18 August 2010


i wish being organized was like second nature to me.  if that was the case then i would probably blab and share all my secrets about how to make your home run smoothly.  however, that is not the case.  so instead of sharing the few organizing secrets that i have mastered, i found a great back to school article on this blog.  anything that i have to add will be inside {these} puppies.  let's read...
Tips to get Ready for Back to School by, cynthia ewer
Move over, summer--a new school year is coming!
With the start of school, families face new organization challenges. School bells ring--and so do early-morning alarm clocks. Shorter autumn days bring a hectic round of sports, activities and events, and calendars fill with cryptic notes. Can the holidays be far behind?
Get organized now for the best school year ever! Use these ideas to prepare your home and family for the busy days ahead:

Create Calendar Central {we use google calendar and it works oh so well!}

Each school year floats on a sea of schedules. School functions. Lunch menus. Scout meetings and music lessons. What do you do when you're drowning in paper? 
Nothing calms school year chaos like Calendar Central: a centralized site for all family calendars and schedules. You'll need a family event calendar to track after-school activities, school programs and volunteer work. Add specialized calendars and schedules, and you have it: a one-stop shop for family time management. 
Form is less important than function. A paper calendar with large squares lets you enter information easily. Pre-printed white board calendars are easy to revise when necessary. Color-coding entries by family member helps keep busy lives straight. 
Planner users dedicate a planner section to serve as Calendar Central, while tech-savvy cybergrrrlz store the info in a smart phone and sync with multiple computers. Choose a calendar format that works for your family. 
Post the family event calendar in a public place near the telephone. Use magnets to attach the calendar to the refrigerator, or tack it to a bulletin board. 
Add other calendars to Calendar Central: school lunch menus, class assignment sheets, sports practice schedules. When the room mother calls for field trip volunteers, you'll know at a glance whether you're free to join the group on the bus that day.

Ease the family into a school year schedule. 

The first day of school is no time for a drastic adjustment of household sleep schedules. Instead, ease children back into a school year routine gradually.  {sadly, i have never successfully done this...  maybe this is my year?}
During the last two weeks of summer, re-introduce a school year bedtime. Begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier, closer to the hour they'll need to rise when school begins. 
Don't neglect mealtimes! Younger children, in particular, need to adapt to new meal routines before the school day demands it of them. Plan meals and snacks to accustom little ones to rituals of the school day before the school year begins. 

Check before you shop

August is the second-biggest sales month for clothing retailers. Back to school clothing sales begin as early as July! Are you prepared to run the school clothes gauntlet?  {try these coupon web sites http://www.retailmenot.com/ http://www.couponcraze.com/categories/Clothing/ http://www.dailyedeals.com/coupons/apparel.htm . also, gap is having a jean sale here, and old navy has some great deals as usual....  don't forget about ebay too!}
An informed shopper is a savvy shopper, so prepare before you shop. Take an afternoon and assess each child's clothing needs. Empty drawers and closets of outgrown or worn-out clothing, and either store or donate the discards.  {just fyi... we'll be posting a tutorial next week on how to repair and style holy jeans}.  
Working with your child, clean and organize clothing storage before new garments are added--and cut down on school morning calls of "Mom! I don't have any clean . . . . " 
Develop a wardrobe needs list for each child. Check for possible hand-me-downs from older siblings as you make your list. If you discuss the needs list and the family budget with your children before you shop, you'll avoid in-the-store tantrums. 
Similarly, ask the school for classroom supply lists before shopping for school supplies. Forewarned is forearmed ... and helps protect the family budget.
Do shop early! With back-to-school sales beginning in mid-July, tardy shoppers have a tough time locating needed supplies among September's Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations. 

Gather your papers 

School entry may require documentation from immunization records to report cards from the previous school year. A little preparation can prevent frantic last-minute searches. 
Call your child's school beforehand to find out what paperwork will be required--then find it! You won't be sorry come registration day. 

Take aim on morning madness 

How are school mornings in your home? Crazed and chaotic, or calm and cheerful? Plan ahead to send your schoolchildren out the door in a happy mood. 
Each evening, think ahead to the following morning. Set the breakfast table as you clear the dinner dishes. Lay out children's clothing the night before. 
Multi-child households may need a bathroom schedule so that everyone gets equal time before the mirror. 
What do you do about books and papers, lunch money and permission slips? Practice the Launch Pad concept!  A dedicated space for every family member, a Launch Pad gets the family out the door in record time--and organized.  

Spiff up household systems 

A new school year quickens the tempo of family life. Sports activities, music lessons, church programs and volunteer commitments tap parental time and put new mileage on the      mini-van. 
Get organized! Spiff up your household systems to meet autumn's faster pace
{fly lady is a great resource for this}
  • Take a stab at speed cleaning and whip through household chores in record time.
  • Cut time in the kitchen: create a menu plan and never again wonder "What's for dinner?" {i'll be posting a printable for this to make it, well, more cute}
  • Try a session of freezer cooking and stock the freezer with prepared meals for stress-free dinners on sports nights.
Happy New School Year! Time to swing into a new school year--from an organized home.
hope that was helpful and inspiring {don't forget to share it on facebook or twitter}!  
if you have any tips or ideas for back to school, please share them below.  i would love love love   to hear.  there are few things i appreciate more then good ideas!
xo . rae . vp + mom . armommy

class time!

click to enlarge.



hope to see you there!!!

want to let your friends know?  share our post on facebook using the link below.

xo . rae . vp + mom . armommy

16 August 2010

back to school {part uno}

i can hardly believe that it's time for back to school...
but it is.  boo or cheers.  i can't decide how i'm feeling about it.

but i do know that most moms are looking for an accessory that's cute, useful, and brings some peace of mind.  howbout you?

if so, then our i.d. tags are where it's at!  attach them to diaper bags, school bags, library tote, stroller, etc.


choose from our selection below
$15 for 2 . 2.5"x4.25" . 10ml laminate . coordinating ribbon

we are also making the same designs available on aluminum water bottles!
{i am beyond excited about this!}


{excuse the bad pic with taped on design.  your order will be printed directly on the bottle}


the perfect accessory for busy {and thirsty!} kids or those prone to leaving water bottles behind.


durable aluminum .  24 ounces . $24 $20 for a limited time . $18 each additional


please email me orders, ideas, requests at rae@armommy.com 


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don't see what your are looking for?  email me specific requests, ideas, custom designs?

until next time, sweet dreams armommies!

12 August 2010

there is love in the air....

and i blame these two gorgeous love birds, c. hen + drells



they are
{getting hitched . tying the knot . taking the blunge}
tomorrow, and the hubs and i are in the wedding!  {yay}
because i've helped with a couple wedding projects, the festivities 
{starting with the guys golfing this morning}
begin today and 
{by the grace of our loving family} 
we will be without kids for the next 48 hours, i just can't help but be in a romantic mood.

on the off chance that you
{because it's been a long week . things aren't going your way . just plain tired}
have "lost that lovin' feeling" i thought i would share some inspiration.

starting with a quote:

"once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was
a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering."
from . nicole kraus . history of love .

then some pics:






{pics from 100layer cake}
lastly a song:


and a few more lovey dovey songs for good measure:

make you feel my love . adelle
realize . colbie caillat
haven't met you yet . michael buble
you are the best thing . ray lamontagne

what get's you in a loving mood?

know someone that could use a little love today?  
share this post on facebook or twitter using the icons below.

time to go get ready!  have a love{ly} weekend!

xo . rae . vp + mom



09 August 2010

mustache {+ lip} envy?

well, look no further!

these little beauties are the best accessory for any party, get together, play date or event.  
super easy and fun.  


i put a jar of them out at espy's birthday party and again last weekend on our ARMOMMY table at the sumner art's festival.  they were a big hit!


when giggling kids {at the thought of these silly suckers} put the candy in their mouth, it appears as though they have big lips or brown mustache.

you can also attach them to bbq skewers or popsicle sticks just for fun and great photo-ops!


purchase our template {prints 8 on an 8.5x11" sheet of paper} and high resolution clip art {to use for other projects} and brown + pink paper {as pictured}.

template + art: $2.50
paper: $.40 per sheet

please email me if you have any questions or would like to purchase.

happy monday mustache lovers!

xo . rae . vp + mom . armommy

05 August 2010

wowza!

this summer has been crazy, exciting, so fun, a little ridiculous, wonderful, more fun, and then some, all rapped up in one.  on top of being busy with family and friends, we've been busy with orders {praise God} and making some changes, plans and new designs.  if you are around sumner on friday or saturday, stop by the arts festival on main street.  here are the deets.  we'll be in lux it studios {1018 main street} along with other vendors and tons of fun things to do outside.  our smibs, snack bags, empire tanks and possibly more will be marked down....  :)  come say "hi!".  would love to see your pretty faces!

{ i n   o t h e r   n e w s }

my middle turned 4 two saturdays ago, and even though i gave birth to him, love celebrating birthdays and had it marked on my calendar, i completely neglected to plan a party for him.  bad mom.  so i sent a quick facebook message to a couple of his good buds moms and our family for a party just one week later and hoped that at least a few people would be able to make it.  luckily everything fell into place and because ARMOMMY had a booth at an event the night before, we had lots of great props to decorate with.  {thanks stacy!}.  after waking up at 4:50am to run to winco the morning of, this is how it turned out...









as an alternative to plastic cups, i grabbed some small mason jars and asked the hubs to drill holes in the lids big enough for straws.  super fun, yeah?

i was sauced at the end of the day...  actually it had been a long week, but espen thought it was, "the cutest party ever!", and that was all i needed to hear.

happy bday spenny!

xo . rae . vp + mom . armommy