*note: This was originally posted 10/24/06.  I am reposting it as an entry for Works-For-Me Wednesday. 

This is so off topic it's not even funny... but hey - we homeschoolers need all the help we can get when it comes to getting organized, right?  I don't remember where I heard this idea or if I came up with it on my own, but with the onset of the cold and flu season I felt compelled to share it with you. 

It's bad enough being sick, having sick kids, or heaven forbid - both at the same time!  I used to have the hardest time keeping medications organized and orderly enough to be able to find what I needed WHEN I needed it.  And, if hubby was the unfortunate one who had to go scavenging through the cabinet during the night for some Tylenol or a thermometer, well, let's just say that I may as well have gotten up and done it myself.  But, when you're holding a feverish baby who only wants to nurse and hold onto Mommy's elbow, there may be no other choice than to call for help from Daddy. 

What I ended up doing was cleaning out a cabinet in the kitchen to be used only for medical supplies.  Some people prefer a bathroom cabinet, but it worked better for us to have it in the kitchen.  I got 4 small plastic bins from the dollar store and labeled them as 1.adult medications, 2.children's medications, 3.misc. meds and tummy meds and 4.first aid.  Since there are some prescription meds that dh and I take regularly, I got 2 smaller bins (long, skinny ones) to hold those, as well as daily vitamins. 

As you can see in the picture, the bottom shelf holds the basket with "adult meds" and the two small bins on either side are for our personal daily prescriptions and vitamins.  Dh's is on the left, mine is on the right.  It occured to me the other day that maybe I should put these on the top shelf, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.

The 2nd shelf has the bin with "children's meds" in it.  I try to keep a supply of Children's Acetamenophen (sp?) and Ibuprofen, since we all know that children are most likely to come down with some fever causing illness in the wee hours of the night.  Also, off to the side is a place for their vitamins and a small bowl that holds medicine droppers and dispensing cups.

The top shelf holds 2 bins side-by-side - the "first aid" bin, and the "misc" bin.  These probably need to go on the bottom shelf, since I am having to get to the band aids pretty often these days!  The "misc" bin holds things that we need occasionally, but not all the time, such as ACE bandages, an inhaler mask, vapor rub, mineral oil, diaper rash cream... that kind of stuff.  That way I'm not having to rummage through all that bulky stuff every time I need a bandage or a Tylenol or something. 

Here is the photo:

Anyway.... I hope this helps someone, somehow!

Just thought I'd share!

I have been so excited about finally having my VERY OWN DESK(!) for my VERY OWN STUFF(!) and yes, my VERY OWN MESS!  And since I am an organizing wannabe expert, I immediately began putting my desk in order.  I had the neat little paper-holding trays, which I labeled with one child's name per tray... to hopefully clear up the confusion of which paper belongs to which kid.  'Cause even homeschooled kids forget to write their names on their papers!  And it's sad, but true, that I have a little bit of a hard time telling the difference in my little genius' handwriting sometimes - even though they are 5, 9, and 11. 

-

Moving on...  I managed to resist the tempation to run out and purchase a bunch of officey type stuff for my VERY OWN DESK(!) since, well, we don't have a money tree growing in our backyard.  But, I really needed something to put stuff like pencils and pens and dry-erase markers in so that neither I nor my children would be spending inane amounts of time each day searching for a writing utensil.  So, being the amazingly crafty momma that I am, I came up with a plan.  I would make my own pencil miscellaneous-writing-utensil-holder, and it would be more lovely than anything one could purchase at Office Max.  And very likely, it would be much cheaper, too! 

-

So I went sifting through my cabinets and drawers (kitchen drawers, not under-drawers - smartypants) for something that could be used as a pencil miscellaneous-writing-utensil-holder.  I found the perfect thing - an old frosting container, like the ones that cake frosting comes in, be it Duncan Hines, Betty Crocker.... you get the picture.  Then I started going through my abundant supply of arts and crafts materials, and I found some excellent supplies to use.  I had stacks of those foam sheets in a rainbow of colors, leftover from one of the kids' birthday parties a few years ago.  I had foam letters (self-stick ones!  Woohoo!); all sizes, shapes, and colors of buttons; seashells; ribbon; tiny little pom-poms; rick-rack; and all kind of other stuff.  I couldn't believe the stuff I pulled from that box! 

-

Of course, when my kids saw all the loot - there was no holding them back.  So they, too, got to make their own pencil  miscellaneous-writing-utensil-holders!  For theirs, I picked out a few of the plastic cups from the cupboard that were getting a little worn out and let them decorate them.  We covered the containers with a sheet of foam, secured with hot glue.  Sis actually cut strips from several different colors and glued them on hers like a rainbow.  (Such a creative child!  Just like her mother!)  Then the children did their best to make sure that absolutely no crafting supplies were left by gluing anything they could get their hands on onto their cup.  I finally said, "STOP!" because it was just getting to be silly.  If I'd let them continue that way, there would be no room left for all their miscellaneous writing utensils!  

-

When they were through, I sifted through the leftovers and found a few things suitable to adorn the retired frosting container that was soon to be prominently displayed on MY VERY OWN DESK!  Ahem.  This, ladies and gentlemen, is the finished product:

-

-

In case anyone ever wonders who this belongs to - it's written right across the front - "MOM"!  Even though it houses Disney Princess pencils... it still belongs to MOI. 

-

(I think I've had too much sugar today.)