Organized Chaos: Picnic & Travel Supplies
Our Picnic and Travel Supplies Organized
Our family loves to be outside and travel! We keep some of the travel supplies we use regularly on hand for these occasions so that we are prepared. We don’t always need all these items for each trip or when we go outside, but when it is necessary it is easy to locate so we can use them.
These small containers with lids that we used for the picnic and travel supplies, you can find for a $1 at Dollar Tree, have been useful in helping our family get and stay organized! Once the items are placed in containers, we put the lid on, and labeled them. We picked up the shelving a long time ago at Sam’s Club, but you can find it at a number of stores including Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and more.
Picnic & Travel Supply label ideas to get you started:
- Sunblock
- Bug Repellent Bands
- Hand Sanitizer / Wet Wipes
- Disposable Forks
- Disposable Spoons
- Disposable Knives
- Disposable Utensil Sets
- Decorative Tape
- Candy Gifts
Most of these items probably make sense to you, except maybe the Decorative Tape and the Candy Gifts. Well, let me explain why those are in this section as well and on the shelf with the other travel items. The decorative tape is used usually before we travel to make or decorate a special surprise for the kids (especially if it is a long trip). Sometimes we have actually brought a roll with us as we travel for various fun activities during the travel. We do use the decorative tape for other occasions as well, but for the most part it used before traveling adventures. The candy gifts are in the travel section because when we go on long road trips, usually 5 hours or longer, we try to pack special treats for the kids to enjoy along the way. This helps break up the trip for them. I usually get the treats a various times throughout the year as I find great deals and put them into the container. As we prepare to leave for an upcoming trip I pull out a couple items and we are good to go.
Disposable utensils, decorative tape, and candy gifts! Ready for the next road trip adventure!
The Picnic & Travel Supplies are organized on the middle shelf in this picture!
Song: Your Great Name by Natalie Grant
Our names are just one of the ways we are unique. Some names are more traditional while others are not as common. We are known by our names. Thankful for a Savior whose name means so much. Just hearing His names brings back all that He has done for us. He is worth of our praise.
Lost are saved find their way at the sound of your great name
All condemned feel no shame at the sound of your great name
Every fear has no place at the sound of your great name
The enemy—he has to leave at the sound of your great nameJesus,
Worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up and all the world will praise your great nameAll the weak find their strength at the sound of your great name
Hungry souls receive grace at the sound of your great name
The fatherless—they find their rest at the sound of your great name
The sick are healed and the dead are raised at the sound of your great nameRedeemer, My Healer,Lord Almighty
My Savior, Defender, You are My KingTravel & Vacation: Beautiful Flowers & Busy Bees (Charleston, SC)
Busy Bee going after some juicy pollen on this purple flower.
We enjoy going to Charleston, South Carolina. No matter what time of year you go there always seems to be beautiful flowers in bloom or planted ones in window sills. On this particular day the girls were playing at the Pirate Park on Daniel Island and we took a stroll through downtown Charleston later that day. There were a lot of pretty flowers in bloom and busy bees collecting nectar on this warm sunny day.
The bees were pretty active getting nectar from the purple flowers.
Purple flower in the park
The bee has almost it’s entire body in the flower trying to gather the nectar. You just see his back half sticking out of the middle of the flower.
Pretty yellow flowers
Walking through downtown Charleston you will see plenty of beautifully decorated window boxes.
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family, ways we relax, and tips on how to make trips more enjoyable. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Recipes: Chocolate Fudge No Bake Cookies
Chocolate Fudge No Bake Cookies
A perfect combination of creamy chocolate and peanut butter. These Chocolate Fudge No Bake Cookies are absolutely delicious when cooled or frozen. I would take one of these over a Popsicle any hot day! These are very similar to my No Bake Cookies with one minor change, which actually happen by mistake!
You get these creamy Chocolate Fudge No Bake Cookies when you cut back the boiling time of regular No Bake Cookie. These creamy fudge like cookies that are amazing in the freezer or refrigerator. While they don’t have to be refrigerated or frozen it is recommended. The only “problem” with this cookie is that it is not stackable. If you try to stack these cookies together you will end up with one giant cookie (yes, it happened at our house) which means you have to take a slice out of the giant whenever you want to eat a piece. By not boiling it the cookie doesn’t set up, but gives you a great alternative to the traditional No Bake Cookies.
Chocolate Fudge No Bake Cookies Recipe:
- 2 cups Sugar
- 4 tablespoon Cocoa
- 1 stick Butter
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1 cup Peanut Butter
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla
- 3 cups Oatmeal
1. In a heavy saucepan bring the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk to a boil.
2. Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal.
3. Lay out the wax paper, drop mixture by the tablespoonful and allow the cookies to cool.
4. Once the cookies have cooled place in the freezer or refrigerator using wax paper to separate the layers.
Chocolate Fudge No Bake Cookies cooling before going into the refrigerator!
Every Experience God Gives Us…
Flashback Friday: First Trip to the Zoo
First trip to the Zoo
Today’s Flashback Friday was the girls first trip to the zoo with our Moms group back in August 2005. We went to the Greenville Zoo. The girls looked around, took a nap in the stroller, and hung out. They got some fresh air, vitamin D, and wore themselves out even though they did not get out of their stroller. Thankful for friends and a chance to hang out at the zoo for a few hours. We have had many trips to the zoo since this day!
Brina sleeping in the front. Karlie still looking around, but starting to suck her thumb so she’s not far behind Brina.
They were great on their first trip to the Greenville Zoo, however, the two critters I brought back home with me were very hungry and ready for lunch by the time we walked into the house. Once it was lunch time they were ready to eat and my happy babies were in tears if there happened to be a delay that day!
Organized Chaos: Organizing Our Arts & Crafts Supplies
General Craft Supplies
Our kids love to do crafts! In the summer months, on the weekends, or evenings when the kids have some extra free time they like to do crafts. Throughout the school year they have to do various projects for school so our art and craft supplies come in handy for those tasks as well.
The general arts and crafts supplies are stored in our storage closet on one of our shelves in individual containers labeled with what is inside each one. Whenever the kids want to do a craft or need something specific all they have to do is get the container out, use whatever item they need, and put the container back once they are finished. If they use up all of one particular item they write that item on the grocery / shopping list (or tell us if we are nearby so we can add it).
When the kids were younger we had a lot more containers of art and crafts supplies. Now we have narrowed it down to the supplies they use the most and will fit on one shelf in the storage room. We still have a couple drawers and other containers on the very bottom shelf for specialty or specific items that do not fit into these categories, but they are easy to access when they need them as well. Also, the girls have crafts that were give to them in their own rooms, Organized Chaos: Kids Crafts & Activities.
These small containers with lids that we used for the arts and crafts supplies, you can find for a $1 at Dollar Tree, have been very useful in helping our family get organized! Once the items are placed in containers, we put the lid on, and label them. We picked up the shelving a long time ago at Sam’s Club, but you can find it at a number of stores including Walmart, KMart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and more.
Here are some of the container labels we used for our arts and crafts supplies to get you started:
- Stencils
- Small Crafts
- Glitter
- Craft Sticks
- Modeling Clay
- Crayons
- Google Eyes
- Beads & Necklaces
- Fuzzy Sticks (pipe cleaners)
- Water Color Paint / Paint Brushes
- Finger Paints
- Stamps
- Pom Poms
Our organized storage room – the top shelf in this picture is where the arts & crafts supplies are located!
Song: Do Something by Matthew West
We were created by an amazing God. He wants us to be actively serving others. When we see a problem do we do something about it or wait for someone else to handle it? What are we doing to help others? How are we going to change the world we live in today?
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn aroundSo I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in povertyChildren sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”He said, “I did, I created you”
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do somethingI’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand stillTravel & Vacation: Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon (Charleston, SC)
Visiting the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
One of the days while we were in Charleston, SC it was raining so we took the time to explore the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. We had gotten a Groupon for a discounted tour of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon so we figured it was the perfect day to go. The girls and I had a lot of fun learning about the building and all the history that took place within it’s walls. Another time about a year later we were in Charleston again and Jake joined us for our second tour of the building. It is full of history. The kids really enjoyed it. A friend recommended we go see this historic site a couple years ago and we have enjoyed going more than once.
Old Exchange dates back to the 1670’s when it was used as a Customs and Exchange building for the busy Charleston port. Pirates were placed in the Provost Dungeon. British tea was stored inside it’s walls. You can see the old sea wall inside the Provost Dungeon. During the American Revolution the colonists hid guns and ammunition inside the building. There is a lot of neat history in this building.
Old staircase, not in use anymore
Old Seawall can be seen inside the Provost Dungeon. Half-moon battery.
They had amazing brick work done in the building. It was neat to see.
Old model of the building.
Our tour guide telling about the pirates they captured and held as prisoners in the Provost Dungeon
Pirates biding their time in the Dungeon
The had to keep records of all the exchanges and transactions that took place inside the building.
The colonists put a powder magazine inside the building and then built a wall in front of it. Even during the American Revolution when the British soldiers had control and occupied this building they never found it. After the war when they took down the wall everything was still where they had left it.
Provost Dungeon
Black Beard the pirate
A lot of neat historical pictures line the walls throughout the building
It was a rainy day in Charleston. Perfect day to take a tour of Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon.
Information about Preside George Washington’s visit to Charleston.
We the People….
Historical people and swords
Rainy day, but still beautiful
Looking out from the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon building to the street below.
History of the Exchange & Custom House, Faneuil Hall, and more
One of the meeting rooms, beautifully decorated
The Old Exchange Building & Provost Dungeon Banner
Plagues on the outside walls of the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Recipes: Homemade M&M Cookies
Fresh out-of-the-oven Homemade M&M Cookies
There is something comforting about walking into the house and the smell of freshly baked cookies. It is welcoming, not to mention the delicious taste when you sink your teeth into a warm fresh cookie as it melts in your mouth. I remember as a kid when we would get off the school bus sometimes my Mom would be pulling a fresh batch of cookies out of the oven for us to enjoy. No matter how crazy school had been that day you knew you would feel better after Mom’s homemade cookies!
Our kids don’t ride the school bus so they don’t get to experience that “get off the school bus and encounter freshly baked cookies sensation” however, I do try to bring them homemade cookies, send it with them in their lunches, or make them at times when they are home. It is nice to surprise them with a special treat every once in awhile. Sometimes if they are playing outside I will make up a quick batch and the next time they come inside they get to sink their teeth into the hot cookies.
M&M Cookie Recipe:
- 2/3 cup Margarine
- 2/3 cup Butter Flavored Crisco
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon imitation Rum Extract
- 3 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 package Chocolate Chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the margarine, crisco, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, rum and eggs together. Then add the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and baking soda) and mix. Fold in the M&M’s. Grease the baking sheet. Drop by small spoonfuls onto the baking sheet. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes depending on the oven. Serves 3 to 4 dozen.
Another batch ready to go into the oven! The house is smelling good….
