As a busy wife and mum of three amazing children and a carer to a house full of animals, I find staying on top of things hard to do. Don’t we all.

Housework, banking, school runs and lunches, shopping, helping with assignments, washing, washing and more washing all while keeping the peace between children and making sure everyone is happy, it takes up a lot of time and energy, and I feel it doesn’t leave alot of time for me.

I made a promise to myself to make more ‘me time’, and my chosen relaxation, is sewing. I tend to get side tracked, be it the hubby, children or animals. I always seem to get involved with everyone elses projects and not my own.

I figured the only way to get a bit of time for myself was to schedule it into my day. I need to make a date and time to do something productive and creative just for myself, or other wise I would get caught up in life stuff and no sewing would ever get done. I was not going to have a repeat of last year.

Don’t get me wrong I do get time to myself but I tend to try to catch up on family life stuff and by the time I end up wanting to get creative and start to pick up the sewing needle and thread, schools out and well then there is sport practice, drum lessons, tutoring, dinner and then bed. the day goes to quick.

I am a list maker, if it is not written down it won’t always get done. The problem in that is, there are bits of paper everywhere. I needed a place to put everything.

A noticeboard !

A noticeboard would be a big help to keep track of all my ideas, things to buy and things to do. I had a large foam board thingy that my hubby had bought home for me and a yellow second-hand tablecloth, and set about covering it to make it look pretty. Hey if something is dull and boring why would you use it. Pretty and bright was the theme here, as this noticeboard would be used.

A simple idea turned into a time consuming ordeal. I just don’t have the knack to use a staple gun. It kept having a hissy fit (so did I) but Hubby to the rescue. He walks in from work and like my guardian craft angel, sets to work sorting out the staples, at times putting in quite a few more than necessary. But hey I wasn’t having any luck, so I wasn’t going to complain.

The dreaded staple gun

It turned out great. Nice and big too so it would hold lots of notes. Notes, paper, I needed some and also a diary so that me time could be scheduled properly. (I know everyone uses their phone these days but technology and I, don’t see eye to eye, paper and pen is how I roll)  A trip to Officeworks was in order.

I took my daughter and we pondered over diaries, thumbtacks and cute little post it notes (so many cute little paper products to choose from) My daughter didn’t think it mattered whether I got love hearts or apples, but to me as a visual learner, if something is pleasing to the eye I will more likely look at it each day, that means things will get done.

So now I have one diary filling up with ‘me time’ and one cute noticeboard ….. FULL of STUFF. Oh dear.

My new motto is. One step at a time or one post it note at a time.

Anyway it’s getting on,nearly time for my sewing date with a denim skirt and some cute teddies.

Happy Organising everyone

Love yourself and make some time for you.

What works for you when it comes to organising your ideas?

Are you a pen and paper kind of crafter or do you prefer the new technology?

What apps work best for your organisation needs?