Grocery check  list Blue Sky Home Series

Getting Organized (Giveaway)

If there is one thing I secretly struggle with it’s staying organized when it comes to my personal life.  While I am an early adopter and love technology and live by my Google Calendar, I am a traditional girl at heart and still find myself writing notes and tracking things the “old school” way –> on paper. The problem here is this results in an unruly paper trail of sorts – notes at my desk, notes in the kitchen, notes stuffed in my purse, they are everywhere. Now, if it was just me that this was affecting, that would be one thing, but it’s not. You see I am married and many of the things I am trying to keep track of not only affect me, but they involve my husband as well. Often times what happens is he ends up out of the loop because I forgot to tell him, or he didn’t check the note “pile” on my desk. Additionally, my MIL lives with me and I have two boys, it can be hard to keep everyone in the know.

So, the question of recent has been, how to I change this? How do I get more organized at home. Luckily, 2 Moms Media was reading my mind and sent me a package of products from The Blue Sky Home Series.

The Home Series features products specifically designed for helping busy Moms stay organized and were even developed based on feedback they received from Moms on their needs and what would help them better manage things at home. The initial result was the development of  14 different products, all under $10 (which is right in my spending “sweet spot.”) They have everything from planners and calendars, to weekly family boards to activity trackers. Oh, and they are not only functional they are really cute and stylish.

Multi-Tast Mouse Pad

OK, I love this. As I mentioned before, my notes end up all over the place, which can make it hard for others to know what I am up to (heck, it makes it hard for me to stay on top, too!). The multi-task note pad allows me to keep all of my notes – Do, Call, Buy – in one place that’s easy for anyone to find/read – on my desk. Now, because I share my desk with the kids, the fact that it’s padded underneath and doubles as a mouse pad is huge because desktop space is at a premium. Retail price: $5.99

 

Grocery Checklist Pad

With five people living in our house tracking what we’ve run out of, what new things we want to try, what we are low on, etc. can be hard. The Grocery Checklist is great because it not only breaks your list down by section of the store – fruits/veggies, beverages, Frozen Foods, etc, but it’s got magnets on the back which allows you to keep your list on the refrigerator. This makes it so much easier as now when I am making dinner or grabbing a snack and see we might need to pick up something, the list is right there. Also, it makes the list public so that everyone can see what’s on it, and add to it as necessary so nothing gets forgotten when we head to the grocery. Retail price: $3.99

Door Notes

These have been the biggest hit with the kids. The Door Notes resemble “Do Not Disturb” signs from hotels, and let you leave personal reminders where your family will see them when they get up – on their door.  I have already used these a lot, from reminding my oldest to take out the dog in the morning, to reminding the boys to pack their toy bags for our recent trip to the lake. These have gotten so popular in fact, the boys have started asking me to put notes on their doors for things they want to remember. Just last week SM had me put a reminder on his door that a local radio station was broadcasting a concert live and he didn’t want to miss it. Retail price: $9.99

 

Win A Selection of Blue Sky Home Series Products!

One lucky Mommy Bits reader will win a Blue Sky Home Series Prize Pack!!

To enter (Leave a comment for each one you complete):

1) Tell me which of the products I talked about above would help you the most.

2) Follow me on Twitter at MommyBits

3) Tweet about this giveaway and include @mommybits in your tweet.

4) Facebook Fan of Blue Sky

5) Follow this blog on Networked Blogs (See box in right column)

 

Winners will be drawn using a random number generator. Contest closes at 9pm on Tuesday, August 16th .  Winner will have 24-hours to respond to my email.

Pick Up Blue Sky Products

Like what you see? You can find Blue Sky Home Series products at Target as well as online on their website. They also have a pretty active Facebook page where I’ve noticed they share information on sales, new products and even sites that are hosting product giveaways.

 


Shannans-big-butt

What Have I Been ‘Weight’ing For

I have been dieting again, and it’s finally working.

Now, before you roll your eyes at me, remembering all those times I told you I was going to get in shape (see long list of links below), please give me a moment to explain.

December 2007 – SparkPeople.com Rocks (I am back on a diet)

April 2007 – Revisiting My New Year’s Resolutions

March 2008 – Sometimes The Truth Sucks Butt (Son tells me to go on diet)

August 2008 – I Think I am In Need of An Intervention

November 2009 – More of Me To Love… and I Hate It

August 2008 – Launch Cincinnati Losers Blog

OK, so those of you who know me, know that I have made feeble, well-intentioned attempts over the years to get back into shape. There have many been times I’ve worked to lose weight, seeing small results – 3 to 5 lbs- then like always, I’ve fallen/run/jumped whatever….off the wagon.  It’s been a journey for as long as I can remember, being most successful back in 2006 when I lost 20lbs (which I of course gained back) on SparkPeople.com.

When you are a Mom, when you work-full time, when you are always on the go, a diet can be hard to follow-through on (excuses, excuses right?).

Always full of good intentions, I’ve never really been able to do it – to lose the weight I gained after college and after having two children…. that is until recently.

I don’t want to jinx myself, but I have been successfully dieting since mid-May and it’s starting to work. I’m seeing results.  Results that I like and to-date I’ve managed to lose 12 lbs!

I have done it the right way this time. Through diet (eating better) and exercise (walking & stationary bike) and support from my amazing husband.  I’ve still got a ways to go, and I am even going to start running again so I can do a 5K with my friend Katy in the fall, but I am excited and motivated by the changes I am seeing when I look in the mirror.

 


Big Bugs Boyers

Highfield Discovery Garden’s Big Bugs

Yesterday the boys and I along with my Mom celebrated our final day of “Vacation-palooza” with a trip to BIG BUGS at Highfield Discovery Garden. We’d never been before, but I must tell you, we LOVED it and will definitely go back.

 

A BIG Daddy Long-Legs

 

Help! A BIG ant is coming to get us! This was one of 13 BIG BUG sculptures on display, created by artist David Rogers.

 

Did somebody lose their hat??

 

Home to BIG BUGS, Highfield Discovery Garden is a magical park filled with flowers, playground fun and activities for kids

 

A giant interactive treehouse sits at the center of Highfield Discovery Garden.

 

B-Man made his own Bee Visor with Hamilton County Parks volunteers

 

SM helped a volunteer transplant plants into fun, creative containers. This is one he did.

 

If you want to check it out too, Big Bugs runs through Sunday, August 21st.  Tickets are just $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children age’s two to 12. Admission includes access to the Highfield Discovery Garden.

 


SPLASHtacular Fun in Warren County

Today I wanted to share with you a cool promotion going on over on the Warren County CVB Facebook page – The Splashground Vacation Sweepstakes.

The timing for sharing this is perfect as just today on my other blog, Family Friendly Cincinnati, Kristin wrote a post on Family Summer Bucket Lists where all the contributors shared their lists, and both of my boys picked activities in Warren County – The Beach Waterpark and Kings Island (we’ve not been to either before!).

The “Ohio’s Largest SPLASHground Vacation Sweepstakes” kicked off  earlier this month, and the premise is simple:

They will award one lucky fan of “Warren County – Ohio’s Largest Playground” (on Facebook) with a water-themed vacation each time their Facebook fan page hits a predetermined goal for new number of “likes.” As the goal for new likes on the WCCVB Facebook fan page increases so does the value of the vacation packages, which will remain secret until the previous goal is reached.

The promotion just hit it’s second goal of 250 “Likes” and the winner won tickets/passes for Kings Island, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Lazer Kraze.  They haven’t yet announced the prize package for their next goal, 350 “Likes” so you’ll need to watch their Facebook page for updates.

For more info and to enter, visit Warren County – Ohio’s Largest Playground on Facebook. You can also follow the promotion on Twitter @WarrenCountyOH.

 

 

Disclosure: From time to time I work with Warren County to promote family fun activities. As a thank you for helping raise awareness of the SPLASHground promotion, they are providing my boys with tickets to a Warren County attraction.