How many times has your daughter asked where her favorite jeans were, only for you to find them in a jiff in the very places she’d been looking? Or you got your husband the very best birthday gift ever, because you took the time to listen to his “Gee, I wish I had...” comments during dinner one night. Sometimes, it might seem to others like we have our own superpowers. What’s the trick to getting what we need done in less time and with less effort? Here are some ways women we know told us they work magic throughout the day.
Prepare dinner at breakfast. While the kids are packing lunches in the morning, you can be throwing all the ingredients for that night’s dinner into your slow cooker. It will simmer throughout the day and come dinnertime, you’ve got a great meal ready to serve. (Check out the “A Year of Crockpotting” blog at http://crockpot365.blogspot.com for recipes.)
Take your calendar to the next level. Set up event reminders on your cell phone, e-mail program, or personal computer to pop up with a “ding” so that you never forget a dentist appointment, soccer practice, or birthday again. Got a lot to coordinate? Try famundo.com—the site offers a free online calendar with lots of bells and whistles and the ability to sync up with Microsoft Outlook. Their goal: to become your family hub, replacing your wall calendar, address book, filing cabinet, fridge magnets, and yellow sticky notes. (Imagine that!)
Always have a gift on hand. Stockpile all-occasion gifts in a designated location (could be a closet, pantry, a drawer in a dresser), so you’ll never be left empty-handed when you need a last-minute present. Keep on hand art supplies, puzzles, and games for kids’ birthdays; note cards for teachers; and small picture frames for hostess gifts.
Find that missing sock. The secret is to never lose it in the first place. Outsmart your washer and dryer by keeping socks together with safety pins, rubber bands, hair bands, or small plastic circles or clips designed specifically for the purpose (they exist!—check places that sell organization and cleaning tools). Keep the holders near the hamper. You can also try using a lingerie bag to keep all socks together—but you’ll still have to sort.
Keep it clean. If you wipe down your bathroom surfaces every day—either before you head out for the day or at night before you go to bed—then it will always look clean. Ten minutes and some easy-to-use cleaning wipes are all you need to keep what could be the dirtiest room in the house sparkling. Another problem area: the dining room table. Seems like everyone wants to drop their stuff there. Set the table for dinner as soon as breakfast is done—there’ll be no place for any clutter to accumulate.
Sixteen years - nine of them married - and I'm STILL trying to get him to understand the concept. Even our daughter yells at him, "Dad, you KNOW Mom won't get it if it's not on the list!" Sigh, at least the kids know how it works.
Sixteen years - nine of them married - and Im STILL trying to get him to understand the concept. Even our daughter yells at him, Dad, you KNOW Mom wont get it if its not on the list! Sigh, at least the kids know how it works.
Decadent (yet smart!) desserts
