as Jules is DIYing Archives - Page 5 of 45

Outdoor Toy Storage {Thoughtful Thursday}

February 5, 2015 by Jules Leave a Comment

We've tried lots of different things to hold the kids toys. Laundry baskets. Shelf made from old drawers. And the most recent attempt, an old bakers rack that was left in our shed by the former owner we were using for tools.

After wiping it down I used my favorite kind of paint for furniture {or just about anything}: Spray Paint. After getting the entire thing coated with the blue, I used some cardboard and tape to block off the wooden top and sprayed it with black chalkboard paint then added simple white knobs I had in my pile of "leftover" parts from projects.

I pulled it up on the deck and added toys. We'll see how long this lasts and if it makes the kids wanna put their things away any more than the other tries.

Filed Under: as Jules is DIYing, Decorating, Homemaker, Organizing, Projects

Hospitality Set {Making Hospitality THAT Much Easier}

January 22, 2015 by Jules 2 Comments

Some of us LOVE having people into our home and others...not so much.

Whether you do or don't like it, many of us just don't do it. I think most of the time we aren't hospitable for one or more of the following reasons.

We don't feel like our house is big, clean, nice, host-able {for whatever reason} enough.
We are too busy and aren't home enough to have others over.
We feel like its going to be a lot of work that we don't have the energy for.

I can't solve all these issues but I have found something that helps with a little of all of them. Creating a hospitality set will allow you to

have a set of dishes clean for just the occasion
to grab fast when last-minute hospitality opportunities arise
and it's ready with little to no effort.

This is how I created my hospitality set {based on my most common hospitality needs}:

purchased 16 bowls and 16 plates at the Dollar tree for $1 for a set of 4,
silverware from a local open-to-the-public restaurant store
used containers also from the Dollar tree to store them in. hospitable

This set stays under the counter in these containers and are ONLY used for sudden {and main large} hospitality. This keeps me from freaking out about not having enough dishes clean to feed everyone, it's so easy to get ready, my kids can snatch these items and lay them out, and I don't feel overwhelmed cleaning up afterwards because these are dishwasher save but the kids also think its fun to hand-wash them and I'm not scared to let them.

***Another really cool thing about this set that I just realized, they're Dry-Erasable! Marking friends and family's drinks/plates/bowls are easily marked. Very important right now during flu season! ***

We also have a mini-fridge to set up a drink/snack station this summer for neighborhood friends! What common hospitality needs do you have that might need to be considered for a set you're building?

Filed Under: Homemaker, Organizing, Parties, The ones about the Rothacher Home

Homemade Hibachi-like Fried Rice/Scrambled Eggs and Chicken

January 15, 2015 by Jules Leave a Comment

I went on a date-night with my hubs to Fugis Hibachi Gill and Steakhouse. I'd never been there before and it was num num nummy! I don't usually like to pay for food unless I know I'm going to love it. I'm just frugal like that and don't want to waste money. But I went out on a ledge and ordered something I'd never tried before.

If you've ever been to one of those places you probably know they give you HUGE portions. I didn't know that or I would have shared with hubs. Since I didn't I ended up with an amazing box of leftovers I couldn't stop eating on until my tummy hurt.

When it was gone I wanted so badly to try and make it but just like I don't like ordering things unless I know I'd like it, I don't like to try new recipes unless I know it won't be a terrible waste. This week. I finally attempted it.

It was oh so yummy and I'm totally gonna be making it for our entire family to try. 😀 Here's what I did in case you wanna try it too::

Ingredients {based on the 1 portion I made}:

eggs 2 large
green peppers ~3 Tbs diced small
carrots ~3 Tbs diced small
white rice 1.5 cups cooked
margarine ~1/8 cup
onion powder ~ 1/4 tsp
chicken 1/4 cup cooked
salt & pepper to taste
soy sauce to taste

Directions:

scramble eggs {I've learned I really like using a Tbs of butter rather than milk}
mix in white rice, peppers, carrots, onion powder, and salt and pepper until well mixed
add butter and "fry" everything together until heated to your liking
serve hot and add soy sauce to your liking

Filed Under: as Jules is DIYing, Baking and Cooking, Homemaker

Room-By-Room Decluttering Ideas

January 7, 2015 by Jules Leave a Comment

I know finding a place to start is part of the problem in decluttering a home. Here is a list of things I've decluttered organized by room. Most of these things will take ~15 minutes to get in order.

CLICK FOR A PRINTABLE WINTER DECLUTTERING CHECK LIST 😀

Living Room

Decor/Pictures
Books
Photo Albums
Movies
Video Games
Electronics
Throw Pillows/Blankets
Coat Rack
Shoe Basket
Coffee/End Tables

Dinning Room

Decor/Pictures
Dinning Table
Table Clothes/Place Mats

Kitchen

Decor/Pictures
Counters
Top of Cabinets
Cabinets:
Dishes
Serving Dishes
Bakeware
Pots
Pans
Drawers:
Silverware
Serving Utensils
Cookie Cutters
Pantry
Medicine Cabinet

Laundry Room

Laundry Soaps
Cleaning Supplies
Paper Goods
Cleaning Tools

Bedrooms

Decor/Pictures
Night Stands
Dressers
Closets: clothes, bags/purses, hats, scarves, shoes
Bedding

Bathrooms

Decor
Bathtub/Shower Stall:
Toys
Toiletries
Drawers:
toiletries
washclothsmakeup
hair accessories/tools
Cabinets:
towels
toiletries
clean supplies

Play/School Room

Decor/Pictures
Toys
Games
Books
Curriculum
Craft Supplies

I'm excited to say that nearly 90% of my list has already been checked off! ...the GARAGE. Let's just use the "its too cold outside" excuse and pretend the attic and tiny shed in the backyard don't exist. 😐

Filed Under: as Jules is DIYing, Cleaning, Homemaker, Organizing

Decluttering Kids’ Books with a Win Win Win

January 5, 2015 by Jules 2 Comments

One of the places I've delaying in the Decluttering-My-Home-thing has been the kid's bookshelves.

Sadly, this isn't because I'm a book-lover. I was a little sentimental about who/where they came from but it is mainly because I'm not a reader. I didn't read a lot as a child but I want my kids' to love reading. I know you can learn anything if you're a good reader. I was scared that since I don't really like reading, I'd just chunk everything and be THAT terrible homeschool mom who had no books for her children to read. I mean really, what would people think if they came over and I had no books?! lol but really!

I finally hit it hard last night. As soon as the kids were in bed, I finished picking up and then had my hubs drag ALL their books into the living room from the play/school room where I strung them everywhere while we/he watched a TV show.

I was nervous.

I made piles. Then I reorganized the piles. Then I doubted my piles. Books from HIPPY {that must mean they're good, right?}. Books that damaged. Books I recognized from seeing in the school library as a child. Random. Donate. Trash. I'm not sure.

Ya see what I'm saying, I'm okay at organized but reluctant to declutter. Everything has a purpose, someone one would use it, I might be able to make $2 off of it. Ugg

I finally confessed my fear of getting rid of books to my hubs and then dumped my pile of random books next to him to help me make finally decisions about.

We cleared out a giant tub-full of books. Some I could have possibly sold at the Duck Duck Goose Consignment Event but I just decided that if they made it into the tub from whatever reason, I wasn't going to look at them again. I'm not sure how shaddy this was but I just left the 'donate' and 'trash' pile all together in the tub. I ask my hubs to take the tub to the garage for now so 'the kids' would dig stuff back out of it.

Today we picked back up our attempt at weekly library trips. As I walked out I grabbed that tub. The stupid thing is clear. That's Not Helpful.

I didn't look. I just put it in the front seat and after double checking with the librarian, I brought in the tub and left it with her. Tub and All. I couldn't take the chance of watching her sort through them. Guilt. Regret. Embarrassment.

When I got home, I was hoping the kids didn't really notice me running back into the library with their books. But apparently that's hard to miss. They announced at lunch, "Daddy, we took our books to the library! Now we can rent them any time we want."

Hmm That had never occurred to me. I mean. I'm a genius. I convinced my children it was okay to declutter/get rid of books by taking them to the local library because now someone Else has to store them, we can check them out any time we want, AND other can use them as well! 😀