Category Archives: Organization

Qlubb – a web-based group utility that enables real-world groups to easily connect, share and get stuff done

Organization, , , , ,

I have desperately tried to think of a way to gather and organize contact information for Sebastian's class mom's, and other Cub Scout parents but could never figure out a way to get it done.  Thinking of how and when I could get and then organize everyone's name, phone number and email address totally froze my brain.  My brain just couldn't process the task.

Since signing up for Qlubb, I've learned that gathering, organizing, and sharing information doesn't have to be so hard.  Just tell parents where to sign up to be a member of your Qlubb group. That's all it takes to get a great group started.

Qlubb-screen

Members of Qlubb groups can post event reminders, to-do lists, share recipes, photographs, documents, and leave messages for other members. 

Simply put, Qlubb is a GREEN, web-based tool that gives parents tools to get and stay organized.  Best of all, Qlubb enables parents to establish and maintain a social connection with parents they might not otherwise have the opportunity to connect with on a regular basis.

No more sticky notes, white boards, and notebooks.  I am going Green with Qlubb and will not waste a ton of paper and ink on sticky notes that I am going to lose.  Of course I still use a traditional calendar because there is no way my husband is going to sign on to Qlubb everyday to see what the kids and I have planned and what I need him to do.

Qlubb is also a great tool for teachers, playgroup leaders, and after-school activity organizers for example.

Qlubb is a free service! Create your Qlubb group here.

Zen Class Nirvana Organizer

Diaper Bags, Organization, Travel, , , , ,

Zenclass

I was recently given a Zen Class Nirvana Organizer to review and it couldn't have arrived at a better time.  It is an awesome organizational and 'sanity keeper' tool.  Used on an airplane, the  Zen Class Nirvana Organizer mounts directly to the seat back tray table of the seat in front of you, keeping all your in-flight essentials within arm's reach.  When I was taking things out of the bag in front of Tim and Sebastian, they were cracking up because they said it looked like I was never going to stop finding things to take out of the bag!  Boys are easily ammused.  I felt like a modern day Mary Poppins.

There are eleven zippered and mesh storage compartments of varying sizes including pockets especially for your cell phone, plane tickets, credit cards, and cash.

The Zen Class Nirvana Organizer can also be put on thZenclass2e headrest of a car seat in front of your child so they can reach their snacks, cup, crayons, and toys. No more screaming for help from mommy or daddy to pick their favorite toy up off the floor. Each child should have their own Zen Class Nirvana Organizer!

I highly reccomend buying at least one Zen Class Nirvana Organizer before you start travelling this holiday season.

Price: $39.99

Available at the Zen Class online store

Ju-Ju-Be WannaBe: an everything bag for parents on the go

Diaper Bags, Organization, Travel

Jujubesmart
Fall is the season when the kids actually want to be outside and I do to.  Enough of the scorching hot days already!  What do parents do when they go on a day trip?  Pack, pack, pack as if they are going camping for a week.

I recently got a Ju-Ju-Be WannaBe bag and it is perfect for those day trips to the playground or park.  Besides being easy to carry either on my shoulders or back, the WannaBe has tons of features that make organizing the 100+ things I feel like I have to take, simple.  I can easily fit two sippy cups, snacks for two kids and for Tim and I, toys (for the kids), a notepad, crayons, one or more changes of clothes for at least one of my kids, Madelyn’s baby doll, my wallet, a book, magazines, my toiletries, and I could easily fit a first aid kit, a small puppy and my laptop.  Yes, the bag can get heavy but I would rather carry one bag than tote three bags through the park or playground.  The best thing is that the 19" x 17"x 8" WannaBe converts to a backpack without sacrificing inside space, so I can carry the bag on my shoulders or back.  This is not your average diaper bag.. it’s fun, bold designs and size makes it great for toting everything your kids need for a night at Grandma’s house or a friend’s house. 

As with most Ju-Ju-Be’s bags, the WannaBe uses magnets instead of velcro (too loud!), has an insulated pocket (the WannaBe insulated pocket covers the entire width of the inside of the bag), tons of mesh pockets, and padded straps.  The WannaBe also features three soft lined pockets to keep your sunglasses, iPod, and cell phone safe.  On the outside there is a magazine, book, and towel holder.  And the two clear wet pouches keep cosmetics, electronics, and other items safe from water.  I can’t forget the Sand Trap.  You can unzip the bottom of the WannaBe and shake the sand out while the mesh bottom keeps everything in the bag.

Price: About $160

Available at: Check for an online store that carries Ju-Ju-Be or find a retailer near you

The Busy Body Book personal family grid organizer

Books, Organization

It took me about six years to realize that I needed to have one calendar where Tim and I could see each other’s schedule for the month.  I had to ask Tim if he could take Sebastian to Cub Scouts or baseball and was disappointed when he said ‘no’ because he had to work.  Between Cub Scouts, doctor’s appointments, dentist appointments, visits to Grandmother’s house, and Tim’s work schedule, we never knew who was able to attend what event, or appointment.  Then I was introduced to the Busy Body Book which has helped me tremendously.  With the Busy Body Book, Tim and I can see what everyone has planned, who is able to take the kids where, and where our schedules overlap, and plan accordingly.

I started using BBB about two years ago and won’t going back to using ‘traditional’ calendar.  The Busy Body Book is a grid organizer that allows up to five different family members to have their own column in which their schedule can be writen.  In my case, I have a column for my personal appointments, one for work, one for Tim’s work schedule, one for Sebastian, one for Madelyn, and one for family events and appointments.   Each page covers one week from Monday to Sunday. 

Busybodybook08

Adjacent to each weekly grid page is a To Doodles page.  Half of the page is blank and the other half is a checklist area.  There are two pockets, one in the inner front and one in the inner back of the organizer.  There are twenty one perforated To Do lists that are perfect for grocery lists and for listing questions you want to ask the pediatrician during your next visit.  You don’t have to worry about something happening to your Busy Body Book when it is in your handbag or diaper bag because it has a plastic cover which helps keep the pages from tearing and getting wet, both of which are likely to happen to anything in your bag not covered in plastic.

I am so glad I have a Busy Body Book.  I hated having to ask Tim what his schedule for the week was and what appointments he could go to.  He gets a full month schedule at a time so I am able to fill in my Busy Body Book once a month and plan appointments accordingly which relieves a lot of stress.  If you have more than one school age child, I know you will love the Busy Body Book.  It will definitely help keep you organized.

Website: Busy Body Book

SimplyMobile™ Mom – Take your favorite content with you.. on your cell phone, FREE!

Fun stuff for parents, Gadgets, Organization

SimplymobilemomSimplyMobileMom is a new online service that gives me the ab
ility to copy online & computer content to my cell phone whether it’s pictures, recipes or snippets from a favorite blog (The Mommy Insider, for example).  An example of how I use SimplyMobileMoms is copying content from a news website like FOXNews.com, to my cell phone so that I can read it later when at the doctor’s office, in the school pick up line, or at the park without having to find the exact article on the website. 

If you don’t have a cell phone with a web browser, or just don’t use it, the SMS version of SimplyMobile is what you need.  Instead of receiving a text message with a link to the content, you will receive the content in the form of a text message.  For example, if you want to save a news story to your cell phone, you simply select the text, right click on it, then click on the "add to simplymobile" text in the menu that pops up.  The SimplyMobileMoms application on your computer will open and you will then choose a category in which to place this content for quick access on your cell phone.

The content I add to my phone creates a "portal" where I can access my saved content when I am away from the computer.  Organized by buckets (phones/people to receive content), categories, and then content items, you
can always gain access to the content you’ve added to your phone, even
if you have deleted the original text message.

There are lots of ways you can use SimplyMobileMoms.  Here is a list of what I regularly use it for:
1. To do lists
2. News snippets  –  I send news snippets to my cell phone so I don’t have to visit each news website individually to read the news I am interested in.  I just go to my SimplyMobileMoms on my cell phone and can see all of the stories I copied in one place.
3. Finding local products – The "TheFind" plug-in makes it easy for me to find just about anything in my area.  I type "organic vegetables" and I got a list of stores in my area that sell books on organic gardening, stores that sell organic cosmetics, etc.. This plug-in is really fun!

HOW IT WORKS: SimplyMobile is software you install on your computer. It lets you add any content to your phone like directions, to-do lists, grocery lists, contacts, and more from Web and your computer.  You can even share that content with other people’s phones.  If I want to share a news story with Tim while he is at work, I can! 

WHAT YOU NEED: All you need to use SimplyMobile is a computer with Windows and any cell phone with any carrier because content you add is sent in a text
message. SimplyMobile covers the cost of the text messages I receive and I don’t get spam text messages.

Like with any new software or service, I have experienced a few small issues such as not receiving a text message when I add new content and not being able to add a photograph from my computer sometimes, but all-in-all, I think SimplyMobileMoms is a great service for moms and dads!

WEBSITE: SimplyMobileMom