Category Archives: Organization

Printable lists and planning pages + coupon code + giveaway

Organization

Lists.. at any given time I have three or more active lists on my desk.  I keep a list of work tasks, personals tasks, the kids appointments, sports/classes, and groceries just to name a few.  Up until recently, my lists were hand-written on printer paper with a combination of pencil and pen, and I often wrote list items terribly crooked, horizontally and vertically on the page. 

After reading that, you might think that I handle chaos well.  Reality is that I don’t handle chaos well at all.  I get to a point where I can stand to look at my list anymore so I crumple it up and throw it away. 

The chaotic lists came to an end when I was introduced to a website called List Plan It which offers over 300 printable lists and planning pages.. with lines to write on!  What a novel idea.

List Plan It printable lists and planning pages include (but are not limited to) groceries, family chores, birthday memories, menu planning, and one of my personal favorites is the ‘record of my day’ page.  Use the ‘record of my day’ page to document the hours you put in folding clothes, paying
bills, and doing art projects with the kids.  This list is a great way to give yourself the credit you deserve.

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Keep track of your family finances, business finances, babysitter contacts, goals, menu’s and much more.

List Plan It memberships are reasonably priced starting at just $9.95 for 3 months of access to all 300+ lists and planning pages.  If you think you might need access for one year, pay just $29.95.

Enter our May giveaway contest for a chance to win a free List Plan It 3 month membership. We will choose five winners.  Subscribe to our newsletter (link above) to be notified/reminded when the giveaway contest begins.

WEBSITE: List Plan It lists and planning pages

COUPON CODE: (EXCLUSIVE) Get $5.00 off a yearly membership with coupon code moms2008

medibuddy – a first aid kit for kids

Organization, Safety

40 items make up the conveniently sized ‘medibuddy’ first aid kit made especially for kids.  If it were up to my kids, the bandages would be gone by now. They love the fun designs and colors and think that the slighest scratch must be covered.. but only with these colorful bandages.  ‘Regular’ bandages aren’t acceptable anymore.


Me4kidz
Here is what’s included in the medibuddy first aid ‘capsule’ as my husband calls it:

(15) 3/4 “ X 3” Red, Blue & Yellow Crayon Bandages
                         
(1) 3” Knee &  Elbow Bandage
                           (1) Sting Relief Pad
                         
(4) 2” X 2” Gauze Pads (2 Two Packs)
                         
(3)  5” X 8” Antiseptic Wipes (sting free)
                         
(1) Burn Relief Cream
(2) Antibiotic  Ointments
                           
(12) Kid Friendly Fun Stickers
                         
(1) Carry Anywhere Case

The fun stickers are sure to help cheer up the fallen, scratched up toddler while mom applies the included antibiotic ointment and bandage.

The perfect size for any diaper bag or purse, there is no reason to leave the house without a Me4Kidz first aid kit.  Other sizes are available on the website.

Website: Me4Kidz first aid kits for kids

T-mobile Sidekick Slide, LX, and iD

Dad, Electronics, Fun stuff for parents, Gadgets, Organization

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The T-Mobile Sidekick series offers sleek looking devices with many functions.  I reviewed three Sidekick devices; the Slide, the LX, and the iD all of which have a look of their own as well as differing specs.

The Sidekick devices are all great for messaging. Texting is great for parents when we need to relay a short message such as ‘please get milk’, or ‘I’m going to be late’.I found that all three Sidekicks have superb messaging capabilities.  The QWERTY keyboard on all three Sidekick devices is easy to use however, I prefer the keyboard on the LX because of its ‘clickability’. I like to feel the click when I push on a key and the LX gives that sensation.  The keyboard keys on the Slide are softer than the LX keys.

One major difference between the T-Mobile Sidekick Slide and the other
two Sidekick devices I reviewed is the slide-up screen. Instead of a
swivel screen,
you just push up the bottom of the display to access the QWERTY
keyboard. The sliding motion is smooth and the screen clickSidekickid_3s into place for a very sturdy feel.

The LX and the Slide are bluetooth enabled so you can talk hands-free and sync your phone up to a bluethooth enabled computer.  The iD is not bluetooth enabled. All

three devices have a speakerphone function which I love.

While having customizable face plates, the Sidekick iD is the least feature rich of the devices.  However, it includes features that I think are sufficient for social teenagers including a talk time of up to 5 hours, text messaging, email and games.  The iD does not have a camera like the Slide and LX.

Overall, I prefer the LX over the Slide and the ID.  The back of the LX has a nice texture which makes for easy holding while texting, and I actually Sidekicklxprefer the heavier weight of this device which gives it a more substantial feel.  When a phone is too light I find it hard to hold on to.  Both the LX and the Slide produce good photographs.

The Sidekick LX has a built-in music player that w
ill play MP3, WAV,
WMA, and AAC files. You can search for songs by artist, album,
genre, or composer, as well as organize tracks into playlists. To get
songs onto the Sidekick, use the included USB cable and then
drag and drop tracks from your PC to the Sidekick.  Transferring songs is very easy.  Other Sidekick LX features include a calendar, notepad, task list, and a download catalog.

WIN ONE!!  Sign up for our newsletter using the box in the upper right column to be notified when we are running the contest and to learn how you can enter to win a Sidekick Slide!

Icon_website2  T-Mobile Sidekick Slide, LX, and iD

Motionbox: online personal video managment

Fun stuff for parents, Organization

MotionboxlogoI have been using the Motionbox.com premium service
for about two months and I couldn’t be happier. When I started my Motionbox membership, I was paying a ‘big name’ online video storage website.  Motionbox totally won me over and I am not paying the other service any more!

Motionbox premium allows for unlimited storage, the ability for your family to download the videos you have uploaded to Motionbox, and I think uploading a video to Motionbox is so much easier than to YouTube.  You can sort your videos into folders. I created a ‘Sebastian’ folder, a ‘Work’ folder, and a ‘Product reviews’ folder to name a few. The folder feature makes finding the video I am looking for quickly.   

What really makes Motionbox stand out from the rest is their Flipbook product.  Do you remember those?  I used to make them when I was a child.. with the ball bouncing up and down.  You can create a Flipbook from any of your videos and you can choose a custom cover for your flipbook.  One other feature that I absolutely love is the ability to edit and ‘mix’ videos.  For those of you who have a website of your own, you can embed a video onto your website.  Simply click on the ’embed’ link below the video and choose to include the filmstrip or not and the code is supplied for you.

Like I said, Motionbox has a lot of great features.  The website itself is very easy to get around and once you log in to your Motionbox account, uploading videos is very easy. I highly recommend Motionbox as a great tool for parents to share their videos with far away family and friends.  You can sign up for a Motionbox premium now for only $29.99 a year as opposed to the regular $34.99 yearly fee.  This offer is available for a limited time.

Icon_website2_2 Motionbox: Online personal video storage

Internet Password Organizer + Giveaway!

Announcements & Stationary, Organization

InternetpasswordorganizerI don’t know what it is but in the last six years my brain decided that memory isn’t a priority anymore and thus I don’t remember things like I used to!  For years I was able to remember my user names and passwords for dozens of websites, without a problem.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to click on the "forgot password?" link or have had to call the bank to have my password changed. The phone calls to the online banking department got embarrassing after a while.

Enter the Internet Password Organizer.   Now all of my user names and passwords are organized by website, alphabetically, in this great little black book.
The Internet Password Organizer has been such a time saver.  The book fits in my laptop case which goes everywhere with me. No more waiting for a password to be changed and sent via email or calling the bank embarrassed that I lost my password.. again. 

Use the Internet Password Organizer to store your kids favorite websites’ user names and passwords. Don’t rely on your scattered memory anymore.  Give your brain a rest, write it down!

The Internet Password Organizer not only stores my Internet user names and passwords but it also has pages where I can store my wireless network settings and other important information I don’t want to forget.   The black hard cover is stylish and is sure to keep my precious information safe for years.  I’m counting on it!

Want to win one? Email me at alicia @ themommyinsider (dot) com and tell me why you should win an Internet Password Organizer.  I will give one to three readers with the best story!  Our thanks to  Elena at Innovention Lab for the giveaway organizers!

Buy your Internet Password Organizer before February 15th and get 10% off… AND get an additional 10% off with coupon code MommyInsider.

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Internet Password Organizer