Planning and Organizing 101

Good Morning Friends! It is now week 2 of the national quarantine from COVID-19. Fun times! People all over the United States are having to learn new skills. Parents, who now have to homeschool are developing a new appreciation for teachers. Grocery store clerks are continuously putting themselves in the line of fire. People are slowing down a little and smelling the roses. My husband and I were finally able to finish this house. It’s done! And it is beautiful. Ironically, this dark time has become one of real positive changes. But, with all the positives that we as a culture are seeing, it can be really boring to be at home all day. I mean, seriously, there’s only so much binge-watching Netflix or at-home workouts or reading you can do. So, I thought what better way to mentally survive a quarantine than to dream up some big, beautiful family vacation! So, for grins and giggles, let’s plan a vacation. FYI: This would be a great family activity. Get the kids together and brainst...

Good morning Friends! Right now the United States is in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the last few days, the world has felt upended. I thought about posting a more humorous post about how to plan for the end of the world, but then felt that the current subject was actually more appropriate for the situation. Some background. I am currently in my final semester of college as an education major, which means I am engaged currently in clinical teaching. Over my spring break, the world fell apart, school has been suspended for a second week, my university has moved to online classes, and my plans have been thrown out the window. You see, this semester is carefully laid out to meet the expectations of the Texas Education Agency and finalize my certification to become a teacher. In palpable terms, what that means is I have to get 70 days in the classroom before I can graduate and get my teaching certificate. What that also means is that the coronavirus has interrupted my v...

Good Morning Friends!!! I love it when people tell me they are “super organized” and then they walk in my house and see my 8 concurrent lists that direct every moment of my life. I just laugh a little when their eyes pop out of their heads and they realize that organization is the force that guides my entire life. It would be a sad and disappointing thing to say that those who are not naturally organized are not capable of being organized. That also just isn’t true. It may be a little more difficult and take more intentionality to be organized, but it is more than possible. Here are five tips for being organized when you’re just not naturally organized: Tip #1: Write everything down! I carry a notebook with me everywhere- everywhere! When I have an idea, I jot it down. When I think of yet another thing I need to do, I write that down too. This notebook is my sanity saver. I mean seriously, have you ever been on a date and then you get the inundation of all the things at h...

Good morning Friends! It’s our favorite time of the year!!! Tax season. (Cue the moans and groans and drop in my readership). This blog is being written in response to the question I posted on Facebook about 2 weeks ago. (FB: Ashley Seguin). Tax season can be a beast, especially if you are self-employed or have more than one job (side-hustles included). Growing up, my dad was self-employed most years. So, every year, my sister and I got to do (super-fun) volunteer work helping him get ready for tax season. Disclaimer: I am NOT a CPA. This blog is not tax advice; it is advice for organizing for taxes. In no way, can this blog or its writer be held responsible for your tax issues. Talk to your CPAs. Now that I have covered my butt legally, let’s get into a few tips for organizing tax documents. First of all, make a list of all the tax documents you need. If you are an employee, you will need a series of pages that are very different from those who are self-employed. College stu...