Setting up my classroom {the final result}

 Meet the teacher night had finally come and my room was a ready as it was going to be....
Bring on the TK'ers!

My shelves were filled with all the goodies I had scavenged for all summer. I was under the mistaken impression that my shelves were going to stay looking like this.

And here's the back corner of the room.  Empty shelves, really? I know. Those were left empty on purpose to store the kids' rest mats.

Here is what my calendar area looked like at the beginning of the year. It looks so empty in this picture, but don't worry it looks nothing like this today.

My sister and my nephew were working hard to get my BEE folders ready to go for meet the teacher night so that the kids would have something on their desks when they came. I decided to use sort of a "BEE binder light" for my kids. I didn't think they needed a full BEE binder since they weren't reading and I used a simple behavior tracking method, so I went with the BEE folder.

 

This banner was a free download I found on pinterest and hung it with yarn, it is still hanging today.

And here's what it looked like from the door way in it's final stages. I scrounged a ridiculous white board easel from the basement and stole it to use in my room since i had no other whiteboard. I had a scavenger hunt on the tables for the kids to look around the room. My desk was so clean and empty- if only it still looked like that.

Next: see what it looks like a school year and a half later.

Making Homemade Laundry Detergent

I am so cheap when it comes to some things. And apparently laundry detergent has been added to the list of things I hate spending money on. So I found this recipe (can you call it a recipe??) on pinterest and went back to the original blog to find out more. Here is the post that I used.

Her recipe is amazingly simple and that's pretty much why I chose it. I had seen a lot of recipes for homemade laundry detergent that are powder form and I just wasn't so sure that I wanted to use a powdered laundry detergent so I kept searching for a liquid version that wasn't ridiculous to make.

Here's what she says to do:

3 Tablespoons Borax
3 Tablespoons Washing Soda
2 Tablespoons Dawn Dish soap

Put these ingredients in a one gallon jug. Pour 4 cups boiling water into the jug. Swirl until ingredients are dissolved in the liquid. Let liquid cool. Then fill almost to the top with cold water. The bubbles will overflow out of the bottle.

Couldn't be an easier, right?

So I snagged up the ingredients I needed. I got them all at WalMart and spent less than $7 on all of it. I used a left over milk jug because I wasn't sure if i was going to continue making this recipe.

Add in the borax, washing soda and dawn....

Then the hot water...

Swirl it around to get it nice and mixed up, then let it cool.

After it has cooled, you just fill it up the rest of the way with cool water. Since my soap is light pink, it really looks almost clear in the jug, but I promise that there is soap in there and it works.

So far I am really happy with it. Plus it's so incredibly cheap! Our clothes get clean and they still smell nice too! 

What homemade cleaners and products do you make??

A Pinteresting Solution

Since I took down my Christmas decorations I have been dragging my feet on getting this sign hung up. I really didn't want to take the time to measure and put in nails only have them not be in the correct location and end up getting up and down from my chair like seven times. And then I found this idea on Pinterest. Mark the places for the nails to go on a piece of tape, and then put that tape on the wall and put your nails in. Genius, isn't it???

The only tape I had handy was duct tape, so that's what I used. I put it along the top side of the back.

 Then I used a marker to trace where the hooks are, so I could put my nail in the correct place.

 Then all I had to do was stick my tape up on the wall quick and make sure it was centered. I popped my nails in quick and pulled the tape down.

And then my sign went up, nails in the right spot, and already centered. easy peasy.

Here are the very high-tech supplies I used. Yeah, I know normal people use a hammer. I don't think one ever made it to the apartment when we moved, so this baby worked just fine. However when my daddy was over the other day to install my new dryer (some of you may have caught that on instagram) he was quite disapointed that I didn't have 1. a hammer and 2. my tools and other items were in a cardboard box. He clearly thought I needed a real toolbox. So I reminded him that the cardboard box just so happened to be right in my price range :)

So pinterest fixed the silly open space left by the absence of my Christmas decorations. What brilliant solutions have you found via pinterest?

What We're Pinning

We haven't done this in a while, so I thought we could update you in some of the fun things we have been pinning! We find so many great ideas on pinterest, we just need to put them into action!
And since you're here...you might as well follow us on pinterest---{ Niki} {Shannon}



We are both suckers for reusing mason jars. We simply heart them. the more places we can use them, the better! Stashing colored cupcake liners on the kitchen counter would be adorable. except that cupcakes are not in the diet plan!

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We're always pinning outfits like crazy. Trying to expand our tastes a bit. Try new things, like bold scarves to brighten up our regular jewel tone outfits.

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These are also not in the diet plan, but they look delicious! we do pin some healthy food sometimes too, so it evens out right?

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I have no idea what kind of pup this is, but I'm fairly certain that I need one. now. Isn't it just the cutest little chubby cuddly thing??

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Coral and teal seem to be everywhere lately! That probably means we should give it a try. This is a look we could even wear to school.

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Shannon is planning to do this with her pots and pan cupboard in the apartment. There is already a rack, but it is being completely wasted storing lids. which never actually get put in there anyway. This seems like a much better use.

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I, Shannon, am thinking this is a quick and easy solution to the pickle jar lid that is is my change collection jar. I was thinking spray paint, but there still snow and I'm not going outside in the snow to spray paint, or buying a whole can of spray paint for one jar lid.

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What We're Pinning

Hello! Here is another Pinterest post! I know Shannon and I have both been trying to put more of our pins to use in real life. Whether it is make a recipe, try a new outfit, make a craft or find gift inspiration, we are trying to bring our pins to life.
These are some of our most favorite pins lately:
Niki's Picks

I am currently in the process of growing out my hair. This is the current cut I am obsessed with. It is going to be at least a year before I am here though...

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I am going to a wedding this summer with my bestie, and I have been working my booty & belly off, so now I need a smoking hot dress to go with my new body! I am loving the drapy-ness (is that a word?) of it and the cut. Sad news it's over $2000. But maybe I can find a similar knock off?

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This looks like a tasty treat! I am big into graham crackers with peanut butter for a morning snack or before the gym. This is a great way to make it an after dinner treat. :)

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Shannon's picks

We are both trying to work on our fitness and diet, so I am always pinning new exercises and workouts. I get bored easily so pinterest is an awesome resource for a never ending supply of new workout and health ideas. (check out my complete health & fitness board here)

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A fashion tutorial is always welcome in my book. Whether its how to make beach waves, put on your makeup, roll your jeans or how to tie your scarf. (see my complete fashion board here & no repeat february here)

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I'm thinking I'm going to have to break down and start ironing things. With everything jam packed into our closet, some things are ending up a bit wrinkled. So this DIY ironing board from a TV stand seems simple enough and easy to store in a teeny tiny apartment. Also the tutorial just happens to be on our cousin's blog (technically our cousin's wife, but we like her so we'll claim her)

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What wonderful things are pinning? Are you putting those pins to good use?

Scarf Storage

I have a thing for scarves. If you checked out my wardrobe from last week, you can tell how bad it is! I hit up the scarf rack every time I go to WalMart. I can swing $3.42 for a scarf! My scarves were hanging on a hanger in our coat closet because there clearly is not room in our bedroom closet. Actually there's not really room in the coat closet either, but that's another matter. Anyway my scarf hanger met it's demise the other day and ended up like this.

Whomp, whomp. Scarves in a pile on the floor is not very conducive to checking out the inventory to select one to wear for the day. 

I had pinned a few different scarf storage solutions and thought some of them were fab, but like most of my projects there was a budget of $0. Maybe $5 if I could justify a purchase. 

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This is my favorite storage option so far. But alas I do not have a nice place to hang tension rods. So maybe in my next apartment/house. Or maybe if we rearrange?? or find an awesome sale??

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I happened to have a shower rings, so inspiration option number 1 is the winner.

I brought my babies into the living room and sorted them into two piles. 

Scarves for daily wear and actual winter scarves

 

I popped my cheapo shower rings onto the hanger and folded my scarves in half and hung them through the rings. I put all the winter scarves to one side, since there's only a few and my daily scarves took up most of the hanger. I can see them all at once, which will be so nice when I go to pick out my outfit.

And then I put shoved them back into the coat closet.

I can't wait for warmer weather so I can pack up all these coats and actually have a normal looking, functional closet again. 

I would to hang my scarves on a tension or curtain rod someday....sighs. maybe next time we move?

How do you store your scarves? Are you a scarf loving weirdo like me??

No Repeat February {week one}

So here we are at the end of week one, and we are proud to announce that we made it. Okay, so the first week might not be the most challenging but we're still chalking it up as a win.

Here are our wardrobes for the week:
(Please forgive the awkward bathroom photos for the days we forgot to take them at home & actually one awkward bathroom photo at home)

Last Friday- Friday is jeans day at school. Woo-hoo! I love jeans day. We can wear any school shirt, or you are supposed to wear school colors. But that rule isn't actually enforced, so just looking cute is okay too :) I opted for a school shirt this time. If I don't work at my part time job, I usually just wear a school shirt and pretend like I have school spirit.

Jeans: American Eagle

Shoes: Mega old retired running shoes, Nike Plus

Tank: Buckle (that's all they will ever be. I LOVE them)

Shirt: ordred through school

I failed at taking my last Friday picture. :( I wore a pink "Coaches vs. Cancer" shirt that the school gave me, a black tank top with lace at the bottom I got at Wal-Mart, my favorite new jeans from the Buckle and my black and white Nikes. Sorry. :(

Monday:

Pants: Charlotte Russe, a few years ago

Sweater: Old Navy, two years ago, maybe?

Long Sleeve T: Old Navy (its actually blue and brown stripes, you just can't really tell.

Tank: Buckle

Shoes: Maurices, last year

Necklace: too old to know.

Pants: Sam's Club, before school started

Cardigan: Wal-Mart, before school started

Green shirt: Old Navy

Tank: Wal-Mart

Shoes: Black flats from Fashion Bug (even though you can't see them)



Tuesday:

Pants: GAP, super old

Long Sleeve T: Old Navy- I have these in seriously every color

Sweater: Target, about a month ago

Scarf (that I didn't end up wearing) Walmart!!

Shoes: Buckle, mine are a few years told, but they actually still sell them 

Skirt: Old Navy, really old

Tank: Wal-Mart

Shirt: Kohls, clearance rack, boo-ya

Boots: Target.com

Necklace: Lia Sophia



Wednesday:

sorry I wasn't completely dressed when I took this one

Pants: Maurices, Christmas gift

Tank: buckle

Long Sleeve T: Old Navy

Sweater: Old Navy

Scarf: Walmart

Shoes: Buckle

Pants: Old Navy, a long time ago
Cardigan: Walmart, about a week ago
Shirt: Walmart, about a week ago
Tank: Buckle
Shoes: Fashion Bug

Thursday:

Skinnies: No idea, had them for a year or two and they were cheap. Walmart maybe?

Boots: Simply Vera at Kohls, 3 years ago. I love them still! got them on a half price sale, but they are well worth full price, they still look great!

Tanks: Buckle

Long sleeve shirt: Target, this winter

Sweater: Target, last year

Jeans: Sam's Club, before school started

White T: Walmart, I think

Blue Fleece: Amerian Eagle, hand-me-down from Shannon

Tank: Buckle

Moccasins: American Eagle for Christmas :)

On Thursdays the kids in my class get to go swimming. We have to get them into their suits, into the pool, out of the pool and out of their suits, times 9. So on Thursdays we get to wear sweats. I decided to class it up for you guys and wear jeans today. Don't expect that every week. :)



Friday:

Jeans: American Eagle. I seriously have 3 pairs of identical jeans. cheap and comfy. I think they still sell them.

Tanks: Buckle

Tshirt: From school

Shoes: Reebox Zigs, for my birthday last year

 And let's not kid ourselves here people, we know I'm not going to be running around in a t-shirt in February, so insert hoody from softball last summer here.

Jeans: Buckle

Tank: Buckle

Tshirt: from school

Fleece: American Eagle, hand me down from Shannon

Shoes: Nike (online) love them!!

And since is it Friday, here's our Friday Five!! So we are linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk again to share our High Five for Friday.


                                                                 
1. Kicked butt in the gym yesterday. Busted out 4 miles, I have to give credit to kids being mega frustrating this week. But good for me in the end.

2. We have a legit follower and we are soooo excited!! We appreciate each and every one of our readers and we are so loving being bloggers! It's be so much fun for us and has inspired a lot of great projects in our homes.

3. My apartment has gotten some serious attention this week with no part time jobs after school this week. Whoop whoop! It really needed the cleaning and getting things back in order. 

4. Niki did a little butt kicking of her own with a new plank record!! We are trying our best to stick to this getting fit and healthy business! It's great to be able to do it together and encourage and motivate each other. Virtually that is, we don't get to actually work out together.

5. Niki passed her driving test after having an invalid license and is now a legally licensed driver again. Although its probably best if we just get a permanent chauffeur.Not sure who is volunteering to pay the salary though.

If you participated with us, link up your blog post, pinboard, or whatever you've got. We'd love to see!

Our first link up! Whoop Whoop!! We're super excited and hope you will link up with us, whether it's a day or a week- we don't mind!