Planning it all Out!

As a mom of three girls there are times that life can get a little chaotic hectic crazy busy, that is of course ONLY the beginning. 

All three of my girls are in different school again this year.

Dakota my oldest is going into 9th grade and will be going back to the Junior High building this year before hitting the big league next year on the High School campus. 

Alora my middle girl is headed to 7th grade and will also be headed back to the same campus as last year over at the Middle School grounds where she will be prepping for the Junior High campus for the 2017-2018 school year.

Then there is my "baby" who is headed to 4th grade and is still at the Elementary Campus which to me is WAY for fun than the other two and with a lot more happenings!

So on top of keeping up with all three of their schools and what is happening in their lives like band, choir, ROTC, etc; I have to keep up with my husbands work schedule, school schedule, when bills are due, appointments for everyone, events that we are to attend like birthday parties, get together's and such. I keep up will birthdays and anniversaries for both sides of our families, I run the blog and still working on What the Photography plus right this minute I am back to job hunting so there is the luxury of keeping up with interviews... yay.

If you are like me then I am sure that list overwhelmed you. When I sit and think about everything I am responsible for as a mom I think I am NUTS! Not to mention I do NOT have the best memory at all so then I have to figure out a way to make this all work and run smoothly...

There are a MILLION apps out there now since we are in such a tech-lovin' day in age but I will tell you right now as much of an app and tech junkie that I am I HATE using my phone or a digital device to keep me on track. 

Of course there are SEVERAL reasons why this is for me personally but to each his own: One is because I have never had the best of luck with phones. I have lost important info when my phone has reset its self etc. Two if I loose, break, or even have my phone stolen well then there goes my life.... and it would spiral into a VERY quick chaotic world.... 

So what DO I use you ask?

A Planner...

A good old fashioned, paper, use a pen to write in, tabs to pick your month planner!

There are two types of planners:

1: Annual

 Which will run your new planner from lets say January 2016-January 2017 and you might even get a bonus month or two.

2: Academic

This planner runs your planning year from June or July 2016 to June or July 2017 plus a bonus month or so also

I use the Academic planner because there is nothing I love more then trying to swap information RIGHT there at the holidays :)

In all seriousness though I do like the fact that it follows the girls and their schools years. During the summer there is a bit more "free" time that I can find to transfer dates and all with than in the middle of the holiday season when there is shopping, decorating, parties and running to take care of. 

Planners also come in MANY different sizes from pocket, 4x6, 5x7 and a LARGE 8x10 size (measurements are not accurate I am sure).

When I first started using planners back when I was 16 I used the pocket size one and it worked great for a while even with school and work... but then came baby...

I quickly found out that you are on the run MORE with a child in your life than if you were single and busy... Weird how that works. 

Anyways a baby turned into 3 over the years and the older they get the busier we are, the busier we are the bigger the planner...

I am now up to the 8x10 size and LOVE it! 

Huge areas to write in, monthly views, tabs and references galore!  

The last few years I have used Blue Sky's and I wont be turning away from them anytime soon. You can find them at your local Wal-Mart or order them online through Amazon.com like I did this year.

 

Check out this layout!

You get a HUGE monthly layout for fast reference

On top of that each month even has a a dedicated area to keep up with the finer details on whats happening in your life.

There are also LOTS of reference areas plus a quick contact list 

Nice right!
Now when it comes to keeping up with everyone's stuff and not getting it confused because I am pretty sure taking your 9 year old daughter to the OBGYN appointment set up for your 14 year old would get you mommy of the year award :) for example I color code it...

Yes folks it's that bad like that

The color coding is super easy for me to not fuck it up and since I also have a slight obsession with pens its a win when for me :)

Right now there are 10 color coded "happenings"

I LOVE these pens and you can also find them at your local store or Amazon

Here is my "cheat sheet" for my colors which is located in the back of the planner in the great note section

With us only a few weeks a way before the 2016-2017 school year I have put together my planner and feel a little bit more prepared for what this year may hold.

How do you keep it all together?