These days life goes like this
Wake up, check that off of some list
Gotta be a little something more than this
The bottom of my coffee cup.**lyrics from Bon Jovi’s Summertime
We’ve talked about lists before (here and here), it’s nothing new and as I was compiling yet another list I started to wonder how many lists I’ve made over the years. I usually start a templated list if I find myself creating the same list more than twice, or if I do the same stupid thing twice, or …
At the risk if sounding a little crazy (ok, maybe a bit more than a little!) I thought I’d share a few more lists I keep (don’t worry, it’ll just be the titles, not the entire list!)
Books that I’ve read (title and author): I started this list about 27 years ago after a couple of times I had purchased the same book twice because they had changed the cover graphic and I thought it was a new novel from that author (soooo annoying)! I wish I had done the same for movies (I tend to block out the ones that sucked and for some reason we keep wanting to watch them).
Menus for dinner parties: again, this list goes back 20 years, started it so I wouldn’t duplicate meals for the same guests. I used to keep this list in a notebook but about five years ago have switched over to electronic lists in my Notes/Reminders on my iPhone.
Preferences or allergies of my friends and family: This is really a no-brainer because it keeps things simple and you won’t poison one of your friends.
Work outfits: I started this list for my very first full-time job so I wouldn’t wear the same thing twice in a week; the list took a hiatus for about fifteen years (read, I got bored) but I’ve recently started it again because my memory isn’t as good as it used to be.
General household measurements, like table sizes for table cloths, window sizes etc.
General shopping lists for standard items, for example I keep a list of everything I buy at Costco and then I need only to check off the things I need on that trip.
Wish lists, we always seem to come up blank when we ask each other what we’d like for Christmas, but I know darn well we had a bunch of things in mind over the year.
My favourite restaurants: from time to time I am asked where to eat out in TO so instead of reinventing the wheel, I keep a running list that I review every so often and that way I just copy and paste that list into an email.
My shopping routes in NYC, Chicago and Paris: I know that sounds pretentious but we don’t go that often that I sometimes forget about that little tucked away place (kitchen gadget store), plus it’s handy if I get asked.
Travel wardrobes: This is a list of outfits I put together for various holidays, it’s handy if we go to the same place at the same time of year, I start with that list and amend as necessary. This list also helps me remember all the accessories needed for specific outfits (I’ve forgotten a belt or scarf before and that just makes me annoyed because I refuse to buy something I already have a perfectly good one at home). It also helps me maximize the clothes by coordinating pieces to make more than one outfit. Somehow I always end up tossing in a few extra things just in case (never can have too many shoes, Kristy!)
General ideas: in the old days I’d keep a pad and paper beside my bedside just in case I come up with something great in the middle of the night, now it’s in my iPhone.
Christmas Baking: I like to change it up a bit year to year and a year is a year!
Christmas cards: to whom I sent and from whom I received.
Cottage menus: but you already know that: I found a Meal a Plan app that I’m trying out, it stores recipes and pantry items (including inventory), you create a meal plan calendar and it pulls your shopping list for you. Once I’ve used it a few more times, I’ll do a review.
Blog post ideas: self explanatory.
So you see, I’ve designed my list keeping in a way that will save me time and headaches for things I do often! And there is one more list for this post: the ingredient list for this tasty recipe. This recipe just happened one morning at the cottage when I didn’t just feel like a plain poached egg on toast. Combining the rich avocado and setting it off with the sweet watermelon really worked; I also added a drizzle of balsamic just to make things interesting.
Do you make lists to help keep you organized or because you have a bad memory? Share what you make a lists of in the comments, it may help someone organize a bit better.
Watermelon, Avocado, Tomatoes and a Perfectly Poached Egg on Arugula
Makes enough for lunch for two
Ingredients:
- handful or two of arugula, washed and dried
- 2 slices watermelon, cubed
- 1/2 avocado, sliced
- 4 compari tomatoes, cut into quartered
- 2 eggs, poached perfectly
- 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp EVOO
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- On each of two plates, place a handful of arugula, casually top with cubed watermelon, sliced avocado, quartered tomatoes and one perfectly poached egg.
- Combine balsamic, EVOO, Dijon and salt and pepper (be careful though, the Dijon has a lot of salt in it already) and whisk. Drizzle over each salad evenly.
That’s a pretty detailed list of lists, Eva! I have a few references other than my daily to do lists. I admire your organization skills in this area, though. Love the look of this salad with such an interesting combo of textures and flavors.
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Goodness, that’s a lot of lists… especially when you compare it to my “none”. I tend to file things away in my memory and hope for the best… (and usually end up with the worst), although I do use Google Keep for a lot of things these days, so I suppose those do count as lists.
Loving the look of that poached egg Eva! Perfect indeed!
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I love that you made a list of your lists!
I love writing lists. I have sooooo many lists in my handbag at any given time. My husband teases me and said that I have to make an entry at the bottom of every list: “Throw away list”. I used to keep a notebook for my lists which was much tidier than a million scraps of paper. I need to get back into that habit.
I keep a wish list on Pinterest (set to private) so that I know at any time what I’m saving for or if I see a sale, I refer back to that wish list in case there was something I wanted that might match the sale. Pinterest is easy to add things to lists too.
I wish I documented my outfits. There are certain people I see about once a month and I have a feeling I wear the same clothes each time I see them.
p.s. Your poached egg looks so plump and lovely!
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A friend of mine has a book of lists, I have not done anything as organized as yours ever! How I wish I could be so organized, I know this would save a ton of time and energy! No wonder my brain is scrambled all the time:) Another friend kept a binder, took photos of combinations of outfits and laid them out by week. Now, that would be awesome, I’m always forgetting a great outfit combination that I stumble across. I think there’s a business in here somewhere. Eva’s book of lists:D
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This looks amazing! Love the combination of flavours- so delicious!
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Thanks Jess and welcome to the blog.
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Wow, so many lists… you are very organised. : )
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Thanks Liz.
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I have the same problem with movies — I immediately forget the ones I dislike, and am so irritated when I end up seeing them again! Love this salad — I used poached eggs all the time in salad, but never one containing watermelon. I’m so going to steal this idea! Great recipe — thanks.
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Hi John, I would attribute that quality to being a positive person, we have no space in our brain for negative things. I adore poached eggs in salad, seems so extravagant.
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Eva, what a glorious meal! Most the food groups are seemingly present, and the ingredients are fresh and vibrant. I do make lists on occasion, but then sometimes the management of the lists in of themselves, can be a tad overwhelming. I employ Pinterest to help out, and that’s just what I’ve done with this recipe.
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Thanks Brooks, it was quite delightful.
I am just exploring pinterest and it does seem like a great place to start a list. Thank you for pinning my recipe.
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That poached egg looks sooo yummy!!
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Thanks Dana, it was.
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Eva, I understand now why you are able to blog with such frequency: you are a super-organised person! I don’t even keep a list of future posts… (my future posts are only the dishes I took photographs of and these photographs need texts…). I do have a wish list, but it’s on Amazon, which I visit quite often 😉 and frankly doesn’t require any efforts. I do make a list of what I have to put into my luggage before I leave (I think it was triggered by an unlucky incident where I forgot something crucial, e.g. blow-drier or a trip where bottom clothes didn’t match the tops 😉 ) and I do make shopping lists whenever I go shopping but I try not to look at them until I’m just before the cashier: it makes one’s memory work (of course not as well as learning languages, for example, but it’s a good occasion too).
Luckily, I don’t know anyone allergic to food among friends or family (in Europe – at least in Poland, France and Switzerland – allergies are apparently not as frequent as in the US/Canada, at least in my generation, but they start soaring among the children too). My friends/family members eat practically everything (apart from – sadly – hot food), so I just try to avoid seaweed or for example kimchi, unless I know who likes such things.
I always write down recommended shops’, bars’ and restaurants’ addresses before I travel somewhere, but I always forget about the list the next time, so either I remember some addresses by heart or I need to make a new list or search for the previous addresses 😉
Anyway, I’m impressed by this list of your lists, Eva, and the poached egg salad looks gorgeous. We are both big egg eaters and love runny yolks in poached or fried eggs.
PS Household measurements are a fantastic idea! I should have these too…
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Thanks Sissi, in the past when I have been far from home and find a great table cloth and can’t remember what size the table is, missing a great purchase!
I have a bad memory, that’s why my lists are essential (could be my age) when I was younger I didn’t make nearly the number of lists.
I have heard that about Europe and allergies, I wonder if there are any studies on it, would be interesting to find out.
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Eva, I have once seen a very interesting French tv program about the US allergies frequency vs European one (don’t know how it relates to Canada). There was a French researcher who said that on average US citizens have a very poor gut flora compared to Europeans (and this would be the key apparently). Apparently it is, among others, due to higher doses of chemicals allowed in food (sprayed plants, animals get more drugs, etc..) than here, as well as the treatment the food gets once it’s in the shop (even raw meat is apparently treated somehow in US supermarkets). Apparently this is one of the reasons of weakness of organism which develops allergies. They mentioned also different kinds of intolerance.
Unfortunately, nowadays children in Europe develop more and more food allergies, alas… When I was a child I didn’t know a single person with food allergy.
I am sure you can find many statistics on internet. I never remember numbers by heart.
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I started a dinner party menu list about 20 years ago, but quit b/c I could remember all the details including what I wore. I shouldn’t have stopped as now-a-days I can’t remember what I wore yesterday.
PS…that’s one terrific lunch!
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Thanks Liz, we go through fits of serving the same dishes or variations of so I really have to keep tabs on it.
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We have so many blog idea lists. We keep starting new ones and then having to collect them. Love this dish too.
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Thanks Greg, you have such prolific blog that it really doesn’t surprise me.
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You’re so well organised Eva! And they’re actually really useful sounding lists too! 😀 You’ve inspired me to keep some!
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Thanks Lorraine, you’re always so generous with your kind words.
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I’m not certain my list making is quite as prolific as yours 😉 but there’s no doubt I would be one organized woman if it was! :O. I remember creating list upon list when I was pregnant and working — the only problem was, I would forget to look at the darn lists!! Talk about baby brain – lol. Love the marriage of flavours in this dish Eva – the watermelon and balsamic alone has me swooning. A beautiful summer fresh idea.
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Hi Kelly, believe it or not, I still forget to look at my lists from time to time, particularly the darn shopping list! Thanks
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lol! I am a list maker too! Kinda OCD about it! Love that salad
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Thanks Jessica, good to know we’re all in good company.
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I had to laugh Eva! I was making lists just moments before reading this! Right now my lists are to keep me on task for the day, but I too am a list maker. The work outfit list…I had a binder for just that in high school! Then in college I made a list of the must have qualities for my future husband (that was funny to find years later–after I was married). Mike and I have a list of places we want to go and now thanks to your genius, I’m going to make the travel wardrobe list. Brilliant! Oh how I love lists….crazy or not. 😉
I also love the idea of this salad. This would be great for lunch! I have all the ingredients too. Yay!
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Thanks so much Kristy, it’s comforting to read about all the other list makers out there. I was just making a list in Stumbleupon and they have a pop up that comes up that reads: “you should totally get a PhD in List-making” I laughed out loud!
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And now you made a list of lists! Ha!
I love the idea of poached egg, and putting it on watermelon sounds super fancy!
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Thanks Ilan, the poached eggs really made this a meal instead of just side.
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What a great salad Eva, love this flavor combination!
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Thanks Cheri, so nice of you to say.
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I would enjoy this without the dressing. A bite of this and a bite of that. Way to go with making a perfect egg!
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Thanks Zsu Zsa, you could use a white wine vinegar dressing too.
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What a list maker you are! I only wish I were 1/4 that organised. Your salad just screams summer fun.
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Thanks Maureen, with all this organization I must admit having gone grocery shopping and not checking the list and forgetting the one main ingredient I could not get by without!
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What a different and colorful salad Eva, I never would have thought to combine a poached egg with watermelon.
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Thanks Karen, it was quite tasty.
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Do you have a list of your lists? The work wardrobe one is something I’ve done since teacher’s college and continued now that I’m a supply teacher where I’m not usually in the same school two days in a row, and can’t remember what I wore when I return.
The simple salad does look good. I can even ignore the tomatoes in it.
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Hi Maria, I’m glad I’m not the only one with the work wardrobe list. No, I don’t have a list of lists, but all my lists are in one place.
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What a summery looking salad! I always think it’s useful to keep lists and I do try, it’s just I often lose my lists! My mother used to have an entertaining book where she’d write down who she invited over, what she served, what everyone wore and what music was played. Looking back over these lists now is like having a visual into a bygone era xx
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What a great idea Charlie, I’m going to add what they wore (as I think back, we’ve had a few friends show up in quite unusual dress…not sure if it was a joke or not).
Yes, I do love that old fashioned entertaining.
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That’s a party of flavours! I am intrigued with the combo of watermelon and avocado. You need a list of all lists :-))
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I sure do Angie, thanks.
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