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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rubbermaid® All AccessTM Organizers for SocialSpark . All opinions are 100% mine. Every year when the seasons change, I make my "I'm-going-to-be-even-more-organized-this-time" vows.  As I put away the last season's clothes and accessories and bring out the new stuff,  I keep trying to refine my system and try a few new things.  With Spring (hopefully) right around the corner, I'll be doing the big winter to spring switch in these next few weeks.   Gone will be the snow boots, scarves, and out will come the spring jackets, outdoor toys and sports equipment. My current system utilizes tons of those plastic storage bins.  I pack up all the stuff we're going to put away till next year, label the bin and put it up in the attic.  Then I take down the bins I'd stored away last year and pull out all the spring and summer items we'll be needing.  Overall, it's been pretty effectiv...

Yesterday was Pi Day ~ an unofficial "holiday" celebrating the mathematical expression of pi ( the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter and approximately equal to 3.14)  Get it?  March 14th is 3.14.  Now my kids aren't so far along in their math studies that they've actually worked with pi, but they eagerly accepted any excuse for a fun little dessert. Check out these fun, individual-sized pies... I made it super easy for us and just got some premade pie crusts and three different kinds of fillings ~ apple, blueberry, and cherry.   Making the pies was really simple and the kids liked choosing their fillings and adding some little designs to the tops of their pies.   It's really pretty self-explanatory, but this is how we made our mini pies... 1.  Preheat oven to 425*.  I also used some parchment paper to cover my cookie sheets. 2.  Using a small bowl or cup, cut circles out of your premade pie crust.  (Ours were about 5" or so)....

Yesterday was a beautiful early Spring day here in Baltimore so I took my girls to spend an afternoon at Fort McHenry .  If you're ever in Baltimore, Fort McHenry is just a short drive from the Inner Harbor, Maryland Science Center, and American Visionary Art Museum.  It's the perfect place to learn a little history and get out a little bit of extra energy outdoors. Check out our visit... As a little history refresher, Fort McHenry is best known for its role in successfully defending the city of Baltimore during the War of 1812.   It was the morning after the British attack in September 1814, when Francis Scott Key saw the U.S. flag being raised above the fort, that the Star Spangled Banner was written. My girls enjoyed our afternoon...   Fort McHenry is part of the National Park Service and has its own Junior Ranger Program .  If you're ever at the fort, or any of the other NPS sites that have this program, definitely let your kids participate. ...

A few weeks ago, my sister told me she saw a cute idea to use a straw dispenser to hold sharpened pencils.  I thought it was such a cute and clever way to always have sharpened pencils on hand and ready for use, but I was bummed that I'm no longer a full-time teacher with a classroom of my own.  Then I realized we still go through a ton of pencils here during homework time and I'm always scrambling to find sharpened pencils when the kids have to restock their pencil cases before they go off to school in the mornings.  I decided I was going to go ahead and get our own pencil dispenser for our house. Check it out... It's funny how exciting it can be to get a new electric pencil sharpener and a cool dispenser.  No matter what time of year it is or how old you are, fresh school supplies can give you a fresh outlook! There was really nothing to this "project".  I simply ordered an acrylic straw dispenser from Amazon , (Amazon affiliate link)   the kids sharpened...

When I was working on my last post about books for middle elementary kids , I was thinking about all the great books that I've read myself.  I think one of the reasons my kids love to read so much is because I love to read.    Granted, I don't have nearly as much free time for pleasure-reading as I did before kids, but I still love to read whenever I get the chance.  Figuring that some of you might also enjoy reading as much as I do, I thought I'd compile a short list of some of my favorites.  Some I've read as part of a book club, others just on my own.  The topics and styles are fairly varied, but each of these books have been memorable and the stories and characters have stayed with me long after I put the book down.   Here's my list...   (I've included a brie f description from Amazon as well as a sentence or two of my own) The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman      "After four harrowing years on the Western...

Since today is "Read Across America Day", my son and I thought we'd share a few of his favorite books and series.  He just turned 9, is in 3rd grade, and he's a pretty strong reader. Before this past year, my son was primarily interested in non-fiction books.  He'd read every night, just like his sisters, but his tastes leaned heavily towards books like The Guinness Book of World Records and Top Ten Lists of Everything Football .    While I loved that he was reading (and learning lots of interesting facts), I was eager for him to expand into some fictional books as well.  When he finally found a series he liked, he was hooked and has been enthusiastically reading a great mix of fiction and nonfiction ever since.  (NOTE:  While the books on this list are ones that have appealed to my son, my 10-year old daughter has read and enjoyed many of them as well)   Here are the books we recommend ... (Amazon links are included with each photo and tit...