Blah Blah Blah: My Ramblings Book **POST #4 IN THE MOMAGER SERIES**

Take a look at this:

See that chaotic scrawling? that is notes I was making at about 2am last night when I just couldn't stand laying in bed anymore with these ideas running through my head...I was so scared that if I fell asleep I would "lose" them. So I got up and went straight to my Notes section of my Ramblings book and jotted my free form thoughts down.

This book is really a great little tool in the "goes everywhere with me" portion of my MOMager System...it's what keeps all of the reference material that I will need at any given time. and it makes a great hard surface to write on when I am sitting through my 4th carpool line of the day ;)

The notebook I am using is from the new Martha Stewart Line at Staples...I LOVE the quote on the inside of the front pocket 

OBSESS OVER A GOOD IDEA

"Almost nothing beautiful or brilliant happens unless a person has thought about it a lot" - Eric Maisel, PH.D.

Oh, Martha...she just GETS me ;)

Notice I have divided a plain 100 page spiral notebook in to 4 25 page sections...SIMPLE. 

LISTS

I've been a list maker for as long as I can remember...seriously, I remember writing lists in kindergarten...my mom is a list maker...and my little mini me is turning in to one as well. I make lists of lists to make...I make lists of things to do or to see or to read or to research...etc. Point is, I make so many lists that I really need a specific section dedicated to list making alone. 

NOTES

Next is my Notes section...like I said above, this is for free form thought, or for literal notes in regards to a meeting/special project. Now if your brain thinks better freely like this, then I would suggest you take out the lists section and double up on notes....but for me, I need a list...the notes is just a helpful place to jot stuff down. 

EMAILS

I get a lot of emails. A LOT. and they range everywhere from chatty with my wonderful Nana to PTA information to really important Cheer Emails telling me where I need to be and when a mere 24 hours before I need to be there. Point being, these are important; and since email is my preferred mode of contact (seriously, dare you to try to get me on the phone...its almost impossible) I like to make sure I am getting all of the information I need and responding accordingly. As I check my emails through out the day (I try to only check them twice...while sitting at my computer...If i check them on my phone on the go, I tend to forget to tend to them) I will make note of the important information...make note of any response I make and then file the email in to a folder in my inbox. Yes I have a color code system for this as well...its just a sanity thing :)

CONTACTS

I am probably the worst person with keeping up with addresses....3 times a year (2 birthdays and christmas) I send out mass emails, texts and facebook messages "Need your address, gotta send out birthday invites!" So I finally forced myself to make a place that I will keep all of this stuff handy. Do you see my super awesome way of keeping track of these? Yup those are address labels. Peel & Stick. This way, I have the info in hardcopy with me in case I need to quickly send out a note or find an address...but best of all, these are already saved in my computer in address label form, so when invite and christmas card time comes around, all I need to do is print and I'm done! (sorry you have to look at a blank page...I <3 my friends and family enough to not blast their personal info all over the internet)

Now I know some of you are going to ask me..."what do you do when you run out of space" thats the beauty of this stuff...it allows you to change with the season! it lets you get that fresh start feel 3 times during the year. It will satisfy your clean slate needs all by keeping things simple and portable. The amount of space I have allowed myself should last me through the summer season. And when fall comes around, all I will have to do is find a pretty new notebook that fits my current style and eye candy needs...seperate the sections using sticky tabs and print out some new contact labels and I'm done! 

To those of you who think "wow that is a lot of work.....why not just keep everything in one place? why not just make it last all year?" Because that doesn't work for me. I've tried it, I don't like it so now I'm doing things MY way and I encourage you to do the same :)

**In search of your own custom MOMager System? leave a comment on this post telling me what you HATE about store bought planners and agendas...I'm looking for ONE lucky friend to be the recipient of their own complete File Box System! Complete with custom weekly folders, file box, Summer & Fall seasonal Planners and a Ramblings book...$100 worth of organizing goodies all for you!**