Home Journal Update for 2010: Weekly Schedule

I started this in January (really only three posts back) and now that I am back to post regularly again I feel I would like to continue. I have reviewed my weekly schedule and I have discovered that it still works for me exactly as it is so I am not going to change anything but I am out of practice and I will put this list to use again. Each day is posted on the right but I thought it would be good to post the whole week to show you how it looks. Reminder: These are guideline and not carved into stone. If I don't follow it perfectly I do not beat myself up. They are meant to help not not make me feel worse!

Sunday: Renew Your Spirit Day!

Monday: Menu and Mop Day

Work on menus and grocery list for next week>

Feed sourdough and make buttermilk

Make sure refrigerator is clean

Dust and Mop all floors

Work on project

Wash my clothes

Tuesday: Grocery/Errand and Surface Clean Day

Double check list and put in purse

Clean inside windows, mirrors, tv/monitor screens

Get Groceries

Go to Post Office

Go to Library

Wednesday: Kitchen and Bath Clean and Partial Desk Time

Clean all toilets

Clean bath tub

Clean bathroom sinks

Shine kitchen sink

Do children's laundry

Make Bread

Cut Children's nails

Work on project

Work on Budget

Write thank-you notes

Thursday: Free Day

Water plants

Gather all Garbage to put out

Do Something nice for me

Friday-Paperwork and Large Appliance Clean

Be Romantic today!

Do bedroom laundry

Pay and file bills

Clean large appliances

Clean laundry room

Inventory laundry supplies

Clean out purse

Saturday: Family Fun Day!

Do some reading

Do yard work

What is in your Purse?

Today is the day I clean out my purse. It has occurred to me that what is in my purse is a strong reflection of what stage I am in life. Currently I have a wallet, a change purse, my planner with Dr. appointments, parent council activities and various activities of children, a few diapers, a package of baby wipes, hand cream, a camera a bottle of water, a package of crackers and sugarless gum. Clearly a mom's purse right? I remember a time when my purse was a lot different lol I have had a teen's purse - gaudy make-up, hairspray, a hair brush, notes from class I am hiding from my parents, concert stubs. Career Girl - wallet with a lot more disposable income lol and condoms! Planner with appointments to the salon, dates with friends/hot random guys (Ok, maybe not)

I have also noticed that what I carry my purse items in has changed often over the years as well. I have used a disco purse-barley large enough to hold keys and money, a fashionable backpack-perfect for holding personal items along with school books, a diaper bags way back when I was a new mom and had to bring half the house along with me just in case baby needed something, a quilted bag for outings that required me to bring a selection of entertainment and nourishment for toddlers and now my current handbag that my mother got me for Christmas because she wanted me to have something nice. I am sure at some point I will probably change to something else again to suit my current needs.

Today I shined my sink...again.

A few personal trials have taken my attention away from this blog...yet again but the good thing about that is that it is still here when I return.

So I am back to basics again. Routines, Thank Maud for routines! I just open my Home Journal and there they are! This week my focus is on Recovery. This is what I do when I fall off the Home Management bandwagon. This could happen for many reasons - illness, family tragedy, whatever! All it means is that for the next few weeks I will do an intensive "Getting Things Back in Order Protocol". Here is what it looks like:


Step 1: Re-instate Routines

This is simple usually because they are already written down for me in my Home Journal. Sometime an adjustment needs to be made due to whatever kept me from doing them in the first place but for the most part I just have to jump in where I left off.

Step 2: Declutter (While continuing with routines)

This step is often the begest. I start at the the top of the house and with three boxes and a timer I enter a room and file all the clutter that doesn't belong in that room. The three files are "Put Away", "Give away", and "Throw Away". I set the timer for 15 minutes and start at the doorway and work my way around the room for 15 minutes at a time. When the timer goes off I file the items in the boxes.

Step 3: Re-instate Projects (while continuing with missions)

Which really means a return to normal


When I follow this plan it usually doesn't take me more than 3 weeks to get back into my groove and return my serenity!

January

This is a month of reflection for me. I will be spending time updating my Home Journal. I will be posting about this as I accomplish this. My Daily Routines still work beautifully so I will not be changing them but my Daily To Do Lists need tweaking however, so I will be changing those. I have also developed a new Menu plan system because Menu 4 Moms no longer offers a free weekly plan :( The plan I have now does require a bit of work in the beginning but benefits (reduced stress, money saved etc.) totally make it worth it! I am really excited to share this with you!

To recap, January will be about Updating the Home Journal. If you do not have one but would like to build one, the posts labeled Home Journal describe how I built mine.

Home Journal Checklist for Updating

√Routines (posted in the bar at the right side)
Weekly Schedule
Cleaning
Menu Planing
Children's Section
Pamper Section
Budget
Fire Safety Plan
Important Numbers
Home Maintenance Schedules

Happy New Year

This is the last day of this decade and what a decade it has been! I got married, gave birth 3 times, Moved to 3 different homes, got a couple college certificates, learned a lot about my self. I have had the best things and some bad things happen to me. I will bid it farewell with fondness I think.

For the nest decade I have a few goals. I want to spend as much time enjoying my family as I can. My children are growing so fast I can see how one needs to make it a priority before it slips away. I want to explore my creative side more. I know I have so much inside that wants to get out and be expressed. I want to take full advantage of each moment and value it for it`s preciousness. I want to give of myself more to my loved ones and also to charity. I want to be better. I want to laugh more, dance more, sing more, love more, appreciate more.

I wish for you the very best of what the new year has to offer. Great health and happiness to you!

Cherie

I know I know! I am terrible!

My camera doesn't work so I haven't been posting. I have asked the man in the red suit for a new camera so if he comes through for me I should be back in business soon, I like blogging. Even if no one reads, it is beneficial to me because I think it keeps me accountable because it is out there.

Holiday Countdown Begins!

I have indeed started prep for Christmas! I have decided that this will be the focus of my blog for now to help me get prepared for a stress-free holiday. Each day I will post about the steps I take to achieve this goal. 

The first step I will take is to create my Holiday Management Folder. I use a pocket folder that I fold length-wise in half to create 4 pocket folder. Each pocket will contain a section for each part of my holiday prep. Special Dates & Holiday Cards, Gift Giving, Decorating and Feasting My inspiration for this comes from here:

http://christmasplanner.com/tour-christmas-planner/pocket-planners

I will post a picture of mine when I get batteries for my camera.

I do not make mine Christmas-y at all because it is for my eyes only so I do not wish to make it attractive to prying eyes.

There you have it, my Christmas prep goal for today. Tomorrow I will show you the pages I plan to put in it.