cottage and vine: Yes, Weekend and a Few Other Thoughts

I'm pretty sure that I live for weekends. Some weeks feel like uphill climbs. And then Thursday night rolls around and you can almost feel the weekend approaching. I used to get sad on Sundays when I knew that I had to go back to work on Monday. I don't get sad any more because I work from home. Believe me, it makes all the difference in the world. So how are you? Did you have a good week?

We are buckling up for another school year and have managed to put off purchasing school supplies until today. Yes, today you can probably find me in Walmart throwing elbows with the other crazies. Wait, what happened to my weekend?

Each new school year is like a clean slate. The kids are recommitted to doing their best. I make promises to myself to be more organized and supportive. I want everything to run smoothly starting day one. So with that in mind, I have a few things that need attention.

The Backpack Saga Continues
I'm sorry to be Miss Buzzkill, but let me say that when your kids are teenagers, they still need to be reminded about the little things. "Please hang you backpack", is something you will hear around here a lot. It occurred to me the other day that our boys don't really have an accessible, super easy way to hang their backpacks. So my mission, cue the music please, is to create a fool proof area for them to store their instruments, shoes, jackets, and backpacks.

Domino

Honestly, I don't know if there is a hook in this world strong enough to hold one of our boys' backpacks. They are heavy enough to turn off the airbag while sitting in the passenger seat! I really like the idea of this sturdy bar and "s" hooks for hanging stuff if I cannot find industrial strength hooks. Can you recommend a sturdy hook?

via

The area that I have in mind is on our sunroom/office and the paneling in this image reminds me of it. One wall is paneling and the other is brick. What, a room with only two walls, how could it be? The other walls are windows and doors silly. Aren't the photos above the hooks darling?

Image source?

I like how this space is organized, yet realistic. My goal is to have a place for everything, but it doesn't have to look perfect. But, it really needs to be useable.

Fail to Prepare and Prepare to Fail

One thing I really want to be good about this school year is meal planning. Our weeks always run more smoothly when meals are planned and groceries are purchased ahead of time. With this in mind, have any of you tried freezer cooking?

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Having a few or a month's worth of meals in the freezer to pull from would definitely save me on busy nights. What are your secrets for preparing for the new school year? Are you ready?

See ya at Walmart.

9 comments:

Pine Tree HomeAugust 24, 2012 at 9:24 AM
I too want to do better meal planning. A friend of mine have talked about having a cooking party where each person makes enough for 3-4 families to freeze and each walk home with few different prepared frozen meals.
Courtney {a thoughtful place}August 24, 2012 at 10:57 AM
I am horrible with using my freezer. If I put it in there. . . it never ever comes out until it's overflowing and I throw it all out. Not sure what my problem is. I love meal planning, though. I think I may have to try and bust out the crockpot this fall to make things easier.
AmandaAugust 24, 2012 at 11:13 AM
oh girl I am right there with you with all the crazies out there doing last min.shopping. Im on the hunt for Sketchers today for my daughter- I swore I wouldnt wait till last min to shop and here I am!!
This freezer meal thing is intriguing to me--must know more.....
pam {simple details}August 24, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Ha! We're on the same page, didn't get our school supplies till the last minute either. And it's my goal to menu plan, I know it makes everything SO much smoother, I start out with such good intentions, but it never sticks... And, I've decided on a bench for the backpack and all the paraphernalia. Enjoy the weekend, cute friend!
The Vintique ObjectAugust 24, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Seems like a wrought iron hook, like in one of the images (all are so nice, BTW) would be the way to go for strength. Maybe do a search for that? I guess the next issue would be to ensure that it doesn't pull out of the wall. :)
Storywood DesignsAugust 24, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Kind of makes me sad to hear that 10 years from now I'll still be reminding my boys to hang their backpacks up and put their shoes in their cubbies! We built mudroom lockers last year for that purpose, but let's be honest... it's me putting their stuff on the hooks more often than its them doing it. As for meal planning, you've hit on my #1 weakness. I'm terrible at organized grocery shopping, consistent shopping and any kind of meal planning! That's on my list for things to be better about this fall. I've been super lazy about it this summer. Hope your boys have a great start to the year!
Susan MAugust 24, 2012 at 8:46 PM
I saw a rail and S hooks in a BHG organizing slideshow today, and thought the same thing - there's my backpack answer! I'm thinking IKEA kitchen has that rod and maybe even the S hooks...and I have the same problem with backpack weight. I've tried Command hooks, but only succeded in taking off the paint & top layer of drywall.
l o v e l y t h i n g sAugust 25, 2012 at 7:57 PM
so funny...I just did a post on coat hooks that I used in my new little house. 112 years old and I don't think anyone before me ever put up hooks. I must say I am not sure there is a hook or a wall strong enough to hold a kids backpack...they are so heavy. We do have a little closet in our entry and I have been amazed how my 13 year old sons friends walk in the door, open the closet and take off their shoes. It certainly was not my sons idea. He probably doesn't even know we have a closet yet!
Urban Orchard InteriorsAugust 30, 2012 at 12:52 PM
NOOOO! You mean I am going to have to remind them for the next TEN YEARS to put their stuff away! AAAHHHH!

I tried to make it easier by putting large baskets and hooks in our entry and I guess it's a little better. The baskets give them a target at least to aim for as the fly through the house dropping their stuff...