Creating a Homemaking Binder
**We’re just back from Seattle after what has been a crazy week and a half! My blog schedule for January is now a bit off and I need to reassess it, but I will continue to putter along on my organizational projects that I’ve begun. More recipe organizing, and yes, the ListPlanIt download lists and giveaway, are soon to come. But first, here’s a glimpse into the homemaking binder that I’ve begun…
My simple binder. Nothing fancy. That white rectangle says “Stephanie’s Homemaking Binder”. No cutesy decorations, though I did draw a little flower. Does that count? 🙂
First page is a 2 month at-a-glance calendar. I use this just for set appointments (doctors/dentist, hosting caregroup, coffee with a friend, helping someone move, bringing a meal, etc.).
Next is my daily routine (sorry, a few of the items are cut off on the right hand side, if you were trying to get a peek into my oh-so-interesting life!). The page to the left is my weekly to-do list (it usually comes after the routine, but I pulled it out to show you). I am working hard to limit my to-do’s to only 6 things a day, of items like cleaning, phone calls, projects, errands, etc. that aren’t part of my routine. And yes, I am attempting to get myself into the habit of getting up at the insanely early hour of 5 am to do my blog work before the family is up (currently, I’m averaging 5:30-6:00, but I’m getting closer!).
My weekly planner, with my meals down the side. This was the page that I began on Sunday night last week, before Ry went into the hospital so it was never completed. Usually I would add in all of our meals, as well as any meal prep that I need to do for future meals (thaw meat, soak grains or beans, etc.). The left isn’t for my to-do’s (because that’s already covered above) but is a place to reinforce for myself any appointments or activities happening on a given day, to note that my husband is gone for dinner, that we’ll have extra guests, that it is someone’s birthday, that sort of thing.
Some of the dividing tabs in my binder. Stephanie’s words of wisdom to photographers out there… don’t try taking pictures at night without your contacts lenses in, because yes, you will misjudge whether your images are in focus!
A familiar looking list (my 21 meals). This is the first page in my meal planning section. Behind this are all of my Favorite Recipes lists for easy reference. I don’t keep my monthly meal planning calendar in this binder, but rather on my fridge in a clip magnet so that I can always glance at it.
My newest cleaning schedule. I made this by listing out all of the cleaning tasks that I need to/would like to accomplish daily, weekly and monthly, and approximately how long they take. I slotted them in over the course of the month, trying to include no more than 45-50 minutes of cleaning per day, which includes my 10 minute timer tidy every day. This is a time for taking a basket around the house to gather random items, return them to their homes, and just give a quick once-over to the whole house. Monday is entirely devoted to laundry, though I will still finish up bits of other laundry throughout the week (like cloth diapers). I’m just beginning to try using this schedule, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
My blog monthly topic planner. It’s now entirely off due to losing a lot of time over the last week and a bit, but I’ll readjust it. It is sooo helpful to plan like this, fellow bloggers! Helps me to be much more intentional!
This is my attempt to show you the plastic page protectors that are towards the end of the binder, holding extra page printouts so that I don’t need to print new pages each week.
Also in my binder are garden planning sheets, clothing inventory lists for each family member (which I’ve begun but not completed), a list of current household projects I’m working on or would like to work on, as well as some pages that I don’t currently use for my devotional times, but have in the past and might use again in the future (Bible reading plan, questions I like to meditate on).
I just finished reading my copy of Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood by Jamie C. Martin (aka Steady Mom), and she gave me a few more wonderful ideas for adding to my binder, so I hope to implement some of those and share them soon, perhaps when I review her encouraging book!
There you have it. The simple beginnings of my homemaking binder.
Side note: All of these pages came from List PlanIt which provides fantastic printouts to create your own homemaking binder!
While I do understand the need to feel and be organized, I do think we can become consumed by it. Sometimes, I think a simple “to do” list at the start of each day is better than scheduling and organizing our lives to the nth degree. I think if we just loosely schedule our lives, we’re much more likely to “go with the flow.” Getting up at the insane hour of 5:00 just to get it all done might not be worth it in the end. Your body might very well need that extra rest to stay healthy and strong!!
@Casey, I know that there are some moms and homemakers out there that function beautifully without a schedule or routine. I, however, am not one of them! I am easily distracted and can be inefficient and disorganized without a schedule in place, so this is something I’ve learned to do to help me better serve my family, and also stay sane in the midst of it all myself.
As for getting up at 5am, it’s an experiement, really. I’d like to see if I can make myself go to bed early in order to get up earlier (otherwise I would get up more like 6 or 6:30). I think that I can have more efficient blogging hours without my family awake, and this will help me to stay focused on them during the rest of the day. We’ll see how it goes. If I’m not happy with it or I’m getting exhausted (which would mean that I’m not changing my night-owl ways enough!) then I’ll give it up. If it goes well, though, I think it could be really helpful!
I can see where you might think that it takes up more time to make up a life schedule like this then you may feel its worth…but for some of us (unfortunately) it really does change the way you can look at a day and the way you live. To see what needs to get done…in writing…in front of your face…well, sometimes is all it takes to give you the discipline that’s needed in order to make the most out of the time we have to offer our families and ourselves. I thank you for the time and effort you put into this blog! Its the first and only one that I’ve ever read and I LOVE IT! May God bless you and your family.
I don’t have a homemaking binder…yet. You have inspired me to make one. I like the idea of breaking down your day in time increments. I tried this once, but had no idea of where to keep it. Now I know!
Hello,
I found you through twitter.com/gettingfreedom and I’m so happy I did. I love your mission and Godly values, I will definitely be checking back often.
Last year I started putting something together, much like a homemaking binder, little did I know what I was doing, it now just collects dust on our bookshelf. But now, after seeing yours, I’m going to break it out again and revise it.
Thanks!
Andie
Hi!
I actually just updated my binder on Sunday. I revised my schedule, my daily chores and weekly chores. I have been using it for the last 6 months or so and it was time to update it. I use my binder for my calender, menu, chore lists, homeschooling planning and financial planning. I love it, it keeps me focused on what I need to get done and it also gives me peace of mind that I can write things down and don’t have to try to remember everything.
Thanks so much for showing yours and giving me more ideas!
I’ve tried having a binder, but I found I didn’t look at it throughout the day (or even week). I have an “everything” binder now that houses my coupons, my calendar, my monthly meal plan (dinner only), my devotional reading schedule, etc.
I really need to get into a better “homekeeper” mode – I really struggle to do any cleaning, etc on any kind of a schedule.
I love looking at other people’s lists and such, though, to get ideas on how to better organize my life! 🙂
Stephanie,
Here is my post about my Home Management folder. http://hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com/2009/12/home-management-folder.html
I also did a post about home remedies and put in the info about the onion that I had previously commented about on your blog awhile back. I thought you might be interested in it.
http://hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com/2010/01/home-remedies-for-natural-mother.html
I hope your husband’s health is greatly improving and that you are finding answers.
Jen
http://www.thethingswedoblog.com
http://www.whatscooking4us.blogspot.com
http://www.hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com
http://www.legacyprayerjournals.com
Stephanie,
Here is my post about my home management folder
http://hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com/2009/12/home-management-folder.html
Also, I posted some home remedies including the stuff I told you about the onion and thought you might be interested in it.
http://hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com/2010/01/home-remedies-for-natural-mother.html
Jen
http://www.thethingswedoblog.com
http://www.whatscooking4us.blogspot.com
http://www.hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com
http://www.legacyprayerjournals.com
Stephanie,
Here is my post about my home management folder
http://hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com/2009/12/home-management-folder.html
Also, I posted some home remedies including the stuff I told you about the onion and thought you might be interested in it.
http://hopechestofwisdom.blogspot.com/2010/01/home-remedies-for-natural-mother.html
Jen
http://www.thethingswedoblog.com
Once upon a time I started one of those FlyLady binders. Never finished it. I keep my appointments on my Blackberry since it syncs with my work Google calendar. I just started keeping track of my recipes/grocery lists/meal plans on a program called Living Cookbook. I do have a binder for workout plans and CSA vegetables though 🙂
.-= The Local Cook´s last blog ..Dilly Bean Potato Soup =-.
I am also workong on my binder. I had not updated it really since having kids. It was ummm…not helpful at all anymore! So now its getting updated, one step at a time. Thank you for sharing yours, as its given me more helpful ideas. I also just got my copy of Steady Days (started reading over there at her blog when she did the guest post for you) and she also has tons of helpful ideas.
Hang in there as you get back into the swing of things. Its always hard getting back to things after illness, being away, or other life events that throw things off. Do your best but keep your prioriites where they should be! The days you don’t post give me more time to digest what you’ve written :). Continuing to pray for your family…
Love this! I too have a home organizational binder…but it’s more like a binder collection now. I have one for cooking where I have collected favorite recipes, and one for baking. I also keep a cooking journal with these that allows me to review recipes I’ve tried, whether I liked them, where they are located, and notes. I have a specifically homemaking notebook where I keep cleaning recipes, how to’s, cleaning organization charts and a miriad of other things. I don’t plan my day out in detail, but I have specific chores for different days of the week or month. It really does help to achieve tasks as often as you would like. I’m going to use your suggestion for meal-planning in the near future. I have two 1-year-old boys, and I now feel like I can take on more activities (like cooking more often!). Thanks for your suggestions!
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Supermom (Cape not included) =-.
I have a binder and love it! I keep all phone numbers, daily schedule, family goals, doctor’s notes, etc. in it. I love that it is in one place. I also have separate binders for food storage, children activities, and coupons. I am not an organized person by nature, so I desperately need something like this to ensure I am being the most effective home manager possible.
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Are We Ready??? =-.
I haven’t been using my binder like I should be, but in it I have my to-do lists, list of cleaning that needs to be done, a section devoted to my food storage inventory, a section devoted to knitting patterns, and I have a couple of sheets of goals / things to go over each Sunday, but they are all really old. Think I’ll pull out my binder tonight and do some revising 🙂
.-= Kris´s last blog ..Puppy love =-.
One of the things I love most in my binder is my personal/family goals for 2010. It’s so nice to be able to look back and see how I am progressing toward those goals. I just started a binder last week and I being this organized!
Stephanie,
Thank you for your ideas! I was just thinking the other day to start a binder like this! Now i am inspired and want to work on it right away. I really enjoy your blog…just found it a month ago. You are a blessing…i pray your husband is better and that everyone is managing well.
Great blog. My binder is the “What if something ever happened to me” manual of how to do household things and take car of the boy.
@juliebavi
I would love to use one! Thanks for the tips!
Hugs,
Traci
I have a binder too. It’s a great place to keep all the to do lists and goals for yourself or your family. For a busy mom who is trying to be intentional, I think it’s really a necessity.
I need to do better with cleaning and staying on schedule with laundry. My trouble is I work as a night nanny so if I’ve had a hard night, the next day really suffers. It’s hard to be motivated to do more than the bare minimum, especially if I have to work again the next night.
I”ll have to figure out how I can incorporate more cleaning into my days.
.-= Noelle´s last blog ..one of my favorite go to meals =-.
Thank you for posting this – I appreciate the photos as examples. I will forward it along to my friend … I’m sure she’ll like it too.
Have a wonderful day!
In Christ,
Joanne
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..ALMOST =-.
I love the idea of keeping a homemaking binder! I currently have several lists that I refer to throughout the day and week, and I think that keeping a binder would be a great way to get them more organized and also motivate me to update everything. I need to have a schedule throughout my day, because I have found that I just don’t work well without one. I end up focusing too much time in one or two areas, and everything else gets overlooked. Thanks for a great post!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Do You Really Know Him? =-.
I do use one and LOVE how it organizes my thoughts and actions.
You can see more about it at
http://moosaidthemama.blogspot.com/2009/11/hows-that-homemaking-binder-coming.html
and
http://moosaidthemama.blogspot.com/2009/10/building-homemaking-journal.html
.-= Kari´s last blog ..Mujadarrah and fry bread =-.
I love my home binder. I use it for storing recipes, chore lists, phone numbers and our family calendar. The only thing I love more than my home binder is my holiday binder. My holiday binder has a list of everyone in my family and their sizes. It also has a list of gifts that have already been purchased so that I do not buy something else by accident. It holds my special holiday recipes for cooking and baking and lists out ideas for next year, after I have evaluated this year.
Thanks for the topic!
Hmm, I’ve never even heard of a Homemaking Binder. Sounds like it could be helpful for me to organize my time. Thanks for the tips!
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..The Rest of Thursday =-.
I keep something similiar to this and was in fact thinking of blogging about it sometime in the future. Mine is still in the development stage, but I also keep page protects for dentist info and dr info that we bring home from appointments, recipes I hope to try one day, school info such as phone numbers, etc,
.-= Creative2xmom´s last blog ..Eating from Your Pantry–Week Four =-.
I love my binder, also! I always have a flexible schedule and routines in there, as well as things such as packing lists, grocery lists, etc. I don’t use it for homeschooling, though (except the basic schedule), bc I do everything for that in Word docs on the computer; nor for appointments, because I am dependent on my phone to ring at me for those! I tend to look at my binder for a couple weeks after updating it, and then I go along on steam for quite awhile, and then something changes and the routines don’t work anymore. I limp along for awhile until I realize I am trying to fit my new life into my old routines, and I update the book. After we’ve learned homemaking skills, it’s just a matter of staying motivated, and a binder helps me with that!
Good for you on getting up early! Not every mom can do it, but it’s a very valuable skill for a mom to have. Such different moms we are when we have time alone with Jesus to plan our day and get it started rather than waking up to our children’s urgent needs.
I have a recipe binder with recipes and also my list of meals and favorite meals. I keep my monthly meal plan on the fridge. However, this binder is in need of some work. I keep just shoving new recipes in one of the pockets w/o typing and printing it and it’s become a mess!
I plan on implementing a homemaking binder in a few months. Our lives are very much up in the air right now (hubby is in Iraq and we’re preparing for a move over seas this summer – 4 weeks after he returns), so our lives are anything but routine right now. Homeschooling will be in full force with a 1st grader (and preschooler and 1 year old) when we move and I fully believe a binder with a routine would help me tremendously.
.-= Bloggin’ Mama´s last blog ..Pantry Challenge – week 3 =-.
This would be my dream! I’m going back to work part-time, so the need to get organized (and get all the information out of my head, and on paper where others can use it) is pressing!
I totally understand the concept of trying to get up earlier. For me, I’ve set 5:30 as my goal. It’s imperative for me to have some “warm up” time without the chorus of little voices going on in the background.
Stephanie-
I wanted to first say I am really inspired by your blog and I really enjoy reading all your posts. Over this past weekend I spent some time putting together some binders. I really like to keep things organized but lack ideas for keeping important papers, etc in order. I made five different binders this week ( I am very type A personality) The binders are The Racing Keeper, The Home Keeper, The Manual Keeper, The School Keeper, and The Mommy Keeper. Seems like overkill, right? So I will begin with the Racing Keeper. My husband races stock cars as a hobby which on some days is more like a business minus the profit. Anyways there is always lots of car part receipts, news articles, sponsor information, and a million other things that I tend to be in charge of. So with those items I took a binder along with page protectors and organized a binder that I tend to be rather fond of.
The Home Keeper is a binder that holds my husband’s employment information, insurance information, home improvement receipts, health/medical/ dental/ prescriptions information, etc.-the plan for this binder is more of being a home for all of these papers due to file folders systems don’t seem to keep the stuff organized or work for our family.
The Manual Keeper is a binder devoted to all those manuals that come with appliances, toys, electronics, etc.
Now on to the School Keeper and The Mommy Keeper, now these two binders could be combined but would be a rather large inconvenient binder-that would then not be used and would defeat the purpose of having them. The School Keeper is broken down into months, a year at a glance for field trip or general activity planning, resources, and upcoming things I need to work on…examples of this photocopies that need to be made, workbox activities that need to be set up, units and lessons that need to be put together, etc. So fifteen sections for the school keeper. and last but not least the Mommy Keeper which has my menu plans, nutrition information, coupons, recipes, cleaning checklists, etc. So Overkill? Maybe but for now it works.
Whew it was a long weekend but the two main binders that I will be using is the Mommy Keeper and the School Keeper. I feel really organized and that’s a good feeling. I am also keeping my fingers crossed that this system works for us-as so many other ways seem not to be a good fit.
I like the idea of a homemaking binder–I’m all for keeping everything in one place. In case someone hasn’t already shared this idea, here’s how I manage my bill paying: We have several rental properties (but this would work for those who don’t, too), and, between mortgage payments and insurance co. bank drafts, etc., I was having trouble keeping on top of things. I finally “invented” a financial calendar–a calendar I stuck in a notebook, which I keep on my desk. I have a Post-It Note for each transaction, with vendor, date, and amount, stuck where it needs to be–For payments due, I stick the notes a week ahead of the due dates. As soon as I take care of business, I stick the Post-It on the next month’s page. I actually bring my notebook on trips so that I pay my bills online from afar. For the past 3 years, it has been such a smoooooth operation!
Great ideas! All the list papers are wonderful. I have everything in my phone calender, but i do need a menu one, i did this for years but have got out of the habit of it. I can’t wait for the giveaway here. I am hoping your husband is well and your family is back to “normal.”
This is a great idea. Thanks for showing some samples.. it’s nice to see what other people are doing so I can try it out. I’m not a very organized person, but desperately need to be before the baby comes (our first). I’m a list writer, but my problem is that I always lose my lists! A binder would be good place to keep everything and it’s much bigger, so hopefully not as easy to lose!
Thanks for sharing what you do. I have some similar lists…recipes to try, favorite meals, menu plan, freezer inventory, blank grocery lists organized by section of the store, and of course long term goals as well as my day to day to-do lists. I also am lost without a plan each day. Something helpful I just started was a list of items to purchase at garage sales, on craigs list, online, or at the store. We also just did clothing inventories. I tend to not buy any clothing for myself and it was good for me to see exactly what I needed and that it wouldn’t cost all that much to get there. Putting all these into a binder is a great thought- right now they are floating in several different places around the house.
I have been getting up earlier the past couple months to do computer work and it’s been amazing for me. I am much more intentional in my online time when it’s in the morning and I know I only have so long until the kids get up. But oh, it is so hard to get to bed on time at night! 🙂
Impressive! I think I might need to try something like this! I love being organized, but always feel very disorganized! Maybe some kinda of a binder would help me! Hmmmm.
.-= Allyson´s last blog ..Now what do I do with that chicken? =-.
I used to use a binder all the time and then just got out of practice. Your timing is good as I was just thinking I needed to have one again. I like having all of my notes and “to do’s” in one spot.
As for waking up early, I am up at five most days for my “mommy time” to study scripture or work on the computer and I love it!
Thanks for the suggestions. I love to see how other people are practicing the fine art of homemaking! Best wishes to your husband for a recovery!
I don’t have my own homemaking binder. I wouldn’t use it because I like to organize things on my laptop. I have all my recipes in their individual word documents, in a folder labeled “recipes.” I keep all my meal plans and weekly grocery shopping in word documents too, under “personal.” My chore chart is written and printed on my fridge. I have “daily” chores (pick up toys, clear off table, dishes, etc.) and “weekly” chores (sweeping/mopping Tuesday, laundry Wednesday, grocery shopping Friday, etc.) and this way, I can refer to it easily. My meal plan is also on my fridge. Having it right in the kitchen is the only way I can get it all done. I’m also going to put up a large calendar in the kitchen and everything must be written on it. I told my husband if it isn’t on the calendar, it won’t happen. 🙂 I just need to get out and buy that!
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Health News Tuesday: Headlines 14 =-.
I have had both a binder and a file card system regarding the management of my home… right now all I have is a lined piece of paper that shows our Winter Family Daily Schedule in 3 hour increments, I find I stress to much if its exactly down to the hour, plus I realized I have 2 children in my family who are NOT morning kids, never have since I had them and even though I can be a morning person I also know that I dont have to be up at 5am for my family to function 6 is more my hour since I go to bed at 10. Its one of those things I had to seek the Lord for to give me peace about it after I tried and failed to do that 5am thing and finally after much crying out He convicted my heart and said that I am not to compare my self to other folks schedule they have their rhythms and we have ours and that its ok as long as I am following the one He set for us… ha ha
.-= Jeannie´s last blog ..Typical Farming Conversations =-.
Two more things:
1. Many, many years ago, I read that most women’s favorite time of day was early morning, before their families woke up. My friend and I call that our “simmer time.”
2. I actually have a “To-Don’t” list. It’s my written list of things I’ve given myself permission NOT to do, at least during this chapter of my life. I have a tendency to beat myself up for certain things I think I “should” do (like garden or have a more labor-intensive hairdo), so this hard copy is a great reminder!
I would love to see a sample month of your daily and weekly chores. Thanks so much for this! Good luck.
@Sara, Seems like everyone wants a closer look at the lists/charts I’ve been showing. 🙂 Maybe I’ll take an upclose of a couple of them so you can all check out how I do things in our home!
I started a notebook when I was about sixteen, after reading “Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman” by Anne Orland.
Since then there have been years that I’ve used it and years that I haven’t… but lately, I’ve realized my need for it! I say, jokingly (sort of) that when I had to learn another language, the space in my head for remembering details got filled up and now I have to depend on a notebook.
The one thing that I really want to start is keeping a menu. When I lived in Haiti I used one because I could only go to the market 2x times a week and everything was fresh (nothing canned, frozen, etc…) and I loved the convience of it. Since being home, I’ve quickly fallen into the habit of cooking whatever is in the fridge. (which translates into using up all the easy things and then feeling like there is no food in the house when there is tons of stuff- it just needs a little more preperation!) And I hadn’t really thought of putting all that kind of thing in my notebook.
So, thanks for the ideas!
I just wrote a post about my “Mom” binder! It is similar to yours.
http://thezepflife.blogspot.com/2010/01/mom-binder.html
great post.
i have (should say had) a home management binder as well. mostly along the lines of flylady with other styles and what fits me mingled in! i love having a plan and knowing it ahead of time when it comes to my daily chores, dinner, and etc. other than that i am more of a go with the flow type.
but i have seen how having a schedule and daily routines benefits my daughter (10 yrs). especially since she hasn’t had it in the last year and a half (long story, we live with my in-laws, its crazy). i can really tell a difference in her. so when we get back in our own home (a couple more months prayerfully!) we will go back to it for her and start little man on something too (20 months)
.-= tzigane´s last blog ..Pray for me =-.
I’ve never had a binder but have been thinking of having my daughter start one for our household as part of her homemaking training. Might also just do the whole thing on the computer. Not sure. Great book recommendation! Thank you! I am going to order a copy.
.-= MooBee Mama´s last blog ..I been everywhere, Man. =-.
Thanks for the great post! I need to make a Homemaking Binder and I will use your outline to plan mine. I will add to my to-do list.
I tried to have a binder – at FlyLady’s suggestion – but I found that I never really used it. Now it just houses my tickler monthly file; it seems like such a good idea though that maybe I should revamp it and try again. I have things that I do each day and on certain days through the week, and I rotate around the house to do my deep cleaning monthly. I don’t have it written down though – just in my head (and FlyLady’s website). My “binder” right now is my to-do list that gets done everynight before bed. Does that count?
I have tried to have a binder as well but it didn’t work for me. I work full-time and would often have a minute or two to accomplish something personal at work but would not know what phone calls I could make because my list was in my binder at home.
I now carry a small organizer in my work tote where I carry bills that need paid, blank notecards, stamps, a time map and all my lists of things that come to mind during the day.
I use my itouch a lot! I have my calendar on this as well as Remember the Milk on which I put my household chores broken down for each day of the week. I also use RTM to keep lists of books to read, reminders, shopping lists, wish list, etc. This syncs with my computer at home and is available to me offline on the iTouch.
LOVE IT! i’ve been making a home journal & documenting it on my blog… mine is somewhat flylady-esque, but it has lots of similarities to yours. it helps me so much! and i’ve been getting up at 5:00 to have my Bible/prayer time & go running & get breakfast ready before the kids/husband wake up. it makes all the difference to me! i have to go to bed by 9:00 to get enough sleep, but it’s a small price to pay for peace.
thanks for sharing your binder- it’s wonderful!
rachel
stephanie
i love your website trying to get mine started but my children are something happens daughter had a little toes surgery nothing serious they had to take to toenails off doing fine though droped by to say love your blog
what a wonderful planning binder. i am pergo with kid # 5 and homeschooling. i NEED a binder like this. is there a place where we can print off your wonderfully made pages for your binder….why invent the wheel? 🙂
thankd
@kelly wright, I use the lists at ListPlanIt for my binder. So quick and simple to print off- I love my membership! Here’s the link:
https://keeperofthehome.org/53k
I thought I was organized, but you are AMAZING!!!! I can’t wait to start my own binder! This is really going to help me out in my quest to run a self-sufficient and sustainable homestead!
.-= Natural Mom´s last blog ..“Clean Eating” and Whole Foods =-.
Getting up at 5am isn’t that crazy! My kids usually get up at 6 so if I want anytime to say – take a shower in peace, say a morning prayer, unload the dishwasher, and compose my thoughts and see what the day holds – I need to get up that early. Besides, my husband has to get up between 4 and 5 anyway. The trick is you really can’t stay up til like midnight or you’ll be sorry. I ditch this 5am rising plan some days like after we’ve had a too late night or busy weekend or recently because of early pregnancy tiredness, but I try to get back to it because it that extra hour helps the rest of the day go smoothly. And taking a midday nap often works better for me and my family than sleeping in. Just some thoughts 🙂
O my goodness. You are all so organized. I think my brain would explode if I even tried…of course I do have a nine month old who still wakes up at night and another little bun in the oven sapping all of my energy….maybe someday I’ll be as organized. As for now, I think I’ll go take a nap. Just reading this made me tired. 🙂
What a great idea! 🙂
Would you ever be willing to post a template for us to copy? I would LOVE to have those pages to put in a binder. Oh, that would be great!!
Thanks!!
@christin, Unfortunately the pages are not my own creation, but I printed them out with my ListPlanIt.com membership. They have a really wide variety of lists, perfect for putting together a homemaking binder that is customized to you!
How do you find and keep the motivation to do this???
ugh! Motivation is hard to come by in my home… oh yes and the most consistent thing about me is my inconsistency!
I have been praying that God would make me more type A… however I know that I need to take action. where do I start? Most people tell me a list. I get immediately overwhelmed… how do I work through that?
Thanks
Erica – Let me put you at peace (I know you posted a while ago – but I’m just now reading it) . . . find what works for YOU . . . not anyone else. 🙂 Look at ideas and take what works, and throw out what doesn’t. Don’t feel bad if you are not Type A . . . this world needs all the other types too! 🙂
I’ve taught at MOPS groups about organizing (and my hubby laughs – becuase he doesn’t think I’m organized) – but what I try to emphasize is . . . It’s ok to be you!
My sister is a “filer” – an OCD typer person who loves to finish everything she starts before moving onto the next thing, loves following a strict schedule (and diet), etc. I’ve NEVER been that way! My room was always a mess, I stay up late, I love having a flexible schedule that can change from week to week, and I am a “piler”.
I have a “household manager” – but it is a mess (it’s like piles inside a 3-ring binder). BUT – I know where everything is in there, and it works for me. 🙂 (though – it is about time to do some purging through it). I don’t use it as a daily planner for chores, to-do’s etc – as I am highly visual and need to see those things out in the open. But I do keep my monthly menu in there, as well as it mainly being a place to keep all our important phone numbers, school info, etc. I like to keep things simple – so I bought business card pages – and instead of typing up a nice sheet with the info for doctor’s, etc – I just stick in their cards when I get them. 🙂 I want to have nice sheets typed up with each of my kids friend’s info . . . but again – with 5 kids here and a busy life – it’s not top priority. But I do have a plastic cover protecter pocket after each kid’s tab – so they can put all those little pieces of paper they keep their friend’s phone numbers on – right in there . . and find it when they need it.
Is it a perfect and beautiful system? no. But is it working for us now? Yes.
So – be released to be you girl! Start small. Step one – buy a 3-ring binder. The next week. Put in tab dividers. The next week – add 1 or 2 things that are important to you (a monthly menu, a to-do list, a phone numbers, list, etc). 🙂
How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time! 🙂
Blessings!
I love making my binders, but I don’t really know how to use them on a daily basis once I’ve finished making them. I tend to resort to to-do lists in a spiral and a print out of my morning & evening routines posted on my fridge. I also use Cozi to track appointments and meal plans. I guess my “homemaking system” works for me…it just isn’t contained in one handy-dandy notebook.
I LOVE this idea of a binder….ever since I had my third child I have been so scatter brained. I do have a menu notebook where I right down all the days of the week and then fill in with what to eat for dinner and then write the list on the back so it’s always handy. I really like this b/c when I get bored or just don’t have enough time to look through cookbooks I can look at earlier menus. I also write the cookbook I got the recipe from and the page for easy finding. But I love the idea of having everything in one place. Tomorrow I am running out and getting stuff for my own binder! Yours is way more advanced then mine will be but still love the idea!!
I just had to laugh a little bit after reading this article. I also follow FLYLady.net and this homemaking binder sounds so much like a control journal. You have made yours the way you need it to be and that is also part of what Marla Cilley (FLYLady) teaches. I enjoy that so many moms are going natural and that I can read their blogs. It’s very encouraging for me, as I hope to go as natural as possible and hope to homeschool as well.
Is there an “app” for something like this? I have one similar to this, bit I think I’d be more efficienct having it as an app on my phone/ ipad…..
I use the Cozi app on my laptop. I LOVE it! It helps me stay organized in so many ways. Cozi sends appt. reminders to my email and I can even customize it to send important reminders to our grown children or my husband’s iphones or computer. It has recipe ideas, grocery list, to do list and more. Try it out ~ http://www.cozi.com . It may just be what you are looking for.
Blessings,
Julie
I just signed up for list planit (through your link) yesterday and I’m loving it. One of my 2012 goals is to start a more routine schedule. As a WFHM (for an outside employer) I need to better mange my time since I must sit at my desk for 8 hours a day. I’m AT home but that doesn’t me I can DO home all day -make sense?
anyway -thank you for sharing yoru binder it has given me some ideas (for my 2012 planning reatreat!)
Blessings!
How do you manage when your’e out and about to schedule things with people? I hate not having a schedule on me. Do you have a separate one that you tote around with you? Seems redundant if one did. Or, do you just not schedule things on the fly and always make sure you’re home to consult your binder before scheduling?
I subscribed to list ListPlanit, and cannot find the weekly planner with meals. Is it no longer available on the website, do you know??