Create DIY Finals Survival Kits for the Student in Your Life to Show Your Encouragement & Support

It's FINALS WEEK here in the Weber abode, and normally my kids would be at school focused on wrapping up all of their classes with their end of the semester exams...but with COVID still running rampant here in SoCal, all three of my kids are taking their tests from home.

Normally the PTO at their school has a fundraiser where parents can purchase "Finals Survival Kits" for their students to have some snacks while they are testing.

Since there's no school, there are no "Survival Kits", and having a senior this year (#worstyearevertobeasenior) I'm doing my darndest to make her last year as special and meaningful as it can be, so I decided to make my own survival kit not only for her but all three of my kids!

Honestly, it wasn't hard at all...and was actually kind of fun!

The toughest part was creating the tags, but I already did that for you, so you've got it "made in the shade" to make your own!!

Let me walk you through what you need and how to do it!

Supplies:

- A Bag (or if you are mailing it to a college student, you'll want a sturdy box)

- Printable Treat Tags (you can grab those here!)

- Scissors

- Tape

- Snacks/Treats/Goodies (I got most of mine at the dollar store so this won't break the bank!)

Here are some of the treats that coordinate with the tags: (Note: you don't need to buy ALL of them... I had about 10 -12 items in my bags, and that was plenty!)

• Cheez-Its

• M&M’s Candy

• A Bag of Chips

• A Pack of Gum

• Any Type of Nuts

• Mints

• Beef Jerky

• Granola Bar or Candy Bar

• Lip Balm

• Apple Juice, an Apple or any Apple Flavored Snack

• Cookies

• Gummy Bears

• Nacho Chips (ex. Doritos, Takis)

• An Orange or any Orange Flavored Treat

• Tootsie Rolls or Fruit Roll-Up

• Nerds Candy

• Popcorn or a Soda Pop

• Starburst Candy

• Swedish Fish

• Blow Pops

• Chex Mix

• Crunch Candy Bar

• Smarties Candy

• Donuts

Once you have your treats, print out the tags, cut them, and affix them with tape to the coordinating tag! SO EASY!!

Wait 'til you see the smile on your kids' faces when they know you were thinking of them!! They are going to wish it was finals week EVERY WEEK (okay, probably not, but they will totally dig the treats!)

Are there any things the kids once did at school that you are now doing for them so they don't miss school as much?? I'd love to hear!!

Until next time, cheers to us all rocking this pandemic homeschooling gig, and cheers to you!🥂

XOXO,

💗Magan

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12 Genius Makeup Organizers to Keep Your Cosmetics and Vanity Decluttered & Organized

The new year is well underway, and if we were hoping for an exciting year….well, 2021 has certainly not disappointed…

it’s already been just a wee bit W-A-C-K-Y with lots of uncertainty around the corner, and we are only a couple of weeks in!

When the world seems uncertain, and life feels out of control, one thing that helps me feel more grounded is having a plan to focus on. It’s my healthy way of taking back a little control in my life.

(Note: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links at no cost to you. Read our full disclaimer policy here.)

For the month of January, I created a theme each day of the week to feel centered and to actually get some things done in my life!

(I wrote a whole blog post about how having themed days can help you be more productive here if you want to check it out!)

Here’s a little peek at my January calendar.

This week, my plan is to declutter, toss, and organize my makeup drawer/vanity.

I always find the first of the year to be the perfect time to weed out all of the old cosmetics and skin care products (Remember those glitter fairy eyelashes from Halloween 2018?? Yeah, probably time to toss them!)

Did you know that just like your food or medications, makeup has an expiration date too? Yep!

I’m a total sucker for "Before/After" pictures, so in case you are too, here are mine from cleaning out my makeup supplies this week.

"BEFORE"

"AFTER"

Looks better, right?

Here they are side by side: Ahhhh, such an improvement!

I’m definitely more of a “skin-imalist” (yes, that’s a real thing #vocabexpansion) when it comes to my beauty routine…mostly 'cause I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to makeup, but also because I’m just a simple gal who rather be organizing a closet than getting gussied up.

As you can see from my "After" photo, I just have some basic storage containers to help keep my beauty items organized. For the most part, they are inexpensive organizing products that I’ve gathered over the years (most likely from the dollar store) that do the trick for me.

If you have a more extensive makeup arsenal and regime, you just might need to bring some “big guns” in to help you get it all organized, so I am here to help you out, mama!!

There are some seriously rad products out there that will help you stay totally organized!

I mean seriously...check it out!!!

So, let's break down what we've got here...

one. Apothecary Jars Canister Set // It's tough trying to keep cotton balls and & q-tip swabs neat and orderly, but this stylish 3 canister set will do definitely the trick!

two. Storage Cube with 3 Drawers // If you are more of an "out of sight" person who does not like to see clutter, this three-drawer organizer will hold all of your cosmetics without cluttering the top of your vanity! Problem solved!

three. Metal Hair Care & Styling Tool Storage // Do you leave your styling tools out on your counter? This metal storage container is perfect for keeping them out of the way and organized when not in use!

four. Plastic Vanity Makeup Organizer // This heavy-duty acrylic container is so versatile because you can store makeup of every shape and size...brushes, tubes, jars, and palettes, oh my!

five. Lip Makeup Organizer // If I had more than two lip products, this would be at the top of my list! I love that the sections are designed for various lip products...longer lip gloss tubes in the back and larger bottom width lipsticks in the front. So smart!!

six. Stackable Organizer Box // Limited bathroom space? These organizers have hinged lids so they can be stacked, freeing up precious surface space on your vanity!

seven. Two-Tiered Catchall // I love this "catchall" to keep your accessories on your vanity organized. It comes in white, black, or gold to match your bathroom color palette and decor.

eight. Nail Polish Organizer // As the nail salons here in CA remain close, my nail care products are continuing to grow...hello DIY manicures and pedicures! These two nail polish/tool organizers will help you keep it all organized!

nine. Three Compartment Storage Tray // Want to instantly make a space look more tidy? Grab a tray, and voila', it's magic!! This white tray can be used for jewelry, pocket change, makeup/skincare products, or even perfume!

ten. Ten Piece Drawer Organizer Set // My built-in bathroom vanity comes with ONE giant drawer, so these various sized storage containers are just what I need to help keep various sized beauty products & tools in their own space.

eleven. Rotating Makeup Organizer // Ask any professional organizer what their most utilized and versatile organizing tools are, and you will definitely hear "lazy susan" in that list! And here you have it...the "lazy susan" of the bathroom! It helps keep all of your tools in one place and easy to access!

twelve. Divided Makeup Palette Organizer // Got a plethora of palettes? Then this organizer was made for you...It's the perfect way to keep them orderly and organized!

There you have it...my treasure trove of vanity organizers!

Did I miss anything?

Got a little treasure of your own that I need to know about??

Oh please let me know!!

Until next time, cheers to retiring the old glitter eyelashes, and cheers to you!🥂

XOXO,

💗Magan

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Get Your Home & Life Organized in 52 Weeks with the 2021 "Free the Clutter Fiesta"

The beginning of a New Year …. the time of year when everywhere you look, you see words like….

DETOX

CLEANSE

CHALLENGE

DIET

Ugh! Seriously, are those MOTIVATING words for anyone???

…well, they definitely ARE NOT for me!!

Detoxes, Cleanses, Challenges, and Diets sound like a total BUZZKILL to me…that’s why when there’s an area of my life that may need some “sprucing up”, I like to reframe it as a "celebration"!🥳

Last year, before we moved, I created and participated in a “Purge Party” at my house to help me get prepped for a new house. (If you want to check out the PURGE PARTY, you can read more posts about it here)

Now doesn't a “PAR-TAY” sound so much more fun!?!

So to kick off 2021, I’m going to have a “FIESTA” at my house…a “Free the Clutter Fiesta”! 🎉

Although we've only lived in our home for 18 months, I feel the creep happening…the dreaded CLUTTER CREEP!

Clutter seems to just seep into the house and shows up in places you didn't even realize! (Especially when you have kids at home…I’m pretty sure my darling children just shove crap in drawers, closets, and every which way at my home when I'm not looking)

Do ya’ feel me??

So instead of freaking out over the unwanted items, I’m simply going to tackle one area of my house each week and dedicate approximately 15-30 minutes to “Free the Clutter”!

I know ya’ll are going to think I’m a bit nutty with the philosophy I’m about to share…

But, we’re friends, right?

And friends don’t judge each other, right? (Hint: The answer is “right”!)

So here goes….

I truly believe that every item we own carries energy…

(with me so far?)

...and our possessions’ sole purposes are to be of use and to be valued…

(still hanging in there?)

...and if you’ve got stuff just sitting around doing neither of those things, then it’s not serving your possessions whole reason for even existing….

(man that’s pretty deep, huh - or maybe just totally whacked??... either way it's a positive motivation for me to let it go!)

In a nutshell: if you aren’t loving and using your stuff, you need to set it free…let it fulfills its life’s purpose by finding a new place to call home where it will be loved, appreciated, and of service to the owner.

Geez, who knew owning crap would carry such a heavy responsibility of allowing your belongings to serve its divine karmic purpose! Yowzers!

Yep, don’t let your stuff down by hoarding it and keeping it hidden in a closet never to see the light of day - I mean that’s just downright inhumane!

So, ya' know what we gotta do?…set it free!

And that’s what I plan to do - and I’d love for you to join me - goodness knows I’d love to have a buddy on this journey!

I’ve laid out a road map (or let’s just call it a “party agenda” - sounds way more fun than a "decluttering calendar"!) for the year so I can break down some of the big tasks that can feel a little overwhelming into easier bite-sized morsels.

Wanna' see my "Party Agenda"?

Cue to trumpet fanfare!! 🎺🎺

I've even made it a PDF so you can print it out for yourself! (just click on the image above)

Now there a few things I want you to know about the “FREE THE CLUTTER FIESTA” PARTY AGENDA!!

1. START ANYTIME

You can start anytime!

As I write this, today’s date is mid-January, so I’m a little slow at the starting line.

But listen, life’s been cuckoo around here for the last few weeks, and I'm sure you are all feeling the craziness that seems to have already seeped into 2021 from the last year!

But guess what?

I’m not gonna beat myself up, or cancel the whole thing…I’m gonna hop right in and do what I can do.

The point of the FIESTA is progress, not perfection!!

So I hope you’ll keep that in mind too - if life gets totally bonkers for you, give yourself some time and join back in when you have a little breathing room.

2. SWAP IT

The calendar/agenda I created was simply a framework for me to make sure I hit all the important areas in my home, and it’s not set in stone.

If there’s a week I’m on vacation, I will just double up on another week!

Customize the calendar to fit your schedule - swap tasks and weeks as needed!

3. MOLD IT, MOMMA

When you look at the various weeks, dates, and focus areas on the agenda, there may be weeks that you don’t do anything…

For example, I don’t have a basement, so that designated week, I will mold to fit what I need more time to work on (well hello, garage… the great clutter cache of all time!).

Feel free to alter and mold the calendar to best fit your needs and schedule!

4. ONLY INVITE VIPs

As you are on this journey of letting go of the items in your home that you no longer need and love, I suggest that you are highly intentional and deliberate about what you invite into your home when you are shopping.

A current illustration from my own life…

February is approaching quickly, and with us still being in semi-locked down mode here in SoCal, I really want to make this Valentine's Day extra special for my kids, especially since they are still doing remote online learning and their lives are extra "meh" and "blah" these days.

Yesterday I was at Wally World (AKA Wal-Mart) and was fighting the strong urge to buy a bunch of random Valentine stuff…sprinkles, plates, napkins, crappy snacks, you name it…whatever had a freaking heart on it, I had an urge to purchase. (Darn you, Pinterest...I hold you personally responsible for this obsession with Holidays looking perfect!)

But guess what…I know in a matter of days all that cutesy cupid paraphernalia will be shoved in a cabinet never to be used ever again.

So my point to this story…

...momma, don't buy crap you don’t love and will get very little use out of:

Invite only VIPs (Very Important Possessions) into your life!

5. GET SUPPORT, SIS

Grab a friend, partner, spouse, sibling, neighbor to join in the fiesta with you! There is power in numbers, and it will help you stay accountable.

I think I’ve hit on the major points to the FIESTA, and I’m off and running here at the Weber Abode.

First stop…I’m decluttering my schedule and creating a more mindful morning routine.

I’d love for you to join me!

You can sign up here if you too need a little morning makeover!

Also, if you want to catch what I'm doing in real-time, let's connect on Instagram!!

Organizen Magan on Instagram

Until next time, cheers to living a fiesta-filled life, and cheers to you!🥂

XOXO,

💗Magan

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