Family Binder Update

Two posts in one day?  This is absolutely unheard of!  Especially from me.  But, I promised I'd come back and post a few pictures of my ever evolving family binder.  So, here I am!

I actually enjoyed this project.  And my most favorite part of all was putting all 124 DVD titles into my Microsoft Access spreadsheet (and those were only the DVD's we have out at the moment.  We have a lot more packed away).  Doing this made me notice that my collection of "girlie movies" (as Chris and many other men call them) are slowly being consumed by the more "manly" action/adventure movies.  I think I may need to up my monthly movie budget by a little bit and start collecting some of my favorites!  Don't get me wrong, I am definitely an action movie kind of gal, but I love my romance movies.  Especially on a cold rainy day!

Wow, that was a little off topic.  :-)

I guess you could say I'm a list maker.  Yep, I love my lists.  Whenever we go on a trip I make a list a few days in advance of all the things we're going to need and then double and triple check I've crossed everything off before we finally walk out of the door.  That's why, I  was very happy (ridiculously so) when my oldest sister gave me a travel checklist for Christmas.

If you don't have one...I suggest getting it.  It's awesome!

Lucky for me, this little dodad saved me some time today since I didn't have to make my own custom pack list for my binder!  However, I could easily customize one so that I know exactly what I need to take with me on trips!  Instead, I sat in front of my computer and typed up a few different lists.

I am super proud of my DVD list.  Notice that they're categorized by Blu-Ray, Standard, and Standard/Blu-Ray TV Shows.  Hmm...that probably sounds a bit geeky...

To the left is the list of the doctor's we go to,  hours of operation, phone numbers, etc.  On the right is a list of our allergies.  There's plenty of space so it can be updated along the way if I need to!

This little paper is going to come in handy so we can remember the special events in our families lives!  I'm hoping to never forget another anniversary or birthday with these babies!

I already had an address book that I made on Microsoft Access (it was a school project that has definitely come in handy!) so that was able to be crossed off my list (yay!).  I highly suggest using Microsoft Word or Access to do most of this stuff.  I still need to do an automobile maintenance checklist but I figure I'm in no rush.  I also didn't decorate my papers because (1) I didn't want to waste ink and (2) I don't really see the need!  I'll get a cute decorative binder from Target to make it look more snazzy!

Family Binder

A little over a year ago I read a post by a favorite blogger Jen over at iheartorganizing about the idea of a family binder.  She had come up with a simple and convenient way to keep all of her families important documents and information in one place, and I loved that idea.  I'm pretty positive that Chris could care less where everything is in the house because he is one of those people who likes an organized mess (is there really such a thing?!), so I took it upon myself to work on this project!

I had already started a binder about the time I read the original post but I never finished it.  I'm the type of gal that likes to start something and then come back to it months later with a disappointed look on her face because it wasn't done right the first time.  *sigh*  I guess I need to up my motivational drive somehow....suggestions?  :-)  Anywho, my friend Amy recently posted on her blog about the binder she made for her growing family which, coincidentally, gave me the drive to get off my butt and work on my own binder!  There's nothing like the push from a friend!  (Thanks Amy!)

I went back to Jen's original post to see what all she had put in her binder as well as what Amy did in hers to see where I needed to start over!  I found this helpful post that had lists of categories that anyone could use!  Here is what my list looked like:

1. Movie Inventory
2. Cleaning Checklist
3. Important Contact Numbers
4. Travel Checklist
5. Idea/To-Do List
6. Home Inspiration/Paint and Fabric Swatches etc.
7. Credit Card and ID Information
8. Calendar
9. Medical Information
10. Insurance Information (Medical, Car, etc)
11. Auto Maintenance Log
12. Allergies
13. List of Family Birthdays and Phone Numbers

Everything in purple is what I want (at this moment) in my binder and the blue is what I will add later on.  I can already see Chris rolling his eyes at the movie inventory portion, but I've always been uber picky (not the word he'd use though!) about my DVD's and the way they are organized.  I may have a few OCD tendencies....  

Anyways.  The next step is to further compress the list into better (more productive) categories.  Here is what I'm thinking at the moment:

1. Personal Information 
1. Our marriage license
2. Birth Certificates
3. Passports
4. Contact Information (work numbers, address, etc)
2. Medical  
1. List of Allergies
2. Doctor Information 
3. Address Book
1. Including Family Birthdays!
4. Auto Maintenance Log
5. Insurance Information

As always, this could change.   I mean, I am a woman and therefore am able to change my mind....right? 

One more thing I should point out is that this binder will be able to grow with you and your family.  Good thing too since we're always growing and changing!  You can add and take out whatever you need, whenever you want.  I also suggest using page protectors so you don't have to constantly use the printer for new pages (ahh...the saver in me is so happy with this idea!) and nice colored dry-erase markers to write with!  As always, happy crafting!  :-)