I got my brains back!

Last October, I flew to Minneapolis to speak at a Spanish moms conference. I had a layover in Detroit on my way to Minnesota. Just as I was getting ready to board my connecting flight, I realized that I didn’t have my notebook. This is my “brains in a binder” as Karen Ehman, author of The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized calls it.

I was absolutely lost…and heartbroken. This little notebook is how I keep my life straight. I keep my calendar on my smartphone, but I’m still a paper girl for most everything else. My notebook is home for my to do list, my notes from phone conversations and Hearts at Home meetings, my thank you notes…20 of them I had written on my way to Detroit! All gone!

I filed a report with both the airlines and the airport. But they never found it.

Until yesterday.

That’s right…four months later! I received a call about 4pm yesterday from the Detroit airport. They found my notebook! Where has that thing been for four months? Oh, if notebooks could talk, I’m sure it would have some stories to tell.

In the meantime, I’m just glad to have my old friend back.

I’m curious…where do you keep your brains? In a binder? On a paper calendar? Smartphone? Outlook? iCal? What organizational methods do you use for keeping dates straight and your to-do list? Let’s learn from each other!

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10 Comments

Llama Momma on February 17, 2011 at 8:09 am

Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer. For the stage of life I’m in, it’s perfect! Enough space for each day’s activities, plus a place for the weekly menu, grocery list, and notes. I love this planner and have used it for about five years in a row!

JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 11:57 am

I’ve seen that in stores!

Lynel on February 17, 2011 at 8:31 am

I have a fabric covered, zipped 3 ring binder I call my Brain Book. My jaw dropped when I saw Karen mention her’s at Hearts one year but hey, “Great minds think alike” 😉
Also, I use the Yahoo calendar and have all of the kid’s events color coded on that and I can automatically email them reminders of upcoming events.

Even so, half of the time I’m not sure if I’m coming or going…

Glad you got that back Jill!
~Lynel

JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 11:57 am

Lynel,

I’ve heard of alot of people that use the Yahoo calendar. Sounds like it works well!

Kim Thompson on February 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm

I use Karen’s “Brains in a Binder” method and love it. I use Outlook for the calendar and print it off and insert in the binder. I know I will be heavily relying on it in the fall when I begin my first year of homeschooling.

kristin on February 17, 2011 at 12:13 pm

I use Google calendar — which I can access from any computer or smart phone. I also recently discovered Motivated Moms household/chore organizer and LOVE it. It outlines chores for each day that will help keep your house clean and organized but they are in manageable quantities, which has worked out with me having two small children.

JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 9:12 pm

Kristin,

I just discovered Motivated Moms, too. I’m going to explore it more!

Kim on February 17, 2011 at 12:47 pm

I use an old-fashioned paper wall calendar (a photo calendar of the kids that I make every year as a Christmas gift for family members), but I also put things my husband needs to know about in Google calendar because that is the only way he will know about them!

For to-do lists, gift lists, notes, etc. I use a small notebook that I get from the $1 section at Michael’s. Simple and low-tech works best for me!

Claire Brucker on February 17, 2011 at 2:19 pm

I am hooked on the “Intuition” ap on my iPhone… a colorful breakdown of lists under the categories of Calls, Errands, Family, Grocery Shopping, Wish List, and Everything Else. The grocery shopping section provides a customize-able checklist of every section in the supermarket. I love it!

JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 9:14 pm

Claire,

Thanks for sharing. I just downloaded the “Intuition” app on my iPhone. I’m going to play with it a bit and see if it’s something that will work for me!

Llama Momma on February 17, 2011 at 8:09 am

Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer. For the stage of life I’m in, it’s perfect! Enough space for each day’s activities, plus a place for the weekly menu, grocery list, and notes. I love this planner and have used it for about five years in a row!
- JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 11:57 am
  
  I’ve seen that in stores!
Lynel on February 17, 2011 at 8:31 am

I have a fabric covered, zipped 3 ring binder I call my Brain Book. My jaw dropped when I saw Karen mention her’s at Hearts one year but hey, “Great minds think alike” 😉
Also, I use the Yahoo calendar and have all of the kid’s events color coded on that and I can automatically email them reminders of upcoming events.

Even so, half of the time I’m not sure if I’m coming or going…

Glad you got that back Jill!
~Lynel
- JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 11:57 am
  
  Lynel,
  
  I’ve heard of alot of people that use the Yahoo calendar. Sounds like it works well!
Kim Thompson on February 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm

I use Karen’s “Brains in a Binder” method and love it. I use Outlook for the calendar and print it off and insert in the binder. I know I will be heavily relying on it in the fall when I begin my first year of homeschooling.
kristin on February 17, 2011 at 12:13 pm

I use Google calendar — which I can access from any computer or smart phone. I also recently discovered Motivated Moms household/chore organizer and LOVE it. It outlines chores for each day that will help keep your house clean and organized but they are in manageable quantities, which has worked out with me having two small children.
- JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 9:12 pm
  
  Kristin,
  
  I just discovered Motivated Moms, too. I’m going to explore it more!
Kim on February 17, 2011 at 12:47 pm

I use an old-fashioned paper wall calendar (a photo calendar of the kids that I make every year as a Christmas gift for family members), but I also put things my husband needs to know about in Google calendar because that is the only way he will know about them!

For to-do lists, gift lists, notes, etc. I use a small notebook that I get from the $1 section at Michael’s. Simple and low-tech works best for me!
Claire Brucker on February 17, 2011 at 2:19 pm

I am hooked on the “Intuition” ap on my iPhone… a colorful breakdown of lists under the categories of Calls, Errands, Family, Grocery Shopping, Wish List, and Everything Else. The grocery shopping section provides a customize-able checklist of every section in the supermarket. I love it!
- JillSavage on February 17, 2011 at 9:14 pm
  
  Claire,
  
  Thanks for sharing. I just downloaded the “Intuition” app on my iPhone. I’m going to play with it a bit and see if it’s something that will work for me!