We have a sliver of wall next to our refrigerator that I painted with chalkboard paint. It’s a great place to jot down needed grocery items, daily reminders, inspirational quotes and fun little notes to each other.
Normally on grocery day, I’ll just copy the grocery list from the chalkboard wall onto a scrap piece of paper and stash it in my purse. But since things have been crazier than ever {with trying to sell our home and downsize} and because a list that includes items like “toilet paper, deodorant, tampons, boys’ undies, birth control” isn’t exactly appealing to potential buyers who may be viewing our home, I’ve discovered a way to save my list quickly…without transferring anything to paper or losing my list all together during a hasty wipe down right before an impromptu house showing.
Have you figured it out yet from the not-so-high-quality image above?
That’s right. I take a picture of my grocery list with our old point-and-shoot camera. {You could also use a cell phone camera but mine isn’t that great.} This newfound idea has been wonderful. You see, most grocery days fall on one of the days that I work…because I happen to work as a part-time pharmacist in a retail grocery store. I work my 10-hour shift and get groceries afterward. Lately, though, mornings are hectic and I honestly don’t have an extra minute or two to copy my chalkboard list onto paper. One said morning when I was retrieving my cell phone from its charger {see how I DIY’d a charging station here}, I happened to notice our old point-and-shoot camera at the back of the charging drawer. The lightbulb in my head went off. Why not take a picture of the grocery list on the wall and throw the camera in my purse for grocery shopping later? Fast and easy! Great for crazy work mornings when I’m trying to get two kids dressed, fed and transported to the bus stop/sitter before I have to be at the pharmacy. So that’s what I did. It works so well, I’ve been doing it for a few weeks now. We’re pretty diligent about adding items to our weekly list. That’s key.
This method of documenting our list has come in quite handy when showing the house too. Before I rub down the chalkboard wall with a damp cloth, I’ll take a quick pic to save for later. No more trying to remember what the heck was on the list after the showing. This method also makes me the weird lady at the grocery store, glancing from my camera to the shelf then back to my camera. Oh, I’ve gotten some looks. But I’m saving time and paper so let the eyebrows raise!
How do you guys make your weekly grocery lists? Anybody do the corkboard inside a kitchen cabinet trick? Any other ideas? Maybe you’re not a listmaker at all.
I, for one, adore lists. I usually make a small, doable to-do list every day. Just to keep me on track. Even if I don’t cross off all of the to-do’s, I feel more focused when I have a list. I was recommended this listmaking book by a fellow blogger several months ago and have yet to buy it.
Anyone out there ever read it? I think I may just bite the bullet and order a copy.
Happy listmaking!
BTW – I used to write up little weekly posts that included an image of my chalkboard wall and pertinent wordage. That’s where the first image hails from.
images: 1 & 2) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking 3) Amazon.com
DIY, kid-friendly, organization