Posts Tagged "list"

5 Tips for Successful Lists

Dear Kid,

As you may remember, I had a List yesterday. A Getting Things Done That Need To Be Done List.

Who are you kidding? You never make the bed...DearKidLoveMom.comAs I was working my way through the list (with an occasional pause to see if I could get past Level 111 in Words on Tour), I thought about how not everyone works with lists. Being a list-oriented person, I don’t really understand that, but I can at least accept it as an alternate lifestyle choice.

Here are my rules for working with a list (especially if you don’t want to.

  1. Make a list. There are two schools of thought when it comes to list making (I’ve attended both schools). The first is to put as much detail as possible on the list so you get the joy (and by “joy” I mean endorphins) when you cross things off. For example: Instead of “make the bed,” you write “Go upstairs, stare at bed, pull up sheets, pull up comforter, arrange pillows” etc. That way even if you don’t get around to finishing you can at least cross off something that shows you made an attempt. Like going upstairs. The second school of thought is to put as little as possible on the list so it (the list) doesn’t glare at you all day. For example: Instead of “make the bed,” you write “Do house stuff.” That way, when you carry your breakfast dishes to the general vicinity of the sink, you can cross off the chore as done.
  2. Read the list. After years of careful study I can confidently report that having a list is insufficient. If you write and then ignore the list, things rarely get accomplished. (Unless you have better elves than I do.)
  3. Work on the list. Pick something, anything, and get it done. The first rule of list-making (yes, we talk about list-making) is that the list doesn’t always have to be completed in order. Sometimes it’s helpful (you generally have to get out of bed before you can make the bed) but most of the time flexibility is fine. You just have to get started.
  4. Cross things off the list. It’s very important that once you accomplish something on the list you cross it off. Partly because you get all those great endorphins and partly so that when someone else looks at your list they don’t nag you to get something done.
  5. It’s your list. You get to make up the rules. One of my rules is that sometimes it’s OK to cross things off even if they aren’t finished. I have two options. One is the “It’s Close Enough” option: I didn’t make the bed, but at least I picked the blanket up off the floor. Close enough for me. The other is the “Never Gonna Happen so Why Pretend” option: Seriously, I never make the bed unless grandma and grandpa are coming to visit and even then it’s iffy, so why did I even put it on the list?

Happy list-making!

Love, Mom

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Miranda, Alexander, Soccer Tryouts, and The List

Dear Kid,

For some, today is a day of rest. For me, today is a day of Doing.

Puppy: I shall take care of the Very Important Napping

It will not surprise you to learn I have a List and that it is not a short List. Nor will it surprise you to learn that I am still adding to the List.

Puppy: I have a list. It says “Nap, Eat, Play”

Dad and Pi are off at soccer tryouts and I am determined to Get Things Accomplished.

Puppy: You have too much energy

One of the things I hope to get done today is fix DearKidLoveMom. When we moved to our new hosting service, about two weeks’ worth of blogs fled into cyberspace. I hope to get them reposted today. This probably means they’ll show up in your email which means that you can either efficiently clean out your inbox or re-read them because you weren’t very awake the first time they came through.

Puppy: Ridiculous

In case you were wondering what else happened on June 13, I am delighted to tell you that June 13, 1966 was when the Miranda Rights were established. These days everyone knows about Miranda because we all watch enough episodes of Law & Order to have them memorized. But back then it was new and novel.

Also on this day in 323, Alexander the Great died. He was a very interesting…

Puppy: No one cares

Me: You have the right to remain silent too

Have a great day, kiddo.

Love, Mom

 

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5/4/13 Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in College | Cincobration

Pinata for Cinco de Mayo

Good idea for outdoors. Not a good idea for a dorm room.

Dear Kid,

We are coming up on Cinco de Mayo (“coming up on” being a euphemism for “it’s tomorrow”). If you haven’t planned your CincoCelebration (Cincobration?) yet, it’s not too late. And I am here to help. (Am I a good mother, or what?)

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for “5th of May” and American for “I’ll have a fifth too please.” Like many good holidays, this one has a battle or two in its history but has become an opportunity to celebrate Mexican heritage more than to remember the battle.

According to the Official Site for Information on Cinco de Mayo (www.foodnetwork.com), there are many ways to enjoy the day. Áaron Sanchez (please roll your ‘r’ when you say that) believes that brownies are better with Mexican cinnamon & chili powder. Must admit, I’d never have thought of that, but it sounds delish. One of these days, I will have to try it. Seriously. I’ll keep you posted. Stop laughing.

Also on the food network site are four b’dillion, 9 hundred gazillion, and forty-two (I counted) other recipes for CincoCelebrations. But here’s the catch: they all involve kitchens.

I know that you are quite capable in the kitchen (you are a very good cook). But I also know that dorm rooms do not typically come with the cooking equipment to make authentic Mexican food. Or even inauthentic Mexican food. You can probably unwrap something from Taco Bell, but I’m not sure that really counts. And having a pinata in your room is probably not the best idea of the day.

So here are my dorm-safe ideas for celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

1.       Say “si” a lot during the day. Throw in any other Spanish you can (but since you studied French, not Spanish, I’m guessing that’s not a lot).

2.       Go out for Mexican. Let someone else (who should probably be with his or her family celebrating this holiday) cook and clean up.

3.       Wait until you are of legal drinking age and have a margarita.

4.       Wear a sombrero. Be prepared to be ridiculed.

5.       Decorate your dorm room with taco shells. Be prepared for multi-legged guests.

6.       Locate Mexican jumping beans.

7.       Spend a few hours searching the web for ideas about celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

If all else fails, maybe the cafeteria will serve Mexican.

Let me know what else you come up with.

Happy Not Quite Cinco de Mayo,

Love, Mom

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