Keepin' It All Together...

I've kept a household notebook for some time now.

It's something I first learned about on

the website for organizing junkies

http://organizedhome.com/household-notebook.

It's a tool for keeping everything home-related in one place.

One of my resolutions this year was to update it.

Thanks to Jen, over at

http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-challenge-project-household_11.html,

I have been able to give it a fresher look.

This makeover was waaaaaaaaaay overdo.

I'm so grateful for those who share their gifts with others.

I had a large binder lying around, so I just consolidated

what I had from three smaller notebooks into this one.

I did purchase dividers with pockets.

These are handy  for storing stuff you need to file

in the section, but can't get to right away.

Our family binder will have sections for

home, garden and crafting.

The family information section contains things

about insurance, doctors, dentists,

and neighbors' contact numbers.

There's a page for children's schedules.

This would work great for kids who do a lot

of extracurricular activities.

Also great for kids who have therapy appointments

or scheduled playdates.

Here's a place to write down 

ideas for a blog.

Not sure I'll use this.

I'm a write it when you feel it

kinda gal.

Here's a place to keep track of any maintenance

done on the house.

Things like A/C, electric, plumbing

which may be serviced through the year.

It gives me a place to consult those

tasks which are only done a few times a year.

This helps to keep things on track

and serves to gently remind me what needs to be done

to keep our home running smoothly.

As we hope to sell someday soon,

it gives me a place to focus on those tasks

that can get us the price we need to move on.

A place for business cards is always handy.

I've collected articles in the past on

food shelf life and monthly household tasks.

Also here are my recipes for my homemade cleaners.

I like having one place to reference these,

and not on the refrigerator!

I haven't decided if I want to leave them

in this form or scan them for uniformity.

We have some passes to local museums and

other activities.  I keep 'em in this pocket.

I can see them all with just a glance.

We also have a pocket for take-out menus.

Here's an inventory for our vehicles.  It's a good idea

to keep track of what you've done to maintain

your vehicles.  Not just for yourself, but when

you plan to sell them, folks seem to be willing to pay more

for vehicles that are well-maintained.

I combined my gardening notebook with this binder,

so now I have a whole section dedicated just to gardening.

Here is a plan for a planting bed out front.

I am working on making spreadsheets

for planting times, fertilization records and

a plant list inventory of the natives I've acquired.

Our newspaper has great information

about what to plant when,

so I clip those articles

and keep the information for handy reference.

I also keep garden designs or particular plant information

in a see-through pocket.  It's great to have a visual

source of inspiration.

Along those lines, I keep a separate section

 for ideas I hope to implement in our new home.

Saving paint colors and projects I'd like to attempt

are one way to make the vision come to fruition.

Then there are those makeovers I've seen in

magazines that just speak to me.

Those get saved.

The bonus is that you don't end up keeping a stack

of magazines,

ya just keep what you need.

There's a seasonal project pocket.

Fun projects to do with kids or

some special holiday decorating ideas

that I've done or would like to give a go.

The third notebook about crafting has been added

to the household notebook. 

We belong to the CrimeWatch group in our neighborhood.

Here I keep all the pertinent information

and contact numbers for members.

Now I have one big

binder where things are centrally located.

One place to go to search for ideas,

get inspired, or obtain needed information

about our home, vehicles and activities.

I may be adding future sections,

and I have plenty of room to do just that.

I'm planning on creating an area

for our family's favorite recipes

that correspond with the menu-by-the-month plan.

I'll know that the boys won't starve if I'm not here.

A household binder can simplify your life

by having one go-to place for information

about your homestead.

One place where everyone can find

what they need to know.

I'd love to hear about how you keep track of

all things homesteading.