Organized Brain

I'm letting you into my Brain. Brain book that is. It's the book that is always with me. It contains my lists. Scraps of happy things. It's all inside. Bring on the pictures...
This is my current book. I pick up journals, notebooks, composition books on sale or at garage sales. Sometimes I decorate the covers. This one came as is. I'm almost ready for a new brain - this one is full.
The pages above are examples of random quotes I find. I fill up empty space in my Brain with them. I try to group phone numbers on one or two pages. I also add in fun stuff that comes my way like Grom's art work, fortunes from Chinese Food, pictures of friends and babies.
I rewrite my to do list most every day. Anything that I need to do gets put on the list. I code items with p - phone, w - work, b- blog, e- errand, etc. I have a page marker so I can find this page easy.
I use the Motivated Moms chore list to keep up with the house. I like that it's mindless for me. I just do it.
This is my habit chart for Smart Habit Saturdays. You'll see I wasn't doing that good with my habits. And some pictures of a cute baby I know from church.

I keep a running shopping list. I cross things off as I buy them.

Prayer list

Notes from teaching Bible Study

Notes from Staff Meeting at Church

I try not to have to remember anything but to make sure it gets into my Brain.

Read more GeMoOrnNo posts at
The Lazy Organizer
Multi-Tasking Mommy
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Organized Resources

Organized Junkie

It's been a busy day and I haven't had the time to get some more photos for GeMoOrgNo. Here are some links for my favorite organizing websites (above) and stores (below).






Organized A to Z


I enjoy surfing these websites for inspiration and ideas. Hope you enjoy.

I hope to be back tomorrow with some photos.

GeMoOrgNo was started by Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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Organized BFIAR

Grom and I are having a lot of fun with Before Five in a Row(BFIAR). We are both learning a lot and enjoying some classic children's books. So far I'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite. Every week we read the "best book ever".

I have one of these drawer organizers that I'm using for our BFIAR journey. I request a lot of books from the library and have supplies to gather.

I put the materials we are currently using in the top drawer.

The second drawer has stuff for the next book.

The bottom drawer has the books yet to come.

I love coming home from the library and loading up the drawers. I get to anticipate the fun, the learning and the memories.

GeMoOrgNo was started by Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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Done #65 - Get a Mac

I just ordered my MacBook. WAHOO!

5 business days and it's here.

I'm so excited.

Any Mac / Apple tips for a newbie?

Organized Surfboards

Surferman surfs. Waves, not the internet. He has a great time. All that he lacks in form and finesse he makes up with his enthusiasm. Surferman like any respectable surfer has a quiver full of boards. All longboards, but each for a different kind of wave and ocean conditions. Surferman wants them protected from the sun. I want them neat and organized (isn't that a surprise?).

Here's our solution... The Surfboard Shack.

Here's the view of it closed.

Here's the view of one of the side doors opened.

Here's the gate we (uhh.. I mean Surferman and Wonderful BIL) cut out of the fence.

And here's how the boards slide in and out.

Grom and Surferman painted it a couple of weeks ago. We used up all the leftover blue shades in our paint cupboard. I think it's going to get plastered with surf stickers and maybe a Bible verse or two.

You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. Psalm 89:9

The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Psalm 93:3

and probably "PRAY FOR SURF"

Join the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now!

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Organized Garage Sale Shopping

Most every Saturday you can find me out at garage sales. I have realized that another way that I am blessed is that I get to live in California where we don't have "Garage Sale Season" like so many parts of the U.S.

My Dad, my Mom, my Sister and Grom and I head out. I drive. Dad navigates. We have a great time and there is usually a stop at a Starbucks or similar. We have great fun, find some things to sell on ebay, find lots of stuff for Grom and my mom talks to everyone and tells them way more than they need or want to know.

Today, we were without my parents (they are travelling), but we still hit the sales. I scored 3 pairs of shoes for Grom - Vans, Tevas and Airwalks all in great shape for $1/pair. Anyway... on to the GeMoOrgNo part of this post...
We organize our outings. Every Saturday morning we scour the newspaper and Craig's List - get the addresses and plug them into our Thomas Guide Software. It's great for marking all the sales and makes it much easier to not missing any of the good stuff.


GeMoOrgNo was started by Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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Organized Silverware

The hardest thing to find at my house is a spoon. They aren't in a drawer. They're in cupboard.

I don't remember where I found this tote, but it's perfect. It comes out of the cupboard and the clean silverware is shuffled into it from the dishwasher basket. It comes out of the cupboard, goes to the dining table and the table gets set.

Join the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now!

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Organized Budget

Surferman and I have been using an envelope system for budgeting for a few months. When we started I had paper envelopes that I carried around. They always wore out way to quick.

I was doing some decluttering and found this great wallet that I had spent too much money for from Levenger. Keep me away from Levenger's I have no resistance when it comes to the stuff they sell. Stuff no one needs, but I WANT it! Anyway... I refound this great wallet. It has multiple compartments that are great for separating the cash from our different budget categories.

The blue heart is a magnet off my fridge. It covers my monogram.

Under the flap there is a zippered coin pouch.
All change goes to our change jar.
The first section holds my grocery money and receipts.
The next section holds our dining and entertainment money.
The next section holds our blow money.
The last section holds the money for fun and food with Gigi.
The back of the wallet has card holders where I keep club and loyalty cards.

There is a pocket on the outside of the wallet where I keep grocery coupons.

Dave Ramsey would be proud.

GeMoOrgNo was started by Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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Organized Calvary Kids Club Stuff

If it's Wednesday... it's Calvary Kids Club!


Today I'm showing off one of Lara's Organizing Bags. I bought a sample pack and all I can say is THEY ROCK! I keep finding better and better uses for them.

Grom started Calvary Kids Club this fall. He goes every week. He has stuff that he is supposed to take with him each week to earn beans for his age group. His kids page, his starter book and his Bible all fit easy in a large bag. He loves to carry it, and is happy to show his cKc stuff to anyone who will take the time to listen to him talk about it.

I love the pocket on the organizing bag that is sized perfectly for a business card. I got free family cards made through Vistaprint. I keep a few there and then if I meet someone new at church I can easily share our contact information.

Today's GeMoOrgNo post is a blantant commercial for Organizing Bags. Get your's today. They're great!

Read more GeMoOrnNo posts at
The Lazy Organizer
Multi-Tasking Mommy
With an Angel on my Shoulder
Just About Perfect
Tyler's Triumph

Ask Mr. Bear

I remember this book from when I was a kid. One of the fun things about doing BFIAR with Grom has been all the memories it stirs in me.

We did some of the activities from the curriculum and I found these things on the internet.

Printout for lapbook - I couldn't get Grom interested in coloring these cutouts until this week. If something comes of them, I'll post a picture later.

Fun lapbook example

Books and Music a Magical Mix - active activities (didn't get to these)

Bear Hug Puppet

Animal Scoop - Bears
Bear Den Next time, I'll do more with studying bears.

Here's a couple of pictures from our row.






Grom loved counting and sorting gummy bears. I had my first experience with Grom "stealing" food. I had our school stuff out on the table and was doing something quick in the kitchen. I glanced over and he was sneaking some bears.

We made cards that had the elements of the story. The games were to sequence the cards and also to match the animals with the gifts they offered. Grom has a sense of humor and lately he's been saying wrong things just to be funny. Stuff like... "We get milk from chickens, right Mommy?" Hard to judge what he learned with the cards, but I got a good laugh out of them.

Organized Comforters

I'm recycling a Works for Me Wednesday post for today's GeMoOrgNo. Read about how I organize our comforters here.

GeMoOrgNo was started by Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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Organized Gifts

These drawers are in the closet of my studio. They hold my gift stash. The drawers are labeled - "Adult", "Kids", "Operation Christmas Child", and "Baby"

I pick up cool things at garage sales, on sale, and some are ummm.... regifts.

I can usually find something for any occasion.

Join the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now!

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I have a WINNER!

Shelly is the lucky winner of my blogiversary giveaway! I hope the chocolate bar can be a great treat after one of her runs.

YAY Shelly!

Daily Bible Reading Update

I was doing so good with my Daily Bible Reading plan.

The best that I have ever done.

I don't know what happened. I don't know why I stopped. It happened so quickly. I tried to catch up, but I seemed to get farther and farther behind.

I gave up.

I've been thinking more about my time in God's Word than the time I actually spend. With our new earlier to bedtime routine in full swing, I'm getting up earlier and I hear my Father calling me. I haven't been opening the Word because I didn't know where to go and because I felt so discouraged by my failure at the reading plan.

I was talking to Surferman tonight. He encouraged me to keep going. So what if I won't finish on December 31st. It may not be until March or whenever, but I will be better off for having read His Word. There is no time schedule. Just my desire to have regular time learning, knowing and reading my Father's heart.

God... I'll see you in the morning.

Like It or Not... Here comes Monday

I know that these posts I make on Sundays make such a difference in how my week goes.

I have managed to get the cold that first Grom and then Surferman have been dealing with. I hope I have it worse, because I haven't been very sympathetic with either of them. I feel b a d.

A new week is here and I have to get it together.

I did better this week with my habits. I was consistent with earrings and going to bed earlier (thanks to Surferman). I'm going to focus on drinking water this week. Fluids should help my cold too.

Habit 7 - Wear earrings daily - HABIT!
Habit 3 - Lights out by 10 pm nightly. - Surferman has been a great encouragement.

Habit 2 - Drink 3 qts of water daily.

Monday
Leftover Pork Ribs - Some Yummy Carb - Veggies - Salad

Tuesday
Enchilladas (from the freezer - didn't eat last week) - Rice - Beans - Salad

Wednesday
Meatloaf Sandwiches - Tomato Soup

Thursday
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole - Salad

Friday
Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce - Garlic Bread - Salad

Saturday
Dinner out before church

Sunday
Family Dinner - Menu TBD

My life has been Lovelier. I completed some of my tasks and have some new ones to add.

I'm back with the same tasks this week.
1. Clean out and organize the drawers on Grom's bed.
4. Spiff up guest bathroom.
7. Have a tea party with Grom and Gigi.
8. Pack Surferman's lunch 3 times this week - add love notes.
9. Organize Gigi's bathroom drawers.
10. Wear perfume daily.
11. Restart and be consistent with Daily Bible Reading plan.

101 Things - Still working on Psalm 8

Have a great week!

Organized Socks

These are our socks. 3 wash tubs.

One for Surferman.
One for my white socks.
One for my colored socks.

The wire bin hanging off the shelf is where single socks go. I seem to have a couple every time I do a load of laundry. Instead of worrying about them, I just toss them into that bin and then when it's full I pull it down and match them up.

I'm blogging with the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now!

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Organized Library Books

Grom and I get a lot of great books from our local library and beyond. Our library system is online and I can get materials from hundreds of miles away.

With our adventures "rowing" books with Before Five In A Row we get a lot of books.

My organizing tips for library books and minimizing overdue fees is...

1. to monitor my online account frequently
2. to have a basket for books and such that are ready to go back

I often have to put out "all points bulletins" for certain books. It's amazing how good those library books are at hiding. I think they like it here at our house where they are read and loved. So far they have all turned up... eventually.

GeMoOrgNo was started by Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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In case you missed it...

I'm celebrating my blogiversary with a GIVEAWAY. Go now, leave a comment... who wouldn't want these cool things and a Starbucks card?


The delicious candy bar was actually too much for me to resist tonight. I broke into it and will have to go buy another for the winner. Can't resist a dark chocolate truffle bar.

The drawing is 11/11. Go... enter now!

Organized Dirty Laundry

Laundry is my nemesis. Nothing really makes it better. It would be great if I could hire someone to do my laundry, but I can't stand the thought of someone folding my underwear.

Sorting the dirty laundry is the first step. I have 6 bins made from wire cubes. These cubes can be found easily at garage sales. As designed they don't work really well. If you chuck the plastic joints and use cable ties to fasten them together, they are much sturdier and usable.

Each section is just the size to be lined with a mesh laundry sack. Surferman hauls full bags out to the laundry room for me and then my fun starts.

GeMoOrgNo is the wonderful idea of Lara the Lazy Organizer. I'm joining her every day this month with photos of organized things.

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Organized Hair Stuff

When in doubt... divide and conquer.

Here are some pictures of my organized hair stuff. I found these great wood bowls at a garage sale. One is filled with elastic bands and the other with clamps. Then in the drawer there are baskets - bobby pins and barrettes.

Everything I need, close at hand.

I'm blogging with the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now!

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Organized Shoes

Here's how we organize our shoes. It's a garage sale bookshelf. Surferman gets the bottom 3 shelves. I get the top three shelves. On top of these shelves sits one of those 12 section cardboard put it together yourself organizers. It holds all the shoes that I don't want to wear and only wear when I have too. It's nice to be able to see my shoes easily. It's also easy to put them away because there is a lot of room.

Join the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now!

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(Need Something to) Work for Me Wednesday - Fragrance for Men

It's a backwards day for Works for me Wednesday. I get to ask you all for your ideas.

Surferman ran out of cologne. He's never had one that he loves and is attached to. I just buy something and we enjoy/endure it until it's gone.

We were in a Sephorra lately and tried to find him a new fragrance but were overwhelmed by the choices.

So... what do you recommend? I'll print the comment list and we'll go sniffing.

Works for me...

After you've helped me, go to Rock in My Dryer and find another soul to help.

LG = Life's Good

It's here!

We have a new refrigerator. It's a French Door refrigerator with a bottom drawer freezer. Ours is white to match our other appliances. We moved our old side-by-side out to our utility room.

It's no where close to being organized.

It beeps when the doors are left open. Probably good in the long run, but now while I'm trying to move in, it gets really annoying.

Grom thinks it's really cool and has shown me where we should keep the yogurt pops and Popsicles.

I'm not sure I like it. But am praying it will grow on me.

I don't know where to put the salad dressings and mustards. My baskets don't fit.

And yet I feel so blessed.

Celebrate With Me! - My 2 year Blogiversary

November 6, 2005.

I started blogging 2 years ago today. I had some periods where I was really quiet. I've probably posted some really boring posts. But I've had fun and I've stuck with it.

I'm celebrating in 2 ways...

First, here are a few of my favorites
Surferman the Dad
Baoon, baoon
Surferman vs. The Possum
A Great Sunday Afternoon
Laundry Prayer - My favorite Works for Me Wednesday tip

If you go read any of them and enjoy them, please leave a comment on that post.

Next, what's a celebration without a PRIZE - a few of my favorite things.
First, an orange washcloth handknit by me.
Second, a $20 Starbucks card
Third, my favorite Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar from Trader Joe's

Leave a comment below. If you know how you found my blog, I'd love to know. I'll put all of your names (I think I have 3 readers so your odds are pretty good.) in a hat and let Grom choose the winner on 11/11 (that's a fun date).

Celebrate good times, come on!

Organized Random Stuff

Last spring I participated in Organzing Junkie's 30 Day Challenge. I organized, cleaned and decorated my studio (an important sounding word for craft room or office or sanctuary where sanity is restored). I'm happy to say that the room is still (mostly) clean and organized. Click on the banner to the right to see what people are working on this go round.

The before and after pictures are here and here.

Today's GeMoOrgNo pictures come from my studio. They are baskets that hold random stuff. I bought them at Dollar Tree and labelled them with key tags so I'd know what was in the basket without pulling it down from the shelf.



I like this last basket best. It's where I keep my stash of good things. I'm being virtuous (right now) so it's empty. Neither Grom not Surferman have figured out that it's where they can find the chocolate. If you ever come to my house, now you know where to look.

Join the Lazy Organizer every day this month for GeMoOrgNo - Get More Organized Now! She started an official group at NaBloPoMo. If you would like to join you may go there and request an invitation.

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