Let's Work Smarter not Harder

 Good midweek to you all.  Hope you are safe and well.

It is a nice morning here.  It is 60F right now, feels nice.  Today may get to a low 70's and cloudy.  Yesterday I took my walk a little later for some reason (had a nudge).  As I was walking, I noticed the beautiful blue sky - not a cloud to be seen.  You could see a bit of the moon as well - it was around 11AM.  Just a gorgeous day.  Got to talk w/ neighbors I hadn't met before.

I think we all like the idea of worker smarter not harder.  We don't always do it - but it should be our goal.

Think about the basics.

Cook once and eat 2 or 3 times!  Just this week I made air fried chicken and did enough for 3 meals.  I ate twice and froze the 3rd one for another time.  Just heat up and eat!  I like making soups and freezing some in individual containers for those days I just don't feel like cooking.  A nice batch of hard-boiled eggs - great breakfast, snack, or add for a meal.

Pre chop vegies and bag for use all week.  You can make a salad or a stir fry in no time.

My laundry is downstairs in the basement.  I have steep basement stairs.  Let's just say it gets tougher each year going up and down with laundry.  Well, I make it easier!!   I take laundry down with a pitch!  LOL.  I toss it down the steps (in a pillowcase) and then go down and move to the laundry area.  When laundry is done, I fold or hang immediately and make smaller trips upstairs.  It is easier to carry up clothes on hangers or a batch of towels or undies.  I can still hold on to the handrail and feel safe.

I like breakfast sandwiches - but don't want to go out and buy them.  I can make them at home for pennies.  Make some biscuits or use buns (whatever you have).  I like the way everything fits on those store-bought ones.  So, I cook up sausage patties, and I make my own egg rounds.

 

I use a greased ring for a canning jar - wide mouth.  Fry on one side and then flip.  Works perfect and they are just the right size.  You could also take the top and bottom off a can like tuna and use that as a mold.  Grease the inside of the ring.  Use what you have. (maybe a biscuit cutter?)

Making homemade cleaner is so easy.  You can make citrus cleaner with peels - I have posted that many times.  OR you can just make a nice cleaner with things you have on hand. 

2 C water

1/2 C white vinegar

1 tsp. dish soap

1 tsp. baking soda

Mix together and put in a spray bottle.

Heck you can use soap water as well!!!!  That is pretty simple and easy.  Maybe add a splash on vinegar.

Here is a trick I used the other day - and boy did it save time when I was done.

I was going to be using a small roller and a paint brush to paint my big planter the neighbor made.

I slid the paint tray into a plastic grocery bag I had - the wrapped it around to the bottom and added a couple pieces of tape to hold it.

Poured the paint onto the bag - and went to town.  When done - clean-up was simply taking the bag off and throwing away.  The tray was clean as a whistle.  You could do this with a regular size tray as well.  Talk about easy peasy!!!!!

I have some old worn-out fuzzy socks that get used over my Swifter dust mop.  They slide over the end - if need be, use a rubber band to hold it on.  I spray with a bit of water to dampen, and dust mop the floors.  When done they can be washed and reused again and again.  No need to buy fancy products.  I have even used microfiber cloths on the Swifter.  Just use what you have.

Heck even small things can make a difference.  My silverware drawer is in an old washstand, and it is a long drawer and kind of heavy.  I keep a couple spoons, forks, and knives in a kitchen themed coffee mug on the counter.  That is all I need for me!!!!  Wash and replace - they are always handy.

My cooking utensils are in a clay pot next to the stove and ready to use.  They get used a lot, so don't have a chance to get dusty!

For me it is just the little things!

There are so many things we can do to make life easier (which is smarter).  

What is something you do that makes life easier and not harder?   We all need new ideas. 

Hope you all have a great day.  Look up, look around and listen - it is lovely out there!