What's In Your Pool / Beach Bag?

As the summer comes to an end, I FINALLY discovered the best solution to getting my kids (all 3) and all their gear to the pool / beach in an organized manner! If only I had more time to use it.

The Problem?
~ Getting 3 kids to the pool PLUS all their stuff in an organized manner is REALLY tough.

~ How do I prevent myself from having to DIG to the bottom of my pool bag for the sunscreen, goggles, and all the other small items? I really don't like bags with lots of pockets because I forget WHICH pocket I put the small stuff in ~ I prefer one BIG wide-mouthed bag (with a zipper top).

~ How do I keep my dry items separate from the items that will inevitably become wet & sandy?

The Solution?
~ Three of my FAVORITE products pulled together to create one perfect solution!

The Products?
1. The L.L.Bean Beach Tote With Long Handles


2. 3 Plastic Beach Totes (I bought mine at Michael's Craft Store)

3. 3 Zippered Pencil Pouches (Carolina Pad Kendall Collection ~ I bought mine at Wal-Mart) Who knew an office supply product could be SO stylish and versatile?

How To?

1. Insert the 3 Plastic Beach totes inside the L.L.Bean Beach Tote. They serve as plastic dividers (with handles for portability!) to separate your items.

I put pool toys in one tote, dry items (towels, change of clothes, dry swim diapers) in another tote, and sunscreen & shower items in another tote.

Dry Items Stay Dry, The Plastic Totes keep my L.L.Bean Bag Dry, Items are easily identified and best of all NO Digging to the bottom of the bag.

2. I put travel sized shower items (shampoo, shower gel, small shower body puff) in the 3 zippered pencil pouches. The kids each take their own zippered pouch with shower supplies into the pool shower to rise off after swimming.

3. The L.L. Bean Tote serves as the best wide-mouthed bag to carry it all with ease!

Now if only I had thought of this great idea at the beginning of the summer! Here's to next season!

"Taming That Toddler" ~ Should Be An Olympic Sport!

Molly stringing beads & buttons on pipe cleaners at Reed Gold Mine!


My "Molly Martin BUSY BAG" & Contents

Hello Purple Martin Moms!

I just overheard my 8 year old say to my husband .... "WHAT if Molly had a TWIN?" Then she shuddered ... "that would be AWFUL." Well, even though Molly (aka the Mo-Nado) has set records in our family-of-5 for being the most difficult toddler ... EVER ... at least she provides us with lots of humor and some interesting fodder for my blog. That being said, today was just one of those "Molly Days" again where she screamed, yelled, and wore on all of our patience.

Yesterday, however, I took my kids on a field trip to the Reed Gold Mine in Midland, NC. We went with some friends with the intention of touring an underground gold mine (a historic landmark) and then panning for some gold ourselves.

I had wanted to leave Molly with a sitter, but my friends said we could make it work. My friends were amazing AND I was prepared! I knew I was NOT going to take Molly on the tour of the Gold Mine once the guide said ... "I hope we ALL behave in the mine! Remember, we will be 30 FEET underground and MUST not touch anything .... EVEN the rocks on the ground are OFF LIMITS."

Well ... since Molly likes to do snow angels in the MUD, I figured the experience of "behaving" in the Gold Mine (30 feet underground) was better left to her older siblings (ages 5 & 8).

Instead, Molly & I took a little hike around the property and settled on a bench where I took out my NEW Molly "BUSY BAG!" It was a HUGE hit!

Here were the contents:
* One sandwich sized Tupperware filled with stray lego pieces for her to build with
* One small (retractable) measuring tape (we even measured the circumference of a tree)
* One roll of stickers from the Dollar Tree (cost $1.00)
* One small "Gladware" bucket containing random beads & buttons
* Misc. brightly colored pipe cleaners from old craft kits (which we used to string the beads & buttons - great for fine motor skills!)
* A plastic wallet sized folder that I used to hide misc. pictures I cut out of magazines in the different pockets (pictures of flowers, birds, dogs, etc)
* A few stray toys I found in our junk drawer
* One "super cute" zipper pencil pouch I found at Wal-Mart (Carolina Pad & Paper Co) that I put crayons into with a few tiny note pads for coloring - the pencil pouch keeps crayon marks OFF of the other items & I stashed it in my purse for our lunch outing!

I zipped ALL of these surprise treasures in a collapsible lunch tote that I bought at the Dollar Tree for $1.00. She had fun opening & closing it as a stand alone activity!

Total Cost ~ $4.50 (lunch tote & stickers from The Dollar Tree + Carolina Pad Pencil Pouch from Wal-Mart)

One would think I had enough "stash" to keep her busy for HOURS ~ an entire plane ride perhaps ~ but in reality, my busy toddler was able to be entertained for exactly 45 minutes. A near record in her book!

I felt like I had won a "gold medal" when my task of "taming my toddler" outlasted my five year old's attention span of panning for gold!

Instead of the medal, I'll settle for the satisfaction of knowing we weren't ASKED TO LEAVE the Gold Mine (unlike our last excursion experience).

The Sad Sate of My Glove Compartment....a coming to terms, & a cute solution!

Ok moms, so the last time I left you I was telling you about my horrific drive home from Atlanta where my toddler (who turned 2 today) screamed 3 out of the 4 hours it took us to get home. It was awful. Well, somehow during a moment of peace, my 5 year old son (who has a fascination with the police and constantly reminds me NOT to speed ~ how kind of him!) asked me what would happen if we DID get pulled over. I told him the police would not be happy with me for breaking the speed limit and that he would ask me for my drivers license and registration card. He seemed happy enough with my response.

When we got home (and one HUGE headache later from said screaming toddler) I peeked in my glove box to make sure that my registration was in fact IN the car where I thought it was ~ I wouldn't want to be misleading my 5 year old that I was always following the traffic rules & regulations!

After digging and digging and MORE digging .... then uncovering an old candy wrapper, some crunched up oil change receipts and some other junk .... I finally DID happen upon my registration card (as I had suspected). It just started to bother me that it took me 10 minutes to find it when the glove compartment is only 12 inches wide by at most 8 inches deep! It was indeed a DISASTER.

It wasn't a value statement or a general sense of me "not caring" it was just someplace I rarely open unless I have to .... and when I do open it, I am generally in a HUGE hurry and just throw what I was looking for back in it haphazardly.

I wanted to give myself a fun reason to organize my small glove compartment disaster & I happened upon it in the least likely of all places .... the Target office supply aisle! I found this really fun, bright & colorful vinyl 13 pocket expanding file folder. I had used a more sturdy (cardboard) version to help my daughter organize her artwork a week or so ago. I had a feeling that this slimmer and more flexible version just MAY fit in my glove compartment to help me organize my chaos.

It Did! I was able to label the tabs as follows:
* Registration & Insurance
* Owners Manual
* Service History & Receipts
* Wheel Lock & Tire Warranty
* & First Aid Stuff ... I stuck some bandaids, Neo-to-Go (neosporin spray) and some tylenol in there .... just so I am BETTER PREPARED for that next AWFUL road trip :-)

Back to School Special!

The Purple Martin & Co. is offering a back to school savings of 10% + one free month of updates to your family handbook through August 30th!
Become a fan of our facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Charlotte-NC/The-Purple-Martin-Co/106671367396?ref=nf

AND register to follow our blog! You will receive 10% off of any handbook product / service rendered through August 30th PLUS one additional month of free updates (the standard package comes with 3 months of free updates)!

There is no better time than now to organize your family's critical inforamtion. Give us a call (704) 724-9108 (or email thepurplemartin@bellsouth.net).... we are here to help & simplify the back to school process!

Favorite Way To Fix the Travel DVD Dilemma!

Ok Moms ~ New "Stylish" way to fix the DVD Travel Dilemma! Favorite Product ~ Carolina Pad & Paper Co's JACKIE Laptop Case and Whimsical Flower Binder! (www.jackiemcfee.com) See photos (and read further) to check out a fabulous way to travel with your kids' DVD player AND their DVD's in one super cool case / binder any girl (young, tween AND teen) would be excited to carry around!

The Problem? How many of you are tired of asking your kids to bring their favorite DVDs in the car for a road trip only to find AFTER you are on the road that half of the cases they brought didn't contain an actual DVD? The problem is that the way DVD cases are designed, we have to actually OPEN the case to see if our kids put the DVD back where it beloged after the last time we viewed it. With my kids, the chances of this happening are slim to never.

Our other travel DVD issue is that our family has an 8 year old, 5 year old, & a toddler. My 8 year old can not be subjected to toddler appropriate shows for an 8 hour road trip to grandma's. The only solution was to lend her my portable DVD player to use in the back seat so she can watch "Mary Kate & Ashley" instead of our beloved purple dinosaur friend.

The Solution? A fashionable way for my 8 year old to travel with BOTH her favorite DVD's and the DVD player in ONE portable solution!

How'd We Do It?
1. Purchased the JACKIE (www.jackiemcfee.com) Laptop Case (with handles AND a detachable shoulder strap) at Wal-Mart for $19.99 + tax. (you can also shop Caroina Pad online at www.carolinapad.com where they currently have FREE shipping on orders of $30 or more!)

2. Purchased the JACKIE Accessories case in coordinating pattern to keep the cords contained in the laptop case (optional as the case does have a pocket for the laptop case & a separate section where you can store the cords.)

3. Purchased the Whimsical Flower 3 ring binder in matching color scheme for $4 at Wal-Mart.

4. Purchased Office Max Brand 3-hole punched clear CD / DVD sleeves.

5. Had my daughter select her favorite DVD's that she wants to keep for "travel" purposes and she put them in the sleeves.

6. Put DVD Cord, DVD Player, & New DVD Binder in the laptop case for easy travel!

The Result?
A Fabulous Way to have DVD's ready for "on the go!"
No more headache when it comes to "missing" DVDs because we have eliminated the DVD cases - less bulk too!
No more "where's my DVD cord!" when we arrive at Grandma's!
Less headache ~ Easier Travel ~ Economical Solution!

The "Bedtime Boogie" .... Seriously???

Mommy "Data" Tip of the day ~ Be Sure to Document your "Bedtime Routine."

The Bedtime Boogie...Seriously?! Ok ~ It may not seem like a normal bedtime routine, but it happens to work for my 2 year old ... the "Mo-Nado... aka ... Molly Tornado."

To get her ready for bed, we turn on the music and have a little "bogie time" in our PJs before bed (see photo). My babysitters used to hink I was crazy .... who in their right mind would get a toddler "all excited" and "revved up" right before putting them to bed? It just happens to work, I would tell them .... and when I would get home and they had tried it for themselves, they definitely agreed! "Molly LOVES her bedtime boogie routine," they would say.

Why am I sharing this random piece of wisdom with you? Because it is so very important to document your children's bedtime routine for your sitters, caregivers, and even the occasionally forgetful husband. Children need and expect their same routine each and every night ... no matter how silly it is to the outside observer.

The Purple Martin & Co. has a wonderful way to document your nightly routine that makes putting your children to bed seamless and easy for any caregiver!

Let's face it, if we can't be there in person .... we want our kids to feel secure in the routine that we have so carefully laid out for them.

If we can help you by putting together a customized family handbook (including your nightly routine), please give us a call. We would love to help! (704) 724-9108 OR email: thepurplemartin@bellsouth.n et.

The Elegantly Stylish, Organized Bride

We are excited to launch our 2nd NEW Product!




Our Customized Bridal Organization Handbook!

This new product is perfect for helping Brides through the exciting process of planning the wedding of their dreams!

With an index that is completely customized to her wedding style (see photos) & paper you select just for her (or she selects herself), she can't help but be stylishly "on task" every step of the way.

Price ~ $65.00 Plus Shipping & Handling

Sample Photo Shown includes the following:Customized, Monogrammed Cover, Spine & Back
High Quality 3 Ring Binder in coordinating Lime
Customized Index (laminated for durability)
Customized, Monogrammed zipper pouch for storing pens, business cards etc.
20 Customized Tabs labeled to suit her wedding plan
25 Plastic Sheet Protectors for storing (and protecting) ideas, magazine clippings, brochures etc.
Plastic Photo Sheet Protectors for holding up to 12 4x6 Photographs

My New Favorite Organizing Find! The 19-Pocket Expanding File by Carolina Pad. Yesterday, during my crazy Wal-Mart run (see previous note for a big laugh) we were dashing down the school supply aisle and came across this extremely practical and stylish product! (see photo album for additional product views).

Our Problem?
Too many pieces of "special artwork" and writings from the 1st and 2nd Grade. We needed to make room for special art & papers for the upcoming 3rd grade year.

The Solution?
I put my rising 3rd grader in charge of deciding "trash from treasure" (with some basic guidelines to follow). I let her use my label maker and the new (super cool ~ in her words) expanding file folder she picked out at Wal-Mart. She had a blast separating her special artwork from random doodles that she said could now make their way to the trash can.

She labeled the expanding files as follows:
1. 2nd Grade Books That I Wrote
2. 2nd Grade School art
3. 2nd Grade School Journals (she loves to write)
4. My Art (as in random stuff she still can't part with)
5. Spanish
6. 3rd Grade!

We still have 13 files to fill! I love this product for function, practicality and style!

Mom Tips
* Involve your kids in separating their artwork & special papers. You will have as much fun looking at their past years' accomplishments as they do. It is a great rainy day summer activity!

* Use an expanding file folder with plenty of file space to make room for next years' art & special papers. We had to fold some of our artwork to have it fit in the files. We didn't mind because if it is too special to "fold" we generally have it framed and hang it on the wall.

Product We Liked
We purchased the Hot Chocolate 19-Pocket Expanding File from Wal-Mart for $14.99 (plus tax).

Mamma Said There'd Be Days Like This ....

Hello Purple Martin & Co. Friends!

When I started this page I promised myself I wouldn't go off topic (i.e. blog about anything BUT the business & services I offer). However, today was just one of those days that humbles us as parents. Sharing experiences such as this just makes us more human and hopefully telling you all about it will bring a BIG smile to your faces & remind you that even those who HOPE to be organized still have the most CHAOTIC of days.

Hi-Lights:
* Toddler screamed entire way home from Atlanta to Charlotte yesterday (3 out of 4 hours!)
* I woke Up this morning with POST TRAVEL STRESS headache ... aka Toddler Screaming Syndrome
* Same toddler threw breakfast EVERYWHERE this morning and preferred to eat it OFF the floor despite my attempt to prevent her from doing so ....
* Survived the toddler nap ~ only to fall asleep myself ~ and then awawakened 15 minutes into my own peacefull nap by said SCREAMING toddler
* Took older children (ages 5 & 8) to Dollar Tree ~ only to be kicked OUT by manager because of said toddlers behavior .... the manager even said " you shold be ashamed of yourself .... " ughhhhh I was seriously trying to control her.
* I failed the "SMART mommy" test by forgetting to just GO HOME .... and instead took kids to Wal-Mart after being kicked out of the Dollar Tree because we needed bread, milk & eggs.
* Went hunting for strawberries in Wal Mart while big kids decided that wrestling a watermelon was a better idea!
* Said watermelon ended up "exploding" iin the aisle from a wrestling match between a 5 year old & an 8 year old ... lovely.
* Made BIG kids apologize to the cashier only to have her say how cute they were .... am I awful for secretely wanting her to ask them to pay for the watermelon out of their allowance?

I am exhausted :-) Those of you with kids, hang in there and take heart that these days are hopefully rare and bring us humor instead of angst. They do grow up TOO fast ... as a kind man in the Wal-Mart school supply aisle reminded me.

As Erin, the cashier who showed my big kids such grace in accepting their apolgy today, said .... "Parenting is a full time job, but SO rewarding."

My Charlie (age 5) just begged me to watch a movie with him. I am signing off to watch "Garfield ... again." A great way to end the day :-)

Signing off ... I am so thankful for tomorrow! All the Best .... The Purple Martin & Co. (i.e. Lori, Emma, Charlie & Molly ... aka the "MO-Nado")

Favorite Vendors!

Paper Source is my ABSOLUTE favorite paper resource for The Purple Martin & Co. products. Not only do they offer gorgeous handcrafted paper from exotic destinations such as Japan, India & Europe, but they offer exceptional service!

If you live in Charlotte, NC, be sure to visit Paper Source located in Phillips Place Shopping Center. My clients work with the help of store managers Wendy & Kristine to create the perfect look for their custom handbooks! These ladies are wonderful to work with and can direct you to paper patterns that will work best with your vision for your handbook.



Hats off (literally!) to Queensboro Shirt Company based in Wilmington, NC. Queensboro is our vendor of choice for ALL of The Purple Martin & Co's custom embroidered needs. Responsible for the beautiful hats that we sell to benefit our philanthropy, "The Relatives," Queensboro has HIGH quality products at wonderful prices! In addition to providing us with beautiful hats, The Queensboro Shirt Company graciously offered us preferred customer pricing so that we could increase our donation from each hat sold to "The Relatives." Thank you Queensboro!

Beautiful Vacation Home Handbooks

The Purple Martin & Co. is excited to showcase a new product, beautiful vacation home handbooks! The photo to the left is a recently completed customized handbook for a family vacation home on Bald Head Island.

By working with the client remotely (via email & fax) The Purple Martin & Co. created a completely customized look that would make any vacation homeowner proud to display on a counter top or coffee table.

How does this process work?

The homeowner provided the personal details for the handbook including:
A Welcome Letter to guests
Personal Contact Information
Instructions for opening and closing the home
Instructions for cleaning & utilizing the pool & hot tub
An inventory of personal items (appliances etc.)
A list of island service providers they use (exterminators, HVAC repair, appliance repair, etc.)

The Purple Martin & Co. added other publicly available information to make the vacation home binder truly complete:
EMS Information
Closest Hospital Information
Local Attractions & Places of Interest
Restaurants & Places to Shop
Weather Websites
Ferry Instructions
Conservancy & Club Activities

The selection of beautiful paper adds the perfect finishing touch to this vacation home handbook. This paper was hand selected by the client from my favorite paper company, Paper Source (www.paper-source.com). If you live in Charlotte, NC, you can visit PaperSource in Phillips Place (704.552.2200). Managers Wendy & Kristine are wonderful to work with and work closely with The Purple Martin & Co's clients to help you hand select the paper that best suits your vision for your handbook look!

Contact The Purple Martin & Co. today to customize your family's vacation home handbook!

Phone (704) 442-0862
Email thepurplemartin@bellsouth.net
Fax (704) 973-0879