21 Day Challenge - Busy Book

Well, this has to be the end of my challenges.  My daycare is in full swing, my two Jr. Highers went off for their first day of school, and I'm pooped.

I remember when they were in 1st and 2nd.  Now, 7th and 8th.  I have to quit blinking my eyes.  : (

Off to catch the bus.  We live in the desert.  It even looks hot.

Ok, back to my binder.  I know everybody calls their note books, Home Organization books, but, I call mine a Busy Book.  My kids use it, and say, "mom, where's the busy book?"    I keep all phone numbers and schedules in it.  It used to have a lot more in there, but, I have simplified it, and I have additional binders that I will show you later.  I keep the kids folders (school papers, etc.) in my mail center. 

You guessed it, a rosette.

I just used my cricut to cut my letters, and scrapbook paper to decorate.

Here are my forms:

This is my AM / PM schedule.  If you double click, you can read it.  I just hand write it in pencil (it changes all the time).  But, for now, this seems to work with the group of kids I have, and my kids schedules.

This is my Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annually schedule.

Daily at a glance.

These, I have gotten on line.  There is a web called Organized Home that has a whole notebook ready to print.  I like some of their forms like this one, week at a glance.  My daily form (Hit List) is from Family Manager.  I don't know if she has it any more, but, you can google it.  I like it because it groups everything into categories, and I like the daily time list for appts. etc.

I also love this little book mark.  I think I got in a day timer years ago.  It just holds my place in my notebook.  I have a week at a glance on one side, and daily pages on the other.

I usually buy a calendar insert, but, this one is at Organized Home too (I like free).

Your usual address pages fill the end of my book.

I do love this sheet from Organized home.  I have one filled out with all of our favorite take-out places.  I also have a pouch with menus in the very back to support the numbers.  This is a great example of what I have in my address book, and why my kids like to use it too.  Organized home has generic forms for numbers.

I have this one filled out for all of our family's cell phone numbers, and dad's work numbers.

This one is the best.  I have one filed under, Neighbors (numbers, addresses, kids names and birthday's), each child has all of their friends and coaches on one filed under the child's name, my Bunco group has one, home stores, one for my Day Care families, and one with all my Christmas addresses.

I think I use this form the most.  I like the fact I can add as much or as little information needed.

At the very end, I have a couple directories.  I just three hole punched them and stuck them in.

That is basically my book.  Thanks for stopping by.

Rhonda

21 Day Challenge - Childcare

Hi everyone,  I have been a little crazy lately.  School starts this Wed., so, I have been getting school clothes, supplies and shoes for my four kids.  Daycare also starts, so I have been getting things organized and ready for them.  I have two that will be in Jr High and two in college.  No only does school and daycare start, but, sports is in full swing.  My oldest son and husband are coaching my youngest son's football team and has practice every night for a month.  My youngest daughter is playing softball and tryouts were for three hours this past Saturday morning.  My oldest daughter is cheering for her community college, and practices twice a week.  I am just tired thinking of all I have to do.  Anyway, I did get this accomplished and wanted to share it with you.  This is how I organized my little ones activities in my kitchen.

I love the Dollar Store.  I get a new alphabet book every year to use with my Letter of the Week. 

I also have a letter box.  I but things that begin with the letter in here.  Like apple slices (to enjoy while learning), a plastic airplane, alligator, etc.  And Dr. Seuss is always good.  After lunch we enjoy Leap Frog's Letter Factory on DVD.

We needed a new cookie jar.  My sweet girls helped me with the art work.

I wrapped a cereal box in pretty purple wrapping paper (Michael's for $1.00), and glued the girl on the front.  I took my knife and cut out the mouth.  We use the cookies (copied on copy paper then laminated with clear contact paper) with names written on them for everything.  It helps with name recognition.  It is also my reward program.  If caught being good, doing chores, and doing school stuff, they can put a cookie in the cookie jar.  At the end of week, the one that has earned the most cookies, can pick from my treasure box (just little toys, candy, etc. from everywhere -- Dollar Store, Wal-Mart, Target, garage sales, thrift stores.  It can't be over $2.00.  I put their names on this little board with a pocket to hold their cookies.

The little tag like the one above, are for chores.  I have this one, clearing the table (an empty table), craft clean up, sweeper, set the table and Star Helper.  The Star Helper gets to help make lunch, pass papers, line leader and pass out snack.  Everyone gets a turn.

This is the best gift my kids ever got me.  It is a radio, clock and CD player.  The best thing is that is under my cabinet.  I use it for kids music, books on CD. etc.  LOVE IT.......

Here is our little corner in the kitchen.  Weather (in AZ is almost always sunny), our calendar and a little Flag to say the pledge.

These are our morning and quiet time drawers.  It hold crayons, stencils, tic tac toe.  These are only allowed in the kitchen.

Coloring books and puzzles.  They have to put them away before taking another out.  It seems to work since they get a cookie for cleaning up after themselves.

I have this tall cabinet for all craft supplies, workbooks, paints, stickers, glitter, etc.....  Oh, I also have a homework drawer.  It holds pencils, erasers, scissors, colored pencils, paper and glue for my kids.

The wooden cabinet has all my curriculum's, chalkboards, whiteboards, contact paper, and really too much to list.

I love this time of year, I can stalk up on crayons, marker and glue sticks.  The drawers hold this and most of my Cd's.

Play Dough and my Office Box.  Did I say I LOVE the dollar store.  If you want to entertain kids of ALL ages.  Just give them a box with play money, calculators, file folders, envelopes, stickers, mailing envelopes, tape, stapler and a phone message pad.  It will entertain for at least an hour.

Office Box up Close

Oh, and a lot of puzzles.  I just trade them out once a week.

That's about it for my little kitchen school.  I have been doing daycare for about 18 years, and this seems to work the best for me.

Oh, stay tuned, I also have a cute craft to share.

21 Day Challenge - Mail Station & Bill Box

I finally finished my mail station and bill box.  I loved Toni's over at A Bowl Full of Lemons.  When I saw hers, I knew I already had all the supplies.  She is so awesome, she has showed me how use what I have on hand.  Anyway, here is mine (another coopy cat):

I put mine at the end of this counter.  It is between my living room and kitchen.

Just below this red organizer.

I can put a couple of pictures in it.  I keep sports and school schedules in it.  It even holds my I pod (it is the small I pod and I think I could really loose it).

The Cabinet next to it holds my cook books and notebooks

I think it fits ok.

Mine is a little green file box with the calender on front (just like Toni's)  I got my calendar from I heart organizing.   I even use different colored pens for each person in the family.

I love pens, so, I have two containers holding them.  The buzz jar in front is a clay pot filled with loose change.  The metal box hold my receipts from my purse, husbands pockets, etc.

I keep bills in here until desk day.  I also keep all my day care files and phone list in here.  It keeps it close and ready when I need it.  The file that helps me most is my Calendar Backup.  I through agendas for meetings, invitations, maps, etc.  After the event, I throw them away.

I even have a little trash basket on the floor under the station.

Now, this is my bill box.  I think I have had it for about 18 years.  I don't even remember where I got it (ordered it through a catalog?)

I love it.  You can even slip your bills through this slot on top.  It is just so ugly, that I like to keep it in the closet until time to pay bills.

In here I have folders - Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 and Week 4.  I get paid weekly, so I keep my bills that are due in these folders until I pay them.  I have my budget, budget forms, medical files and a file to through tax paper in.  It has another section to keep envelopes and a check book.

When done, I through my calculator on top, close the lid and put it away.

I got these magazine holders at Target in the dollar spot (score).  I will post when I get them organized and put away nicely.

Here are my other files from the dollar spot.  Once every week or two, I sort my receipts (from my little metal container) by category and file them.  I can hardly wait to get them all this cute folder.  It has 13 categories, which is perfect my business receipts.

This one is my favorite (I just think it is cute).  It is the smallest one.  I use it in my purse for my cash.  Groceries, gas, coffee, and home supplies.  The front one is for the coupons I plan on using that day.

This was the funnest of my desk day.  Creating fun office supplies.  I glued rosettes to a dollar notebook.  It is cute which makes me want to use it.  I plan on using it for notes to me.  Just reminders and whatnot.

I even decorated clothes pins for paper clips.  So fun and easy.  It just took scrapbook paper and mog podge.  I even put a cute rosette on one.

These, I labeled.

That is it for my stations, but, please stay tuned.  I am very excited about one of my next projects.  I am going to re-due my files.  I have a cute file cabinet coming soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Rhonda