The "Perfect" Cupcake

I've posted this before but I wanted to share again... just because a box has certain directions doesn't mean that is always the best way to do it... I got sick of flat cupcakes with 6 inches of icing just to make them look pretty. So I went through about 10-15 boxes of mix trying to figure out the "right" way to make them so they're full and pretty. I always prepared it based on the box directions, in my stand mixer and the only thing I altered was my baking time & temperatures. Here is my discovery:

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.  

Child Custody Court Binder

First and foremost, let me put this out there... I am NOT GIVING ANY KIND OF LEGAL ADVICE. This is just how I helped organize all the court documentation for my friends child custody matters with his ex. I will include links to some of the forms I use to keep track of information to have on hand for court but again, THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. 

My friend has an 8 year old daughter and until she's 18 it's a constant child custody battle and keeping track of all the necessary information and paperwork was becoming quite a hassle. I searched "Organizing Child Custody Paperwork" "Maintaining Child Custody Papers" and any other combination or change of phrase there of and found NOTHING. I guess they don't realize just how many families go pro-se, or just want to keep things more organized than just in a box. 


You can download all the files from DropBox here.

Tools:

4" Binder

1-31 Divider Tabs

31 Sheet Protectors
4x6 photo sheet protectors (I like these from Amazon)

All Your Documents/Information

Print Outs of All the Printables  (available below, or make your own)

Instructions

• To begin print off the Divider Pages which also includes the cover page and binder spine   for the binder. Once you have them printed place each in a sheet protector and then into your binder in the order you feel would be most helpful to you (this is why there is no Table of Contents because you may not need all the sections or you may have a different order that works best for you). Also, the 1-31 Divider Tabs will come with a TOC sheet you can fill in. I know the number pages are shallower than the sheet protectors, but they're still easy to find since everything else is black and white. 
• 3 hole punch all documents so that they fit neatly in the binder, be careful 3-hole punching originals, I, personally, would only do copies and keep your originals in a box.

•  Once you have all your sections laid out and your pages punched place them in your binder. I have a few sheets that I've built that I find helpful for maintaining information. My Incidents of Contempt, Timeline Summary, Weekly Calendar 10/04-08/22, All my printables are free to download I only ask that you do not sell or steal my work and please leave all copyrights in place. If you would like to share my documents please direct them to my blog, do not re-link.

Only 2 years in the court system and this is how thick his binder is. AND this is only the pertinent information, I have hundreds of other sheets that I have scanned in for him using my NeatDesk scanning software & scanner.

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.

Homemade All Natural Deodorant

Deodorant is a necessity in life, it just is, I started looking at natural alternatives because the cost of store bought is really high as well as the amount/type of ingredients in deodorant/antiperspirant is mind blowing. I have finally found one that I like and it works better than any I've ever bought at the store.

It's 3 simple ingredients (or 4 depending on if you want it scented). Cornstarch, baking soda & coconut oil. I love coconut oil and you'll see it a lot more on my blog because it's uses are endless. If you want it scented you can add some essential oils or you can add a little talcum powder and it smells like baby powder (you can use baby powder instead of talc, but I really wanted to stick with truly all natural).

 

The recipe is super simple, it's 2 TBL of coconut oil and 4 TBL each of cornstarch & baking soda. If you are using talc or baby powder, just reduce the cornstarch and baking soda to 3 TBL each and use 2 TBL of talc. This makes it super thick and impossible to mix but if you microwave the mixture for 10 seconds the coconut oil will completely melt and make mixing it easy once it cools it will solidify. Since this is so solid while it's still slightly warm you can spoon it into an empty deodorant container (with the base screwed 1-2 clicks from the bottom) and toss in the freezer for 5 minutes. 

It's messy getting it in since it's a non-Newtonian fluid, and I didn't want anyone to assume it's not so I took a picture of once I got my filled, I just waited a few seconds for it to solidify and it crumbled right off the sides.

 

DO NOT try to turn it up while it's cold, the mechanism on the container will break, let it come back to room temperature (2-3 hours) and then use like normal, altogether costs less than $0.25 for an entire stick of deodorant and you can make it smell like any essential oil you want by adding a couple drops, or baby powder as previously mentioned.

After mine came back to room temperature I screwed it up a little and molded it with the top and a rag just for ease of use & to be a little less scratchy since I had put it in the freezer with the top flattened so the edges were a little sharp.

Just remember with planning and organization, you can do it all. 

From Drab to Fab... A "New" Chalkboard Table

We got a super steal on a table at a yard sale... it was FREE! Though it was a horrible yellow color we knew there was something we could do with it. 

 So we stripped it.

Then we sanded it.

Then we primed it.

 
Finally we painted it, we put chalkboard paint on the top and a pretty lavender on the legs & trim. 

 She LOVES the table.

Sick Basket

Below is our “sick basket”.  It contains tissues, cough drops, hand sanitizer, thermometers, Vicks (rub & inhaler), medications that are needed when someone is sick and a plastic grocery bag for the trash. 

In our house when you're sick you stay in bed, we don't want you getting sicker and have found that recovery times are much better when you're inactive. So rather than have a super messy side table or the bed full of stuff and unable to find what you need we keep everything in one place so the 'caretaker' can just bring the basket and you're set. 

I got this basket from Dollar Tree for only $1.00 (they're such a fantastic place for organizing items), everything else I had on hand. The cough drops, vitamin C drops, hand sanitizer (alcohol free), tissues, cough syrup (with and without antihistamine), throat spray, Vick's, and thermometers. I also created a nice little label for it with my label maker. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.  

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.  

Coupon Binder

I am addicted to the show "Extreme Couponers" though as I've found out through internet research, nearly all the episodes are staged, and they let people misuse coupons, ignore store policies and more.  It amazed me how organized and diligent these couponers were and I wanted that and (prior to knowing most were fake) I wanted those savings. So I started my own coupon binder and started clipping coupons and hunting for deals. Despite the fraud that is perpetrated on the show I have had some AMAZING hauls couponing the legal way.

Krazy Coupon Lady is an amazing site that can keep you up to date on most of the deals out there and even tell you what coupons to use and how to stack them for the best deals possible. I originally started my binder with her coupon dividers, but eventually realized they didn't really fit my needs or style so I created my own that were just as pretty. You can download them for free here. 

You can get s super cute binder from Target or Costco but I just wanted cheap, I mean after all that's the point of couponing right, so I got a basic 2" pink binder, though have since had to move up to a 4" white one. 

Since starting my binder I have bought 4 packages of baseball card holders (I tried one of those "Coupon Packs" and hated it). I also purchased 2 packages of sheet protectors to hold my divider sheets as well as my store policies. (You would hope each stores employees would be up to date on the stores policies but one trip to the store will quickly teach you different.) I highly recommend printing each stores policy and bringing it with you, so storing it in your binder is the best option. The major chain stores can be found here. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.  

Ditch the Box - Hot Chocolate

Another installment int he "Ditch the Box" series...This allows you to know EXACTLY what your family is drinking and they are so much healthier & tastier than the store bought mixes.

Hot Chocolate Mix
8 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3 cups sugar
2 cup non-dairy coffee creamer
1 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge pudding

Mix all the ingredients together in a food processor and pulse. Store in an airtight container or pour into a mason jar using a funnel. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup (depending on your cocoa preference) of the mix to an 8 ounce mug of boiling water.

These make GREAT gifts. :)

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.