Many Kids, Crumby Floors

I have a passel of kids...which means I have issues with food on the floor. Who doesn't? One of the best tools NerdDad and I have found is an old school carpet sweeper, yes you heard me right. A carpet sweeper. One of the reasons that we love it is that the kids can use it all by themselves and they love it. It has no batteries or cords to cause issue. It is a simple push operated device. And it works! When I say that is works I mean it picks up dirt, hair, cheerios and just about any little annoying crumb that falls! For less than $20 you can't go wrong. It beats all the pretend dust busters that people give kids and then the kids actually help!!!

Valentine's Surprise!

I am pretty sure that my Valentine's Day looks different that many women's and that is fine with me! NerdDad and I tend to exchange rather, well, nerdy gifts. So I was stoked when NerdDad got me a new Microsoft Wireless Mouse and yes he got me the blue! (I also got a new memory card for my camera;) I will admit, I was a little concerned that an inexpensive mouse just wouldn't cut it. Since I was using a corded mouse at home and the touch pad out, I was willing to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised! It connects quickly and maneuvers well. I also really like that when you aren't using the mouse you just snap the adapter back onto it. Then you can't loose the adapter and the battery shuts off at that point. And for under $18 you can't go wrong!

(No, I didn't get anything for posting this. I just wanted to share and let me hubby know how much I liked it!)

Metro Mama Wrap

I have had 4 kids and didn't discover the Metro Mama wrap until my last kid. Now I am not a big baby wearer but their are times when it just makes you life so much easier. But I wasted a fair amount of time and money trying to figure out how. I did a chest pack with kid #1 and it helped with his reflux but it was a pain to put on and get him in and out. I had a sling with #2 and it just didn't seem that secure. But with #4 I used a friend's wrap and it was awesome. I could put the baby in it and pick up another child, empty a dishwasher, whatever. I didn't have to use a hand to stabilize her or anything! Here is a great how-to video on using the wrap.

MathStart!

I have talked to a few of my friends about reading books about math with my kids in the preschool, kindergarten and the early elementary years. I really like Stuart J Murphy'sMathStart series. They have them coded by level so you can slowly work yourself into more difficult material. You can start just working with basic number concepts and then do groupong, money, probability or more! These books are great because they are colorful and entertaining. It is just a great book that happens to teach math! Is there anything more you could ask for a book than both reading and math?

Furniture Moving Made Easy

NerdDad and I just finished painting the office and these were a huge help! We have an l-shaped desk that had to stay in the office and then we had 2 filing cabinets and a cabinet that had to be moved out. For less than $10 bucks these saved us back aches, sprains and more! We have used these to move furniture to vacuum, mop and just rearrange. If you don't have a set on hand it is totally worth it!

(WFMW)

Best $20 I Ever Spent!

A couple of years ago NerdDad bought me this Brother P-Touch PT-1900 Electronic Labeling System from Costco. This is the best $20 we have ever spent for any kind of home organization tool. I can label everything! We put those large plastic drawers in the pantry and labeled them. I label the bins and boxes in the garage. I label folders in the desk drawer. I labeled my cooler when we went to the Fresno Fair. I even labeled my basketball hoop when I lent it to church.

You can get refills, change the font and even the orientation! So if you don't have one, go and get one!

WFMW: Cookie Scoop

One of the best time saving gadgets I own is the Pampered Chef Medium Scoop. It was the best $15.50 (price with shipping) I ever spent. It give perfectly sized cookies, which are a commodity around here. My hands also stay clean so I can stop and run after the kids. It is dishwasher safe and easy action. Just dip and dish. I also use for potato pancakes.

Even cooler is the little one they sell is the same size as a mini-muffin cup and the big one is a muffin cup size. I spend forever trying to get them just right.

WFMW: Organization Tool

I love plastic drawers! These little beauties are in a cabinet in my playroom organizing my crafting supplies. I don't if you can see that in the top drawer I have stamp pads, then chipboard/stickers/sayings and then in the bottom I have cutting templates. Now these can get pricey but go through and figure out what you need to store your junk. Then buy them slowly. I wait to use JoAnn coupons or when they have them on sale for 50% off (which is fairly often). So that is a little something that works for me!

Great Gifts for Christmas!

Shannon over at Rocks at My Dryer asked for a list of great gifts. So here are a few we at the NerdFamily love!

First up is Blokus Classic. We all love this game. NerdDad and I can play against each other and the 7 and 5 year olds can also play. It is great!

We are also huge Mega Bloks fans! These big blocks are great family fun. They are safe for all our kids (down to less than a year and a half) and what else can you use to build arches big enough that the kids can crawl under?

SET Game is a great game because it can be as simple or hard as you would like it to be.

Quadrilla Marble Railway is an awesome family gift. It is composed of different pieces so you can make a new set up everytime. In addition to cool marble fun it also teaches logic and a bit of science. There are also many pieces so it is an awesome gift tradition to start. Then you can just gift them a new piece every gift occasion.

I also love giving books like Usborne Encyclopedias and The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set because they are books that appeal to everyone in the family and can be read (many times) together.

So there are just a few gifts I love! Click on my gift worthy category to see a few more.

WFMW: Backwards Day

So today is Backwards Day on Works For Me Wednesday so here is my plaintive plea. In the spirit of books and things. How do you organize your books? Better yet how do you put them so the little kids can put them back organized?