What to Do With Leftover Party Supplies

So, as you know, I cleaned out  the hall closet in my house during Operation Organization.  During my purging, I decided to make a "Party" box with all things needed for birthdays and other festivities.  Things like number candles, birthday banners, noise makers, and colored paper goods.  But then I found that I had leftover party supplies from the themed birthdays that we've had.  You know, Batman, Superman, Toy Story, etc.  


Now that the boys are older and I have gotten wiser.  I don't buy the themed paper products anymore because I'm always stuck with leftovers and I don't know what to do with them.  


That's when I turned to the almighty internet.  When in doubt, search it out!

First off, I asked those of you on Facebook & Twitter.  Here are some of the suggestions that I got:

@workandcats told me "We keep some in the car for when we have impromtu picnics in the park + napkins are useful if I run out of paper towels."  Not to mention having napkins in the car are great for those "accidental" spills that happen all too frequently!


Lindsay Hamer told me: "Napkins, I save for school lunches. I will pack a different one every time I make my kids lunch. (on "yucky" days. They are like fun party reminders.)"  How sweet!!


Abby from Abby & Eva shared: "Paper plates and spoons/forks can be made into masks... Sometimes I just let my kid cut and glue til her heart's content."

Then I researched ways to sell my outdated party goods.  MmmHmm, make money on this junk!!

One way is My Party Is Over.  This website is dedicated to selling party supplies: new, gently used, or even handmade.  You can also buy supplies too!  

 

Another way to sell those party items is to use the tried & true eBay.  This was suggested by none other than Caroline, Smarty Pants Mama.  She even gave me suggestions on how to find the right price on eBay.

Now I have my work cut out for me...

I think I may keep some for those last minute spills and picnics.  But I will probably sell or donate the rest.  

What do you do with your leftover party supplies?

Alexis

Operation Organization ~ My Hall Closet/Pantry

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm a "closet" disaster!!!  There are parts of my house that stay hidden from the outside world.  And for good reason; they are a MESS!  These are the places, that as time goes by, become the "catch all" places where we put things. 

That's why I have initiated Operation Organization in my house this summer!!

I know....I'm ashamed!

My hall closet is one such place.  There isn't enough closet space in my house.  Each room has one and we have the hall closet.  That's it.  It's very frustrating.  That's why the hall closet is our "hiding place" for things without a home.


I use this space for my extra pantry items (ex. "buy one get one" items, or pantry items we get at BJs, etc.), family games, my plastic plates for outdoor dining, candles, party supplies, and the kids' crafts.  Then as days go by, things just get placed there and they never leave.   

I started at the top and worked my way down.  I made piles of the items:

• Things to keep
• Things to donate
• Things to sell 
• Things to toss

I felt like I was in my own episode of a "redecorating" show.  

I made bins and clearly labeled them with the items inside.  For example, "Homework Bin," "Crafts," and "Cards & Card Games."  This will make finding those things easier. 

I thought of buying hooks to hang the backpacks and lunchboxes.  I was too lazy and cheap to go to the store, so instead I just hammered in a couple of long nails into the wall and hung up the bags on the inside of the closet.

Now check out our new and improved hall closet!! 
Let's just hope it stays this way!!

Next up on Operation Organization: the garage!

What are your organizing ideas? Do you ever let your life get this "messy?"  How do you stop the madness before it starts?



Alexis

Flippin' Good Deed

I'm always looking out for ways that I can encourage my students to give back.  At my school, we are constantly fundraising for charities both locally and nationally.  I've always wanted to come up with something new.

What better way than with my favorite accessory?  SHOES!
Flipflop Wines is partnering up with Soles4Souls in order to collect new or gently used shoes for those in need. 

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 14 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 7 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States.

My goal for this "Flippin' Good Deed" is just to collect as many shoes as I possibly can from now until October 21st.  Or to collect funds to send to Soles4Souls so that they may continue their good work.

Go to my personal fundraising page to donate money to this wonderful cause.  Or if you are in the Miami, FL area and want to donate new or gently used shoes, please contact me for ways to donate.

Let's do what we can to help those in need "one pair at a time!"

Alexis