Use What Ya Got

 

One rule I made for myself when we moved in our new house was to not buy any anything like furniture, artwork, picture frames, etc until we got good and settled and we had exhausted the items we already owned.

I had a hunch as time went on and we got more situated that so many of the things we already had would find their place. It takes time to get to know your house.

I'm still amazed at how this is working out. I just knew that one of the first things I would buy would be a big basket for our shoes and bike helmets. But I waited. Lo and behold, I have a basket like this. Except it is a trunk with a lid and it held blankets and comforters in our old house. And it is bigger than any basket I would have bought for this space.

Turns out, I love how large it is. It holds all my kids' shoes. I love having the shoes in a central location because it makes them so much easier to keep up with and grab when we are on our way out the door.

Moral of the story is: wait, use what you got, move things around.

Baskets like these are expensive, so I'm thrilled that I saved at least $30 to $60 to maybe even a $100 buying a new one.

>>>>

For fun, my preschoolers, ready for the day on October 1, sporting their corduroy. (Basket in the background).

Somehow We Manage BEST OF FALL - link round up

Finally, the temps have dropped, we have hit our stride with school routines, and our Halloween costumes are all planned out. We feel ya, fall! And we love you.

Since my blogging has been nonexistent for weeks, I thought it might be fun to do a little round up of the best of SWM with a nod to fall.

Here we go....

Back to School 2016 - Two Things Making Me Not Crazy

Forever and always the best after school snack - banana bread

My go to fall meals

Use What Ya Got (how I stored our backpacks, lunchboxes, and shoes before our lockers were built)
 
Tip for Wearing Button-Down Shirts

New Coat + I'm so over buying expensive clothes

Dressing For Fall When It's 80 Degrees

Spending and Saving + Girls Clothes tips for taking summer dresses to fall and winter

Halloween 2015 feels like yesterday

20 bags in 20 days I know de-cluttering is typically a spring thing, but it's not a bad time of year to do a big clean out in anticipation for Christmas, speaking of....Five Great Toys and A Toy Worth Investing In: Magna-Tiles

I snapped this picture on a school holiday, for sure a day we had to push past the boredom.

So what's new with you?