Free Printable Household Organization Binder

I love to be organized and all the fun organization printables available, but I found I wanted things changed here and there to fit my needs.  So I created my own Household Organizational Binder and I have included the Free Printables.

Click on the following for all of the Free Household Organization Binder Printables:

Set 1 (portrait)   Set 2 (landscape) 

Spring Clean List       Weekly Cleaning A     Weekly Cleaning B

(***The weekly cleaning downloads, have no preview.  The preview image had an error, so just click the download button that appears to get the Weekly Cleaning Printables***)

My Household Organization Binder includes 10 sections:

1. Schedule

2. Cleaning

3. Meal Plan

4. Food Storage

5. Budget

6. Projects

7. Blog

8. My Goals

9. Family Goals

10. Contacts & Resources

The Schedule section includes: Daily, Weekly & Monthly Agendas and Calendars. A Year @ A Glance, list of Holidays *I also include our families work, sports, & school schedules.

The Cleaning section includes: Cleaning Chore Cards and Sheet, 5 minute Clean Up List, Spring Clean Out and Problem Zones Sheet, House Hold Job Calendar, & Thorough Entire Home Spring Cleaning List

The Meal Plan section includes: Weekly and Monthly Meal Planning Sheets, Entertaining Planning, Shopping Lists, Family Menus, Seasonal Menus, Freezer Meal Lists, & Frozen Meal Preparation List.

The Food Storage section includes: Freezer Inventory, Pantry/Food Storage Inventory, & 3 Month Supply Plans. 

The Budget Section Includes: Coming in Future Blog Post of it's own.

The Projects section includes: Project Lists, Ideas and Resources, Short/Long Term, Small/Big Lists.

The Blog section includes: An Idea and Resource List & Calendar. 

The My Goals section includes: Personal Weekly, Monthly, and Long Term Goal Lists. *A Weekly Goal Check Off Chart not included & notes for my thoughts.

The Family Goals section includes: Family Weekly, Monthly, & Long Term Goal Lists,  A Funny Moments List, *And in mine I add A Weekly Goal Check Off Chart, & Ideas/Resources to help us reach the goals.

The Contacts section includes: Lists of contacts (address, email, phone, etc), Resource List, Babysitting Information Sheet, *And here I include all of our contact lists, directories etc.

This little binder is "my life".  It keeps me organized and on track.  And it gives me a place to put the important papers, notes, etc. Some pages I put in sheet protectors and write on with a white board marker, others I print out and write directly on.  

Many of the lists I created have multiple versions, so look around and find what works for you!  Enjoy.

Emergency Binder: Free Printables

I have been compiling a Family Emergency Binder. 

Things like: Evacuation Plans, Emergency Plans, Medical Information, Family Information, & Important Contacts.

While researching different Emergency Information I stumbled across these printables:

These are from Pinch a Little Save a Lot.

She has a great website I highly recommend looking through, and these printables are excellent.

Supper concise and they include all the basics.

So I used those and added this Personal Information Sheet myself.

It is for identification purposes.  

Print off, add a picture, information and finger prints of children.

Free Printable Emergency Information Sheet

(click on the picture to enlarge and print)

Another Great Site with free printables...these are very thorough and great information.

From: Prepared Not Scared

And more Printable Labels

More Labels!

Just some basic labels.  I have been organizing the office/work space.

So more labels it is.  

For previous labels look: here & here.

Free Printable Labels.

(click on image to enlarge then save or print)

Sea Foam:

 Taupe:

Coral:

 Dusty Blue:

Beige:

 Sunshine Yellow:

More Printable Labels

So, I went a little label crazy.  It goes along with my organizing craze.  Something about spring cleaning leading to organizing...and it just keeps me going.  New storage containers, so new labels.

These are similar to the Kid's Room Labels found: here.

And a few different colors for different closets & cupboards.

Enjoy!

Free Printable Labels:

(click on image to enlarge, then save or print)

Kid Room Labels- Free Printables

I have been reorganizing the kids rooms.  It seems like it is a regular event.  They grow through clothes and toys quickly when they are little that I keep rotating things out.  

I just finished making some easy inexpensive storage bins out of old diaper boxes and contact paper that I will post about soon. But here are the labels I made and thought I would share. Enjoy!

Free Printable Kid Labels:

(click to enlarge and save/print)

Thanksgiving Leftovers

So there are always left overs and initially I love making the traditional Turkey Sandwich with cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and gravy on homemade rolls.  But after that, left overs get a little old.  So here are a few of my favorite recipes that use Thanksgiving Left Overs.

Here are tons of recipes from Rachel Ray.
Recipes found: here
And another by Rachel Ray found: here


I like that their is more than just Turkey Casserole, where you still feel like it's the same thing.  There's Turkey and Rice recipes, Soups, Enchiladas, etc.

And when I just need something on the fresh side I like,
Turkey Salad with Cranberries found: here



*I also freeze left overs and I like to make stock and freeze it in ice cube trays.  9 ice cubes equals 1 cup.

Key words: Turkey leftovers, Thanksgiving leftovers, Turkey leftovers recipes, Thanksgiving leftovers recipes.

White Board Calendar

I am all about calendars, planners...anything to keep me organized. But if it is going to be out or seen, I want one that looks cute. And, I like it to be reusable. (Less cost and effort).

So, I took an old picture from a garage sale. Removed the picture, painted the plain oak frame black. 

Used some Scrapbook paper for the background. 

Then glued on this Calendar, this Grocery List Square & Reminder Square.

And there you have it...a Calendar, Grocery List, Reminders, Meal Planning, etc...all in one place.

For more information on how I use this calendar for Weekly and Monthly Meal planning click: here

Food Storage Labels

I reorganized my food storage.

I added labels so that it looks nice and organized

& for my underlying purpose: hoping it will help my husband know where to put and find items.

So...here they are:

Sample Picture

Free Download and Printable Food Storage Labels: click here

*print on regular 8.5x11 inch paper

Kids Chore Charts

We are finally at the stage where my son can do simple chores. 

To help he see his accomplishments and track them...along with earning a few privileges and some fun incentives...I made him a Chore Chart.  The bottom one, was the first one I made, but it was a little mature for him. The top one was better...but I am now working on making the chore tiles in images, not words.  They are soon to come.

But to download them for yourself, click the link below each picture.

Laminate and add magnetic strips!

 Free Download and Printable Chore Chart found: here

Chore Chart Tiles found: here

Free Download and Printable Chore Chart found: here

Printable: Little Daily To Do List's

 While I have been doing a bit more reorganizing...I made some little Daily To Do printables.

*Update: I have received lots of emails through Google Documents requesting I "share" these.  They are "shared" and "editable" to everyone.  No request needed, but some of the confusion might be coming, because these are JPEGs.  I hope this helps clear up any questions.

Free Download and Printable Daily to do List found: here

Free Download and Printable Daily to do List found: here

Free Download and Printable Daily to do List found: here

keywords: Free Download Daily to Do Lists, To Do list, Daily Tasks, Free Organization Printables

Little Lunch Notes & Reminder Notes

Here are some simple notes to add to a lunch, briefcase, sports bag, etc.

Whether they need a little reminder or you just want to leave a sweet message.  These make it easy.

Free Download and Printable found: here

Free Download and Printable found: here

keywords: Free Lunch Notes, Free Notes, Reminders, Reminder Notes, Cute Lunch Notes, Kid Notes

Printable Love You Notes

My sweet husband sent me out for a Mother's Day manicure and pedicure and when I came home...

He had not only watched, fed, and put the kids down for naps.  But he did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and scrubbed it spotless...I was thrilled.

So, I just wanted to leave him a little treat with a few notes mentioning why I love and appreciate him.

And I figured I may as well share them.

Just print and fill in a short message...and a small treat is always nice too.

Free Download and Printable found: here

keywords: Free Printables, Free Printable Notes, I love you notes, Love Notes

More on Meal Planning

Previously in my Meal Planning Post (found here: Meal Planning)

I explained the way I plan meals and shop for them...well I have since made some changes, for the better. 

Meal Planning:

My new meal planning goal is to simplify.

Although I love cooking, dinner time is the craziest time in my house. It is when the kids are the fussiest and we are usually trying to rush out the door. And where ever I am my children want to be too. This makes it hard to cook anything complicated.

In addition, I also like to challenge myself to make my money stretch further. I hate wasting extra ingredients or even buying random expensive ingredients...

So I came up with a new plan.

1.First I start with my Monthly Calendar.

Downloadable here: Calendar with Meal Plan

Each week I plan 5 meals.
        (Assuming there will be at least 2 days where we will go out, have left overs, etc.)

For these 5 days, 2 out of the week will be “2x Meals”.
    This means the meal will make 2 meals. One we will eat and the other I will freeze. So if you do the math, really you make one 2x meal
      a week and you pull out a frozen one from a previous week.


Then for the other 3 meals:
      One is a “Crock Pot Meal”. Always fast and easy. 
      One is a “30 Min. Meal”. Meals that average 30 minutes in the kitchen.
      And the 5th is an “Other”. This is where I put in a meal that is fun, complicated, or just something I'm in the mood for.


Then looking at the calendar I figure which days need which kind of meal.
 
2. Next, I take my Meal Idea list. 
 

Download new list here: Meal Ideas

     (which has now been added to and categorizes the meals into the categories above: 2x Meal, Crock Pot, 30 Min., & Other. And taken even a step further...those categories are also separated by food type, ie: mexican, italian, etc).

   I hope I am not losing you.

 
For the 5 meals in the week I try to choose each from a different food type.
 
    So this week:
       2x Meal: Chicken Different  American Comfort
       2x Meal: Enchiladas  Mexican
       Crock Pot: St. Patrick's Day Meal (Cornbeef, Cabbage & Potatoes) Specialty
         30 min meal: Lasagna Toss Italian
       Other: Grilled Reuben Sandwhiches Sandwich/Other
 
 

 
 
So that is the basic Idea. But here are a few additional tips I consider:
 
-Ingredients.  When picking my meals I think: which perishable items are needed? Then pick multiple meals that use them.  If I am using sour cream in my enchiladas, then I might pick a meal with baked potatoes or something else that requires sour cream, etc.
 
-Any chance I get I "multi task".  So if I am cooking noodles, I make double and freeze the rest in a ziplock bag.  Then the next meal needing noodles I only have to heat them in the microwave and they are ready in minutes.  If a recipe calls for cooked chicken, I cook double and freeze the rest...saving time for the next time a recipe needs cooked chicken.
 
-What is on sale: Looking at the adds, if something is on a great sale that week, I choose a recipe to accomidate.
 
-Flexibility: Often something comes up, something is on sale, I have extra ingredients I need to use up, etc.  Well, I just shift the meals around.  That is what is so convenient with a weekly and monthly plan.  Non perishable ingredients can be saved and only buy the perishable the week needed.
 
And Finally:
 
Here are some other meal planning sheets to try:
 
Meal Planning Sheet A
Meal Planning Sheet B

Meal Planning Sheet C

 

link: here

Weekly Calendar

Adding to my "lists" here is a weekly planner.  This I also laminate so I can reuse.

Download here: Weekly Planner A

Download Here: Weekly Planner B

Daily To Do Slips

I am a huge list person. With out a list I tend to go in circles.  But I also like mine organized and the random pieces of paper and post it notes everywhere aren't doing it for me.  So...I made some reusable Daily to do slips.

I laminated them so that I can reuse them like a white board.


To use them yourself, click on the following link:  Daily To Do Slips
Then print. Laminate.  And reuse.

House Cleaning Schedule

Cleaning alone can be overwhelming.  And the larger the house the more to clean.  Then there are the "chores" that don't need to be done daily or weekly but more monthly and even seasonal... I find it easier to split it up so that things don't build up and become even more work.

So on my usual day I like to clean for an hour or two each morning, to keep the cleaning up and the house tidy. So instead of a full day of cleaning I split up all the chores between 6 days of the week, and rotate in the monthly and seasonal chores as well.  Below is a basic schedule I follow...but it may require tweeking for your schedule or your house.

House Cleaning Schedule:

 

Daily
Make Beds (5-10 min)
Pick Up (5-10 min)
Wipe Down Bathrooms (5-10 min)
Wipe Down Kitchen (10 min. repeated throughout day)
Dinner
Dishes & Sweep (after dinner)
Load/Unload Dishwasher (as needed)
Each Day Do one section of Weekly

 

Weekly:
(Assign a day of the week for each letter, leaving one day free...for you!)

 

     A. Dust
         Vacuum
         Mop
     B. Change Sheets
     C. Laundry
     D. Meal Preparation/Freezer Meals
     E. Scrub Kitchen (Microwave)
     F. Sat. Chores:
         -Scrub Bathrooms (shower/tub trade off)
         -Sat. Outdoor Jobs

 

**On Designated Day:
*Grocery Shopping
*Collect Trash and put Can of Curb

 

Monthly:
 (each "letter" below is to be combined with the Weekly chores for that day.
For example: Day A you Dust, Vacuum, & Mop AND do one of the Monthly listed chores with the "A" label below.  So either baseboards/Vacuum behind furniture and Hose vac the edges OR Wax Floors.)

 

     A. Baseboards/Vacuum behind furniture and Hose vacuum edges of floors.
     A. Wax Floors
     B. Windows/Mirrors/Window Sills
     B. Blinds and Drapes
     C. Straighten Closets/Pantries
     D. Rinse Trashcans
     D. Seasonal/Yearly (rotate through the List below)
     E. Refrigerator, Oven, Dishwasher
     F. Showers/Tubs
     F. Wash Cars

 

Seasonal/Yearly:

• Clean Small and Large Appliances
• Clean Carpets
• Clean out Closets, Bedrooms
• Scrub and Clean out Cupboard
• Clean Drains
• Update Food Storage
• Update First Aid Kit
• Update Emergency Kit

Spring Cleaning

I happen to LOVE spring cleaning, I like to do it more than just spring and I look forward to it.  It just feels so good to know it is deeply cleaned, fresh, and smelling good.  So here are a few tips to help in your spring cleaning efforts.

Overly basic but worth remembering:
-First: don't leave all your cleaning for one day. Split it up amongst the days, weeks and years. So that when you do get to your Spring Cleaning day, you can do the really deep hard stuff. Look at this Cleaning Schedule I posted here.
-Have a plan: List all the jobs you need to do, the order of which need to be done first, and make sure you have all the supplies.
-Carry a tote/bucket with commonly used supplies so you aren't running back to get forgotten items.
-Piles: I'm all about piles.  Instead of running back and forth all day, as you are working in one room or area make piles of the things that need to go upstairs, in the trash, or to their designated place.  Then when you are all done you can take care of the piles.


Kitchen:
-Microwave: Before cleaning the microwave, microwave a small glass of water for 2-4 minutes.  This softens any spills or splatters that have built up and hardened on the walls of the microwave...makes for much faster cleaning.
-Dishwasher, run your empty dishwasher with vinegar in place of detergent.  Followed by another cycle using lemon juice. This will clean your dishwasher, remove build up, and the lemon leaves a fresh scent. I also like to finish by wiping down the door and cleaning any cracks and crevices.
-Oven after cleaning your oven, line the bottom with an oven liner, or with foil.  This catches any drips and spills in future baking and can be easily removed to keep from burning and keeping your oven clean.
-Hard Water and Mineral Deposits:  Use a strong cleaner like CLR, or SHOWER POWER.  Spray them and let them soak on the area while you clean something else.  So that they have loosed when you go to clean them.
-Use a butter knife inside a washcloth to scrape and clean out the cracks and hard build up in places like you sink faucet.
-Don't forget the back splash and the walls...these often have splatters and drips on them!

Floors:
-Spoon: a spoon can easily scratch shoe scuffs off of the floor.
-Don't forget the baseboards...they get dirty! and are often forgotten.  After cleaning use a Magic Eraser or even better a little paint to touch up marks and scuffs that don't wipe off.

Clogged Drains or just Freshen Drains:
- Pour 1/2 c. baking soda & 1 c. vinegar down the drain through a funnel. The mixture will foam up considerably & unclog drain. When there's no more foam, flush drain with hot tap water. After 5 min,
flush drain again with cold water. It also deodorize drain.
-To speed up a slow drain, pour 1/2 c. salt followed by 2 c. boiling vinegar down drain. Flush with hot water, then cold water & drain will be much faster.

Washing Windows and Mirrors:
-Use newspaper instead of a rag or paper towel.  The newspaper doesn't leave streaks or dust & lint from the rag behind!

Toilets:
-The "ring" of minerals and water deposits that build up in a toilet can be removed using a pumice stone.
Showers and Tubs:
-As I have said before...Shower Power, it works like a charm!
-Also, use an old credit card to scrape the walls, it scratches build up and soap scum amazingly well!

Extras:
-Electrical switches:Wipe down light and electrical switches.  These are rarely cleaned but collect dirt from constant contact.
-Lights: Wipe down lights.  Again rarely cleaned, but they collect lots of dust and dead bugs.

Lowering Your Grocery Bill with the help of Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom found here, is currently doing 31 days to a Better Budget.  In her posts she explains great ways to use a budget, meal planning (with easy downloads to use), couponing, stocking your supply, not over purchasing, and more to come...

I love this series because she explains things well and give lots of resources to use.  And although I did give a simple explanation of how I meal plan, grocery shop, and price match...hers is another great perspective and she explains things better than I ever could.  So go here to read all of the posts in the series!

Meal Planning download found here.