In A Hurry? 5 Cleaning Tasks To Prioritize (And 5 To Skip)

PLUS: An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love, how to hide sensitive photos, and more. PLUS: An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love, how to hide sensitive photos, and more. August 9, 2022 [View Online]( Good morning! Imagine an old college friend calls and says they’re in town and want to drop by later. You’re free, but your house is a mess—so what do you do? Today’s Good Thing will help prepare you for just such a scenario by clarifying what you should and shouldn't clean when you're short on time. And since no Tuesday would be complete with a tech tip, I’ve got a useful photo tip to share today. Learn how to use a built-in feature to keep private photos and screenshots, well, private below. Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING In A Hurry? 5 Cleaning Tasks To Prioritize (And 5 To Skip) [Photos of various housekeeping tasks.]( When you're short on time to clean, make sure you’re prioritizing the right tasks. When I left my career as a TV news reporter to start my new gig as a mother and homemaker, it didn’t take long to realize my new workplace was shaping up to be every bit as chaotic as my old newsroom had been (and the work just as demanding!) Even today, there are still times when I feel like I have too many tasks to do and not enough time to do them. But if the intervening decades have taught me anything, it’s how to make my house look “clean enough” in a short amount of time by prioritizing the jobs that make a big impact. And today I want to pass those very valuable lessons onto you! First, we'll take a look at 5 lower-priority tasks you can skip when you're short on time. (This isn’t to say these 5 tasks are a complete waste of time—they’re just less important when time is of the essence.) After those, we'll look at 5 high-priority tasks you should try to make time for, because your effort will go a long way. These two lists will help you keep your home looking nice no matter how much you have on your plate, so check them out at the link below! [In A Hurry? 5 Cleaning Tasks To Prioritize (And 5 To Skip) ➜]( Related • [This One Simple Thing Makes Cleaning Easier And More Effective]( • [Good News, You Only Have To Clean These 12 Things Once A Year]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Terracotta “brown sugar savers” can do more than keep brown sugar fresh—check out 7 other ways to use them. [Read more ➜]( • If your HE washer seems to struggle with washing, rinsing, or spinning small wash loads, these tips can help. [Read more ➜]( • When reusing a plastic container, you can avoid confusion about what’s inside by removing the ink with this tip. [Read more ➜]( QUIZ CORNER OGT Pop Quiz In yesterday's newsletter, the tip in Money Matters mentioned several foods you can give to dogs as a treat. Which of these foods was not mentioned? (Scroll down to see the correct answer.) A. Watermelon B. Blueberries C. Baby carrots D. Grapes TECH TIP TUESDAY Keep Sensitive Photos Hidden [A photo of Jillee pointing to the Hide option on a photo.]( Keeping certain photos or screenshots private is easy with the help of these features. If you have sensitive photos or screenshots on your phone, it can be nerve-wracking to hand your phone over to other people to show them something. What if they start swiping around your photo library? (I often take photos of gift ideas for Dave or the kids while I'm out shopping, and those kids are notoriously nosy!) Luckily, iPhone users have an easy way to keep sensitive photos and screenshots away from prying eyes—store them in your Hidden album. Just scroll to a photo you want to hide, then tap Share and Hide. The photo will disappear from your library, yet remain safely accessible in your Hidden folder (find it in the Albums tab under Utilities). [Learn more at Apple Support](. Android Users: Google Photos has a similar feature called Locked Folder. To set it up, open Google Photos and go to Library > Utilities > Locked Folder, then tap Set up Locked Folder. Move photos or videos there by tapping the More option and selecting Move to Locked Folder. [Learn more at Google Photos Help](. COOKING Parmesan Chicken That’s Picky Eater-Approved [A gray table set with two blue plates that have Parmesan chicken and salad on them.]( Parmesan chicken is not only one of my easiest recipes, it’s also one of the most requested. We all have tried-and-true recipes we turn to when we're feeling drained or uninspired, and this Parmesan chicken is one of mine. I almost always have everything I need to make it on hand, and the whole family loves it (even Sten, our “most discerning” eater!) Here's how to make it: I like to start by slicing the 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in half lengthwise (but feel free to keep them whole if you like). Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a shallow dish, then combine 2 cups of bread crumbs, 2/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder in a separate shallow dish. Dip the chicken into the melted butter first, then the bread crumbs, coating it evenly on all sides. Arrange the coated chicken in a 9x13” baking dish and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165°F) and the bread crumb coating is browned. Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or a salad. [See the full recipe ➜]( JILLEE'S PICK Past And Future In ‘Reluctantly Home’ [An image of the front cover of ]( [Reluctantly Home by Imogen Clark]( was in my "suggested reading" section on Audible for a long time before I finally gave in and decided to read it. While I wouldn't necessarily call it a great book, it was a satisfying and moving story, and there's nothing wrong with that! It seems like a huge number of novels that have come out in recent years have featured time shifts or multiple timelines, and this book is no exception. And while I'm a bit tired of this particular storytelling device overall, it didn't bother me here. (Maybe that just means the author used it effectively!) Thematically, Reluctantly Home addresses the importance of self-awareness, the necessity of facing the past, and the healing power of friendship. The main characters, Pip and Evelyn, form an unlikely friendship that I couldn't help but root for. Overall, what impressed me most about this book was the author's ability to capture and articulate complex feelings throughout the story. I found it quite moving, and that’s enough to make any book worthwhile in my world. [See Reluctantly Home by Imogen Clark on Amazon ➜]( A FEW MORE THINGS... 📚 Bibliophiles, Rejoice: Today is National Book Lovers Day, a day for readers to celebrate their favorite pastime. As a lifelong voracious reader, I’m would definitely categorize myself as a book lover, and I plan to celebrate the occasion by doing what I would be doing anyway—listening to an audiobook! Words Of Wisdom: “The same substance composes us—the tree overhead, the stone beneath us, the bird, the beast, the star—we are all one, all moving to the same end.” - Mary Poppins by [P.L. Travers](, born August 9, 1899. 🤔 Wordle: [Solve today's 5-letter word](. ANSWER D. In yesterday’s Money Matters, I wrote: “Try offering ice cubes, sweet potatoes, baby carrots, watermelon, blueberries, green beans, or homemade dog treats to find out what your pup likes!” There was no mention of grapes, because while they may be good for us humans, grapes can be [highly toxic to dogs](. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! 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