Home Binder for us simple folk. Part 4

Now I wanna show you how we do the Honey Do List and our other lists that are between me and the wife. On her way home for work if she is going to stop she can easily see the list of things we need, list of stuff for an upcoming event or whatever she needs.

I'm big on free apps but you are welcome to buy the full or upgraded versions if you feel that you want the added features.

We starred out with Wunderlist, which is a great app and you can share the lists between the two of you. We just had some issues with the lists not updating for several hours or even days so we switched to an adorable little app called Couple.

This app is pretty cute and encourages a little extra sweetness though the day between you and your honey. We love it. It's nerdy but that's us. Anyway, you can share up to the minute lists using this app as well as the cute lovey stuff.

Once you are both logged in and setup you can both create lists, add tasks, check them off, remove them from the list and so on. You can have wish lists, holiday shopping lists hidden from the kids.. you get the idea.

Again, why put it in my binder at home? I need this info on the go too.

Check out the other posts with downloads and info about the simple home binder I use.

Home Binder for us simple folk. Part 3

So what about a calendar you say? Well, all the big fancy ones have a calendar in them with daily, weekly and monthly dates and events. Not mine.

For us the issue with that is that we would have to all stop and go look at the binder every day. While I look at it every day it's also handy for the wife and kiddo to know what's going on all the time too. Say for example you're out and someone says "Are you busy next Tuesday?" If all your stuff is in your big binder at home then do you know?

We use Andriod and they come with a pre-installed calendar app that uses your google calendar. We are all logged into one family calendar on our phones. It updates itself. When my daughter has something, she adds it to the calendar. My wife checks it when she makes her work schedule. I check it when I know of events and such. It's a great way to all keep in the know without a lot of hassle.

Ready to see how we set it up?
Go to Google Calendar. If you have an android chances are you already have a google account. They work so seamlessly when they are all setup correctly. I love it!
Create your calendar and add some dates. You can set it to a certain color if you like. Each person can have their own and so on. Make it as complex or simple as you want. We all share one that we lovingly named Johnson Adventures.

Make sure you set it to who you want to share it with. If you don't mind your calendar being public then you can do that too. We have ours set to just the 3 of us.

Now you go to your phone and open your Calendar app. Touch Menu - Settings - Calendars. From here you can add and remove calendars. Do this for each phone, adding them to the family calendar. Now everyone has to remember for the first little bit to add their stuff to it. Once it becomes habit you're set!

Home Binder for us simple folk. Part 2

Alright let's talk about my monthly to do list. On Sundays or when we have extra time these are the things we try to accomplish for the month.

These are the Word docs that I made for my binder. They aren't flashy but they get the job done. Change yours as needed.

Leave yourself space to add to your lists. The last week of the month make sure you check it for anything that hasn't been checked off yet. Family members can pitch in. These lists of mine are in no particular order of importance. Make yours the way you like. This is just a jumping off point.

Download them here:

January	February	March	April	May	June
July	August	September	October	November	December

Here is a blank one too, since I use the same format for other to-do lists like birthday party planning and so on. 

Home Binder System for us simple folk. Part 1

Hey there! I'm Elizabeth and this is my craft blog. Today I'm changing it up and sharing a but of my life with ya.

You know those big command center Home Binders that all the super organized mom's have? Well, it just was a little too much for my life and I needed it to be easier to fit my family. If you've got a lot on your plate then this one isn't for you. Check this out instead.

Alright ya'll. The next few posts I will be sharing my home binder ideas for us simple folk. We use Andriod apps that our family can share calendars, schedules and even music, all free and I'll link to those as we get there. I will be uploading printable word docs that can be edited with lists and more. I hope you all enjoy!

We have our organizing set up in daily, weekly and monthly chore lists. Everyone pitches in... well that might not be completely honest. I do the majority of the chores and I'm okay with that because right now I get to be a mostly stay at home mom.

This is my daily list with my advice. You can download the sheet I use here. You can edit it to your own needs.

I keep mine in the front pocket of my $0.25 binder. I leave it on the counter all day until my Mrs. is on her way home.

When she's off work so am I because that's fair. We do the dishes after dinner, most of the time but that's it.

Step 1: Clean your house. You gotta start with a little extra work in the beginning but I believe in you. You can do it.

Now, Step 2 is the last step. It's just maintaining. They say it takes 30 days to make a habit. So stick with it until it's second nature. It's such a positive feeling to come home to a clean house.
Daily:

1. Make Beds
     (If you're into it. Some people don't feel the need to make their bed everyday and that's okay. Life goes on. )
2. Wipe Counters after each meal
   (The stuff is just so much easier to get off when it's fresh. You leave it, it sticks.)
3. Sweep
   (You don't have to be at it all day but give it a good once over.)
4. Wipe down the bathroom
   (Again, don't spend an hour in there, just give it a good wipe down. I'm into a bleach/water in a spary bottle thing but whatever you do, do it.)
5. Pick up around the house
   (When you walk though a room just take 2 or 3 minutes picking it up. You would be shocked how clean you house gets doing this. It becomes such a habit that the house never really gets messy.)
6. Laundry
   (Some of you many not do it every day. If you don't then make a specific day for it and do it all that day. Don't let that pile up.)
7. Dishes
   (You gotta do it. Heck, I don't even have a dishwasher. We do them by hand so if we can do it, you can do it.)

Weekly:

I this have setup with extra chores each day. I pay the kiddo to do any of these extra chores around the house. I never pay her to clean her room or put away her laundry. That's her stuff and she keeps it up, she's 12.

I'm not saying my house is a perfect shining example of clean. I laugh at the very idea because my family calls what I want: "Hospital Clean" and oh how I fantasize about having it. *chuckle* This is just me sharing with you how to have what my people call "Company Ready" almost all the time. Just don't go in my craft room!

Have an awesome rest of the day and go throw away something. :)

Getting organized - Cards

Hey! Hope you all had a great holiday and new year celebration!

I have been looking for things that were small enough to store/organize my handmade cards in but was cute and cheap. The perfect solution? Make it out of a box. I shame to admit it but the Hambuger Helper box is the perfect size.

 I drew a line from the top corner to the point I wanted as the bottom of the slant. Using a ruler, I made a straight line and cut the box. I used the first side I cut to be a template for the other side. Then I just covered it with that awesome paper I had from Archivers and wrapped my favorite Stampin' Up ribbon around it.

I'm going to make a few more of these as I have boxes. I want one for holidays, one for birthday cards and another for misc cards I make (love notes, thank you ect).

Hope you like it!

Easy ribbon scrap storage

You know those really cool ribbon pull bags? Well I think they are nifty but $34 is a bit much for something I have under my bathroom sink already. I have a few of these plastic kinda bags already that I'm not using. I think I paid about $1 for the small zipper pouch and maybe $5 for the other one but that was some time ago.

              

I used my Big Bite to punch holes. Trying to space them roughly even. I hate measuring so obviously I didn't do so. :) lol  Start threading the ribbon at the bottom working your way up. Once you have filled all the bottom holes move up a row. This may seem time consuming at first but you get the hang of it very quickly.

                                           

As you can see I'm not done with this one yet. I'm trying to go by color out of my ribbon "scrap" jar.

                        

I just snapped a picture to show you my progress. I actually have some housework I need to get on so I'll finish it later.   : )

Coupon Organizer

So it's 2009 and I have some goals. One of them is to start using coupons. Everyone can use to save a few bucks right? More money for craft supplies. lol. So, this is a file folder, folded and covered in pretty paper (scraps). The ribbon is from SU! I printed the shopping list, notes and to do list on my computer using MS Word.

           

I left the cover kind of plain because I like the pattern so much. Click the pictures to see larger. As if you didn't know by now.  :)           
          

I have a couple questions for you all:

What are our goals for 2009?

What would you like to see in the giveaway this month?
I am doing 2 pendants but have no idea what else to include!!

The instructions for folding are located here. Thanks for visiting!

Organizer on the cheap.

My version of the Clip it Up. :)  It's a drapery rod with round clip rings. Easy to find stuff in just about any store that sells curtains. I got mine at Big Lots on sale.

It's really helping me get organized. I really need about 2 more to get all my rub ons and stickers up and out of the boxes and binders. lol! Right now it's aa big ol mess but soon I'll have it all seperated by subject.