diy clipboard + a printable >>>>>

apologies for the absence here the last few days.... there's some stuff going on at home that we're working through. normal service will resume shortly ;)

in an attempt to keep track of all i'm meant to do, as my tired mama brain can't manage it by itself, i make a new things to do prinable. then i decided that it would be even better if i had it clipped up somewhere i could see it, so it didn't get buried under a mountain of stuff on my desk!

so.... as i didn't have a clipboard lying around, and am too impatient/poor to buy one - i made one! i used a canvas board i had already, a sheet of scrapbooking paper and a bulldog clip

first things, i covered the canvas board with the paper, folded the edges over the back and taped 'em down.

then added a blob of hot glue and fixed the clip on {it doubles as a hanger too!}printed out my things to do list and hung it up!! {click on the image below to print out a copy of my things to do list}

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staying organized

i've had a few emails asking me about my 'blog scheduling' and how i keep organized. i'm not naturally a very organized person, but it's something that i've worked on in the past six months. blogging could easily be a full time job, add into that an etsy shop to run, a house to run, three kiddos to look after and home school and a life to live...and well, chaos could easily take over!

i've become a manic list maker - they're in danger of taking over my house, but writing it all down frees up a little mind space. i keep a notebook that is my saviour - it's where i write down any ideas i have, blog posts i want to write, diy ideas, things i need to do - anything and everything. if ever i lost it, i'd be lost! i keep a separate notebook to keep track of sponsors, guest posts and giveaways. i also have separate folders in my email accounts for sponsors, guest posts, interviews, etc - saves hours searching for the right email!!

i have a separate notebook that has sections for sponsors, guestposts and giveaways - it's an easy way to keep track of each month, i can put in sponsors if they've reserved for months ahead, check if they're all paid and what giveaways/guestposts i have for that month.

i use a monthly blog planner to let me map out the blog for the month - i can mark in regular features - e.g. pretty things, etsy love.  any giveaways or guest posts I have, any special posts e.g. birthdays, holidays. i generally blog six days a week (mon-sat) a lot of those are posted on the day, but some things i schedule ahead - interviews and giveaways for example. at the beginning of a month i mark an any posts i have planned or scheduled, making sure things are spread out through the month. it helps me plan my time, as i can spread out any time intensive posts over the whole month, and fill them out with faster posts! pinned up on my pinboard, i can see at a glance what's what. i have to say though, that i don't pre-plan every post. 75% are spontaneous - but mapping out regular features + special posts helps me to keep track of whats going on!! a little pre-planning is good - but i think if every single post was planned in advance you'd miss the whole point - it's good to share what's going on RIGHT NOW!!

here's the monthly planner i use, and also a weekly one :) - click each image to download a printable size

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Blog Planning...

Week 2 in my organisation mini series! Last week I shared with you my to-do lists... the only way of keeping track of the gazillion things that I'm supposed to be doing at any given time!!

This week I wanted to share the planner that I use to plan out my blog.

To create my planner, I used a plain, hardcover journal. I covered it in some pretty paper to make it look a bit nicer! Then, using some scrapbooking paper, I created some dividers to put inside of it. Think about what you need to plan out and how many dividers you need. I have 6 - Calendar, To-Do, Ideas, Advertising, Giveaway's and Shop.

I traced the size of my journal, and cut out 6 dividers, leaving a tab that stuck out past the pages. Decide how many pages you need for each section before you glue them in the journal!

I printed out monthly mini calendars that fitted on each page. These help me plan out each month on the blog - I put in any posts that are regulars (eg. Living Life Your Way Interviews & 52 Lists) and it means I can see what is going where, making sure that I don't have too many 'big' posts in one go and spread it all out nicely!

Advertising, I use note down which blogs I'm sponsoring each month (esp useful if I purchase a multiple month deal). Also I keep a track of sponsors on my blog, their button size, links, giveaway/guestpost info, if they are repeat sponsors, etc.

Giveaway - I note down what I am giving away where, and also keep a list of any giveaways on my blog each month too.

I use the 'Ideas' section to map out posts, I can write ideas down when they pop in my head - and keep track of what I'm thinking.

Shop - I mainly use this just to keep a track of coupon codes now. After I made this planner I realised I needed a seperate folder for my etsy shop, doh!

If I'm feeling extra organised - or my poor brain is on the verge of giving up, I'll use this weekly blog planner also. There is a To-do section for that week, an Idea's section, as well as space to note down posts for each individual day. Click on the image to get a full size ready to print!

I'd be lost if I didn't write every little thing down!!! I have so much info swirling around my head... it all gets muddled up if I don't keep a tight check on it all!!

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Lists, lists and more lists

With a to-do list longer than my arm, a home to run, 3 girls to look after & home-school, a blog to run and a shop to maintain, some days I'm not sure if I'm coming or going!!!

My brain simply cannot keep a track of everything. Relying on your brain to remember everything ends up with deadlines missed and things done in a rush because you've run out of time!

The key is to writing every little thing down, so that you can keep a track of it all. I'm a HUGE lover of lists... I write them obsesively for everything :) I keep a general to-do list, for everything that  I need to get done..... as well as a specific list for Etsy To-Do's and a Blog List too! I also have a 'top 5 today' to-do list too.

Sometimes I have so many things I need/want to do, I end up not doing anything because I don't know where to start! So on day's like that, I will write down the most important 5 things I need to get done. Once they're done I can breathe a sigh of relief and either relax or more usually crack on with other things!

The last list that I use is a weekly planner, it means I can map out the major things I need to do that week... e.g. blog posts that need writing, the girls 'school' work sessions, etc etc

I thought that some of you might find the lists I created useful too... so here are printable copies of my lists!  Click on the images to go to the full size ready for printing :)

Next week I'm going to share with you my blog planner, and how I keep a track of everything!!


p.s - YOU GUYS!!!!! I woke up this morning to find we'd hit (and gone past) the 300 google friend connect mark!!!! I never in a million years expected this little blog to come as far as it has. But it makes me incredibly happy to write here and know that there is someone reading :) Keep your eyes peeled for a 'thank-you' giveaway!!

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