I have been told that I do overkill when it comes to planning/organizing. Maybe so, but its how I keep sane. I think my planning/organizing got worse when I got married... because my husband isn't organized and rarely plans I feel I need to plan and organize for us both. And I know I got worse when we moved in with my in laws... they aren't organizers/planners either. I am sure someone remembers.. although I don't really... but my dad made a comment about me planning at my wedding. I don't remember exactly what he said, because honestly that day went by in a blur. But I get my organizing/planner habits from my dad.
My dad and I ordered our 2012 planners last week.... I have been checking the mail every day since waiting for them to arrive. And I actually cheered when I got the email that they shipped. Over the past few years my planning/scheduling has evolved from those little store bought planners most people use to write down school assignments etc. Then I moved on to a Franklin Covey (planning experts :-)) simple system that is just a step up from those simple organizers you get from walmart. To this year I got one of their wire bound systems. It has a little booklet that has all 12 months overview in it and then a little booklet for each month. I love the two page a day system and don't think I could ever go back to one page per day or 2 page per week. It has a To Do section, an appointments section and then a whole page for notes.... I loved it. It helped me to pay more bills on time, to get more done off my to Do list and to get where I need to go more on time. The only drawback was that it only had room for the monthly booklet and then one months booklet. Which was fine during the middle of the month, but as the end of the month came it was hard to start planning for the next month when I didn't have space to carry that months booklet with me.
Next year I am moving to the same system my dad is on (although he uses the boring green original color and my design will change with the seasons). It is a ring bound system, meaning its like a little binder where everything is divided into sections. Like this years system I will have a section that has each months overview calendar. However it will be within the daily pages, not at the beginning in its own sections. I will also have 2 pages per day, just like this year... although my new system will also have a box for financial, where you can put stuff thats due or jot down what you spend that day. I also ordered some extra pages that I can't wait to use. Financial pages to help budget and menu/grocery list pages.
Not only will I have my planner, but I am implementing a new file cabinet calendar system. I will have a folder for all 52 weeks. Each folder will have the weeks agenda, the monthly overview calendar, the weekly menu, and the weekly To do list, along with any papers I need for projects that week. This system is mainly for the rest of the family. Right now I have a monthly calendar that sits on my desk that Chad can look at and see what's going on... This saves him from having to ask me all the time.
I also have the weekly menu sitting on my desk, so both of us can see what the meals are. For instance... Chad works today till midnight... which means he needed to have both his lunch and dinner with him before he left for work. So yesterday I was able to look at the menu and see if I needed to cook tonights dinner before we went to bed so it was ready for him. Plus since we do alot of crock pot meals having the menu sitting out lets me see what days we have crock pot meals so I can make sure they get started on time. Example: tomorrow we are having Crock Pot Chicken... I know Chad has school till 5, Sharon (my mother in law) works form 2-8 and I have school from 5-7. Therefore, it will be easiest for everyone, if I start the crock pot tonight, let it cook overnight and divide the food in the morning. This way my mother in law can take her dinner with her to work if she wants and my husband won't have to come home and worry about dinner (on nights I have class if I don't get it done beforehand he is in charge)... it will be done, he can start studying.
Plus with the file cabinet system I am hoping I can start menu planning earlier. For instance we bought chicken and won't be using it all this week, well i can be looking for a recipe that uses Chicken, when I come across one I can print it and through it next weeks folder so that it is all ready to go and I don't have to search for a recipe. I also want to start planning a few weeks ahead, so if for instance I get really sick and am stuck in bed, the menu and grocery list is done and I can just hand it to Sharon and she can go get what we need.
Also with the folders... it will be nice when a bill comes I can open it and place it in the right week for when its due and not have a bunch of bills sitting around. I know we have to renew our plates in Jan? Throw the paper in that weeks folder. Taxes due April 15? Keep a folder in the middle of Feb for all your tax related documents... so when my father says he is doing my taxes a certain weekend, I have all the papers all ready to go. We live on a tight budget since I am not really employed, so I like to buy cards when they are on sale or clearanced or in bulk. So if I know my husband has a birthday in July and I found the perfect card for him, I can buy it now and throw it in that folder, so when his birthday comes around its all ready. This way I can keep a list of cards and gifts to buy in my planner for the whole year and when I get one I can toss it in the folder and not think about it again.
When it comes to planning and organizing the ideas and the benefits are limitless. And you have that peace of mind that comes when you know something is taken care of and you don't have to stress about it.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Current Projects List
Projects to Do
(I would like to finish these by the end of the year, but we shall see how far I get.)
-Emergency Kit- i won't complete this because I plan to set up my list so I buy a little each week)
-72 hour kits for my husband and I (same as above, won't be completed, but started)
-Reusable Swiffer Dusters/covers (we use these alot... maybe making our own will save us some money)
-Family Management Binder (in desperate need to have everything all in one place)
-Manual/Receipts Binder (taking up too much room in the file cabinet.. need a more organized way to store them)
-Menu Binder (this might be included with either the family management binder or the crate but we share see... I want a place that lists all the recipes I have the we use often as well as snack ideas, breakfast ideas, prepackaged food ideas etc so that doing the menu every week doesn't take so long)
-25 Documents you need before you die (need to have everything all in one place so if something happens to one/both of us its readily available.)
-Yearly-Weekly Crate (saw this and it looks useful... Have a folder for each week of the year with everything for that week... bills due, birthday cards, projects, menus, calendars... it will be good)
-Curtains for closets (this and new lights-which we can't do ourselves- is the last thing I need to do to finish my living space)
-Grocery Bag Dispenser/Trash Bag Dispenser (using clorox wipe container and an oatmeal container)
-Christmas Tag Ornaments (these are what I am using instead of gift tags)
-Advent Calendar (for the month of December)
-Coffee Sleeves (thought these might be easy cheap gifts for the people we won't be buying gifts for)
-Christmas Card Holder (because I want to display them and we have limited space
-Project Binder (to keep my projects organized)
-Christmas Wreath (saw a cute one made out of popsicle sticks, paint and glitter, to put on the door to our living space)
-Thanks/Fall Jars (will be a cute centerpiece I think)
-Picture Frame Dry Erase/Magnet Board (can't wait to get this done, so many great ideas for it.)
-Give Thanks Board (for the month of Novemeber)
-Magnets (for the magnet board)
(I would like to finish these by the end of the year, but we shall see how far I get.)
-Emergency Kit- i won't complete this because I plan to set up my list so I buy a little each week)
-72 hour kits for my husband and I (same as above, won't be completed, but started)
-Reusable Swiffer Dusters/covers (we use these alot... maybe making our own will save us some money)
-Family Management Binder (in desperate need to have everything all in one place)
-Manual/Receipts Binder (taking up too much room in the file cabinet.. need a more organized way to store them)
-Menu Binder (this might be included with either the family management binder or the crate but we share see... I want a place that lists all the recipes I have the we use often as well as snack ideas, breakfast ideas, prepackaged food ideas etc so that doing the menu every week doesn't take so long)
-25 Documents you need before you die (need to have everything all in one place so if something happens to one/both of us its readily available.)
-Yearly-Weekly Crate (saw this and it looks useful... Have a folder for each week of the year with everything for that week... bills due, birthday cards, projects, menus, calendars... it will be good)
-Curtains for closets (this and new lights-which we can't do ourselves- is the last thing I need to do to finish my living space)
-Grocery Bag Dispenser/Trash Bag Dispenser (using clorox wipe container and an oatmeal container)
-Christmas Tag Ornaments (these are what I am using instead of gift tags)
-Advent Calendar (for the month of December)
-Coffee Sleeves (thought these might be easy cheap gifts for the people we won't be buying gifts for)
-Christmas Card Holder (because I want to display them and we have limited space
-Project Binder (to keep my projects organized)
-Christmas Wreath (saw a cute one made out of popsicle sticks, paint and glitter, to put on the door to our living space)
-Thanks/Fall Jars (will be a cute centerpiece I think)
-Picture Frame Dry Erase/Magnet Board (can't wait to get this done, so many great ideas for it.)
-Give Thanks Board (for the month of Novemeber)
-Magnets (for the magnet board)
Busy bee
I am attempting to be productive today. It is rainy and cold out and really all I want to do is sleep... I am trying to resist. So far I have checked up on some loan papers and talked to my insurance agent about health insurance for next year. I have also started a list of craft/diy projects I want to work on.
So far, I have 20 items on the list. In the future I plan to get a binder going where I can keep a list of materials I have already and then the project ideas I have and stuff needed for them (that is actually one of the 20 items on the list) but for now I am just using a notebook. I wrote down the 20 items I am attempting. I have used a green pen to check the first 5 i want to start (green designates "In planning stage") once an item gets a green checklist... I then give that project a heading on a new page. Here I am writing down materials I need for said project. Once I obtain all materials (unemployed= takes longer to get materials) then the project gets a red checkmark. The red designates it as "In project stage," which means to get started! Then once I am finished it gets a blue for "Completed." See HERE for the 20 items currently on the list and their current status.
Also today, I want to get the material list done for the 5 projects in the planning stage, I need to update my Food Blog, file some papers, update the family budget, plan the next 2 weeks of meals and do the grocery list as well as sort through my Teacher Work Sample and see what I still need to finish so I can complete my certification...
Let's see how long I last before the weather wins out and I curl up with the cats in bed.
So far, I have 20 items on the list. In the future I plan to get a binder going where I can keep a list of materials I have already and then the project ideas I have and stuff needed for them (that is actually one of the 20 items on the list) but for now I am just using a notebook. I wrote down the 20 items I am attempting. I have used a green pen to check the first 5 i want to start (green designates "In planning stage") once an item gets a green checklist... I then give that project a heading on a new page. Here I am writing down materials I need for said project. Once I obtain all materials (unemployed= takes longer to get materials) then the project gets a red checkmark. The red designates it as "In project stage," which means to get started! Then once I am finished it gets a blue for "Completed." See HERE for the 20 items currently on the list and their current status.
Also today, I want to get the material list done for the 5 projects in the planning stage, I need to update my Food Blog, file some papers, update the family budget, plan the next 2 weeks of meals and do the grocery list as well as sort through my Teacher Work Sample and see what I still need to finish so I can complete my certification...
Let's see how long I last before the weather wins out and I curl up with the cats in bed.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
This site is great. Tons of ideas for everything you can imagine. Alot of our meal ideas from our Food Blog have come from ideas posted on pinterest. I am not very crafty, but am always up to attempt things, so I decided that this month I was going to find at least 2 or 3 fall/thanksgiving ideas that I have saved from pinterest and actually attempt them. However, since I am not very crafty and not confident of my craftyness I will be enlisting my mom to help to.. .hopefully she is willing.
One of the projects is a Thanks Keepsake. I wanted something that could turn into a family tradition for this time of year... and what better time to start then our first Thanksgiving as a married couple :-) I wanted something where each year during the month of November every member of the family could add a thanks they have every day and also see what they put the years before. See how what we are thankful for changes each year. It would be a great reminder of events going on in our lives. For instance one thing I am thankful for this year is in laws who let us live with them. This isn't something I will always be thankful for, because we won't always be living with them, so years down the road when I read that card I will be able to remember how wonderful it was to not have to stress about paying rent :-) Here is the project I am going to attempt: Gratitude Board
The second item I want to attempt actually seems pretty easy and versible. It is kind of a mix between a bunch of different pinterest posts I have seen. Here is the main one I am focusing on. I am going to make 2 or 3 of the frames. And then many different pages and just switch them out for different season/holidays/etc. To start going to make some sheets that say: Weekly Menu (4 seasons worth), TO DO (4 seasons worth), Days Until (4 seasons worth), Give Thanks, Christmas Countdown, Happy Birthday, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. That should keep me going for awhile. I can always make new ones as I see the need. Then I can just change them out of the frames.
the third idea I am going to make is a centerpiece that uses these. These would be neat in the middle of the table with some small tealights next to them for Thanksgiving. I am not going to put the wheat in them till we actually use them for Turkey Day... I am afraid Prince and Jasmine will think the wheat is their dinner....
Keep checking back to check the process of these items. Hopefully they actually get completed. I can't wait!
One of the projects is a Thanks Keepsake. I wanted something that could turn into a family tradition for this time of year... and what better time to start then our first Thanksgiving as a married couple :-) I wanted something where each year during the month of November every member of the family could add a thanks they have every day and also see what they put the years before. See how what we are thankful for changes each year. It would be a great reminder of events going on in our lives. For instance one thing I am thankful for this year is in laws who let us live with them. This isn't something I will always be thankful for, because we won't always be living with them, so years down the road when I read that card I will be able to remember how wonderful it was to not have to stress about paying rent :-) Here is the project I am going to attempt: Gratitude Board
The second item I want to attempt actually seems pretty easy and versible. It is kind of a mix between a bunch of different pinterest posts I have seen. Here is the main one I am focusing on. I am going to make 2 or 3 of the frames. And then many different pages and just switch them out for different season/holidays/etc. To start going to make some sheets that say: Weekly Menu (4 seasons worth), TO DO (4 seasons worth), Days Until (4 seasons worth), Give Thanks, Christmas Countdown, Happy Birthday, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. That should keep me going for awhile. I can always make new ones as I see the need. Then I can just change them out of the frames.
the third idea I am going to make is a centerpiece that uses these. These would be neat in the middle of the table with some small tealights next to them for Thanksgiving. I am not going to put the wheat in them till we actually use them for Turkey Day... I am afraid Prince and Jasmine will think the wheat is their dinner....
Keep checking back to check the process of these items. Hopefully they actually get completed. I can't wait!
Saturday, September 03, 2011
So I am addicted to this site... It's great and I love the idea. Since so much more is online then in print these days (which is sad, but that's another story) it is nice to be able to have a place to "pin" stuff you find on the internet, without have thousands of bookmarks. I was always one that would go through magazines and rip things out that I liked, or wanted to try... this site allows me to do that with things I find on the web. Love it. Found a lot of great recipes... I think we are trying 5 of them this week. Also, Chad continually asks me if I like things for our house (we have decided that once he is done with school, we will buy a starter house and then in about 5 years build our own on a nice bit of land) and so now I created a board on pinterest with things I like for our house-- he is thrilled because he didn't feel like I was excited about it before. Anyways, it's a great site. Check it out... But I am warning you, it's addicting. Not only do I go through all the new pins of people I am following, but I also log out and go through the random boards the site posts. Love it!
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