This week my dear friend is celebrating a birthday.  I have a great card that I made with a women's group while my kids were in VBS last week.  Now I just have to find the time to write something in it and send it out.

I bet one of the most frequently asked questions of homeschool moms is, "How do you do it all?"  Of course, we all know the answer to that one: We don't!  Sometimes our houses are not as neat as we'd like.  Sometimes our kids don't get a bath as often as we'd like.  Sometimes we don't get to catch up with extended family and friends as often as we'd like.  Can anyone relate, or is it just me? 

But today reminded me that it's usually the busiest people who figure out ways to accomplish more!  We all have little secrets and tricks to squeeze more out of the day, and one of mine is finding small pockets of time.

In my purse, I have a ziploc bag with some notecards (including the birthday card for my friend), a pen and some stamps.  My husband was home today, so I got to go grocery shopping by myself!  While I waited on the very long line, I pulled out my ziploc and began to inscribe my friend's card.  As I wrote, it occurred to me that not only was I "creating" more productive time in my day, but I was alleviating some stress because I didn't feel the slightest bit irritated by the pace of the very long line (unlike some standing around me).

When I got into the car, I wanted to remember to sit down and post this tip, so I pulled out my handy little spiral notebook, and as I was scribbling the reminder, I realized that this too is a great tip for staying organized!

In my purse, at all times, is a small spiral notebook.  I get them at the Dollar Store.  I like the ones with a plastic cover (for pocketbook durability), and a little pocket on the inside cover so I can keep deposit slips, important receipts, checks, or anything else of significance that I pick up during the day. 

Throughout the day, I jot notes in the book: things I need at my next trip to the store, a phone number or website, notes to myself, the name of a good book that someone recommends, a Bible verse that I hear and want to meditate on, etc.

In the evening (or early the next morning), I take out the notebook, file away any important things in that little front pocket, follow up on anything that I've jotted down, and make a to-do list for the next day, right there in my little notebook.  Because I keep a running list of groceries (along with my weekly dinner menu) in the notebook, I have a good head start the night before shopping day, when I have to write out my complete list for the week.

Hope my little ideas bless someone out there in cyberland!