This List Spiral –
Don’t leave home without it!


I have already mentioned earlier the idea of using a brightly colored note card to keep you daily lists on (it is the post titled “Respecting Your List”) but what about all the other things you have to remember…like your dates and times for class reader at your child’s school, the thank you’s you have to write, or that “toy wish list” for you son. These are important things to keep listed, but where??? If you are not a list maker then you will not be moved to implement the following idea, but if you are like me, then you will love the consolidation of lists into what I call “The Spiral.”

The Spiral is the list makers dream! I just use a 10 cent spiral notebook and I keep literally all my lists on hand in it…if they are typed, then I staple them to a page in the spiral others, I write in myself… At the risk of seeming largely anal retentive, I will share with you the lists I keep in my own personal “List Spiral”.

1. Laura’s wish list – this is where I keep a list of the things I see, read about, hear about, or just know I want to buy either as an indulgence to myself or something I save up for or something I ask for as a birthday or Christmas gift…this list ranges from books, a rug for the kitchen, mary jane crocks and even some new bath towels to some Lucky brand jeans…just anything I know I have seen or been wanting I put on that list…as I get it (over time) I cross it off…I just crossed off a roomba (I got it with some birthday money!)

2. Things to do in the house – this is a list of all things I have to get done at home from projects to phone calls…

3. Things to do outside the home – this is an ongoing and evolving list of things I need to do outside the home…errands, returns, gifts to buy, etc.

4. Itunes – this one is obvious, it is songs I have heard or heard of and that I want to down load from itunes when I get the chance.

5. Websites/surf – this list is websites that I want to go to or stuff I want to search on the Internet for when I get the time.

6. Reader dates – dates and times I am reading in my son’s classroom at school

7. New Year resolutions – seriously, that is a list in my spiral..

8. Thank You's – this one is important…this page lists everyone I want to thank and what I want to thank them for…from free tickets to the Houston Air Show from a friend to help on our computer from another friend…it also includes names of people who have given birthday gifts or other gifts etc.

9. Organize – this list is all the areas of my house that I want to go through and organize

10. Things to buy for the house – obvious

11. Each child has a wish list page – this page keeps an ongoing list of all the little things that my children ask for or want throughout the year either from other kids as school, commercials or personal interests…I love this list…I have used it for Christmas and birthdays every year...sometimes my kids will want something, but I will forget what it is and by the time their birthday comes around so have they…but now, I just write it down and by Christmas I have a pretty good idea what to shop for.


There are a few other random pages like back to school, and baseball, etc… but you should get the point by now…Just get a spiral and keep the lists that fit and fill up the dynamics of your life…no more scratch paper or clutter, just one neat consolidated spiral! I promise, if you are already a list keeper, you will love this!



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