Lists Continued

I downloaded Ta-da, a free on-line list making tool.  I think I am going to like it.  Of course, over the past few years, I have tried several planning and list making computer programs.  I didn't stick with them. They were fun to play with, but I generally would go back to paper and pencil.  So we will see......

What I like about Ta-da is that it is simple and easy to edit.  I like the font and the appearance.  As you check items off, they are moved to the bottom of the list in faded print and do not completely disappear.  You can make multiple lists.  What I do not like is that you can only open one list at a time although you can get around this by opening multiple windows with different lists opened in each window.

I love making lists much more than I love doing what is listed on them, and I often procrastinate. You would think that after 50+ years of homemaking I would have this conquered.  My excuse is that, although I certainly have more time at this stage of my life, I don't have as much energy or motivation.  But things are getting backed up (maybe because I am on this computer too much) and are beginning to bother me.  I've got to get reorganized here!

To Do Lists

To Do Lists have been on my mind the past few days - mainly because there are a lot of things I need to do around here (company is coming!).  I love lists.  Making them always makes me feel better.  Because of that I decided to post about lists.  In doing a little research here on the net, I find that there are already loads of blogs on this subject. Here are some blogs about lists that I found:

http://homemakerswhowork.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/the-to-do-list/  On this blog, the book, Eat That Frog, was mentioned in the comments.  It seems to be a book about procrastination.  I immediately ordered that from the library (we are fortunate enough in this county to have Books by Mail).

http://blisstree.com/live/the-homemakers-list-of-lists/  This blog identifies 15 different lists that homemakers need. No wonder I feel so fragmented.

http://newlywedhome.blogspot.com/2010/01/hyper-homemaker-cleaning-list.html  This is a post of a list for a cleaning routine by a newly wed that she copied from a website named Hyper Homemaker Cleaning.  It is a good, comprehensive list but, unfortunately, I am not hyper - wish I were - maybe I'd get something done!  Actually, this blog appeals to me and I am going back to check it out futher.

I would love input on to do lists that others of you  keep and how you motivate yourselves to follow them.

My Sewing Closet

In the early years of my marriage, I had a sewing machine set in a simple cabinet. Over the years I sewed with that machine in our family room, in the dining room, or in our bedroom in the various houses where we lived.  There was always a sewing mess in those rooms.

After my last child left home, we decided to use one of our bedrooms as a computer and sewing room.  My husband has a long desk and several file cabinets on one side of the room, and I have a smaller desk on the other side.  Not much room was left for sewing.

My husband bought a new, computerized, portable sewing machine for me, and after seeing in a magazine an idea for converting a closet into a sewing space, I decided to have a shelf with a fold out extension built in the closet in that room.  My handy husband put up other shelves and lights inside the closet. It works pretty good - not as much room as I would love to have but at least I can fold up the extension and close off the mess.

Now.........if I could just figure out what to do with all the mess important stuff my husband leaves needs to keep around his computer!

 

Closet closed

 

Closet with the extension folded up

Extension down with machine set up for sewing

Fabric shelves at the top of closet

Kitchen Tips

I would like to share with you my very best kitchen tip.

Before beginning any meal preparation, always fill the sink with hot, soapy water - yes, even if you have a dishwasher! You can rinse your hands off quickly, wash a bowl or utensil if you need it again, and put cooking equipment in to soak until clean-up time. I'm sure nobody ever thought of this except me. :) 

Also, here is an organizing idea I use in my kitchen for my spices.  I place them in alphbetical order in plastic trays (the kind that are usually used in drawers, but any will do).

Then I use my trusty labler to put labels on the top so that when I take them off the shelf I can see immediately what is in each container.When I empty a container, the label peels off easily and usually has enough stickum to use on the new spice top.

Here is my labeler.  I really like it - use it for all kinds   of things.  Of course, any label method will work.