Beginning of the month madness

The beginning of the month is a glorious time in my life. I love starting a fresh new calendar :) Yeah, I'm a freak I know. But I also know that there are others out there like me! And so for those people, I'm sharing a rundown of my monthly rituals.

1. A new "family calendar". Mine is a photo calendar (the one we sell in our etsy shop, here). My calendar used to be all by its lonesome on the side kitchen wall, but it recently found a new home next to my new bulletin board (see that here). This calendar has everyone's events on it. Mine and Drew's. (except darts hasn't been added yet- but that happens every Tuesday). Nothing too wild and crazy here, but it helps us keep track of what's going on in each other's lives.

2. Blog planner. Since we write the blog together we have to do some serious planning. Or at least in theory there should be planning. Sometimes its a 5:45 am text....you were posting today right?? We don't usually plan more than a week ahead of time. But we like to jot down things we need to do, like challenges from other bloggers or link ups that we want to participate in.

3. Desk Calendar. Most people with a "desk job" have a desk calendar. Mine is a "teacher desk calendar". There's not usually a lot on mine.  A few meetings, early outs, dates that kids will be gone, and my work schedule. My favorite papermate flair markers are used to fill this calendar up :)

4. Meal planner. I don't always plan my meals out for the whole month. I tried it for awhile and just never stuck to it because we get groceries more frequently now since we have an apartment sized fridge and freezer. But that also allows me to shop by what's in the ad for that week and plan accordingly. I do try to plan out days to do crockpot or casserole meals so that we can have leftovers for the nights that I have to work after school.

5. Grocery List- this is the list I use when I actually do my grocery shopping. I usually go on Friday's. Mainly because that's when the 2-day sales are at the grocery store and I don't usually work after school on Friday's. Having my menu for the next week handy is a big help.

6. Monthly planner calendar. I have a monthly calendar at the beginning of each month in my planner. I like to have a 'big picture' and not just the weeks. It just gives an outline of what I've got going on for the month.

7. Weekly plan- My weekly calendar pages offer much more detail into my daily activities. Birthday's are included here also. My evening meal (dinner or supper, whichever you prefer) is listed in the night box- so I know what needs to be done before I leave for work. My part-time job hours are also listed during the appropriate time of day. Each job has it's own color, for quick reference.

8. Monthly budget- I also set up my budget for the month. I usually do this before the beginning of the month since I get paid from my full time job on the 20th. And I get paid once a month---lame!! I still do my budget by the month though. All my bills are paid by then, and I use cash for gas and groceries. I didn't want to broadcast how ridiculously poor I am, so no photo but I will share the form that I use.

This is actually the budget form I made for Niki, but mine looks just the same- with my categories.

9. Workout calendar. Niki and I are both "working on our fitness". So we have been keeping workout calendars to keep ourselves accountable and on track. This month its burpees and squats. eeekkk!! (ps. the challenge is not mine-found it on pinterest, the original source is families getting fit) Each day gets a sticker if I work out that day, and a different sticker if I met my goal for water. Want your own challenge calendar? check out the link below the photo.

What happens at the beginning of the month in your life? Does a fresh calendar make you giddy? or does planning your month sound completely mundane??

My Calendar Craziness!

Shannon posted about her beginning of the month rituals, so I thought I would fill you all in on mine too, in case you care.

Shannon created me a fantastic customized planner. I <3 it. In the past I used this planner. It is $50. and fantastic! However, this year I decided to go with something else. I will let you know if I love this one Shannon made as much as my Erin Condren planner. So far, I am loving it! I am planning a planner post soon. (See what I did there?) I will show you the ins and outs of my planner/home management binder situation.

I do a monthly calendar for my husband. I used to use the super cute free calendars from Hello Cuteness (formerly Anything But Perfect). Now I use the calendar that matches my home management binder. I will probably go back and forth between the 2 throughout the year. I put these on my fridge so my Hubby can know what is going on. Clearly we are swamped this month with dance, wrestling, school activities and such. But this keeps us all in the know. Very important.

Weekly, I do menu planning. This is still in the baby step stages, and consists of me forcing my husband to plan ahead on Sunday. We don't always follow it to a T, but it is so nice to have a plan for the week and know we have all the groceries to eat for the whole week. I plan for easy meals on practice nights and at least one night of left overs. I use the weekly menu plan and grocery list that Shannon made to go with my home management binder. I also love that in my weekly planner I can jot down what we are having at the bottom.

This is Carter's reading calendar. Requires no planning ahead, but it is a calendar I deal with every day, so I thought I would share. It also lives on the fridge, with Faith's spelling words and lunch menu.

I also have a blog planner, which I have yet to utilize. This is part of my "Get Organized" plan of attack. I will keep you posted. I don't even have a picture of it because I haven't printed it.

Finally, things I need to remember, but will probably forget go on my iPhone calendar. It will remind me the day before and 2 hours before, which are both necessary. Does anyone know of a better calendar app for my phone? Let me know in the comments.

So, think I have enough calendars? How do you keep track of your life? Tell us about it or send us to your blog. Shannon and I love a great blog to stalk.

Photo Calendars

You may have noticed Shannon's photo calendar in her crazy calendar post. (Just kidding, love you!)
For the last several years we have offered customized photo calendars on our Etsy shop as well as creating them for our own families.

I know my children love seeing everyone's birthdays on the calendar and pictures of family they don't see all the time.

This is from my family calendar!

It's not to late to place an order for your own custom photo calendar for Christmas. Check out this listing. They are only $25 for a completely customized photo calendar including your own special dates, pictures of you and your gorgeous family, and whatever holidays you celebrate.

This could be you and your adorable puppy!

Email me for more information! niki.creativelifedesigns@gmail.com
Can't wait to hear from you!

beginning of the month planning

The first of the month is always a joyous time for me. Why for? you ask? Well because you get to fill out your new calendar of course!! That is basically a holiday!! And we're not talking just one calendar here people, this is a serious process.

First you need to update your family or wall calendar. If that's all you have then this is the only step for you. This calendar is color coordinated with my favorite paper mate flair fine tip markers :) One part-time job is blue, the other is red. All school (full time job) things are in purple. Things that are just mine are pink, and things we do together are in orange. Drew doesn't have anything on this calendar, but he would have his own color if he did.

Next is the calendar in my home management binder. I am the only one to see this one, so I did not take the time to color coordinate it. Although, I probably should have. For next year, when I pay bills I will scribble something on this calendar too...just to keep myself on track with this once a month paycheck nonsense. I previously had two different calendars going and even for me that seems excessive...so I am going to combine them.

This particular calendar was a freebie from anything but perfect.

Next.... (some of you non-calendar freaks are starting to think I may have lost it-you could be right) is the calendar in your planner that you carry with you... Because I am not the only one who does that right?? A lot of this information is also on the weekly pages.  But clearly it needs to be in both places...or does it? The same color coordinating system is carried over to this calendar. To save space I just listed the hours and not the name of the job. It's my planner, I know what they mean.

Next comes my workout calendar. This is more to keep myself accountable rather than for actual planning purposes. I have stickers that in theory I should be putting on each day. One is for drinking at least 3 bottles of water a day. I know I should be drinking more than that for optimum weight loss, but three is doing good for me right now and once I can continually meet my goal of three I will increase to 3 1/2, then 4, and so on.  My other sticker is for working out. Whether is cardio or weights or just walking the bf's brother's three legged dog. Don't let the fact that he has three legs mislead you...he is blissfully unaware that three legged dogs are not the norm and runs, plays fetch, and jumps fences like a  champ :)

here he is now :) love the super old pic???

update:   I also have a menu planning calendar that I didn't get a picture of. Here is my December menu planner. It looks the same as my workout calendar, it just has a supper menu rather than a workout time. Since I eat dinner (supper) alone most nights I try to plan so that I can have leftovers for both of us for lunch the next day. I don't make anything too crazy ever and have something even simpler on nights when I work until 7pm. I left a few days around Christmas blank to allow for plans with family. I don't make a menu plan that must be followed precisely. It's more for me to have an idea of what I'm doing so  I don't come home to nothing defrosted or set out and end up eating frozen pizza or something equally as bad. Also, the menu plan is color coded as well. I might seriously need help. But I'm fine with it. I made the meal and its leftovers so at a quick glance I can tell if I need to think about what I will be brining to school for lunch.

update: I forgot an entire calendar! My desk calendar at school! I'll admit there's not a lot on there since I have only been in this position for a very short time. But there are a few days marked when students have told me ahead of time that they will be gone. So its valid, it counts.

Oh, and also we have already passed the time of the year when I need to start carrying two planners, this year's and next year's. Clearly I need to be able to plan ahead. Yeah, I'm a freak, I'm okay with it.

Any other calendar/planning freaks out there?? Share your planning methods with us!

home management binder {makeover-part 2}

Today I am beginning reassembly of my madeover binder. I am starting to swap out sheets and add my new things.

Apparently at some point I switched my binders, I seriously don't remember when or why I did that. But this is my actual home management binder- binder. I didn't go buy a new one...I just swapped them out, I think.

Remember I made new divider cover pages for each section, with a template courtesy of a year of many firsts. Aren't they glorious??

First thing, I added my new section dividers and cover page, now then I open my binder, this is what I see:

It's adorable and I love it! I am in love with the florish designs lately.

The first section following my title page is calendar and planning. For my trial run binder,  I snagged a few more printables from Iheart organizing and got my monthly calendars from anything but perfect. {See my original calendar section post here}

 

 Right now I have my "workout" calendar in the front folder of the divider. I need to be able to access it easily everyday, so I didn't want to put it into a page protector. Plus I need to be able to add stickers to it. Yep, stickers, we can all use a little visual reinforcement. And here is what the front pocket currently looks like: 

 Everything else in my calendar and planning section comes behind the divider. So to start my change over process, I sat down with all the necessary supplies.

Spare Page Protectors 

Papermate Flair Markers 

(or your favorite writing utensil)

A stocked full DVR

Coffee/Tea/ or whatever beverage you prefer 

New hmb pages

Current Home management binder

Monthly Calendar

First up is the monthly calendars. Logically the current month would be on top, but I like to keep them in order of the year. I just mark the current calendar with a paperclip.

I made a generic monthly calendar with my home management binder documents, so it is coordinated of course. But I think I might still continue to use the monthly calendars from anything but perfect if she continues to offer them for free on her blog next year. They are just so cute and cheery. 

Aaah-dorable!

  Here's my current monthly calendar:

Important dates

This is a category that simply carried over from my original home management binder. I just transferred my information to my new form. easy peasy. I also keep my birthdays, anniversaries, etc. in the front my my planner {my life planner}. I like to have them in both places. You never know when you may need that information. There wasn't really cool changes here but a before and after is always nice. My mommy always makes me a nice hanging wall calendar every year for Christmas that contains ALLLLLL of the family birthdays, anniversaries, and any other important dates- so I can always cross check my important dates list with calendar she makes for me. Its always filled with family photos from the previous year(s)- its so nice to have. I recommend them to everyone. (not to mention that we happen to make and sell them in our etsy shop) {sorry for the self promotion- but they are a great family calendar}

                  

To Do Lists

I am a list maker. I need to go to AA for list makers. Hi, my name is Shannon and I make more lists than any normal person should. Seriously, I should start it. I have FOUR different types of to do lists in this section. I mean seriously, that's a bit excessive. I also have a perpetual to do list that I made for myself that is not in the home management binder documents. Not sure why I don't add it? 

Here are a few of my lists in action--

seriously, do you see the need for an intervention here?

My *new and improved* calendar section will now contain these documents 

(all are available for sale in our etsy store)

and for you a freebie to help you with your own home management binder creation or update:

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