Ancestry Organization

If you have followed me here or on any of my social media platforms for any amount of time, you have learned that I enjoy researching my family genealogy.  For the past year and a half, I have worked towards a system of organizing my research that marries my love of mixed media and traveler’s notebooks.

There is no ONE way to organize your genealogy research as each system is as unique as the person (and their family) compiling it.  Whether you choose to keep your records in a digital database (i.e. Ancestry or Family Search) or in a paper file, there are a few fundamentals that will help you collect information.

Start with your parents and grandparents, while they are living.  The obvious information to record is

• name;
• birthdate and location;
• parents names;
• spouse and children

Using a notebook or my Family Record Booklet, identify what you already know about your family.  Be sure to capture the family stories that could die with them.  

Once you have interviewed your closest living relatives, you will need to decide what information you do not have and you want to learn about your ancestors. 

Using forms provided by your digital genealogy database or my Ancestor Research Booklet, select an ancestor to learn about and begin organizing your records.

Decide what you want to learn.  Begin with ONE question?  Trust me when I say, without a clearly defined search objective, you could climb up and down your family tree looking (and finding) information and be left with a pile of paperwork that can leave you frustrated and with more questions than you started with.  What do you want to find?

Once you have identified what you want to look for, identify why do you want/need to know this information?  Having the answers to these two questions will help you in your search.  Often while looking for the answer to your the first question you will discover new questions to ask.  Write them down.  Create a list of research questions.  Do not get distracted with the new questions…again, trust me on this point.  Your ancestors are not going anywhere.  Once you have answered the first question, you can look for information to answer the next, and next…you are bound to discover lots of questions to ask in your research.  

Finally, prepare a research log.  Knowing where you have previously looked for information will save you untold hours and headaches. 

Are you new to researching your family history or have you been tracking down clues for years?  How do you organize your material?  I would love to know how you organize your research.  Find me on FaceBook and Instagram and share your tips and photos with the hashtag #TheOrganizedMiss

 

 

 

Life is an EXPERIMENT …

In keeping with my goal of providing FREE printables for you to use in your creative endeavors, planning or as little encouragers to give to others (as I do with my monthly mailers)…I have designed this card for the month of August.

I had a lot of fun painting the original piece.   If you have followed me and my journey for any amount of time, you have learned that I LOVE creating art, especially mixed media using recycled materials.

This image is not exception.  I have been obssessed with saving junk mail envelopes to repurpose in my art projects.

I recently grabbed a larger envelope that had been delivered to my mailbox containing advertising specialty items.  And spent a relaxing evening plopping paint all over the ourtside of it.

Then, I uploaded the artwork to the computer to continue creating digitally.  By the time I had finished, I had created several elements to use as a digital kit for a junk journal class I am teaching.

This is a page from the inside of the book.  The cover was created using the large painted envelope cut down to a 6″x9″ size. The pages inside were made from paper I had left over from previous projects, and recycled materials, as well as the digital elements I created on the computer from the painted envelope.  The above photo shows a page in the junk journal that showcases some of the repurposed items, (scrapbook paper, old book page, clothing tag, and painted art).

I have challenged myself to find multiple uses for the art I created.  As ususal, I used the art for my monthly birthday card mailers and then sat down to work on more digital items to include in the kit I am designing for another upcoming class.

The resulting image is a 3″x4″ journal card you can download for personal use.

In addition to printing as a journal card, the image can be resized and printed as postcards (I PRINT 4 TO A PAGE AND SET THE PRINTER TO FULL BLEED).

I would love to see what you are making…and how you incorporate this design in your art, creative spaces or planning.  Please tag me on social media an show me how you are using it.  I can be found online at:

 

Deanna – The Organized Miss

@theorganizedmiss

@theorganizedmiss

Morning Routine|Free Printable

“Behind every impossible achievement is a dreamer of impossible dreams.” -Robert K. Greenleaf

“Your brain has the ability to change and develop physiologically, and it does so based on how you use it. You have the ability to strengthen and develop your brain by thinking about a compelling future for yourself, by regularly and repeatedly thinking about an inspiring vision where you emotionally connect with the life you desire. You can train your brain to act on your vision just by thinking about it. The first step is creating an inspiring vision and learning how to stay connected with it.” – from 12 Week Year

For me, training my brain to act on my vision is found in the routines.  We are creatures of habit and as Henry Ford is quoted as saying, “whether you think you can or you can’t you’re right.” 

What you think about – you bring about!  

This happens whether you are being intentional with your thoughts and actions, as with following a morning routine, for example.  Or whether you are unintentional with your thoughts and actions, which by the way turn in to habits…

the habit of sleeping in because you can … 

the habit of taking a shower whenever you think about it … 

the habit of sitting on the couch all day, because “Why not? I have no where to go.”… 

the habit of self-imposed isolation which can and does, lead to depression.

For the 31 Days of Planner Fun Challenge, I am sharing my morning routine with you here along with a free printable you can use in your planner to help you get started with creating your own morning routine.  Or if you already have one, perhaps this can help you keep it front and center whether you actually place it in your planner or hang it on your wall next to your bed so you see it each morning (I may or may not do this) 🙂 

I find scheduling my morning routine into my planner helps me stay accountable to myself, my vision.  The truth is, whether you have a morning routine or not, your body and life will show it.  Having a routine will help your brain TRUST that you will take care of it…this goes for other routines as well, evening and sleep routines, work routines, family obligations and chore routines, the list can go on and on.  

When your brain trusts you, it is free to turn off the “flight or fight” survival mode and focus on strengthening and growing in the areas you are being intentional about. Your vision and goals become a reality when you are less stressed or have an effective routine for dealing with stress.  

A morning routine can help to start the day in an optimal state.  I focus my routine on three areas of my life, Being, Body, Brain.  Actually, all of my planning and routines revolve around these three categories.  

When I am consistent with my routine, I am more alert, engaged, productive and able to handle the stressors of life.  Because let’s face it, stress happens but how we respond to stress determines the outcome.  

Download your FREE PRINTABLE here and tag me on social media with how you are implementing it.  

Join me this month for all things planner related, OneBookJuly2018 and 31 Days of Planner Fun on social media at:

Facebook and Instagram as @theorganizedmiss

YouTube @Deanna – The Organized Miss and check out

It’s time for One Book July !!

HIP HIP HOORAY!!  If you are not cheering along, it may be because you have no idea what I am talking about…Read this history of One Book July that will get you up to speed with this year.

Allow me to be the first, or the first of many, to welcome and introduce you to this wonderful, one month experiment that will help you organize, categorize, calendarize and all around improve productivity!

 

I will be sharing my journey, using a #bilateralplanning approach, along the way.

Whether you are already well ensconced in a system that works for you, or your system is made up of a thousand pieces of paper and post it notes, I believe One Book July will teach you something new about yourself and your planning routine!

I am excited to see what I learn through the experiement of One Book July this year!

Are you planning on participating?  Please find me on social media and tag me, I would love to see what you are doing!

Deanna – The Organized Miss

@theorganizedmiss

@theorganizedmiss

Journal/Postcards | Free Printable

Every month, I like to sit down and design a new postcard image to use for the Birthday Card Ministry at my church.

The current image I am working on utilizes the “junk journal” style of art, which happens to be my favorite form of art, right now.  I recently created a couple of journal cards to use in tuck spots in my junk journal and quickly realized I would like to use them as postcards.

I used some older digital printables I had lying around in a stack of paper as the background pieces.  I added bits of ephemera that I had cut out of recycled magazines, old sheet music and even packaging from my butter!  Nothing is off limits when creating junk journal art.  And let’s not forget the textiles, here I added bits of burlap and a doily.  Of course not all items are junk, some are simply being repurposed from their original use.

After creating the little cards, I upload them to my computer and modified the size and add any digital artwork before printing them out.

Finally, I decide on making each one unique by using stamps and sometimes stickers.  Then a personalized message is included on the back with the address and then it is ready for the post office.

Feel free to download these images, for personal use only.  They make great journal cards or can be mailed to a friend.  Simply right click on the image and save to your computer.

If you would like to know when I upload more printables:

 Subscribe to my    channel

I would love to see how your using them, so please tag me: 

  @theorganizedmiss

And JOIN the conversation in my Facebook group where I advocate, educate and entertain:

 @theorganizedmiss

 

 

DOTK – Peaceful

Thank you for joining me for this “experiment”  !!!

Download the “Peaceful” printable by clicking on the image and saving to your computer.  Then, watch the first Virtual Bible Study video in this series as I created the art to illustrate this verse:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7 

God. spoke this verse over me near the beginning of the season of my life that was marked by headaches, hospitalizations, and cognitive impairments and it helped me focus on Him and not the anxiety I was experiencing.  Yes, I still felt and exhibited the signs of anxiety, however, I knew He was with my and I was not alone.

How to make a Western-themed, Altered Book Junk Journal

STEP 1 in this series, after deciding on my inspiration pieces was to decide how to alter the book … trust me this was a hard one as it was not the typical book I take apart.  

I like to choose books that are falling apart or have had the pages damaged in some way, however, I could not pass up the title, theme, and condition for a gift that will be given away. 

First, I removed some of the pages and glued them back together creating journalling pockets…I hope to have this video for you soon.

I plan to use the removed pages to create embellishments and journalling spots for the book.  I am excited to try my hand at this style of junk journal as I have never made an altered book.  My preferred style is to remove the entire book block and create signatures.  I may use some of the other books, that I found while out “antique/thrifting” to try some other styles.  Stay tuned for the next installment in the “Western Junk Journal” series!

Digital/Virtual Bible Study – DOTK

This past year brought a lot of healing and a lot of new things.  One of those ‘new things’ was using the computer to create images that I used in my devotions.  The result is a journal that I can use for sermon notes, journaling, Bible study or a springboard of inspiration.

I have been praying about the next steps with this project and have finally felt lead as to the direction to go and recently shared it on my channel.

You can watch the video here …

 

Also, I decided to make the first printable available to download.  My goal is to have one printable as a FREE download with each Digital/Virtual Bible Study video and will have a link in the description box to the download.

Be sure to use the hashtag #TOMDOTK and tag me on social media with how you use the printables in your self-care, devotional, or arts & crafts!

I am @theorganizedmiss on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for joining me in this new Bible Study devotional series.

Pageant Queen Principles of Health – Exercise

 

Are you swimwear ready? Whether you are a pageant contestant, current titleholder or not, your personal style begins with good health and fitness.   

The Pageant Queen Principles of Health and Fitness begin with exercise.  Physical activity is an important part of every morning routine. Studies show exercising first thing in the morning followed by a healthy breakfast is best for elevating the metabolism after a good night’s rest. A higher metabolism throughout the day not only continues to burn calories keeping You appearance ready but also helps you stay energized for all those appearances.

Additional reasons why it is a great idea to work out first thing in the morning include:

• Leaves time for other priorities: Now that your workout is done and over with first thing in the morning, you have the rest of your day to complete other tasks.
• Increased energy levels during the day: Exercise has been proven to increase energy levels and focus throughout the day. By working out first thing in the morning, you are getting a head start on your day.
• You’ll be less likely to skip your workout: It can be easy to get distracted at various points of the day that might sabotage your workout (less motivation, fatigue, overdue school work). By working out first thing in the morning, when your mind has very few things to concentrate on just yet, you will be less likely to skip your workout later. (Source:NIFS)

*BONUS: For every 1 lb. of muscle you gain, your body will burn an extra 6 to 10 calories per day at rest. Gain 10 lbs. of muscle and you could be burning an extra 100 calories while at rest (Source: BuiltLean).

Self-Care Strategy: Volunteer

Miss America Serves Day is April 7th this year and titleholders, contestants and volunteers will be serving their communities through their personal platform in addition to raising funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH).

My personal platform is raising awareness of cognitive impairments and the importance of self-care to decrease the effects of stress on the brain. Volunteering is one form of self-care that I have identified as it helps me to focus on the needs of others and how I can help them.

Volunteering is good for your mind and body as it provides many benefits to both your mental and physical health.

Volunteering combats depression.

Reducing the risk of depression is an important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering helps you make positive connections, eliminating isolation, and can contribute to your overall happiness.

According to an article from Harvard Health Publishing volunteering has positive implications that go beyond mental health. A growing body of evidence suggests that people who give their time to others might also be rewarded with better physical health—including lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan.

Evidence of volunteerism’s physical effects can be found in a recent study from Carnegie Mellon University, published in Psychology and Aging. Adults over age 50 who volunteered on a regular basis were less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers. High blood pressure is an important indicator of health because it contributes to heart disease, stroke, and premature death.

This week, during Miss America Serves week, consider ways to improve your health through volunteering. If you would like to help me make miracles with CMNH, you can donate here. All funds raised go to the local CMNH hospitals.  Whether it is $1 or $100, every dollar counts and can make the difference in the life of a child or the family of a child who is in the hospital.

Visit CMNH to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.