FRIDAY FOOD THING:
Grocery lists only work when you remember to bring them when you go shopping. Oftentimes, however, I tend to forget where the shopping list is. That’s why I’ve begun using “Super Sticky” Post-it pads. The glue is so strong that half a pad can be adhered directly to a refrigerator door or almost any smooth surface, (like the front door).
After that, just peel off the top sheet before heading to the store. Piece of cake. I use two different pads (different colors) stuck on my refrigerator — green for the grocery store, and red for the hardware store. I’ve tried making the left side of a single sheet for groceries, the right side for hardware, but tearing a super-sticky sheet in half while still stuck to the pad is a chore.
I also keep a pencil (held by one of those magnetic clips) stuck right on the door next to the pad. Run out of eggs after cooking an omelet? Write it down then and there. Out of Parmesan cheese after a spaghetti dinner? Write it down. Out of “Super Sticky” Post-it pads? Write it down.
D’oh!
Of course, none of this works worth a hoot if you forget to take the list with you to the store.
I keep a running list on a white board in the kitchen. I write things down on the list as I figure out I need them. Also, the list is in the general order of the way I circumnavigate the store so I don’t have to back track. It’s very annoying to finish in the deli section and find out you need something from dairy which is all the way in the back of the store.
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I must investigate those.
The Post-It companies comes out with all these fantabulous products to make our daily chores – at home and in the office – less tedious and almost FUN!
Usually I go to one of our co-ordinators and scan the Staples catalogue and see what new products are on offer.
Recently I discovered these neat Post-It highliters that have tabs attached to the highlighting pen.
I bought them in hot pink, restful blue, and acid yellow.
The mini-tabs have an area that is the exact colour of the ink in the highliter and is great when perusing reports and submissions and you have to both highlite and tab so that you can go back to the area in question.
WIth regard to shopping lists, since I am “into” music I call my shopping list my “Chopin Liszt”.
It is VERY funny in some circles.
TOday’s “Friday Thing” really hit close to home.
Thank you, Mr. Lee.
tcw
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Oh yeh, been there done that….wrote it all down on the magnetic board on the fridge…..and of course forget to take a list with me when I go shopping!
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Do whatever works for YOU!!! I have 3 members of my household, yet I’m the only shopper. I have a “list” on the side of the fridge, on which anyone can write anything they need, from garlic powder to razor blades to 30 wt. oil for the mower to pocket tee shirts. As it becomes full, I take that top list and expose the next clean one.
I keep a spiral notebook in my carry-all and on the first page I re-write the kitchen list into different columns, depending on the store. Once a store has enough “stuff” in its column, I plan a trip to that store. Once that page is marked up and everything’s fulfilled, that page is ripped out and a new one started.
The carry-all goes with me everywhere, so I never forget my list. I call it my bible, (small “b”) because my entire life runs off that notebook. The back page has 12 blocks, each representing one month of the year. That’s where I record the next doctor appointments, or dates to get labwork done, etc. These are written in pencil, in case I have a particularly medical month. I can erase something already done to make room for more. At the end of the year, I get out a new spiral.
This works for us. If Mom’s doctor actually takes her on time, and we’re already “in town” with some spare time, I can check the bible and decide if I’m headed to Wegmans, Lowes, Office Depot, Walmart, or the Commissary.
I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a sticky-note. Too dis-organized as it is!!! Each of us needs to be regimented in our own way, so our lives run as smoothly as possible. Find something that works, then stick to it!!!!! (Or, sticky-note to it…)
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Dear Wanda H.,
You continue to amaze – and amuse – me.
Were you ever in the military during your varied and illustrious past?
You have everything SO organised and I feel ashamed at my feeble efforts in that regard when compared with thee.
I have put your comments “Reply” aside and will assemble them into a small booklet with the title,
“Wanda’s Wonderful World of LOGISTICS and Compendium of Astounding Household Tips”.
Has a nice ring to it, non?
Your methods of regimenting your life and making sense out of chaos are an example to us all.
Regards,
tcw
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Timothy– Well, I was never in the military (mostly because I was NEVER one to follow orders very well). But my Dad was a CPO in the Navy; three foster brothers were also Navy; my brother was Air Force; one husband was Marine Corps; last (emphasize ‘Last’) husband was Navy; number two son was Marine Corps.
I’ve taken PLENTY of orders in my life as a civilian. I used to be an accountant (so learned quickly to love making jobs as easy and as orderly as possible); my mother used to be an accountant, therefore she drummed into us as children the necessity of everything being orderly.
I still keep plenty of chaos in my life, too. Brought to me by those on the outside of our little household. It’s painful and frustrating but I can put off dealing with their needs for only so long at a time. So several days a month I deal with what I have to deal with and shut everything and everyone else out….except Mom and the dog.
I’ve been known to go on “phone strike” more than once. Gotta keep my sanity; can’t deal with problems of others unless mine are under control.
My personal message to you and your chaos is: deal with what you can with what you’ve got. Nothing else is important.
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Have any hints on how to stick to the list if you happen to remember to take it? ; )
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Just wanted to say how good it is to have you and your tips back again. Thanks for the one on sticky pads as well as other things. Inita Meczywor
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