With 3 children, 2 in high school and 1 in elementary school our schedules are crazy. Each school year I buy a student planner, one with a month view and one with a weekly view. Each child has a different color pen that I write with to determine each child’s activity so that I can quickly recognize who is where and when. On the weekly view I write my to-do list and check it every day. If a task is not completed today then I highlight it so that I know it wasn't completed but still needed to be done. By using the Student Planner it coordinates with the school year.
Don't throw out that used fabric softner sheet. Use it to clean the lint trap of
your dryer. It works great! (Also works great on small vac reusable filters).
Instead of buying bulky blue ice packs or chancing poor insulation, freeze your child's milk box or juice box overnight. Use it the next day as an ice pack substitute and it will defrost in time for your child to drink and eat at lunchtime.
Try using fabric softener to clean your glasses.
Learn how to say “no” more often. Your time is valuable. Respect your time as much as you respect other people. Be realistic. You are only one person. You have the same amount of hours in each day as the next guy. Split up your responsibilities into smaller “groups”, or, learn to delegate amongst your family. Start a household notebook, any standard sized binder will do. You can keep track of schedules, calendars, to-do lists, even plan your weekly meals and keep emergency numbers for babysitters. At the beginning of each week, have your family suggest a meal for the following week on an index card. When you collect them, write the ingredients on the card. That way, you have your shopping list.
When eating a messy sandwich, place it in a flip top sandwich bag and the mess will drop into the bag instead of dropping onto your clothes. Eat the sandwich with confidence and no mess.
Every week or so I put a bunch of cilantro, 1 large onion and green pepper, 6 cloves garlic, 1/4 cup virgin olive oil and same of water in the blender until creamy. I store in refrigerator and add to soups, ground beef, beans, stews, etc. It saves time and adds lots of flavor.
When I forget to get refrigerator pie crusts out to warm at room temperature, I place them on a Scott® Towel and put them in the microwave about 15 seconds. They unroll without breaking apart.
