Errands and Secrets

Secrets first. One secret, actually, that many of my Loyal Readers have asked about. What have I been hiding in my Project section pictures over the last couple of months?

Finally, I can reveal the truth. You ready for this? (It's not that exciting. I promise.)

I was planning a surprise party for a friend and he sometimes reads my blog.

See? I told you. Boring. :)-

Now for the exciting part of today's entry, how I handle my errands! (If you find my friend's surprise party better reading than my system for doing errands, you are either 1) my friend who got an awesome gift from me last night (Firefly vodka from Jayne Cobb and a strawberry from Shepard Book), 2) a fellow geek who understood what #1 meant, or 3) not really a Loyal Reader. ;) )

I don't keep a separate list for errands. Instead, I tend to group errands on days when I don't have much scheduled on the calendar, marked with an E. That way, I can put errands BEFORE the date that they need to be completed by.

(We shall now and forevermore ignore that "traffic ticket" entry in this week's planner spread. Got it?)

TIP - Number errands in order of timing on the day you are doing them, so that you know the driving order based on locations and times that places are open.

For things that I need for errands that fit in my planner, like a check that I need to deposit, I just keep the things in my front planner pocket.

For everything else, I toss it in my errand tote bag and leave it with my purse for when I leave the house.

Tomorrow, I have to drop donations at the church office (in errand tote), go to the bank (check in planner pocket), return TWO ripped-within-a-week-of-purchase backpacks (receipts in planner pocket and backpacks in errand tote), and start visiting vendors for the school auction (in errand tote). I will do the church first because it is right by carpool and the vendors last because many open later.

That's it. Five easy steps to close the errands' circle:

1. List errands in planner (either grouped together or with a code for easy group) and number them.
2. Plan a day for errands that is fairly empty of other obligations or when you will be on the road anyway.
3. Put necessary items in planner pocket or errand tote bag.
4. Do errands.
5. Mark off completed errands in your planner.

Don't forget to pick up an eggnog latte while you are out and about!

Etcetera.