Tired of Making the Grocery List?

Type up a list to save time

I gave up on the notion a while back that I would have time to sit down and plan all the meals, collect and cut coupons and make an accurate list before heading to the grocery store.  

Instead I keep copies of an excel spreadsheet on the side of my refrigerator that lists most of the groceries I buy, by category and the layout in the store where I usually shop.  It takes into consideration the meals I most often prepare and has a little extra space at the bottom of each category in case I need to write something extra.  

I use a highlighter to mark what I need.  It's fast and I won't miss that bold color at the store like I might with a check mark made with a pencil. 

I update my list document if I seem to be writing in the same thing fairly often.  Although it takes a little time to collect your thoughts in the beginning to make the initial document, it is well worth it in time savings in the future.  

If you need a little help getting started there are quite a few grocery lists on the web that you might be able to try before creating your own.  Some major chain grocery stores provide them on their websites. 

~ Gretchen

Don't Sleep On It

Who's shoes are these?

Play the "pick up" game.  

Picking up before bed should not be an opportunity for procrastination. 

Before you get ready for bed take a look around, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, straighten up the sofa pillows, put away shoes and items from daily living left on the floor.  

Get the family to do their part.  In the morning, children (and their parents) will be happier and spend less time looking to find their items for school or the work day.  Early in the day will seem much brighter with a cleaner house!

~ Gretchen

How Tos for your To Dos

What's on your list?

Keep your "to do" list ON your calendar, not "in" your calendar but "on" each individual day.  As you go through daily tasks and appointments you stay on task and on deadline by designating a scheduled amount of time to complete each task.  This habit forces you to evaluate how long a task actually takes and whether you need to delegate or edit your "to do" list.  For instance, you may discover that your time is worth too much to drop off and pick up the cleaning and that is well worth the gratuity to have it delivered.

If I get another Lands End catalog, I'll just...

Give your mailbox a makeover and reclaim space on your kitchen counter!

Check out dmachoice.org.

Register for a free account and receive access to contact information for magazines, catalogs and direct mailing services at your fingertips.

Mail order shopping is a greener option than filling up your car with a tank of gas and driving long distances to the mall to window shop. This website gives many options and it is nice to see that you can register deceased or very ill members in your care to be removed from direct mailing lists. This can be a difficult task to complete.

Holidays are right around the corner and our mailboxes begin to bulge, stop that junk mail from junking up your counter!

Roomba - Does that thing really work?

What if I told you that you could afford to own a robot and that it could make your life easier even while you are asleep.  I wouldn't have believed it myself until a month ago, when I purchased my first Roomba.  It vacuums carpet, wood, or vinyl and returns to it's base to recharge when the job is done.  With almost no set up and very little maintenance, it seems too good to be true.  My whole family is sold on it except our dog.  His hair is one of the reasons we need it most!

I suggest mopping your wood floor thoroughly and then using Roomba to maintain that fresh swept feeling, although Roomba picks up way more than any broom or stick vacuum I've used.  I run Roomba every other night when we all head upstairs to get ready for bed.  The next morning the floor is ready to mop, if you're ready to mop.  I have found that I can mop less frequently because the floor is staying cleaner.

The Roomba performs on carpet as well,  getting up way more hair than I thought collectively that we and the dog have.  I love that it vacuums under the sofa and bed!  Be sure to routinely clean out the brushes when using the Roomba on carpet.  Brush removal is literally a snap and the Roomba will tell you if it needs, cleaning, charging or is stuck.  I empty the dust bin drawer after the Roomba vacuums one room.

I can't say enough good things about it and I only bought the less expensive model.  I would be willing to pay way more if my  Roomba could be trained to climb stairs and vacuum those.

iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White