Farm~School~Life

Showing posts with label organizing. Show all posts

For years I have wanted and tried to put together a Home Management Binder.

And each time I fail miserably.

It's not that I don't like the concept, they just don't fit my life!

We live life- fully- perhaps over committed but "it is what it is." I don't have time to schedule household chores into my day...because honestly I don't know what my day will hold. Yes I have an off farm full time job that takes me away from home 11 hours a day but I also have 2 kids, a farmer husband and commitments that I have to keep. Sometimes on Tuesday at 5 a.m. I am milking cows, other weeks I am snoring, and then there are the days when I am feeding the baby, doing laundry, and fixing my makeup. My life doesn't fit an hourly timeframe.

For me I wash dishes while cooking supper, helping with homework and feeding the baby, I fold clothes between changing diapers, playing sword fight and reading stories. I'm not structured to a time table. I'm better at long list that I can mark off when complete. Maybe if I was on a time table my house would always be ready for company and supper would be on the table at 7 each night and the baby would sleep peacefully through the night without throwing up, crying or wetting the bed...but that's just not me.

So how do I do everything and stay somewhat organized?

It's probably unconventional and even a little risky but I write, you know like with a paper and a pencil!

I love my gadgets and do use them for somethings like tracking what I eat and what workouts I do but for most everything else I write it down. If you see me I always have 4 things with me

1. My calendar

2. My project notebook

3. My journal

4. My iphone

plus somewhere in my bag you will also find a zippered pouch (full of pencils, pens, highlighters, paperclips, post-its) and possibly a folder with a few of my favorite printables as well.

Everything goes into my calendar in pencil first. Because I like to change things pens are reserved for those times when I know something isn't going to change think school holiday or birthdays. I start with my month at a glance section and pencil in appointments, blog post, events, etc. This way I can easily see what is happening that month so that I can make plans quickly. My work and personal life all go in one calendar...I can't keep them separate because then I have to check 2 calendars to see if I am available and well that's extra work.

My calendar has the weeks as a 2 page spread which I love! It gives me room to make notes about each day, list appointments, blog post titles, and more! This is the page that stays open on my desk all day. I take notes about phone calls on the day I receive them. This allows me to be able to go back and find out when someone called and information about their call. If it's a long convo or I need more detail notes my first go to is a post-it stuck on that day...if I need more room that is where my project notebook comes into play. I highlight the original note in my planner and then write everything into the notebook (more on the nbook in a moment). I also paper clip any forms that need to be returned and mail into the calendar based on the week it needs to be completed. My weekly Bible verses or study is clipped in the calendar as well. That way I am reminded to study God's word daily. It also let's me review the verses more often.

My project notebook contains everything that needs more detail in my life, from meeting notes to birthday invite list to menu plans. This allows me to keep everything at my finger tips. I date my notebooks in sharpie using the day I started one to the last day it was used. I keep all my old notebooks in a box under my desk at my office. Why at my office? Mainly because the notebooks contain work info as well and it's much more likely I need to know about a work file than what we had for supper in July of 2011 ;)

Then we have my journal (I keep all of these as well) but they are personal. My journal is where I write down my daily verses, my Bible study, sermon notes, prayers, and trinkets about life. This is my space, my personal space where I dig into God's word and pour my soul out to him. It gives me peace to be able to confess to him and praise him.

My phone is the last thing that I ALWAYS have with me. It has all my contacts plus it's how I keep track of my fitness and weight loss goals. In addition my budgeting is all done through an Excel spreadsheet so I have it on there as well.

So there you have it. How the most unorganized person in the world keeps up with life!

How do you do it?

Caci

Wow!! I can't believe today is a NEW YEAR!!

2014...I remember partying like it's 1999...

this year will have lots of things to celebrate for our family and I can't wait!

I don't want to wish the days away, I want to live them and take them in...

I don't want to miss a thing!

Every year on this day I think of all the great things I want to accomplish...

not just in this year but in life. I think we must take on manageable bites otherwise we choke.

So I have developed a list of 14 things I want to accomplish in 2014,

some personal, some spiritual but they affect each area of life.

1. Pray about everything!

I really mean literally everything. God calls us to pray and seek his guidance not just on the big things in life but everything. In 2014, I want to seek him more than I have before. I want to go to him and ask for his guidance in all areas of my life.

2. Study Scripture Daily.

I have been studying God's word regularly for a few years but I have never cracked open the Bible daily. I feel that God is calling me to commit to him and studying his words so I can learn more about Him and about who he has called me to be.

3. Tithe 1st, not last.

This probably fits in with some other things I have on my list but I think it needs to stand alone. I like to budget on paper down to the last red cent I have (probably some kind of control issue) but I realized when I looked at my spreadsheet tithes were at the end not at the beginning. I must refocus and re-prioritize because he provides us with all that we need and all that we have!

4. Memorize 12 verses of Scripture

Last year I attempted to memorize 24 and for me that is just too many. I need to let things sink in and ferment. So I am going to pick a scripture a month to memorize and apply daily to my life.

5. Organize my life.

I need to get things in line. Complete my Home Management Binder, update my billing system, put a filing system in order at home and at my office. Not to mention labeling!

6. Declutter Our House

This one has been a goal for years and this year I have decided to tackle it a new way. It's a 12 step kind of program. I have broken down our house into manageable areas and given myself a month to complete each one, that way I have longer to work on it plus it gives me time to redecorate if I would like. Really it's sad because our whole house should be manageable (we only have 4 rooms + a bathroom) but any ways..Here's the plan

January- Bathroom

February- Hall Closet (the one with shelves)

March- Living Room

April- Laundry Room/Back Porch (they are one in the same ;)

May- Coat Closet

June- Boys Bedroom

July- Boys Clothes closet

August- Kitchen

September- Boys Toy Closet

October- Our Bedroom (this is the most dreaded one)

November- Our Closet

December- Garage

7. Set a daily schedule and stick to it!!

In the last month my commitment to my daily schedule has gone out the window. I mean really I don't get up at the same time each day, we don't eat dinner at the same time, and we just kind of fly by the seat of our pants...which makes us all a little scattered. So with the new year comes a set schedule that our family will have.

8. Pay off Debt!!!

As much of it as possible! The goal is to by the end of the year to only have the basic monthly bills plus my student loans to pay.

9. Put at least $1000 in our savings account for a rainy day fund

I realize that the suggestion is 3-6 months of your salary but this would be a huge accomplishment for us.

10. Put at least $200 extra into each of the boy's savings account.

Currently most of the money in the boy's accounts is from gifts they have received from family and friends. I want to make a concentrated effort to increase their savings amounts. Plus we plan to let Wyatt show some market animals this year and our goal is for him to place all the money he makes into his savings account. I did quick math the other day and figured up if he sold 1 market hog, 1 market lamb, and 1 steer each year for the next 13 years he would add at least $15,000 to his savings account and that is very low estimates. We have to teach the boys financial responsibility now or they will struggle learning it later in life.

11. Do a family outing once a month.

Meaning together all 4 of us do something fun. I'm not going to say non-farm related but ideally it would be going camping, movie night, etc. We need to make more of an effort as an entire family to enjoy our time together. As a farm family sometimes that's going to mean checking cows together or going to a sale but those memories are just as important if not more than the ones that happen when you spend money.

12. Exercise 3 times a week and include the boys as often as possible.

I need to be more active for myself. I need to get healthier and one way is just to move more. Because I don't get to stay at home all day with the boys I have used that as an excuse not to exercise as often as I should. I want to motivate them to get outside and move more. So I want to exercise with them. Whether it's walking Flat Rock or playing Wii Fit we are going to try and do it together so that we all can benefit.

13. Go on a date night just William & I once a month

Since adding baby boy #2 I realized that William & I don't ever really spend any time together just the 2 of us. I think it's important for us to nurture our relationship and let our boys see that we are important to each other. We have fallen into the trap of putting our boys before our marriage and we need to stop. So this year I want to schedule more us time.

14. Post 60 blog post, plus keep our social media sites updated.

That's 5 blog post a month... 1.25/week I always have these great ideas to blog more and usually start out strong but fall by the way side. This year I want to do better. But that goal must be manageable and not take away from other areas in our life. I also want to be sure we are sharing more photos on our social media sites so that folks can get a better glimpse of our farm life.

So there you have it my 14 goals for 2014. Let's see how these work out over the next 12 months! What are your goals for 2014??

Caci

Today is our first week back to a regular schedule since before Thanksgiving. It's hard to get that routine established and get everyone in gear, well I should say to get Wyatt & I in gear because William has the same schedule 365 days a year (cows get milked twice a day....no matter what day it is).

In the last few years we haven't had a formal routine for Wyatt to follow. It's just been left up in the air, needless to say mornings at our house sometimes fell in to the crazy catergory. Since he has gotten older and I am on an organizational kick I thought it would be a good idea for him and I to both have a more structured morning...this will help us get out the door faster and with less confusion (hopefully). So I scoured Pinterest and blogs for ideas that I liked. I found my favorite at IHeart Organizing

Here is what the routine looks like

Via http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/p/free-printables.html

I love that the routine has pictures to go with the words which is great for my 4 year old who can't read yet. Now we don't necessarily do all these things in order but I have laminated the sheet and he checks them off as he does them...knowing that he can't check off the bus until everything else is done! I was amazed at how quickly he got things done this morning even though we didn't get up on time! Thanks to Jen for giving away this printable... I have to mention that she has many many more great ones on the freebies page as well and if you prefer she can always custom make something for you in her Etsy Shop!

Now how do I stay on task in the mornings? Well that is a little different! I am a list girl and I need list...there is just something extra satisfying about the visual reminder of checking something off the list. And for me as tech savvy as I am I must hand write this list for it to be effective...reminders in my phone or alerts from my calender just get dismissed but list get looked at and reviewed multiple times throughout the day! I found a wonderful freebie (through Pinterest of course) over at Money Saving Mom. The site gives you 2 options of a download call a Daily Docket. One is filled in for you and the other is customizable. I actually chose to go with the one that is filled in and just white out the items I didn't need. It has worked great for me because this form gives me a place to write my To-Do list in a categorized way. With a general to-do, blogging, daily chores, shopping list, dinner, ministry, and much more I am able to jot down everything on one sheet instead of a thousand sticky notes! I love this printable! So that is how we are starting out our year to gain control of our morning chaos...what about you? How ware you attempting to organize and simplify your life?

Until Next Time...

Caci

Today has been the coolest day in months. It was comfy all day long and to be even better its suppose to get into the 50's tonight! I might stay up all night just to get to wear a sweatshirt...a Georgia one that is because with the start of fall begins the start of the greatest time of year...College football and show season.

I realize for most of the country that show season is winding down however for us in the Southeast we are just getting started good. We are gearing up for our county livestock show which is the biggest South Carolina youth only livestock show in the state. (Our state fair allows youth from other states to exhibit in our junior show.) We are recounting ribbons, entries, and awards to ensure that we are ready but don't worry we are! And are setup to have the best show ever!

I am still finalizing some of the setup details but come Thursday we will be ready for the trailers to begin rolling in. Stay tune for updates.

On the farm front we have been busy chopping silage and beginning calving season. We had 17 cows due in 5 days, needless to say it was a little hectic. In the mist of all that I began a new job teaching 7th grade science at the local middle school. I can't say it has gone off without a hitch but it has been good. We also held the 2nd South Carolina Beef Ambassador contest and awarded the 2011 winners, I am proud to say that William's youngest sister Rachel will be serving as SC Jr. Beef Ambassador for the upcoming year. We are winding things up with our current ambassador and will be heading to South Dakota at the end of the month to compete in nationals.

I have taken a break from sewing lately with everything going on. But I realized that sewing was my release. I have very stressed lately and finally figured out it was because I haven't been doing anything for myself. So the sewing will begin again maybe as early as tonight if I can get everything sorted out and cleaned up.

Speaking of cleaning...I have set a new goal...to declutter and organize my home by December 31, 2010. In short that means I will be clearing out all the JUNK that clutters our home and finding new ways to corral all those items we plan to keep. Any suggestions???

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