Intro to my life book and home management binder.

The other day I was working on my oldest child's life book/home management binder when our former neighbor dropped by. She was very curious as to what I was doing because she saw the stacks of papers and the binders out. 

So my children told her what they thought I was doing. It was interesting to hear their take on what I was doing. My youngest described it as a family instruction guide. My oldest called it the family crisis manual for the brain impaired. Our visitor said I should tell the world about this little thing I do and then she dared me to blog about it. So here I am.

What is this life book that I speak of? It can look very different from family to family and it can be called different names but it’s basically something that holds information that is important for a family’s life. It is a hodgepodge of information in one spot that can be accessed when needed.

It contains everything that is important to know in regards to financial, medical, legal, insurance, etc. in the event of a life event, emergency or crisis happens and then some. It’s to help speed up accessing important information so that decisions can be made or the right parties contacted in a timely manner. The most important part about having one is making sure that it’s kept up to date after the initial assembly. 

I’m going to share some of what mine looks like in the series of posts because I plan on also sharing pictures. I am not a photographer so please forgive my questionable photos.

Your going to see a lot of different looks. I put together my binder from a lot of different resources so there is no uniformity because I believe in "If it's not broke, don't mess with it." Although some are not used as they were originally intended. I use a lot of different forms from different systems that I have seen over the years. Some are from programs that I was enrolled in to be taught how to be a better mother. Some are from agencies that were big on paperwork. Some are from various internet resources that I've come across over the years.

Here is the first page in my life book/home management binder.

 

Pretty isn't it? I'm so thankful for the recommendation to go to Lime Tree Fruits Planners 

Trivia Question: What's Zenith's groundbreaking addition to the television set in 1950?

In 1950, Zenith, maker of radios since 1918 and televisions since 1948, introduced a "Lazy Bones" press-button remote control with its new Zenith "Black Magic" television. Attached by a long cord to the set, the remote could "change programs from anywhere in the room."

Caramel-Drizzled Pumpkin Poke Cake

Cake
1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist yellow cake mix
1 cup (from 15 oz can) pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 t pumpkin pie spice

Topping
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 jars (12 oz) each hot fudge topping
1 container Betty Crocker Whipped fluffy white frosting
¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
2 T caramel topping

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom only of 13x9 pan.
In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs, and pumpkin spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake 26 to 33 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center.
Immediately poke cake every inch with handle of wooden spoon halfway into cake. Drizzle condensed milk evenly over top of cake; let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place hot fudge in medium microwaveable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 30 seconds or until smooth. Spoon and spread over cake, pressing slightly into holes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.


Spread frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans. Just before serving, drizzle caramel sauce over each serving of cake. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.

20 servings

Money...

Money can be an emotionally charged object. It’s a taboo subject to talk about for many. Some have a love hate relationship with it while others see it as the root of all evil. In many instances it is what seems to make the world go round and highly necessary.

So what’s your relationship with money? Is it something that you love or something you hate? Is it an emotionally charged topic that reduces you to tears each month or week or daily? Is it a necessary evil so that you can survive the life your living or is it something else? Is it something that is abundant and flowing or scarce and lacking? How do you describe or see your relationship with money?

However you choose to answer these questions is going to be up to your individual interpretation of what money is to you and how you see your relationship with it. There’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer to any of these questions if your fine with living in the relationship you currently have with money. But if you could change your relationship with money would you?

I found this to be an intriguing thought to ponder. What is my relationship with money? I had to ask myself. I drew a blank because I was so overwhelmed with how I see it. I bounce between it being a wonderful, beautiful thing that produces happiness and ease in my life to it’s a horrible dirty 5 letter word that is foul, loathsome and the bane to my existence. So  How do I really see it? What is my relationship with it?

I'm not sure. I am hoping to find out soon. How? By participating in Love Money: Create a Passionately Profitable Relationship With Your Finances!By Isis Arjeta It begins today and I'm so looking forward to seeing what I learn from it and how my relationship will improve with it.

Reminder Review and Check Your Life Paperwork

Sorry I am a little late with the reminder to check your life paperwork.

I've been working at updating our life paperwork and creating a life paperwork binder for my oldest who is now in need of one. I plan to share what I've been putting together for her in the future.

So It's that time of year again. 2014 speeding by as we are rapidly approaching March.

Is your calendar getting stuffed to the gills with layers upon layers of appointments? Mine sure is.

So what changes did the year 2013 bring to you? Did you have additions or subtractions from your family? Where your richly blessed or was a tough year of barely getting through? Did a marriage or divorce happen? Is there anything that happened which legally could or does impact you? Ex. death, birth, marriage, divorce, health issues, insurance changes, adoption, graduation, etc. etc. Power of Attorney updates or is it time to consider getting one if you don't already have one? Do you have aging relatives that need to be taken care of? Again these are question to get you started thinking about what has changed in the last year and what you need to get in place and verify is correct.

Use the questions to ask yourself the really hard question "If I wasn't here tomorrow what would my (wife/husband/significant other, mother/father, children, etc.) need to know?" or "If I had a medical crisis due to an accident, heart attack or stroke what would my ___ need to know?" "Is it up to date?" "Is everything still in the same location or did I have to change location and is someone else aware of it?"

This may sound like a lot of busy work and a time eater but trust me doing it now will be worth it in the long run. The very 1st time I did this it took me a good chunk of time and weeks of effort to pull it all together. Now that I've done it, I find it takes less time to update it every year. It also helps to make sure we are all on the same page in case of a worst case scenario event happens.

2013 brought about several subtractions from my circle of family and friends. It's also brought some legal changes as power of attorney ended or started for some and the guardianship continues. I've witnessed three marriages this year. I've also witnessed two divorces and trust me having their life paperwork in order was a huge time saver and made things go a bit smoother. 

Please, Please, Please take the time to schedule this on your calendar and chick to make sure your life's paperwork is in order.

Slow cooker Velveeta Creamy Broccoli soup

1 quart low-sodium chicken broth

2 cups 1% milk

1 package (20 ounces) frozen broccoli cuts, thawed

1 half small onion, finely chopped

¼ teaspoon black pepper

7 ounces Velveeta cut into ½ inch cubes

1 1/3 cups instant mashed potatoes

Combine broth, melt, broccoli, onion, pepper and 1 cup water in slow cooker bowl. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.

Whisk Velveeta into slow cooker until smooth sprinkle instant potatoes over soup and whisk to combine serve immediately

Makes 6 servings

Birthday Wishes

It's hard to believe that it's been so long since it seems like only yesterday that we met for the first time. Where has the time gone? It's passed as quick as a wink. I hear the clock ticking as our time together is growing shorter. You look so grown up in your uniform with your Star rank upon your chest and yet I can still see the little boy who was afraid of not getting to wear the Tiger there at all. You've come a long ways and have far yet to go but you'll always be my baby and I'll swear we just met... Happy 15th Birthday to my little man.