Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could wake up in the mornings without the feeling of worrying about what you will wear that day, if it's clean (or if you even know where it is), where you left your car keys, or if the kids' permission slips got signed and returned or washed with the laundry?  This doesn't have to be a dream world, it really can be your life.  My family and I are on the road to home organization.  It is a long, slow journey, but we are going to make it.  How are we doing it?  By adding structure to our lives.  We are adding in daily routines, planning out our days with menus and a list of daily events and using the Fly Lady system to get our home decluttered and enjoyable.  I have created pages that explain our daily routines and how we plan our menus but I thought it would be nice to give you a bit more background basics.  First of all, we are small business owners and have two daughters, so I am a very busy mom.  My single most essential investment in getting myself organized has been my day planner.  For less than $15 at our local discount store I purchased a planner that includes a calendar, phone and address directory, note pads, business card holder, project planner and receipt tracker.  This planner has become my "on the go" control journal.  If I am going out the door I grab my planner, purse, cell phone and keys--in that order.  I keep birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, school functions, scouting events and business meetings tracked together instead of having a pocket calendar for each.  I can spot conflicting appointments before it's too late and since I use my planner to make my list of daily events I don't forget to send out birthday or anniversary cards.  (I make out both the first of each month and mail them off.  Since I started this I haven't had to by a "belated" birthday card again!  To keep our family up to date on the weekly happenings, I have added two weekly dry erase boards to our refrigerator, one is for the week's menus the other for our daily appointments and activities.  Next, I began working on my control journal.  You can find out more about this by visiting Fly Lady's website, the control journal is totally her idea.  My best advice for someone looking to organize their home and life would be to join the Fly Lady mailing list and really listen to what she tells you to do.  I have become much more productive than I ever thought possible with the help of this wonderful woman.  (c: