My pregnancy was going great and easy – and now I’ll be seen by a high rish OB. I’m scared to say the least and there is nothing that could have prepared me for such events. There’s nothing much I can do at this point other than stay warm in bed and keep this baby in the oven as far as we can.

I’ll still be continuing Organizing with Baby with the help of the hubbs and keeping myself in bed.

We speed eliminated – tossing things into the recycle or shred bin as we went, and stacked papers into their respective piles. Once everything had it’s category, we started to put everything away in binders. He doesn’t have space for a filing cabinet in his small room, so we tried to condense everything into 4 binders. We also signed him up to go ‘paperless’ and to have a mirror system in his computer to save any PDFs he prints out/saves.

We used binders he already had – and I just jazzed them up by adding a cool Pacman theme spine and white letters. Inside, there are binder pockets for categories that applies to him.

[excuse the picture - my iphone doesn't take good pictures anymore ]

To prevent from the paper monster taking over again, I created a quick ‘cheatsheet’ of papers to keep and what to do with them after.

Overview : In week 9, my task was to create a Paper System – Banish the paper pile up. It’s very easy to let the paper monster to pile up if you let it! Last year, I created a paper system that worked well. However thru the months, I let it ‘go.’ I had papers stacked up everywhere! Since our home is super tiny, I don’t have the space to keep a filing cabinet close to where I receive the mail. I let the ‘to file’ pile stack up till it got overwhelming. I didn’t know what to keep or what to toss. I had boxes of paper I needed to shred.  I’m tired just thinking about it! My goal was for something that worked for me – easy to keep, file & refer to. I also need a system where I can start organizing papers I receive during pregnancy.

Leeds writes

“When your baby arrives, you’ll want every tasks like bill paying and receipt filing to be as easy as they can be. Your time and energy will be needed elsewhere.”

That’s soooo true! Even if I wasn’t expecting, you do need a system that’s works for you. A simple google search leads you to thousands of ways to file and organize paper systems. From filing cabinets, to portable expandable folders, to boxes – the options are endless! I’ve tried a lot of systems, but the key to any organized function, is the ability to keep it up. A good system doesn’t help if you can’t find what you’re looking for. Simplicity is the key. The more difficult and detailed your system is, the harder it is to file and to retrieve.

Currently, I have my long term files set up in a filing cabinet in my daughter’s bedroom. Soon, she’ll be sharing her room with Baby Boy and space would be very limited. As much as I love my filing cabinet, I do find it hard retrieving information. If I need a simple piece of paper, I’d have to go into her room to get it. It’s recommended cleaning out the filing cabinet every year, but I haven’t touched it since. I probably have old insurance policies that I’ll need to shred and other paper alike. For this project, since I already had a filing system going on, I kept it that way. I have a future project in mind that would remove the filing cabinet from the kid’s room and move it somewhere else. I didn’t want to start that project, because I had a lot of commitments this past weekend. I also don’t have much time [or energy] during the weekdays. =p

I’ve got the new filing system scheduled in my calendar for next month! I’ll share my experience then

Process:

I went thru the whole house & car[s] gathering every piece of paper. It didn’t matter if it was old, new or something urgent. I knew that I’ll sort thru everything by the end of day. I stacked them all up in the dining room table.

Before picture:

Then, I speed eliminated! Anything that was expired, events that past, notes that no longer applied to me, receipts I can no longer need or can’t return – all went to the ‘to shred’ pile or the recycle bin.  While I was speed eliminating, I stacked them up in piles.

Now that everything was categorized, all I had to do was put them back where they belong. Long term files went back into the filing cabinet. Financial paperwork [bills & statements] went into the big red binder. Anything that needed to be done within the week went into either my planner or my ‘Action File System.’

I didn’t have a working system for incoming paperwork – so I went to target to find something that would work. I found a desktop file that holds hanging folders and a few slots in front that can hold my ledger book ‘we’re old school now!’, checkbooks for bill payment and a few envelopes – along with our envelope budget system. So far, it’s working! I have this located near the kitchen table – so all I have to do is bring it out on Bill Payment day and put it back when I’m done. At the end of the month, all bills get filed away in the big red binder. Important papers that need action go in my planner ready for me to . . . act on. lol.

Here’s the desktop system. We have a files for

• Unpaid Bills
• Paid Bills
• Papers to file away [monthly]
• Kailani’s Folder – kids bring in a lot of paper! She needs her own file. Cleared out [quarterly after her report card comes in]

Here’s a quick glimpse of our filing cabinet. Hopefully by next month – this will be gone & I’ll be working with a new system. I have binders for warranties and manuals. I removed these from the filing cabinet and stored them in Ikea cardbord boxes and stored them in a closet. We rarely ever refer to them & when I need to file something away, I’ll do it at the end of the month! The filing cabinet’s running out of space!!

And that’s how I handled my paper monster. This week your task is also to create a system to hold all baby related information. I’m having a blast working on this Baby Binder & creating spreadsheets for it already! Just gotta print out a few things, attach labels and take pretty pictures and I’ll be ready to share by end of week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Just a quick update:

I’m 90% done with my week 9 Challenge. Just gotta finish up on some last minute tweaks and I’ll be sharing soon!

Had lots of plans this weekend – gotta make time for family gatherings!

So far, I’m not so overwhelmed with the tasks. They’re totally do-able!

…. Now if i can find my SD card reader to upload pictures!!

On Week 8 – Leeds writes about your changing body & understanding what’s happening. This isn’t a week by week guide about what’s happening to Mommy & baby, but she does go into this in detail here. A Pretty easy weekly to-do.

Week 8 is the high of a pregnant mom’s First Trimester. Most have just found out they’re pregnant. Hello hormones!!! What she asks is to understand WHY you’re so tired. Let yourself rest a bit and understand that your body is in mega mode building up the placenta, doubling up bloodflow and all that other good stuff – that it’s natrual to be tired.

Kick up your feet a bit & let the pregnancy sink in.

Now that I try to look back at the blur that happened, there are many things I would have done differently. Sheesh… I didn’t even have a hospital bag! I wasnt prepared for anything. Having a surprise C-section really did come as a surprise. I’m older, much aware and slightly more organized now. Back then, I didn’t read books. I hated it! Now – you can always find me cuddled with my kindle

After a few weeks of finding out we were pregnant, I felt overwhelmed. Lost. Although we’ve been trying to have a baby for the last 5 years, we still aren’t ready. So I turned to the Internet. While doing some researching on organizing while pregnant, I’ve bookmarked alot of blog posts, tips, forums and ultimately found a book! As soon as I read a few chapters, I instantly felt relieved.

The book, “One Year to an Organized Life with Baby,” is a blessing! It breaks down your pregnancy week by week and suggests different projects to tackle. From paperwork, to kitchen, to wardrobe – I feel like she covers everything!
“Change tends to be less overwhelming when you know what’s coming.” A quote that truly relieved all my worries!!

I started reading on my 13th week. The program starts at the 8th of pregnancy. Although I wish I found out about the book earlier. Leeds recommends to start where you are during your pregnancy and simultaneously read the beginning. There are some things that don’t pertain to me – so I can always count those as bonus weeks!

Im currently 17 weeks pregnant, but I haven’t really followed the plan to the T. I got Excited with the plan that I forgot to actually do things! Today I’m re-reading the book and will be documenting each step of the way. It’s exciting when these projects are already pre selected! It’s like… The organized pregnancy challenge!!!

Every new year always feels like a fresh start. We can look back at all the good and the bad of all the years past and move on to the new year. We’re able to start with a clean canvas and do whatever we want.

Boy.. Do I wish I had a fresh start! A new beginning. I’ve wrote down all the troubles of 2011 and placed them in my new planner – vowing never to go thru those again. 2011 started off in a High and ended up in a low. Those experiences have taught our family valuable lessons and made us a more mature, tightly knitted bunch.

Cheers to the new year. 2012 – we’re ready!

I’ve tried a lot of methods before. Expanding file, envelopes, shoe boxes, scanning, paper clips– almost everything! I was very tempted to ask for a neat receipt for Christmas, but I could use the $200 in reducing debt instead lol!

With my frustration, I started looking around for the perfect system that works for me. I lurked blogs & boards, asked organized people.. Then took the best of what would work for me.

Before the switch, I used recycled envelopes and grouped them by store. Places like rite-aid & cvs was grouped together. It worked … Okay… Before sorting them like this, I would stash all my receipts in one big envelope and file them monthly. That method was easy, but places that have longer return periods got mixed in with everything else.

What wasn’t working [see bottom left picture]
:: it was ugly! I hated my mismatched envelopes.
:: I can’t see what was inside! I didn’t think I was a visual person – but since the old envelopes
:: I would mis file things because I didn’t look when filing.
:: the envelopes were open wide. Sometimes I’d file them in the back of the stash, sometimes I’d file in front.

I knew what wasn’t working & Just had to find something that would be fun for me.

I considered using a photo album and file them there. It would have worked okay, but it didn’t allow the flexibility I want. I couldn’t add stores easily & wouldnt follow an alphabetized system if I wanted to. It would drive me crazy if I always had to thumb to the middle for target! I always shop at target!

After some digging thru my stash, I found a box of shop tickets. I use shop tickets for cheatsheets at work and thought it would be awesome to make some for me at home! I bought my box on eBay a few months ago for about $13 for a box of 100. They fit the bigger index cards & are super durable, clear, and water resistant!

I took a bunch of those shop cards, put in colorful labeled index cards [store name, return period, notes about the store & some of my notes] and then started stuffing my receipts!

Why I love it..
:: they’re pretty! They’re colorful! I wouldn’t mind leaving them out if I had unexpected company.
:: it’s flexible. Since they’re not binded to a spine, I have the ability to file them anyway I wish.
:: there’s no way I can misfile! I can spot a non-walmart receipt in a jiffy.
:: they flatten receipts. I HATE crumpled receipts. Hubbs always keeps receipts in his pocket & mixes them in with my receipts. Drives me nuts! As soon as they’re filed away – it flattens them! joy!
:: easy to retrieve! That’s the real test. You can always put things away, but if you can’t find things when you need them – theres something wrong with the system. I think narrowing down the search to a store & certain month/week, retrieval would be a breeze!
:: easy to sort & store! I can have them while watching TV. All I gotta do is slip them in.
:: easy to archive. I still like archiving monthly. I’ll just need to spend a few minutes going thru these at the end of the month to paperclip and file away.
:: easy to add, remove & replace. Should the shop ticket or index card not suite my liking, I can always make another.

I’m excited! There are a few things I don’t like – but they overpower the positives.
:: they’re a little too tight. I have a feeling after a few months, They’ll be perfect! Just like breaking in new 4 inch stilletos.

I hope this method works. I’ll give it a few rounds and will recap in the future.

Here’s a picture of my current colorful method & my old method @ the bottom left corner. They’re not my prettiest pictures [iPhone pictures... My DSLR's with my brother] but this works for now

2011 is coming to an end – and boy was this year a rollercoaster!

We started off this year with a huge mess.. Finance wise. [darn sneaky mortgage adjustable interest rate!] It took a lot of time away from my joy of blogging – dealing with mortgage companies is no joke! Now that everything’s settled & back on track, I can devote my time here again.
I’ve read and re-read Dave Ramsey’s books and I know things are gonna be on cruise control now I have a plan.

As far as everything else, we had plenty of family parties, a wedding, a tragic & sudden loss in our family, and were finally blessed with a baby!

With all these changes, I’m feeling the pinch of being a disorganized rut & need to get back in old habits. An organized me is what I need. So here’s to 2012!!!

I haven’t made a goal list yet, but here a few ideas floating in my mind.

:: share a great book about being organized during pregnancy.
:: find the almost perfect financial organizing system
:: continue with my goal of minimalism
:: create a weekly routine for home
:: reorganize our home & decorate!
:: stick to a calendar & ONE notebook!

ITS HOT. I know that folks around the Country have been feeling the hot weather, but today’s unusually hot. 100degrees for the Bay Area?!? I miss the fog already!!!

While I wait for our AC to kick up to speed – I’m gonna write a quick Menu Plan for the week. Last week’s menu plan didn’t come out as expected. We had a few last minute friend-catered parties (don’t you love them?) My friends have come to accept that our house will not always be clean. Sad, but they know what my schedule looks like – and they’ve accepted that my house is messy. As MUCH as I heart them – I feel embarrassed. I know I could be so much better. At least clean the sink the night of so when they come again 2 days later, the pots and pans they used are ready for another showdown. Anywhooz >>> here’s what I got planned for the week.

Monday – LeftOvers. We still got Rice Sheets I can wrap into yummy Asian Wraps  – Kinda like tortilla wraps, except we use rice paper. Since the little one’s not too fond of our new creation – she’s got raviollis I can whip up in a minute (more like 10)

Tuesday – Shimp & Grits compliments of “Cook yourself Thin” Cookbook. I’ve been meaning to make this recipe for a while now, but everytime I get to it – We’ve run out of milk! We’ve got a gallon last night, so I’m ready to make this tomorrow. Since Shrimp thaws out pretty easy, No need for think ahead planning.

(to/do Tuesday Night) Defrost Pork

Wednesday – Simple Baked Lean Pork Chops (a deal from Winco) with Polenta from Costco. I tried a sample of this and I was in love. It’s like mashed potato and corn combined! I’m asian – so mashed potato and corn aren’t staples in my pantry. If Polenta becomes a hit in the family, I’d try to make it again.

Thursday – More left overs. One thing I can’t shake : Cooking for 2.5. I grew up in a family that cooks for 12 at a time (plus leftovers to BAON -bring to work – the next day) No big pots in my home. . but I still make wayyy to much food that gets wasted. Thursday is the night to eat everything up. If it doesn’t get finished – then It’s going to the trash. It’s garbage night, so anything that can possibly STINK will be gone.

Friday – Night out. If I feel too lazy to get glammed up, then I have lean cuisines to fall back on. Lean Cuisines and some Quality Time with True Blood. Oi. . I’m getting old.

Saturday – We’ll be at the EAT REAL FESTIVAL in Oakland all day supporting our friends Phat Matt’s BBQ. We’ll be there ALL DAY and I doubt cooking would be the last thing I’d like to do.

Sunday – Dinner with the inlaws. It’s been a while.

That’s all! I’m gonna post some recipes up this week that I tried in the past & are worth re-making. I’ll try to take pictures of this week’s menu and post again.