Works For Me: The Kitchen Edition

I sure hope y'all are ready to flood us with clever kitchen ideas, because I have to admit, this isn't my strength.  I told you yesterday that cooking isn't my favorite thing; as a result, my kitchen is probably the least organized room in my house.  I already shared my best kitchen tip in one of my very first WFMWs, so I'm re-posting it today:

A couple of years ago I went to my grocery store with a pen and paper and walked the "route" I always take whenever I'm there.  I wrote which aisles I come to, in order (that part is important).  Then I transferred my written list to a Word document, with blank lines below each aisle.  You can click here to see the finished product:

Download grocery.pdf

Each week I keep one of these lists on my fridge.  As I run out of something, I write it down directly on the list.  That way when I'm ready to go to the store, I have a complete list already in order, and I can sail through the store at lightning speed--no more back-tracking!  (While you are welcome to use my list, chances are that your grocery store won't be in the same order as mine.  The real key to this shortcut is having your items written down in the order you come to them.  It will take you only 5-10 minutes to walk through your own grocery store and make one of these lists.)

I can't tell you how much time this has saved me--and money, too, because being more organized at the outset of my trip causes me to make fewer impulse purchases.

So, what about you?  Any flashes of kitchen brilliance you want to share with us?  Appliance cleaning, pantry organization, ANYthing that makes your life smoother in the kitchen is welcome today.  Please post your link below, and see the guidelines here if you have any questions. 

1. OW (stainless-steel ball whisks) 2. Nikki (ice cubes) 3. Smockity Frocks (Stove Top Griddle) 4. Tammy\'s Recipes (removing counter stains) 5. laughing mommy (coffee savings) 6. An Ordinary Mom (keeping fruits and veggies fresh) 7. Owlhaven (gotta-have-it kitchen tools) 8. lizzykristine (family grocery list) 9. diatribal (Bottle Brushes) 10. The Lazy Organizer (keep snacks fresh) 11. Org Junkie (beverage station) 12. Beth F. (avoiding boil overs) 13. Joyful Days (easy company menus) 14. Jane (curtains) (he he) 15. Zing (kitchen creativity) 16. Terrific Teens (Connect with kids in kitchen) 17. chilihead (kitchen art cabinet) 18. Homeschool Mama (Use for spice rack) 19. MrsLady (Busy Mom Meals) 20. Ann(homemade mrs. dash) 21. Debby K. (menu plan) 22. Proverbs 31 (5 Tips) 23. Amberly (mealtime helpers) 24. Jessica (edible cauliflower - really!) 25. Julee (Keeping up the Kitchen) 26. Michelle at Scribbit (great product) 27. Larae (Menu Binder, Spices) 28. The Pumkin Patch (recipe organization) 29. Robin (easy birthday cake) 30. Marcia (quick meal preparation) 31. Liza\'s Eyeview - best little gadget 32. Pastormac\'s Ann (stretching drink mixes) 33. elizabeth@smithical - easy meal planning 34. Michelle (Shopping/coupon list) 35. Mom in Action (cleaning) 36. Valerie (Bakin\' Bacon) 37. It Coulda Been Worse (Grocery Shopping) 38. Becky 39. Trixie@ Farm Home Life (Kitchen Organization) 40. The Building Brows (Quick Kitchen Floor Cleanup) 41. Stephanie (grocery list) 42. Girl Gone Wild 43. Heather (Tupperware) 44. Lauren S. (spatula) 45. Ann Kroeker (dishes down low) 46. Eva (favorite recipe organization) 47. Mama Says (Kitchen Cleaning) 48. Jeana (Easy meals and recipes) 49. Jennifer (meals in the freezer) 50. amelia (recipe box) 51. Jessica (Electrosol tablets) 52. Dawn(unclogging your sink) 53. Sharon (taco soup) 54. mira (make your own) 55. Amblin (Prepare your own snack station) 56. Lisa 57. Cyndi ("taking control") 58. MC Milker ( healthy pancakes) 59. Lady Why (healthy chocolate chip cookies) 60. KimC (save milk caps) 61. Becky (recipe) 62. The Preacher\'s Wife - Pretty DW Liquid Decanter 63. Homeschool Help Web (dish washing time saver) 64. Barbara H. (baking center plus other tips) 65. Carol (burner cover re-post) 66. Nikko (composting your kitchen scraps) 67. Kerri (frequently used recipes)

68. Yolanda (Floor Mopping) 69. Merci (Hassle Free Healthy Salad) 70. Shalee 71. Neighbor Jane (repackaging) 72. JanB, Grocery Store in my home 73. Margaret (Yummy and Easy Recipe) 74. Makita (Dream Dinners) 75. Beth (grocery list organization) 76. Sarah (baby food) 77. Leni (Recipe storage) 78. peach (gas grill) 79. Julie (Recipes for Kids) 80. Jill (Toaster Oven) 81. Cindee (measuring honey) 82. Toni (Favorite Kitchen Gadgets) 83. Q&Q (Kitchen Tips) 84. Liz 85. GP (make espresso) 86. Ashley (greasing a pan) 87. Paula (easy/fast slimming dinner) 88. Linda (cake tip) 89. CharityGrace (kids cooking) 90. Anne-Marie (Crockpot Pinto Beans) 91. Kelly W 92. Kara (3 tips and a recipe) 93. SeaBird (Shopping With Twins) 94. Kisses of Sunshine - twist-n-loc-containers 95. sam (Kitchen Storage/Organization) 96. This One\'s for the Girls (Recipe Organization) 97. lifeasamama (low-cal sandwich bonus recipe) 98. Playing Ketchup (Floors) 99. CarrieJ (Add whole wheat to your diet) 100. Musings of a Housewife (Quality Knives and Knife Storage) 101. So Many Joys (Grocery List organziation 102. Pieces (ginger) 103. WhyMommy (Kids in the Kitchen) 104. Angelena ( ice cream pails) 105. Jenn 106. Emily (counter organizer) 107. Amy W (bacon & frozen fruit) 108. Vida (Family Heirloom Cookbook) 109. kel (better yogurt) 110. MamaEscandon (Homemade Instant Oatmeal) 111. It\'s a Mom Thing (freezing bananas) 112. Emily G(chocolate chips) 113. My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving(casserole cheat sheet) 114. One Of The Bunch (Using Cafeteria Trays) 115. J. Fergie (distract the kids so you can cook) 116. Christi 117. Emily (bay and cumin 118. Dee McIntyre 119. Jess 120. Alexandra(Recycling: Handy Storage 121. Melissa (Junk Drawers Alternatives and Homework Storage) 122. Kids, Cakes, Dishes, and Laundry 123. Jenn (kids snack cupboard) 124. Rebecca (Cheap and Easy Food Storage...) 125. Amy (kitchen chalkboard) 126. Shauna (paint your own pottery) 127. Jessica (occupying toddler) 128. A Juggling Mum (School Lunches) 129. Shelly (burned on pots) 130. Cindy (spice organization) 131. noodle (no cooking odors) 132. The Ink Spot (Cupboard Locks) 133. Cheri (toothbrushes for cleaning) 134. Jack and Jill and Mom (cleaning table messes)

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Comments

[Tammy L]

Shannon, I love your tip! Thanks for re-posting it, since I wasn't around for the first time. :)

[Myfriendconnie]

Thanks Shannon, I did the same thing at my favorite grocery store. Putting the list on the fridge is something I hadn't thought of, though. I need to do that.

[Overwhelmed!]

I think I'll print this list out and give it a try! :) Thanks for sharing.

[An Ordinary Mom]

What a clever idea.

I am excited to collect a lot of good tips today.

[Laura]

Anytime you can save time in a grocery store is a good thing...not my favorite chore that is for sure.

Laura

[Joyful Days]

This is an excellent tip! I in fact have a master list and even have a lot printed up.

Sadly, I've found that I have to use it!! It doesn't fill itself in. What's up with that? I am hopeless. You've inspired me to try it again.

Thanks!

[Jenelle]

I'll have to try this at least with one of the stores I go to. I have a hard time finding things as it is. Thanks for the amazing tip!

[MrsLady]

I am LOVING WFMW! It is so much fun to share ideas with other blogging mommies!

[proverbs31]

You know, I've been thinking about doing this so I can organize my shopping list by location. I think I just might. Thanks!

[Jessica]

I like it! I organize my list similarly when I go to the ranch market, otherwise I find myself backtracking way too often!

peace of Christ to you,
Jessica

[Michelle]

A great tip that would save much time. Thanks for putting it together.

[Robin]

Hi. I'm participating for the first time today, and in my rush I forgot to say where and what the post was in my link. You can go ahead and delete linkie #31, I've redone it and #32 is the correct one.

Thanks, and I love the concept.

Robin from Israel

[Robin]

Nevermind, I figured out how to do it myself. *blush*

[Larae]

Great idea! I have a general idea of where the aisles in my most-visited market are stored in my head, but a sheet like this would make everything much more simple. Thanks for sharing..and for hosting! =)

[Brandy]

That's exactly how I grocery shop, only I go off memory from the route I take in the store, which I can do OK. It really does make shopping quicker, which I have to be because I squeeze in trips while daughter #1 is at ballet.

Now if only I could do this with my Walmart trips. THAT one I'd better record aisles prior to my trips and shop in a route. I get lost in that store.

Brandy of The Building Brows

[deborah]

Thank you. I love it so much, I printed right up. I always have a pad on my fridge and the kids know to post whatever we need. Now, I can incorporate it onto my handy new and improved list, which I also put on my desktop so I can just zip it right off when I need it thank you thank you thank you

[Girl Gone Wild]

That's a really good idea. My mom use to do that only she'd do that in her head! No think...no room left for that. I like your idea better.

[Heather]

That's a great idea. Especially if I needed hubby to go to the store for me.

[allysha]

I really like that Little Debbies is a category on your list.

[amelia]

I really need to do this too. I organize my list and pretty much have the aisles memorized, but there are always a few items out of order.

[Dawn]

You know, that is a great idea. My store just redecorated and rehauled the whole store and I need to do that. I may just do that this week!

As a sidenote, I am going to make a great old person. My question is.......the store was fine the way it was, why change it? But, apparently, I don't get it.

I love your blog! Thanks for doing such a good job!

[mira]

This is a great idea, what a timesaver. Thanks for sharing it.

[amblin]

Great idea! I may need to try that!

[The Preachers Wife]

Been wanting to make a list like this..thanks for giving me a headstart!

[Becky]

Love the tip! Thanks for sharing. Next time I go to the Grocery store I am so doing this!!! Have a great week. I posted a Chicken Pasta Salad recipe that is one of our very favorites. Thanks for being such a great WFMW hostess!!!