Linking up with Patty at Good, Better, Best for Monthly Musings. A last Thursday of the month ponder about an assortment of things. This month, we’re thinking about ways we make our lives easier.
1. Paper planner, digital calendar or other option?
I live by my digital calendar, but also have a wall calendar because I’m old and like to see the month as a whole.
2. Meal planning, meal prep or wing it?
We receive a food delivery box for three meals per week. On the “off days”, thinking about what to have for supper is one of the first things on my mind in the morning.
3. Do you choose your outfit the night before?
Not a chance. I wear casual clothes and most things are coordinated, so it’s grab and go for me.
4. Tips for managing laundry and ironing.
What is this ironing you speak of? (Ha! I haven’t ironed since I stopped quilting.) Towels on Friday, sheets on Saturday, and a load whenever the hamper is full or one of us is almost out of socks, underwear, or gym clothes. Whoever notices first tosses a load in the washer and sees it through to drying and putting away.
5. Grocery shop online or in store?
Both. I don’t hesitate to order coffee or cereal from Costco as it’s a 40 minute drive to get there. I get some things from Amazon because they’re cheaper. Other than that, we have been shopping exclusively at Safeway for years, but I decided to switch to Superstore recently because I think it’s more cost effective. Interested in where others (Canadians especially) shop.
6. Best tips for getting out the door in the morning without chaos?
Retire! Schedule appointments for the afternoon!
7. Share your easiest dinners for crazy weeks.
We don’t typically have crazy weeks, but our favourite last minute supper is a rotisserie chicken, crusty rolls, and a salad.
8. Best tips to keep your house organized during the week.
Don’t let it get disorganized. A place for everything and everything in its place, is my motto.
9. Share your easiest breakfast.
Coffee. I don’t eat breakfast and hubby fixes his own.
10. Share your best overall tip not covered yet.
My best tip for making life easier, is understanding that life isn’t easy. There will always be struggles in between times of peace and calm. The key is to build resilience during the calm times so you can better meet the challenges that are sure to come.


Excellent advice in your answer to that last question. I was aiming for that but used a lot more words : ) I like to see the whole month and then a week at a glance. I’ve tried other formats but this works for me. Have a great day!
So I do most of my shopping at our Co-op grocery store. I know that it is a bit more expensive, but we get money back at the end of a year and we have built up a tidy sum in their equity.
I use paper for to do lists, a large calendar for appointments that hangs on the wall above the desk, and do a monthly menu plan.
God bless.
Gerry gets all our gas at Co-op because it’s close to where we live and they pump it. We get a small bit of money back at year end too.
Hi Linda, I haven’t ironed in decades. I use the perma press cycle in the washer or dryer, and I fold and put my laundry away as soon as it comes out of the dryer.
I’m definitely looking forward to easier and more relaxed mornings once we retire! LOL Great tips to stay organized until we get there. Hope you’re having a great week!
Retirement is definitely a game changer, Kyle! Thanks so much for stopping by.
We shop at SuperStore (fellow Canadian here) or Zehrs. When we lived in Edmonton, we shopped at Save On. I loved shopping at Safeway as a kid and wish we had them in Ontario.
Thank you for coming by, Natasha, and weighing in with another vote for Superstore. I haven’t heard of Zehrs. Must be an Ontario store?
Linda, excellent advice in your last answer. I so appreciate you joining us this month.