The Planner is Finished!

Front Cover - such a pretty red with a pebbled texture

Inside front cover. Dots and stars for marking dates. (Stars are for a specific purpose only.)

June Calendar. Washi tape marks special events. In June, it was Royal Family. Different colors mark school holidays and minimum days, too. (See the stars?)

A glimpse of October. Elementary students have minimum days for parent/teacher conferences. My last year of elementary school!!

A glimpse of December. Winter Break marked with different color, and Middle and High Schools have the Friday before Winter Break off.

Weekly calendar. What a week might look like if events need more information.

Other weeks are blank. If I need to add in something specific, I can. If not, I have a place to write highlights of the day, or put memorabilia in (like a Smash Book) or even journal or draw if I'm feeling artsy.

Second section is also blank paper for lists, journals, notes, etc.

Pockets. I added washi tape to the pocket to brighten it up a bit. 

I haven't decided what to use this pocket for. Maybe just miscellaneous stuff.

This is a Target find. It sticks to the inside of the notebook/binder and gives you Post-Its and flags. So awesome. I may pick up some more for when I go back to work!

I am loving that my planner is fully customizable. I can add my own papers in as needed, and there are three more dividers I can use to mark other sections I may need as the kids go back to school and I go back to work.

My Planner Addiction

Hi. My name is Jaime, and I'm addicted... to day planners.

You might remember my post from December where I made my own day planner in a notebook that was given to me for my birthday. It was awesome. But it just wasn't what I needed for my sometimes hectic/sometimes mellow schedule. Some days I will sit and journal several pages at a time - Inspirational quotes or verses from the Bible - and sometimes I'll go weeks without journaling anything. Some days I have a LOT of things to do - extensive to-do list, appointments, or just ramblings I need to remember. The small spaces for the days just wasn't big enough for these days.

So we're 6 months into 2014, and I've already been through 2 planners. I just can't seem to find one that is, well, PERFECT. So I'm on a mission.

Thanks to Pinterest, I have about 200 ideas for a personalized planner. Last year, someone brought in a box of brand new Martha Stewart 8.5x5.5" Three-Ring Binder that was donated to the staff at my school. I've been contemplating what to do with it, and I think I've found out. I went to Office Max and purchased tabbed, monthly calendar for the rest of 2014 (they didn't have 2015 yet; not even the academic year calendars). Then I purchased some colored 32lb cardstock and asked them to cut it in half. I also purchased some folder pockets that will fit in the binder.

I have yet to assemble everything, and I'm still working out exactly HOW I will make everything work, but I'm very excited. I still need to get some dividers (hitting Target tomorrow, as I know they have the Avery products for this size binders), which I will decorate with Washi tape (clearance at Office Max - 4 rolls for $2.91).

I really need a place where I can journal at a moment's notice, without having to carry around a separate journal. I also need a place where I can put in more information for specific days when I have a lot to do, but don't need something for every single day of the year. I also want a place where I can list books I've read (since not all are on my Kindle) and where I can list books I WANT to read.

I will definitely share when I get everything put together. Here's a sneak peek at what I have so far:

(Told ya it was a sneak! More detailed photos to follow... it's still a work in progress, but I'm hoping to have it finished by the weekend, so I can use it in church on Sunday!)

I took a lot of inspiration from the following pins and pages:

Early Bird Mom: A Tour of my Low-Tech Planner

(I'll add more as I get some more ideas and put them into action!)

What are some things you HAVE to have in your planner?

Headin' for the Royal Family Kids Camp!

Headin' for a lot of fun!

I can't believe it's here already. My 6th year as a counselor for Royal Family Kids. It seems like this year snuck up on me, but I am ready. I have everything packed and even cleaned out the car.

For those new to my blog, Royal Family Kids is a week-long camp for abused and neglected foster kids. The idea is that we create lasting, positive memories for hurting children. We strive to give them the time of their lives through traditional camp activities, but also through showing them that a loving God will never leave them nor forsake them; that even in their darkest times, He is there, and He will use it for good.

After 5 years, I'm still a nervous wreck. I always pray that God will use me in ways I never dreamed imaginable. To be a light in a tiny life. To be an encourager, a role model, and the funnest adult my campers will ever meet. And working in a Middle School, sometimes those things disappear.

My dear readers, I have a request for you. Starting now, and through June 13, will you pray for me? Pray for my cabin mates (Freida, Kirstie, Viviana, and Jessi). Pray for the 5 campers we'll be sharing our week with. Pray for the other 37+ campers who will be on campus with us. Pray for the rest of the counselors and staff. Pray for the director, who has had a really rough year. Pray for the campgrounds. Pray for the families of the campers - both biological and foster. Our biggest need this week is prayer.

I won't be able to share pictures of our time at camp, since, for the safety and security of our campers we can't have our phones or cameras. But I will share the pictures I have of our flag, since the campers' names are not on it yet.

Room decorations!

Gifts for our campers. We have ages 8-10.