FoodBuzz Awards and To Do Triage

on November 8, 2009
in All Posts

Last night, Operation Beautiful won the Blogger Humanitarian Effort Award at the 1st Annual FoodBuzz Festival Awards.   image

I think winning this Award is extra-special to me because… Operation Beautiful is not “my thing,” really.  It’s OUR thing. 🙂 Operation Beautiful would’ve never gone past the first note I randomly decided to post if other bloggers and readers hadn’t taken up the cause and made it what is it today.

 

There were lots of other great blog charities up for the award, including Chez Pim & Menu for Hope, No Recipes/Blog Away Hunger, and Share our Strength Virtual Bakesale.  Check them out!

 

So… THANK YOU!  Thanks for voting, and thanks for continuing to support Operation Beautiful.  As I always say… Who knew one little Post-It could turn into something so BIG?  🙂

 

Moving forward…

 

I had a lovely, if not basic, breakfast:

IMG_0527

We are out of all essential grocery items, so I was stuck with Grape Nuts and almond milk:

IMG_0531

And leftover fruit from the tailgate:

IMG_0528

After my breakfast digested, I did a mini strength routine:

 

  • 30 push-ups
  • 100 bicycle crunches
  • Two 30-second planks
  • Five downward dogs

 

So…. I have so much stuff today that I’ve decided to triage my list.   You know how hospitals triage patients in order of “If we don’t fix this now, they will die” or “They just have the sniffles”?  Basically, that’s what I’ve done to my to-do list:

 

Priority 1 (AKA something will explode if this doesn’t get done):

 

  • Blog
  • Answer e-mails
  • Finish Chapter 3 of Operation Beautiful book
  • Revise Chapters 1 and 2 of book per editor’s comments

 

Priority 2 (AKA needs to happen):

 

  • Run 6.0 miles
  • Go grocery shopping
  • Unload tailgating supplies from car
  • Do 20-minute speed clean session with the Husband (we set a timer and clean as much as we for 20 minutes)

 

Priority 3 (AKA never going to happen, but if magical fairies flew down and did it for me, that would be awesome):

 

  • Organize closet
  • Organize bathroom sink

 

Do you ever triage your To Do list? I’ve noticed that if I don’t triage it, I tend to do the easiest things first… even when the hardest things are the most urgent!

{ 64 comments }

 

  • Ryan @ Greens for Good November 8, 2009, 8:30 am

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

    I totally “triage” my To Do list but have never called it that! That one might just stick 🙂

  • Meg C. November 8, 2009, 8:38 am

    congrats!

    I do that too… which is why my pantry and fridge are always fully stocked with good food, but my room is always a mess!

  • Edna November 8, 2009, 8:39 am

    What a fantastic idea to have a 20 minute speed clean together. That is a brilliant way to get my husband involved in doing housework – I think he would really go for that!

    Many congratulations on your well deserved award.

  • Katie (Sweet Tater) November 8, 2009, 8:39 am

    hey congratulations on your foodbuzz win!

    aaaand i’m with you on the saturday to-do list. i don’t triage, though. i just panic. perhaps a necessary triage is in order…

  • Katie (Sweet Tater) November 8, 2009, 8:41 am

    also it’s not saturday. not at all. ha. shit.

  • Eating Journey November 8, 2009, 8:42 am

    I do. I use Google Calender and have two lists going ‘Today’ ‘Tomorrow’ it helps me keep track of things at work. I’ve started a ‘Life Get done list’ of the stuff I need to get done for my nursing school prep. It does help a lot.

  • Kim November 8, 2009, 8:48 am

    I love the idea of the triage to-do list!

    Congrats on the win! You absolutely deserve it.

    I am off to triage my to-do list!

  • Diana November 8, 2009, 8:50 am

    Congratulations! That’s awesome 🙂

    I never do that.. but it sounds like a grat idea!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 8, 2009, 8:56 am

    Congrats!!! There are some things on my list that just nver get done…

  • Stacey November 8, 2009, 8:57 am

    Congrats on winning the award, I think that’s awesome! My boyfriend and I write our to-do list on the fridge and mark each thing off after it’s done. We save tbe boring stuff (cleaning/grocery shopping/homework) for Sundays. I think it really helps us to do it all in one day, that way we have Saturday to enjoy at our own leisure 😀 Good luck with your to-do list!

  • VeggieGirl November 8, 2009, 8:57 am

    MAJOR CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🙂

  • Sarah R November 8, 2009, 8:58 am

    Congratulations! Send the magic fairies my way, if they end up stopping by your house 🙂

  • Nicci@NIftyEats November 8, 2009, 9:01 am

    Congrats on the award Caitlin!You definitely deserved it.

  • Evan Thomas November 8, 2009, 9:02 am

    Congrats on the win!

  • Matt November 8, 2009, 9:03 am

    Congrats on the win! You deserve it 🙂

  • Niki November 8, 2009, 9:04 am

    Congrats girl! That’s so awesome!!

  • Lee November 8, 2009, 9:04 am

    Congratulations!

    I suck at to-do lists. Maybe this traige method will help.

  • Katie November 8, 2009, 9:05 am

    Congrats! No but I need to do that. I always do easy things first then nothing gets done. And school almost always gets pushed out for something better or easier.

  • Marisa (Trim The Fat) November 8, 2009, 9:05 am

    No, I don’t usually triage, but I think it’s a spectacular idea and I will take advantage of that idea this week!!!

    Congrats, Caitlin! That is a win to be VERY proud of!

  • Susan November 8, 2009, 9:12 am

    Love two things: 1) The triage idea. I too, tend to do the easiest things first. Definitely going to start using this method! 2) 20-minute speed clean. I bet I could get a lot done in 20 minutes, and it doesn’t sound that daunting!

    Good luck getting everything done!

  • Julie November 8, 2009, 9:15 am

    CONGATULATIONS!!! You totally deserved this award, I’m so happy for you! Next up – Oprahs book club for the Operation Beautiful book. I can see it now.

    How many chapters is the book?

    • caitlin November 8, 2009, 9:18 am

      7! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

      • Julie November 8, 2009, 9:30 am

        lol relax, just use my fool proof old school college trick…courier new font size 12. Double space that too 😉

        I kid, you can do it!

        • caitlin November 8, 2009, 9:30 am

          this made me LOL so hard

  • Still Life in South America November 8, 2009, 9:22 am

    Congratulations on your award, Caitlin. You should be proud of all of your accomplishments!

    (btw, your grilled pizza from the Miami game looks amazing!!!)

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans November 8, 2009, 9:37 am

    Congratulations to you and Operation Beautiful! I always number my to-do list because otherwise I would end up with a clean bathroom, folded laundry, and no food in my refrigerator…

  • Rachel November 8, 2009, 9:38 am

    Congrats! You deserved it 🙂

    And I love your triage idea! I so often put the easy things first, and like you, the big never end up getting done!

  • Anne @ the doctor takes a wife November 8, 2009, 9:39 am

    I totally triage my to do list–that way if things further down don’t get done, they move to the top for the next day!

    I love your power cleaning idea. I’m totally stealing it.

  • Jenna November 8, 2009, 9:40 am

    wow caitlin! that is such a great idea for the to do lists! i am going to try that out today and CONGRATS on the award =)
    jenna

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) November 8, 2009, 9:44 am

    I like that way of looking at it. I tend to do the easier stuff first since I feel like I accomplished something then rush to get the major stuff done. I might need to take up your reasoning.

  • debby November 8, 2009, 9:45 am

    Congratulations on your award! It is a wonderful concept, and it is wonderful that is was recognized. I saw it first on MIsfit’s blog.

    Second, yes, I loved the pancake burrito idea. And that is one of those great ideas that you can jump off from and do all kinds of other breakfast burritos!

    And thanks for the good ideas in this post. I really like the 20 minute speed clean and the mini power workout.

  • Morgan November 8, 2009, 9:57 am

    Congrats on a great award. You deserve it!
    Love the idea of triaging (is that a word?) my to do list!

  • Heather November 8, 2009, 9:58 am

    Congratulations on the award! I don’t triage my to-do lists, but that is an excellent idea. I ALWAYS do what’s easiest first and end up doing the more important things at the very last minute (i.e. school work!).

  • laura dishes November 8, 2009, 10:14 am

    Congrats on winning the award!

    Lpve your triage idea… I’m going to try it today so I get more than just exercise and grocery store checked off!

  • Lizzy November 8, 2009, 10:24 am

    i like this to do list method. i really need to start doing this! congrats on the award!

  • JAG November 8, 2009, 10:38 am

    Hurrah for Operation Beautiful, I am so pleased! I haven’t thought about triaging my chores before, I tend to write them all down and choose which ones I prefer to do.

    I am loving the idea of a 20 minute speed clean, this is something I think I need to begin!

    Congratulations on the award Caitlin, you totally deserve it.

  • Katy @ These Beautiful Feet November 8, 2009, 10:40 am

    The triage method! I love it. I do the same thing, I tend to gravitate to the easiest things because they don’t overwhelm me as much..then I end up procrastinating the most important things! I will have to try the triage method of to-do lists. I also appreciate the speed cleaning. Our place right now is a MESS! Mainly because during the week, we’re so tired to keep it clean! Maybe we will do a speed cleaning and use it as a cardio workout? Just run around the house cleaning as fast as possible. 🙂

  • Jesse November 8, 2009, 10:44 am

    congrats on the win for operation beautiful! that’s so awesome!!!

    i’m loving the idea of 20 speed cleaning sessions … we might need to start doing those during the week so we don’t have so much to do on Sundays … thanks!

  • Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) November 8, 2009, 10:57 am

    CONGRATS! After all of your hard work, you deserve the recognition 🙂

    Ok, now that I’ve spent the morning reading blogs, it’s time for me to triage my to-do list. First up: a long run!

  • Aimee November 8, 2009, 11:22 am

    Congratulations on the award! So exciting. I am totally a list person. I do try to sort out my list in order of importance. One thing I haven’t figured out how to organize is my online time. I always seem to have a million things that I want to read, catch up on, watch, buy, check into, etc. Sometimes I get so carried away in another direction via link after link that I forget what I meant to do in the first place. Anyone have any techniques for making time spent on the internet more effective? Maybe I should just make a list!!

    • caitlin November 8, 2009, 11:24 am

      i wish there was a program that would disable you from going to websites for like 30 minute blocks!!

  • Gina G November 8, 2009, 11:53 am

    congrats caitlin! =)

  • Kailey (SnackFace) November 8, 2009, 11:58 am

    Major congrats, Caitlin! Operation Beautiful is so amazing and exactly what this image-obsessed world needs!

    I don’t have a triage necessarily, but I normally finish first what’s due the soonest. Save the rest for last minute. SO BAD. Damn you, senioritis. Yes, I’m using that excuse all year.

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) November 8, 2009, 12:04 pm

    Ah CONGRATS Caitlin, that’s fantastic! You (and Operation Beautiful) deserve it!!

    I’ve been studying English and journalism for what seems like forever now, and whenever i have a big article or paper to write to tackle, I always just go to a coffee shop, put on my headphones, and zone out at my laptop.. the words just come. It’s pretty foolproof for me anyways, although if you try this you might want to double check you’re not going off on random tangents (like I do) haha. You can get it all done, no worries!

  • Courtney November 8, 2009, 12:09 pm

    SERIOUSLY, congrats on the honor ~ so cool Meghann was there to receive it for ya! <33

  • Anne P November 8, 2009, 12:24 pm

    Congrats, girl!! You totally deserve it. Yay!

  • caronae November 8, 2009, 12:41 pm

    Congrats! I’m so happy that Operation Beautiful won!!!
    Triaging is a really good idea. I might try it!

  • Niki November 8, 2009, 12:42 pm

    Congrats!! I love the 20 min quick clean i used to do that as a kid but i need to start doing it now with the bf

  • chrysta November 8, 2009, 12:45 pm

    Congrats girl!!! Im super happy for you. Thanks for all the amazing hard work and dedication. Keep on rockin!

  • Paige @ Running Around Normal November 8, 2009, 1:35 pm

    Congrats!! SO cool:)
    The triage method is interesting! Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, I usually make a to-do list and do a couple things that are smaller, and won’t take long (20 minute speed clean or answer blog emails in your case?) and cross those off, and that leaves me feeling like there’s less on my plate.

  • Laura November 8, 2009, 2:25 pm

    I am a fellow triage-er! Also, I try to make this my priority order when possible:
    1. The task I want to do the least.
    2. All the quick stuff.
    3. My favorite task on the list.

    If I’m getting distracted I will sometimes set a timer and make myself work without taking a break until it goes off. Here is a good one for the computer where the countdown stays on top: http://www.online-stopwatch.com/ (you can download it for free). Good luck!

  • Runningwriter November 8, 2009, 3:09 pm

    Congratulations Gorgeous! Well deserved.

  • kirsten November 8, 2009, 3:34 pm

    congrats caitlin!! much deserved!! 😀

  • Julie @savvyeats November 8, 2009, 4:05 pm

    Triage-ing your to-do list is an awesome idea! I try to prioritize my lists, but sometimes I still do the easy and/or fun stuff first 😉

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) November 8, 2009, 4:09 pm

    Congratulations on the award girl!!!

  • Karla November 8, 2009, 5:41 pm

    Congrats on the Foodbuzz win! You totally deserve it.

  • Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) November 8, 2009, 9:05 pm

    I am so happy that you won!

    The triage idea is great. I’ll have to do that tomorrow!

  • Jess November 8, 2009, 10:04 pm

    Congratulations!!! You deserve everything that is coming your way, Caitlin.

  • Megan November 8, 2009, 10:17 pm

    Congrats on the award! I’m pretty new to your blog, but I love your running (and injury-prevention) advice! I’m getting ready to train for my first marathon, so I need all the inspiration I can get!

    Thanks 🙂

  • Danica November 8, 2009, 10:18 pm

    Congrats on winning Caitlin ~ I totally LOVE that your Operation Beautiful concept turned into something so huge. I really do think you haved made a HUGE impact on everyones live BEFORE Operation Beautiful and after. Yeah! 🙂

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) November 9, 2009, 8:01 am

    Congrats on your award! On days I feel “evil” I think of you as a happy inspiration! Hope your a.t. feels better!

  • Whit November 9, 2009, 9:25 am

    Congrats on the award! You totally deserved it.

  • brandi November 9, 2009, 9:46 am

    Congrats on the win! We were cheering so much at the dinner when they called your name 🙂

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat November 9, 2009, 9:54 pm

    Yay, congrats to Operation Beautiful!!

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