Remember I said that one day I would tell you about my “Mama’s Brain Book”?
Today is the lucky day.
I cannot take credit for this idea. Lots of housewives have something similar, but my mother was the one who put this love of notebooks within me! She had her own book she kept with canning records and way more info than my own book holds.
I started out with a smaller spiral notebook for my canning records, but eventually decided I needed something I could add pages to, take pages out of, and be able to make more mistakes in without having to rip out the papers. So I bought a three-ring binder, made myself a fun cover sheet, came up with a crazy title . . . and Mama’s Brain was officially born.
Inside the book, I used separators with tabs that I can change the names of whenever I choose. I also got some lined paper to put inside for all my info and notes. Who still used lined paper anyway? I felt rather archaic getting it. We’re so used to printing something out or reading it on a screen.
I also got myself some of these sheet protectors that I can stuff all the recipes, menus and odd papers into. I love these things! They do hang out over my tabs, but I still like to use them.
It has been fun filling some of these up with ideas to use for our healthier way of eating. These are the free menu plans available when you subscribe to 100 Days of Real Food’s newsletter.
I have tabs for my canning records, fruit orchard records, garden records and info . . . and much more.
A peek inside my canning records section! On the section divider (left), I have written down syrups and canning tips I use every fall. This way, I don’t have to thumb through the whole section – just flip over the divider!
There is one section simply titled “Info”. This holds anything that doesn’t belong somewhere else – such as our church hostess schedule, church cleaning schedule, the school year dates, etc.
These were the papers that used to get stuffed down in the basket on my dresser – almost never to be seen again for months!
Another section just for recipes I want to try. These are not necessarily whole foods, but any that pique my interest when on Pinterest! How’s that for a rhyme?
Doesn’t that look delicious? I am almost thinking I tried this one time, but can’t remember if it got a thumbs up or down.
The children like to peek inside this section – Logan especially. I can’t honestly say I’ve used it a whole lot, but hope to in the future. Sometimes we’ll be talking about what to get a specific child for their upcoming birthday, months in advance, and now I have a place to write it down so I won’t forget.
There is a section for camping – such as the best places we like to go and what campsite we want for the next time.
I also have one for phone numbers and addresses, medical and dental info – such as eye doctors, dentists, etc. – and also one for our children’s “paying jobs”. We tend to forget how much they get paid when they do specific “paying jobs” (since we don’t give allowances) and this is a great place to write them down!
So there you have been inside my Mama’s Brain for a wee bit . . . and you came out relatively unscathed from the whole experience. It wasn’t so bad after all, now was it?
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Betsy says
I have a similar book that I call my “Homekeeping Binder”. It has many of the same sections as yours. I recently made another binder in a similar fashion that is my “Prayer Journal”. In it I have notes from my daily Bible readings, you know, the things you feel God is saying just to you through that passage. I also have a section for prayer requests that I’m asked to pray for. Those are alphabetized and I leave a few lines to record how the prayer was answered when and if I hear. I have separate dividers for Monday-Friday when I pray for specific things, ie, church leaders, government leaders, missionaries, etc. I also have individual pages for each of my children and their families.
Since I began this, I remember requests so much better. Before, I would write the requests when I got them on a piece of paper and never had them all in one place. Now I grab my journal and can run out the door with it when needed.
Thank you for this post. It’s always good to see how someone else does something. You’ve given me ideas for a few little “tweaks” to my own binder.
Kendra says
A prayer journal is a great idea!!
Donna Wray says
Yes, I know my “brain book” has been invaluable! I also have a section with each of our children and in-law childrens’ names and a place to write any suggestions or needs they have for future gifts. Then there is a section with the name of every son, daughter, in-laws, grandchildren and greats, and a space of the gift given at Christmas or birthday–so no repeats happen, which is easy to do with 31 grands. I really appreciate the medical section, also, to keep important info together. A good thing to share, Kendra!
Kendra says
You do VERY good at not repeating gifts, Mom!! When we’re back there next, I’d love to look through your book again – if I may. 🙂 I haven’t browsed it in a long time!
Linda says
I have my home-keeping notebook. That’s really my memory book. I write what I do, when I do it, etc. because I can never remember basic things like-did I mop this week or was that last week or did I call Jane to check on her this week. It definitely helps.