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!

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 (1144 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 (2238 downloads) form.

Back To School Checklist (1144 downloads)   In Case Of Emergency (2238 downloads)

The Recipe Nest^® is the perfect solution for those of us who clip (or simply tear out) recipes from magazines, or for those of us who tend to let things stack up in piles before we deal with them months later.

Not only is it ideal for sorting and storing recipes, but the Recipe Nest^® also turns into a fabulous easel (with a handy clip) to hold your selected recipe at an eye-pleasing angle while you prepare it. Add the spill-proof vinyl covering to the trendy color selection, and you’ve got a real winner!

So, what about you? Are you a ‘recipe collector’ like me? What is your favorite way to store recipes? Share your thoughts in the comments!

If you’re anything like me, you have at least one thing in life that you absolutely abhor doing. I personally dread making phone calls. The truth of the matter is, however, that these tasks still need to get done, whether we want to do them or not. So what’s the solution?

Well, world-renowned time management expert, Brian Tracy, has the answer:

By identifying, then tackling, your biggest, most unpleasant task first—the philosophy of “eating a frog”—you can learn to plan and organize each day, set priorities, get started right away, and complete jobs faster.

So, my challenge to you this week is to “Eat That Frog” first thing in the morning, before you work on anything else. Not only will you end up with an immeasurable sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, but your mind will be freed of its burden, allowing you to focus your creative energies and make the rest of your day far more productive.

What tasks do you regularly put off as long as you can? Or, what strategies do you regularly employ that help you “Get Things Done”? Enlighten me!