Creating & Tracking Goals

I love making New Year's Goals. (Have I lost you already?)

I spend time between Christmas and New Year's thinking about what I want to accomplish during the upcoming year.  I have to chuckle when someone says they don't make New Year's goals, but they want to work on....  Whether you take a sit-down-and-plan approach or you think about what could be improved upon in the big-picture-kind-of-way, I encourage you to have something for which to aim.

People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more

in a shorter period of time 

than people without them could ever imagine.

Successful people are simply those with successful habits.   

- both quotes by Brian Tracy

When creating goals it's important to be:

S - specific, significant, stretching

M - measurable, meaningful, motivational

A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented

R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented

T - time-based, timely, tangible, trackable

For further reading about SMART goals, go here.

I use the following chart (created in Word) to keep track of monthly goals. I love marking off each day as I accomplish my goal. (click chart to view larger)

My monthly goals might include finishing some quilting projects, organizing something, spending time in meaningful ways with people. The monthly goals are more project-oriented.

In 2011 I kept a monthly record most of the year, which was a big step for me, but last year I had a few areas that needed prolonged accountability - areas that I worked on the whole year, not just one month at a time.  I decided to create a yearly goals chart for those.

These goals were daily devotions, P365 (a picture a day), exercise, healthy eating, sleep routines, making a daily plan, keeping a gratitude journal and a few others.  I was hoping that seeing a whole year at a time would give me the extra motivation needed to stick with it and I can honestly say it did.
I've never done so well on goals before!

What was the biggest surprise while tracking goals on the yearly sheet?  Sometimes real life gets in the way! When we had guests stay for a month, the power go out for a week, graduations/parties to plan and attend, sicknesses and emergencies goals fell by the wayside.

Prior to using this chart I would just see the failure of not keeping up with my goals instead of seeing how life impacts the goals I've made.  In 2012 I could look at the white spaces on the chart and know that life had happened and I just needed to get back on track or that I was truly struggling and needed to determine why.  I gave myself much more grace and it paid off because it was easier to get back on track!

The charts also helped me evaluate what goals were truly beneficial. I dropped "keeping a gratitude journal" around week 36 because it wasn't helping me become more grateful. It had just become a chore I did right before turning out the light at bedtime.  I found I felt grateful without the needed tool of a journal.  On the other hand, I realized that the goals of "getting up between 6-7am" and "going to bed between 9-10pm" were critical to the success of my days.  Sleep is a foundational goal for me again this year and I hope to make progress in it's consistency.

Where do I keep these charts?

The yearly charts I printed on cardstock and put in a 3-ring binder labeled Goals. I have a few other tabs that I use sporadically and I might share that folder with you at a later time. The most important thing is to print the charts on cardstock so they keep their integrity the entire year.

I used to have a day planner, but I didn't utilize much more than the calendar. So now I keep a pocket folder for all my daily/weekly organizing papers: a running to-do list, a running to-buy list, calendar, food/exercise log, a list of our library check-outs, and anything that I might need for the week at hand. I don't have to conform to a manufactured planner, it is just a one-stop place for me to keep the papers that I will use often. It's my working folder and it works for me!

If you are interested in copies of the charts above, just send me an email at: angie@creativityltd.com. I'd be happy to send them to you.

Have you set 2013 goals? Let me know what keeps you motivated!

Happy New Year!

Weekly Routine

Let's share some Company Girl Coffee today!
Click the box to find new bloggy-friends.

A long time ago I wrote down all the tasks that I wanted to complete during a week's time. Then I divided the tasks out between the days and made a simple list to follow. Over the years, the Weekly Routine has morphed into whatever was needed at the time, some years full of outside committments, some years focused on homemaking. Here's what my list looks like right now:

How do you organize your weekly tasks?

Organization Speech

The following three posts contain my speech given to homeschool moms at a support group meeting last Thursday. I hope you'll take the time to read it through to the end. My heart's desire is that you will be encouraged!

Think Differently About Organization!

Organization. I venture a guess that when you hear someone is going to talk on the subject of organizing, you mentally think to yourself in one of three ways:

The first group thinks, “I’m organized already. Ok, well, maybe not all the way, but I love this stuff so I’m good.”

The second group thinks, “Organized? I’m in survival mode, lady! I don’t need the guilt, thank you very much. Please, go home and clean a closet or something and enjoy yourself. Right now I’ve got “x” to deal with and can’t even think about organizing something.”

Then there are a few of you who just hope I’ll touch on one or two areas that so desperately need attention in your life. You’re just looking for a fresh idea to try.

At different times I’ve thought all these things. So my goal today is to share something that will be useful, no matter what you may be thinking.

I believe that Organization is more about thinking than doing. I don’t have hard facts to back me up, but go with me for the moment and let’s say the process of organization is something like 80% thought and 20% execution.

When we read an article on organization from a newsstand magazine it is often full of concrete tasks: “configure your closet like this, put your files in this order, set goals, prioritize and plan your week around it all.” They’ve tried to remove the thinking part for us and give us doable solutions.

In some instances, we adopt the idea presented and it works well. Other times we create our own variation on the idea and incorporate it. But all too often, we either know inherently that the idea won’t work for our lifestyle or we try it and find that we just don’t conform to it’s intended success.

Because of these experiences we come to a talk on Organization with a preconceived notion of what we’ll receive.

Today I’d like to explore the supposition that Organization is an 80/20 principle and mainly focus on the thinking aspect – the 80%. I’ll share some doable ideas along the way and give you a chance at the end to share at the tables, but let’s see if we can think differently about Organization this morning.
______________________

One of the most well-known mantras of all things Organization is “Strive for balance.”

I want to challenge you with the thought to “Strive for Imbalance.”

If balance is defined as trying to do it all, if it means giving our home, family, work and ministry equal time and energy, then it will be nearly impossible to maintain and unfulfilling on those few occasions when we do “strike a balance.”

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (See also Jeremiah 1:5, Acts 13:36)

Let’s look at Christ and His disciples as examples.

I think it’s pretty safe to assume that Jesus probably had some carpentry skills because in Biblical times a son usually followed his father in making a livelihood. Even if, after Christ was found teaching in the Temple as a young boy, and it started to become clear that Christ wasn’t going to join the family business, my guess is that Joseph still shared his handiwork and knowledge with his son as a way to share himself.

When Christ reached adulthood he didn’t take over Joseph’s shop and try to set up His Kingdom on the weekends. Ok, you’re thinking that’s a drastic example, but what about the disciples? He called them away from their chosen professions to accomplish what they were created to do.

For the doubters, who are thinking, “Yeah, but Paul made tents and spread the gospel throughout the known world,” that’s true, but Paul’s wage-earning job he tells us was an integral part of being seen as a Christ-follower with pure motives. He still had a singular purpose.

Marcus Buckingham in Find Your Strongest Life defines a strength: not as something you’re good at, but rather as an activity that makes you feel strong. You may be good at something, but the doing of it bores you to tears! A strong moment is an activity where the doing of it invigorates you. You look forward to it. When you do it you become so immersed that time speeds up and you lose yourself. After doing it, you feel authentic and connected to who you really are. In essence, you are doing something you were created to do.

As I’ve thought differently about balance in this way, I’ve identified some of my strong moments:

At co-op, teaching music is a strong moment for me. Someone else could certainly do it better, but I love it. I look forward to it. I get lost in the fun of it and I feel satisfied when I’m done.

This also occurs when I welcome a visiting family at the church where I work or when I try a new hobby/craft, like quilting.

Through Mr. Buckingham’s book I’ve recognized that I have a strong “creator” gene. I love creating a fun learning environment, a new experience for people, and gifts that I’ve made with my own hands. These are strong moments for me.

Does this mean that I ignore the other areas of life to live in the strong moments? Of course not. There is still minimum maintenance. Do I still need to grocery shop, do laundry and answer email? Of course, I do. However, I don’t want to “balance” home, work, school, kid’s sports, music lessons, scouts, and relationships, etc. – giving each equal weight, priority or time.

We may think that we don’t try to do that, but if you look at how we spend our time, we’re trying to be the BEST at each and every thing. Making each moment count might mean that you do a passable job on something that is a low priority so you can redeem the time to do something God has created for you to do.

It’s just a different way to think about priorities.

Organization Speech, part 2

Another common piece of advice regarding organization is that we should prepare for the day the night before.

We’ve all heard that we should pack the backpacks & lunches, choose & maybe even layout our clothes, and gather all the necessary paperwork the night before to make the next day go smoothly.

I don’t know about you, but that’s a tough one for me to follow through on most of the time. Once we get dinner done and cleaned up, kid’s bathed, brushed and tucked in, all we want to do is have some quiet time to ourselves.

We may know it’s only going to take 15-20 minutes to actually get everything ready, but we tell ourselves we’ll have that time in the morning. By morning I’m usually questioning my sanity for not having those things completed, but then I stumbled upon a new way of looking at my day.

The Jewish day begins at sundown, rather than in the middle of the night for us. For a while I put into practice this mental shift and it made it easier for me to prepare for the morning.

I utilize the half hour or so of cooking time prior to eating dinner to get the kids to pick up toys and schoolwork. Then they pack any necessary bags for the next day and put them near the front door. By the time dinner is cleaned up, the preparations for morning are complete and we can all enjoy leisure time together.

I don’t know if the mental shift of defining a 24 hour period will help you, but it is a different way to think about your day.
______________________

The popular wisdom of today says look at what doesn’t work and fix it, right? Buy a new tool or gadget to solve your organizational dilemma. There are a variety of solutions for every task imagined, but maybe the answer to your problem could be found in something in which you already succeed.

Everyone in this room is great at some skill that falls under life-management or organization.

Maybe you're rarely late, maybe you only have today’s email in your inbox (please share!), maybe you never miss someone’s birthday or Dr. appts, maybe your craft/hobby is efficiently organized, maybe you get a homemade dinner on the table each night, maybe your house gets cleaned regularly, maybe others depend on your in a crisis, or maybe you have no problem mending clothes. (Does anyone else's children outgrow their clothes in the mending pile?)

Everyone does something well! Think about what it is that you do well.

Spend time thinking about “why” it works for you. Is the time of day good? Do you have a designated place? Do you allow yourself extra time? What is it that makes it easy for you to succeed? Then borrow the successful element and apply it to a trouble spot.

For example, many years ago I used a professional librarian’s filing system in my home. Everything was neatly filed in coded folders and the contents could come and go without any disruption to the system. It was a beautiful masterpiece, but it didn’t work very well for me. To find what I needed, I had to use the master list at the beginning of each category, which proved to be tedious. I ended up memorizing the codes of my frequently pulled folders just to get to them quickly.

A few years into this system, I was introduced to a home décor 3-ring binder idea. I created a visual party of color and ideas by clipping magazine pictures and affixing them to paper in 3-ring binders. I added page protectors for drop-in items, and had the time of my life dreaming about decorating projects.

One day in frustration as I rummaged through a certain section of files, I thought, “This would work so much better in a 3-ring binder.” I borrowed the success of something that worked for me and applied it to a trouble spot. It proved to be genius and now MOST of my paperwork is tucked away in labeled 3-ring binders. I have binders for co-op, work, Christmas, home décor, forms, address/phone directories, recipes, devotions/prayer and several others.

I have often applied this idea to find other solutions and it has worked time and time again. Remember, you’re organizing for the way you live not living for the way you organize!
______________________

Organization Speech, part 3

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a room I thought was ready for a spread in Southern Living. Guess what? If real people live in the home featured, it doesn’t always look picture-perfect either. We often think our level of organization, cleanliness or décor should rival the media’s example, but we need to think differently and give ourselves some grace. (& others too.)

We'll always have struggles in some areas. Try for minimum maintenance where you are not strong and shine in your strengths.

Organization looks different to every single person in this room and it looks different to every single person in your family. We shouldn’t feel pressured to meet an organizational standard set out in a magazine or by a friend. You may have to compromise with those you live with, but be who God created you to be. Organization isn’t the end-all to a happy life.

It took me 15 years into my marriage before I realized that I needed to give grace as to how I defined myself as a homemaker. In 2003, I had a 13-year-old, a 10-year-old, a 1-year-old and a newborn. I was overwhelmed! I had an older woman as a mentor who met me for coffee one night every week during that year and she was my lifeline.

I remember meeting one evening and she listened as I cried again about not being able to do it all. She stopped me and said, “I have two assignments for you:

First, keep a record for 2-3 days on how you spend your time. Write down everything – changing diapers, feeding babies, answering phone calls – everything.” I thought she was nuts! Didn’t she just hear me say I was overwhelmed? The thought of keeping pen and paper nearby to jot down every dribble was at best irritating, but I liked her so I said I’d try.

The second assignment was to make a list of everything I thought I should accomplish that week. I thought, “No problem! I keep lists of everything. Would you like that in Excel or Word?”

The next day I started my time log and within 6 hours I was blown away by how my time had been used. It had been a typical day and I had not stopped – not even for a 5 min. break to get a drink or use the restroom. It was one feeding, changing, schooling, cleaning moment after another and I felt like I had not really accomplished much that day. Certainly the house didn’t look like I had done anything.

I called my mentor and begged permission to quit the time log. I had gotten the point. I was working hard at being a good mom and sometimes it’s hard to see tangible results when we’re succeeding.

The following week I brought the time log and my list (in Word) to our coffee session. She looked at the time log with a knowing smile and set it to the side, making only the comment to let the machine pick up the phone during school hours. Then she took in hand the list of tasks for the week, took out her pen, and began crossing items off the list. I gasped, “What are you doing?” She handed me back the list, which had half the tasks marked out and she said, “that’s what you need to do every week.”

I was a little dumbfounded. She had marked out volunteer opportunities and ironing (yes!), but what really put me in a tizzy was that she had put a line through mopping. I had a crawling 1-year-old; I had to mop! She explained that my 10-year-old could sweep the floor daily, but that mopping every week at this time wasn’t necessary. I left a little incredulous, but…I didn’t mop that week!

She instructed me to care more about my children’s well-being and development before any household task. If I did that then I would be a success. That was the best advice ever given to me and I think differently by giving myself grace when the list doesn’t get done.
________________________________________

I don’t think you can pick up a book on organizing without reading the recommendation to ask others for help. I agree with that advice, but I think we often leave out the most important person to seek help from – the Lord.

Over the last year and a half the Lord has been steadily teaching me about how to walk with Him moment by moment.

Psalm 37:23 tells us, “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;"

Lamentations 3:22-26, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

When you think you can't do it, turn to 2 Cor 9:8!

About a year ago I was folding laundry and mentally spiraling with the thoughts of all I had to do. I quickly said, “God, what do I do first?” Immediately the confusion and angst lifted and I knew which task to move to next. I was floored by His quick response. I had kept a prayer journal most of my life and knew He answered prayer, but it was usually slower than I liked. I thought that’s the way He worked so when He answered within seconds I was amazed.Off and on I continued asking for His immediate direction with daily tasks and He always answered.

Just last week I was getting ready for my daughter’s birthday party. I had to-do’s that were pressing from many areas in my life and I knew I could not accomplish the most important ones without His help.

I had an action item of making salsa. I kept returning to the kitchen and my to-do list thinking, “I’ve got to make the salsa early so the flavors can meld before dinner.” Yet each time I quickly asked the Lord what to do next He directed me to other items.

“Salsa, Lord? No.”

An hour before the party I was in Target making a last minute purchase when the idea struck me to go to our favorite nearby Mexican restaurant and purchase salsa and queso blanco for the meal. I had never done that before!

I made the purchase and when I served it at the meal it was a huge hit! My daughter said it was so cool to have her favorite salsa and cheese dip at home for her birthday dinner.

I thought to myself, “Ok, Lord, so that’s why no salsa. Thanks for helping me make her night special and for getting me through my day.”

2 Chronicles 32:8b says, “but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

I want to share one more aspect of seeking the Lord’s help step-by-step. As you can imagine, it has strengthened my spiritual life, but it has also helped me with managing my daily life. With His help I realize that I have a trigger or a key element that plays into whether I have a profitable day or not.

I can muddle through my day sick, hungry or upset, but I can’t function when I’m tired. To walk with the Lord through each day well, I need my rest. I asked my oldest daughter if that were true for her and she said, “No.” She could get through tired, but once hunger sets in, she struggles.

I challenge you to ask the Lord to show you what you need to do to walk with Him on a daily basis.

So, in conclusion, although I think you could have a more effective aptitude for Organization if you spent more time thinking about it, I believe even more so that if you give your mind to the Lord He will change your thinking, not only about organization, but about what’s important in life.

Organizing Tips

Tomorrow morning I am talking about organization to our homeschool support group. My mind has been swirling with tips and ideas so I've decided to share some of my "finds" with you, dear readers.

Tip # 1 – Organize where you drop things. This is how you live! So, if shoes are left just inside the door instead of making it to the cubbies in the hall closet (and you can live with that), then put a decorative rug or basket by the door to contain the shoes. Analyze how you live and organize around it.

For example, I used to keep all my towels in the linen closet on the third floor of our townhouse. So everyday when it would be time to change the hand towel in the 2nd floor powder room, I would have to go upstairs to get a towel. I would often think about getting it later when I was upstairs, but so often I would completely forget and the towel would not get changed for days. I finally decided to bring the hand towels for that bathroom down to the 2nd floor. I roll them up and put them in a decorative basket on the floor next to the sink. It works and now we get a fresh towel almost every day.

Tip # 2 – Expect change. Organization is not a fixed destination. Your family is always changing – your interests, your ages, your bodies, and your schedules/activities. If we live in a flow of change, why are we stubbornly hanging on to an old organizational solution that worked before, but doesn’t work now.

This tip presents itself the most in my 3-ring binder I use to organize our homeschool year. Each year, each child will be learning something different. My weekly assignment sheets may change form or the records I keep for a 1st grader will look vastly different than the ones I keep for my sophomore. I come to my homeschool binder each summer with an open mind about how to organize the best way for the coming year. I let go of anything I’ve used before if it doesn’t seem to fit what is to come.

Tip # 3 – How I organize my week. For uber list-makers like me, I keep a running to do list in Excel and I’ve titled it, “Brain Dump” for fun. I prioritize by ABC, A=what to accomplish within the week, B=what to accomplish within the next 30 days, C=what to accomplish whenever (just great ideas to try.)You don’t need to keep a running to do list, so if this just sounds overwhelming, stay with me.

On Sunday night I sit with a Steno Pad and write down the categories of my life: Home, Work, AHG, Co-Op, Projects, Family/Friends.

Then under each category I write what needs done that week.

I, then, take a weekly planner (show example) and in pencil put the tasks on different days. I do this step so that if I see I have too much going on, I need to put some tasks off until the following week. I load heavily toward the first part of the week and then try to catch up on Friday/Saturday. I write it in pencil so that I can move things around and erase the tasks as I’m assigning them. As I work through the planner during the week, I mark the tasks off in pen!

I already have some daily routines so what I’m planning for the week are additional to-do’s. However, if you don’t have routines, then just start with putting down some things you’d like to accomplish each day. At least you’ll have a semblance of a plan, but remember to give grace to yourself when you don’t get it all done.

Tip # 4 – Conquer the backlog of paper. Whether in a large chunk of time or in small increments (15 min a day), take each paper in hand and ask, “If this piece of paper had a folder, what would it be called?” Write it on a post-it note, attach it to the front of a manila folder and put it in a temporary place. Keep doing this until all papers are categorized.

You’ll find that most of your papers will reside in just a few folders, depending on how varied your interests and activities are. You will find some folders can be combined or some will need to be separated further to be able to get your hands on the contents quickly.

If this sounds like torture to you, but you have a child at home that might enjoy the process. Let them at it. By categorizing everything, instead of deciding what’s important to keep and discard, it will make it easier for you to pick up one folder at a time with all related items and make those decisions yourself.

Remember, files should be simple, easy to get to quickly and make sense to the primary user. You can make the files more permanent by labeling them, once you know they’ll work for you.

Tip # 5 – We all face frustration with the volume of Kid’s artwork or it’s unusual size/shape. One solution is to snap pictures of the artwork and make a photobook at Blurb, Shutterfly, or even Costco. Hang on to the artwork until the book arrives (just in case). When it arrives, your child will be elated to have their artwork featured in their own book and may be willing to part with the actual pieces.

Tip # 6 – Isn’t it frustrating when you put small items in the dishwasher (like medicine cups, baby spoons, and bottle tops) and they end up in the bottom of the machine at the end of the cycle. You could put them into a mesh laundry bag, zip them up and lay the bag on the top shelf of the dishwasher and you won’t have that problem again.

Tip # 7 – Buy greeting cards only a few times a year, based upon your budget. You could purchase them 1 x a year, 2 x’s a year, or every quarter. When you get them home (or I have been known to take a pencil to Hallmark) write the name of the person on the envelope in the corner where the stamp will go. You can file them by month, putting the specifically chosen ones in front of the ones you have for use at anytime. I use a pencil lightly so it can be erased, in case I give the card by hand. This has saved me from getting into my cards and finding a 2-year-old card for a girl and wondering whose birthday I missed and what I will ever do with that card in the future.

Tip # 8 – A fun idea I found at homemadesimple.com under organization tips for winter closets is this:

On the inside of the closet door, attach one adhesive hook towards the top and another near the bottom. Tie a piece of clothesline between them and attach your gear—or gloves that need to dry—with large kitchen clips. (or clothes pins) For a special touch, decorate the clothesline with ribbons and buttons.

Tip # 9 – I don’t know if this will benefit someone here, but I thought the idea was novel. If you like to have a certain sweetener in your drinks, but find yourself at places without a selection of sweeteners(like Bible study), tuck a few packets into a business card holder and slip it into your purse to have at the ready.

Tip # 10 – You may enjoy having a clip magnet attached to your stove hood to hold the recipe you are making, to keep it handy and clean.

Tip # 11 – For some, using a hierarchy system with your email folders would be helpful. Put an “A” before the most used folders through “Z” to the least used. This may be more beneficial to you than an alphabetized list.

Tips # 12 - 14

3 free programs to try:

BigOven.com

This site allows you to create a virtual recipe box with your own recipes, plus 170,000 others contributed by other members. There is a free membership, that allows you to create a public (recipes shared) box, but you can pay a low yearly fee to have the pro membership that will allow you to keep your recipes confidential and allow you to generate grocery lists. There is also a free IPhone app. Other recipes sites to check out: eChef and mycookbook.com.

FreeMind.sourceforge.net

Do you enjoy mind-mapping? It’s great for brainstorming, keeping track of projects, writing essays, managing goals taking notes, etc. Freemind is a free software download that can get you started. It appeals to the visual learner, aides people with dyslexia and because Freemind is tidy and has collapsible nodes, it’s not overwhelming for those who are usually not big fans of this way of thinking.

And my favorite:

Evernote.com

"If you can see it or think it, evernote can help you remember it." Whether it be a text note, screen shot, web page or photo, Evernote will save it, organize it and allow you to retrieve it from almost any computer, phone or mobile device. You can use the free monthly service or pay $5 a month for a premium account. Most users are free. Trust me, check this one out! You'll be glad you did!

Got any tips to share??

My Library Notebook

I have a little friend I take with me to the library.

She helps me remember books I'd like to read.

or finish reading...or read again...

She remind me of good friends who share their favorite stories with me.

But best of all, she helps me to remember...
my bloggy friends and their reviews!

*Sorry for the funky shadows. It was a quick post this morning before leaving to see my daughter at college. Can't wait! Will be back with you this weekend.

Airing My Clean Laundry

Part 2...

A few days ago, I shared how I organize my dirty laundry here.

Where does it go after it comes out of the dryer?

Well, when I hear the dryer beep I head downstairs (or fluff the load because I didn't hear it, ignored it, etc.), throw the load in a basket and sit on the second to the last step of my stairwell, right in front of this narrow cupboard. (I'm taking the picture while sitting on one of the steps.)

Here I fold the clothes and stack everyone's pile in one of the spots on this mini-bookshelf.

Now the best part...everyone is trained to come get their own laundry and put it away! Really! They are also trained (except hubby) to put their dirty clothes in the basket in the hall upstairs and someone carries it down when it's full. (best case scenario...we all have those, right?)

I put the clean sheets and towels in a basket stored in my laundry room and when it's full I take it upstairs and put it all away in the linen closet. This then becomes the new dirty clothes basket upstairs. It's just a continual rotation of baskets.

The cupboard looks rough, I know, and someday I'll figure out how to refinish furniture and get it done, but until then, it's still very functional. Someday it will be as pretty as my clean laundry.

Got any organizing tips to share? I'd love to hear about them!

Airing My Dirty Laundry

For many years I used to just make piles on the floor when I needed to sort my laundry. I sorted it in the laundry room, bedroom, or hallway - wherever there was floor space that would be undisturbed. I used to long for those organized laundry dividers, but every time I actually went to search for something that would suit our family, I couldn't find the right organizer for the right price. Then one day while looking at plastic bins I had a light bulb moment! What if I used these $1.50 kitchen trash cans for my laundry bins (at Walmart several years ago.) I went home and measured the space I wanted to use and they would fit perfectly! Yay! I got the extra benefit that once a trash can is full it equals about one full load of clothes - bonus!

Here's how our laundry is divided up. I could have purchased a can for the sheets, but they really just lay on the floor for part of a day usually. We have to walk around this area a lot so this works best on any given day. As you can see with my Dark Colored/Cold pile I just keep stacking it on top even if the can is full. It truly is "Mount Never Rest" around here.

You can see that I lay my grotty wash clothes over the side of the whites can. Anything that is damp I just lay over the sides so they will air dry before getting washed. Please, excuse the floor; it is an unfinished basement and there is some kind of heavy duty glue on the floor that we can't get up. Not pretty, but functional.

When I started this system, I had two kids who separated their own laundry so I put labels on the cans. I was really high-tech - 3x5 cards, a sharpie and packing tape. They've hung on there for 6 1/2 years so I'm not complaining.

I love how lightweight the trash cans are and how portable each load is. I just pick up the can that I want to put into the washer, tip it over and in it goes...so easy!

After I get some wash done, I'll show you what I do after it comes out of the dryer.

What system works well for you in your house? I'd love to know!

Balance in Life

Since we got back from our trip to IL I have been flying through my days. I've had club meetings, work trainings, house guests, schooling and A LOT of other things to do. Although some activities end for the summer, it still seems like I'm busier than ever. Does that happen to you?

I'm realizing that I will have to be purposeful about fitting in some of those leisurely summer activities...lingering over a BBQ, sitting around the pool, outdoor activities in the evenings, playing games, gardening, etc. I'm very task-oriented and usually have a longer to-do list than can ever be accomplished. I recall asking myself yesterday while scrubbing down a bathroom if I was trying to be "superwoman." Just trying to sort my priorities...a never-ending dilemma for me.

Any suggestions on how you enjoy those long summer evenings or how to be purposeful in setting aside the to-do list and take care of your relationships instead?

I recently wrote down my my "job description" and marvelled at how much I actually do accomplish. Here's a peek:

COO Responsibilities – Martens’ Household

Clothing:
Laundry (bedding)
Ironing
Mending
Selling
twice a year – exchanging

Food:
Planning (coupons)
Buying
Preparing
Storing

Bldg Maintenance:
Cleaning (day, mo, wk, qtr, yr)
Repairs
Plant care/Landscape

Shopping:
Toiletries/Household goods
Gifts/Cards
Clothing

Transportation:
Gas
Maintenance/Repair (Mark covers this!)
Clean

Correspondence:
Bdays/Ann/Holidays
Letters (pen pals)
Mail
Email/Electronic Comm.

Financial:
Bill Pay
Chore Pay
Record Keeping
Storage

School:
Planning/Preparation
Teaching
Grading
Classes
Library

Work/Groups:
MBC – Job & library
AHG – Registration & T. leader

Friends/Family:
Hospitality
Calls/Letters
Time spent with them

Children:
Physical – teeth/baths, Dr. appts
Spiritual – Bible Study, verses, bios
Emotional – love, communication
Intellectual – projects, activities

Personal:
Spiritual – Bible Study, prayer, verses
Physical – beauty, exercise, food, water, vitamins
Emotional – time alone, creative projects
Intellectual – reading & work

Is there any wonder I'm running through my days? :) I don't do most of it well. It seems like I make progress in one area and another one falls apart. I am learning that small time investments all around (instead of carving out 4 hours to accomplish a big task) is the best way to maintain some semblance of balance.

I also try to be "in the moment." For example, my girls had a birthday party to attend last weekend at a pool. I had so much to get done that day, but I left my phone and watch in the car and just enjoyed watching them swim and play with the other children. I enjoyed chatting with the other moms and was one of the last to leave. It was relaxing, refreshing and fun! Two and a half hours later I was ready to hit the to-do list again.

Maybe as women and mothers we're always trying to improve our caring and our productivity. I know it will never be perfect and I'm sure that my house will be cleaner when my kids are gone, but for right now I don't want to miss out on life and making memories.

Recipe Organization

Two of my favorite interests are organizing and cooking. I've had a variety of family and friends express interest in my recipe organization so I thought I'd share what I do.

When I find a recipe I like, I clip it out and put it in a corresponding manila folder. Some categories I have are: appetizer, bread, chicken, salads, dessert, holiday, etc. Those folders are then put into an expandable plastic file holder and housed in my kitchen next to my cookbooks.

If my family likes something new that I've tried I then take the recipe to my computer. I save a copy of it in Word under a Recipes file. I print off a half sheet copy, hole punch it and stick it in one of two 1/2 sheet 3-ring binders in my kitchen. These are also housed by my cookbooks. *I usually wait until I have several to add to the computer and binder and do a bunch at a time.

I have two 1/2 sheet 3-ring binders that are now my own personal cookbooks. Even if I get a recipe out of a published cookbook on my shelf I still reprint it and put it in my own notebook. This is for easy reference and I don't waste time trying to remember where a recipe is. (I'm still looking for an amazing chocolate pie recipe I made two Christmases ago!)

Another benefit from this system is when someone likes the food they've eaten and they want a copy of the recipe I have three choices. I can attach the recipe in an email to them, print them off a copy or give them the copy from my notebook and reprint a copy for myself at a later time.

One additional note - I reference where the recipe originated from at the bottom of each recipe. For examples, I might have:

Recipe from: Great-Aunt Virginia
Recipe from: Betty Crocker Cookbook, p. 93

I've had relatives ask for full copies of my cookbooks and they bring them back for updates. I've also printed off my favorites and made one notebook as a gift to new brides. Personal tried-and-true recipes are always a welcome gift.

What are some of your organizational tips?