When I received an email from Jennifer Hill Robenalt introducing us to this software planner for families, I was skeptical because most software organizers just don’t work well for multiple people. Also, how practical would this really be for a family – yes I am tough to impress at times :).

I checked out the link for Cozi and was favorably impressed. From the web site samples it does appear that they have accomplished their goal to provide a one-stop “organizing solution” for the entire family.

The technology could very well be the key in getting your older children to actually use the planner – wouldn’t that make life so much easier! The color coding of multiple family members and being able to see all the schedules at once earns my attention :).

We encourage you to take a quick tour and view all the features. You can try Cozi for free and see how the features work for you and your family. Sometimes you find solutions when you least expect it!

Some further information regarding this planning software: (more…)

Do you feel like clutter just keeps growing and is about to overtake you? Tired of digging and moving things to find what you want in the cabinet?

Here are a couple questions that I ask when cleaning -

1.    Am I really going to use this?  If it has been around for awhile, don’t think so! Out it goes…
2.    Does this belong here? It has to be valuable enough to me (used frequently) to gain the status of “prime real estate” (front of the cabinet, eye level shelf, main drawer, etc.). Otherwise: either out it goes or into a storage location (back or very top of the closet).
3.    Am I sick of this? Best intentions are to use it, but after this long and it isn’t used yet…
4.    Could someone else use this? Donate it to your friends, someone who could use some help, Goodwill, etc.

Not all that complicated, rather common sense really, so get started and feel the freedom of finding what you are looking for – quickly!

Have you noticed how grocery prices have risen recently? Just this week, while at my local Publix grocery store, I was talking to a nice retired lady about the increase in the price of a dozen eggs and we decided not to discuss the cost per pound for meat! A dear friend of mine just shared this cost saving site with me and after hearing about her weekly savings, I had to at least try it.

Any saving money method must meet these two requirements as far as I am concerned: It must be something I really would be buying (thus not just buying it because “it’s such a good deal”. The second requirement is that it must be easy to use (doesn’t take lots of preparation or effort at home or the store).

(more…)

Each month we are working on one area of family finances with a goal of having better control after twelve months. This month we are making saving a routine action.

Remember your top goals and the amount needed to accomplish each one? (see last month if you are just joining us) Open an account for each of your goals and make it automatic by signing up for a set amount to be invested monthly.

If your employer offers automatic deposits in your 401(k), sign up now.

When a task becomes routine, it isn’t forgotten and becomes a normal action.

Daily, we are faced with constant decisions as to the priority a task before us will have in our life. I am not going to venture into the deep reasons or multiple methods of determining those priorities for our lives.

What I am going to do is share a tip that has helped me recently. First a confession: I love planning and organizing (the Duck family will confirm that:). When this idea came to me, it was a “why didn’t I think of that before” moment and it really is testament to sometimes simple things are the best.

Try highlighting just a couple of the “absolutely must get done today” on your written to-do list. I use a yellow highlighter to mark the all the words of that task. For the “would be nice to get done today” items, just make a dash at the beginning of the word. This works if you use a simple to-do list or a planner (or mark your software planner with colored catagories).

Hope this helps you to concentrate on the most important of your daily tasks – it has for me.

I always have great plans for getting our finances and investing more organized every year – how about you? You make some progress, but not as much as you wanted to, right? So concentrating on one area of family financial issues a month will get more accomplished – so I am hopeful.

January is traditionally for goals, so what would make your life better if you changed three areas involving money?

Now make each one achievable by deciding how much you need to save, invest or pay off to reach your goal.

Decide how you will do this. Do the first step and continue working toward your goal a little at a time. You can do it!

Adapted from a magazine article by Carla Fried.

Becoming a parent is a hard transition, even tho Lil’ Duck is two now, I feel I haven’t fully settled into the parent role yet at times. However, it does get easier with time and as he isn’t quite so needy and sleepless. Here’s some things that help me to enjoy being a parent and save my sanity:

• Trips to Starbucks! Yes, I take the little guy, and yes, he is always usually good - something about getting your own cool cup of soy milk with whipped cream AND a slice of pumpkin loaf has a calming effect on even the crankiest mood of the toddler. I can sit and sip my latte and just enjoy his chatterings and happy grins, also enjoying his observations of the mundane items that are so fascinating to his little mind.




• Relaxing and not doing it ALL today. Just slowing down and watching the little one play can help me enjoy him for all the sweet little things he does right now, as I also marvel at how he knows so much already! The cleaning and the errands can wait, but they grow up in an instant.
• Generally try to keep a happy attitude - for myself, I have so much to be thankful for, little things that I take for granted that other people really don’t have. It helps me get through the messes and the tantrums and the rough days.
• Take some time for yourself - even a nice hot shower alone can work wonders (ideally, some time out alone or with my husband, but that really rarely happens around here). I focus on the little things, the 5 minutes of peace while he discovers all of Daddy’s CDs (ha ha ha) or the few pages of a magazine that I got to read before it is taken over by a toddler who LOVES the photos…..
• Taking extra time while doing errands to explore things at his pace. Today we went to the grocery store, and we had enough time to marvel at the many different cake designs in the bakery, to feel the pineapples in the produce section, and puff at the fish balloons in the meat section. He’s a much happier little guy and I enjoy shopping a lot more when we can take a little time and play around with things (who knew a pineapple was so interesting, right?).
• Walks - even just around our place here, there is a lake and a pool and a nice open meadow where he loves to run around. A little sunshine always helps too ;).

Have more?? Add them in comments! We’re adding this post to the Problogger ”
How To” group writing project - check it out! Be sure to visit the rest of the Works For Me Wednesday tips for other great ideas as well.

6 1/2 days in, with a nasty headache and falling asleep at the grocery store, I bought and drank a Coke. Then yesterday I had more Coke when we were out for our anniversary lunch.

I could say that I still don’t have it in the house, I’m still not drinking it first thing in the morning, which was the issue. That is true, and that’s why I’m continuing with my 30 days and not stopping right now. In the spirit of honesty though, I had to confess about drinking the Cokes.

Do I think I failed in my 30 day trial? First of all, it’s an experiment, a test, not a competition. Yes, I wanted to go completely without drinking that at all during the day for 30 days, but the main problem that I have (getting up and drinking pop first thing in the morning) is still being resolved, and that’s why I don’t think this is a failure.

What do you think??