Wrinkle-Free!

All three of my children wear uniforms to school. I like uniforms, since it allows me to avoid the daily "that's not appropriate for school" argument each day. But uniforms do need a little extra maintenance to look neat. I used to spend time ironing those uniforms, until I discovered what the kids do with the uniforms when they remove them from the closet:
1. Take the neatly-ironed shirt off the hanger.
2. Take the neatly-ironed pants or skirt (whichever is the gender-appropriate uniform) off the hanger.
3. Roll the top and bottom into a ball.
4. Take the clothing into the bathroom. If you're really doing well, you've remembered your underwear too.
5. Dump everything on the floor.
6. Take your shower.
7. Get dressed. (If you're wearing pants, spend 5 minutes looking for your belt.)

Believe me, once I saw them do this, I was cured of ironing their clothes. They look better right out of the dryer than they do by the time the kids are done with this little ritual.

But I think I've figured out a cure. I'll just send them to live with my brother for a while! After high school, he had a job in a young men's clothing store at the mall. My brother, who had never folded anything in his life, had to learn how to properly fold shirts and sweaters for storage and display. Suddenly he was picky about how his clothes were folded. Everyone else in the house had to take folding lessons. I don't think that sat too well with my dad, who had learned to fold shirts in the Navy. Mom also considered her two-decades-long history as a homemaker sufficient preparation for folding clothes.

Sounds like a plan to me. Finally, my kids will stop looking like they shop at Wrinkles R Us.

If that doesn't work, I guess I could just buy them all new clothes. Good thing there are a lot of great coupons out there right now!

COUPON TIME

$10 off a purchase of $50+ or
$15 off a purchase of $75+ or
$20 off a purchase of $100+ at Fashion Bug
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Valid through: November 24, 2008

NEW CUSTOMERS:
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Use promo code AFF30.
Valid through: November 30, 2008

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Use promo code DWRAFF. Valid through: December 18, 2008

20% off a purchase of $99 or more at Eastbay.com
Use this link to activate the coupon. You should see LKS18NE9 in the Source Code box during checkout.
Valid through: November 28, 2008 11:59pm CT