Hi, my name is Chenoa and I’m addicted to Pinterest (and Facebook but let’s move slowly here). I’m sure my fellow Pinterest addicts have seen the numerous pins for Home Management Binders. I have several pinned under my “Organization” board and I pinned some of them over a year ago.
I decided to finally commit to creating one. Some of the pins I’ve found really didn’t link to anything other than a photo of a binder from Flickr or some other photo only site and that’s just not helpful because I already know what a binder looks like.

Other sites had a ton of different tabs that seemed to be a bit redundant. So, I basically went through and came up with what I THINK will work for my family. I went through our home office and came to the conclusion that along with my Pinterest (and Facebook) addiction, I hoard office supplies. Strange but handy when you are looking for random dividers and office supplies!

I went pin by pin and printed out and wrote down thing that I liked and looked at lists of tabs that other people used and then assessed whether they were pertinent to our household. Example, some people had tabs for “Yard sales”, we’ve never had a yard sale so, I doubt reserving an entire tab for this would be necessary.  Other sites had a calendar for Meal planning and another calendar for appointments and one for bills. I know that I’d forget to check one calendar or the other so, I have a section for bills in the front and then a single household calendar.

I also have a commitment issue and I didn’t want to commit to permanently labeling my tabs till I was sure what would work so, I have temporary Post-it flags which have been rearranged over and over.
So, let’s breakdown my binder, I started with “Meal Planning” as this is something that is done weekly and if not done properly turns into an astronomically high grocery bill. I created a Post-It note grid so that I can rearrange meals until things make sense and it appealed to my non committal side. I slid it into a page protector and voila, done!

My next page is a Weekly To Do printable I found here I’ll use this as a way to plan out thing that are important enough to want to accomplish but maybe not necessary to put as a full on appointment on a calendar.

Next section was the fun stuff, bills. This is my weak spot when it comes to responsibility, I have to admit. (I must have taken an honesty pill this morning because I’m just giving away all my deepest confessions today!) This section helps kill two birds with one stone. It should help cut down clutter and keep me on track with not missing a bill due date here and there. I put a pocket tab in this section specifically to place unpaid bills on the front and a “to be filed” pocket on the back so that it’s easy to tell what’s been paid and needs to be filed away. Behind this are January through December tabs that house a calendar of when bills are due per month. This year we will have more medical bills with baby due soon and more baby visits. This will give us a way to incorporate and budget for those expenses throughout the month.

Next, I included my “other” sections. These include a Calendar, Meal Planning with ideas for cheap meals, favorite recipes and such, Freezer/Pantry Inventory sheet, Household Goals and lastly the Blog.

The blog section will most likely become it’s own binder. This is my new organization binder. I plan to do a follow up post every 90 days to keep myself accountable for using it and decide what works and doesn’t work for our household.

Some of my favorite Pinned blogs:
http://www.thebutterflymom.com/2013/07/17/the-ultimate-home-management-binder/
http://creativelifedesigns1.blogspot.com/2012/06/home-management-binder-finished.html
http://besimplyorganized.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-bloggers-binder-take-2.html
http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2013/07/post-it-notes-grids/

Hi, my name is Chenoa and I’m addicted to Pinterest (and Facebook but let’s move slowly here). I’m sure my fellow Pinterest addicts have seen the numerous pins for Home Management Binders. I have several pinned under my “Organization” board and I pinned some of them over a year ago.
I decided to finally commit to creating one. Some of the pins I’ve found really didn’t link to anything other than a photo of a binder from Flickr or some other photo only site and that’s just not helpful because I already know what a binder looks like.

Other sites had a ton of different tabs that seemed to be a bit redundant. So, I basically went through and came up with what I THINK will work for my family. I went through our home office and came to the conclusion that along with my Pinterest (and Facebook) addiction, I hoard office supplies. Strange but handy when you are looking for random dividers and office supplies!

I went pin by pin and printed out and wrote down thing that I liked and looked at lists of tabs that other people used and then assessed whether they were pertinent to our household. Example, some people had tabs for “Yard sales”, we’ve never had a yard sale so, I doubt reserving an entire tab for this would be necessary.  Other sites had a calendar for Meal planning and another calendar for appointments and one for bills. I know that I’d forget to check one calendar or the other so, I have a section for bills in the front and then a single household calendar.

I also have a commitment issue and I didn’t want to commit to permanently labeling my tabs till I was sure what would work so, I have temporary Post-it flags which have been rearranged over and over.
So, let’s breakdown my binder, I started with “Meal Planning” as this is something that is done weekly and if not done properly turns into an astronomically high grocery bill. I created a Post-It note grid so that I can rearrange meals until things make sense and it appealed to my non committal side. I slid it into a page protector and voila, done!

My next page is a Weekly To Do printable I found here I’ll use this as a way to plan out thing that are important enough to want to accomplish but maybe not necessary to put as a full on appointment on a calendar.

Next section was the fun stuff, bills. This is my weak spot when it comes to responsibility, I have to admit. (I must have taken an honesty pill this morning because I’m just giving away all my deepest confessions today!) This section helps kill two birds with one stone. It should help cut down clutter and keep me on track with not missing a bill due date here and there. I put a pocket tab in this section specifically to place unpaid bills on the front and a “to be filed” pocket on the back so that it’s easy to tell what’s been paid and needs to be filed away. Behind this are January through December tabs that house a calendar of when bills are due per month. This year we will have more medical bills with baby due soon and more baby visits. This will give us a way to incorporate and budget for those expenses throughout the month.

Next, I included my “other” sections. These include a Calendar, Meal Planning with ideas for cheap meals, favorite recipes and such, Freezer/Pantry Inventory sheet, Household Goals and lastly the Blog.

The blog section will most likely become it’s own binder. This is my new organization binder. I plan to do a follow up post every 90 days to keep myself accountable for using it and decide what works and doesn’t work for our household.

Some of my favorite Pinned blogs:
http://www.thebutterflymom.com/2013/07/17/the-ultimate-home-management-binder/
http://creativelifedesigns1.blogspot.com/2012/06/home-management-binder-finished.html
http://besimplyorganized.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-bloggers-binder-take-2.html
http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2013/07/post-it-notes-grids/

Hi, my name is Chenoa and I’m addicted to Pinterest (and Facebook but let’s move slowly here). I’m sure my fellow Pinterest addicts have seen the numerous pins for Home Management Binders. I have several pinned under my “Organization” board and I pinned some of them over a year ago.
I decided to finally commit to creating one. Some of the pins I’ve found really didn’t link to anything other than a photo of a binder from Flickr or some other photo only site and that’s just not helpful because I already know what a binder looks like.

Other sites had a ton of different tabs that seemed to be a bit redundant. So, I basically went through and came up with what I THINK will work for my family. I went through our home office and came to the conclusion that along with my Pinterest (and Facebook) addiction, I hoard office supplies. Strange but handy when you are looking for random dividers and office supplies!

I went pin by pin and printed out and wrote down thing that I liked and looked at lists of tabs that other people used and then assessed whether they were pertinent to our household. Example, some people had tabs for “Yard sales”, we’ve never had a yard sale so, I doubt reserving an entire tab for this would be necessary.  Other sites had a calendar for Meal planning and another calendar for appointments and one for bills. I know that I’d forget to check one calendar or the other so, I have a section for bills in the front and then a single household calendar.

I also have a commitment issue and I didn’t want to commit to permanently labeling my tabs till I was sure what would work so, I have temporary Post-it flags which have been rearranged over and over.
So, let’s breakdown my binder, I started with “Meal Planning” as this is something that is done weekly and if not done properly turns into an astronomically high grocery bill. I created a Post-It note grid so that I can rearrange meals until things make sense and it appealed to my non committal side. I slid it into a page protector and voila, done!

My next page is a Weekly To Do printable I found here I’ll use this as a way to plan out thing that are important enough to want to accomplish but maybe not necessary to put as a full on appointment on a calendar.

Next section was the fun stuff, bills. This is my weak spot when it comes to responsibility, I have to admit. (I must have taken an honesty pill this morning because I’m just giving away all my deepest confessions today!) This section helps kill two birds with one stone. It should help cut down clutter and keep me on track with not missing a bill due date here and there. I put a pocket tab in this section specifically to place unpaid bills on the front and a “to be filed” pocket on the back so that it’s easy to tell what’s been paid and needs to be filed away. Behind this are January through December tabs that house a calendar of when bills are due per month. This year we will have more medical bills with baby due soon and more baby visits. This will give us a way to incorporate and budget for those expenses throughout the month.

Next, I included my “other” sections. These include a Calendar, Meal Planning with ideas for cheap meals, favorite recipes and such, Freezer/Pantry Inventory sheet, Household Goals and lastly the Blog.

The blog section will most likely become it’s own binder. This is my new organization binder. I plan to do a follow up post every 90 days to keep myself accountable for using it and decide what works and doesn’t work for our household.

Some of my favorite Pinned blogs:
http://www.thebutterflymom.com/2013/07/17/the-ultimate-home-management-binder/
http://creativelifedesigns1.blogspot.com/2012/06/home-management-binder-finished.html
http://besimplyorganized.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-bloggers-binder-take-2.html
http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2013/07/post-it-notes-grids/

I feel like it’s taken a long time for me to let out a full breath during this pregnancy despite all signs pointing to positive pregnancy progress. But yesterday I was finally given my (almost certain) cesarean date and it’s only a month away. ONE MONTH AWAY! I’m breathing now but it might be turning into hyperventilating. Am I ready, like prepared? Is his room done, kind of, sort of. I haven’t finished all my cleaning, my “nesting” and organizing!

I blame the holidays for being a distraction and derailing my progress. That being said, I’ve decided that I’m holding myself accountable via blog. If I have to write about it, that means I have to do it. If I have to take a picture of it, then I better do it well…right?! This is my hope at least. I’m using this forum to get  me fully baby ready. I have exactly 1 month till go time.

We’ve started some projects but haven’t finished anything to completion. Welcome to the “Nesting Series”, I don’t promise that this will win any superlative for it’s masterful organization nor will it particularly happen in any sensical order. I’m sure that it won’t as a matter of fact because I’m lucky I put my clothes on in the right order in the mornings these day. But by golly, things will get done!

Starting tomorrow, enjoy the wild ride! 😉

I feel like it’s taken a long time for me to let out a full breath during this pregnancy despite all signs pointing to positive pregnancy progress. But yesterday I was finally given my (almost certain) cesarean date and it’s only a month away. ONE MONTH AWAY! I’m breathing now but it might be turning into hyperventilating. Am I ready, like prepared? Is his room done, kind of, sort of. I haven’t finished all my cleaning, my “nesting” and organizing!

I blame the holidays for being a distraction and derailing my progress. That being said, I’ve decided that I’m holding myself accountable via blog. If I have to write about it, that means I have to do it. If I have to take a picture of it, then I better do it well…right?! This is my hope at least. I’m using this forum to get  me fully baby ready. I have exactly 1 month till go time.

We’ve started some projects but haven’t finished anything to completion. Welcome to the “Nesting Series”, I don’t promise that this will win any superlative for it’s masterful organization nor will it particularly happen in any sensical order. I’m sure that it won’t as a matter of fact because I’m lucky I put my clothes on in the right order in the mornings these day. But by golly, things will get done!

Starting tomorrow, enjoy the wild ride! 😉

I feel like it’s taken a long time for me to let out a full breath during this pregnancy despite all signs pointing to positive pregnancy progress. But yesterday I was finally given my (almost certain) cesarean date and it’s only a month away. ONE MONTH AWAY! I’m breathing now but it might be turning into hyperventilating. Am I ready, like prepared? Is his room done, kind of, sort of. I haven’t finished all my cleaning, my “nesting” and organizing!

I blame the holidays for being a distraction and derailing my progress. That being said, I’ve decided that I’m holding myself accountable via blog. If I have to write about it, that means I have to do it. If I have to take a picture of it, then I better do it well…right?! This is my hope at least. I’m using this forum to get  me fully baby ready. I have exactly 1 month till go time.

We’ve started some projects but haven’t finished anything to completion. Welcome to the “Nesting Series”, I don’t promise that this will win any superlative for it’s masterful organization nor will it particularly happen in any sensical order. I’m sure that it won’t as a matter of fact because I’m lucky I put my clothes on in the right order in the mornings these day. But by golly, things will get done!

Starting tomorrow, enjoy the wild ride! 😉

Today is 25 weeks 5 days…the furthest I’ve made it in 2 pregnancies. Each day from here on out is uncharted territory. It’s the first time taking a glucose test, first time we’ll hit the 3rd trimester and God willing, first time to full term. The old full term that is, not the new 39 week full term definition. I can’t wait for all the new firsts of this pregnancy. I have pictures of this little guys big sister to really show me where he is developmentally.

With the unknown comes some fear. An excited, fear, more anxiousness. The biggest of which is whether I’ll be able to bond the same way with this little boy. When you think you may lose something, you hang on tight, you drown yourself in every second and moment that becomes available. My micro preemie had my undivided attention, my every waking thought. Can I give all that to someone when I still have someone else who needs me?

After 3 months in the hospital, I spent 3 months home with Sofia before going back to work. If I make it full term, I get a disappointingly short 8 weeks. Is it enough? Will we have “enough” time together? I hope to keep this in my mind, to spend my moments with him engaged and savor them with the same conviction I had with Sofia. I know that each child gives us a new level, a new depth…I wait, patiently, for what he will teach me and how his love will change me.