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8.31.2012

Fun Friday--Family Organization


I am really enjoying these Fun Friday posts!  I am an organization freak, so I am so excited about this post.  I have always lived most comfortably with an organized life.  Now, our lives mandate it.  It's not an option.  Here are a few things I couldn't live without.  First and foremost is my Erin Condren planner.  In college I started using the Franklin Covey planner and I kept it for at least 10 years.  After that I bought multiple planners, trying to find one that did everything I wanted and needed.  Last year, I found it.  I have just ordered my 2013 planner and it should be in any day.  I can't wait.  I'm like a child at Christmas--filling in the blanks, planning my year in advance.  Oh, sweet joy!


Next, I use this meal planner that I found at Target to plan our meals for the week.  There is even a tear out page for your grocery list.

 Mornings at our house are crazy and nights are crazier.  I know you ALL can relate to this.  It has little to do with cancer and everything to do with 3 kiddos!  I created this check list for Ella so that she can be responsible for getting herself ready each morning and night.  I have it taped to her bathroom mirror so that she sees it first thing and last thing each day and night.  So far its worked really well.  Hmm, maybe I need one for myself.

Laundry mountains are one thing that we all probably have in common.  Every mother rues the moment when you fold the last piece of laundry and then triumphantly declare that everything piece of laundry in the house is clean.  And then...you look down and your 2 year old has spilled a drink in the kitchen which requires 18 towels to clean.  Oh, and never mind that all 5 of you are wearing clothes that when removed will instantly make your laundry room look like Fred Sanford's house.

A few years ago I came up with this system.  It worked really well for a family of 4.  I'm still not sure how to incorporate Jack into the mix. Right now, the other 4 of us have our own bin and all folded clothes go straight into the appropriate spot.  I hang the majority of our clothes, so the bins mainly hold PJ's, shorts and undies.


Also in my laundry room is a shelf that holds 3 sweater size boxes.  At the beginning of a school year (or for Jack's first few years) each child gets a new box.  Every memento for the year goes in and then the box will be stored in the child's closet until I find a better spot for them.  It works really well for me and because the box isn't huge it forces me to be selective of the work/art I keep.


As I said, I'm a nut for organization.  I label my linen closet shelves, my kitchen pantry is lined with labeled baskets...I'm a little OCD at times.  However, this post is about organizing my family.  So, I'm going to end with this picture.  I bought this display piece this summer at Patina, which is located on our town's square.  I love it and the red looks awesome on my green kitchen walls.


How do you organize your family?


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24 comments:

  1. Dear Kate -- I'm sad that I still can't read your blog anymore. I'm not sure if you saw my comment on the previous entry. But something has happened to cause the entire middle of your posts to go black and soon as I start to scroll down. I can't see anything except the first few sentences and then the end. I haven't changed any settings on my computer so it must be some glitch with the blog website. :(

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  2. That should say "go blank" not "black". sigh.... It's pretty early in the morning and I haven't had coffee yet. :p

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  3. lifewiththebs.wordpress.comAugust 31, 2012 at 6:25 AM

    Wow, look at you! I wish I was that organized.

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  4. Lorraine - I can definitely understand your frustration - I can see it fine so I don't think it is the blog site. If it was I think it would be everybody that couldn't see it.

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  5. Drat. Well I mean, good that it's not the site. Drat for me. :p I wonder if a different browser would work? I'll try that later this morning.

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  6. I can certainly remember those days of ballgames and lessons and homework...and excessive laundry! My children are now 23, 25, 27 and 29 and when they all return for the holidays, I have finally (sorta...) learned to just let things go for a while. HOWEVER, with young children...organization is the only way to go!

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  7. Mine did that for a few days also then if I let it just sit there blank for awhile it would come back up. I was worried I couldn't read her blog and tried everything, problem just seemed to fix its self in no time. hope that happens for you also.

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  8. Great post, thank you for sharing it with us Kate! AHMSI complaints

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  9. I just ordered my very first Erin Corden life planner and I cant wait!! Thank you for the great idea!

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  10. Wow, you ARE organized! I wonder if I could be with three children or if I am just not an organized person. I guess I'll never know because I have Thirteen children. So these kind of posts when people are so crazy busy with one, two, or three just really make me chuckle! I know, everyone's busy even if they have no children. It's just how our lives are.

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  11. I love the sweater box idea. I did that when both of my girls were born. I got them a box to put all of their birth stuff in and ultrasound pictures. I love going through those boxes. They are now 3 and 18 months and they started daycare and preschool so I think I am going to take your idea if you don't mind :) Thanks so much. Have a great weekend and Holiday :)

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  12. I'm ocd here too!!! ha! I haven't ordered my new EC planner yet but I love mine from last year. It just makes me happy even to look at it!

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  13. I'm trying to decide if I need therapy for not being this organized. Or if I need to tackle a closet, desk, or cabinet. At this moment my house is quiet so I think I'm going to just "be!"

    Thank you again for your testimony... For sharing!

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  14. I've just come across your blog, great post! You're as organised in real life as I am only in my head. I often get the notion to get organised, only for it to descend into a bit of chaos eventually. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. I am far from organized, in fact that is one area I really want to improve. One thing I have implemented is "laundry days". Each of us are assigned a day for laundry (I get two because I do the linens and towels n things). On your designated day you take care of your clothes. Wash, dry fold and put away. Even my 6 year old does his. It relieves me from the never ending mountain and gives the kids some responsibility. It also then eliminates sorting- especially socks! We keep up with whos day is who's by using a responsibility chart which has been placed into a frame so that it can be reused over and over with a dry erase marker. the kids like marking it, I can easily see what's to be done and when it's complete. Baby steps, I know, but it's a start.

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  16. Great ideas, Kate! Thanks for sharing. I just ordered my first EC planner and I can't wait for it to get here!

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  17. Love the linky Fridays but it would be great if those who participate link to the post that applies to the topic instead of just their blog. I don't want to scroll back through five months of posts to find the one from March about organization, you know? Just a suggestion for a reminder to those linking. :)

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  18. Mine does this too! :( I use Firefox browser. Not sure what my glitch is.

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  19. I have 4 kiddos and I am trying to organize my house. I would love pics and how tos. Of course if you can find time; we do have the busiest job on the planet.lol

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  20. I had to order one of the EC planners too!! The style you have is the one I ordered as well. So colorful and pretty! Thanks for sharing!
    -Lindsey

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  21. Great tips! I try to follow The Flylady - she also has a lot of great ideas of staying on track and keeping your home clean and clutter free which for me helps with my sanity! She has a website (www.fylady.com) and posts quite a bit of entries on fb. Check her out - she also has an online store although I haven't yet bought any of the products. :) ~ Michele P.

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    1. www.flylady.com is the correct site. Oops!

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  22. Sorry - the correct site is www.flylady.net - oops!!
    Have fun checking her out! :) ~ Michele P.

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  23. I am so NOT organized! See? I'm linking up on the very last day! lol I need to be more organized and I spend a lot of time thinking about it. I need to just do it.

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