My Binder system
Thanks to sites like Large Family Logistics, I have been able to find sanity once again and peace ofmind in my home!!
Large Family Logistics lists days of the weekdesignated for particular areas of the home: For example, Monday isLaundry day. That means that you do your regular laundry loads everyday, but on every Monday, you get it ALL done, put away and folded- Every bit of it!
I love this system!
There is also "Town day", for a specific day to go into town....Kim (the owner of Large Family Logistics) listsdifferent GREAT ideas for taking multiple kids to town, and ideas forcoming back and being able to have a relaxed and fun trip. I justlove it.
I found a lot of sites using binders lately..... I never haveused a binder, or a calendar or ANYTHING before, but I finally decidedto make the effort and start one!
I'm SO glad I did! For the last 3 weeks, this house has been GUEST WELCOMING CLEAN! No matter what time of the day it is. I can't believe it! lol
Plus,I have been learning so much about how much to expect my children todo. I have learned and realized that my kids do better, feel better,and have more time for fun, when they have more chores to do.
Itgives them a sense of purpose! It makes them feel more loved and likemore of a part of the family, when they have more responsibilities todo around the house. It may sound silly, but it's so true. And I'veseen the house become more and more calm, relaxed, happy, when we haveour routines in place and ALL work together making sure things staynice and neat, and have a system and a working PLAN for our lives.
So here is the binder that I have worked on and finally finished!
This is the front cover:
Isn't it pretty? I have the cover image saved and you can find it HERE if you would like to print out a copy for your own binder! http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/bindercover.jpg
The verse says"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not thebread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Herhusband also, and he praiseth her. Psalm 31:27-28"
Here is the zipper pouch, which holds post it notes, pens, and markers.
On the first tab is my Monday cover page- Laundry day! This is the day when I focus on the laundry, and make sure that every bit of it is folded, put away, and washed!
You can get the page design HERE:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/monday.jpg
On the next page is my usual morning and evening routine, which go like this:
Morning Routine
Take shower,
get dressed,
fix hair,
change Noah’s diaper,
make breakfast,
clean off the table (completely),
Get Caleb and Bonnie dressed,
read Bible to kids,
Start schooling,
Put one load of laundry in the washer,
Fold and put away one load,
Wash all dishes in sink and make it SHINE,
Rule: Make a point to do 15 minutes of phonics instruction with Bonnie. Every single day.
Evening Routine:
Lay out clothes for tomorrow,
Iron anything that needs it,
Get coffeepot ready for next day,
Clean dishes in the sink, it must sparkle!
Make sure Noah’s diaper is changed,
Make sure Bonnie has a pull up on.
Straighten living room.
Then on the next page is some encouraging words from Large Family Logistics which helps me to do that days work.
Here is the page I have printed out and use as my motivation on the Monday section:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/monday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
My next tab has my Tuesday cover page, Kitchen day.. This is the day when I focus on the kitchen, clean it out, make it SPARKLE and spot-free!
The next page again lists my usual morning and evening routine, plus the kitchen day advice from Large Family logistics, which I printed out and you can see here:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/tuesday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get my page design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/tuesday.jpg
My next tab is the cover page for Wednesday, Office day! This is the day where I work on things like my emails, writing cards, cleaning off my desk and paper clutter, balancing checkbook, etc...
The next page again is my Morning and Evening routines, and then the next few pages are advice from Large Family Logistics, which you can see here:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/wednesday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get the page design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/wednesday.jpg
Then the next tab opens up to Thursday, Town day!
This is the day when I go to town, and get all the things I need, run all the errands that need to be run. The day before, I must have everything planned out and ready to go! Clothes laid out, food ready to go in crockpot so that when I come home there is a wonderful meal prepared already and no more work necessary in order to eat and relax! I love this idea, and it really works wonders!!!!!
The next page is my morning and evening routine, then a printed out copy of another page from Large Family Logistics:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/thursday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get my design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/Thursday.jpg
The next tab opens to Friday, Cleaning day.
This is a great day to get rid of extra clutter in the home!
Morning and Evening Routine on next page, then Large Family Logistics print out:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/friday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get the page design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/Friday.jpg
The next page is my Once a Month cooking section, where I list all my recipes and tips about OAMC:
You can get the design for this page here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/oamc.jpg
The next tab is Homeschool section, where I have Caleb and Bonnies Homeschooling schedules planned out (this took me a LONG time to do, and I did it in Microsoft Word processor)...it's the entire 40 weeks worth :
The next tab is my Miscellaneous Tips and Articles section:
You can get the design for this page here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/misc.jpg
In this section, I have some incredible articles such as:
http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/basic.htm
And many more! I keep adding them...it's so much fun.
Anyway, that's my binder for you!
Hope you enjoy!
Update ( as of Dec.6, 06):
Here are the pictures (centered) without the day of the week on them:
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1m.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1t.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1w.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1th.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1f.jpg
Ifyou have a photo editing program and want to add the days of the weekon the pages, you might be able to find a tutorial online and add thetext that way. I am only experienced in Adobe Photoshop, so if you donot have that program, I really can't help that much.
Also, if you would like me to, I can edit the pictures and add your specific days of the week for you. Just send me an email and I will do it as soon as I can!
Thank you!
P.s. if you would like to use any images from my drawing site for your binder, you are welcome to use them for that use.
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net
Please also visit my Blog front page...I update daily!
http://bethany.preciousinfants.com
Large Family Logistics lists days of the weekdesignated for particular areas of the home: For example, Monday isLaundry day. That means that you do your regular laundry loads everyday, but on every Monday, you get it ALL done, put away and folded- Every bit of it!
I love this system!
There is also "Town day", for a specific day to go into town....Kim (the owner of Large Family Logistics) listsdifferent GREAT ideas for taking multiple kids to town, and ideas forcoming back and being able to have a relaxed and fun trip. I justlove it.
I found a lot of sites using binders lately..... I never haveused a binder, or a calendar or ANYTHING before, but I finally decidedto make the effort and start one!
I'm SO glad I did! For the last 3 weeks, this house has been GUEST WELCOMING CLEAN! No matter what time of the day it is. I can't believe it! lol
Plus,I have been learning so much about how much to expect my children todo. I have learned and realized that my kids do better, feel better,and have more time for fun, when they have more chores to do.
Itgives them a sense of purpose! It makes them feel more loved and likemore of a part of the family, when they have more responsibilities todo around the house. It may sound silly, but it's so true. And I'veseen the house become more and more calm, relaxed, happy, when we haveour routines in place and ALL work together making sure things staynice and neat, and have a system and a working PLAN for our lives.
So here is the binder that I have worked on and finally finished!
This is the front cover:
Isn't it pretty? I have the cover image saved and you can find it HERE if you would like to print out a copy for your own binder! http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/bindercover.jpg
The verse says"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not thebread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Herhusband also, and he praiseth her. Psalm 31:27-28"
Here is the zipper pouch, which holds post it notes, pens, and markers.
On the first tab is my Monday cover page- Laundry day! This is the day when I focus on the laundry, and make sure that every bit of it is folded, put away, and washed!
You can get the page design HERE:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/monday.jpg
On the next page is my usual morning and evening routine, which go like this:
Morning Routine
Take shower,
get dressed,
fix hair,
change Noah’s diaper,
make breakfast,
clean off the table (completely),
Get Caleb and Bonnie dressed,
read Bible to kids,
Start schooling,
Put one load of laundry in the washer,
Fold and put away one load,
Wash all dishes in sink and make it SHINE,
Rule: Make a point to do 15 minutes of phonics instruction with Bonnie. Every single day.
Evening Routine:
Lay out clothes for tomorrow,
Iron anything that needs it,
Get coffeepot ready for next day,
Clean dishes in the sink, it must sparkle!
Make sure Noah’s diaper is changed,
Make sure Bonnie has a pull up on.
Straighten living room.
Then on the next page is some encouraging words from Large Family Logistics which helps me to do that days work.
Here is the page I have printed out and use as my motivation on the Monday section:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/monday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
My next tab has my Tuesday cover page, Kitchen day.. This is the day when I focus on the kitchen, clean it out, make it SPARKLE and spot-free!
The next page again lists my usual morning and evening routine, plus the kitchen day advice from Large Family logistics, which I printed out and you can see here:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/tuesday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get my page design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/tuesday.jpg
My next tab is the cover page for Wednesday, Office day! This is the day where I work on things like my emails, writing cards, cleaning off my desk and paper clutter, balancing checkbook, etc...
The next page again is my Morning and Evening routines, and then the next few pages are advice from Large Family Logistics, which you can see here:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/wednesday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get the page design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/wednesday.jpg
Then the next tab opens up to Thursday, Town day!
This is the day when I go to town, and get all the things I need, run all the errands that need to be run. The day before, I must have everything planned out and ready to go! Clothes laid out, food ready to go in crockpot so that when I come home there is a wonderful meal prepared already and no more work necessary in order to eat and relax! I love this idea, and it really works wonders!!!!!
The next page is my morning and evening routine, then a printed out copy of another page from Large Family Logistics:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/thursday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get my design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/Thursday.jpg
The next tab opens to Friday, Cleaning day.
This is a great day to get rid of extra clutter in the home!
Morning and Evening Routine on next page, then Large Family Logistics print out:
http://largefamilylogistics.net/friday.php?sid=1158358809-1714977
You can get the page design here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/Friday.jpg
The next page is my Once a Month cooking section, where I list all my recipes and tips about OAMC:
You can get the design for this page here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/oamc.jpg
The next tab is Homeschool section, where I have Caleb and Bonnies Homeschooling schedules planned out (this took me a LONG time to do, and I did it in Microsoft Word processor)...it's the entire 40 weeks worth :
The next tab is my Miscellaneous Tips and Articles section:
You can get the design for this page here:
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net/misc.jpg
In this section, I have some incredible articles such as:
http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/basic.htm
And many more! I keep adding them...it's so much fun.
Anyway, that's my binder for you!
Hope you enjoy! Update ( as of Dec.6, 06):
Here are the pictures (centered) without the day of the week on them:
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1m.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1t.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1w.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1th.jpg
http://www.preciousinfants.com/a1f.jpg
Ifyou have a photo editing program and want to add the days of the weekon the pages, you might be able to find a tutorial online and add thetext that way. I am only experienced in Adobe Photoshop, so if you donot have that program, I really can't help that much.
Also, if you would like me to, I can edit the pictures and add your specific days of the week for you. Just send me an email and I will do it as soon as I can!
Thank you!
P.s. if you would like to use any images from my drawing site for your binder, you are welcome to use them for that use.
http://www.sketchesbybethany.net
Please also visit my Blog front page...I update daily!
http://bethany.preciousinfants.com
We use them at school. For instance, I call up children to put the wiki around high frequency words that they find in a poem, or words that have long vowels, etc.
I think that we get them at educational supply stores. Hmmm. I'll do a google wike search.
The kids love them.... I love the pictures that your son made. So creative!
http://wikkistix.com/catalog.htm
Caleb is an artist too!
I have seen them at Hobby Lobby.
My husband and I signed up for Zaxby's z-mail club and got 2 free meals! The url is http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/zxbys/lp/join/join.asp
My kids enjoyed those when they were little. I think I might have ordered them from the Hearthsong catalog.
Caleb is very talented!
Ooh good! Thanks for the links!
And Linda, I just signed up for the free meals too..thanks!!
Bethany, those are so cute! I'm tempted to try the doughnut recipe - they look so yummy!
This is really just a short note to say that I am not sure when I'm going to get around to getting my mc story together. I want to, I really do! However, I've pushed myself the last few weeks through my "cold" until it's become a crippling case of pneumonia and right now I'm just trying to survive.
Aren't these so cool. We went to a local restaurant here in town and they were giving these out there too. I'd never seen them before, but they kept Carter much more entertained then crayons.
Just stopping by to say Hi from one more Bethany to another! So cool to see how many of us there are!
Nice creations by your kids, they look like fun, I haven't seen them (Wikki sticks) in a long time. Gives me ideas for Valentine's Day treats for my boys...Thanks!
Cool idea. Wonder where is the best place I can get one?
Private Number Plate, if you'll click the link below, I described how you can make your own Wikki Stix! Hope this helps!
http://bethany.preciousinfants.com/2008/02/05/homemade-wikki-stix.aspx