My Home Command Center... Emily Ley Home Base Binder

Dec 29, 2015

I love systems! Systems make things run smoothly, and allow me to spend more time with the people that matter most to me! That being said, for me, I need one place in my home that holds all of my go-to items that make my home run smooth... a place for meal plans, family schedules, notes, and such.

Enter the Home Base Binder by Emily Ley! Now, first off, let me just tell you that I have fallen in love with Emily Ley over the last 4 years. I love her story of how she created her brand. Her motto is "I will hold myself to a Standard of Grace, Not Perfection," and that resonates with me since I am a self-professed recovering perfectionist.

Why did you need it?

At the time that I purchased my Home Base Binder, I was really looking to simplify my meal planning. What I got in return ended up being so much more valuable. I typically planned my meals monthly using a basic word document with a calendar template that I created. I also had a separate document that was my grocery list, and I filled it in as I planned my meals. All that worked fine for me, but I found that I easily got distracted when I was on the computer, and it took longer than anticipated to get the job done. I really needed a paper system. Plus I love that this system allows me to not be tethered to my computer.

Why not make your own?

Initially, my first stop was pinterest for a D.I.Y, but I got way too overwhelmed with all the choices and the gorgeous printables. I ended up wasting a lot of money on paper & ink trying out multiple printables, and still never found something that was just right for me.

Around that same time, I had remembered seeing that Emily had re-designed her planners and binders, and so I went to her site. I knew that I wanted the Home Base Binder, but I was way too frugal to pay full price... So I waited. In July 2014 (i think) she held her annual Anniversary Sale and I purchased the refill pack. I already had a cute binder from Target and didn't feel the need to pay the extra for a binder. (My old target binder has since been replaced with one of EL's 2014 striped binders that I purchased second-hand).

What's the quality like?

The online buying experience was super easy & the shipping was lighting FAST!

When my binder arrived, I instantly fell in love! The quality is excellent. The dividers have a matte, rubbery-type feel to them! They are VERY sturdy, and should withstand a good amount of wear. And the paper! Oh my word! The paper is so thick, and it has a glossy finish. I would liken it to very thick text-book paper.

You can view all the sheets included by visiting Emily's website. I have added several of her free printables to mine, so just be aware of that as you are looking at my photos. So let's see how I use mine!

Family

Emergency Information // Calendars // Notes for our babysitters // etc. In this section, I keep everything that babysitters might need when they are in my home, as well as my family's schedules, calendars, etc.

Contacts

Home & Repair Business Cards // Family & Friend Contacts

Projects

Project Planning Pages // I use several of EL's free printable pages here. I typically use this section for things like birthday parties, trip planning, and home improvements.

Meal Plan

Weekly Meal Planning

Finances

Monthly Spending Plan Pages

Our financial information is private, so I will just show you what the pages look like...

Heart

Family Bucket List

At the end of the day, you have to find what works for you, and stick with it. I always have heard that it takes 21 days to create a new habit, and 90 days to implement a new process. I committed to using this binder for 1 year, and I love how it has worked out for me. I will definitely be purchasing the refills for this binder in the future because I have found this to be an invaluable resource for managing my home and family.

Simplifying my processes has created more time for me to spend doing things I love!

Finding Contentment,