My Daily Routine & Storage

Hello!

This is my Daily routine, accept on the days that I go out as I tend not to do much house chores on those days.

At the moment I am using a A6 planner from The Journal shop.
I am in love with it as I love the size, the feel of it and the layout of it.

I use my A6 planner as a journal mainly and a little bit of planning also. I use it everyday. I do tend to use it the same way as the Bullet journal with the codes, index and page numbers. Just helps me to find what I'm looking for.

I keep my Daily to dos at the front of this planner.
I have numbers next to each task, and I write the numbers out every day instead of the actual tasks. Then I tick off the numbers once I've done the task that it relates to.

Main Daily To Dos
- House chores
- Check calendar
- Beauty routine
- Mail - sort
- Spend tracker
- Journal

I tend to do my house chores in the morning, after a cup of tea. (I love my cup of teas :) )

I keep a monthly calendar in my A6 planner/journal, and make sure I look at it every day. Also keep my monthly tasks and my monthly goals on this page.

I have a monthly calendar colour code using coloured dot stickers (which I adore). I also stick the coloured dots on the daily pages when I need them also.

Colour code for monthly calendar:

Bigger dots -
Blue - Birthdays
Red - Appointments
Green - Events
Yellow - Holiday

Smaller dots -
Blue - School holidays
Green - Order Asda
Yellow - Public holiday

We also have a weekly calendar on the fridge along with a shopping list.
(When I go get my shopping, I take the shopping list and clip it into my A5 Filofax flex, to take with me.)

I had this weekly sheet custom made from Etsy from Polkadotposie.

On weekly sheet:
- Weather - I write this in so I know what the weather is like for the week, so I can plan things.
- Day column - I write events, appointments, etc..
- Dinner plans column - I write in the dinners were having for the week. (I meal plan as we buy fresh food and tends to go out of date on different days, I sort it in order so no food will get wasted)
- Weekly to dos - All things that need to get done in the week.
- Ideas list - projects, blog posts, dinners, things to do, etc...
- Shopping list - I use this list to put down items but not food items (as I have a separate one on the fridge for that)
- House chores list - I put down the days and what needs to be done -
I have a weekly house chores list (apart from the daily to dos which needs to be done every day).

Weekly to dos -
Monday - Bath room
Tuesday - Bed rooms
Wednesday - DUST
Thursday - Clean all kitchen appliances
Friday - Clean door handles, mirrors, windows, switches
Saturday - Just daily chores
Sunday - Vacuum (sweeping up gets done every day)

Beauty routine:
We all have our different routines. Long or short ;)

Mail:
When the mail comes, I like to sort it out straight away so no junk around the house.
There is a blog post on this....please click here!

Spend tracker:
Lately I have been tracking our money as sometimes I don't know where it is going.
I have a A6 cash book and inside I have the date, item and cost laid out on the top of the page.
You can find this cash book on the website sticker stack.

I use a colour code system for this also. I just use my stabilo coloured pens to colour small squares next to the prices.

Colour code system for Cash book:

Green - Groceries
Orange - Petrol/car related
Yellow - Gas/electric
Red - MISC
Pink - Save
Purple - Take away
Blue - Nursery

Journal:
I journal every day. I think its nice to have something to look back on. I've been journaling every since I was 9 years old.

Things in my journal -

Stick in:
Pictures from pinterest or a photo of the day (I love photos! I have tons of photo albums)

Write in:
Quotes - sometimes when the page is blank
Goals
What happened today
Review of the year at the back
Mood
Weather
Daily to dos - numbers only
Tasks
Meal daily - B - Breakfast
                     L - Lunch
                     D - Dinner

Doodle in:
Borders and Zen doodles when bored really

I have a monthly tracker on graph paper. I don't stick it in the planner/journal, I just use a paper clip as I don't need it to be stuck down in there. (as I just throw it away later when not needed)
I have the titles on the side and numbers across the top. Then I colour in with just black pen the things I did on that day just to keep track of.

List of things I track:
- No junk food
- Water (I write in the number of glasses had)
- Dogs bath
- Asda ordered
- Dye hair (sounds silly, but I dye my hair every 8 weeks and like to see how long it was so can dye it again haha)
- Paid Sons nursery
- Take away
- Exercise
- Photo (I try to take one every day for my journal)
- Spend tracker


I also use a A5 Bullet journal inside my Filofax flex. (Keep my cash book and shopping lists and the weekly sheet inside the Filofax flex also)
The A5 Bullet journal is just for notes and reminders - basically its a brain dump. I tend to have it near me all the time and anything I need to write in there, I just quickly jot it down. Even if its a scribble or one word. I use the bullet journal codes so easy to track what's what. I transfer anything I need to write down in my A6 planner/journal just before I go to bed.

I've kept a Bullet journal for about a year now and I'm in love. I actually stopped using my Daily Filofax because of the Bullet journal. I use my Filofaxes for other uses now. (maybe another blog post ;) )

So...
A6 planner = Planner/Journal
A5 Filofax flex = Bullet journal = Brain dump, cash book, weekly to dos sheets, shopping list sheets

...and I use these both every day.

Grocery lists at the back, clipped in for when I need them at the shops.

Now onto some storage things I have around my house that I love and want to share :)

Organising drawers, baskets, tubs, and anything else you can think of = easy life!!

You always know where everything is, it never gets lost!

 If you take something out, put it back.

 Everything has a home.

Favourite storage things:

- Junk drawer in the living room - toys get put in there when there just lying about on the floor and my son isn't playing with them. End of the day I put them into his bed room.

- Basket - I have a gorgeous wicker basket with handles on the sides. I use this before bed for a 10 minute pick up around the house of things that don't belong in the rooms. Then transfer the things in the right room, where they belong.

- Junk bowl - I have a junk bowl where little bits and pieces go. Batteries, small screw drivers and pennies and things I need to give back to family members, those things normally end up there. This bowl gets sorted at the end of the week (if I remember).

- The blue bowl - My partners keys, wallet, bank cards, extra money, gets put in there. (As he always lose things lol)

- We have a savings tin (for wedding fund unless we decide to go on a holiday lol) - its one of those tins where if you want the money out, you have to use a can opener. Best idea!

- Dining table items - We keep coasters, place mats, seasonings, and straws in a cupboard in the living room.

- Tubs labelled in the 1st kitchen drawer - (I love labelling things) Yankee candles, lighters, birthday candles, pens, chalk, first aid, headache tablets (lol), plasters, and bag clips.

- Tubs in 2nd kitchen drawer - sandwich bags, freezer bags, small bowls with lids, small jars, flask, lunch bag (for work) and pocket tissues.

- Baskets in kitchen under sink x 2 - 1. Sponges, dusters, scrub brushers, flash wipes, bin liners and bin bags.  2. Tea towels and small iron.

- Laundry baskets - We have a big laundry basket on top of the tumble dryer. Then small buckets with handles for each person in the house. When washing is all dry, it all goes into the big laundry basket first (in the morning). Then in the evening, normally while dinner is cooking, it all gets transferred in the right buckets. Then the buckets get transferred into the rooms and either I sort it out or my partner does.

I hope that all made sense. Any questions just comment below or email me lifeasweknowit2400@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading xoxo

If you would like to see any other posts on my blog, please click here for the INDEX!


Also I would be so grateful if you could check out my new book on Amazon. Link to details on blog page. Please click here.

Birthday Card Book

Hello! Just a quick blog post about my 'Birthday Card Book'.

I started this year with this 'Birthday Card Book'.

What I did was I brought loads of birthday cards at the start of the year. I brought cards that were either on sale or the ones where they have '5 for £1.00'.

I checked how many family and friends I needed to buy cards for throughout the year, so I would have enough.

Then in my 'Birthday Card Book', it has the months on one page and a pocket for the cards.

I wrote down everyone's birthdays in the book in the correct months. Then put the cards in the pockets, making sure I have the card I want to give that person in the right pockets. 

Having a 'Birthday Card Book' has made my life so much easier. Not having to buy a single birthday card through the year. I also keep some stamps at the back of the book, just in case I need to post a card off. 

Thanks for reading xoxo

Facebook Page

Hello!!

I now have a Facebook page up for this Blog.

 I will let you know on Facebook when I put new posts up on my Blog. 

Please click here for the link to the facebook page & please follow me - Organise your Life

Thank you :)

How I Document 'My Life'

I love to keep Journals, Binders & even Keepsake Boxes of my Life. 

This is how I document my life :) (In a List, of course)

• A5 Filofax - Main Planner. Everything I need to keep track of. (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Checks)
• Bullet Journal - My To - Dos each day and things to remember (This is with me all the time)
• Ideas Journal - I write all ideas in here, then highlight into categories so easy to find.
• Food Journal - Check the calories I'm eating each day. (Also use the 'My fitness pal' app)
• Journal Prompts List Book - I tend to do a Journal prompt weekly.
• Photos Monthly Binder - I have a A4 binder with photos for the month in and a little description of each photo.
• Bucket List Binder - I have a A5 binder with lists of things I want to do in life.
• Smash Book  - I stick in things I want to keep (loads bits are still in a box).
• Idea Photo Binder - I print things from Pinterest that are good for ideas in a A4 binder.
• One Line A Day Journal - I brought a 'One Line A Day' Journal to do daily.
• Normal Journal - Which I journal in once a week in detail of each day.
• Child Development Book - Keep trying to start this one, but at the moment its on scraps of paper. I do have a baby record book for my Son, which is all filled out. However I want to keep documenting his life in a book.
• Child's Memory Binder - I keep all my Son's work from Nursery he has done in a A4 binder. 
• 'All About My Life' Book - Just started (check out on here what its all about).

Idea Photo Binder

Food Journal

One Line A Day Journal

Smash Book

Bullet Journal

Journal Prompts List Book

Journal Prompts List Book

Ideas Journal

Thank you for reading :)

Handmade Cleaning Apron

When I'm cleaning or tidying up, I carry a cleaning caddy in each room with me. So everywhere I go I have all the cleaning products and sponges/cloths, without going back and forth. Easier for me to do every room all at once.

I also have two baskets for when I do 10 minute pick up (which normally I do before bed). I use it to transfer things that don't belong in that room to another room easily. Easy for me to pick up my son's toys (which he always brings in the living room) and transfer them back into his bedroom.

When I'm doing a quick cleaning job, I don't like to carry my cleaning caddy round. So thought of an idea today to make a cleaning apron. Used my sewing machine to make it (as I'm not a great sewer). It's not the best sewing but it still works. It has four pockets for anything I need to carry around with me. Two big pockets and two small pockets. Can use the pockets for pens, notepad, cleaning list, phone, iPod (nice to listen to music while cleaning), sponges, cloths, gloves, and small bottle sprays of cleaning products. Can use the big pockets to pick up items round the house and transfer to another room also. 

I'm very happy with the way my cleaning apron has turned out and love the idea of wearing it to help me quickly tidy and clean up! 

My Home Management Binder

 

My Home Management binder has 8 tabbed sections:

1. Planning
2. Cleaning
3. Laundry
4. Meal Planning
5. Inventory 
6. Checklists/Lists
7. Organising
8. Notes

 This is what I keep in each section:

1. PLANNING
A Running to do list
Birthdays and Events
Room design plan
Weekly routine rota
Daily chores
Daily schedule








2. CLEANING
Monthly cleaning schedule
Room cleaning checklist
Checklist for rooms
Favourite cleaning products
Stain chart
Quick clean ups

 






3. LAUNDRY
Laundry day list
Laundry stain chart
Wardrobe guide
Washing instructions

4. MEAL PLANNING
Meal plan of the week
Grocery list checklist
Freezer storage
Freezing produce guide
Measurements
Cooking conversion chart
Kitchen measurements
Storage container labels
Take out numbers and Menus



5. INVENTORY
Freezer inventory
Loft inventory
DVD inventory
CD inventory
Storage inventory






6. CHECKLISTS / LISTS
Checklists (blank)
Baby sitter instructions
Medical supplies
Travel checklist
Warranty tracker
Project to do list
Party planner sheet



7. ORGANISING
A list of what to organise
Keep it for...




8. NOTES
Leaflets
Cards to be filed (ex-birthday cards that I want to keep)
Note paper



Some of this information is also kept in my A5 Filofax, but I keep a copy in the Home management binder in case my Filofax ever gets lost. 

I keep a A5 pocket for Stationary at the front of the binder. 

All the printables in my Home management binder are not my own. 

You can find them on my Pinterest or click here for the list of free printable websites.

Thank you for reading!

The Mail System

I used to hate sorting the bills out and getting tons of junk mail through the door. I never used to sort it out straight away either. It used to get piled up on the kitchen counter and left there for days.
Now a days its all done and I don't know why I never sorted it out sooner as its such an easy task to do.

This is how we sort out the mail in our home...

We have a Mail rack holder and pen pot ( in case need to put any sticky notes on letters ).

I go through the mail daily, as soon as it comes through the door in the morning.
 
 - I throw out any junk mail (the rubbish you get through your door is madness).
 - I check when bills need to be paid, and write them in my Filofax/calendar.
 - I cut out the vouchers and pop them into my Filofax wallet (Budget organizer).
 - I write appointments and invitations in Filofax/calendar.

The letters will not be filed until Sunday (weekly), they get stored on the Mail rack holder for now (but least all information is all written down somewhere).

Then when Sunday comes along, the mail (should now be a week worth full of mail, but all written down somewhere) gets filed in the 'Home filing system' binder.

 'Home filing system' binder

 The 'Home filing system' binder is labelled and the mail gets filed into each section appropriately.

The tabs are labelled as followed:

• Personal records
• Health records
• Home records (rent)
• TV/Virgin media
• Benefits
• Work records 
• Car records
• Bills / Statements
•  Finance
• Pet records
• Tax
• Warranties (also warranty sheet gets written out)
• Instruction booklets
• Paper and envelopes

This is the Warranty sheet that I fill out, but this sheet gets stored in the 'Home management' binder. The actual warranty itself gets stored in the 'Home filing system' binder. This is a free printable from lifeyourway. There is also other free amazing printables on there.

- Take away Menus are filed in my 'Home management' binder (which I'll write about in another post).

I found this 'Keep it for...' sheet on cleanmama, which tells you how long to keep mail for, and other things. Also a great site for free printables. 

Well that's how I organize my Mail system. Be great to hear your ideas or see any photos on Instagram or Pinterest.

Thank you for taking the time to read!