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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freebie: valentines print

i love these lyrics from the stevie wonder song...i thought they'd make a sweet little valentines print! click on the image to downlaod the full size print.

i printed one out and framed it for my Mr {hope he's not reading this!!}

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meal planning

source

one of my goals for 2012 was to clean up my diet. lack of time and lack of money had led me to eating to much junk and processed foods. way back when, i used to meal plan. not only did it allow me to budget better, but also plan healthy meals and save time - as knowing in advance what we were going to be eating that day meant no last minute panics over what to cook for dinner.

it also encouraged me to try out new recipes and foods that were in season. and it meant the mr didn't have for lunch what i was planning on making for dinner.

so, this week i finally got around to starting meal planning again. and of course - a pretty meal planning sheet is far better than a scrap of paper right?! i made this cutie - i'm planning on putting one in a pretty frame, and using a wipe-off marker so i can use it over and over. 

click on the image to download the full size print

i tend to only plan out our evening meals, but there's space on the sheet for breakfasts and lunches too if you wanted. a typical weeks evening meals might look something like this:

mon: spaghetti & veggie meatballs

tues: hassleback potatoes & veggie chili

weds: stir fry veggies & rice

thurs: home made pizza & wedges

fri: veggie pot pies & salad or veg

sat: pasta bake with garlic bread
sun: veggie roast, with roast potatoes, veggies, gravy & yorkshire puddings

i'm in the middle of transfering all my recipes from the scraps of paper to these cute recipe cards {again, click on the image to download a full size, printable size}

 

Do you meal plan?? If not, it's a great time to start!

p.s I have a guest post over at Miss Indie today if you want to check it out :)

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{Happy Holidays} Printable Christmas Card

well... it's almost the holiday season!! I made this cute little deer Christmas card the other day, and a set of matching gift tags :) I have the card  I made sat on my dresser... not written or anything - is that weird??!

Anyhoos... go HERE to download the PDF and print your very own!! I hope you love him :)




PLUS as it's Black Friday this week I'm having a sale!! 30% off my entire shop from now until next Tuesday with coupon BLACKFRIDAY30. Go grab yourself a bargain now!

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Everything Alice {free printable}

I am a huge Alice In Wonderland fan.... ever since I first read the book many many years ago, I have loved it. We have a ridiculous amount of different editions of the book (and the various movies!). I'm so happy that my kiddos love it too... Lola recently read the full edition and loves it {almost)}as much as I do ;)

We just discovered the 'Everything Alice' book... a book with 50 quirky crafts and cookery makes. I just treated Lola and I to a copy - with the winter coming I'm always on the look out for some fun craft ideas to keep us busy on those cold and wet afternoons. I've already been asked to make three White Rabbit Toys ;)

 

I'd highly recommend getting a copy of this amazing book.

There is also a website that accompanies the book, and they sell some supercute notecards that may just be on my Christmas list!

The lovely authors, Hannah Read-Baldrey and Christine Leech have kindly agreed to share an awesome free printable Alice Doll with you lovely lot! I've printed some out for my girls and they've had hours of fun!!

click on the image to open a full size, printable one!

{I received no payment for this review... I just love it that much!!!} 

October Wallpaper

a little late... but i finally got around to making a new wallpaper for my computer for October!

Click on the image to go to the full size and right click on the image to install as your wallpaper :)

Happy Birthday Mr G!

It's my Mr's birthday today!!! 

We'll be celebrating whilst we're on holiday (I snuck the gifts and a cake in the bags!!) I made this print of one of our favourite poems by ee cummings, and thought I'd share it with you (if you click on it, it'll take you to a larger, printable version )

x x

 Inspired by all the 'how to be creative' images and posts that have been floating around the internet lately, I made myself this print to hang by my workdesk to keep me inspired! Thought I'd share it here for you too :) If you want to print one out, click on the image and it'll take you to the full size ready to print image!

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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