Sections, Forms, Lists etc

[Gingerbug]

Okay let's talk the kind of sections we have in our planners, any special forms we use, lists etc. Mine has changed a dozen times over the last five years or so.

1. Calendar Section
2. Christmas Cards (lists & addresses)
3. Gift Closet Inventory
4. Gift Section (houses 24 days list, stocking stuffers, gifts)
5. Magical Fun Section (houses party planners, decor plans and baking plans)
6. Christmas Countdown: from OC...a list for each of the six weeks.
7. Notes Section
8. Christmas Tips and Ideas...

[Gingerbug]

Ummmm....I see no one is excited about talking about the different parts of their notebook...so I will just continue on....talking to myself...LOL

The Calendar section is VERY important in my notebook...in this section I have the monthly calendars printed and ready....basicallt the most used are October, November, December and January....I use them for noting

Party and event dates
Rudolph Days
The Weeks of the Countdown
Setting goals for getting things done
January: my annual Winter Craft Sleepover...for the neices
January: Dates to review and update the notebook

[Snowbelle27]

I have had to split my Christmas Notebook into 3 folders as I just couldn't fit everything in. So folder 1 is dedicated to Christmas recipes, folder 2 is Christmas Crafts and Decorations and Folder 3 houses Christmas Countdown, Calenders, Address Details, Notes and Rudy Day Plans.

In Christmas Countdown I keep all of my cleaning plans, schedules, 'To Do' lists etc last year I followed the Holiday Grand Plan but this year I have written my own combining HGP and HHP from OC.

In the address section I keep all of my Addresses for writing cards, my card list and my gift lists.

I'll be following this thread avidly as I'm always looking to make improvements to my Notebooks.

[irishgirl]

My goodness you guys are organized! I am a list gal but you put me to shame. I use an old fashion composition book for my lists and of course my daytimer (my brain). I am going to have to kneel at the foot of the masters and get going!

By the way.. what is a Rudolph Day?:rudolph:

[Gingerbug]

OH...GASP in SHOCK...you don't know about Rudolph Day??? LOL

Every month on the 25th of the month,.....it's Rudolph Day...you pick some Christmas things to do on the 25th...menu planning, list updating, shopping whatever....listen to Christmas Music and watch a Christmas Movie....however you want to celebrate it....a little mini prep session each month!!! And its fun too!!!

[irishgirl]

Awesome.. now I have a name for my day!!!!

I love to celebrate mini Christmas as I call it every 25th of the month. I have it marked on my calendar as to how many months until Christmas.. my own little countdown.. I am so excited that I can name it now!!!

YEAH.. I love this website:):))

[Snowbelle27]

I too am always revising my Notebook Gingerbug, I've lost count of the amount of times I've changed it. My Husband knows I'm always changing it and just has to make a comment about the printer ink.

I'm already thinking I may have to split my card and gift section as I've just made a form to track my advent gifts and I'm finding I have to sort throught the section to find what I am looking for.

I do keep checking Melinda's site for new additions but there doesn't seem to be much activity over there and hasn't for some time.

[Gingerbug]

Yes I haven't heard anything from her in ages and she has not been over at MHH...maybe some life events have her tied up.

I am going to work on some divider pages for us...I can put them on the mydocs on igoggle so people can print them....but it will be at least a couple weeks before I get aorund to it...

[Snowbelle27]

That sounds a great idea! I'm not completely satisfied with mine as I've had to adapt them to get the titles I needed and they are alittle untidy. Looking forward to that.
cheesy

[irishgirl]

INSPIRED!!!

I bought diveders for a spiral binder I already had.. I am going to decorate the cover with stickers etc... I am so excited.. My DH is scared!!!!

[Gingerbug]

Scared you'll be too organized...or scared you are working on Christmas NOW....LOL

[stoerkel]

Thanks for this group, Gingerbug. I am just starting to put together a Christmas Notebook so i can't wait to see the ideas and suggestions everyone comes up with. I do have my calendars completed (or started) for July through December. Decided June was going to be a wash with to many other events/activites going on. And i've started my master gift list.

[irishgirl]

LOL!!! Scared that if I am really organized he will have to do more for Christmas than he normally does!!!!!

I can't tell you guys enough how much fun it is to see other people that are as excited about the holidays as I am. We were talking about Christmas in July at work and most of my co workers that I was crazy ( I am trying to organized a $1.00 gift exchange and snack party. We did it last year and it was alot of fun. We decorated our office and played music and dress in our holiday (lightweight of course) finest!!) I guess it was alittle too early for most of them. They couldn't believe I have already started my shopping.. Oh well.. Thank goodness for MMC:))

[thechristmasnut]

I love my notebook and would be lost without it, Im always tweaking my notebook to try to make it work better for me. I have a lot if the same sections as Ginger but then I also have a sections for my annual Christmas party, Recipes, Crafts plans and ideas, decorating section (where I keep new ideas for holiday decorating and pics of years past decorations for reference).

[SparkleNana]

My Christmas Notebook has blank calendar pages for 2008. I think I will write in the dates on the chats on Christmas topics. I don't want to miss them.

Also, I'll write in some of the Christmas in July events.
Next, I have to do sheets for the gift inventory.

[Aggy]

After changing my planner for the millionth time I have finally divised my notebook into the following sections which works for me.

At A Glance: Holds monthly calendars (from August to December) with special events
marked - Christmas concerts, plays, office party, etc. Here is also
where I keep my '25 Days to
Christmas' activities.

Addresses:

Lists: Master shopping list, gift list, budget, internet tracking list, catalog
tracking list.

Gift ideas: Ideas for stocking stuffers, gift basket ideas, etc.

Menu/Recipes:

Decor:

Rudolph Day:

Favorite Websites: For recipes, crafts, decor, shopping

Christmas Past: Here I keep old lists, budget, etc. to refer to when planning for
the following year.

[purplecrush]

I have changed mine SOOOOO much over the last 5-6 years it makes me crazy just thinking about how much paper I have wasted! When I first started my notebook, I printed out EVERY single thing that was on OC!!! I didnt even use 1/3 of them. So now I just have :

Christmas Countdown
Rudolph Club
Entertainment
Card lists/addresses
Recipes
Gift lists
Activities
Household
Crafts
Calenders

Those work really well for me right now..not to say that I wont change it up when I go to the store and pass more dividers LOL..Im addicted to dividing things!