Heather Ink

Organized Living: Weekly Dumplist

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Getting organized is a constant struggle for me. Is it for you, too? I always think that once I'm organized I should stay organized but of course that's not the way it works. There's always something new to do, a new project coming in, a phone call with another request and before I know it I have notes spread across my desk on top off all the other things I was supposed to do today. A to-do list is ever-changing and always expanding so it's silly to think that I'll ever be finished getting organized.

I've tried a million different things to help me stay on top of my tasks, everything from paper journals to iPhone calendars that sync to five other apps and various things always fall by the wayside. A project doesn't get done, I'm rushing to meet a deadline or maybe I forget to make a phone call and then I start to stress about when I'm going to fit another task in to my already busy day. The life of a small business owner is a little insane and there's no time add more tasks.

So how do I manage freelance design clients, a new yarn company and a household? I do it with this:

The Weekly Dumplist. Click here to download the PDF.

This is your new master to-do list! I made the Weekly Dumplist a downloadable PDF so you can print off a new page each week because starting with a fresh list each Monday is the key to success. In the top right you can write down your project and the date. I usually have three sheets like this for each week. One for my Heather Ink, my graphic design business, another for my largest freelance client, and the third for Ewe Ewe Yarns. I have enough tasks each week for each business to fill up an individual page so three it is.

On the righthand column is a brief overview for the week, take a minute and write down any appointments or other items that are already scheduled. There's a box for each day giving you plenty of room to make notes. Add doctor visits, birthdays, or even family dinner here in this section.

Then comes the big list, the dumplist. Start at the top line and add a task, then another one. Get all of the things you need to do out of your brain and on to this piece of paper. As you start writing you'll start to remember more things that you need to do so keep writing. Write EVERYTHING you need to do on this list. It might not all get done this week but by writing everything down you won't forget something.

Ok, do you have everything down? There's nothing else floating around in your mind? Yes there is, write it down!

Now let's segment the items up into days. Read down your list. Are any of the items urgent? If they are then put an X on the corresponding line in the Urgent column. Read through your list again and think about which items need to be done first and which can be accomplished later in the week. Assign a day to them in the Date Assigned column, I use M, T, W, Th, F as my shorthand. Take into consideration how long a task will take you to complete and maybe put one longer project on each day. Also be sure to space out your tasks throughout the week, not everything needs to be done on Monday.

The next step is to get your calendar and file the tasks you've labeled M on to Monday in your calendar. It doesn't matter if you use a paper calendar or an electronic one, all that matters is that you transfer each item to its assigned day. After you've assigned the task to the calendar then put an X in the Assigned column, I scratch out the whole line too. When you're done you'll have your week planned out and no task will be left undone.

As the days pass cross off the tasks on your calendar. You're done with the item so it's time to move to the next one and by the Friday you should have everything done!

What about new items for next week? There's always emails coming in and clients calling with new ideas, right? Well I keep my Weekly Dumplist nearby and jot down tasks for next week. Then on Monday morning when I'm making my fresh list I put those items first and then start listing other tasks. Before you know it you'll stop worrying about what needs to be done because things are getting done!

I really hope the Weekly Dumplist can help you with your overcrowded schedule. Just remember that everyone is trying to stay organized and on top of a mountain of work tasks, home projects and family commitments. You're not alone and your work here is never done!

Click here to download the Weekly Dumplist.

A little earlier than most

2011-12-26T08:58:00.000-08:00

This may sound ridiculous, actually I know it will, but it's beginning to feel like spring here in Southern California. What? It's the day after Christmas! It's the end of December, we just passed winter solstice, it's cold and dark! Yes, I know. My California garden seems to take hiatus for October, November and much of December, but it seems spring is in the air for my succulents. Flowers are blossoming, bees are visiting, soon I'll be prepping my garden beds for tomatoes.

Nothing like a new accessory

2011-11-14T18:24:00.001-08:00

It's Monday and let's just say that it was a double cappuccino kinda morning. Mondays aren't my favorite days but these tights certainly helped me make it through.

A bit of today

2011-11-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

It's good for me to take a minute and reflect on my day. Since I have a freelance business and a yarn company my days are usually one big to-do list that spills into the next day and the next day and the next day. This keeps happening until the weekend when I sit around thinking about the list of things that needs to be done. It's not a good cycle and one that I'm trying very hard to break. A good way for me to do that is to stop for a minute and reflect on what I actually HAVE accomplished in a day instead of what still needs to be done.

So here's a look at my day today how I like to think of it. There's my keyboard in the background, my pen tablet for design, my planner, the knitting pattern I designed, wrote and photographed and last by not least, my iPhone which is never more than 3 feet away. I crossed 10 things off my list today! I think what I need to come to terms with is that my list will never get smaller so I just need to embrace the chaos and learn to love it. It's a GOOD thing that the list doesn't get smaller because that means I get to keep working!

Things I love about California

2011-10-30T09:37:00.001-07:00

Going to a party and coming home with a metric ton of mangos and avocados. How great is that?

How did I get so lucky?

2011-10-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

I had to run a few errands after work yesterday so I stopped by Pelly's Fish Market in Carlsbad for something different. I love Pelly's but it's not on my usual route so I don't make it there very often. The scallops were huge so I bought them as a special treat for Thomas. I brought them home and proceeded to sit on the stool at the counter while Thomas cooked away. How did I get lucky enough to find someone to make me porchini crusted scallops with a roasted red pepper sauce and a side of sweet potatoes on a monday night? Yeah, baby! Score one for Heather.

Meet Tomo {puppy photography}

2011-10-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Our neighbors rescued a new puppy and welcomed him into their home a few weeks ago. He had been a stray and the story goes that he was found by some children just before a coyote caught him. And that's a likely scenario here in California! This little guy got lucky that day and got even luckier the day our neighbors brought him home from the humane society. They named him Tomo, Japanese for "little friend."

He has all the perfect, curious puppy tendencies. Investigating everything from his big sister, LT the pit bull, to the geraniums in the flower pot next to him.

Tomo is so cute and so soft and so lovable.

This little guy hit pay dirt the day he came to this block. I think he knows it too...

Decadent, rich and delightful with a side of crazy

2011-10-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

Let's just start by saying. HOLY SHIT, I HAVE NEVER MADE SOMETHING SO AMAZING. I'm not even going to put an exclamation point because I'm sure you get the idea. Things have been pretty hectic around here recently so I haven't taken the time to blog, and I miss it. I think this cake is worth coming out of blogging hibernation. It's beyond worth it. You need to see this cake. You need to love this cake. It's my new go-to recipe and Thomas has already put it on the holiday baking list. And I have to agree. If I could legally marry this cake I totally would. It's a triple chocolate mousse cake. Wow. Let's just think about that for a second. One. Two. Three layers of chocolate. The bottom layer is a decadent flourless chocolate cake that's deep, dark and full of drama. It grips the back of your tongue and holds on for dear life. Then the second layer is a fluffy, rich chocolate mousse that's light and very creamy. Then you top it off with a cool, mild white chocolate mousse that turns the entire experience into edible velvet. We found the recipe on America's Test Kitchen, a cooking show on PBS. We've tried tons of their recipes and each time they've turned out perfectly just like on the TV show. This cake was no exception. I wish I had some more right now.

Hi cutie!

2011-08-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of hitting a few yarn stores in San Diego today and found one of my new designs in the wild. Graphic design surprise! Whitney by Plymouth Yarn is a really nice blend of cotton and nylon. It's soft and washable...and doesn't it look adorable? Yarning for You in San Marcos has a huge supply With tons of colors. I might have to get a few myself!

Hi, from my new table!

2011-07-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

We picked up a new outdoor pub table for our patio this weekend. It's the perfect height to enjoy some eggs in the morning or a quick beer after work. Like right there! My iPad and I are enjoying a little break time. I hope you're summer's bright and sunny.

The Dirt Bag: 2

2011-07-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

Today's haul --
3 ears of ruby red sweet corn
4 lemons
1 bundle of parsley

The Dirt Bag: 1

2011-07-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

My best friend sent me a hilarious gift of a Dirt Bag. My best friend since kindergarten apparently thinks I'm a dirt bag, or at least that I'd get good use out of a dirt bag. And you know what? She's right! I love dirt and bags. The Dirt Bag has a burlap exterior with a hefty blue tarp lining and I've decided to make it my vegetable picking caddy. My vegetables and fruit trees are down the hillside and I can't make it back up to the house with more than three or four lemons in my hands. Enter Dirt Bag.

I never anticipated I would have a thriving garden let alone a thriving vegetable crop and multiple fruit trees. The fresh produce I pick constantly amazes me so I'd like to document it in a better way and I think The Dirt Bag might just be the perfect way to do it.

Today's haul:
a metric ton of cherry tomatoes
6 limes

Happy 4th! Enjoy some popsicles!

2011-07-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

I hope you're enjoying Independence Day and that it's bright and sunny wherever you are. We have had perfect beach weather but we and all of our friends refuse to hit the beach (and freeway!) with all the tourists in town. We made our own fun at home with some yummy popsicles. These are melon pops and they're delicious! We used a galia melon which looks like a large cantaloupe but tastes like a honeydew.

To make the pops:
1/2 galia melon, cut into chunks
1/4 c sugar
1 lime, juice

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender until smooth and the sugar is dissolved. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!

-- Recipe adapted from Pass the Sushi

Scenes from the garden

2011-07-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Our garden is really filling in now and Thomas refers to it as "the jungle." It's not quite a jungle yet but it's certainly growing in really well and is hugely better than where we started!

Lola, drama dog du jour

2011-06-22T22:33:00.001-07:00

Here's my girl again. Isn't that a comfy slumber? It wouldn't be my first choice but then again I don't sleep as much as her.

Ewe Ewe Yarns, my new bff

2011-06-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

I started a yarn company! I have trouble believing I can say that but I can say it because I've done it. I have a product with a label and a website and even better, I have orders for that product! I picked the colors and developed the yarn. I have a stock of sheet knitting patterns and also some free knitting patterns. There's tons of ideas swirling around in this brain of mine and I can't wait to get it all out there and on paper or pixels.

Ewe Ewe Yarns is my new venture/adventure and I'm excited about it like nothing else I've done before. So, please take a minute and check out my new fun over at www.eweewe.com.

Lola, the lazy times

2011-06-20T22:15:00.001-07:00

I think this week's photo posts will be of Lola and her incredible ability to be dramatically lazy. She's either on or off; ears alert and perky or body draped around the house. When we first adopted Henry we trained him to stay off the sofa and off the bed, and he did a great job. Then we adopted Lola and she laughed at us. We would repeatedly tell her no, request she get down, and here she lies six years later. But I kinda wouldn't have it any other way.

Pinks from the garden

2011-06-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

Hello! I've missed blogging and some of my friends have missed it too, enough that they told me to get back on the wagon. So here we go with a little photo post about what's up in my garden. First off is this amazing ruby red sweet corn that looks incredible. Dinner tomorrow evening for sure!

I love how even the silks are pink tinted. We have about a dozen ears and I can't wait to try it. Then there's this beauty, pink tints and all...

And last but not least is my mojito, a pink straw but the mint and lime are both from my garden! And the rum is even local, distilled by Ballast Point in San Diego. Yay, local!

Yay, blogging! I'll see you again soon, there's a lot to tell these days.

Hi from the left coast

2011-05-21T09:04:00.001-07:00

I checked the weather and this gave me a laugh. It looks like it might be raining in your part of the country, wherever that may be. But not here!

It's not sunny here today and there's no plans on the agenda for the weekend which is sort of a nice change since our weekdays seem to be non-stop recently. Commence leisurely coffee drinking and blogging. I've taken some new photos of what's growing in our garden this year and I'll post them soon. Happy Saturday!

Fun but too fast!

2011-04-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

I just realized that I haven't written anything in a month. What?! How does that happen, how did a month go by already? So I guess the major things that happened in that month were that I had a birthday and so did Henry. March is birthday month! To celebrate we went out for sushi with a couple friends and I dressed subtlety...

Henry was adorable as usual...

Then he took a nap the way he does everyday, under and on my office chair...

Spring Garden

2011-03-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

My parents sent me this great book about square foot gardening and I love it. It's an old Rodale Press book that talks about maximizing the vegetable plants in the space you have. Perfect.

An aside: I'm sure my parents dug this book up from the closet-from-hell. Does your family have a closet-from-hell? A closet that lurks in your parents' home with tons of family stuff that nobody wants to sort through? That is the closet-from-hell. Where hidden book treasures are stuffed. Thank you for the closet-from-hell.

I put together a plan for the new veggies according to Mr. Bartholomew's square foot plan which allocates a certain amount of space per seedling. One square foot per bell pepper plant but nine spinach plants per square.

On the top is my coded plan for what I thought we might plant, below is Thomas' rework for what actually got planted. We did ruby red sweet corn, rainbow heirloom tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, carrots, spinach and bibb lettuce. I can't wait until it all sprouts!

Ruffles have ridges... of chocolate!

2011-03-03T15:10:00.000-08:00

I gave my friend Marsha a couple of the illustrious Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies and that led to an in depth salty/sweet food conversation. She said her favorite combination is Ruffles dipped in chocolate which made us all recoil. Gross, right? Wrong. Amazing. I love trying new foods and after her reassurances of their heavenly deliciousness, I decided we needed to try them. I used this Dipped Chocolate Anything recipe from the New York Times and proceeded to cover myself, the kitchen and a few potato chips in chocolate. I snuck a few strawberries in there for good measure, too!

2011-02-26T04:37:00.000-08:00

It's 4am and I'm wide awake. That big red patch just woke this whole house up, the weather is ridiculous as Thomas just said. The wind was so strong and was blowing the rain in the craziest, loudest way I've ever heard. I felt like I needed to go to another room to get away from the noise but there was no getting away from it. It was kind of like being on an airplane, your trapped and it's loud, but on the bright side no one was kicking my seat and I didn't have to get up so the person next to me could pee.

What are you supposed to do when you're supposed to be asleep? I'd never make a good insomniac. This storm is supposed to last for the next 24 hours and if it's anything like the first few hours I think California might just slide right off into the Pacific Ocean before the day is out.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

2011-02-25T21:30:00.000-08:00

So delicious! So easy. And the leftovers... so tantalizing!

It might be Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T15:24:00.000-08:00

But everyone around here has a really bad case of the Mondays.