Have you ever sounded like a broken record?

Back up [ from the TV ]. You’re too close.
[ in a sing-song voice ] No, no, no… Drinks stay in the kitchen.
[ gasp ] Watch out!… awwww, crap [ or alternate expletive ]… too late.

Well, I’m not afraid to admit that I have experienced this phenomenon since becoming a mom… However, I recently picked up this really great tip from Keely, one of my “mom friends” from MOPS and owner of BookJingle.com :

Use a small (but not too small) colorful area rug to designate a spot on the floor for your child(ren) to sit while watching TV. The rug is also a great spot for doing artwork or eating a snack.

I have personally used a blanket or towel to serve this purpose in the past, but the area rug’s backing and overall density virtually eliminates any tripping hazard—and, let’s not forget, saves the carpet (or hardwood or tile or whatever kind of flooring you have) from utter disaster!

Plus, when your little area rug gets too grungy (’cause you know it will), it’ll be a cinch to replace!

Mint.com is an entirely new approach to personal finance management. It has easily become one of my all-time favorites!

Key Features:

• Easy to use—automatic and virtually effortless
• Comprehensive view of all your accounts in one place
• Instant alerts for bills, fees, budgets, and low balances
• Intuitive—intelligently categorizes your transactions
• Personalized savings opportunities and offers
• Complete security and privacy
• And it’s Free!

Make your money work for you! Get started today! »

OK… It’s time to rethink this blogging thing. I’ve been aiming to post more frequently, but I’m finding that the more I attempt to “box up” my blog posts into nifty little categories, the less I write.

Time to swallow my pride, take my own advice, and bid adieu to the old ways that simply aren’t working for me. I hereby vow to blog about cool stuff I find or learn or know that I feel compelled to share. No more wasted energy trying to fit this square peg into that round hole!

Now, I realize that I’m likely the only person in the world that struggles with perfectionism and indecision (yeah, right!), but I will offer this tidbit of wisdom…

When something isn’t quite working out for you the way that you had originally planned, change it!

There are no hard-and-fast rules for life. In fact…

The only thing in life that we can consistently guarantee is that there is no guaranteed consistency!

Our lives are ever-changing, always in a state of flux, and so we must adapt our habits and organizing systems accordingly.

So, what indecision(s) are you struggling with today? How do you intend to fight back, take control, and make change happen?

Homework, class trips, extracurricular activities—staying on top of all the things your children participate in at school is a big job. School.files™ from Buttoned Up^® is the perfect container for keeping all the information about their scholastic life at your fingertips.

Key Functional Features:

• Durable file folder with compartments for three children.
• Each compartment contains five folders: stuff to do, stuff to keep, stuff to return, fun stuff, and calendars.
• Lightweight construction and notebook size make it ultra-portable.

With the start of the new school year just around the corner, now is the time to shop for school supplies. Hit the sales and save!

(And, don’t forget… Staples, Office Max, and Office Depot offer free delivery on any orders over $50! Huge time saver!)

BTW, If you’ve not yet received a school supply list from your child’s teacher, refer to the Back To School Checklist (1229 downloads) to get you started.

Now is also the time to gather your child’s emergency medical information into one place. Check out the In Case Of Emergency (2308 downloads) form.

Back To School Checklist (1229 downloads)   In Case Of Emergency (2308 downloads)