Organized Chaos :)

Happy Hump Day, Friends!  What's the bonus to a 3-day weekend??? A 4-day work week.

Can I get an amen??? :) 

Today is completely not endorsed, sponsored or brought to you by anyone but little ol' me.

I have a lot going on.  A lot.

I know that getting and staying organized can be a challenge - but I feel more relaxed and "together" when I'm organized and since today is THE DAY to pre-order the planner I use I thought it was only fitting to talk about planners today!

This was my kitchen table after school today - and this is pretty much what it looks like most afternoons (and Saturday mornings - and Sunday nights).

I've found it best to keep my school and home planners separate.  For "personal" use I use The Simplified Planner by Emily Ley and a random assortment of fun notebooks.

Yes... Mason scribbled in my planner back in June.  He even used my special pens :)

I (most likely in an annoyed voice) asked him about his "art" and he told me it was a picture of "Mommy and Mason hands holding hands in the park with flowers."  He followed it up with "and you're pretty".

That boy knows how to work me :)

The front cover has a plastic pocket.  I use it to hold stamps, invitations, pictures, etc.  And I usually keep a stash of a few stickies on it as well (since they don't lose their stick on the plastic).

There is a monthly view (which is a MUST HAVE for me).

I have to be able to see the entire month.  Have.  To.

I use it to keep track of big events - parties, evening obligations and when Greys and Scandal start back up. :)

This is where I feel the Simplified Planner sets itself apart from others.  Each day has it's own page.  Let me repeat myself - EACH DAY HAS IT'S OWN PAGE!!!

I write A LOT down and love that there's room for me to do so.  There is no method to my color madness.

There's a spot for notes which I keep for my blog post of the day and a dinner section (which, more than I'd like to admit, will say "whatever" - hahaha)

I don't really use the times on the side.  If I have an appointment I'll put it on the correct time spot - but typically it just gets filled up with notes, grocery lists, reminders, etc.

Saturday and Sunday share a page - and I love that on Sunday there's a spot for a happy memory.

This is on the inside of the back cover.  #love

The tabs have held up all year...

... and the gold corners are still in great shape.  The cover is looking pretty rough.... but I carry it everywhere with me.  This time around there are additional color options, and I'm leaning toward the navy polka dot to hide some of the nasty from my purse. (by the way, EWW!)

I also keep a random fun notebook with me pretty much all the time.  I like the hardcover ones with spiral binding and I typically pick them up at HomeGoods.

I have lots of random notes, recipes I jot down, etc.

How cute is the inside cover of this one???

Okay - just in case you're not overwhelmed enough.... I'll show all my teacher readers how I keep track of my school stuff.

I splurged a whole $10 on this bad boy at Wal-Mart.  I spruced it up with some pretty prints...

... and of course pics of my cuties :)

Again with the monthly view...

... where I keep track of big dates (tests, etc.)

Each day doesn't have a page - but I make it work.  I write out a brief blurb about what I'm doing in each of my three classes (I teach 2 Math 7s, 3 PreAlgebras and an Honors Algebra 1).  If a student is absent or I need to remember to pass something out or make an announcement I'll write it in on that day.

Since there's not tons of space I will typically paperclip a little to-do list to the page so I remember what I need to wrap up at home.

The binder I update weekly with answer keys to the homework I assign, instructions to the games we'll play in class and copies of the notes I'll be going over in class that week.  I like having the whole week in one place.

So - there you have it!  It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination - but it works for me.

If you want a Simplified Planner be sure to pre-order today and if you are a pen geek like me, you can find mine on Amazon HERE (they're on sale and they ship for free if you have Prime!)

So mamas and teachers, any great planner/organization tips for me???