My external hard-drive

My memory used to be really, really good. You could say "hey, in 3 weeks I need you to go 123 Main Street and drop this off" and 3 weeks later I would do exactly that. And I wouldn't even forget to take the "this"! Not anymore. Now if you say "hey, in 5 minutes I need you to take this over there" there is a 50/50 chance that I will forget to do it and there is a 100 percent chance that if I do remember to go over there, I will forget the "this". The memory is just shot. Gone. No more.

So with 3 kids in school it is safe to say that there are a lot, and I mean A LOT, of projects, reports and assignments to remember between all of them. In October I had 3 book reports (one included a pumpkin that had to be decorated like the main character of the book), a country report, a food item to be made for the country report food sampling day, tests and homework all due within a week of each other and all on different days. I was going CRAZY trying to figure it all out AND remember it. So I headed to the store trying to brain storm a plan to help me.

This is what I came up with:

I got a white board and divided it into 3 sections, one for each kid. Now each week we update it as to what assignments have been assigned and when they are due. Usually they are listed in due date order. I usually keep the girls grades written on there so they know where they stand in each class (we can check their grades online so I update that when I can). I also got the little hooks to get all the backpacks off the floor because that was just a crazy mess. Then I got the 3 drawer bin to keep all graded, returned work in so if we need to find something, it should be in there and not all over my kitchen. 

Here is a closer look:

It is also magnetic so we can hang spelling word lists, report directions and, apparently, snowmen on it.

I also had another organizing idea while I was there. I am notorious for planning meals and making grocery lists and going shopping and bringing it all home and then forgetting what meals I just bought all that food for. So I got a little white board that goes on the fridge that I write all our meals down on. That way, by the end of the week, I can remember what I am suppose to cook.

You will notice that I have also divided this board into 2 also. On the right is my "honey do list" for Kurt. I could never remember all the little projects I needed him to do around the house. Now, if he ever finds a spare moment, he can just look up here and see what needs to be done. Unfortunately, he hasn't found any spare time so the list hasn't changed in awhile but when he does find the time, I am ready for him!

So that is my external hard drive so that when my main hard drive crashes, I have a back up plan. So far, it is working pretty good.