I have over 100 years of photos, family photos of my ancestors both sides. Family photos of my children, photos of trips hubby and I have taken. Photos that I places I found interesting. Lake Minnetoka in Minnesota on a beautiful day, Minnihaha falls in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. At least I think I made it there every season. Photos of the Mississippi rising during the Spring thawing run off.
I need to really start on a day by day start to organize these. If I take only thirty minutes a day to do something I will be further ahead than I am now.
While at our down town library to do some family research I came across this book and brought it home.
Preserving Your Family Photographs by Maureen Taylor. I have had it three weeks with good intention. It is due in one week. Starting today I will start a commitment to read through it piece by piece starting at chapter 8 " Ways to Organize " Keep It Simple " and work day by day a few minutes a day to at least get a start.
Step 1. Look through all images and make a list of people, places and events
Step 2. Decide on an organizational plan and try it with a small group of images
Step 3. Estimate supplies you may need (storage boxes and sleeves)
Step 4. Purchase these in bulk to save money
Step 5. Set up a work space
Step 6. Begin sorting
Step 7. Create a file of images in need of identification
Step 8. Create a file of photo copies of pictures requiring conversation or restoring
Step 9. Start labeling and boxing
Step 10 Create an index if necessary
My first step will be to jump to step 5 and find a space for a work table. I have the perfect one to put into my office.
For today I will read through chapter 8 and clear out the space in my office for the table.
Over the next days I will set the timer for 30 minutes and start to do something with my photos. Anything I do will be better than doing nothing with them.
I will be sharing this over at my genealogy blog for those readers. Most of my photos have to do with family.
Thanks for stopping by.. Grace
Showing posts with label Organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organization. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
DEVELOPING A CLEANING PLAN FOR YOUR HOME
I like to have some order in my life, just like so many others. Some times it is necessary to get back to the basics of keeping a moderate clean home, food preparation, errands and laundry.
Today I am sharing what I think can be a great plan to keep the home clean. First off it is important to ask for help from your family members. Since it is only hubby and me it is up to us but things to stay fairly clean around here.
There is several layers to keep my home clean.
Layer 1 is things I need to do every day like making the bed, washing dishes or loading dish washer, picking up around the house and taking out the garbage.
Layer 2 is things that need to be done twice a week vacuming or sweeping if you have hard wood floors like we do, watering plants, wiping down bath room
Layer 3 is more of a deep cleaning once a week job . This could be mopping floor, polishing furniture, getting groceries, doing errands and doing laundry.
Layer 4 is items that are considered special projects. Washing windows, cleaning the stove, cleaning refrigerator and what ever else you may have on your list.
I like to look at as layer 1 is about a half hour a day,
layer 2 can take about half hour so I try to pick one of these to do it in order during the week
layer 3 could be done on Saturday if that works for you. We usually do these items during the week as time allows. We do errands as we are out on our runs to the thrift stores to hunt for treasures to resell. Laundry can be done while I am home and working on my computer. Grocery shopping is usually done Sunday after church or maybe Fridays after going to garage sales. What is important is to plan and attempt to keep up with the plan. To make my lists and carry them with me.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading some of my ideas on keeping up my home and that you will come back again to read some of my other ideas. Grace
Today I am sharing what I think can be a great plan to keep the home clean. First off it is important to ask for help from your family members. Since it is only hubby and me it is up to us but things to stay fairly clean around here.
There is several layers to keep my home clean.
Layer 1 is things I need to do every day like making the bed, washing dishes or loading dish washer, picking up around the house and taking out the garbage.
Layer 2 is things that need to be done twice a week vacuming or sweeping if you have hard wood floors like we do, watering plants, wiping down bath room
Layer 3 is more of a deep cleaning once a week job . This could be mopping floor, polishing furniture, getting groceries, doing errands and doing laundry.
Layer 4 is items that are considered special projects. Washing windows, cleaning the stove, cleaning refrigerator and what ever else you may have on your list.
I like to look at as layer 1 is about a half hour a day,
layer 2 can take about half hour so I try to pick one of these to do it in order during the week
layer 3 could be done on Saturday if that works for you. We usually do these items during the week as time allows. We do errands as we are out on our runs to the thrift stores to hunt for treasures to resell. Laundry can be done while I am home and working on my computer. Grocery shopping is usually done Sunday after church or maybe Fridays after going to garage sales. What is important is to plan and attempt to keep up with the plan. To make my lists and carry them with me.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading some of my ideas on keeping up my home and that you will come back again to read some of my other ideas. Grace
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tip For The Day Keeping Nail Polish In Line
Here is an interesting idea I just read in 1001 Timely Tips For Clutter Control. Keep your bottles of nail polish in your bathroom drawer from tipping and slidding every time the drawer is opened or shut. Take a piece of sewing elastic and tack it across the inside of the drawer. Choose the height and width that suits your needs. You can then put your nail polish between the elastic and the side of the drawer.
Sounds like a neat idea to me. To bad there is no drawer in my bathroom. Maybe in the next apartment I can do this.
thanks for stopping by.. lets keep saving together... Grace
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Planning My Menu For The Week
I know that planning menus and making grocery lists saves money, time and headaches, but somehow I go week by week without really making a plan . I can find myself making way too many trips to the grocery store, wandering down the aisles trying to decide what's for supper. Worst yet is grabbing a Pizza to take home or going out to eat which is even more costly.Some people like to plan menus for a month, but I like to plan once a week.since I like to shop once a week . I also no longer have room for more than a week's groceries. There is no large pantry to fill up like we had in Texas.
I have a ring binder that has some of my favorite recipes and also recipes I want to give a try someday. I am great at printing recipes and letting them pile up. I keep my favorite recipes in plastic sheets to protect them from splatters. Some are printed, others are hand written from friends, my mother and even myself. I so enjoy seeing my mom's hand writing. Can be comforting.
First thing I do is look at the new grocery ads to see what is on sale at the stores and then look at some of my recipe choices to come up with menu ideas for the week. I then gather my coupons and plan my shopping trip.
At this time I have about 30 different menu ideas, with that and the recipes I have not tried , plus searching on line for new recipes I can hopefully add a little variety to the dinner hour.
I like to print some of these pretty menu planning forms to write my menus on. There are several choices. I like the One Week Menu Planner with grocery list attached. I keep these in my recipe binder so they are always handy.
I have a small book shelf in my tiny kitchen. On it I have some of my favorite cook books, my recipe binder and my coupon binder. Also there is room for my new pots and pans ( they are a pretty blue and it has been years since I got new cookware and these were a gift from my sweet sister), my crock pot and electric fry pan.
My goal for the this month is to organize my recipe binder better and come up with more menu choices. Things can get very boring with out variety at dinner time.
Another goal is to start making double of my recipes and freezing them for future meals.
How to you plan your menu for the week. I would love to hear your ideas...
Thanks for stopping by .. and Never Under Estimate The Value Of A Small Amount Of Money.. Grace
At this time I have about 30 different menu ideas, with that and the recipes I have not tried , plus searching on line for new recipes I can hopefully add a little variety to the dinner hour.
I like to print some of these pretty menu planning forms to write my menus on. There are several choices. I like the One Week Menu Planner with grocery list attached. I keep these in my recipe binder so they are always handy.
I have a small book shelf in my tiny kitchen. On it I have some of my favorite cook books, my recipe binder and my coupon binder. Also there is room for my new pots and pans ( they are a pretty blue and it has been years since I got new cookware and these were a gift from my sweet sister), my crock pot and electric fry pan.
My goal for the this month is to organize my recipe binder better and come up with more menu choices. Things can get very boring with out variety at dinner time.
Another goal is to start making double of my recipes and freezing them for future meals.
How to you plan your menu for the week. I would love to hear your ideas...
Thanks for stopping by .. and Never Under Estimate The Value Of A Small Amount Of Money.. Grace
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
David Ramsey and the Legacy Drawer
The following was sent to me through and email from David Ramsey... I enjoy reading his books and listening to him on the radio. You can visit him at http://www.daveramsey.com/
Thought this was worth while sharing with you and printing out to share with my husband. It is now on my to do list in case something happens to either one of us or both of us.
Start A Legacy Drawer Part three in our series of getting your life organized is about the Legacy Drawer. If you've listened to Dave for any amount of time, you've heard him talk about the Legacy Drawer. So what is it?
Basically, it's a drawer that houses all of the important information your family needs in case something happens to you. Preparing for when you are no longer here is not a fun task, but it's crucial to do this for your family. Every household needs a Legacy Drawer. It doesn't matter if you're single with no kids or 76 and have 12 grandkids—you need a Legacy Drawer. It's the last gift you will give your family, so make it a good one. If you truly care about your loved ones, you will take the time to create a Legacy Drawer.
The drawer should be somewhere in your home and contain everything your spouse or family needs to know if you aren't around—anything that has to do with your financial life should be in that drawer. You must organize it in a way that anyone can find a specific document in 30 seconds. All files should be clearly marked, in order, and easy for a grieving family member to find. There's no need to go into extreme detail when creating your Legacy Drawer. Simply include the appropriate documents in an easy-to-understand format, and you're good to go! We recommend that your Legacy Drawer contain 11 things. Although it may seem daunting to gather all of this material together, you will be happy you did once the Legacy Drawer is created.
Cover Letter. This is simply a letter stating the purpose of the Legacy Drawer. Nothing fancy, just a way to introduce your loved ones to the contents of the drawer.
Will & Estate Plans. All information pertaining to your will and estate, including names of the executor and Power of Attorney should be located in one file.
Financial Accounts. Anything that has money in it and your name on it should be listed in the Legacy Drawer. This includes account names, amount and account numbers.
Funeral Instructions. All details and specifications for funeral plans should be listed so the family can fulfill your wishes. If you are married, you need one for you and one for your spouse.
Insurance Policies. All insurance information, including health, car, disability, term life, etc., should be combined into one single document for easy reference. List the type of insurance, who the policy is for, contact information and policy numbers.
Important Documents. Any legal or other important documents you have should be noted in the file. This includes deeds, birth certificates, Social Security cards and titles.
Legacy Letters. Since the intention behind the Legacy Drawer is to keep your legacy going after you've passed away, it's a great idea to include letters to your loved ones.
Monthly Budget. Add a copy of your written budget, so your spouse or loved ones know how to operate your household once you're gone. This will help your family keep track of bills and focus on more important things.
Tax Returns. Keeping tax returns in your Legacy Drawer is like an insurance policy for yourself in the event that you get audited from the IRS. Hopefully you never have to pull them out, but if you do, at least you are prepared.
Safe Deposit Box. Keep copies of all your Legacy Drawer papers in a safe deposit box—you can never be too careful. Include information in your Legacy Drawer on where your safe deposit box is and who has access to it.
Passwords. Write down all passwords, combinations, usernames and PIN numbers. This information allows your loved ones access to any documents, money or information that is left when you are gone.
If you put your mind to it, you can create your Legacy Drawer in 30 days! It's tedious to gather all of the documents and paperwork that goes into the drawer, but it's a necessary task in order to protect you and your family. Interested in learning more great ways to keep you and your family ahead of the game? Check out Financial Peace University, a 13-week course that teaches you about insurance, investments and preparing for the future. During April 5-12, a free FPU lesson will be open to anyone. Don't miss out on this great opportunity! Sign up today!
Hope that you enjoyed reading this and that you will give it some thought. Grace
Thought this was worth while sharing with you and printing out to share with my husband. It is now on my to do list in case something happens to either one of us or both of us.
Start A Legacy Drawer Part three in our series of getting your life organized is about the Legacy Drawer. If you've listened to Dave for any amount of time, you've heard him talk about the Legacy Drawer. So what is it?
Basically, it's a drawer that houses all of the important information your family needs in case something happens to you. Preparing for when you are no longer here is not a fun task, but it's crucial to do this for your family. Every household needs a Legacy Drawer. It doesn't matter if you're single with no kids or 76 and have 12 grandkids—you need a Legacy Drawer. It's the last gift you will give your family, so make it a good one. If you truly care about your loved ones, you will take the time to create a Legacy Drawer.
The drawer should be somewhere in your home and contain everything your spouse or family needs to know if you aren't around—anything that has to do with your financial life should be in that drawer. You must organize it in a way that anyone can find a specific document in 30 seconds. All files should be clearly marked, in order, and easy for a grieving family member to find. There's no need to go into extreme detail when creating your Legacy Drawer. Simply include the appropriate documents in an easy-to-understand format, and you're good to go! We recommend that your Legacy Drawer contain 11 things. Although it may seem daunting to gather all of this material together, you will be happy you did once the Legacy Drawer is created.
Cover Letter. This is simply a letter stating the purpose of the Legacy Drawer. Nothing fancy, just a way to introduce your loved ones to the contents of the drawer.
Will & Estate Plans. All information pertaining to your will and estate, including names of the executor and Power of Attorney should be located in one file.
Financial Accounts. Anything that has money in it and your name on it should be listed in the Legacy Drawer. This includes account names, amount and account numbers.
Funeral Instructions. All details and specifications for funeral plans should be listed so the family can fulfill your wishes. If you are married, you need one for you and one for your spouse.
Insurance Policies. All insurance information, including health, car, disability, term life, etc., should be combined into one single document for easy reference. List the type of insurance, who the policy is for, contact information and policy numbers.
Important Documents. Any legal or other important documents you have should be noted in the file. This includes deeds, birth certificates, Social Security cards and titles.
Legacy Letters. Since the intention behind the Legacy Drawer is to keep your legacy going after you've passed away, it's a great idea to include letters to your loved ones.
Monthly Budget. Add a copy of your written budget, so your spouse or loved ones know how to operate your household once you're gone. This will help your family keep track of bills and focus on more important things.
Tax Returns. Keeping tax returns in your Legacy Drawer is like an insurance policy for yourself in the event that you get audited from the IRS. Hopefully you never have to pull them out, but if you do, at least you are prepared.
Safe Deposit Box. Keep copies of all your Legacy Drawer papers in a safe deposit box—you can never be too careful. Include information in your Legacy Drawer on where your safe deposit box is and who has access to it.
Passwords. Write down all passwords, combinations, usernames and PIN numbers. This information allows your loved ones access to any documents, money or information that is left when you are gone.
If you put your mind to it, you can create your Legacy Drawer in 30 days! It's tedious to gather all of the documents and paperwork that goes into the drawer, but it's a necessary task in order to protect you and your family. Interested in learning more great ways to keep you and your family ahead of the game? Check out Financial Peace University, a 13-week course that teaches you about insurance, investments and preparing for the future. During April 5-12, a free FPU lesson will be open to anyone. Don't miss out on this great opportunity! Sign up today!
Hope that you enjoyed reading this and that you will give it some thought. Grace
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