Time Management

by Mollie

  Last week Erin over at Sunny Side Up posted about her time management binder.  I have been following her blog for awhile and I LOVE how organized she is! I actually got to meet her at the Queen Bee Market in November.  We were both shopping at Lindsey's booth and i totally blog stalked her and said "hey you're Erin!"

 ANYWHOO...  back to the time management binder.  I loved how she wrote that it was a place for everything running around in her mind.  I decided to ,make one myself because that is just what I needed.    Here is my version of the Time Management Binder.

 I got the cute binder from Target.  Everything is more fun if it starts out cute. 

I broke it down into 8 sections.  Allow me to walk you through it?!?  

#1 - Daily Planning. 

This has my minute by minute schedule for the day.  I sit down at the end of each day and plan out my day tomorrow.  I make a list of goals on one side (costco, workout, devotional, laundry, dishes, etc)  and on the other I plan out the hours (6:00am coffee & devos, 7:30 wake girls breakfast, 9:00 Pennie nap - mommy chores, etc) 

In here I also have my check off lists from Clean Mama.  I have the Weekly Cleaning Schedule, the Monthly Cleaning Schedule, and the Fitness & Weight Loss Tracker.  If you haven't checked out Clean Mama you need to NOW! 

#2  - Shop For-Menu Planning

Erin had a great idea of putting 4 post it notes on a page with each store that you need to visit.  I have one for Costco, Grocery, Target, and Crafts/Etc.  I can just easily jot down the items that I need and take that post it with me. Easy Peasy!!  Also I have lined paper in there for menu planning and a couple sheet protectors to slip in recipes. 

#3 - Current Projects

This section has everything that I am working on.  A working list and how I am going to accomplish it. 

-  Hang Photos

-  Stretch Fabric over frames

-  Paint table, tray, and frames

- Organize Garage

#4 - House Ideas

This has my list of BIG projects that I want to do for my house. 

- Replace Bathtub/shower

- Build a bench/Kitchen Nook

-Paint Kitchen. 

you get the idea.  I also use Clean Mama's FREE PRINTABLE of Project Planner in this section. 

#5 - Yellowmedaisy

This currently has a list of all my blog posts, but it also will have meeting notes of my time with Holly, project ideas, inventory, etc.

#6 - Green Valley Church

This is for my other job - Children's Director.  I have all my blog posts scheduled there as well as to-do lists and event planning.  

#7 - Personal Goals

In here I have Clean Mama's printable of Fitness goals, Weight Loss Goals, and just a simple lined paper with personal goals. 

If you can't read it some of them are:

- read more to my girls

-  play outside more

-see the bottom of all 3 laundry bins!!

- Go to a nursing home (our New Year's Resolution of being generous)

- Go on a date (Jan)

- Go on a date (Feb)

- Visit my grandparents (in L.A.)

- Complete all chores under January

- Finish our bedroom

Hoping to get all of these checked off by February!

#8 - Misc.

Extra paper, sheet protectors, and printables. 

I have been using this for a week now and i LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!  It helps me to think clearer because I'm not constantly REMEMBERING!

it's also PERFECT to use with my Much Ado About You planner. 

Hope Ya'll have a great weekend!

Blessings,

  

A little camping organization

by Holly

My family goes camping a few times a year, and the hardest part of it all is keeping everything organized.

This summer, as we headed off for Yosemite, I wanted to make something that would help my boys keep their toiletries straight.  They are now old enough to take care of the teeth brushing, hair combing, and face washing by themselves.  Before, I would just keep all their stuff with me and then I would lug all my stuff, their stuff, and the 3 of them off to the bathrooms.

So, the day before we left I decided to sew up these little toiletry bags.  One for each of them, to keep everything neat and tidy...

They were super simple to put together, trust me.  I would not have taken on this project the day before we left if they weren't.

I found some solid scrap fabric and used a coordinating print for their initial, the inside, and a loop on the end to grab on to.  I simply put velcro on the inside to keep it all closed.

My boys loved being able to be responsible for their own stuff (and filling their bags with THEIR essentials... toothbrush, mini toothpaste, little comb, spray bottle, chapstick, small shampoo, and wash cloth)

And now that we are home, these little bags are also great for take along snacks.  So fun, inexpensive, and practical.  All my favorites!  Simple creativity.

Happy Thursday!

Keeping 3 school boys organized.

by Holly

This year I will have all 3 kids in school.  Yikes!  (And may I add, how did they get so old?)   I have been thinking about how I am going to keep all their school papers in order.  I must admit that there are some serious drool marks in my Pottery Barn catalogue when it comes to their home organization goodies.  Ideally, I would love to have one of their wall systems.  You know the ones with a white board, and cork board, and chalk board, and calendar, and cubbies for each child's papers.  But, I live in reality and our family lives on a budget.  So, I borrowed some magnetic and chalkboard paint from my lovely sister-in-law and created my own economical and practical version.  Here is what we ended up with...

 This spot is on the side of our refrigerator, behind the door into our dining room.  Because of the location, it doesn't have to be the most beautiful presentation in the world, it just has to work.
I got a lot of the boys school supplies at a local dollar store this year, which is where I found these clipboards.  The boys each got to pick out a fun paper to glue to the clipboard to dress them up a bit.  They each picked school themed paper from Michael's that has their grade in the corner so we know whose is whose.  I put 3 small nails in the wall and their boards collect all papers once they come home from school.  (These clipboards will also come in handy as little desks once we are on the go when sports start up again.)
I found a very inexpensive frame from HomeGoods...

I painted it white, and then got out the magnetic and chalkboard paint.

I painted this straight onto the glass.  It is very easy, and while it is magnetic, it isn't the strongest hold in the world.  With a nice, light, flat magnet I've found I can hold 1 paper at a time (if anyone has a secret about getting a better hold, PLEASE let us all know).

After the magnetic paint dried, I just sprayed a couple light coats of chalkboard paint over the magnetic paint.

Sorry, forgot to rotate this gem.
Once everything dried for a good 24 hours, I followed the directions and brushed the entire surface with chalk (which helped mute the dark, black color a bit), wiped it clean, and hung it above the clipboards.
Now this area is a great catch-all for the boys homework sheets, papers, etc.
We are 1 week into the school year and so far so good.  They boys have been good about unloading their stuff and putting their papers on the clipboard.  But, like I said, we are only 1 week in.  I'll have to give an update mid year.

I also made a fun little frame for my counter.  Right now it hold my favorite recent picture of my guys...

This was taken on our recent trip to Yosemite (can't wait to edit my nearly 400 pics and post a few).  I am in love with that place, and with these boys!!!
All in all, I am pleased with how this all turned out.  For about $20, I have a great wall system that works for us.  (Although I do still drool on my poor Pottery Barn catalogue.  That will, probably, never change.)

Happy Tuesday everyone!