My Homemaking Journal

Its not completely done but I updated it and it is completely functional right now The pictures are click-able thumbnails.

first of all, it doesn’t work without learning how to use my calendar. Even when i fall out of doing my routines i still remember my calendar. I check my calendar every night before bed so i can prepare for the next day and every morning after breakfast to remind myself what’s coming next. It hangs on the wall in my kitchen where i always see it. I always buy those extra big calendars with no pictures in it and extra large day things to write things down in. I write down appointments and milestones and sometimes i use it as a sort of scrapbook of the month. I print out pictures and put them up there or I tape up some of Caleb’s schoolwork.

Last year’s calendar, because its early in the month and empty now

I want to get a new binder because this cover desperately needs to be updated (most recent picture is from 3 years ago), but i like my little collage.

I have a pencil pouch in there that holds some pens, my checkbook, some stamps and my mommy cards. They’re in there because i lose them anytime i put them anywhere else.  Right after that is my emergency info page that has “You are HERE” at the top and my address/phone numbers, the number to poison control and our emergency contact people. It also has a note at the bottom that says where copies of our medical forms can be found. No picture because its got personal information on it.

Next i have a page that on the left has a huge sign that says no whining and on the next side has my Emergency Quick Clean list which is what i do when the house is a disaster that i don’t know where to start to dig it out of its hole

Then there is a divider and then my (vague) weekly schedule of what i focus on which day

The next page is a poem about being thankful for the dirty dishes because it means my family has eaten today and on the right is my morning routine.

The next one was going to be my afternoon routine but i decided just to put my daily blessings http://www.realsimple.com/home-organ…0000000000953/ (2 pages)

The next 2 pages are (on the left) My evening schedule and (on the right) 2 verses that encourage me in keeping house. Titus 2:3-5 and Proverbs 31:10-31

Then i have another divider, flylady’s 11 commandments of housekeeping, and then a detailed cleaning list for every room in the house. I don’t even look in here until my daily things are done but i find it helpful because i often forget to do things or know where to start with a deep cleaning.

Next i have a divider and after that are motivational things like laine’s letters (in the joyous homekeeping sticky) and a few things from flylady.
http://www.flylady.net/pages/bedroom_graveyard.asp
http://www.flylady.net/pages/kitchen_makeover.asp
http://www.flylady.net/pages/zone51_makeover.asp

Next i WANT to have a divider and then a list for my Lending/Borrowing inventory. A list of books I’ve borrowed from the library and their due date. Also a list of things i’ve borrowed or lent out to other people and when i borrowed/lent them out to remind myself to take them back. The spreadsheet i made didn’t work on my MIL’s computer (I don’t have a printer at home)

Then i have a red folder (not divider) that has my son’s emergency medical thing in it and a copy of both mine and DH’s insurance cards. I keep another folder with our full medical information and SS#s, birth certificates, etc. in a binder that i do NOT keep out on my kitchen counter all the time.

Then i’m going to get a folder to hold my Weekly Menus (with shopping lists) I got started here but then started making my own and saving them. I also plan on having a matching notebook in there but i’m buying those this weekend (my old ones are sort of scattered about and i have nowhere to plan my new menus). so they’re not done yet. In additon to that, i keep my weekly menu on the fridge as well as a list of possibly snacks and breakfasts so that I don’t stand there hungry going “ummmmmmmmm”

and that’s it so far.  I hope you enjoyed a peak into my Homekeeping Journal