My love for day planners/calenders began when I was a child. The local Hallmark store gave out free purse sized ones at Christmas. Momma would get me one and I couldn't wait to enter in everyone's birthday or anniversary. As I got older I added other important dates and times like "Work: 1-8", "First Day of Driver's Training", "College Application Due Date", and "Pizza Hut w/ Michael". =)
Soon after we got married, I decided to become a Longaberger Basket consultant. Included with my Starter Selling Kit was a Franklin Covey Day Planner. I'd never seen one before and it was love at first sight!!!! There was something about those light green pages ... =)
The basket gig didn't last long and neither did the Franklin Covey planner - those refills are PRICEY. I went back to the classic monthly calendar on the wall ... a free one, of course, from the local funeral home. =) Hey, all you had to do was cut off the ad at the bottom and no one would know the difference.
I discovered Home Management Binders in 2005 through some blogs that I was following and gave that a try. It was totally up my alley ... schedules, plans, binder, dividers, color coding, page protectors, important phone numbers, high-lighting, to-do lists!!! It went through several transformations, progressively getting smaller each time. Then I just stopped using it all together ... keeping up with all the aspects of a HMB frustrated me and made me feel like a home-management failure. =(
Fast forward to May 2010 ... I'm very pleased to announce that I found a system that works for me and this is it:
- A 8x10 monthly calender with 2 pages per week - doesn't get lost on counter but not too big to carry in purse if I needed.
- Important dates with times are written on the monthly calender ONLY - these are in pen.
- Everything else is written on the weekly calender ONLY - these are in pencil.
Give this system a try - simplicity is the key! I think it's pretty adaptable. If you need any help getting a system set up for your family, drop me an email. I'd love to help, if I can. =)
10 comments:
Oh, I know just how you feel! I too have a sickening love for the new planner...
You know, I've tried to go to an electronic planner version...it just is NOT the same. I'm seriously considering a return to paper.
DH upgraded to a new Blackberry and I thought about using his old one just for the calendar function. As I thought about it, I decided it defied the "keep it simple" rule. =)
so organized, you always amaze me :) I love the ole paper version, too! And what are House blessings?
HBs or House Blessings is my positive label for laundry, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, moping, etc. =)
It's a form of reverse psychology. Choirs = negative. Blessings = positive. If we think of our mundane work as a blessing to those who live in the house, then it's easier to do.
I came across your blog through the Down to Earth forum and just wanted to tell you how much I love it! Regarding your post on your soapmaking, something I am desperately craving to try, do you have a tutorial? and also, I too am a lover of journals and notebooks and wondered if you had any tips on journal writing: things to write about, how to develop a habit of it, etc. Thanks for your fun blog!
Erin, I totally love your planner, especially how you simply divide each day into four categories. That completely fits in with my list-compulsiveness, and I'll have to imitate you when I become a stay at home mom again next month. Maybe I'll even find a calendar on sale!
I had a hard time finding one that didn't start in July 2010. But Walmart had them for $6.00. =)
I've been looking for a calendar method to keep up with my Fly Lady routine and incorportate my meal planning all into one relatively small package. I think this is it. Don't know why I did not think of it myself. Thanks!
You are welcome ... I'm glad you found it helpful!
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