Finally A post about my Orderly Mom Notebook!!!

How it came about:

8 years ago I was on the search for a better way to keep organized and run a smooth, orderly, “CLEAN”, uncluttered home. After much searching I saw Fly Lady on the “Today Show” FLYLADY!!!! Yes folks Fly Lady, many of you know of her and some love her and some love to hate her. Well I like the basic concept of her system and took what worked for me and left the rest, I changed many things and faithfully use many tools such as my Home Blessing, Basic Weekly Plan and my own revamped cleaning lists and zones. I quickly completed a revamped “Control Journal” that I simply named my Orderly Mom Notebook I couldn’t relate to the term “Control Journal”, sorry. In a local group of about 15 Fly Baby’s and some Homeschoolers I was the only one that had a completed and useful Notebook. Many complained that it was such a chore to take the time to put one together and commit to using it consistently. (Which BTW, that is the key with making anything work, have a plan and just use it!! You must be consistent and diligent in using the tools that you have, whether it be a notebook or wisdom you have gleaned from a great book!

Soon came my first request to help out with putting together a friends notebook (which I loved doing) then the next request was from a Homeschooling friend with 3 little ones with one on the way. She asked for me to just put it together and I added what would be useful to her and her families needs. Just by word of mouth and or other Homeschooling moms and fly baby’s seeing others notebooks, requests for me to put together notebooks started coming in regularly and with the offer to pay for the supplies and my time to put it together. I eventually put all of my forms on a CD and gave the notebook to the mom with my CD so they could continue to print out whatever forms and list’s they found useful.  Soon there after I put up a small site so moms in my area could see what the notebook contained. (Easier then emailing the list of the notebook contents when there was a request.) I was mostly helping out the mom that didn’t want the hassle of putting one together due to time restraints and just the task of getting supplies and finding the sheets that would work for them. I think the thought of putting a notebook together can be a bit overwhelming.  I made many of my lists and work sheets which can also be a very time consuming process but I wanted my lists and worksheets to meet my daily needs and be pretty at the same time  I love putting things together, organizing and managing my time for efficiency so putting a notebook together is fun and relaxing for me. LOL

I sell these notebooks for $25 plus S&H It costs me roughly $20 to put the notebook together and I charge the $5 for my time and expenses. I do not use the cheapest supplies available so I am sure one could make a notebook for less??? I like sturdy, good materials to work with and pretty matching pens and pencils.

I found over the years that there are many sites that have useful Notebook “How To’s” with many different names but all with the same concept in mind. Household notebook, Home Management binder, Control Journal, Household Planner the list goes on…

If you want an orderly home, no more forgotten apts. or birthdays, less chaos and a reasonably clean home at all times then be sure to check out these sites if you would like to put a notebook together for yourself. If you feel the task is to big or you would like to have my Notebook done for you leave me a comment or go to the site and we can get one put together for you asap.

I love Fly Lady’s definition of “CHAOS”~ Cant have anyone over syndrome.   That used to be me before my notebook so I thank God daily for the wisdom of a Household notebook and all that it has to offer. It may not be for everyone but I believe it can really make the difference for most!

Now onto some very helpful sites should you want to join the “Notebook Club”

Fly Lady’s “Control Journal” (where it all started for me)

A Virtuous Women “Household Notebook”

Organized Home “Household Notebook”

Maidservant: Preparing a Household Notebook

Donna Young “Household Planner”

Candy’s E-Book~ The Home Management Binder: The Housewife's Best Friend

A Peek into Candy’s personal Notebook

Mrs. Catherine’s Household Notebook

Last but certainly not least “The Orderly Mom Notebook”

The Orderly Mom Notebook contains the following:

Zip Pocket with supplies:  Matching Pen, Pencil and highlighter, sticky notepad and index tabs.

• Week At A View
• 7 Day Calendar
• Weekly/Daily To Do list helps track important tasks
• Morning and Evening Routines
• Comprehensive Grocery List
• Weekly Menu
• Monthly Calendar
• Year at a Glance Calendar
• Budget Record  
• Freezer/ Pantry Inventory  
• Meals I Can Cook Page
• Weekly Kitchen Checklist
• Weekly Bathrooms Checklist
• Weekly Bedroom Checklist
• Monthly Kitchen Checklist
• Monthly Bathroom Checklist
• Monthly Bedroom Checklist
• Birthday/ Anniversary Reminder
• Phone and Address Pages
• Emergency Numbers
• Take Out Numbers/Delivery Numbers
• Babysitter Checklist
• Faith and Devotion Pages:
• Prayer Journal Pages
• Memory Verse Chart
• Charts for Kids:  
• Character Training
• Children's Chore Chart
• Weekly Homeschool Schedule
• Helps, Tips and Tricks
• Dividers
• Sheet Protectors
• Matching Pocket Sleeve Folder
• 3 Ring Binder from Notebound.com Choco Latte Collection in a variety of colors and styles including plain white or Navy with a do it yourself cover! 

  You may add or subtract any of the above files to make this Notebook work best for you!

The notebook will also contain a CD filled with the above files, charts and calendars made in Word so that you may personalize and print as you need.  Each page has an inspirational quote and adorable graphics. The CD comes ready to use with instructions and in a binder sleeve so it will always have its place.

Now onto the pics that many of you have inquired about…

****PLEASE CLICK ON THE THUMB NAILS TO SEE THESE PICS IN A LARGER WINDOW!****

My Notebook~ Nothing fancy, It is not bulky only a 1 inch binder but full of useful materials! I loved the colored stripes and I plastered pretty stickers all over it, (I know kinda corny but im a stickers kinda gal. LOL I have not added pics of all the sheets as it would be a bit much but these are some examples so you get the idea of what it looks like. Not the best pics so I will try to add some more. If I have not shown something you would like to see just let me know!

Zippered Pouch Compartment~ Holds pen, pencil, highlighter, sticky notes, index tabs, my stamps, address labels and other misc items.

Daily Routines Sheet (in sheet protector)~ Morning, Afternoon and Evening Routines. I will post my routines in a separate post to show an example of my daily routines. On back side of my Daily routine sheet is a Year at a glance Calendar.

1^st  Tab~ Weekly Planner: Contains room for 7 days of planning plus To do list and reminders section. Plus the Honey do list and Master To do list

2^nd  Tab~ Menu Planner Has a section for 7 days worth of menus plus Grocery list and Notes section, plus a wonderful list of Kitchen substitutions and a pantry inventory. Meals I can cook list.

3^rd  Tab~ Monthly Calendars, Monthly budget worksheet, Birthday List

4^th  Tab~ Devotion’s Worksheets: Prayer list & Memory Verse chart

5^th  Tab~ Homeschool Schedule Here I check off the different sections learned for the day or week so I can see at a glance what is missing and might need to be given more attention to.

6^th Tab~ Character chart, Chore chart

7^th Tab~ Food Log, Exercise Log

8^th Tab~ Address Phone Log, Emergency Phone # list, Restaurant/Take out #s list, Babysitter/helper list in the notebook

Next in the notebook are the following in sheet protectors: All cleaning lists (to be checked with highlighter on the sheet protector then wiped off when completed.) Folder for loose-leaf papers.