Odds and ends

Time Saving Tips:

1. Buy Costco Rotissiere chicken. Tonight I bought three and took what meat I could from off the bone. Using my food scale, (a cheap little thing I picked up from Bed, Bath and Beyond), I freeze the chicken in Ziploc bags. I freeze a pound of chicken in each ZipLoc. These have been a huge timer for me especially on nights when I am running behind. I simply thaw the chicken and throw it into a casserole, soup, stew or other dish. We had it last night for a recipe called Mexican chicken. Using my microwave rice cooker, I made white rice. We enjoyed a good meal and it didn't take long to prepare.

2. Buy a clock for your bathroom...especially helpful for those us who spend a lot of time with make up, curling irons, etc.

3. Using ZipLocs, store all manuals and packaging in one large Ziploc. These can then be stored in the decorative boxes (similar to hat boxes). Ross's has a great selection and they are reasonably priced.

4. Jott.com. I love this website! I have been using it for a few months now and it has been great! It's a free service (although they do have upgraded plans), which allows you to have reminders, notes, etc. transcribed and delivered to your email inbox. I have assigned a speed dial number on my phone for Jott and then when prompted, "Jott your note", I leave myself a message, reminder, etc. It is then in my inbox within a few minutes.

5. Car Organization: School has started and i was so frustrated last year with the mess in my car from bookbags, instruments, lunch totes, papers, loose homework, snacks, etc. that I decided to organize my car. I found a front seat organizer (Target), which goes on my passenger side seat and is easly removable for when someone is going to sit in the passenger seat.

I bought a cell phone holder that inserts to one one my air vents and when in the car, I always know where the phone is. No digging around while driving!

Also, my favorite! I bought bungie cords with the plastic hooks at the end. I wound them around the top of my car head rests and now the kids simply hang their book bags, lunch bags, etc. on the hooks. I also use them to hang coats, jackets and shopping bags. I wound two around the head rest of the passenger side so two hooks face back and two face front. I use the front hooks to hang my purse, grocery bags, etc.

I also keep a folder in my car and when kids get in the car from school, bus stop, lessons, etc. I ask them for all their papers and stick it in the folder. Later that evening, I will sort through the folder and return it to the car organizer ready for the next day. No more papers on the car floor.

Cooler in the back to keep groceries frozen, cold, etc during the warmer months.

Phone book in the car for easy reference. We tend to get a few phonebooks and even if you don't, often last years can be just as useful. I also keep a copy of the ward directory in the car, this has saved me so many times!

Visor CD/DVD organizer. This can be used not only for CD's and DVD's but for store coupons, take out menu's at favorite restaurants, etc. Or buy two and keep it on the passenger side visor.