Filed

I didn't make many New Year's resolutions, but when I saw that Martha Stewart had a new line of office supplies (ht Dawn) I thought I'd take another stab at managing my paperwork.  It seems particularly sensible since already I'm being inundated with medical forms and lab bills that I'll need to have organized at tax time next year.  

I didn't go overboard.  I bought myself a little binder and some dividers.  Three packages gave me a section for each month of the year, a section for each of my current children and a section for medical forms.  I'll probably need to add more later, but for now it's enough.  Behind each folder I have printed a blank monthly calendar to be filled in by hand as events come along.  

I also had the idea to print out our favorite recipes for each given month.  We tend to eat seasonally and certain recipes are made in certain months just out of tradition so this system also works.  I'm taking a very casual approach and just printing the recipes as I go along right now.  At the end of the year, it will be a nice collection that I can reference from year to year.

I hope to include a hit list for each month as well, certain activities or subjects on which to focus .  A knitting/sewing schedule would be nice too.  But I'm not hoping for perfection just yet.  This binder is currently a nice receptacle for all the important papers that come into the house and if it stays only that, that's OK.  

Note: The Martha stuff is obviously slightly more expensive and I really argued with myself before splurging but it's just the simple truth that if something is pretty I'm more likely to use it.  Having our important papers organized is worth doing right - especially this year.  

Comments

[Sarah]

I also am beginning to realize that if something is pretty I am more likely to use it more ... I need an "in box" for my desk, because I tend to make piles. [I recently read that if one makes piles, then it might help to have a nice "in box" that can contain the piles.] Anyway, I picked up an ugly red one at the dollar store. It looked awful on my desk. And it hit me that if I want to be more organized with my paper, I have to find a pretty basket or bin. Otherwise, it just won't happen! I am excited to see the MS office supplies! I am sure they are lovely.

[Sharron]

I saw the Martha stuff a few weeks ago and was absolutely giddy! I love red and aqua anyway and I had to show severe restraint!

[Donna Jannuzzi]

I called my local Staples earlier this week and they are scheduled to get her products in next week - I can hardly wait! I too, am a little giddy with excitement. Truth is, some of those awful, ugly, plastic binders are just as expensive... and they're ugly. Did I mention they are ugly!?

I want to reorganize my recipe binder too. It's getting a bit out of control and I think these are going to be the perfect solution. Breaking up recipes by season is a good idea... may have to consider doing that myself.

[Jennifer]

Yes Donna! The Martha stuff really wasnt that much more and I already this it was well worth it. The cheap binders I usually purchase are so ugly I hate to keep them handy which in turn leads to me not using them like I should.