Organizing Our Homeschool Papers and Plans in Weekly Files

I was really inspired this summer when I read about the file crate system that Dawn is using. I thought, "Wow -- I like that idea!" While she uses hers for school and just about every aspect of their daily life (menu planning, etc.), I was just interested in getting our school stuff organized.

Because of this, and because we are using Winter Promise as a good chunk of our curriculum for this year (social studies, science, and reading), I actually didn't date our folders, but made 36 "week" folders. I realized that we might not finish a folder in exactly a week from time to time, but I think this will make me feel less stressed out if I am "behind" than if there were dates assigned.

But, just in case there are some things that are time sensitive, I have also made twelve folders in the back for each month of the year. That way, I can throw things in there ahead of time (like, for instance, if there is a Christmas activity that I know we want to do) even if I don't know exactly which week we will be on at that point.

(I just used an $8 file box from Target and put five folders inside each hanging folder.)


Inside each folder, I currently have our papers and assignments for all of our Winter Promise things. In addition to this, I have already cut out all of the Timeline Figures that we need to put in our timeline book for that week.


Each week will also have our weekly schedule (I'll only do these no more than two weeks ahead at a time), which I am using from Donna Young's website. I will also check our monthly folders to see if anything needs to go in them before that week, as well as putting in any needed copies or various other papers that we need that week.

My planning was so crazy and disorganized last year. But, this year -- I already feel so much more relief that it is all organized and ready to go!

This post is linked to: Works for Me Wednesday (Back to School Edition) and Thirsty Thursday.

Easy Cupcake Decorating: Spin Art Cupcakes

We recently went all out for the boys' birthdays and had their birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. This is, of course, not keeping in with our trying to be a bit more frugal. But, we decided that since they rarely have a birthday party (especially one with friends), and since we were able to have them both be "the birthday boy" (they allow this for only about $5 extra), we thought it would be a special treat.

Speaking of treats though, knowing that we were spending so much on the actual party, I couldn't imagine spending another $20 (or more) for either a cake from the store or multiple Chuck E. Cheese cakes to feed all 12 kids that were at the party.

So, knowing that I had all I needed to make cupcakes at home (I did have to buy more cupcake liners), I asked the boys what they thought of that. Not only did they agree, but they were thrilled! (Jack said, "I love that frosting you make, Mom.")

But, there's a problem. I can't decorate cakes and cupcakes. I'm such a flunkie in that department. So, I went with an easy but fun decoration -- spin art (or tie dye) cupcakes. Here's what I did:

(Oh, quick note: Don't pay too close of attention to the cupcakes. I didn't take all of the pictures, so this is a combination of two different cupcakes.)

First, obviously, I frosted the cupcakes. I'll have to share my favorite vanilla frosting recipe soon!

Second, I took out all the gel icing tubes that I had from when we made a cake with the Olympic rings last summer.

Each time, I drew three rings on the cupcake, and then one dot of gel icing in the middle. This doesn't have to be perfect. (Especially when, like me, you're making 18 - 24 cupcakes.)

Now, grab a toothpick. Start at the center dot, and then drag the toothpick from the middle to the outside in a straight line.

Continue around the cupcake as often as you like. I think I typically did it around nine times. But, I didn't count, I just did it every so often.

This is what you'll end up with:

There is some color mixing in the middle because I only lightly wiped off the toothpick every so often. I kind of liked the mixed color. For a cleaner design, wipe off the toothpick often.

Also, as an alternate to the colored option, if you are having a Halloween party or maybe studying spiders, you could do all the circles in black, and then maybe even top the cupcake with a plastic spider ring.

Here is my finished product (or at least one pan of them):

Everyone enjoyed their cupcakes, and we even got many compliments on the simple designs. So, not only was I thrilled to save a little money on what was already an expensive party, but, as a side benefit, we didn't have to try to cut a cake while at the party. We just gave each kiddo one of the cupcakes, and didn't have to bother with the mess that sometimes happens during cake cutting.

This post is linked to: Tasty Tuesday, Kitchen Tip Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tackle It Tuesday, and Frugal Friday.

Many Little Blessings: July 2009 Recap

Thanks to all of my regular readers, as well as everyone that stopped by in July! As a special thank you, here are links to the top 10 referrers to Many Little Blessings during the month of July:

1. We are THAT Family

2. The Homeschool Classroom

3. Conversion Diary

4. Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

5. Let's Explore

6. Life as Mom

7. Happy to Be at Home

8. The Finer Things in Life

9. Make it From Scratch

10. Five J's

Here are the top posts during July, be sure to check them out, if you missed them:

1. Storage Solution for Baking Supplies

2. Our 2009-2010 Homeschool Curriculum

3. I Have Started Dating Again

4. The Secret Ingredient Cinnamon Bread Recipe

5. Quick and Easy Party Recipe: Cucumber Sandwiches

6. Making Lunch Special

7. Webkinz Can Be Inexpensive Entertainment (and Educational!)

8. Sugar-Topped Blueberry Muffins

9. Zucchini Raisin Walnut Muffins

10. First Communion Banner Examples

Create More Monday: The Baking Edition

Molly had been asking for a few weeks for the fruit loop rice krispie treats that I make.

I kept saying, "Yeah, I'll make them soon. I promise." But, as sometimes happens, I didn't make them.

Then, I read about using dried cherries and white chocolate chips in my favorite oatmeal cookies. So, I picked up the dried cherries and white chocolate chips, and then they sat on the counter for several days. Again, I kept meaning to make them, but didn't.

So, in the spirit of "Creating More, Computing Less," I ignored the computer for one whole evening this week, and finally made the goodies that my family had all been asking for. They were thrilled, and I was happy to be using the Kitchen Aid, and not the Dell.

Anyone join me this week in taking some time to create something? If you did, be sure to read the Create More Monday guidelines, and then post a direct link to your post (not to your blog homepage). The MckLinky will be open to adding links until Tuesday evening.