Almost Done/Finally Finished
Do you have a list like mine? Things that are almost done but not quite. I don’t mean half finished craft projects. I have more of those than I can count. I mean things like this empty frame that just needs a picture put in it.
My best friend gave me this beautiful frame for my birthday (in January). It has sat on my dresser with a picture of some man I don’t know since that time. Well Whitney, you’ll be glad to know I finally printed off a picture and stuck it in the frame. It took me all of 3 minutes.
Or what about using my label maker to cover up my hand written labels, because I didn’t have any batteries for the labelmaker at the time.
I know it’s not a big deal, but it looks so much nicer now and took less than 10 minutes.
How about super gluing my boys toys back together so they could enjoy them instead of asking me 6 times a day if I’d fixed their toys yet.
Yeah, that took me 2 minutes, even with drying time.
Then there’s Ammon’s subway art I finished over a week ago that’s been sitting in my room on the floor. I just took 2 of the new Black Command Strips and stuck them on the back of the board.
Made sure it was level.
And 3 minutes later Ammon’s subway art was on his wall and not on my floor.
I’ve been wanting a place to put letters that need to be mailed. By the back door was the perfect spot to see them before I walk out. I attached a Command Spring Clip to a board in the mudroom.
Now I have a place for those letters that need to be mailed and a place for the stamps so I don’t misplace them.
It took about a minute to put up.
This is how the area above my desk has looked for a few months.
These pictures were sitting by my desk that whole time and it took less than 5 minutes to hang them. I think it looks so much better now.
Then I realized I hadn’t updated the Summer Fun Banner for about 2 weeks. The kids have been wanting to see new pictures of themselves.
So, I added swimming in the pool
Playing in the sprinklers
Going to the park for a picnic
Going to the mountains
Going to the Zoo
Riding the Front Runner to Salt Lake City
That took about 15 minutes, because I had to print, cut and hang the pictures.
Altogether everything took just under 40 minutes to finish. Not much time, but it would have been even less time if I would have followed through on the projects as they occured. So my goal is to start and finish things in a reasonable amount of time and not let them pile up.
What about you? Do you have a list of small things you need to cross off? Take a few minutes today to work on them so you don’t end up having hours of work later. I should go see what else I can get done.
Have a Beautiful Weekend!
I’m linking to:
Remodelaholics Anonymous Meeting at Remodelaholic
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple
Market Yourself Monday at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Filed under Goals, Time | Comments (9)
Ten Tasks In Ten Days Challenge
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage gave us a challenge to finish 10 tasks in 10 days. I participated in her challenge last year and it was just the kick in the pants I needed to get some things done. So, here’s my list for the next 10 days, in no particular order.
1. Make teachers gifts. No I’m not late! We’re in year round school, so I still have a week and a half.
2. Weed front flower beds.
3. Paint Emilee’s new mirror.
4. Paint Amanda’s mirror, because she’s actually had hers longer than Emilee.
5. Make banner for the 4th of July.
6. Plant flowers in pots for front porch.
7. Create something to hold the big pool toys (i.e. matresses, rings, noodles).
8. Make vinyl art for the Entry.
9. Move Amanda’s room around.
10. Design or create something for Master bedroom wall.
Okay, I’m ready! Are you?
Updated: June 27
# 3 , 5, 7, 8 and 10 completed.
#1, and 4 half completed.
See completed projects here: Emilee’s Mirror
Ten Tasks Challenge Half Way Point at The Shabby Chic Cottage
Filed under Time | Comments (4)Which Planner Works For You?
It’s Why Not Organize Something Wednesday and since it’s almost a new year, it’s time to start thinking calendars and planners. Do you have one that works for you or are you still looking for that right one? Try to find one that meets your needs, whether it’s helping to schedule the kids activities or finding balance between work and home. Here are some planners I thought were the best in organization and some desk calendars just for fun.
Planners are all under $25.00
Franklin CoveyClassic Simplicity for Moms – Wire bound – 2 pages per week - $24.95. This is the one I use. I’ve been hooked on Franklin Covey since the first time I used it over 20 years ago, so I’m probably a little biased. But it has everything I need to keep my family, work and recreation scheduled and under control. You’ve seen mine before:
And here’s the new one for 2010:
Mom Agenda Mini Daily Planner – $24.00. This one has a lot to offer for Moms with keeping kids schedules and records straight. It’s available in different colors and styles too. It comes highly recommended from everyday Moms:
Mom’s Home Plan-It Engagement Calendar – 17 months – 2 pages per week – $14.99. I think it has a lot to offer, especially for the price. I like calendars that start in August, as the kids are getting ready to go back to school:
Mom’s Home Plan-It Pocket Wall Calendar – 17 month – again a lot to offer for the price – $14.99. You can look at the whole families schedule at a glance:
WhoMi How Do I Do It Spiral Notebook – $12.00. The graphic is cool and it’s color coded, which I like, because it brings your eyes right to what you’re looking for:
Busy Body Book – 13 month – week at a glance -5 family member columns – spiral bound – $17.95. I think the name explains it all. It helps keep your busy family organized:
Bubble Planner – coil bound – $19.99. Okay, I must admit, I don’t think this one would work for me, but for you uber artsy-fartsy visual people out there this just might be the one. Do you remember those bubbles you had to make in school, well here it is again. This one is for family goals and schedules:
Which one do you think will work best for you? Find the one that’s easy for you to use and has everything you need in it.
Now for some fun calendars that are all under $30.00.
Animal Calendar designed by Katsumi Tamura – $24.95. I might have to get this. I fell in love at first sight. I first saw it in House Beautiful magazine. I’m sorry, the picture does not do it justice. There’s a deer, rhino, camel, giraffe, ape, alligator and each animal has one month per side. They’re made of sturdy white paper that you put together. So fun lined up on a desk or side table:
Jumping Point Calendar designed by Michael Domberger – $19.95. This calendar hangs on the wall and you punch out the circles to reveal the colors underneath. You can punch out special dates like birthdays, anniversaries and holidays and also punch out the days as they go by. Great design too:
Small Perpetual Calendar designed by Gideon Dagan – $28.00. I like the orange and silver but it also comes in just silver. The magnetic balls stay on the date and month you put them. I think this would look so cool sitting on Hubby’s desk:
Those are my favorites. Which one will serve you best? I’m actually a office products and organizing products geek so it’s hard for me to choose. Have fun and get your days and weeks organized.
I’m linking to:
Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family
Filed under Calendars, General organizing, Time | Comment (1)Organizing 101: Time Management
- Understand the Value of Your Time. Time is money. How much money is your time worth? Make each moment count.
- Make Plans. Set goals and deadlines. Even if you don’t have an offical deadline, make a personal one. People don’t plan failure, but they do plan success.
- Prioritize. Set priorities on a daily and long term basis. What’s important to you in your life?
- List Projects To Do. Put projects on your “To Do” list. Organize your list by order of importance. Check off each item as it is completed.
- Budget Your Time. Put time in your schedule for work, play, family, spiritual matters and time for yourself.
- Be Flexible. Unexpected things come up. Leave some room for flexibilty in your schedule so you can handle the unexpected.
- Learn to Say No. Do you have a hard time saying no to your kids school, co-workers, church, community, etc? You shouldn’t have to accommodate everyone else’s needs at the expense of your own time and needs. This was a hard one for me, but after the first time I said no it got easier and I was less stressed.
- Check Your Calendar. Get a good appointment book and rely on it. You can’t be expected to keep everything in your head, so write it down. It seems like the busier you are the more you forget, so don’t try to remember everything.
- Nobody’s Perfect. Stop procrastinating and learn to compromise to get things done. Don’t let your perfectionism keep you from doing something or getting started.
- Get Help. Delegate to others. At home, delegate to family members. At work, delegate to co-workers.
Everyone has the same number of hours in the day, so why does it seem like some people get everything accomplished and others stumble just to get their bed made and a load of laundry folded. First of all, never compare yourself to others, then try some of these ideas and see if a little planning and assessment of your days can help you accomplish more. Start with deciding what’s really important to you and set some daily and long term goals. Make the most of your day.
Filed under Time | Comment (1)
