Wanna guess how much I got done???

Don't every let me drink a Mountain Dew at 2:00 in the afternoon on a Saturday

It wasn't a good thing.  But we have a bunch of pop leftover from a holiday thing and I had one.  And at 2:00 am I was still up wandering around taking pictures of all the things I was planning to accomplish today.  And, of course, today I am a zombie.

A zombie with coffee. 

Paper.  Today is the day of paper.  And Costco.  And Target and Joanne's and the Dollar Store and Capital Sports and Office Depot.  You see the problem here?  Too much stuff and too little day.  So I'm using my handy-dandy new orange watch to time myself out 15 minutes to PLAN the day.

Make some lists.  See.  I'm doing that now.  A Costco list.  A grocery list (for later this week).  A hardware store list.  A craft list.  A list of things to do for the girls' room.  A list of categories of paper so I can finally completely get like with like and move on with the paper organization project.

Technology
1.  Set up profiles on the Kindle... with that timer thing to limit play and apps they can access.
2.  Copy new Mumford & Sons cd to computer and ipod.
3.  Look at playlists on old ipod and clean up in general.
4.  Make sure all photos are in 2012 folder.  Think about sorting the December ones.
5.  Read something on the Kindle (Sherlock Holmes at 2:30 am does not count.)
6.  Contemplate a case/screen protector for the Kindle.
7.  Charge camera battery.
8.  Label any stray chargers.  (I think this is all done.)
9.  Adore this.

Crafts
1.  Call Elle and figure out how to finish off the scarf I made under her tullage.  Also note:  knitting is a great way to keep your mouth shut....  who knew?
2.  Download Nevis font for birth card pictures.  Also, while sorting paperwork, double check time/weights/heights for birth of children.
3.  Do something with metal letter stampers and a hammer.
4.  Set up journal files for 2013.
5.  Contemplate these to store mittens on the wall.

Paper
1. Taxes prepped. This won't all happen today but I'm going to work on them a bit.
2. File receipts and find Target receipt for playdough. (Done. Took about 2 minutes. I have a system down for filing receipts... which means I have a system for FINDING receipts.)
3.  Clear out the dining room filer and hang it on the wall.  (Done.  Photographic evidence to follow.)
4.  Finally figure out the master plan for organizing all paperwork.  The end-all-be-all.  Today.  I need more coffee.  Ok.... how about if I figure out all of the categories of paperwork today and work on generating a trash bag of stuff I don't need....
5.  Put contacts in the "home" binder.
6.  Scan some stuff.  Ok.  This is too vague and won't happen.  How about, "Scan 10 documents and file them electronically in the appropriate file with the appropriate name."

Decor
1.  Hang curtain rod in the girls' room.
2.  Work on the top of the stairs closet.
3.  Hang jewelry hangers.
4. Sort the kids' clothes. I did this yesterday. I just wanted to put it on the list so I can check it off.
5.  Hang something adorable on the front door.
6.  Put away Christmas decor.  It's all boxed and in the garage.... which is as far as I'm willing to go in my slippers.  Today I will put on my muck boots and haul the boxes through the drift to the shed.

Personal
1.  Do a quickie workout video.
2.  Poop.
3.  Shower.
4.  Drink a whole pot of coffee.  (By myself.  Hot is gone this weekend.)
5.  Beat my son at some part of wii sports. 

Project: Mission: Organization: Make-a-list

I have the day off today and we were planning to ski but..... 66% of my kids are complaining of sore throats and the other 33% have some serious booger issues so we are going to stay low today. Doing some meal planning, a little baking (for the upcoming Carnival Event at school), and some much-needed scanning and organization of digital documents.  I'm also doing a bit of the eternal organization shuffle as priorities change..... winter gear is the goal.  We are set for sledding but now I'd like to add in skiing as an option......  our test-drive on Friday has me perking on some ideas.

I'm also doing some thinking. I'm slowly pulling out of my February funk and, while I don't like it when it is happening, the dense non-functioning funk of February usually results in some serious productivity when I do finally come out of it.

One of my big goals for 2012 is to make some to do lists. 

Wait.

Let me explain.

Some sort of seasonal lists of things to do to keep organized.

For example:

Clear photos & video from cell phone & ipod & flip.  I am pretty good about getting things off my camera but not the cell, ipod or flip.  (See previous post for example.)  I could set a goal to do this yearly, semi-annually, or quarterly.  Make a note.... for now we will do it every 6 months...  February & August.

Gather tax materials.  I like to sort and organize this stuff during the Super Bowl.

Submit taxes to accountant.  I like to have this done by President's Day.  I have it ready today and can drop it off tomorrow.

Pay van & pickup insurance.  February & August.

Pay car insurance.  April & October.

Pay house insurance.  August.

So what else?  What do you do on an automated schedule?  Either consciously or unconsciously?

I should add clearing out the broken drawer... either glueing/sewing/repairing/tossing....  probably monthly.  And some laundry things... like washing the couch cover and blankets and pet beds. 

the weekend list

*went to Costco (without a list... more as a social outing with my Grandpa, kids & aunties).... actually managed to remember and buy everything on my list except cat food.... and we have enough for a while so all is well.
*had breakfast with gramps and crew at ipod.
*went to Ross.  twice.
*wrapped a gift for a birthday party on the 11th.
*immediately got an invitation for ANOTHER birthday party on the 11th.
*got the kids started on Valentine's cards for classmates.
*found 100 things for each kid to take for 100 day on the 8th.
*washed coats and mittens.
*had a Valentine's celebration with Nana & the kids.  Painted Pot, lunch at Taco del Sol, ice cream at The Big Dipper.
*made a delicious ham and lovely cheesy potatoes.
*grocery store trip (quickie for football chips, sunflower seeds for salads, bananas & sour cream).
*stopped to pick up Hot's driver's license... forgotten at the local sporting goods store.
*returned the WRONG paint and got the RIGHT paint.
*folded eleventy-million pounds of clothes during the Super Bowl.
*drank some wine.
*fed the clan some lovely simple suppers.
*received a jewelry box of Grandma's old jewelry.  so happy.
*talked about a plan for a birthday bash for Grandpa this summer.  complete with cake and crafts.
*cleaned the fraggin' oven.  (you are thinking.... "how fraggin' hard can it be??"..... BUT.... when the microwave died it took out the controls for the auto-clean.  and the delicious cheesy potatoes spooged all over the oven.... it was horrific.)
*requested flex childcare and medical.
*gave up on balancing the checkbook for 2011 and started fresh for 2012.
*cleaned Tuff's desk and restored order.
*gathered tax materials.
*bought a lottery ticket.  A FIRST EVER.  And on my "better than a bucket" list.
*packaged up another box of toys for garage storage.
*picked up a reserved book for Hot at the library.
*bought some Tervis glasses on clearance at BBB for mini-Valentines gifts.
*downloaded the digital copies of Jurrassic Park.
*updated iTunes.
*compared our budget to our actuals for January.
*read some trashy novels.
*broke my ceramic compost bucket
*watched "Blackthorn" & "A Dolphin Tale"
*planned for the kids' week:  outfits, hot or packed lunch, dinners & events (Tuff ice skating on Monday, School kids snowshoeing on Tuesday, pay daycare on Friday, treat shop money for Friday, Valentine's writing, 100 days stuff)

Still to do:
*finish painting the bathroom and restore order.
*wash Tuff & Bugsy's sheets.... apparently Bugsy smuggled a sugar cookie into bed last night.
*buy & wrap another birthday gift for the 11th.
*finish Valentine's cards for classmates.
*find a box for Tuff to use for a Valentine mailbox.
*find a backup box for Sweet to use for a Valentine mailbox... I know it is coming... just no request yet.
*put a new light bulb in the night light.
*put a new light bulb in my reading light.
*put new light bulbs in the THREE dead spots in the bathroom.
*change batteries in the closet light bulbs
*get a split pea soup recipe.
*drop tax stuff off.
*order a roller thing for my IT band.
*wash all of the couch blankets & cover.  (Yup... more sugar cookie.)
*reorganize and restore order to the pantry.
*think about Valentine's gifts.  To do or not to do.
*heat up the oven and see if it smells like cleaner.
*pay car insurance.
*pay credit card.
*put giant box of toys in the garage.
*pick up stuff from Painted Pot Wednesday.
*spray paint a frame to make a magnet board.