You know how it is when you buy a new car and all of a the sudden you see that model of car everywhere you go but before you bought the car you never noticed it.
Well that is how it is with organization. Now, where ever I go I hear people talking about the different ways they organize things. I feel like I have radar hearing when it comes to organization.
That is what happened to me when I was visiting my mother recently. She is a very organized person. Not in a flashy way, but in a subtle frugal way.
My daughter was talking with her about the birthday cards that she sends out to all of her eight children, seven children in-law, fifty grandchildren and thirty-eight great grandchildren. It is not an easy task.
My mother has come up with a system that really works for her and I would like to share it with you.
She makes her own cards using pictures that she has taken of each person at the various family parties and gatherings throughout the year.
Well that is how it is with organization. Now, where ever I go I hear people talking about the different ways they organize things. I feel like I have radar hearing when it comes to organization.
That is what happened to me when I was visiting my mother recently. She is a very organized person. Not in a flashy way, but in a subtle frugal way.
My daughter was talking with her about the birthday cards that she sends out to all of her eight children, seven children in-law, fifty grandchildren and thirty-eight great grandchildren. It is not an easy task.
My mother has come up with a system that really works for her and I would like to share it with you.
She makes her own cards using pictures that she has taken of each person at the various family parties and gatherings throughout the year.
You will see this little camera around her neck at the ready.
Every few months she will then print the pictures off that she has taken using a little hp printer. If more that one person is in the picture, she will print a picture for each person.
Every few months she will then print the pictures off that she has taken using a little hp printer. If more that one person is in the picture, she will print a picture for each person.
After printing the pictures they are simply put into a box.
On the inside of the lid of the box, she has taped a list of everyone's birthdays
This box actually has three parts to it. The bottom part holds the envelopes and card paper, the middle part, that nestles inside the bottom part, holds the pictures and then the lid has the birthday list.
At the beginning of each month she spreads out the number of cards for the number of birthdays that month and writes everyone's name on a card. Then going through the box of pictures she picks out all the pictures that each person is in.
Choosing one photo she will glue it to the front of the card and personalize it with a fun comment.
The last card I received was me with my Uncle Bud. He is a quiet gentle man that has been a big influence in my life. We all look forward to the card and pictures and wonder which one she will choose and what part of our lives it will commemorate.
The last card I received was me with my Uncle Bud. He is a quiet gentle man that has been a big influence in my life. We all look forward to the card and pictures and wonder which one she will choose and what part of our lives it will commemorate.
Putting the rest of the pictures inside the card along with a personal note and a new crisp bill of money completes the card.
She has discovered that December is the only month that the banks have crisp new bills available, so she gets enough money for the entire year then.
She has discovered that December is the only month that the banks have crisp new bills available, so she gets enough money for the entire year then.
Keeping the money in an envelope it is stored with the pictures, cards and envelopes in a bag that she has reinforced with tape.
With everything together sending out the 104 cards each year is a little easier.
She then takes it a step further by printing off all the pictures again but smaller so that she can keep them in her journal.
She then takes it a step further by printing off all the pictures again but smaller so that she can keep them in her journal.
Her journal is full of fun pictures and memories. Anyone would love to wander through it's pages.
As my mother was explaining all of this to my daughter and myself, I realized that I had a lot of re-evaluating in how I keep the records of my life. And then I realized that my mother has been helping all of us keep a record or our lives by sending us the pictures she has taken of the important events in our lives.
What a great gift!
How do you organize your card and gift giving?
As my mother was explaining all of this to my daughter and myself, I realized that I had a lot of re-evaluating in how I keep the records of my life. And then I realized that my mother has been helping all of us keep a record or our lives by sending us the pictures she has taken of the important events in our lives.
What a great gift!
How do you organize your card and gift giving?