For the Love of Lists

Engineering life one step at a time

10 Healthier Alternatives to Ice Cream

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Healthier Ice Cream

I am always in the mood for ice cream.  Unfortunately, as much as we all wish, it’s not best of food options.  So to kick off summer, here’s a list of my favorite healthier alternatives to ice cream:

  1. Frozen Hot Chocolate – mix diet/no sugar added/fat free hot cocoa mix, skim milk, and ice in a blender until smooth
  2. No Sugar Added Fudge Pops – these are only 40 calories/popsicle and give you your chocolate fix
  3. Homemade Juice Popsicles – fill popsicle molds with orange, grape, or apple juice (or create your own cocktail)
  4. Light Yogurt – mix light vanilla yogurt with granola or a tsp of mini m&ms to simulate a McFlurry
  5. Arctic Zero – this brand provides several flavors of protein-heavy ice cream at only 35-75 calories/serving
  6. Fruit Sorbet – try these recipes for easy peach and watermelon sorbets you can make in a blender
  7. Frozen Banana – sometimes all it takes is a cold banana to beat an ice cream craving (chocolate syrup doesn’t hurt)
  8. Fruit Smoothie – check out Pinterest for thousands of recipes for healthy fruit smoothies (like this banana one)
  9. Sugar-Free Pudding – look in your grocery aisle for tons of options for sugar-free jello pudding
  10. Ice Cream Cups – if nothing else will do, try a mini ice cream cup from the freezer aisle (just stick to one)

I hope this can help your summer cravings!

Lessons Learned from My Elementary School Library

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Lessons Learned from My Elementary School Library

I have been an avid reader as long as I can remember.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are of running around libraries pulling enough books off the shelves that they spilled out of my arms.  So it should come as no surprise that my first “job” was assisting in my elementary school library.  At 11 years old, I volunteered for an hour twice a week.  Here are some lessons I learned:

Organizing gives everything a place to go.
I used to love getting a fresh stack of books to put away (yep, not ashamed).  I learned the Dewey Decimal System and I realized that it’s so much easier to find things when you know exactly where to look.

Libraries are quiet, safe havens.
I have always been on the shy, quiet side, and often I can’t handle the hustle and bustle of socializing.  Libraries are inherently peaceful.  They are my retreats when things get too crazy.  I can just find a secluded corner, pull out my book, and escape to whatever world I choose.

You can learn about anything and everything.
I would walk down the aisles and pull books from nearly every subject.  One day it would be astronomy and the next it would be medieval costumes.  While now we have Wikipedia, back then I thought libraries alone were the gateway to endless knowledge.

You can experience the world by turning a page.
Although I never traveled much when I was younger (outside of Florida), I was able to explore foreign countries, ancient civilizations, and various cultures.  Our librarian would even tell us interactive stories about the Civil War, forest animals, and the Tudors.

Not all material is age-appropriate.
Once at a book fair, I picked out a book titled “Emergency Room” that had accidentally fallen in the wrong pile.  Our librarian explained to me that it wasn’t a subject for someone my age, but that in a few years she would have it saved for me (and she let me pick out a second free book instead).

Teachers care.  A lot.
Our librarian dealt with all the classes in the school, and spent all her time getting us interested in stories about historical events and finding books we’d love.  She staged reenactments, brought in games, and read to us constantly.  I always knew I could go to her if I wanted to learn something new.

Some jobs are worth getting paid in gummy bears.
At the end of every volunteer session we’d get to pick our reward: gummy bears or Jolly Ranchers (watermelon, of course).  At 11, this was the equivalent of a full paycheck.  In my case I enjoyed it so much, I would have done it for nothing.  My goal in life is to feel that way with a job again.

Free books = best day ever.
Enough said.

 

10 Benefits of Long-Term Friendships

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10 Benefits of Long-Term Friendships

This past year I’ve been lucky enough to celebrate 20 years of friendship with two of my best friends.  We met in kindergarten, and ever since we’ve been near inseparable.  And while there may be 3,000 miles of physical distance between us, I know that they are always a phone call away.  I couldn’t be more grateful to have them and all of my other friends in my life.  Here are 10 benefits I’ve found to long-term friendships:

  1. Constant Facebook chatting – no matter how far apart, you’re only a message away (try setting up a chat group so you can update each other whenever you have time)
  2. Extended family – you include them like you do your siblings, and they join in all the important moments in your life
  3. Completely honest opinions – you can be sure they’ll tell you what they truly think (and they have your best interests in mind)
  4. Built-in support system – when nothing’s going right, they’re there for you no matter how annoying you get
  5. Instant plus-one – when you need a date for a party, they can take the pressure off and be more fun anyway
  6. Shared resources – for sharing books, movies, clothes, and recommendations
  7. Endless reminiscing – remember that time you did that crazy thing?  They do too!
  8. Social options – whether you want a night on the town or a night in pajamas, they’re on board
  9. Relationship support – sometimes you need a second opinion to know if you’re the one being crazy
  10. Permanent connection – no matter how long it’s been, you can instantly reconnect after things get busy

So why not go pick up a phone, send a text, or start a group message with some friends you’ve been out of touch with?

How to Set Up Your Family Mail Center

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Even though email has taken over our lives, we still get a ton of mail.  Between catalogs, magazines, mailers, bills, personal letters, and newsletters our kitchen table used to be full of piles of papers we never felt we had time to sort.  We even had a cooler bin full of papers to burn in the garage.  It was a mess.  So a few months ago we put together our own mail station right next to our front door, and it has made such a difference.  Everything we need to process the mail is essentially in one location (like a kit).  Now the mail has a place to go, to be sorted, and to be taken care of.

Here’s what you’ll need to set up your very own family mail station:

  • Dedicated Space: a side table, specific counter section, shelf, wall zone
  • Disposal Equipment: trash bin, recycling bin, shredder
  • File Organizers: file folders, baskets, standing organizers, wall unit
  • Mail Supplies: stamps, address labels, envelopes, letter opener, pens, stationery
How to Setup Your Family Mail Center
Our mail station with our home management binder, receipt holder, and dry erase pens.

Here’s how to use it to manage your mail:

  • Inbox/Outbox: Baskets or trays are great for handling small piles of mail (just don’t let them get too full!)
  • Disposal: To avoid clutter, get rid of obvious junk mail before it even hits your inbox.  Shred files with any personal info and recycle or trash the rest.
  • Organization: Sort your inbox and dispose of any remaining junk mail.  Then temporarily file the rest for use.  There are a few ways to do this (see my post on organizing emails for an alternative), but here’s what works for us using a 3-section file bin:
    • Important – bills, membership renewals, letters to respond to
    • Hold – appointment reminders, tax forms, schedules
    • Magazines
  • Filing: Periodically review your mail bins to dispose of old papers and put items to save in your home filing system (ex. filing cabinet or similar).  Cycle magazines when your bin is full.  Mark any mailers or catalogs that you don’t need and unsubscribe.
  • Optional Supplies: Depending on your needs, here are a few other suggestions for items to keep close by:
    • Checkbook
    • Blank Greeting Cards
    • Packing Tape
    • Post Office Hours
    • Home Management Binder

I hope this helps you to get control of your mail situation (remember, it’s the first step to your home filing process).  For us it’s been one simple task made so much easier!

10 Ways to Clear Your Head When You Feel Overwhelmed

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Raise your hand if you’ve got too much on your mind.  Well, I can’t see you, but I’m going to take an educated guess that you know the feeling of being overwhelmed.  When things start to get crazy, try one of these methods to break through the mental stress and recover your focus.

Clear Your Head

1) journal – use an old fashioned journal to document your thoughts and daily events
2) brain dump – take 60 seconds to write down everything and anything that comes to mind to review later
3) write a letter – if you’re frustrated with someone, write a letter explaining how you feel (but don’t send it)
4) doodle – take a mental break and sketch out whatever comes to mind
5) record yourself – practice a presentation or song so you’re not replaying it in your head all day
6) mind map – get a handle on your various priorities by mapping out tasks and thoughts
7) create a flow chart – if you’re stuck on a decision or planning, a flow chart can help you organize your thoughts
8) answer questions – to solve a problem, ask yourself the “5 why’s” until you can find a root cause
9) vent – sometimes it’s best to find a good friend (or pet) who you can vent with (just be sure to give warning)
10) write a list! – whether it’s a strategic list or a list of fun things to pass the time, lists are an excellent mind-clearing tool

Of this list, my favorite is the brain dump (mine usually end up in the form of lists anyway).  So give these a try and see which is your favorite.  Once your mind is clear, try simple meditation techniques or a motivating playlist to get back on track.

Do you have any other tools you use when you feel overwhelmed?  Please share in the comments!