Getting Organized / School Clipboards

We are in full school madness here at my house now. It has been a number of weeks since the kiddos started school...wow, this is their 4th week! Time flies! And so does the paperwork. Good grief - it's almost a full time job trying to keep up with all of the paperwork they send home - the forms, the "homework", the websites to register at (for reading/ school website/ school on-line store, etc), box tops, teachers' monthly lunch sign-ups, and all the beautiful artwork and assignments. Plus, we also have emails during the week from the teacher, the Principal, and sometimes the Pastor. So how do we keep it all under control/make sure the kiddo does her homework/ take show-and-tell on the right day/ file away those precious art pieces? Well this is my system:

Art is stored in an under-the-bed box - it is sorted each day and plonked in there together with any creations they do after school (they both love to draw, and it is the perfect activity while I try to get dinner ready).

Important Forms/ Homework/ Anything that needs immediate attention - now gets "hung-up" on special clipboards that I decorated and hung up on the wall. They are now front and center (right over my desk) where I can see them and be constantly reminded of what needs to be done for the next day, or that week. Once completed it gets filed in their school folder.
I just made them today - love them :) Very easy to do - I purchased clipboards (from Target - about $2.50 each??) and covered them in scrapbook paper I already had on-hand (Michaels, Joann or Hobby Lobby). I attached the paper onto the board with spray adhesive, but you could also modge podge it too. I then added a few finishing touches - ribbon on the top and bottom (attached with hot glue on the back, and a little spray adhesive on the front) and printed out their names onto green paper and glued onto the bottom ribbon. Done!

(don't worry, it is not your eyes - I blurred out their names)

School Papers to file - once I have reviewed/ completed an item it gets filed in their respective folder and placed into the file drawer of my desk. If I need to re-check something, it is easily accessible.

Emails - I print them out if there is something more than a line or two that I need to remember, and it then gets hung up on the clipboard. Anything less than a couple of lines just gets written down on my calendar (in general on the wall calendar, and in more detail on my desk/handbag calendar).

Once my system was in place it really helped things run more smoothly - homework gets done on time, kiddo gets extra "dollar" for the week (reward system/math learning tool at school), teacher is happy, Mom not as stressed out :)

I try to do things the same day I get them - it is fresh in my mind, and gets it out of the way. We also do homework as soon as we get home (even though we are in kindergarten, I think this is a good time to start this routine). The longer you leave it the more tired they get, everyone starts getting cranky, someone starts nagging, and before you know it someone is crying in the corner, oh, I mean putting their foot done and demanding order in this house! It can get ugly...

Box Tops - I collect these throughout the year and keep them in a baggy on the fridge - once the Box Top collection begins I can just grab the baggy, and stick them on the paper and hand it in - so easy, stress free.

I also put up a corkboard in the breakfast/eating area so we can pin up the "best work of the week" for each kid. They really like this!

So now I think I'm organized...OK, semi-organized, hahaha - good grief, the world would stop turning (out of shock) if I was organized!

Oh, so then what do I go and do? Sign up to be Room Parent, of course, just 'cause I don't already have enough on my crazy plate as it is! Aggghhh, just can't help myself!
 
If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do. - by Lucille Ball.

(love her!!)

Fine Art - Alphonse Marie Mucha

From Wikipedia:
Alphonse Marie Mucha, 24 July 1860 – 14 July 1939, was a Czech Art Nouveau painter and decorative artist, known best for his distinct style. He produced many paintings, illustrations, advertisements, postcards, and designs.

Mucha produced a flurry of paintings, posters, advertisements, and book illustrations, as well as designs for jewelry, carpets, wallpaper, and theatre sets in what was termed initially the Mucha Style but became known as Art Nouveau (French for 'new art'). Mucha's works frequently featured beautiful young women in flowing, vaguely Neoclassical-looking robes, often surrounded by lush flowers which sometimes formed halos behind their heads. In contrast with contemporary poster makers he used pale pastel colors. 

When Czechoslovakia won its independence after World War I, Mucha designed the new postage stamps, banknotes, and other government documents for the new state. 

Mucha spent many years working on what he considered his life's fine art masterpiece, The Slav Epic (Slovanská epopej), a series of twenty huge paintings depicting the history of the Czech and the Slavic people in general, bestowed to the city of Prague during 1928.

On 24 July 2010, he was honored with a Google Doodle in memory of his 150th birthday.  (LOL! Guess you know you've made it when you have been Google Doodled!)

I love Art Deco/ Art Nouveau - so rich, detailed, beautiful. Wouldn't it have been something to have been around then - the exquisite art, architecture, jewelry, and fashion!

Fine Art - Water

Some art pieces I am pining after (all are from Etsy - click onto picture to go to their store):

I think it has to do something with summer and my longing for the beach!

Living Room Concept

Finally got a chance to sit down and have a good think about the living room. So far this is what we have:

Interests/ Things We Like:
Hunting {um, very evident from what is on the walls!!}
Outdoors {ditto}
Nature {ditto, ditto}
American Indians {would be great to collect a few pieces to tie in}
Horses {would tie in great with my horse display in kitchen}
Other Cultures
History
Maps {we have an old map of Texas}
Texas {homeland}
Australia {home country - think framed flag would look great - just like you always see framed Union Jacks, or pillow cover - something unexpected}
The "South" {thinking a banjo would be AWESOME!!}
Architecture {nod to the good ole days}
Photography + old cameras {sucker for black & white photography - it could be of anything and I think I would love it!}
Art/ Sculpture/ Pottery {wish my husband would create one of his famous collages for me - maybe if I keep harping on for another 10 years I might get one - they are SO AMAZING. But he is a busy man now.}
Books - art books, history, literature

Functionality of Room:
TV Viewing {kids mainly during the day, husband at night, me - VERY rarely - I never have the time or desire, well, except for HGTV!! :) }
Family Time
Music & Dance Area {for us and the girls on family dance night LOL! - it's a hoot!}
Run around the couch for kids {especially for those cold days - they need to burn off all that energy}
Visitors
Fireplace
Book Storage
Wet Bar
Access to outside/ backyard


Main Focus of the Room:
TV
Fireplace
Music


Style Definition:
Simple
Natural
Artistic

WOW Factor:
better furniture - more interesting pieces
simplicity
unified design

I'm not really changing the layout of the furniture but I would like to change out a few pieces with nicer ones, or something more functional. We really like the darker/cherry wood look for the furniture, and will probably mirror that with the new wood floors. So this is what I have found so far:

From Ballard Design:
Top left chair and side table. I have a bench covered in similar material so I could use this as a highlight material - like for an ottoman for the new couch, and for the old chair I have.
Hanover Modular Bookcase - this would match a little antique cabinet we have that currently houses our CD collection.

From Restoration Hardware:
Cast Iron Hitching Post Horse
1949 French Library Globe
Roman Capital
Gear Objects
Architectural Artwork


From Pottery Barn:
Nest Sentiment Lumbar Pillow
Pen & Ink Calligraphy Pillow
Flower Cafe Pillow
Bird Cafe Pillow

From Crate & Barrel:
Cameron Sofa in Sesame

The above is really for inspiration only - I'm not about to run out and buy everything listed here! I'll be very lucky to convince my husband to buy the bookcase and couch. Instead, I will be watching for copy-cats, sales, sourcing ebay, estate sales, antique malls, etsy, and will try to make some items too (pillow covers, ottoman, framed prints).


Extras:
Framed Australian Flag {already put my order in to my parents :) }
Cowhide rug for floor {already have - move from bedroom}
Old Cameras {from my collection}
St Francis statue {already have}
Old Texas Map {already have framed in wet bar area}

Lots more details to work out, but I think this is a good starting point. I also have some really exciting ideas for our wet bar, but I think that will require its own post!
Wow - that's a lot already! What you do think? Any ideas or suggestions?