Once again, Tip Junkie is here as Your Personal Assistant. Consider taking a day to really plan and organize your schedule to stay ahead of the game. Here are some things to do:

1.  Mother’s Day is Sunday May 9th. If you’re making gifts this year here are some great ideas and Executive Homemaker has some last minute printables for your kids to make.

• Tip Junkie’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide

2.  Next month school out for the summer! So it’s time to start thinking about fun Graduation gifts & parties. I’ll be featuring new ideas soon but if you just can’t wait, here you go:

• Graduation Celebration
• Teach Me Graduation tutorials
• Graduation Party Tutorials
• End of School Year Celebrations

You could also use these 1st Day of School traditions for the last day of school:

• Back to School Traditions
• First Day of School

I’ll be featuring more Last Day of school traditions next week, so submit your posts. Also, if you’re a room mom, submit your school party ideas so we can all host great parties!

3. Plan Summer: Camping trips, Trips to the lake, and Weekends at grandma’s. We coordinate most of these outings with friends, so we also get friends vacation schedule to make the most of our summer.

4. Sign up for swim team.

5. Sign kids up for summer camps.

6. Finalize Thanksgiving plans. Do something different this year.  Last month I booked a cabin at Hot Springs, Arkansas where we’ll be spending the week with 3 other families.

7. If you’re wanting to be more organized then print off the Executive Homemaker binder where you can keep track of everything in one place as well as printable worksheets to help keep you organized and on task.

8. Check birthdays for the month, buy cards & presents, get them ready to mail or deliver. If you have a child’s birthday this month, plan it and get out the invites.

• Tip Junkie has tons of amazing birthday themes, party favor, game and decor ideas.
• Executive Homemaker has several games to print out.

Also consider making (or buying) neighbor, friend, and teacher gifts for the entire year. Organize a gift-crafting week with a friend and make it a fun event by stocking up on several handmade items you’ll need through out the year. This way if you’re ever in a time crunch or financial pinch – you’re covered!

9. Clear schedule for book club, girls night out, BUNCO, and other rotating activities. Make sure you have child care, your food assignment, etc. Here’s how to start a dinner club.

10. Teacher appreciation week is this month. If you’re going to make a gift, check the Teacher Appreciation and handmade gift idea categories for tons of ideas. {{I’ve done all the searching for you!}}

11. Get the house ready for summer! Tip Junkie has tons of organizing ideas.

12. If you are doing a food storage, time to check the schedule and buy next on the list. Don’t forget to put some cash in there as well.

13. Change AC house filter.

14. Write one grandparent a letter, artwork, or card.

15. Plan Mommy/Son or Daddy/Daughter dates.

16. Plan a date night with your man, arrange the babysitter in advance or swap with a friend.

17. Let’s start the month off right and make a list of the things that are causing you added stress. Make a list of the big ones as well as the little ones. Is something in the house that’s broken, is there an insurance issue you need to take care of, do you need an extra trash can upstairs to help keep things tidy?

Once you’ve thought it out and made your list, next plan a day this week as your “ongoing problem day” and finally resolve those issues that need to be resolved. You’ll be glad that you did!

18. For moms with toddlers: Summer is around the corner!  Consider putting together “Special Days” and maybe invite a couple of their friends. I put together a Special Days Booklet with all my ideas that you can print out! Basically they are “blue day” or “Spider-man Day” and we would play games and do simple things using that color, shape, or theme. If you get another mother involved, it’s less work, and more fun. You could even rotate the days you host it.

Upcoming Events: (submit your posts)

• This month I’ll be featuring summer activities for the kids.
• Father’s Day gifts and traditions.
• End of school year traditions.

If you want to remind yourself to head on over to Tip Junkie at the beginning of every month for this segment, here’s a button you can put on your blog. (code on the sidebar)

What else do you do to get your home organized?

Winners of the TJ Mother’s Day Gift Guide are:

• Initial Wax Seal Fob Necklace: Comment #3 – Malinda
• Open Heart Name with birthstones Necklace:  Comment #4 -  Malinda
• My Heart is Full:  Comment #26 – April H
• Dainty Drops Necklace:  Comment #69 – Christy Cross
• Scentsy System:  Comment #84 – Lolli
• Watercolor Art Prints:  Comment #176 – Sarah
• Personalized Plate:  Comment #345 – Michaela
• Mother Daughter Personalized Apron Set:  Comment #378 – Dawn Gordon
• Milan Maternity Bianca Top in Plum:  Comment #384 -  Carrie
• Oh, So Sassy Gift Certificate:  Comment #402 – Susan
• JP Lizzy Tiffany Diaper Bag:  Comment #470 – Amy