your stupid little life hacks that make even a tiny difference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dishwasher has a timer. I load it every night and set the timer to run overnight. Unload first thing in the morning. It keeps me on track.

Thank you, Dana K. White!https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/new-here/

Question - why do you need to sent a timer to run it? Why don't you just run it after you load it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make the bed every day. Go to bed with everything back in it's place (no messes or piles left behind). If you do it daily, it really only takes 10 minutes to just power through and put everything back where it should be.

NP- this is not true! My kids can trash a house so quickly that it will take a day to clean it all up. I spend probably 2 hours after they go to bed every night cleaning. My house is clean, but it's not a 10 min job. Sometimes I take a full day off work and do a massive deep clean. I actually think my kids are pretty clean, but they're all under 5.

My life hack is audio books. It *almost* feels like I'm sitting on my comfy couch watching TV while I'm cleaning and listening...almost.

My "life hack" would be to make it a routine to get your kids to help put things away before they go to bed. Even a toddler can put toys in a basket or put books on a shelf. If you start early, it becomes a habit (and as a bonus, they also learn the downside of dumping all the books on the floor, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I add the flavor afterwards. Bbq sauce or A1. Sometimes I also quickly toss on spices.

That’s not cooking. Yuck

A rule to live by & to teach your children:
"Don't yuck somebody else's yum"
Another rule to live by & teach your children: “ Learn to cook”

Nah. PP is doing just fine. Another life hack is that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks so long as you like what you're doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again - and, again, I love this thread you guys.

But I have another dumb little tip: To increase my consumption of leafy greens, I get those big pre-washed bins of arugula and add a handful to almost everything I eat. Salad, pasta, stir fry, sandwiches - a handful of arugula makes it all a little better, and is so good for you. The only thing I don't really add it to is my morning oatmeal, and now I'm wondering...

I make a savory oatmeal all the time with no sugar added to oatmeal with some greens/green onions/ or fried onions in my oatmeal. Add some soy sauce and top with a fried egg. If I'm feeling lazy, I will wilt some cabbage from a coleslaw mix bag and add to my oatmeal.

I make a savory oatmeal with spinach and mushroom and chicken broth.

This is brilliant! I don't eat chicken but I'll do veg or fish broth. Thank You!


Ah, the chicken broth addition sounds delicious and good for protein too. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dishwasher has a timer. I load it every night and set the timer to run overnight. Unload first thing in the morning. It keeps me on track.

Thank you, Dana K. White!https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/new-here/

Question - why do you need to sent a timer to run it? Why don't you just run it after you load it?

Because my open floor plan house means the dishwasher noise disturbs my evening television watching. I'm having hearing issues and the background noise makes it even harder for me. When I waited to start it after TV on my way to bed, I always forgot. The timer means I set it, enjoy my murder shows, and know the dishwasher will run overnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dishwasher has a timer. I load it every night and set the timer to run overnight. Unload first thing in the morning. It keeps me on track.

Thank you, Dana K. White!https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/new-here/

Question - why do you need to sent a timer to run it? Why don't you just run it after you load it?

Because my open floor plan house means the dishwasher noise disturbs my evening television watching. I'm having hearing issues and the background noise makes it even harder for me. When I waited to start it after TV on my way to bed, I always forgot. The timer means I set it, enjoy my murder shows, and know the dishwasher will run overnight.

This is a great idea. I thought I was the only person who needs subtitles specifically bc of dishwasher noise + the open concept kitchen/living room. My new-ish dishwasher is louder than the jet noise in palisades. and it take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to run through a cycle.

[Anonymous]

My DD doesn't eat a lot of meat but will eat the kabobs at Moby Dick's. We go sometimes after I pick her up from her babysitter's since she is usually pretty hungry. I order online in advance so it is ready when we get there and then eat at the restaurant. I use the leftovers for her lunch the next day.

[Anonymous]

I make Fried Rice for dinner in like 15 min for my family. I use Traders Jasmine rice 2 packs, 5 eggs scrambled, a cup of whatever veggies be it frozen carrots/broccoli/peas/etc. and I use Applegate sausage (Maple Chicken- 1 pack). I use 1/3 of an onion chopped from food processor. Everything is microwaved - rice, veggies, sausage. It's easy, nutritious, delicious. Any protein/veggie combo works.

I also use the cream of mushroom or chicken. can soups they sell at either WF or Moms - it's a very thick based creamy soup. My hack is to use it as a base so I get more a meal out of it. So I add a pack of the jasmine rice from Traders + frozen peas, mix on stove. I put saffron in at the very end to flavor further. It's easy and delicious - maybe more carbs and fat but you know - easy

I use the mini altoids candy tins after the candy is gone to hold earrings when I travel. Or an empty matchbox - I washi tape to make it pretty and so it does not slide out. I sometimes use it to hold advil when I travel - smaller than bringing the entire bottle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dishwasher has a timer. I load it every night and set the timer to run overnight. Unload first thing in the morning. It keeps me on track.

Thank you, Dana K. White!https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/new-here/

Question - why do you need to sent a timer to run it? Why don't you just run it after you load it?

Because my open floor plan house means the dishwasher noise disturbs my evening television watching. I'm having hearing issues and the background noise makes it even harder for me. When I waited to start it after TV on my way to bed, I always forgot. The timer means I set it, enjoy my murder shows, and know the dishwasher will run overnight.

We do it because our electricity is cheaper after 10 pm!

[Anonymous]

I keep a 99 cent plastic pencil case in the car with first aid stuff, lip balm, sunscreen, tissues, scissors, nail clipper, pen, mini flashlight, tick removal kit, insect repellent, athletic tape, hair elastics, tampons. I also keep a bin with fleece layers and extra socks for kids since we live in a mountain climate.

[Anonymous]

My DC has anaphylactic food allergies. I keep an emergency station near the kitchen table and a second one in the upstairs hallway (outside the bedroom). It’s a small plastic container with épi-pen and Benadryl and inhaler. I know if there’s ever a reaction it can be found quickly and put into action. These always live in these two spots…my child has a travel pack that goes in the backpack everywhere as well. We also keep a stocked first aid kit in the laundry room.

[Anonymous]

A new one I'm trying this week. Putting the same 'essentials' in pencil bags that can be placed in four (4) different regularly used purses. Carmex, hand sanitizer, a pen and maybe a couple other things. Also, hoping this keep the purses more organized. The stuff I pulled out of those bags.

[Anonymous]

I made a Word document 'master shopping list".
Each store I normally go to has a list of what I normally buy there. I can edit and print as needed. That way if I go to Target for something I look on the list to see if there's anything else I may need on my target run. Saves trips to stores.

[Anonymous]

I set up a shared iPhone Note for my family for groceries. Everyone can add their own stuff to the list and my husband and I remove items as we go to the store. I started this because my DH has a habit of going to grocery stores multiple times a week for this or that, and we end up with stuff he likes but not enough for real meals.

At the bottom of our list is a list of the days of the week with the dinner plan/menu. I try to update every Sunday with kids’ practices/games, so we plan the meals accordingly.

[Anonymous]

I use screw-top contact lens cases for makeup (tinted moisturizer or cc cream/foundation, concealer) and face moisturizers (AM and PM) when I travel. Each compartment holds a few days' worth of product and the cases occupy much less room in the quart-size bag for liquids then the product bottles do. I write with Sharpie on the top of each section re: which product it holds.



When I fly, I always make a little bento box filled with snacks to take with me. So much better and cheaper than anything I can find at the airport or the pretzels on the plane.

In the car I have a small tote bag that holds paper towels, wet wipes, an umbrella, protein bars, a few bottles of water, and the like for whatever comes up during a trip.

On weekends I make crustless vegetable quiches in muffin tins for quick breakfasts or lunches. If we don't eat them within 3-4 days, I freeze them individually for future use.