Works-For-Me Wednesday

Do you have trouble getting any kind of paperwork done with little ones climbing up your into your lap and trying to steal your pen? Well, I do. So I came up with this solution that has worked great in our house. I give my daughter her own important paperwork to fill out. I save a small amount of junk mail when it arrives (everyday, ugh!) and then I address it to my daughter and put it in my inbox. When it is time for me to attack my pile, I let my daughter fill out all her junk mail forms at the table next to me! I give her a special pen like mine. It works great, she feels important, and I love the serious look on her face that she gets trying to fill out the papers with her scribbles. So cute!

Head over to Rocks in my Dryer for tons of great tips!

Alissa

Works-For-Me Wednesday

This is my first Works-For-Me Wednesday!

So here is what I have found to work for me...

I laminate in order to reuse. Specifically my daily to-do list. Yes, I am a compulsive list maker. It started when I was pregnant and couldn't remember the five items I needed by the time I got to the grocery store. Well, it has been almost three years, and I have yet to get my memory back.

Anyway, I used to make a list everyday during breakfast of things that needed to be done to include errands, chores, work tasks, menu, exercise goal, etc., etc. Then somehow I would have a pile of lists cluttering my kitchen bar, aka the clutter catcher, that I kept because there was always one (or two or three...) tasks that did not get accomplished. That is another post entirely.

Anyway, I found that a lot of the days I would rewrite the same tasks. So I thought, hey why don't I make a laminated, reusable to-do list that I can just wipe off when I am done? It was so simple. Why had I not thought of this sooner? So, I went over past lists and wrote down the typical tasks for each day of the week. I then created a cleaning schedule of things to be done daily. I went on my computer and typed up the items done daily in one list, and then I went through and typed specific tasks for Monday, Tuesday, and so on in another list. I put blank spaces to be able to write in things that pop up, which there always are. I also picked a quote to add to each day that inspired me. Below is a small and unreadable picture of one day's to do list, but gives you an idea of what it looks like.

Also I have copied a sample of one day's list below (I tried to add my word document in here but don't know how, or if that is even possible.) The font I used was this.

Daily list:
o Vitamins/medicine
o Make beds
o Laundry
o Exercise
o Wipe counters/table
o Unload dishwasher
o Run dishwasher
o Take out trash
o Pick up toys/clutter
o Breakfast:
__________________
o Lunch:
__________________
o Dinner prep:
__________________
o Dinner:
__________________



Sunday:
o Laundry- B work clothes
o Sweep/mop all floors
o Clean kitchen
o __________________
o __________________
o __________________

In creating my list I tried to be as artsy and creative as I could so that the finished product would be something attractive that I would actually want to use and put in my house. After I was done, I bought self laminating sheets, and covered each one. I simply use vis-a-vis markers and fill in what I need to during breakfast. I know exactly what needs to be done for the day and it is such a simple solution. The best part is that now cleaning up my pile of old lists is not on the list of things I need to do! I also save so much paper this way. Earth-friendly and organized! It doesn't get better than that!

Do you have anything that you have found useful to be laminated?

Hope you find that this works for you! For more great ideas visit: Rocks in my Dryer

Alissa