Capture the Magic ~ Give your kids photo proof that Santa is real

I’m taking a break from organizing to tell you about this amazing website ~ Capture The Magic ~ where you can actually photograph Santa in YOUR house to give your kids proof that Santa is real.  Seeing is Believing!

You know how it goes … your kids want to stay up on Christmas eve to catch Santa in the act of leaving their presents. As parents we do our best to set the stage like putting out cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer. I actually eat part of the carrot and take bites from the cookies to keep the magic alive for my kids.  I love to watch the wonder on their faces as they imagine that Santa was actually in our living room.

Now with the help of Capture The Magic you can actually give your kids photo proof that Santa was actually in your home.  Seeing is believing! Here’s how it works:

1. You take a photo of your living room
2. Upload the photo to the Capture The Magic website
3. Select a Santa image from the website that fits your living room photo (100′s to choose from)
4. Merge and blend the Santa image with your photo
5. Purchase your photo for just $9.95 (the 2nd photo is free)
6. Download your photo

Imagine the look on your kid’s faces when they see a picture of Santa in their home? Sure to be a hit for Christmas 2009. You’ve got to see it for yourself. Visit Capture The Magic!

Originally posted 2009-12-02 23:43:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

McD’s has Free Mocha Mondays until August 3

I learned today from Lynette Chandler from MomsGadgets that McDonalds is offering a promotion on their Mochas. So I went into my local McD’s to check it out. They had a poster that said Free Mocha Mondays. The promotion ends on August 3rd and it’s only for the 8oz  (small cup), but who’s complaining for free?

If you’d like one, walk into your local McDonald’s one of these Mondays, 7am to 7pm (I believe are the free hours), to get yours.

Since I, for one, love their Mochas ~heavenly! I had to pass this along.

Enjoy!

Originally posted 2009-07-13 18:55:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Do Coupons Really Save You Money?

As we transition into a new year many will set goals to reduce household spending and reduce debt. This is a good time to consider the use of coupons to reduce spending and how to get started.

In this tough economy, “couponing” is receiving serious consideration in many households. So do coupons really save you money or Are They a Waste of Time? The short answer to this question is yes. But, you have to have a system in place for cutting them and storing them in order to have your coupons accessible so you will use them.

When I started using coupons years ago, they were really only available in the newspaper. You could cut them out of the Sunday paper and they were good for a month or two. Now, the availability of coupons is endless. They can still be found in the newspaper and magazines, but are now in abundance in printable form from websites and in the form of online coupons that are great when shopping on the Internet. With so many choices for coupons, there’s no reason not to be saving every time you shop. Here are some ways that coupons can save you a lot of green. 

1. Cut out coupons for the grocery store. People have to eat. It’s a fact of life. Those coupons in the Sunday paper are good for everything from cat food to candy bars (not that you should eat a lot of those). Snip all that may apply to your household needs.

2. Get organized. Make your own coupon organizer or use a ready-made coupon organizer like the highly-acclaimed Couponizer. The Couponizer does the organization for you – it makes it easy to categorize your coupons by type and/or expiration. Every time you go to the grocery store, you can easily pull out the stack of coupons that pertain to the goodies in your cart or coupons that will soon be expiring. The feature I appreciate most about The Couponizer is that it lays flat in my cart so I can be hands-free and not have to fumble with the accordian type that I used to use.

3. Use coupons for other things besides the grocery store. Coupons can be found in magazines on advertising pages and in amongst your mail on other days of the week. There are coupons for restaurants, car repairs, mattresses and carpet steam cleaning. Everyone will need car repairs at some point (especially after your last payment) so those auto coupons can come in handy.

4. Present your coupon before you buy in some instances. This applies to restaurants and car repairs. If you have any questions about the coupon’s validity, ask before you spend the time shopping. If you can have your brakes serviced for $100, be sure that it includes both sets of brakes and the rotors and/or brake pads. Know what you are getting so you can judge if the coupon is a good deal.

5. Look for other bargains to pair with your coupons. Coupons can be just like money – it burns a hole in your pocket. If you have a coupon for 20 percent off your purchase at an electronics store, shop the store circular to see if they have anything on sale that you want to purchase. Save that 20 percent off coupon for when that laptop you want goes on sale. Now, you’ll get an extra percentage off the total price.

6. Use store incentives. Some stores (mostly grocery stores) offer coupons and discounts just for signing up for their store incentive card. Just by walking in the store, you receive a discount on many items they sell. In combination with a coupon you can save more.

Coupons can save you money on clothing, groceries, automotive needs, toys, travel, movies and more. Be sure to read coupons carefully for restrictions and black-out times. To get the most bang for your buck, keep your coupons in easy reach when you’re leaving the house, or keep them in the car. Afterall, unless you’re shopping on-line you will always be using coupons while out and about.

Originally posted 2009-12-27 20:28:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Benefits Of Family Meal Planning

Are you ready to save some time, feed your family healthier meals and save some money along the way? These are just some of the benefits of family meal planning. Let’s look at all of them in a little more detail.

Eat Healthier

Planning your family meals will cut down on your trips to your favorite fast food restaurant and the amount of pizza you have delivered to your door. Food you prepare at home tends to be much healthier than hamburgers with fries, fried chicken or pizza. When you plan your meals include some lean protein like chicken breast, as well as some salads and vegetables. Your entire family will benefit from the healthier meals.

Save Time

How much time are you spending now running to the grocery store a few times a week. I used to run to the store at least 3 times a week to buy something to fix for dinner. Planning your meals out for a week at a time and then putting together a grocery list with everything you need to cook those meals will cut your trips to the store down to one a week. This alone will save you a few hours each week. Plus you won’t be standing in front of your fridge and pantry every night trying to come up with something you can fix with what you have at hand.

Save Money

All that eating out and having food delivered can quickly add up. By preparing more meals at home you will save quite a few dollars each week. In addition, you will save on your monthly grocery bill, since you will be making a list of everything you need for the week and won’t end up buying extras that just go to waste. I used to throw out food almost every week before I started meal planning.

CLICK HERE For Half Off Through February 2nd, 2011!

Less Stress

You know the routine. It’s 6 pm, everyone in the family is starving and you have no idea what’s for dinner. Trying to come up with something to cook from what you have in the kitchen while your kids are tired, hungry and screaming isn’t one of the most fun family activities. You will be much more relaxed about dinner, when you know exactly what you are going to cook ahead of time and known you have everything you need in the house.

Quality Time Together

Meal Planning also encourages everyone to gather around the dinner table each day. Who could resist the delicious smells coming out of the kitchen? Dinnertime has always been a great time for families to gather and share news and experiences of the day. Parents and children can pay each other undivided attention. Cook some dinner, set the table and don’t forget to turn off the TV. Make dinner a daily family tradition again.

I encourage you to give family meal planning a try. I am sure you and your family will see the benefits within less than a week.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine – A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner.  Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour!

CLICK HERE For Half Off Through February 2nd, 2011!

Originally posted 2011-01-27 22:37:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

BlogMania 2010 – September 15 & 16

BLOGMANIA’S two day BLOG GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA, scheduled for September 15th and 16th, is going to be Fabulous and The Organizing Genie is participating! Over 100 blogs are designing giveaways that can be won on those two days only. No giveaway will be valued at less than $100.00, and many are much, much higher. You’re going to have the time of your life as you visit these blogs and sign up for a chance to win their giveaways. Many of the giveaways will be offered internationally, as well.

The Organizing Genie’s theme is “Let’s Get Organized”. Our Giveaway, valued at $100+ consists of several organizing products from our store - The Simplified Home, including our household chore system, Mom, Can I Help Around the House.

Between now and September 15th and 16th BlogMania will be spotlighting participating blogs, their giveaways, and their sponsors. This event is for YOU, and each of us is committed to making it the easiest, most rewarding blogging event you’ll ever experience.

So check back often to the BlogMania site and get to know the blogs that are participating and the oodles of prizes just waiting for you on September 15th and 16th. And why not tell a friend about so they can stay connected also.

Originally posted 2010-06-10 12:41:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Say Goodbye to Greeting Card Clutter

In every home that I visit, unused greeting cards abound. Here’s what happens. You try to plan ahead and buy cards for loved ones who have a special day coming up. You take the card home and throw it in a pile until you need to send it. Then when that time comes you can’t find the card amidst the clutter and have to go buy another.  So when the first greeting card reappears, the need for that card no longer exists, so it either stays in a clutter pile or goes into the dark hole of unused greeting cards and is soon forgotten. Add to this disorganization the embarrassment of forgetting to mail the card at all. Does this sound familiar? 

What is lacking here is an organized system for remembering to buy the card, actually buying it, storing it until it needs to be sent and then sending the greeting card. There is a better way.  

Sending greeting cards is a process just like any other, like bill paying or any work process. In order to eliminate the greeting card clutter and avoid the embarrassment of missing an important occasion, and last minute trips to the store or post office, is to develop a greeting card sending system. You can be prepared for any card occasion with a just a little organization planning.

The Greeting Card Organizer is the answer to stress free card sending. This sturdy 3-ring binder provides categories for the storage of up to 240 cards. The binder gives you easy to use sections to organize your cards for every occasion and makes it easy for you to see when you are low on cards for a specific occasion.  

 

 A feature that I really like about this organizer is its undated perpetual calendar for recording important occasions by month and day.

I recommend keeping the Greeting Card Organizer in close proximity to where you enter your home with purchases, so that the card can make it into the organizer as soon as it comes in the door. The binder can easily be stored on a shelf or cabinet for easy access when it’s time to retrieve and mail the right card. Be sure to keep stamps, return labels, notecards, pen and calendar close by so you can do the action of card mailing all in one sitting (or action), rather than running all over the house to find the supplies needed.

With a system in place, you will be able to shop when you can find the best selection of cards for your loved ones. The Greeting Card Organizer is the home for incoming greeting cards that you are waiting to be sent. So when the next special occasion rolls around and you need to send a card, all that you’ll need to do is to reach for the Greeting Card Organizer. You will never be a last minute card shopper again.

To learn more visit The Simplified Home.

Originally posted 2009-08-06 22:33:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Importance of Giving Children Household Chores at Home

The importance of giving children household chores

Those of you who follow my blog know that I am a strong advocate of kids doing their age-appropriate fair share of chores around the house. From my experiences as a Professional Organizer for busy families, I feel so strongly about this that I wrote a workbook on the topic and developed a home management system ~ Mom, Can I Help Around the House ~ that incorporates teaching the children to be active members of the family team.

Well, I just happened upon this fantastic video featuring Georgette Constantinou, PhD.  Administrative Director of Pediatric Psychiatry at Akron Children’s Hospital, titled, Household chores an important part of preparing children for life challenges. Dr. Constantinou discusses the importance of children learning and being accountable for household responsibilities. She explains that doing chores is an important step in preparing kids to meet life’s challenges, because it helps them understand there is no free ride.

According to Kris Jenkins, University of Missouri human development specialist, “Families that work together and share responsibilities raise children who understand the value of work.  Giving children jobs around the home helps parents and teaches children they are important cogs in the household wheel. Chores help children learn to take pride in their work and gain self-respect.”

Now that kids are out of school for the summer, this is the best time to corral those little minds and begin teaching them vital home management skills. Here’s why:

1. No distractions like homework and school activities.
2. Keep the kids occupied and contributing to something bigger than themselves, instead of staring at the computer or TV screen for the next 3 months?
3. Contrary to what it may seem, doing household chores together as a family creates bonding and family fun. My kids actually like it when we’re all doing chores together – it gives them a sense of purpose and pride, and family togetherness.

These are just a few reasons why the start of summer is a great time to begin teaching your children these skills and for you to get a home management system in place in your home. Just think, when school activities start again in the fall, you’ll feel so much more in control of your time and your home.

To help you get started, I’m offering a 10% DISCOUNT on Mom Can I Help Around the House workbook and chore binder through July 31, 2010. I’ve never offered a sale before, so take advantage of the savings NOW! (At checkout, enter coupon code “summer“.)

Go here to learn more KIDS AND CHORES and to get your discount.

Originally posted 2010-05-27 14:30:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

BLOGMANIA – Let’s Get Organized!!! Theme

********** BLOGMANIA IS NOW CLOSED  **********

Thank you to all who visited The Organizing Genie and who entered our giveaway!! Winners have been chosen and contacted.

********************************************

Oh I am so excited to be participating in BLOGMANIA! As you might imagine, here on The Organizing Genie blog our theme is … LET’S GET ORGANIZED! Our prize package is a dream come true for every busy woman, wife, daughter or mother!

Here’s what’s included in our “LET’S GET ORGANIZED” prize package valued at more than $100 from The Simplified Home …

Mom, Can I Help Around the House, A Simple Step-by-Step System for Teaching Your Children Life-Long Skills for Pitching In and Picking Up

The COUPONIZER – coupon organizing system

 

 

POCKET.DOC by Buttoned Up
 

LOC-A-SOK – sock grippers for keeping socks matched in laundry

Practical Organizing Themed Post-it Notes Set

ALL OUT OF Grocery Shopping Organizer Pad

Home Organization Secrets for Busy Moms e-Book  

 

All of these great organizing products are offered courtesy of The Simplified Home!  

To Enter:

1. Follow my blog on Google Friend Connect.

2. Visit The Simplified Home and then post a comment here telling me which product you like the best.

3. Live in US or Canada

Bonus Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Like The Simplified Home Fan Page on Facebook.
3. Join our list and receive our special report Shelf Life of 100+ Common Household Items (green sign-up box above right)
4. Subscribe to The Organizing Genie blog feed

NOTE: Your entry is not valid if entry requirements above are not followed. BLOGMANIA ends on September 16, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. The winners will be selected by random.org and contacted by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Good luck!!

To visit more BlogMania blogs, see the full list below:




Originally posted 2010-09-14 23:24:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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