Today was Fall back. We got to change our clocks and catch a few more z’s. Not only do we change the time on our clocks but it should be a reminder that we need to do something else in our homes like changing the batteries in your smoke detectors!
Try to think of some other things you can do twice a year that happen the same weekend as Fall back and Spring forward and add it to your "To Do" list.

Staying in touch with family and friends is important. These days with technology were able to email, text or video chat and connect instantly. But when was the last time you sent a letter, birthday card or thank you note in the mail? If you dont have a lot of time to shop for cards, address and mail by your friends next birthday theres hope! Check out Hallmarks special occasion cards where you can add a photo and message to a real card. They address, stamp and mail your card by a specific date. It challenging to keep all those birthday cards and dates organized. Make it easy on yourself and do it once a year from the comfort of your home or office of course.

As you brave this years extreme holiday shopping its important to be prepared for the experience. The crowds and long lines are just a few things you will encounter. If you want to achieve your shopping goals its important to get organized before you head out the door. Make a list of what you need and where you need to go. Be sure to have any additional details about what you need. Do you clothing or shoe sizes, favorite color or any other specifics details? Are you setting a table and need dimensions for the tablecloth? Gather everything before heading out so you don't have to make a 2ND trip for returns. And hopefully your recipient will not have to return your gift either.

As an often recipient of honey do lists on the go via text message I can tell you how to send it to ensure it gets done right with a smile.

First here are the don'ts.

1. Don't weave the list in and out of discussion items and questions. Making your worker bee sift through messages to find the items is a sure way to make sure they forget or miss the most important thing on the list. This especially true with grocery lists.
2. Don't send the list while the task is being done. Try to send it in advance to give your worker bee a chance to organize and make their game plan. This is especially true of grocery lists! Where have I heard that before? Nothing is more frustrating than leaving the check out line 3 times to get another last minute item just texted.
3. No virgin abbreviations! Don't try out abbreviations for the first time on something so important as a to do or shopping list. There is too much room for error, so be happy someone is saving you time by doing the leg work and give em a couple of extra seconds by typing out the full words.

And now for the DOs!

1. Give instructions up front before the list in text #1. And let them know how many items are coming their way.
2. Each item gets its own text message. That lines everything up nice and makes it easy to scroll through items and make sure everything is accounted for. There really is no excuse not to complete the list when you organize it so nice!
3. Place the items in order of importance.

The bottom line for texting lists is not to succumb to the temptation to deliver requests in a stream of consciousness. Put some thought and organization to your list before sending. Remember the recipient is probably not in a position to write down the items and organize the list themselves. They most likely are going to read the list right off their phone, so the more you can keep it easy to read, the more likely your honey do list will be completed.