Time to re-evaluate my home management system...

Back in September I did a post about how I stay organized during the year. And that system worked great till the holidays and then everything spontaneously combusted. This spring I felt slightly disheveled and all over the place. (My house reflects this at the current moment as I'm trying to reclaim my space!) After reflecting back on the year I've come to a few conclusions...

-I still like using a file folder system to help me manage life from week to week...like any system it needs some tweaking.

-Since I run my system August to July it's to start figuring out what I want to do for the upcoming year.

-I feel that part of the reason I wasn't able to get back on track was due to how sick my kids were this winter. Honestly, everything was put on hold as we were constantly dealing with one or both kids being sick. Add in some outside extenuating circumstances, running two half marathons, a stress fracture, and unemployment it's no wonder I couldn't keep up with everything.

My current To Do list includes the following:

-Brainstorming planning sheets for said folders...last year I used templates that I found for free online and I purchased a weekly ripoff calendar that I stuck in each folder. I'm trying to decide if I want to take the time to design my own or just repeat what we did last year.

-Scout out and buy supplies. I may replace my folders this year if I can find something that I like. If not, I'll reuse what I have and just get new labels for them.

-I need to rework my desk. It needs a complete overhaul. Ideally, I'd love to claim the desk in our master bedroom as mine because I love the size of it. (It use to be an old library desk/table and has one drawer.) However, it's too big for the den, where my current desk is located, and Andy needs the desk in our room for work since he telecommutes everyday now. One day it'll be my craft table...most likely when we have a different house.

-I feel like I need some sort of home management binder but I am not sure. I like the idea of one, however, I don't know if I'm crazy to try and add another element to my daily routine or if I should wait a bit on it. I'm currently in the process of rereading all of Dawn's posts on home management/File Crate System/organization for ideas and inspiration.


The plan is to work on this over the next few weeks and get everything ready to go for the first of August. I'll post more as I make decisions and get my system for the year in place. In addition to this I've already started thinking about my holiday binder for the year. For years I had read about Dawn using one to help juggle everything during the holiday season and the teacher in me who loves a good system/notebook/something to craft/office supplies loved the idea of such a thing. However, I never got my act together to make one until this past year. The only that I would change is when I make it. This past year I made it the first of December and while it was invaluable during the season I wish I had made it months earlier. Ideally, I'd love to make my notebook for the holiday season this summer and then pull it out when the season is upon us. (With one less thing to hassle with/make/do.) The other reason for this is that I'd love to have a section either dedicated to Thanksgiving or make a separate notebook that is Fall/Thanksgiving since we tend to have lots of special activities that revolve around that season as well. Still mulling this but I love, love, loved having it for Christmas this past year! It was amazing to have a spot for all our Christmas receipts that was organized. As presents arrived we would just stash packing slips in their designated spot. After Christmas it made it easy to give people receipts for exchanges, etc. It was just a nice way to have things recorded and organized for the season. We'll see what I come up with. This year I have a Silhouette and I'm itching to use it to make stuff holiday cut outs. :) Can you blame me...they keep posting Christmas themed items in their weekly clearance shape sale.  This post has gotten to be quite wordy and I need to do some chores. Hope everyone has a good Friday and a great Father's Day weekend.

How we stay sane and slightly organized these days...

I mentioned the other day that I had been reading a blog of a mom in Massachusetts for several years now. One of the things that Dawn does to help stay organized is she has created a system using weekly file folders. She calls it her 'File Crate System' and it's a weekly tool to help you stay on top of all the coming/going and the endless paper trail that tends to follow each of us around. This is actually the 3rd year that I have used this system but the first time I've posted about it. The last two years my use of it was spotty due to being pregnant and then having a newborn. However, this year I can't live without it especially since AG is is school five days a week. It has made our transition in to this new chapter of our lives much easier. So, what is it? How do I use it? Why has it made my life easier? 

First, I started with a batch of 52 file folders. (One for every week of the year.) They each get dated and run August-July. I also run my weeks Monday-Sunday. This is a matter of preference you really could do it how ever you wanted to do it. The teacher in me loves starting something new in August because of it being a new year...likewise, I also think of my weeks in terms of the week and the weekend. I like starting fresh on Mondays.

File folders all ready to go. 

On top of my file folder is a sheet that I created using a template at Money Saving Mom. You can tailor it to your preferences. While it's not exactly what I want long term it fits the bill right now. Eventually, I'll restructure it and create my own template...when I have time to really brainstorm/work on it. I also, wanted to test run this sheet first to see if I even liked it before I spent time creating something I may/may not use. I opted to laminate it to make it more durable. (Good decision it survived Avi-Kate throwing the last of her dinner the other night.)

Dawn buys a fresh set of folders each year, however, this is the third year I've used mine. I spent a little more and bought a more durable folder. It is a thicker paper and coated to make it really sturdy. I use post-it reposition-able tabs to re-label them. I looked for some new folders this summer just to change it up but I didn't find any I liked better and mine are still in perfect condition so I am using them again. 

When you open it on the left side you find my week-at-a-glance calendar. I found this template at Target in the office section. Last year I used a different one and it was just ok. Again, I was going to design my own but before I could I found this one. I LOVE this calendar. Behind it is my monthly/annual cleaning checklist that I personalized at Money Saving Mom. (I just started using it this month. I realize not everything will always get done but it's nice to have a place to keep track of things.) Earlier this week I realized I should have 'Wipe Down Kitchen Cabinets' in the monthly section. When I re-create my own it will be added and in case anyone is wondering I did wipe down my cabinets for this month. :)

Next on the right side you find my Notes and Bits page. Just a simple piece of notebook paper that I put sticky notes on. I am always writing things on sticky notes so if I jot something down I can add it later to my folder. Also, if I need to pull it out and post it somewhere as a reminder I can. Sometimes I'll even jot down memorable quotes from AG. It's just a simple catch-all paper. 

Behind my Notes page is AG's school calendar for September. Each week it gets moved to the next folder so that I have it if I need it. I also have a coupon attached to it that we earned from ordering books from Scholastic to apply to our next order. Which made ordering books for this month a breeze because the coupon was right at my fingertips! 

And then behind that goes anything and everything else that we need to save from the week. (Receipts, notes, packing slips, you name it if it needs to be saved it goes here.) All of AG's school papers get filed here once they come off his bulletin board in the play area. 

Now, the big question...how do I maintain this? On Thursday, on a good week, I'll pull out the next week's folder and start working on my calendar for the week. I'll make a post-it with possible ideas for dinner for the next week so I can start brainstorming ideas while I look at ads/coupons. However, some weeks are insane and it won't get pulled out till the weekend sometime. By Sunday I will file away AG's papers and any loose papers that haven't been filed. I will also move anything that needs to be moved to the next week's folder...my checklist, AG's school calendar, etc. The folder then goes back in to my filing cabinet which sits next to my desk. Also, I will file stuff ahead of time to use later. For example, Avi-Kate had a check-up two weeks ago and they printed me a reminder for her next check-up in December...that sheet is now filed away in the folder for that particular week. A coupon for Bath and Body Works that I received in August that was good for the month of September was filed away in the first September folder. You get the point.

My folder for the current week sits on top of my desk where I have easy access to it and can see it every single day. When we travel it gets tucked in to my travel bag so that I have it if needed. Whew! There you have it. A crash course on how we are keeping things slightly organized around here these days. I will say that I am really LOVING this system. It has been invaluable as we've transitioned in to school and all the additional papers that comes with school. At the end of the year I sift back and look over our year and it's pretty neat to see what we were up to, what we ate, random mementos, etc. I can also pull anything that I might need for the upcoming year and re-file it away. If you have questions let me know...I'd love to answer them if I can. :)