"If getting organized in the New Year falls near the top of your resolution list, you’ll want to take a look at the latest offering from Motherhood Press, Orderly Days in the Workplace. 

Aimed at meeting the needs of busy Catholic professionals, this spiral bound planner is dedicated to helping you mesh your spiritual and professional priorities.  Featuring both month-at-a-glance and week-at-a-glance layouts, the 7 x 9 inch planner is at once compactly portable and roomy enough to record each day’s appointments.  Each daily entry includes room for a “to do” list with check off box.

In keeping with Motherhood Press’ goal of helping you incorporate everyday spirituality in your “Orderly days”, this product features all important Catholic feast days and celebrations, a weekly scripture quotation, and the readings for each Sunday.  Also included is space to ponder and document each month’s goals in the following areas: spiritual, family, professional, ministry to others, physical and financial.

The rear of the planner includes room for notes, planning for 2007, room for documenting and recording special days, a reference list of spiritual resources, books and websites, a telephone directory and an account and password log.

Organizing all aspects of one’s personal and professional life while maintaining an active spiritual life can at times feel like a daunting task, but with great tools like Orderly Days in the Workplace it is an attainable resolution.  For more information on this and other helpful products, visit www.motherhoodpress.com today and get started with making your days both more orderly and more fruitful."

Faith & Family Fall 2005 issue

"Moms, get a copy of this right now and get it set up to begin Jan. 1 with increased efficiency! Inspired by the Bible verse "Everything must be done properly and in order" (1 Cor 14:40), this Catholic-tradtions day planner contains a calendar that comes with sheets of little stickers to remind moms of holidays, holy days of obligation, first and last days of school and other days that need a memory jogger. Other sections include "Spiritual Reference," "Home & Family", "Journal", and "Grocery List," and there's even a one-decade rosary for times when you must sit and wait. More than a portable office, Orderly Days can help you grow in faith as you become organized."

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word" Kate Conway '93 wanted to find a way to balance her life. A busy mother of four children under the age of six, she clung to the words expressed by the Blessed Mother. She believes all of us were made for a specific vocation, but sometimes we do well to wake up on time and make it to wherever we need to be.  She created a day planner called "Orderly Days." She feels she was called to design it. She recognized that her days were far more enjoyable and much less stressful when she did three things: began her day with devotional time with the Lord, put first things first throughout her day, and celebrated her rich Catholic heritage. Then she researched these three categories, placing the information on her kitchen counter as inspiration to get her through the tough parts of her day. And, hence, "Orderly Days" by Motherhood Press was born. The primary focus of "Orderly Days" is on the Lord. A white finger rosary and a quote from the late Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty introduces the book: "The most important person on earth has built, not the Notre Dame Cathedral, but a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body." The planner is chock-full of pages for personal information, feast days, holy days of obligation, and secular holidays. The calendar pages are traditional in design, with a challenge to work on godly values throughout the day. There's practical household information as well, such as space to record babysitter information, family medical information (including pets!), sports and school activities, home maintenance numbers, monthly budgets, birthdays and special occasions, grocery lists, and more. Conway wants to encourage readers with one small word of advice for those who continue to struggle with planning their days: "Remember, the Lord gives you just enough time to accomplish his plan for you. Go in peace (and be organized), my friend!"

By Therese J. Borchard

I was both relieved and stressed out to read Judith Warner’s manifesto of post modern motherhood in her newly released book, “Perfect Madness: The Mommy Trap.” If motherhood has really gone from an art to a cult, from a natural role to a ruthless and competitive job, then no wonder why 70 percent of American moms find motherhood today incredibly stressful and 30 percent of mothers of young children reportedly suffer from depression.
Warner challenges young women to fight back for the resources that will save our sanity: affordable, government-mandated and charity-run daycare centers; tax incentives that will promote flexible work hours; a better economy in which our money goes farther; and more supportive mom groups to balance the competitive edge that has seeped into play circles across the country.
While I agree with Warner’s assessment and mandate, there is something else out there to help those of us struggling with the chaos of mismatched socks and kids who refuse to use the potty: God.
About the same time I identified myself as one of Warner’s moms who are banging their heads against the wall, begging for a reprieve from the curse of perfectionism, I came across a Catholic day planner for moms compiled by an old college friend of mine. Entitled “Orderly Days” (www.motherhoodpress.com), author Kate Conway offers moms a tool to combat the craziness that can threaten physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Why does she feel it’s so important to be organized? “I just don’t operate well when I’m scattered,” the mom of four told me. “I eat too much and get way too lazy. My day has to start with God, because that way I realize that whatever happens to me is connected to God. “
Kate was inspired to create “Orderly Days” after unsuccessfully searching for a planner that celebrated her Catholic traditions while encouraging her in the vocation of motherhood. In a spiritual and personal funk of sorts, she wanted a tool to help redirect her. “So, after hyperventilating, I dragged my feet for three years (had two more babies), and then got serious!”
The end product is an attractive package that combines her love of God, motherhood, and calendars. In addition to scripture verses, classic prayers, a list of feast days, and other highlights, the calendar is packed with everything else moms need to make their days run a little smoother, like space to record babysitter information, family medical information (including pets!), sports and school activities, home maintenance numbers, monthly budgets, birthdays and special occasions, grocery lists, and more!
Organized weekly by a goal worksheet (including spiritual, family, physical, and financial goals) and monthly by a set of activity suggestions and prayer requests, this planner is sure to relieve some of the madness of modern motherhood, or, at least puts God in the middle of the mess.
 

Review of Orderly Days from Kate Conway and Motherhood Press

By Lisa M. Hendey       

Typically by this time of the year, calendars and planners are marked down to half price and most moms have given up on yet another set of New Year’s resolutions, including the perennial favorite one to get their lives organized.  Thankfully, this year there is a new tool on the market that will help revolutionize the homes and spiritual lives of many Catholic families. 

The Orderly Days planner, by Kate Conway and Motherhood Press, provides a new perspective on time management.  The first thing you’ll notice when you receive your Orderly Days planner is the small Rosary ring clipped to the inside of the three ring binder that contains the planner.  Conway’s introduction for the planner sets the tone for the tool, stating that her goal is to provide a “Catholic traditions day planner that helps you organize your life the way God intended – in a proper and orderly way.”

The Orderly Days planner logo features a gracefully drawn rosary image, and uplifting fonts, artwork and scriptural references are sprinkled throughout.  The planner is compact enough to fit in a purse, diaper bag, or to sit neatly at your desk.  The Personal Data again reinforces the emphasis on spirituality, by including important parish contact and schedule information among the other high priority items such as name, address and emergency contacts.

Kate Conway expresses the objective of helping women establish a “God-focus” in their lives, enabling all else to fall into place.  She gently reminds us to turn to Mary as a role model and intercessor, and lends an ecumenical spirit to the planner through her invitation to women of other faith traditions.

Proving that this planner has staying power, the calendar section includes annual, moveable feasts, holy days of obligation and secular holidays through 2007.  Other important features include a cross section of prayers, prayer request lists and prayer prompts and an array of printed and internet spiritual reference guides.  Each week features a “weekly goals” worksheet that gives the user the opportunity to ponder and prioritize the following areas:  spiritual growth, home and family, development of spiritual gifts, physical goals, ministry to others and financial goals.

Countless other special features abound in the Orderly Days planner, but I would recommend it most highly for its emphasis on placing a high priority on building and maintaining a solid relationship with God, and letting the benefits of that friendship rule and enhance all other areas of our home and family life.