She's up before dawn, organizing her day.
~Proverbs 31:15 THE MESSAGE

Today's topic is to share our method(s) for organizing our days/lives........

Over the years, I have had many different ways of organizing things.  When I was working as a Designer with Home & Garden Party, our entire lives were organized in my day planner.  When I decided that it was time to give up that part of my life, I wondered how I would ever live without that planner!  I have learned to adjust, though, and now I use a combination of the following:

The kitchen calendar~ on this calendar, we keep track of Brian's ref schedule, as well as the things that we have to do (such as piano lessons, and homeschool classes, etc.)  We also have birthdays written on this calendar and doctor's appointments, etc.  I refer to it on a daily basis.  It hangs on the side of my refrigerator, in arm's reach of the telephone.  (Let me just say a quick "thank you" to my dear friend Missy~ my 2008 calendar was a gift from her~ and I just LOVE IT!)

My review calendar~ this is something new for this year.  I purchased another calendar (this one features a new bird each month, as I knew that Gracie would particularly enjoy looking at this one) to hang beside our computer (which is in our dining room/schoolroom).  I use this calendar to keep track of when I have reviews due, and when I have to post blog tours, etc.  So far, I see this as a huge step up from trying to make up a monthly schedule to sit beside the computer~ that method just wasn't working for me because, as you well know, I don't like when I have to use white-out! 

Our coupon, grocery list, and menu planning binder~ hmmm.....this sounds pretty much self-explanatory.  This is a 3-ring binder that is filled with some of Brian's old baseball card album sheets~ these work great for organizing our coupons~ I organize them by areas in the store so I just flip the pages as I go to a new aisle~ this method has been working wonderful!  Also in this binder I keep my menu plan and our grocery store list.

Our school planner~ I talked about this in my last More Than Rubies Monday post~ "One Day at a Time".  But, I'll quickly post again......I keep our daily school schedule in a 3-ring binder~ this is the plans that I make out in advance each year, along with our goals for the year, etc.  However, we really don't refer to this much.  Each girl has their own daily planner, which is filled with forms that I made up specifically for each of them.  We fill this out each day with what we accomplish.  Then, these are the pages that we put in their portfolios at the end of the school year.

Those are pretty much the things that keep us organized around here.  I'm anxious to read about how others organize their days~ I know some of you are way more organized than me~ others live day-to-day with no planners.  I say "whatever works" for you and your family is just right!

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Jan. 14, 2008 - great post!

Posted by Anonymous

Oh, you touched on some things that I use, too! I use a coupon organizer and calendar, too. I also have daily schedules for the kids, although Jenna (being older) tends to fly by the seat of her pants a bit more than I'd like - LOL!

Kris
www.athomewithkris.com

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Jan. 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by dartwns

I like the grocery/coupon/menu binder idea! Sounds pretty organized - which is why I have such trouble using coupons -lack of having them usable...

I am working on a binder for each of the kids for next year, so they can keep up with what they have done. I am off to check out your last weeks post to see if it sparks me.

~christa~

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Jan. 14, 2008 - great ideas

Posted by ClagettsFLStyle

I love all these organizing ways! I have quiet a few binders around my home to. I recently created a binder that had all the basic information in it. Numbers, menus, directions and such. I told my DH if anything happened to me.. that was his lifeline.LOL.

Have a great organized week!

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Jan. 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mamaof3

Oh, you know I LOVE organization! - Great ideas! - Charity

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Jan. 14, 2008 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>

Posted by crysnrod

Heidi! These are great!! I do much of the same. I have everything in one binder - my home management binder with tabs for each thing. I have a calendar on my frig with big blocks for each day. I make my own on the computer and just finished it up to March. It is printed with a verse at the top - www.avirtuouswoman.org is where I get them and my menu lists.
Love and Hugs,
Crystal

Edited by crysnrod on Jan. 14, 2008 at 12:53 PM

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Jan. 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Ruth

Heidi,
You are so organized. I finally got myself a planner and am trying to keep everything in order. We have a calendar hanging on the fridge for all our appointments.
Ruth

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Jan. 15, 2008 - You sound so organized...

Posted by proverbsmomof3

I use various binders also. Love the coupon idea. i use a pocket photo album but I like you idea better. Thanks for sharing these great ideas.

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