Dry Erase Calendar

I've had many requests to share the rest of my Home Management Binder! I have shared the Blog Planner and the Menu Planner sections of my Home Management Binder, and today I'm eager to share the Calendar segment! 

My reusable dry erase Calendar/Planner/Scheduler operates much in the same way the Blog Planner and Menu Planner work...as a matter of fact, these three work really well when used together! Can you tell I love post-its and dry erase? maybe just a little huh? *grin* 

Calendar. Planner. Scheduler. 
The Breakdown
The Calendar is two 8.5 x 11 pages wide and is entirely dry erase friendly!
I chose to create pages for all 12 months, but because it is dry erase you could easily choose to create only 6 months (or even less!) worth of pages and still keep up with all your scheduling by reusing those pages!
Start by writing in the month at the top of the page and write in the dates. 

Then populate your Calendar using your choice of post-its, dry erasers, or washi tape!

Using Post-Its
I loooove post-its. Perhaps it is because I'm fickle... when I change my mind about what day this event is happening, or what month I want to do that activity, I peel and stick it someplace new! Easy as pie. I am also visual, and this allows me to arrange and rearrange my scheduled week seeing how  I want it to look before settling on something. 


I like to pull completed blog post stickies from my Blog Planner over to the Calendar once I have decided what date I want to publish that post. 

If you prefer, you could also pull menu idea stickies from the Menu Planner and put it in your Calendar rather than using a separate Weekly Menu Plan reference sheet.

Using Dry Erase Markers
I tend to use the dry erasers on appointments that are already set and unlikely to be changed. 
You would think that using dry erase markers meant it would be messy, but it isn't messy in the least! I use quick drying markers so I don't smudge while dragging my hand across the page, and I keep an eraser cloth in the front of my binder along with my markers. (Honestly though, I rarely use the cloth, I just use my finger...whatever).

You could dispense with the post-its and washi tape and just use dry erase markers if you desired!

Using Washi Tape
I admit I haven't yet discovered all the merits of washi tape. But I know that some of you are die hard fans, so I was curious to discover what all the hype was about and ordered a couple rolls online. So far (in addition to a couple other DIY projects), I have used washi tape in my calendar to represent business trips or vacations. It spans multiple days allowing me to jot all my vacation plans on one strip. 

Info Section
This little corner is perfect for the little extra bits of information you need for this task or that appointment. Whether it is a phone number to confirm an appointment, or an address, or any other piece of information it is nice to have a spot to ensure you get it all down. 

Categories Section
I like to be able to distinguish the different types of appointments (and thus the varying levels of importance) at a glance. So I created a category key. I apply this color coded key whether I'm using post-its or markers.

Tasks To Schedule Page
This is the cover page of my Calendar section. When I have tasks or appointments that I still need to schedule( or require action before they can be scheduled) I put them here so they are not overlooked. Once that task or appointment has been scheduled it is moved to its confirmed date within the calendar. 

Notes Page
This is the last page of my Calendar... I might as well use every page as efficiently as possible, and I often find myself jotting little extras in some random corner of my calendar, so this page has served me well!

Free Printable & Assembly Instructions
Click on the PDF or Customizable Word document options below and it will take you to Google Drive where you can print or download. Please remember that while you can directly print the PDF from Google Drive, that will not be the case with the customizable Word doc option.  You will need to download the Word document to tweak if you choose the customize option...please don't request to "edit" or "share" while at Google Drive, the customizable Word format must be downloaded to customize. To "share" simply email your friends the link!  

PDF Document (recommended)

• Calendar Pages (2 pages)
• Calendar Front & Back Pages (Tasks to Schedule & Notes Pages)

Customizable Word Document 
(format will be altered: must choose the download option from Google Drive and tweak as necessary)

• Calendar Pages (2 pages)
• Front & Back Pages (Tasks to Schedule & Notes Pages)

To Assemble: Print onto regular paper and set pages back to back in page order before laminating. OR print single pages at a time onto cardstock, print front then back one at a time and laminate individual pages at a time. Punch holes using a three-ring punch, and pretzo! You're done!
If you do not own a laminator I recommend Scotch brand self-laminating sheets. 

Enjoy your Dry Erase Calendar!  I hope it serves you well!

All Purpose Storage Pantry

The best part of organizing an all-purpose closet or pantry is tackling all those little knick knacks that often get overlooked! I'm doing a ton of tiny organizing tasks and getting a big return! 
This narrow little closet just wasn't helpful for storing cleaning supplies or food items, it was just too small! So why not make the best use of those miscellaneous spaces? 
Now I can grab this kit or that kit, place it on the kitchen counter right nearby, and pull out whatever little item I need at that moment. Keeping things organized in this cabinet is a breeze! Let me show all the fantastic things I store in my all-purpose storage pantry. 

Before & After
Before, these dirty little shelves sported a slightly sticky contact paper, and stained wood interior. All it needed was a little tlc, a coat of paint, some trim, and a little more organization than my plastic purple bins could contain. And that before was me keeping it "organized"! Ewww.  Not to mention how eager I was to paint those nasty pink-yellow sponged exterior walls. Double ewww! 

Pantry Storage Overview 
(& Printables!):
Hmmm, rather than list the items I store in this all-purpose pantry, let me show you... now, there are a couple labels of things I hope to do in this pantry in the near future.
I created custom labels for my all purpose pantry, which you can print or download here and customize. Just print onto an 8.5 x 11" label and cut individual labels.

Click to print

Trash Bag Storage
I don't know why, but I hate seeing a trash can out in the open in a kitchen, so I stash the can in in this slim storage space, along with the bags and disinfectant/air freshener. I like being able to grab everything I need after taking out the trash...it just makes sense to have it in close proximity to one another. I coupon, so I stock up on items, and I was hating the pile of boxes and the rolls of trash bags that was constantly rolling off the shelf. My solution? I decided to store them in a container, just like everything else! I simply scored the container with a sharp exacto knife until a deep enough groove allowed me to poke my way through. Set the trash bags inside your storage container in the same way they come when purchased, folded into one another...you want the next one to pull through with each bag. 

Bandages & Tape
This is probably the primary use of this pantry. To fix all the little boo boo's and bigger emergencies. Our clearly clumsy family often finds ourselves rushing to the pantry to patch ourselves up. Keep a variety of bandages, wraps, tape, and band-aid types on hand.

It is super important to keep some basic size band-aids and neosporin close at hand in an open bin. Nothing is worst than digging through a container with a bloody finger! And  having the trash can located just under...well it couldn't be more perfect!

*Yes, that is real blood on my finger. Either I'm really dedicated to showing you how things work on my blog, or I'm really clumsy and shredded my finger during a dinner prep break in the photo shoot, and so grabbed my camera before patching myself up...you decide. ;)

Medicine & Medical Tools
In our family we employ natural remedies before resorting to medication. But I do keep medicines on hand we have never used, just in case. Guests often find a need for it, and keeping a variety of over-the-counter medication helps curb those late night emergency runs to the drug store! 
So I have three categories for how I store common medications as well as alternative natural options: 
1. Pain Management: aspirin, ibuprofen, tylenol, childrens pain meds, etc.
2. Miscellaneous Medication: Allergy, gas, stomach acid, foot remedies, anti itch meds, etc.
3. Cold Care: Zinc throat lozenges, cough drops, nasal sprays, etc.

When it comes to colds and sore throats I often employ a compress to help with what ails us. So I also keep my sore throat neck compresses handy! They work by wetting the inner liner, and wrapping it around the neck, then adding the outside liner. Sounds crazy right? Well you wouldn't believe how well hydrotherapy methods work! I also like to keep an empty rice pack handy to warm and set on sore muscles and more. 

In addition to medication, as well as natural remedies, it is important to remember to keep useful tools on hand. Even though my kids are no longer babies, we have discovered many times we needed to employ a bit of ingenuity, and the proper tools always help! Keep thermometers, various suction tools (worked great when my 5 year old decided to stick something up her nose (Really munchkin?? kids...), syringes, droppers & cups, tweezers, scrapers, and more! I also keep a second bin for breathing treatment tools...my youngest needed a nebulizer and later an inhaler a few years back and we keep it around just in case. 
  

Vitamins & Supplements
The top shelf, just out of reach is the perfect place for vitamins and other supplements. Unfortunately, the top shelf isn't just out of the kids reach, it is juuuuust out of mine! Easily solved using a Rubbermaid brand pull-out shelf. I love this thing!

Glasses Kit
Well, as of this year it's official...blind runs in our genes. All 5 family members now have glasses *weepy face* . That makes keeping track of repair kits and cleaning tools vitally important. Plus, my husband (the most blind of all of us) needs to be able to fumble around and know that the repair kit will be where he feels for it. 

Shoe Shine Kit
Why is it we can never find the specific shoe polish we need when we need it? Scuffs were always winning. *sigh* The answer is organization. Keep every color polish, extra laces, a shoe brush, heel repair materials, and occasionally I cut pieces of Mr. Clean magic eraser for those emergency scuffs!

My favorite part of this pantry is knowing exactly where all of these items are when we need them. No searching, no pulling our hair out, every family member knows just where these necessary items are in a pickle! 

This Post Has Been Shared With:

Clean Mama

Desktop Organizer

I'm the type of person who needs a junk drawer in every room of the house...but since I'm on a mission to eliminate all junk (who likes a junky drawer anyway?), I've decided to have an "office" drawer in each room of the house. Well, maybe not in every room of the house...but my bedroom is a definite must!

Utilizing My Desktop Organizer

I admit it, most of my weekly planning occurs from the comfy folds of my bed. I tend to work on things like my menu plan, shopping lists, and blog, very early morning or late in the evening. Thus the need to have my dry erase markers, sticky notes, and few other office-like items within an arms reach of my bed. 

I purchased this fantastic desktop organizer from Target. It is perfect for keeping all my bedside needs organized! It has a little drawer for storing my small items, and a paper organizer! Careful organization of both of these compartments ensures I'm not taking precious minutes searching for things I need to plan my week. 

Organizing The Paper Divider
Paper has always been my kryptonite. Papers to be filed, cards to be sent, they just start piling up and before you know it the room has random piles in every corner. Ugh! 
Thank goodness for this paper organizer! The perfect place to keep those odd end papers you reference every so often, items not long term enough to file, but you may need to reference within the next month before tossing.
In order to keep the paper organizer organized *grin*, I created a dry erase catalog for my papers. With 31 spaces, it helps to section items into like categories. 

Papers? Tackled!
My sections are: 

• Bills: Requiring action within the next couple days, rebates to be mailed, etc.
• Family: Local event fliers, grade book, article to read, etc. 
• God: Sermon notes, ministry agenda items, teacher schedule, kids lesson study, etc.
• Misc: Network key, personal mail to be opened, etc.
• Materials: Envelopes, note paper, blank cards, etc.
• Action Required: Things to share with the hubby, bills or business that requires immediate action, etc.

Notes? Taken!
On the back is a section for additional notes or reminders to keep your paper organizer under control.

Free Paper Organizer Printable
Do you own a desktop organizer? Are you always loosing track of what's in it? Try out my printable, maybe it will work for you! 
Customize, print, fold in half and laminate. Then trim to size. 

• Download the Desktop Paper Filer Word doc and customize categories. (Must be downloaded to view properly)
• Print Desktop Paper Filer in pdf format here. Can be printed directly from Google drive.

Dry Erase Marking Of course, you don't have to make your printable a laminated dry eraser version, I just find that it suits my every changing need best. It means my list is durable, and I won't have to continue to print...I hate messy wrinkled papers, with crossed out lines, or erased pencil markings. I use dry erasers quite, thus the set in my office, and another set in my desktop organizer! If you opt for the dry erase version, the trick is to use fine tip, fast drying markers. If you choose cheap markers that aren't fast drying, it will slowly come bit by bit when your hand rests on it to write...moral of the story, don't skimp on good markers! *grin*

An Organized Drawer
I had this organizer for only a couple months before the drawer went all junk-a-geddon on me. Eeeep! To salvage my organizing dream turn disaster, I knew I needed some drawer dividers to wrangle my run-away stuff. 

Create Dividers: Dividers are incredibly helpful for keeping everything in it's place. Tidy, and pretty! Make dividers for small spaces by using cardboard ( cereal box will do), some wrapping paper, double stick tape, and a little foam.

Here are Instructions: Cut cardboard to fit the length and height of the drawer, be sure it fits snugly so the tension helps hold it in place. Then use those gift wrapping skills and little double stick tape to cover. If you need a little extra "hold", a little rectangular piece of foam wedged between the drawer and divider will do the trick! 

Canister Storage: These wedding favor canisters are perfect for storing small items! I found these on sale at Walmart in the party supply section, a set of 24 for $5! Whaaaat?! I danced a little jig right there in the aisle. Check out the wedding and party section of your local supermarket or craft/fabric store. Just in case you can't find them at your local store, I will be sure to list the canisters online for you to easily purchase...click  here to buy the canisters via my Amazon store finds. 

The best part is that the inner plastic can be popped out to accommodate larger items, or kept intact to contain the little items. Oooh how I love canisters. Some day I'll show you what I did with the leftover canisters. In the meantime, what do you think of my bedside desktop organizer? Are you like me, do you need duplicate office supplies ready for use in various rooms of your home? Or are you a loyal to your office and do any and all work in a dedicated space? Whatever your needs, I hope you were inspired to organize your work space to it's fullest potential! 

For the Love of Labels & Glass...

I love glass, I adore labels, why it's a match made in heaven! Break out the confetti and lets make this marriage happen baby! 
I love that I can upcycle, have a storage solution, and great decor all at once. Score!
Often we toss those empty jars without a second glance, why not put them to good use? Who says they have to look like we took the trash in? If Pinterest has shown me anything, it is a thousand different ways to pretty up, and storage up, DIY style! A little good look'in paper and string, a decal or label, black and white pics inside those jars, all fantastic solutions for loving that recycled glass a little more.

Label Love
I wanted to try decals, but sadly I couldn't get any of that  magical decal paper, it just wasn't in the cards for my pocket book. One of these days I will get my wish when it comes down to a reasonable price. In the meantime, I don't need my office jar labels to be particularly fancy or sturdy, so I thought I'd give clear labels a try. I found these Avery glossy-clear labels at Staples for $7 after rebate, not a bad price. Definitely worth a try right? If it doesn't work out, I can simply peel them off and try something else. I am one of those people who hasn't yet found a label I didn't love.

The Thing About Labels...
The upside is making the labels is easy, the downside is they do not produce the sturdy finish a waterproof decal would. You can also see the label edges, it is not as "translucent" as I'd like it to be. Does that mean it is not an option for my home? Not at all! I chose to try them in my office, where "sturdy" isn't an issue. I have decided that in the future I will use decals on my glass and kitchen items, and use these clear labels on plastic bins and other relevant projects.

Avery provides a free program online that allows you to use existing label designs, or customize your own. At first I was a little resistant to using anything other than Word to create my labels, but I soon discovered that their program can make the process a bit easier and even provided a few fonts that were new to me. For those who don't have Photoshop or an editing program, this is definitely the answer! For those who just don't feel like bothering and want what you see here, you can borrow mine. *wink*.  Print my pdf Office Jar Labels-1 (words: color, draw, write, pin, cut, use, & clip), or Office Jar Labels-2 (words: refill, adhere, electronics, mark, paint, & clip). Print onto Avery Glossy Clear 2" x 3" labels (Item # 22822). I purchased Avery labels at Staples for $7 after mail-in rebate, but for those who want to order it online, I have included it in my Amazon Store Finds located on the sidebar. 

I also discovered that there is a better way to use these labels to their full potential. I used them to customize hanging labels made from paint chips! You can read about that project here, I also included the printouts for you. 

You will have to figure out what type of label works best in each area of your home. Vary the type and style you sport in each room, and soon your home will be filled with personality as well as great organization! 

Menu Planner

The Eleventh Hour Cook

How? How is it that the entire day went by and I STILL don't know what to make for dinner? I find myself entering dangerously close to the "whine" line, where the kids pave the way for the dinner hour with complaints of hunger that grow increasingly more pathetic. Just as I enter that last half hour,  the kids rolling on the floor dramatically holding their little tummies, I frantically grab at the first box of what-ever-that-was to "whip up" something. Forty minutes later I am sighing with relief, as the kids and hubby wolf down their admittedly mediocre food, and I am safe for yet another day...until breakfast when I will do this dance all over again!
Nope, I don't want to do this forever...That's how I eventually came up with the perfect solution! I created an easily reusable Menu Planner, one that includes a much needed idea section. 

Saving Solution

Yep, I can't decide if the worst part of cooking is the clean-up or the 2 hours before when you're racking your brain for ideas on what to cook. Well, no more sir! I'm not sure how to elude the monstrosity that is my kitchen after cooking (I'm a ridiculously messy cook), but I refuse to settle for menu mediocrity. So menu planning strategy it is! I have been employing this menu planner for a few months now and it has been my saving grace! We are eating healthier meals, it takes less time to prepare meals, I am saving gads of money, and we have culturally diversified our meals more than ever! It's a win-win-win-win!
Here are just a few menu planning tips you should employ to gain all of these benefits:
To save money: Pick one day to in advance to plan your meals. Create your menu and shopping list at the same time by browsing the sales ad's as well as your cupboard.
To save time: a menu plan gives you the opportunity to prepare entire meals or parts of a meal in advance, use a crock pot whenever you can. Do double duty by choosing meals that have a common ingredient and prepare (pre-cut, pre-soak, pre-wash, pre-cook, etc.) that ingredient all at one time for both dishes
To save your health: Try a new dish and a new seasoning every couple weeks. Keep the food pyramid in mind when menu planning, and include more fresh fruits and vegetables. If you need to, prepare your vegetables, and salads the week in advanced...you'll be more motivated to eat what has already been prepared.
To diversify: Try a new dish and a new seasoning every couple weeks. Glean inspiration from Pinterest Pins, or go online to a recipe directory such as allrecipes.com .

How It Works

Why sticky tabs? I like my menu planner to be tactile, and I am constantly changing my mind, or moving my meals around. This allows me to do so easily, without constant erasing or scratching out ideas. You would think these page marker sticky notes would lose their stickiness over time, as long as they are housed between two laminated sheets, they will not come off, or lose their stickiness.
The how to use is easy...besides the obvious grid/post-it operation, there are a couple little tricks I use to keep my menu planner working for me. The menu planner is divided into two parts: The Weekly Planner, which I reference to see what is being made for each week of the month. The Menu Ideas section, which is where I take from to populate my weekly meal plan.

First take the time to populate the Menu Ideas section. Go crazy, write on post-it page markers all the dishes you've ever wanted to make... the dishes that make you look like a superstar, the trusty dishes you cook weekly, etc. I went on Pinterest for inspiration and went wild! 

Next glean dishes from your Menu Idea section to populate your Weekly Menu. This is also the time to make your shopping list.

You know , it is far easier to show than to tell: Watch my Youtube Menu Planner webisode to see how, and gain a few important details.

How to Make Your Own

Simple. Customize, print, laminate, punch holes, and start populating your menu planner! 

I've done most of the work for you, but I won't take away the fun of personalization! Below you will find the Menu Planner printable in word format that you can download and customize, or in pdf format for those who want to print and use as is. Just remember, the word format will be a little discombobulated and needs to be downloaded to view and alter.

If you do not own a laminator, use Scotch brand full-sized self-laminating sheets, just follow the directions on the package.

Customization & Assembly Tips:

Type in Your Own Categories: My categories are: Drink Ideas, Salad & Appetizer Ideas, Breakfast Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Dinner Ideas, and Dessert Ideas. Use as many pages per category as you like. Decide your layout and page order, and place pages back to back so they will be double sided before laminating.

Type in Your Own Subcategories: My planner contains subcategories according to the way I plan and search for meals. Personally I think of my meals by predominant ingredient or meal base: Grains, Bread, Pasta, Potato, Vegetables & Legumes, and Sides. 

A more "normal" labeling method would probably be: Appetizers, Bread, Pasta, Soup, Salad, Sides. Or perhaps label according to cultural food type: Asian, American, African, Indian, Italian, etc. The ideas are endless, the point is to divide up your sections according to the way you think. 

Color-code Subcategories with Post-its: Keeping your subcategories further defined by using one or two colors in each section will make it quick and easy to put the stickies back in their place when not in use. Don't forget to customize your stickies too! I chose to use Post-it page marker signets, but I loved the adorable Martha Stewart brand 1 1/2" x 2" size as well!

Change the Font & Colors: While you're already customizing, why not make it suit your personal style? Whether you change the font, or the colors, or drastically change it, you'll be more motivated to use something you put a little work into.

Customizable Word Format (must be downloaded to be viewed properly)

• Weekly Menu Plan Sheet
• Menu Idea Sheet-Breakfast
• Menu Idea Sheet-Lunch
• Menu Idea Sheet-Dinner
• Menu Idea Sheet-Salad & Appetizer, and Drinks
• Menu Idea Sheet-Dessert

Print Ready PDF Format

• Weekly Menu Plan Sheet
• Menu Idea Sheet-Breakfast
• Menu Idea Sheet-Lunch
• Menu Idea Sheet-Dinner
• Menu Idea Sheet-Salad & Appetizer, and Drinks
• Menu Idea Sheet-Dessert

Let me know how you customized your menu planner! Upload pictures to facebook and tag HomeMadebyCarmona. I hope you find it as helpful as I have!