Chore Chart...Again

I am continually searching for and trying new chore chart systems to find one that works well for the kids and I.

The last chore chart, here, was nice and probably would have worked, except that the two little ones kept moving the magnets.  It was impossible to keep track of what was done and what was left to do.  So, back to Pinterest I went.

I gathered ideas from a few different sites and came up with this.  I used a manila folder for the main body of the chart.  Magnetic tape holds the individual chore doors closed.  The chore pictures have velcro on the back, so I can change them out if I need to.  The inside of the doors have dry erase stickers on them so that I can write out the chore.  I also used a dry erase sticker to write the day of the week at the top.  For each chore, they earn a ticket (worth 10 cents-I know that doesn't sound like much, but it adds up at the end of the week).  I put the tickets in their "money earned" pocket and then pay up at the end of the week when they add up all their tickets.  So far, paying at the end of the week rather than at the end of each day is much better for me.  I don't forget, like I did when I was paying at the end of each day.  The middle pocket holds extra chores that they are not doing that day.  If they complete all their daily chores, they get to check off a circle.  When all the circles are checked, they will get a prize (like frozen yogurt or a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's - if they say it's okay, of course).  Finally, each day they have the opportunity to earn "Super Bee".  I stuck him on with velcro as well.  If they are well behaved, follow directions, not whining, nice to their siblings, etc., they can redeem "Super Bee" the following day for 30 minutes of an activity they don't always get to do.  For example, F loves video games.  So, now, he has to have a "Super Bee" in order to play and he only gets to play for 30 minutes.  Cb's likes to ride her bike out front and play board games with me.  So, if she picks one of those, I will stand out front so she can ride her bike or take a break and play a board game with her.  So far, I'm really liking this new system.  I hope it lasts awhile.  I put the charts up high enough so that the two little ones can't mess with them.

Here are the sites where I got my inspiration and some of the printables that I used.

DIY fabric covered magnet board

I've seen this project on several sites and, thanks to my parents' Home Depot gift card birthday gift, I was able to finally buy the supplies to make it!

I already had the fabric, leftover from the wonderful kitchen curtains MP made for me when we moved in, and the picture frame.  I purchased a sheet of galvanized metal from Home Depot, they come in various sizes, and then spray adhesive.

1. Spray the metal sheet with adhesive spray.

2. Lay your fabric on top and smooth out wrinkles and bubbles.

3. Flip the whole thing over and spray the fabric edges with adhesive.

4. Fold and press the fabric edges to the back of the sheet metal.

5. Put in a frame and hang!  A place where the kids can hang their artwork that is attractive and not the fridge! 

I also had a small metal sheet, so I made a mini board where I can post my reminders and such.  I left the frame off this one.  The next project I want to try and make is to take some chicken wire, fasten it to the back of a frame, and then use cute clothespins to hang artwork.  Maybe I can make that one for our bedroom.

Organizing

I LOVE organization!  I wish I were more organized.  I love to look at tips and pictures on pinterest of ways to organize your home and I like reading my MomPom's book, "Sidetracked Home Executives", and dream about implementing all their ideas.  I know, I have little kids now and they take a lot of work, which is a good excuse, but I don't want an excuse.  I want to be organized!  Organization feels warm and happy to me.  So, I am attempting to get more organized, one project at a time.

This week, I was tired of my aluminum foil, cling wrap, sandwich bags, etc. all rolling around whenever I opened my cabinet.  So, I took an over-the-door shoe organizer that I wasn't using anymore, cut it, sewed on some loops and hung it up in my kitchen to store the rolls in.  I made two, so I hung another one on the side of the fridge, but I haven't figured out what I will use it for, yet.

Next, I decided to re-organize my kitchen cabinets.  I told my mom, "I wish the builder would leave instructions on what he intended each cabinet to be used for so that I could have a guide on where to put everything."  Nevertheless, I feel things are getting better organized and I am liking what I'm seeing.  I wanted to move all my spices out of the cabinet and do something creative with them.  Originally, I planned to re-purpose some of littlest A's baby food jars by putting magnets on the bottoms, labeling the lids and sticking them on the side of the fridge with spices in them.  Fortunately, my magnets weren't strong enough and the jars kept falling down.  This failure led me to my success of sticking magnet tape on the back of my existing spice tins, which are already in cute, nicely sized containers, and just sticking them on the side of the fridge.  Now, when I run out, I can just refill the tins!  Love it!

As my Grandma says, "A place for everything and everything in it's place!"