I use several tools to manage our household. Ok friends, take and deep breath, exhale, now embrace technology!
#1 Google Gmail: (I would hope that other companies do these things too) When I am in my email, I can see the calendar appointments for today and the next several days. Documents that I have uploaded and shared with family/friends. Who is online to chat and my task lists. Currently, I have like 5 task lists. I use these lists to get ideas out of my head such as craft projects, things I need to buy and things I need to remember to bring on my next trip to TX etc. I don't use these for daily task (more on that later). This is our calendar. Each person has their own calendar/color and we share with each other. J can open his email and see the same appointments. So we both know what is going on. Birthdays are on a different calendar. Then you can also import US holidays and your favorite sports team schedules which are public calendars. Clicking the calendar name on the left turns the calendar on and off so you can view on the ones you want at any time and you can print. #2 FlyLady.Net This lady is amazing...she is probably a team now. I am pretty sure she is a Christian. Baby Steps is her motto...little cleaning and decluttering each day. Start Here with Baby Steps.
Since I am a working mom, I am not spending my short weekends cleaning. We have a cleaning lady come once a month and I follow FlyLady to maintain. If I was not working, then I would follow her detail cleaning lists. This is my control journal of sorts. I print one each week. On Sunday, Flylady sends an email of a task for each day so I add those as well. Sometimes I don't get to everything but most weeks I do all my tasks.#3 Meal Planning The last week of each month, I print our calendar and sit down with my cookbook and new recipe tear outs and plan for the next month. I take a look at the pantry and freezer and try to make plans with what is leftover in there. Then I do a big shopping trip at the beginning of each month to get most everything I need. The rest of the month is just buying fruits, veggies and shopping the sales. Shopping the sales fuels the meals for next month. I will do a separate post on what I have been doing this past year to reduce my grocery budget.
I think that is enough for one post. I am always refining these processes and welcome any ideas/questions for making these better.
Despite the fact that we were away from family, Christmas Day was perfect. It was just the 4 of us. And since they are still little, we didn't get up at the crack of dawn either. I didn't get that many photos cause we had paper and gifts all over the place...like we couldn't even walk...and we were doing lots of Skyping. Then we got ready to have the neighbors (who were also familyless) for a beautiful potluck dinner.
Santa Came
Christmas Morning (long video)
Opening Stockings (long video)
New Tu-Tu from Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary
Snowball from GrandBob and Lexi
New Ball
Daddy's New Jump Suit
Dang those PJs are too cute
Ms Claus painted the picture for us and each
of our names are on one of the cookies
Laney and Evey ready for the Christmas Dinner
We had a huge feast! We are so blessed beyond words!
Just Dance for Wii cul-de-sac style! So fun...so fun
I added a web part on the right of the main page where I will post available coupons that I can mail out.
We had a garage sale last fall and I saw my closets look a little leaner and now I am addicted. So here is the overall plan (I think I got it from Better Homes and Gardens) and each month I will post more specific thoughts and pictures:
January: Home Office and all Papers
Create a Mail Station. Set up mailboxes on a desk, wall, or bulletin board. Or give each member of your family his or her own labeled box, bin, or slot.
Stay on Schedule. Hang a large monthly calendar in a spot everyone can see and use it. Choose a paper calendar or dry-erase version, and encourage everyone to write important events, deadlines, and reminders.
Organize Office Supplies. Outfit a desk drawer near your main working area with a divided tray or multiple small bins. Limit the number of office supplies in each compartment. Label each compartment with an adhesive label.
Get Rid of Junk. Test all writing utensils. Toss everything that doesn't work perfectly. Group similar items (pens, pencils, markers, etc) in canisters for easy access.
February: Kitchen
Sort and Label. Evaluate all pantry items. Toss everything that's expired and give away everything you didn't use in the last year. (Write today's date on every item so you'll know next year if you actually used each item.) Put items back in pantry and label shelves.
Outfit a Drawer. Double the storage capacity inside a cabinet by adding freestanding wire shelves. Measure your cabinet interiors before heading to the home center or choose expandable shelves. Include riser-style inserts for small items such as spices or glassware.
Utilize Cabinet Doors. Evaluate the interior of every cabinet door and determine whether you can use the space to store spices, loose recipes, paper towels, or utensils. Add shallow shelves, racks, wall-mount pouches, and magnetic or cork boards.
Add Hooks. Install a utensil bar or metal grid above or beside your stove. Dangle five to eight frequently used utensils from S-hooks. Include a small wire basket to hold salt, pepper, cooking spray, and oil.
March: Living Room
Personal Storage Bin. Give every family member a spot to stash personal items. Fill a bookcase with similar baskets or bins and label containers with each person's name. Establish a house rule to put away books, magazines, toys, and projects every night.
Multifunctional Storage. Overhaul your occasional tables. Replace tables and traditional ottomans with small chests and storage cubes. Add baskets to open spaces. Skirt tables and stash items underneath.
Don't Overdo with Collectibles. Edit a collection to 12 or a fewer outstanding items. Display on a single shelf for maximum impact. Store other items in the collection in one location. Introduce three or four new items--and remove and store the same number--every season.
Create a Space for Entertainment Supplies. Designate one easily accessible drawer for entertaining supplies. Fill the drawer with coasters, napkins, and snack bowls or plates. Include a basket of favorite snacks, a roll of paper towels, and a mini trash receptacle.
April: Laundry
Sorting Baskets. Place a three-compartment bin or basket (look at home or office supply stores for options) in a closet or on an open shelf in your laundry room. Use it to separate out clothing to be repaired, dry-cleaned, and donated.
Keep Detergent Handy. Fill plastic beverage dispensers with laundry detergent, softener, and other liquid laundry additives. Hang a set of plastic measuring cups nearby from a cup hook.
Drying Rack. Mount a drying rack or double towel bar near your washer as a spot for air-drying clean sweaters or rugs.
Make a Catch-all for Ironing Supplies. Convert a silverware caddy into a stain-treating or ironing kit. Fill with small size cleaners, spray starches, and linen waters. Be sure to include essential tools such as brushes, dry-cleaning pads, and collar points.
May: Garage
Create Task Kits. Create kits for various outdoors projects by filling 5- and 10-gallon plastic buckets with all the tools, products, and accessories you need to complete specific tasks such as car-washing, weeding, bicycle repair, and more.
Stash Sporting Gear. Fill tall kitchen trash cans with large and odd-shaped sporting gear. Drill holes in the bottom of bins if drainage is important. Stabilize containers by securing to a wall with short bungee cords.
Organize the Trunk. Clean out your vehicle's trunk. Toss every item that is expired or damaged. Place all trunk gear in a canvas bin or box. Make sure the container doesn't slip by adding rubber or hook-and-loop tape to the bottom.
Tidy Up the Tools. Hang hand tools on a wall near your workbench from hooks on pegboard, magnetic board, or a wall-mount strip system. Label each tool's spot. Put extra tools in a tool box or clear plastic boxes and store on floor underneath workbench.
June: Kids' Rooms
Hooks for All Heights. Mount two strips of hooks or pegs to the back of a child's door--one about 3 feet from the floor, the other between 5 and 6 feet. Two levels of hooks allow kids to grow and provide more spots for shorter items such as jackets, towels, and bags.
See-Through Toy Storage. Skip the toy box and stash playthings in large clear containers. Line up against the wall, under windows. Top with a cushion for bench seating.
Keep Books Handy. Fill open boxes with children's books based on size and shape. (Kids' books always slide around on bookshelves anyway.) Keep a box near a child's bed for favorite bedtime reading.
Kid-Friendly Closet. Replace the low hanging-bar section of a child's closet with stackable, ready-to-assemble drawers or cubbies--or slide in a small chest or bookcase. Fill with folded clothes and other gear.
July: Hobby Area
Clean Out Clutter. Test all the craft supplies you own, including paints, markers, and glues. Do the same with tools such as scissors, staplers, and punches. Toss everything that doesn't work. Put similar items in clear plastic containers with handles.
Storage for Small Gear. Hang a clear vinyl shoe bag inside a closet or behind a door. Slip small parts, supplies, and tools into the pouches.
Hang Fabric. Drape fabric scraps and swatches over rubber-coated hangers intended for multiple pairs of pants. Hang from hooks on the back of a door.
Organize Ideas. Purchase eight to 10 sturdy letter boxes and fill with inspirational materials from books, magazines, photographs, and online searching. Organize and label boxes by topic, source, or project. Stack near a chair or desk and use an extra counter, end table, or resting spot.
August: Bathroom
Store Only What You Need. Evaluate all bath linens and keep only a two week's supply for every family member. If you have guest linens, keep them separate from everyday linens. Give away unused linens--or mark as rags with a permanent marker and store appropriately.
Non-skid Baskets. Add rubber feet to the bottom of a plastic basket and fill with bath supplies. Rest basket on tub ledge or in corner to ensure bottles stay in place.
Make Good Use of Cabinet Space. Arrange medicines, beauty, and hair products on lazy Susans to avoid forgetting about items pushed toward the back of the cabinet. Look for two and three-
tiered versions to pack in more function.
Hide-away Makeup Caddy. Fill a metal or plastic desktop organizer with makeup, brushes, pencils, and other beauty essentials. Store the entire organizer under the sink when not in use.
September: Master Closet
Spot Unused Items. Arrange all clothes hangers with hooks facing out. Whenever you put away newly laundered items, arrange so the hangers point in. At the end of the season, give away everything on facing-out hangers because you didn't wear it.
Stacking Storage. Turn milk crates on their sides, stack, and fill with folded items divided by style or garment type. Rearrange crate placement based on season.
Workout Gear. Dangle two canvas bags from hooks on the back of your closet door. Fill one with clean, rolled up work-out clothes and other with paired athletic socks.
Organize Accessories. Stash scarves, hats, and other lesser-worn accessories in a stack of clear shoebox-size containers. Look for containers that click together and feature handles for easy transport.
October: Media Room
Control the Cords. Label both ends of every cord behind your entertainment center with a tag or sticker. Bundle up excess cord length with a rubber band or hook-and-loop ties.
Easy-access Discs. Set an attractive bowl (cereal-size works fine) on top of a DVD player and stereo. Place your CD and DVD favorites in the bowl.
Hide the Gaming System. Drill holes in the bottom of a storage ottoman and house a gaming system and all accessories inside. Run cords through the bottom of the ottoman and leave a few holes empty to allow for ventilation.
Label Chargers. Use permanent marker or stickers to label every charger you own. Store all chargers in one bath caddy with a handle.
November: Dining Area
Wrinkle-free Linens. Iron all table cloths and drape over padded hangers. Place coordinating napkins in gallon-size plastic bags and clip to hanger with clothespins.
Hanging Glassware Storage. Install top-mount glassware racks in a cabinet or china hutch. Arrange glassware by type and size.
Corral Disposables. Fill one compartment of a serving buffet with paper party supplies. Use letter holders to organize plates by size and style and mugs to corral plastic cutlery.
Stash Platters. Place larger platters in oversize plastic bags and slip between appliances or behind a hutch.
December: Entry
Family Drop Spot. Use a tabletop serving set as a drop spot for keys, change, wallets, and personal devices. Give family members their own bowls or sections.
Stash Away Entry Rugs. Roll up extra rugs, mats, and towels and place in a wood-carrying basket near the door.
Hanging Outdoor Gear. Hang a multi-compartment canvas shoe or sweater shelf from a closet hang bar. Fill spaces with hats, gloves, pet gear, and purses.
Personalized Coat Rack. Hang a coat rack with enough hooks for each family member to have his or her own and label it with each family member's name.
Please post comments on other stuff you want to hear about, if this is helpful or not...it won't my feelings just want to use my time efficiently. Lots more to come...just gathering my thoughts.
So over the past 6 months or so, I have been following a lot of blogs on saving money, getting organized, and managing a household. Would anyone be interested to hear what I have learned and what is working for me? If there are no comments then I won't waste my time but I feel like I have learned so much that it might help others...maybe not.
We were very blessed to get to go to Dallas for Thanksgiving. We usually go to Houston so it was a special treat to see friends and family in Dallas.
There was extra seats on the plane on the way there so Austin got to stretch out and nap. Such a good boy. GrandDad and Mimi picked us up and took us to Kincaid's for a yummy lunch. We got to spend the afternoon with them before they headed to Midland.
1..2..3...Swing
Austin getting sneak peak with his seat turn forward...we couldn't get the seat installed properly with it turned the other way. Mimi and Evey decorated Turkey sugar cookies. She really had fun and they turned out beautiful. Her apron says Mimi's Helper...so cute! We got to spend the first night with Mike and Kristen and Ava. Ben and Tana came over for dinner so they all got to meet Austin for the first time. Austin just loved on all Ava's toys...couldn't get him out of this cute little chair and her Elmo...well he got one for Christmas. Sweet Ava...Evey really enjoyed getting to play with her. Ready for Thanksgiving. Mimi made these cute hats for the kids to dress up. I didn't think we would get any pictures but they loved the hats. Too cute. Dress up with Grammy's glasses...huge hit We really had a great time
You have 3 more teeth coming in right now for a total of 8. You are busy busy and can hold your own around here. You point and scream for things you want. We are trying on working at asking a little nicer with signing. You are babbling and talking a lot. You can almost say uh-oh, hot, & dog. You are a pro at walking now and I love it when you let me hold your hand while you walk. You really enjoying pouring stuff out and then putting it back in the container. I think chips are your favorite. You do such a great job of getting the big ones back in the sack...mom handles the crumbs. Now that you can help turn the pages, you are really starting to enjoy story time and you will sit for several short books. You have a small plush Elmo that goes to bed with you. It is so cute how you grab him, smile and snuggle with him. If I want to sing or say prayers with you I have to do so before you see Elmo otherwise, once you see Elmo you are just ready to lay down. We love watching you grow and learn. You are amazing, we love you!
Laney had a Ballerina Tea Party for her birthday. Sir Wyatt came over to get our little ballerina. It was very cute. They were all dressed up so beautiful. They did lots of fun girlie crafts and had tea, cup cakes and ice cream. The girls had a wonderful time together.
#3 Meal Planning
#3 Meal Planning
