Single Parent Tip–Have a Home and Work Calendar

I have read about the importance of having one main date book or palm pilot or calendar and how it is important to keep the family schedule in one place. I can definitely see the advantages to making sure that everything is in one place but I have learned as a single parent that having two calendars works best–one that is stationary at home and one date book that goes to work (and everywhere else with me.) As a busy single parent, I need to know what is going on regardless of where I am. I used to try to … Continue reading

Synchronize Calendars

Even if you have only one child, if you are sharing custody or trying to coordinate visits with a non-custodial parent, scheduling and communication take center stage. The best way that I have found to make sure everybody on both sides of the family know what is going on is to make sure that we periodically compare notes and synchronize our calendars. I do not want to give the impression that I am perfect or that things do not fall through the cracks. With three kids and two households, it is fairly tough to keep everyone on the same page, … Continue reading

Keeping Track of Everyone Without Losing Your Mind

If you are single parent like me with multiple children (and even those of you who may only have one child, but also have work, house, family, and other obligations to juggle), there may be those days when you think it is absolutely impossible to keep track of everyone. As children get older and head off in all sorts of different directions, just keeping a tally on who is where, which permission slips you have to sign, and the phone numbers for all the friends’ houses can seem like a full time job! I think the sooner you can put … Continue reading

Cranium Calendar

I love to browse through the calendars on sale this time of year. I picked up one the other day that I know will add a lot of fun and thinking to our family’s year. It’s the Page-A-Day calendar from Cranium. We love the Cranium games and own many of them. The full color calendar is a mini-game for each day. On day one we were asked a “polygraph” which means a true or false question. “Humans and giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks.” Turns out that giraffes and humans both have seven neck vertebrae. My … Continue reading

6 Uses for Used Calendars

Don’t throw out that 2007 calendar just yet. It might be 2008, but there is no reason to let something like that go to waste. After you have recorded the dates and other information you want to remember, follow these creative and clever ideas to use that old calendar in a new way. Nearly every calendar has a pretty picture for each month, here are some ideas to use those pictures. They make a fun and creative gift wrap for small packages. You would wrap the same way you would wrap with wrapping paper leaving the date part on the … Continue reading

Scrapbooking Your Schedule

Schedules are important. For some people, they are the only way they know how to survive day to day. Everyone has one, even when they do not think they do. Waking up in the morning is even part of a schedule, even if it does occur at different times everyday. Scrapbooking your schedule might seem silly to you. But you would be surprised at how quickly our schedules change, even when they don’t feel like they do. And each member of your household usually has a different schedule, giving you multiple opportunities at different layouts. The best part is, they … Continue reading

Chick-fil-A Calendars

For many years now my husband and I have either bought or received current Chick-fil-A calendars. The calendars cost $5 each and contain one coupon per month (sometimes even two coupons per month). Sometimes the month’s coupon is for a free product without the purchase of anything else, and this month’s coupon was just that. This month’s coupon (Jan ’07) is for a free chicken sandwich; the regular cost of that sandwich is somewhere under $3. Last night my husband, our daughter, and I went to a Chick-fil-A and claimed our yummy and free sandwiches. This was the first year … Continue reading

Planning Little Things for a Fun Year

In a previous post, I talked about scheduling fun on the calendar. This time of year is a good time for fresh starts. Many people make resolutions to eat healthier, get organized, or start an exercise program. I want to have more fun. Not just because I’m because I’m a Family Fun blogger, but because I know these years will pass fast. I want to give my children the gifts of my time and interest, new experiences, and fun. I’m not just talking about the big things like vacations and trips to amusement parks, but the little things—walks, picnics, a … Continue reading

A Family Calendar – A Year of Fun

My friends know that when I say “I put it on my calendar” that means I’m committed to be being at that event or activity unless someone gets sick. They laugh at me when I say “I do what my calendar tells me to.” I’m only half way joking, though. I can’t hold all the appointments, after school activities, and carpool schedules in my head. It’s time to pick out a calendar for next year. I spent some time online browsing calendars for 2007. I love beautiful calendars, pictures of mountains and impressionist paintings and photos of wonderful travel destinations. … Continue reading

Don’t Get Rid of Last Year’s Calendar!

I know that it’s already a couple of weeks into the new year, but maybe you’re like me and you still haven’t thrown away your 2005 calendar for whatever reason. You know, it does feel like a shame to throw out a calendar that is full of great pictures. There are actually a lot of things you can do with those pictures instead of chucking them in the trash can. Now, if you are more on top of things than I am, and you still like some of these ideas, just go out and buy a new calendar. Since the … Continue reading