Home Organization Notebook

Back in 2007, my dear friend Marci made me one of the best gifts ever for my

birthday!

She handpainted this lovely notebook for me!

And, it's beauty is not its only feature!

I have tabs in it to keep a lot of my organizational pages all together in one place

The one above is a booklist page

This one is for prayer--there are also pages for prayer lists behind this one

These pages are "To Do Lists"

I can jot down things I need to do for the day

This one is good for an overall of what I need to do for the day/week/month etc...

This master shopping list is kept in a plastic sleeve that I can mark on

and also wipe off when I want to start a new list

This is another list that is in there that I can use to jot down items

needed at the store

I love this sheet--it is a list of menu items for "company"

I have them listed per menu item: Main Dish, Side Dish, Dessert etc...

I keep some of the recipes on sheets behind this.

I love the reminder to be faithful in the basics--I need that from time to time!

What a lovely and practical gift!

I was using it today, and thought I'd do a little post on it.

Hope it gave you some ideas too!

Blessings!

Busy baking day etc...

Bri gave me a big helping hand on Thursday as we had a baking day

Above she puts the finishing touches on Applesauce Gingerbread

We used our new Tropical Traditions shortening--we love it!!!

It's the best I've ever used.

Bri's been wanting Banana Bread...she holds the loaf she just took out of the oven

It turned out sooo delicious!

After we got the baking done, we hopped to reorganizing this cabinet

(This is the only food storage I have in my kitchen cabinets)

I should have taken a "before"--it was a mess! lol

With this cooler weather, I hope to be getting more organizing done!

I want it done before the holidays come--which will be sooo soon!

What are you up to this week?

I made another Step!

Well, today I spent a good portion of my day in the attic! Yes, in the attic! I want to get it really thinned out (as in pared down) to almost nothing! I have a few things I'd like to store up there, but we want to get RID of stuff!

So, we loaded up a full pickup truck load for Goodwill. And, another load of stuff (close to the same amount) for the trashman!

I feel much better already!

One Small Step...

Well, I made a little step today towards being more organized and saving time. I made a Master Grocery List with all of the essentials that I normally buy on it. I typed it out as I thought of things on my Wordperfect, and then I found out (how exciting!) that in the bullet choices on that program, you can add little checkboxes! How Cool!

Anyway, I will post this on the frig, and have everyone check off the items we need, or that they use the last of, and I will grab it on my way to my shopping trip.

I divided everything into sections like:

• Paper Products
• Laundry Supplies
• Health & Beauty

And then, I listed the items relating to that category underneath-complete with checkboxes!

voilà!!!

Every year I try...try...again!

I'm an organizational wannabe... every year it's on my resolution list.

I ran across this article, and thought I'd post these tips here in case anyone else is trying to make strides in this area too!

A Dozen Time Management Tips:

DON'T . . .

rush ahead of the Lord--His timing and wisdom are crucial
try to meet all the needs, it's impossible!
get side-tracked, even by "worthwhile" things
allow too many outside activities to rob you of family time
let the enemy rob you of your joy--it's your strength
confuse the urgent with the important

DO . . .
Pray for the Lord's guidance and help each day
Look to Jesus as your example. Study His Word, His life as revealed in the Gospels. Ask yourself, "What would Jesus do in this situation?"
Plan for interruptions and needed breaks
Put on the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3) and do your work as unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:23-24)
Take time to enjoy your family.
Stay focused on what God has called you to do and seek to view everything in light of Eternity.

Encouragement from Scriptures:
14But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15My times are in thy hand...Psalm 31:14-15

23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. --Colossians 3:23-24

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." --Ephesians 5:15-17

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers..." --1 Peter 3:10-12

"Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore." --Psalm 86:11-12

Offer up each day unto the Lord and ask Him to guide you by His Holy Spirit! Ask Him to help you use your time efficiently and to keep you from being so rushed that you neglect to hear His Voice. Take time to appreciate and treasure the people He brings across your path each day--especially your family. The Lord has given us a gift of 24 hours, that's 86,400 seconds today. How many of those seconds have been spent praising the Lord, encouraging our children and family, speaking LIFE to others instead of death, BLESSINGS instead of curses and grumbling? Let's make a positive difference in someone's life today! Each day is a new beginning, a fresh start. God wants to do beautiful things in and through us as we yield to Him!