Category: organization

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, Lupus, organization

Sketch Notes

Sonja Hollis

I really love these sketch notes.  They allow me to be creative while writing my grocery lists, my to-do lists or just my every day thoughts.  Who knew that what we called doodling in school would become a “thing”?

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Credit to Dana Ladenburger, Twitter

Lupus sometimes creates what they call “brain fog.”  It’s when you have problems concentrating or remembering something. It can be frustrating because it happens at the most inconvenient time (as if there is a good time to forget or lose concentration). So, I’m constantly writing notes on sticky notes to remember stuff, but then misplace them…or my daughter decides they’re hers and writes on them.  I have what seems like a million note pads with letters and reminders to myself. However, since using this method introduced to me by my husband, it no longer feels like a chore when I have to write something down.  It allows me to use both sides of my brain. I can write down the necessary information in a logical fashion, but then I get to highlight them in pretty colors and make pictures to help remind me of the important points. Pretty cool.

We’ll see how long this method lasts.  I’m always up for new things, but then someone else shows me another “shiny object” and I get distracted.  Until the next time…

 

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Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, organization

INSPIRED TO ORGANIZE

Sonja Hollis

 

So after watching a friend’s Youtube video, The Winey Budget  I was inspired to get organized.  That notion passed quickly though as I am a creature of chaos

I have purchased notebooks, planners, phone apps – all with the intent on getting organized.  I’ve watched videos, searched Pinterest for ideas and created calendars of every size …to no avail.  I doubt I will ever be as organized as I’d love to be, but until then, I’ll keep trying.

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This is just the right side of my desk!

Last night, my husband gave me a bullet journal that I told him that I had seen on Pinterest. I’ve actually started using it – not because I know what I’m doing, but because I know he will ask me about it later.   My husband is also responsible for setting up my office in my basement.  AND OF COURSE my monitor size is ridiculous – a man set it up! (You should see the TV in the family room!)

Anyway, I’m trying to juggle this thing called stay-at-home mom’ing that people think is such an easy task.  Well, I’ve worked from the time that I was fifteen up until the time that I retired and let’s just say this stay-at-home stuff is way harder. Before I retired, I worked 8-10 hours in a scout car, went home, cooked, ate and went to bed.  Now, I have to schedule one day to myself every month just to decompress from the ridiculousness of my unorganized life. So, I need to get my stuff together.  I mean, I saw it on TV!  Moms cleaning, cooking, doing laundry while wearing high heels and mascara, taking kids to their activities, then coming home and being “wife”… and they did all of this with a smile. What the heck am I doing wrong?

I’m supposed to be retired. Yet, here I am doing all of the abovementioned activities, being a girl scout mom, a dance mom, a swim mom and a small business owner. So yeah, I’m a work in progress. Follow me on my adventure as I get my life in order or die trying. LOL

Chronicles of a SAHM, organization, Saving Money

Saving Money…by any means necessary!

Sonja Hollis

Today, I woke up on a mission to save more money.  I’ve already been clipping coupons, using my store rewards and shopping apps. So, I decided to go to the website of some of my favorite brands, such as Snuggle, Ziploc, Proctor & Gamble and Kelloggs to see if they have any additional savings.  I recognized that I spend more money on these brands than anything else.

What I found were pretty good coupons on Kelloggs (plus points),  P&G and Ziploc – very nice!! I didn’t find any coupons on Snuggle, but I did join the Snuggle Bear Den, so hopefully they will send some soon! It’s also really convenient to be able to link my store cards so that the savings go right onto the rewards.  I don’t have to fumble through so many coupons when I’m shopping when I’m able to do that.

I’ll post my total savings tomorrow!! Here are the links:  www.ziploc.com www.pgeveryday.com, www.snuggle.com, and www.kelloggsfamilyreward.com

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, organization

SAHM Planning Day 4

Sonja Hollis

Day 4 of my new Journaling Journey and I am still enjoying the process.  I’ve realized that from writing down my goals for the day, that sometimes I set the bar too high.  For example, yesterday I wrote that I would take my daughter to school, work out for an hour, then come home clean for an hour and then go back to pick up my daughter from school, cook dinner, wash dishes, etc.

Ok, so this is what really happened: I dropped her off, I worked out, then I came home and passed out for an hour.  I had to put off cleaning until after my daughter got home and had lunch.  I got it done though – house cleaned from top to bottom and I’d worked out.  I had accomplished what I didn’t think I could do in a relatively short period of time.

Also, the fact that my meals are all planned out, removes the stress of trying to think of something last minute or ordering take out.  I also learned to write on my dry erase board that’s attached to the fridge – a menu for the day. There are no changes either – no additions or deletions.  Stress free. I’m loving it so far.

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, organization, Saving Money

Stay-at-Home-Mom (SAHM) Stuff

Sonja Hollis

So… my husband purchased a “Life & Apples” growth planner and I’ve decided that today would be the day to start logging in my affirmations, tasks and goals for my life.   I actually started brainstorming and writing small notes a week prior so that when I opened my planner, I would be ready…hopefully.

What I soon realized however, is that what I thought were just small, attainable goals actually required many steps to achieve.  For example, under the “Career and Finances” category – I wrote that I wanted to stop using my credit cards as much as I have been in the last three months.  To do that, requires me to cut down on spending.  Therefore, I checked my bank and credit card accounts to see where the bulk of my spending was and it was *insert drum roll* grocery shopping.  Ridiculous!  I used to coupon and check the weekly ads for sales, but I’d stopped that and just started shopping every week all willy nilly. (It doesn’t help that I live within five miles of Target, two Meijer stores, Walmart and Kroger) – so my spending has definitely increased.  I realized that I would have to become more organized with my shopping lists and spending habits.

I started by writing down and numbering every meal that I like to make for the family complete with sides. I wrote down the corresponding numbers to days of the week.

Monday – #1 – Meatballs with gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Tuesday – #5 – Tacos, etc…

Then, I wrote down all the necessary ingredients that I would need for each meal.

On a separate sheet of paper, I began writing down the items that I didn’t have available in my fridge or pantry and I started clipping coupons.  I then went to my Ibotta app and my Checkout 51 app to see what would be eligible for rebates later and wrote that down.    My next step was to go to each store’s website to see what was on sale, clip my rewards and go shopping.  I decided on Meijer for this shopping trip. (I also use the Shopkick app while in the store which is why I can’t shop with my kids – I need to concentrate). It seems like a lot of work but gets easier over time.   I ended up saving over $50 – with an additional $7.50 in eligible rebates!

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At least now I can start the week off with savings!  I knocked off a couple of tasks in pursuit of the goal of cutting down on my spending and that felt great.  I’m also going to look around to find out other ways to save today.

I think this planner is the way to go!  I can look at my goals at the beginning of the week and see much I’ve achieved at the end.  I just have to be consistent…in everything.  Wish me luck!