In an effort to wrap up the process of creating my process, I wanted to explain what I included in the last two sections of my Household Notebook.  Click here for the why and how-to.  As a side note, thinking about Trapper Keepers today…wouldn’t this lovely rainbow one be a nice alternative to the wooden cover I talked about before?  Anyone???  Apparently no, on to my notebook…

The second section in my new Household Notebook is Calendars.  This is pretty self explanatory.  I have a 2012 calendar printed on one sheet for big picture planning and filed after that are monthly calendars that I can fill in as things are scheduled.  I decided to keep the laminated monthly calendar that we put up on the fridge a few months ago; it seems to help Kyle and I stay on the same page as far as what’s going on for the family.  I’ll update that one as needed but it’s handy to have the additional monthly calendars in the notebook for things that are more than four weeks out.

The final section is labeled ‘Family’.  Other titles that would also have worked ‘Misc’, ‘Everything Else’, ‘Bucket of Stuff I Didn’t Want to Make Into it’s Own Section’.  But ‘Family’ seemed to evoke the happiest feelings, so I’m sticking with that.  :)

Inside this section:

• Summary page for the Everyday Joys (to keep a running record of the little gifts God puts in my days)
• Focus sheets for Spirituality and Financial Security (these are two more of our Values that I talked about last time, but involve more habits than to-do’s.  I wanted to keep them visual, but not compartmentalize them in a weekly to-do list.  Just like the other Focus Sheets, they include a definition of the value for us, habits we are following or forming, and goals – short, mid and long term)
• Kid Pages (one for each kid for the year.  I really like this idea and think it will come in super handy when it’s time to fill out the baby books around their birthdays.  An example of mine is below)

• Gift Lists & Ideas (one sheet to jot down ideas about gifts for people throughout the year)
• Favorite Recipes (just a list of our favorites and where they are located.  Hopefully this will make menu planning a lot easier.  We love trying new recipes and do it a lot but it’s not practical for every meal.  Next time I’m drawing a blank, I can refer to the list and know I’ll find a winner)
• Menu Sheets (I’m a little crazy unconventional when it comes to menu planning.  The whole idea of doing menus by Sunday, Monday, Tuesday… is lost on me.  We usually don’t know when we will be eating dinner or who will be there until about 30-45 minutes before we eat.  Kyle’s job is a little unpredictable with the hours, so just because I have steak & potatoes listed on Tuesday, it’s entirely possible and probable that he will text at 7:30 pm saying that he’s going to eat at the office.  I’m not about to cook steak and potatoes for myself and 2 half-pints.  At that point, it’s time to scramble some eggs and make toast.  I realize that you don’t have to cook what’s on Tuesday just because it says Tuesday, but why plan menus that way if it’s not going to be followed?  The other thing that I have seen on some people’s menus that I simply cannot fathom is including breakfasts, lunches and snacks.  Mad props to those moms who’ve got that under control, but planning one meal a day is enough for me!  We do eat breakfasts, lunches and snacks but I just buy “the usual” and fill in with what’s on sale.  Occasionally, I will try to give lunches a little change up but most of the time I save the menu planning energy for dinners.  I usually buy groceries once every two-ish weeks, so I kept the 14-16 meal plan.  Then I devised a sort of topical menu that I can pick from as the evening dinner plans develop.   Foodie Nights and Family Nights we try to do once a month, so every two weeks I plan one or the other.  Then a bigger meal to share with guests,  a couple of lunches (these may or may not get filled in), a few meals we plan to eat with Kyle (a little nicer than scrambled eggs), Easy meals are ones we’ve done before and Quick meals are for the nights I look up and it’s 9pm and realize no one has yet eaten anything.

• Shopping List (right after the menu sheets are shopping lists.  I made my own to follow the aisles of my local grocery store.  Again, the central location is key; I can add things as I run out or think of them and never misplace my list.  Plus it’s super handy as I’m making menus)

• Emergency Info sheets
• Babysitter Info (just  tear out form and leave instructions for the night.  Easily tailored to your kids at whatever stage they are currently in)
• Personal and Medical Info (Driver’s License #s, Social Security #s, Policy #s – all those numbers that it would be handy to have when you’re on the phone and don’t have two hands to dig through a file drawer)
• Packing Lists (for vacations, trips home to CO, camping, etc)

So that’s my Household Notebook.  This is my first week trying it out, and so far so good.  My favorite part has to be writing down the Everyday Joys.  Taking time to notice them really changes my outlook.  I think the next best thing is seeing the purpose behind the things I do.  I’m not just inviting someone to dinner, I’m building Intentional Relationships.  I’m not just singing the days of the week to the tune of the Adams Family theme song, I’m educating my children.  Perspective…

What systems help you stay mentally organized and focused on what’s important?  I’m sure it will look different than mine, but I’d love to hear what helps you.   Do you have a household notebook?  If so, what’s included?  Knowing me, I’ll probably be revamping my “system” again in another 6-9 months when a new life stage hits and will be desperate for ideas.  So goes the life with young kids, right?

 

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