Out of the House

Apparently, getting out of the house is a stressor for me because we have been sharing alot of getting "out of the house" tips lately :)

A friend shared another idea with me this week that I have implemented in my house. So far, it is working great for us and so I had to share of course :)

You know that I am in love with my Car Bucket right now.  This idea adds to the effectiveness of the CB and the ease of getting everything I need to head out the door...

It is simple really, but she just has "grab and go" bags already made up and ready to go a moments notice. She has a Swimming Bag, which is the permanent home for the beach towels, swim suits, sunscreen, flip flops, sun hats, sand toys, etc.  She has a Quiet Bag, which is stocked with snacks and quiet activities that would be appropriate for church or the doctors office. She has a Messy Bag, with wet wipes and an extra outfit for everyone in the family ..this one stays in the car.

These bags are always packed and ready for their next adventure, and are hanging where she can grab them when needed.

For me, I grab my Swimming Bag and diaper bag and throw them in the Car Bucket. We are set to go to the pool or beach and it took only a second to put together. I have a set of hooks in my laundry room, this is where my bags are hanging right now. I can keep them stocked and ready to go the easiest and fastest from that location.

I love this idea, because it means I dont have either pack or unpack any of these bags. I dont have to empty the Swimming Bag ...just take out the wet towels and suits, wash them and return them to their bag. No trying to locate the sunscreen or waterpark pass when we are ready to go ...its already in the bag where we left it the last time we used it. Makes for fun spontaneous trips out the door, with less stress making it happen!

Remember, any area you can make a bit less stressful means you are taking resources

back to use towards what God has planned for you today! :)


posted proudly to: We are That Family..Works for Me Wednesday!

Update: My Car Bucket

I have been using my own Car Bucket and wanted to give you an update ...I am LOVING it!

Ashley's idea for using a canvas bin to cart things from car to house, and to keep the mini-van picked up is working great for us!

I found this great bin with wheels at Target for $14.99 ..it is perfect for us, because the boys can help me cart it back and forth.

Some things I have noted since using it myself...

* Ashley is right ..you gotta empty it as soon as you get in the door at home. If not, it will not be ready to take it with you next time out the door

* When it is just me and the boys, it sits in the passenger seat so it is easiest to put stuff in and take stuff out, like snacks for the kids or my wallet for getting cash from the ATM

* It has helped 100% in collecting all the trash that we seem to collect in the van. That really is most of the mess we had in there. Now, ALL of it goes in the CB and I just empty it out as soon as we get in the house

* I found a couple of water bottles at Target for $1. The are for the boys to carry to the car, and stay in the CB when we are at home. They arent for home use, in other words.  That works for us.

Anyways, just thought I would share...thanks again Ashley for sharing your idea!

Have you used the Car Bucket idea in your own life? Tell us about it! 

a little tip: the Launch Pad

Getting out of the door for us is like trying to herd cats into the ocean! There are kids going everywhere, dogs barking, babies crying, mommy yelling, time passing ...it is STRESSFUL!

And, not always safe ..let me tell you a story. This weekend we were all headed out the door for something or another. It was not well planned on my end, and I was harried trying to get everyone out the door. There was a timing miscommunication between hubby and I, and he sent the boys to the car to buckle up. As they were headed out the door to go obey, I explained that I still needed to feed the baby one last time before heading out.

We didnt get the message to the kids. The eldest figured out pretty quick we werent coming, so unbuckled and came back in the house. No one thought anything about it.

It wasnt until we were ready to head out again, that we discovered the three year old had been waiting in his car seat, buckled up and ready to go that whole time. You see, he can buckle but not unbuckle ..this is bad, because it is the middle of July in SC ...and the car was closed up, leaving my child cooking in the van in 120 degree weather!  I dont have to explain how I felt. He was flushed, sopping wet with sweat and a bit weepy. So.was.I.

There has to be a better way ...obviously such things wont always happen if you are running late out the door, but had we a better plan, that would not have happened.

 I know this is not an original idea, but it works for me. It is something that has helped in a major area of stress, especially since having my third little one two months ago...

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For me,  planning is everything.  I have discovered that having a physical place where I can plan my route and my day out, really helps decrease the stress that is involved in getting out of the house.  I call it my Launch Pad! Combining this space with the Car Bucket makes for a great location to identify what is needed for everyone.

Timing is a big factor as well, when talking about the stress of getting out the door. I know, if I take the time the night before we have planned activities out of the house, I am most more relaxed with it comes time to leave. It helps the whole experience be less stressful for all involved!

Our "Launch Pad" is a shelf surface in our dining room, which is a central location between the kitchen (where the snacks and drinks are) and the rest of the house (where everything else is).  I put the Car Bucket there, as well as the kids outfits for the next day and anything else I need to make our morning run smoothly.  Today, I needed paperwork to drop off at the doctors office, dvd's to return, the kids clothes and shoes and the Car Bucket..truthfully, it was NOT all in one location but scattered all over the dining room.  But..it would have been better if it was!

Anyone else have any other "out the door" ideas to share? I know I can use them!

Tool Time: the Car Bucket

I have asked my sweet friend, Ashley, to share some ways that she uses what she calls the "car bucket". I have watched her use this for keeping her family's traveling odds and ends in order. I asked her to share how she uses it and help inspire us to order the  easily out of control area of our vehicles!

Ashley is married and has two little ones, a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son.  She stays busy in and out of the house, which is how this idea evolved for her family.

The basic idea ...  Ashley carries a sturdy tote with her wherever she goes, in and out of the car. It helps her manage all the stuff that comes with kids, a busy life and the minivan that shuttles it all around. According to her, "the "car bucket" serves as a carry all for my cell phone, sippy cups, purse, a couple of diapers, blankets and more" when going from one place to another outside the house. 

She loads it up when she is at home, thinking of all she may need for that particular trip out. She packs the tote differently if she is visiting with friends, going to church, going on a grocery shopping trip or whatever. Her husband and kids know that everything that goes with them has to go in the CB and that it is there when they go to look for it later.

When they leave the house, she loads up the kids, the husband and the CB!  We all know that when Ashley comes over, she is gonna make ONE trip to or from the car. Everything she needs is in that one place.   If her kids need their sippy cups, check the CB first!  If she is heading the pool, betcha the towels and sunscreen are in the CB!  Snacks anyone? ..CB.

When she gets home she uses the CB to declutter her Swagger Wagon, making sure to grab all the kid-related odds and ends, as well as the trash they have generated on their trip out. She makes sure to empty it out at home, each and every time. This is my favorite part, since my vehicle is always a cluttered mess!

Tips from the master ... "The "car bucket" needs to be big enough to make it able to hold several items and small enough to carry. I don't like the floppy kinds I like the kind that is pretty stiff and holds its shape well. Also, I like them to have handles on each end. That way when they are pretty full you stick one end on your hip and the other end you can hold by the handle."

One thing about the car bucket is that it will only work if you empty it IMMEDIATELY every time you come in the house. Otherwise it will just become something else in your car full of junk taking up space. 

"When I am by myself so I don't forget anything I put the kids in the car first so they are strapped in the car ready to go (and can't get into anymore mischief). The car bucket is the last thing that goes in so that I can come in one last time take a quick look if I need anything else and toss it in. Then I lock the door and take the car bucket with me."

I think the Car Bucket is a great idea, it Works for Us! ...and I plan on looking for a WAY cute tote to use.  I remember Ashley told me that it helped to have something cute, so she would be more inclined to use it. I agree.

Update: Per request ...here is a shot of Ashley's CB!  Here it is, on her dryer by her back door. This is close to where her car is parked, so that is where the CB sits ready to be filled up. And, she says the purse stays inside because that goes everywhere she does, just like the CB :)


Tell us what you think of this idea, and if you have any questions for Ashley I know she will be around the site to answer them!   

Do you have any other great resource saver ideas?