Showing posts with label works for me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label works for me. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Works for me Wednesday
This might be obvious to those logical, sequential people out there (like my hubby), but it was a total revelation to me. I've been doing a big weekly Walmart shopping trip (Excel spreadsheet grocery list and all) for about 2 1/2 years since I discovered Flylady. Advantage: only one trip to the store. Disadvantage: lots of groceries. Managing with two kids has proved challenging, but the worst part was from the produce section (when I have to kick toddler out of the cart to fit the delicate stuff in) to the end of the checkout, when I'm juggling a fussy infant, whiny toddler running around, trying to sign my credit card slip, and load the last bags in the full cart while hurrying to not hold up the customer behind me. Some how the lettuce and bananas always ended up being squished by the milk gallons. Then it dawned on me--because the light stuff is unloaded on the conveyor belt first, it goes back into my cart first and there is nowhere for the heavy stuff to go.
So the revelation is this--unload the groceries onto the conveyor belt in order from heaviest to lightest. This might take a bit of doing since they're usually on the bottom of the cart, but there's time to do it because you're waiting for the person in front of you. Then, when crunch time comes and you're paying, the bags are already in order and you don't have to think about the poor eggs and lettuce getting mangled. Works for me!
More tips at Rocks in My Dryer.
This might be obvious to those logical, sequential people out there (like my hubby), but it was a total revelation to me. I've been doing a big weekly Walmart shopping trip (Excel spreadsheet grocery list and all) for about 2 1/2 years since I discovered Flylady. Advantage: only one trip to the store. Disadvantage: lots of groceries. Managing with two kids has proved challenging, but the worst part was from the produce section (when I have to kick toddler out of the cart to fit the delicate stuff in) to the end of the checkout, when I'm juggling a fussy infant, whiny toddler running around, trying to sign my credit card slip, and load the last bags in the full cart while hurrying to not hold up the customer behind me. Some how the lettuce and bananas always ended up being squished by the milk gallons. Then it dawned on me--because the light stuff is unloaded on the conveyor belt first, it goes back into my cart first and there is nowhere for the heavy stuff to go.
So the revelation is this--unload the groceries onto the conveyor belt in order from heaviest to lightest. This might take a bit of doing since they're usually on the bottom of the cart, but there's time to do it because you're waiting for the person in front of you. Then, when crunch time comes and you're paying, the bags are already in order and you don't have to think about the poor eggs and lettuce getting mangled. Works for me!
More tips at Rocks in My Dryer.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Works for me Wednesday
I returned to work last weekend, so Ben spent the majority of Friday and Saturday with the kids. Perhaps it's the fact that he's a man, or it's his personality...but he seems to have a higher standard of behavior for Nathaniel than I do. On Sunday, I noticed that my whiny, testing, energy-draining Nathaniel had been replaced with a polite, happy, obedient kid. Ben told him to do something, like put away his toys, and HE JUST DID IT! Wow! No bargaining, no whining. Apparently they had a few run-ins over the weekend, and Ben's training had immediate and noticable results. The best thing Ben taught him was to say, "OK!" when we tell him to do something--I hadn't thought about it being a learned response, but Nathaniel obviously wasn't in the habit of saying it. Now hearing his little voice chirp "OK!" just makes me smile and has sweetened our relationship.
Having an involved and loving husband--it works for me!
More tips can be found at Rocks In My Dryer.
I returned to work last weekend, so Ben spent the majority of Friday and Saturday with the kids. Perhaps it's the fact that he's a man, or it's his personality...but he seems to have a higher standard of behavior for Nathaniel than I do. On Sunday, I noticed that my whiny, testing, energy-draining Nathaniel had been replaced with a polite, happy, obedient kid. Ben told him to do something, like put away his toys, and HE JUST DID IT! Wow! No bargaining, no whining. Apparently they had a few run-ins over the weekend, and Ben's training had immediate and noticable results. The best thing Ben taught him was to say, "OK!" when we tell him to do something--I hadn't thought about it being a learned response, but Nathaniel obviously wasn't in the habit of saying it. Now hearing his little voice chirp "OK!" just makes me smile and has sweetened our relationship.
Having an involved and loving husband--it works for me!
More tips can be found at Rocks In My Dryer.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Works for me Wednesday--Kitchen Edition
Disclaimer: This is is a combination cute-story-about-Nathaniel/recipe-recommendation/toddler-tip, as opposed to a really novel idea.
Yesterday I was making the Son of Manic Meatloaf (from Saving Dinner's Mega Menu Mailer Volume 1), which gets an A+ rating from Ben (meaning I make it at least once a month). By some odd chance, I had the bright idea of assembling two (cooking one for dinner and freezing the other for later) BEFORE I went to the store, so I had all of the ingredients for a double batch. Nathaniel had a great time mushing and mixing the one for the freezer (double bagged for freezer and mushing safety), then driving his car on it for about 20 minutes. 20 minutes of toddler-occupying bliss! So I got the kitchen cleaned up, we had a yummy dinner, and there's another one in the freezer....it totally worked for me. =)
Check out more marvelous ideas at Rocks in my Dryer.
Disclaimer: This is is a combination cute-story-about-Nathaniel/recipe-recommendation/toddler-tip, as opposed to a really novel idea.
Yesterday I was making the Son of Manic Meatloaf (from Saving Dinner's Mega Menu Mailer Volume 1), which gets an A+ rating from Ben (meaning I make it at least once a month). By some odd chance, I had the bright idea of assembling two (cooking one for dinner and freezing the other for later) BEFORE I went to the store, so I had all of the ingredients for a double batch. Nathaniel had a great time mushing and mixing the one for the freezer (double bagged for freezer and mushing safety), then driving his car on it for about 20 minutes. 20 minutes of toddler-occupying bliss! So I got the kitchen cleaned up, we had a yummy dinner, and there's another one in the freezer....it totally worked for me. =)
Check out more marvelous ideas at Rocks in my Dryer.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Works for Me Wednesday
This might come across as a shameless plug, but what's been working for our finances lately is Dave Ramsey. A friend recommended the Financial Peace University for our book study group, so we purchased the book and lecture CDs. The CDs are entertaining, informative, and inspiring--I found myself piling the kids in the car and going for a drive just so I could listen. Ben and I have both listened to the lectures and it has completely changed the way we deal with our finances. Ben had created an Excel file for our checkbook register, loosely based on the Budget Map system (recommended by Jen). The idea was great but our problem was that we used it to see where our money went, not to tell it where to go. Ben modified the program to include a worksheet for every month, and now we specifically designate where each dollar will go. I have discovered that money is finite! Amazing how such a simple concept took so long for me to figure out. In the five months we have been working with the new system, we have caught up on our bills, made a plan for me to work less, learned about HSA medical insurance plans, and more. This financial peace....it works for me!
Check out more great ideas at Rocks in My Dryer.
This might come across as a shameless plug, but what's been working for our finances lately is Dave Ramsey. A friend recommended the Financial Peace University for our book study group, so we purchased the book and lecture CDs. The CDs are entertaining, informative, and inspiring--I found myself piling the kids in the car and going for a drive just so I could listen. Ben and I have both listened to the lectures and it has completely changed the way we deal with our finances. Ben had created an Excel file for our checkbook register, loosely based on the Budget Map system (recommended by Jen). The idea was great but our problem was that we used it to see where our money went, not to tell it where to go. Ben modified the program to include a worksheet for every month, and now we specifically designate where each dollar will go. I have discovered that money is finite! Amazing how such a simple concept took so long for me to figure out. In the five months we have been working with the new system, we have caught up on our bills, made a plan for me to work less, learned about HSA medical insurance plans, and more. This financial peace....it works for me!
Check out more great ideas at Rocks in My Dryer.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Works-for-me-Wednesday
Inspired by Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer, I thought I'd share what's been working for me lately.
Exercise.
I hate to do it, but the benefits are so numerous that I have found a way to trick myself into doing it--peer pressure and cheap babysitting! God bless Janna from our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. She holds a Pilates class on Mondays and a Cardio-Kickboxing/Hip-Hop class on Thursdays at our church. If I'm motivated enough, I will load up the kiddos and the portable swing into the Chariot and walk about 10 minutes to the church. I drop Nate off at the nursery for an hour of play with other preschoolers. I take Abby to the class and she either keeps sleeping in the Chariot or wakes up and eats and then goes into the swing. I get to exercise and laugh with other moms, which does wonders for my mental and physical health. Then we pack up and walk home and have lunch. Even better, it only costs $1. Works for me!
Inspired by Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer, I thought I'd share what's been working for me lately.
Exercise.
I hate to do it, but the benefits are so numerous that I have found a way to trick myself into doing it--peer pressure and cheap babysitting! God bless Janna from our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. She holds a Pilates class on Mondays and a Cardio-Kickboxing/Hip-Hop class on Thursdays at our church. If I'm motivated enough, I will load up the kiddos and the portable swing into the Chariot and walk about 10 minutes to the church. I drop Nate off at the nursery for an hour of play with other preschoolers. I take Abby to the class and she either keeps sleeping in the Chariot or wakes up and eats and then goes into the swing. I get to exercise and laugh with other moms, which does wonders for my mental and physical health. Then we pack up and walk home and have lunch. Even better, it only costs $1. Works for me!
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