My Household Planner

I am going to share with you a little bit of my slowly reviving organized side.  Pre-kids, I was a very organized woman.  Post-kids, not so much.  Lately, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the responsibilities of running a household.  In lieu of running out the back door never to return, I decided to make my own Household Planner.  

I'd seen this on a few blogs and even attempted to do it a couple of years ago but, you have to understand, I am a starter.  I get things organized and ready to go and then I never finish.  It's this thing that plaques me and I can't seem to stop it.  But, I'm hoping that I will actually use it this time.  I figure the stress of not having things organized is a good motivator.  Last time I tried this, it was simply to be organized like all the other homemakers.  Now it's personal and I want to kick homemaking in the butt.  So, off we go.  

I'm going to share a couple of photos and links (I apologize in advance for the lame pictures but I'm limited with my Kodak camera).  

Here is the cover of my book (1 1/2" 3-ring binder).  I went to the local scrapbook store and spent some time in there making something I would enjoy looking at.  It was so much fun! There are several sites (listed below) that have ready-to-print covers for the scrapbooking impaired.    

Here are the tabs I chose for my binder: 

  

I've included a pencil pouch with pens, pencils, and sticky notes.  It makes it easy to have everything right at your fingertips. 

My tabs are Current Week, Misc. Reference Sheets, Weekly Planner, Someday To-Do, Active To-Do, Meal Planning, Groceries, and Budget.   Depending on your needs you can add several tabs to your binder.  I was being realistic with using the ones I knew I would use.  I may add more as I go along, but for now this is it.  

Other tabs may be, Blog Ideas, Recipes, Taxes, Emergency Info, Babysitting Info, Coupons (I'm thinking about adding this one), Seasonal Cleaning, Calendar, etc.  Use your imagination!  

Here are more descriptions on the sheets I'm using in my planner: 

This is my "Weekly Planner" Page.  I got it from thehomeschoolmom.com.  What I like about this page is that I can write out my weekly to do list in the left hand column and then transfer them to the days of the week I plan to tackle the task.  I also like this because I can fill in the dates (so they'll never get outdated) and I can also write what meal I planned for that day.  Click here if you'd like a copy of this form.  

The next sheet is "Someday To Do".  I use this to list out the things I'd like to do in the near future.  I also use the "Active To Do List" for more immediate things I would like to get done in the next month or so.  I then prioritize those items and transfer them to the weekly sheet shown above.  I found these two lists at inspiredtoaction.com.  If you'd like a copy of them, click here.  

"Recipe Planning" is my next sheet.  I created this one to meet the needs of my household.  I listed out the cookbook the recipe came from, the page number, the name of the recipe, and the list of things to purchase.  I plan to reorganize this to have the recipe listed first with the rest of the info after.  I don't know how to post this list but, here's another one that you could use.  Here's a cute way to display your menu - scroll down and you'll see the ideas.  (I personally don't display my menu because I don't want to give my youngest an opportunity to complain).   

  

My next page is "Grocery Shopping".  Again, I created this one but here's one you could use for yourself.  Once I fill out my Recipe Planning page, I transfer the things I need to purchase to my Grocery Shopping Page.  

My last category is "Budget".  I use this form, as well as, forms from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.  Click here for some of his forms.  These help me know where I'm spending my money and helps me keep track of my expenses.  It also allows me to plan for things coming up in the near future that I have to put money aside for. 

Before I start organizing my week/month, I take one of each of these forms and put them in my "Current Week" tab.  Then I go to a quiet place (Starbucks, Panera, Barnes & Noble) and I start filling them out. This has been great for me so far.    

Here are more blogs/websites you can visit for free printable resources and to learn more about making your own Household Planner:

Passionate Homemaking

MomAgenda

Organized Home

FlyLady

Inspired to Action

I hope you find these sites helpful.  I know I have.  The best part of having this notebook is that it gives me peace of mind to know that I have everything organized in one spot.  I feel like I can relax a little more knowing that the things rattling around in my brain are written down somewhere.

What are some habits you have (or are developing) to help keep you organized?  

Thanks for stopping by,

  

  

    

Say “Yes” Once In A While

Right now I am sitting at my kitchen table.  Hubby just took our girls out for ice cream.  That means I have the house to myself!  It’s quiet (except for the sound of the happy dance I’m doing right now).  I have a candle lit, it’s beautiful outside, and I’m eating chocolate.  Granted, it’s chocolate we probably paid way too much for, but my husband has a hard time saying no to a child selling candy or cookies.  We usually have about 7 boxes of Girl Scout cookies each year.  I think his inability to say no stems from the fact that he was a boy scout for a long time…he’s got a soft spot.  What can I say, I’m a sucker for a guy who has a soft spot for kids. 

About an hour ago, I was making dinner in the kitchen with my 7-year old daughter, who I fondly refer to as “Emma Bug”.  (I can’t call her that in front of her friends, but I can at home). We were making a simple dinner, good ‘ole Mac ’n’ Cheese.  As the water was boiling, Bug asked if she could wash the dishes and if I could do it with her.  My first instinct was to say no.  Who wants to wash dishes by hand when you could shove them in the dishwasher?!  Imagine.  But as I took a minute to think about it, I realized I had a real opportunity here.  First of all, my daughter asked me to spend time doing something with her!  As much as I’d love to live in the dream that she’ll always want me around and want to spend time together, I know the day will come when she grows up and has a life outside of her Mama.  I want to take advantage of the time we have now…live in every moment. 

Second, it’s in the day-to-day moments that the opportunity for communication arises.  The unplanned time together sometimes lends itself to great conversations. I want my kids to talk to me, now and when they’re older.  If I can’t spare 5 minutes in the kitchen while we’re waiting for the water to boil, why would I take time out of something important to talk with her?  I know I would, but she may not know that. Our children see our actions, no matter how loud we’re talking.  It’s what they see that’s going to stick in their noggins. 

Third, there are so many other things that I have to say no to, why not say yes once in a while?  I used to say no because what they were asking for was something that required some effort on my part.  Even without the whole communication aspect, how hard is it to let your child do dishes?  So there’s some water to clean up afterwards, and probably some towels that will need to be washed, but I bet our kids will remember getting to wash the dishes.  And in some cases, it really boosts their self-esteem to know that we trust them enough to wash the dishes.  (If you don’t trust them enough, do it with them and show them how to do it properly.  Or if you don’t want to do that, wash them again when they go to bed).  The joy it brings them is worth the wet towels and semi-clean dishes.  And those times when you have to say no to things, they’ll know it’s because it’s important and not because you just don’t feel like doing something. 

Back to Bug – while doing dishes, we talked about her day.  She was so excited to share with me all of the things she did that day.  (She spent time with our friend and babysitter).  I just watched her face light up, and her animated expressions and said a prayer of thanks to God for giving her to me. 

Go take your kids outside to play in the mud.  Then spray ‘em down with the hose!  Have fun.  Be a kid again.  Create those memories that will stick with them and will open the doors of life-long communication between you and your kiddos.  It’s worth the mess!

Thanks for stopping by,