Setbacks, roadblocks and detours are unavoidable; they are human. Make sure you have support people. They can positively influence you and your current lack of courage, enthusiasm or belief.

Then get up and focus on your next step. Rewrite your goal plan to include some more ridiculously easy baby steps. A baby step, I drink two glasses of water a day, may not seem like much, but it is progress toward the big picture, I drink 8 glasses of water a day. It is progress. Be gentle, patient, take those baby steps on a regular basis, and you will attain your goal.

My action plan for today. I am on a decluttering mission. My ridiculously easy baby step is to get rid of 7 items in the bathroom. I’m choosing the bathroom because it is the neatest room in the house.

This works for me. For other Works-For-Me- Wednesday posts go here. There are currently 249 ideas.

What step will you rewrite so that it is ridiculously easy?  What will you accomplish today?

Read these other posts in the series about Goals.

• Answering 6 Questions Turns Wishes into Attainable Goals
• 12 Ways to Keep Your Motivation Going

This post is for Kay because she asked. This also makes a great Works-For-Me Wednesday post. Go here for other WFMW submissions. I’m #99.

See the grey Search the Web tab (top middle of Google inbox page)?

• To the right of this grey button, in tiny print, it says Show research options (top line) And create filter (second line).
• Click on create filter.

• In the From box put either an email addy or name.
• Click the grey Test Search button to make sure it grabs the emails you want. I.e. I typed your name, Kay, and 3 came up.
• Click the grey button  Next Step.

There are 8 possible boxes to click.

I clicked (put a check mark in) 3 of them:

• Skip the Inbox (archive it)
• Apply the Label:  in the white box to the right it says Choose Label. Either write a name for the label (name for a folder) or click on one already there. I.e. I wrote in your name, Kay.
• Click on OK.
• Also apply filter to # conversation below. ( I had 3 from the search with your name.)
• Then I clicked on the grey Create filter button.

This last action will take you to your Settings page and show you The following filters are applied to all incoming mail.

Ta-Da! Folders in Gmail. Although in gmail they are called labels.

 Go to this link for Google’s description of the above or go here for an audio tutorial.

My daughter showed me how to do this. I had already written up my instructions before I went to the Google link above.

Today’s Works-For Me-Wednesday is topic day: kitchen organization. I am not all that organized, but my daughter is. In an attempt to help me to remember WHERE to out the various items on my pantry shelves. She came up with a simple, simple labeling tip. She wrote on the shelf contact paper the type of good that goes in that row. Broth and tomatoes are the ones you can see. Some cereal and veggies have sneaked into those columns.

Note: My dd used a blue sharpie to label the product types. When I took the first picture broth was all smudged and looked more like brothe with a hint of an “r.” I went over the word in black sharpie.

I wonder if I should be worried? She does have a pesty brother.

NOTE: I should let y’all know that the categories are broad. Like all my soups go into the Broth row. In the Tomatoes row goes sauce, paste, salsa. I also have rows for Fruits, Veggies, etc. Yes, it probably does seem anal, but it helps me to keep the cupboard tidy (usually) because the food boundaries are clearly marked.

Go here to see other helpful kitchen organization ideas at Rocks in my Dryer. So far there are 220 posts to check out.

I have finally organized my past WFMW posts according to topic. See below.

Backwards Edition

• Backwards Edition: How to Eat at a Buffet

Beauty

• Easy Beauty Tip Involving Tweezers
  

Cleaning

• Whiteboard Cleaner That’s Non-Toxic
• 3 Whiteboard Cleaning Tips
• Cleaning Ceiling Fan with Secret Weapon in 5 Easy Steps
• Cleaning Schedule & 5 Natural Degreaser Ideas

Education

• 5 Icons to Use When Taking Notes
• Tip for Finding the Books of the Bible More Easily
• 6 Tips for Consistent Bible Reading
• One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks

Food

• 6 Ways to Store Lemons
• Storing Excess Oranges
• 4 Steps to a Great Microwave Potato
• Breaking Noodles in Half Makes Cooking Easier

Frugal

• Cheap Flower Bouquet Source
• Making an Inexpensive White Board from Shower Board
• Instead of Buying, Have a Thing Exchange

Health

• Tip For Learning to Swallow Pills
• How Planning Ahead is a Weight Loss Aide

Organize

• 6 Purse Tips
• Keyboard Organizer
• Managing Phone Messages in 4 Steps
• Kitchen Labeling Tip

Relationships

• Bingo Your Way to Knowing Each Other (OR/AND as a Learning Re-Enforcement, Finishing The To-Do List)

Shopping

• Good Online Source for Buying Cookbooks

I have at least 2 dozen hardbound cookbooks. I know. Old fashioned.

These days it is so much easier and faster to Google “pancake recipe for one,” “vanilla pudding recipe,” “perfect gravy,” or “What can I do with sweetened condensed milk, coconut and chocolate chips?“

It may be easier and faster, but the results are not always better. At least that’s been my experience with the pancake, gravy, and pudding recipes. I even went to the more well-known sites like allrecipes.com, recipezaar.com, and cooks.com.

My Works-For-Me-Wednesday tip is to read the comments for the recipe. Look for what the trouble spots were. What common problems are in the reader/cooker responses.

Had I done that . . .

• I would have learned that it was 2 teaspoons and NOT 2 tablespoons of baking powder for one of the recipes.
• I would have known to keep on stirring the ingredients until it just reached the boil so as to avoid lumping.
• I would have simply avoided this recipe all together because it did not produce anything like its promised name.

Just because it’s on the computer, it doesn’t mean it is right, better, or even plausible. Even though the site may be well known, it pays to take a few moments to check what the comments say.

Or else, grab one of your hardback cookbooks and follow a recipe that has been tested and loved for over many, many decades.

• What did I do with the coconut? Gave it away.
• The chocolate chips? Ate them from the bag.
• The sweetened condensed milk? Made this luscious iced coffe drink in 5 easy steps.

Go to Works-For-Me-Wednesday for other tips to make your life a little easier. As of 10:09 pm (August 26) there are 78 entries.

Past Food Related WFMW Posts . . .

• 6 Ways to Store Lemons
• Storing Excess Oranges
• 4 Steps to a Great Microwave Potato
• Breaking Noodles in Half Makes Cooking Easier

Do you find it easy to be consistent with a Bible reading plan?

I struggle with this at times. I’ve found 6 ways to help myself.

1. Keep all my Bible reading “supplies” together and in the same place. This includes my Bible, pencil, commentary, notebook, and timer. When I sit down to read, I also bring my ice pack (from the freezer) for my lower back. I use my notebook for insights and questions from the text. I also jot down any worries or to-do’s that interrupt my mind.
2. Find a quiet place to read. The less distractions I have, the better I am able to purposefully read; and the more I want to read.
3. Beautify the space. Because this area is beautiful, it is a visual joy to sit here. I have a candle that I light and a pretty pillow that I use. In the winter I snuggle with a lap quilt that a dear friend made.
4. Realize that life happens. Some seasons I have a lot of time to read. Sometimes not. For those “not” times, I choose a plan this is shorter or tweak one to make the readings shorter. Since I have a lifetime to read the Bible, I don’t have to read it everyday, every season, like a Ph.D scholar.
5. Mix it up. Sometimes I follow a devotional and read/ponder the Scriptures listed. Sometimes I hop-scotch through the books. Sometimes I feel “led” to read certain portions. Mainly I use a reading plan.
6. Pray. I ask God to help me to have a hunger for His Word and to help me carve out the time on a daily basis. I also ask Him to guide me and show me what He wants me to see.

Did you know that there is a WIDE VARIETY of reading plans available online? Into They Word Ministries lists 12 plans.

Below are some of my favorites.

• 90 days to read through the New Testament
• Read the Bible according to its genres (History, Law, Poetry, Epistles, etc.)
  
• Read the Bible in chronological order (according to when the books of the Bible were written)
  
• Read the Bible in historical timeline order

This works for me. What tips do you have to share?

Go to Works-For-Me Wednesday (WFMW) to see what works for other folks in ALL kinds of areas. So far today there are 245 entries.

Below are some of my past WFMW posts that might be helpful.

• 5 Icons to Use When Taking Notes
• Tip for Finding the Books of the Bible More Easily

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the house cleaning. And sometimes I can’t figure out what to do first.

This is when I go to Flylady.Com.

• Then I click on the Fly Zone which is on the left hand side bar.
• The zones are the same for each week of each month.
• For instance this is week 2 so the zone to clean this week is the kitchen.

Flylady encourages us to declutter 15 minutes a day in that zone. There is also a detailed cleaning list for each zone. Go here for the kitchen details.

Last night I decided to make this week’s project the kitchen cabinets – which are a greasy mess. I didn’t want to use chemical cleaners on them so I used dish detergent on a scrubby sponge. This did not work out too well. A little Google research this morning turned up some great ideas.

1. Yahoo Answers suggested: Combine 1/2 Cup Borax, 2 Tablespoons laundry detergent soap flakes, 1 Tablespoon ammonia, with 1 Gallon water. Use full strength in a spray bottle. (submitted by fishineasy)
2. Many places say straight vinegar is a great degreaser. It will be smelly for awhile.
3. Baking soda is another common suggestion. Make of paste by mixing 3 Tablespoons of baking soda with up to 1 Cup of water. You’ll need to experiment to see which works best for your cabinets. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and then dry with a clean cloth.
4. Tipnut.com has 2 ideas. Idea 1: Half fill an empty dish detergent bottle with ammonia. Fill the other half with hot water. Drop in several squirts of Dawn dish detergent. Replace the cap and shake.
5. Idea 2: To one Gallon of water add the following: 1 Cup ammonia, 1/2 Cup vinegar, and 1/4 Cup baking soda. Mix well in a bucket making sure that the baking soda is well dissolved.

Since I have an empty dish detergent bottle, I’ll be trying #4. I’ll let you know how this works out. Do you have any degreaser tips?

For other ideas that work, check out Works-For-Me-Wednesday. So far there are 243 great ideas.

Past Works-For-Me Cleaning Ideas:

• Whiteboard Cleaner That’s Non-Toxic
• 3 Whiteboard Cleaning Tips
• Cleaning Ceiling Fan with Secret Weapon in 5 Easy Steps

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*Spoiler Alert* If you are going to Women’s Retreat 2008 do NOT read any further. Otherwise you will read about Friday night’s Bingo icebreaker game.

Everyone else may continue reading . . .

Bingo is typically associated with letters and numbers. However, on Friday night we’ll be covering the square if we resemble the called out statement. The purpose of this BINGO game is to get to know each other.

Go here for a Bingo template. Type in 25 words or phrases. Click on the FREE BINGO SPACE and it generates a card for you. Click on SHUFFLE WORDS and the words/phrases are rearranged. Pretty easy – unless you have to CLICK on shuffle and PRINT 50 times!

I personalized the list to our group and subject matter. From time to time our MC will interact with the ladies and have them talk about the item.

For example . . . .

• Which countries have you been to?
• Go ahead and share your joke.
• What reality TV show would you like to be on and why?

Below are the 25 statements that are on the BINGO cards.

1. Has an unusual pet
2. Is chronically early
3. Has 2 or more email addresses
4. Invites friends to church
5. Has done archery or fencing
6. Likes liturgical prayer
7. Owns at least 5 Bibles
8. Does volunteer work
9. Is wearing contact lenses or wig
10. Has traveled to 5 or more countries
11. Prefers hymns over choruses
12. Has more than 3 children
13. Willing to tell a joke now
14. Owns a Disney movie on VHS tape
15. Knows the Speaker’s full name
16. First time to Retreat
17. Ate chocolate today
18. Called mom this week
19. Named after someone
20. Has met with a Personal Trainer
21. Has practiced Lent
22. Doesn’t need to declutter
23. Attended a concert in 2008
24. Would like to be on reality TV
25. Has met a famous person

I also made up one of these cards with tomorrow’s to-do list. Every time I get a BINGO, I get a prize. I’ll let you know how this works out as a motivational tool.

The possibilities are endless. Review math or science facts over the Summer. Brush up on Spanish verb conjugations. Keep playing until you know the pertinent facts of the Revolutionary War.

BINGO works for me at Retreat, at home and for school. Go here for more Works-For-Me Wednesday ideas on combating, the “I’m Bored Syndrome.”

The weather is warm and the ceiling fan helps move the air around the house. Since the fan blades are dirty, it also moves dust around the house. So today, I’ll clean it in 3 easy steps.

1. Gather supplies: drop cloth, ladder/stool, spray cleaner, feather duster, and the secret weapon – a sock. You might need two, if the fan is very dirty.
2. Spread drop cloth under fan. Set stool/ladder on top of cloth, under the fan. Get on ladder.
3. Dust fan blades. Put sock on dominant hand.
4. Spray fan blades. (Sometimes I uses vinegar, if I don’t have any regular cleaning sprays.) Wipe off with socked hand. Repeat until done.
5. Pick up drop cloth. Shake outside. Put away all your supplies.

This cleaning project is great for using up odd socks. And I always seem to have odd socks. Even though they go into the dryer as a pair, they come out as singles. Go here to read a poem about missing socks I wrote one distraught day.

Go here to read other Works-For-Me-Wednesday posts.

Related Posts Works-For-ME Wednesday:

Cleaning

• Whiteboard Cleaner That’s Non-Toxic
• 3 Whiteboard Cleaning Tips

Edited to Add These Tips from Commenters:

• Crystal uses a vacuum attachment, “that weird little round brush,”  to clean her fan and return air ducts.
• Melissa puts a pillow case over the entire blade so that all the yuckys fall inside the case and nothing on the ground.
• Christine uses a microfiber cloth and spray she bought at the same time she bought the fan.

Lemon Tree, the song by Peter, Paul and Mary says,

Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet
but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.

(Click here for the YouTube rendition of Lemon Tree.)

Not true! The fruit of the poor lemon can be eaten and used. Tomorrow I’ll share 13 ways to use a lemon.

But Today I’ll share 6 ways you can store the lemons for future use.

1. Put lemons in a jar in the refrigerator. Make sure the jar has a tight-fitting lid to prevent loss of moisture. They’ll keep for many weeks this way. (I couldn’t find out how many weeks.)
2. Put the lemons in a plastic bag and put into the refrigerator. Sources say they’ll keep up to six weeks this way.
3. Keep the lemons on the counter. They’ll keep juicy at most two weeks. The humidity and temperature will determine its length of freshness.
4. Squeeze the lemons. Put the juice in ice trays. Once frozen, put the lemon cubes in a freezer bag.
5. Make candied lemon peel. Put this into a sealed jar in the refrigerator. It will keep up to 6 months.
6. Make preserved lemons. The lemons are marinated at least 3 weeks in their juice and salt. Preserved lemons are used in many Moroccan and Middle Eastern dishes.

Do you have another way that you store your lemons? Do tell!

For more Works-For-Me Wednesday Tips, click here. At last count there were 257 tips.

I take a lot of notes between seminary classes and church. I have developed a few shorthand icons that you might like to use.

I draw the following pictures in the margin of my notes. . . .

1. Outline a book – I use this anytime a book is mentioned. I also write the name of the book and underline the name.
2. Smiley face – I use this whenever a person’s name is mentioned.
3. Lightbulb – I use this whenever I want to think more about a certain concept.
4. Tear drop – I use this whenever I am emotionally moved and need to come back to think about why.
5. Hand outline – I use this to denote a prayer item.

Do you have any shorthand icons that you use? Please share.

Go to Works-For-Me-Wednesday to read tips on all sorts of topics. So far there are 295 submissions!

Edited to add: AI - This means Action Item. Whenever I think of something I need to do, I write the something on the top of the page with AI next to it. The AI might or might not relate to the class.