it looks easy and it will hide our jumbled mess of cords.

Fall Decorating

(Photo and instructions for feather wreath can be found at www.marthastewart.com)

I love the warm colors of fall and the cozy and whimsical decor that starts to pop up this time of year. Here are some fantastic links to get you inspired...

1. Black stenciled white pumpkin on a pedestal
2. 20 fall decor ideas along with instructions from Martha Stewart
3. Berry branch photo holder
4. Black & orange mantel decor
5. Fruits & vines for decor
6. A bunch of cute autumn decor

Blueberry Scones

I ran across this recipe for blueberry scones made with sour cream on Vanilla Joy. Go check out the recipe here. I think it looks and sounds delicious!

Sales & Hot Deals

1. Old Navy: 20% off your entire purchase + FREE shipping! Use code: BFF (expires 9/21/08)
2. The Children's Place: Huge sale $9.99 and under (no code required)

And...if you're itching to start your Halloween shopping...
~Spirit Halloween Store has a bunch of online coupons here.
~Disney has many costumes on sale too. You can use the code: TREATS to get FREE shipping (expiration unknown)

Autumn Color I-Spy Car Game

(Photo courtesy of www.freepicturesfreepictures.com)

The leaves here are starting to turn beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. Pile the family into the car and drive around to look at the vibrant colors of autumn. Take your camera and squeeze in a family picture while you're out. Make the drive fun for the kids by giving them a list of things to spy. Here are a few ideas:

• An all-red tree
• A burned tree
• A lake
• A river
• A bright yellow tree
• An animal
• A tree with no leaves
• A red bush
• Yellow wildflowers
• Blue wildflowers
• A pine tree
• A tree with orange leaves
• A waterfall
• A green bush
• A tree with brown leaves

Tailor the list to the kinds of trees and plants you'll see on your drive. Have fun!

Everyone's an Artist

(Photo courtesy of www.toothpastefordinner.com)

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
~Pablo Picasso

Release your inner artist and do something colorful today. You've got it in you!

Organizing & Storing Your Small Jewelry

Looking for ways to organize your small jewelry? Here are a few ideas...

1. Buy an earring stand like the one above from this website.

2. Use a pill box and put pairs of earrings together in each different day's compartment.

3. Use a tackle box to hold your jewelry. (Remember Caboodles?)

4. Thread small earring pairs through a button to keep them together.

5. Use the containers made for storing small nails, screws, nuts, etc. You can pick one up at your local hardware store.

6. Cover a piece of foam with cute fabric and wrap ribbon horizontally across the board like a french memo board. Coordinate with your decor and you can hang the foam on the wall. Press your earrings into the foam.

How do you store your jewelry?