Marcia Francois's Blog, page 52

My Project Life evolution – how I used to do it

Rain mini-album with Seafoam cards

Let’s start at the beginning.

When I discovered Project Life, I saw all these complicated systems online (weekly spreads, a book for each child, this kind of thing) and immediately decided that was not for me.

I was interested in documenting on a regular basis, but not too much.

So I settled on monthly documenting, in a mini album that had to last the entire year.

Each mini album can take 80 10 X 15 photos, and the 3 X 4 ones fit in on the sides. So you’re l...

Getting kids interested in money

We use star charts to reward the kind of behaviour we value at home and usually the kids choose a small treat when they complete a chart of 35 stars.

TIP – the star chart itself is simply an old calendar page. They usually have a grid with 5 rows and 7 columns. #reuse #recycle #repurpose

A treat is a small something in the region of R30, very occasionally R40. In the past, Kendra has chosen a pair of earrings, Connor has chosen stationery, but they have mostly settled on getting taken on a d...

Goals for kids

I’m passionate about goals and goal-setting, so it’s only natural (to me) to talk to my kids about goals, and help them to start setting their own goals.

I didn’t set out to do such-and-such at a particular age; I was just winging it until it felt right to me.

For the past couple of years, just at the beginning of one year/ end of the last, I have done a very brief review/ goal-setting thing with the kids.

There are many free printables for end of the year reviews for school. I just used the...

{Konmari} Ugly blue takkies

Ballito

Here’s just one of the reasons I love the Konmari method. I’ve been telling myself I need to get rid of these old takkies (sneakers) for years.

I’ve probably had them for 8-9 years and they’ve been all over the world so they’re not the very prettiest takkies I have at the moment.

I kept taking them out to donate them and I end up putting them right back with my shoes.

Top of the Rock, NYC

But then I read that book and I realised why I don’t seem able to get rid of these shoes.

They sp...

Let’s talk about this adult colouring craze

I’m not the most patient person in the world. In fact, impatient is probably one of the top 10 words some would use to describe me.

I was also never a child who liked using a colouring book. I liked dot-to-dot, and activity pads like word search and crossword puzzles, but colouring always seemed rather pointless.

So I really don’t get this colouring-in business for adults. All those fiddly lines…. How would you colour properly with standard pencil crayons (colouring pencils)?!

I posted a pic...

3 calendars at a time

I started using 3 calendars at a time at home during the holiday season last year. It was so useful to see November to January all at the same time, especially for scheduling purposes.

Now I’m hooked.

It does freak me out just a little bit when I see too much in the way of plans, but then again, that’s the point.

I can see when it’s just too busy to meet up with friends or when we need a quieter weekend at home.

Margin is a beautiful thing and we need to fight hard to preserve it.

At work,...

{Konmari} The Christmas Cards

Gretchen Rubin wrote a post a few months ago about Christmas cards. She mentioned that as they receive cards, they leave it in a common space for about a week for everyone in the family to see, and then they toss the cards.

A photo posted by Marcia Francois (@organisingqueen) on Feb 14, 2016 at 1:53pm PST

This is quite the novel idea to me.

I don’t know of anyone who tosses cards even before Christmas is over Then again, since I’ve been blogging, I’ve also heard (previously unknown to...

Feb review and March goals

February was a good month. Here are some of the highlights:

I had a crafternoon with a friend and organised all my iphone photos for Jan. Yes! We had a Valentine’s playdate for the kids I discovered Woolworths beetroot crisps… I had two dates with Dion – we watched “Joy” (nice… but not fabulous) and went to the theatre to see “Bye, Bye Baby” I read 7 books We set up savings accounts for the kids (more on that later this month) Reduced a financial obligation to a vendor by a third (that is t...

The highlights of the Organising Queen month

Happy Leap Day!

Dion and our friend, Craig – Leap, Ireland (May 2008)

And now a round-up of highlights this month…

Top 3 posts

I know how she does it

My 5 favourite stationery finds

Kids and toy clutter – I re-read my post and I love it even more after writing it

A photo posted by Marcia Francois (@organisingqueen) on Feb 1, 2016 at 3:19am PST

Top 3 Instagrams

The pictures in this post

I still want to do a post on the Christmas cards – do comment and let me know what your policies are...

Pink-spiration

Some inspiration for a Friday!

When we were on holiday in Cape Town last month, we went to the Waterfront one day and I found this cute wallet at one of the stores in that shed section.

The girl selling them does give attitude like she wants you to leave so she can continue playing on her phone, but just ignore her and browse to your heart’s content.

That’s exactly what I did and I found this beauty.

It immediately grabbed my attention because of the colour… but now that I’ve been using it f...