Command center update

I finally made a sign to hang above the command center wall that I shared in this post.  

We already had an old knotty weathered board that I loved.

I had someone here in town cut some vinyl for me.  But I used the negative image so it worked as a stencil.   I very lightly dabbed paint on with a dauber and a pouncing motion.  It came out perfectly. I originally planned on sanding over the dry words to age them a little.  But since I used so little paint you can still see the wood through the letters, so I left it.

It's the look I was trying for!

Room by room - Command central

This is all part of the laundry room, but it has morphed to be a bit of a mudroom.  I have trained am training the kids to come in the back door after school.  Thus, shoes and backpacks might not end up all over the living room like the did during the first week of school.

Strider put up these hooks on Labor Day and they've been a great addition to the space.  For now, even band instruments can be dropped off in the corner instead of tripped over in the kitchen.

An hour later the space looks so sad and empty when everyone leaves :(

I know you're wondering about 4 hooks for 5 kids.  Our plan is to build a corner cubby area with a small seat and hooks above.  The teens will move their things over and we'll have room for Rosebud and her kindergarten backpack next year.  We'll tackle that sadness later.

The other issue that needed a solution was papers/schedules/calendars/lists.  I use a planner that stays in my purse.  It's helpful when I'm at a meeting and need to check on availability or when I calendar items while I'm waiting for kids at practices and such.  But that doesn't help the family.

I picked up this large desk calendar at Walmart that we can all look at.  It has convenient holes for hanging too.

I had Strider hang it, along with the corkboard from way back HERE.   It holds invitations, football schedule, Family Home Evening assignments and Home and Visiting teaching lists.  I love having those things off the fridge!  Right now I have my pouch of color coded pens for the calendar hanging on a thumb tack, but I'll get a hanging box or caddy for those.

Below the board I wanted a space for chores and other lists referred to frequently.  These clipboards hang from nails.  I decided to put them on a chalkboard background so that I could change the title of what was on the clipboards at any time.

Strider chose a quote from his Sunday lesson to go up on the board.  We'll change it out frequently.  I'm amazed at how much that phrase has gone through my head in just two days.  I hope it will be a place of inspiration and uplift for the whole family.

The kids can pass by this spot from either the hall or the kitchen, so no more excuses!  Get your chores done.  Get to your activities on time.  Get organized.  When in doubt, check the command center!


Backpack hooks - $10
Wall calendar - $4
Bulletin board - $0 (already had)
Clipboards - .75 ea (thrift store)
"Chalkboard" wall - contact paper from HERE - $8

Back to school homework caddy

In order to take away any possible excuse for dawdling during homework time (I don't have a pencil! My papers need stapled!, blah blah blah), I made a caddy of supplies yesterday.

Lots of back to school items are already on clearance, folks.  Time to hit up those Target end caps. 


I found a dorm shower caddy on clearance from $6 down to $2.48.  I looked at the size of the compartments and knew it would be great for holding supplies the kids need every single evening.

 

It's big but not huge.  Substantial but not heavy.  And easy to bring to the homework spot (AKA the kitchen table).

 

I have 24 pencils, sharpened and ready (yeah, my thumb hurts from cranking since we just have a manual sharpener). I added in two kinds of erasers and pens and the stapler and scissors. The other end was a good place to dump our marker stash.

 

The metal box that the pencils are in was on clearance also, for $1.48, in the office supply section.  It fit perfectly into the side of my caddy so they didn't slip all over the place.

 

 

 

 

 

The shallow spot designed for a bar of soap?  Fits the calculators like a glove.

 

 There you go.  A handy homework tote.  No more excuses, kids!