Let me pencil you in.

I woke up this morning and realized that we are now a full month since Christmas and I still have presents to ship and cards to mail. (Sorry, Mom! They’re on their way!) The holiday season was one of my busiest yet. In addition to all of the craft sales that I had to get ready for and participate in, I also had to keep up my end at home, fulfill my obligations at the store AND get settled into a brand new job, which I will go into more details about next week. Needless to say, I got so far behind on doing all of the “little things”, personally and professionally, that catching up became a daunting task, to say the least. (Regular readers of this column will have noticed a certain absence on my part and for this, I apologize profusely.)

I am determined to make a full-recovery from my 8 weeks of total disorganization, though, and it starts right here. The first item on my agenda is, well…an agenda. The key to keeping things under control is a good time-management system and it all begins with a good planner. Some people choose to go the electronic route, but I am one of those people that needs to see it in ink on paper. If you’re like me, this handmade Eco-Planner by Nature’s Cubbyhole (above) is just the thing to keep you organized; whether you are scheduling meetings, play dates, exams, or lunches with friends. The rugged cover is made of 100% recycled rubber, which has been fused to natural hemp burlap; inner pages are 100% recycled banana fibre paper, printed in what is described as a “no-nonsense” font. (This is, after all, serious business!) Keep track of all of your important dates and reminders in this functional and eco-conscious personal planner, and, when the year is up, you can return it to Elena for a refill! How’s that for planned sustainability?

One of the challenges in keeping a household organized is getting everyone on the same page. When it comes to this oversized monthly calendar (above) from Simple Shapes, the “page” is the wall. Not only is this chalkboard wall calendar a great way to keep the family informed of upcoming events and special occasions, it makes for a bold, graphic statement and will complement nearly any decor – from shabby chic to minimalist. The durable, infinitely reusable (and removable!) vinyl wall decal includes the calendar grid (pre-spaced for easy application), a memo section and “This Month” in a bold serif font. Just add chalk!

I am feeling more organized already. See you next week…I promise!