Managing My Minutes--Scheduling review UPDATED

I am always blessed by Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement and this item is no exception BUT there is one thing that really bugs me. The cover! This woman with five arms kind of freaks me out. Reminds me of one of those Hindu goddesses or something!

Okay, on to the real review.

Lorrie's updating her scheduling bundle. It will have three sections and I was able to read and review the first section.

My first comment is "Hurry up and finish the rest of the bundle!!! I need more!" The whole bundle will be completed with all this new content soon, but I need it now!

UPDATE!!  It's available now! Just go to Attention Moms.

In this section of the bundle, Lorrie uses several articles to demonstrate the need to have a schedule. I think she more than accomplishes her goal. (That's why I want the rest!) Some of the things mentioned that really moved me includes the fact that all time is actually God's. We will need to explain to God how we used our time. That's a scary reminder for me.
She also mentioned several times that a schedule is just a tool. It's for your use. There are no schedule police that will nab you if you get off schedule or decided to skip part. This helped me because I often see a schedule as a big taskmaster which shames me every time I fail to live up to it's standards.
I've also used my husband's mixed up work/unemployment schedule as an excuse reason for not scheduling. I really never considered before that I could have different schedules to use for different days or weeks.

Since this section convinced me of my need to have a schedule, I can't wait for the bundle to be released! You need to be looking for it, too!

Oh, and every time I've typed the word "schedule", I've wondered if you're read it as "skedule" or as "shedule".  I'd love to know if you read/speak it American or British! Mention it in the comments!

This item was freely given to me in exchange for my honest review.

Dry-Erase Weekly Calendar--like on Pinterest

This idea is not original with me. I found it on Pinterest here. BUT I do get credit for actually doing something I found on Pinterest and not just pinning it!

I made a dry-erase weekly calendar using only things I already had! you can't beat that!

You need a collage frame. Of course, 7 or 8 frames are recommended, but I only had a 6 frame one.

Now, the one on Pinterest had each square a different pattern. I chose to use three different patterns with related colors. I also wanted to make sure each had black in the pattern because of the black frames. I just thought it would be more cohesive.

Here's my finished project.

As you can see, since I had 6 frames, the weekend is combined on one frame. I also tried to vary the direction of the patterns to add a little more interest.

I really like it! While many hang on the wall, this frame works better as a stand which makes it very convenient for me. It's right behind the chair I use for my computer, so as things come up, I just swivel around and post it on the schedule!  There are many more things on there since the picture was taken!

And you know what else was really nice? Just the fact that in the midst of the chaos which is my life, I could take a few minutes and bring some beauty and order to my family!


Linked to:

5 Weeks, 5 Disciplines, 5 Challenges--Week 2

Last week, I started the 5 Weeks 5 Disciplines 5 Challenge with Women Living Well.  

Last week, she started with the body. My goal was to record my eating daily at MyFitnessPal. I'm still looking for more friends, so check out the post and look me up at MyFitnessPal. I have recorded each day since Wednesday when I started and I was only over my calories one day. Okay, I did increase my calories after that, so I wouldn't go over again, but it's still making a difference.  See for yourself.

Now, on to this week. Time management. Read about it HERE.

Here's Courtney's challenge this week.

Week 2 – Challenge:

1.  Sit down and look at your calendar.  Think about your priorities.

2.  Pray and ask God to give you wisdom as to what you should be doing with your time.

3.  Write out a list of what you need to get done this week – don’t forget to write in time with God!  (you can use the free printable below as a guide   !)

4.  Every morning this week, look over your to-do list.  Pray and ask God for wisdom.  Add, take away or move things on your list accordingly.

5. Continue this discipline next week and the week after.  Soon you will find order and rhythm to your days and weeks.

So, there's not much decision in this one. Write down and pray about your priorities. Write out the list. Every morning, pray over list and adjust accordingly. Repeat!  You can go to here site if you'd like to use her To-Do list.

Here's also some additional sources for schedules and calendars:

Kristen's Guide

Simple Organized Living

Keep and share Online Planner

Which balls to juggle--A Gabby Mom Review

This month for my Gabby Mom review, I was asked to review the MP3 entitled Just Say No by Lorrie Flem. Those of us who remember the '80s surely recall Nancy Reagan's program to Just Say No to Drugs, so I was intrigued by what Lorrie was going to tell me to say no to!!


This Eternal Encouragement recording promises to teach us how to pick which balls to juggle in our life.  I think she succeeds in giving us some wonderful guidelines on how and why to say "no" to certain activities.  Some of the things she mentions, I already knew.  I'm sure some of the things she mentions, you already know.  There are times, however, knowing and doing are two different things, and it's always great to have someone you respect tell you that it's the right thing to do!

Of course, you'll need to listen to get all the information yourself, but here are just a few comments from the MP3 to whet your appetite.

• Figure in preparation time.
• Keep in mind "brain space".  
• Leave unscheduled time for your children.
• Short-term vs. long-term commitments.
• Treat time like money.
• Lineup what you do with what your beliefs.
• Schedule time for relationships.

As Lorrie points out, stay-at-home moms are often asked to to do more because there is the assumption that we have more time, so learning to say no in the right way for the right reasons is an important skill. And it's nice to have someone even tell you that   
it's okay to say no.


If you want to find out more, which I suggest you do, you can purchase it for download or an audio CD at the Eternal Encouragement site.

So let's drop some of those balls we've been juggling, ladies, so we can focus on the things we really need to keep going!


I am reviewing Encouraging Moments as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine.  I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.