Extreme Coupon Show Backlash as Stores Change Policies: Learn Coupon Do's & Don'ts (Guest Post)

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A recent article on The Consumerist found the TLC show, Extreme Couponing, has sparked a trend of out-of-control couponers who ransack stores with little regard for fellow shoppers. Merchants have taken notice and many major retailers are starting to change their policies. Here are some of the big ones.

Rite Aid
Rite Aid has taken the same steps as Target to crack down on shoppers looking to exploit BOGO coupon offers. The drug store chain has also made other changes including limiting the number of coupons per item to four. If inventory is running low, managers may limit the numbers further.

Target
The biggest change at Target comes to their buy one, get one (BOGO) policy. They now only allow one BOGO coupon per purchase. Previously, customers could "stack" Target printable coupons, combining store and manufacturer BOGO coupons to get both items for free.

Walgreens
Many high tech shoppers have even started to crack coupon barcodes, allowing them to use coupons on products they're not intended for. Walgreens is working to combat this fraud by adopting a new type of barcode. New barcodes will be able to hold more data and can better make sure Walgreens coupons are used for the right product.

Publix
At Publix stores throughout the country they're also limiting the number of coupons that can be used on one product. Their new policy limits couponers to one manufacturers coupon and one store coupon per item.

Shopping with coupons is certainly a smart way to save, but there are right and wrong ways to do it. Here are some basic do's and dont's to help you coupon with class.

DO play by the rules. Couponing isn't too complicated and common sense should get you by in most cases. Rules vary store to store, so if you're planning to use a large amount of coupons, it helps to brush up on coupon policies before you shop. This includes making sure you're buying the item the coupon is intended for and checking to see if they'll accept expired coupons or not.

DON'T clear the shelf. In the eyes of casual shoppers, clearing entire shelves of popular sale items crosses the line between couponing and hoarding. If you really want to stock up on certain products, try making multiple trips or call ahead and ask a manager if they'll set aside an order for you.

DO be organized before you check out. It's a nightmare for cashiers and people waiting in line when you hand over a haphazard pile of miscellaneous coupons. It'll be much appreciated if you clip them before hand and make sure they're all facing the same direction. Also, remember to remove coupons for products you didn't end up buying. If you are using mobile coupons, have them ready on your smartphone for the cashier to scan.

DON'T shop during the busiest times. The stress level of those waiting in line during peak times is high enough. Using dozens of coupons takes time and will only irritate other shoppers. Instead, go shopping when business is slow. It takes the pressure off to complete the transaction as quickly as possible for both you and the cashier.

DO be polite to the cashier and fellow customers. Sure, you might have some knowledge other customers and even clerks don't, but it's no excuse to treat others like they're beneath you. If a cashier isn't familiar with coupon policies, stay calm and ask to speak with a supervisor. They're much more helpful if you don't lose your cool. When your cart is overflowing, give those behind you a heads up that you'll be using coupons. If someone is waiting with just a loaf of bread and gallon of milk, let them cut ahead.

DON'T steal coupons! A growing trend turning the tide against couponers is theft. Newspapers and newspaper subscribers are increasingly finding coupon inserts stolen. This is a big no-no and can get you into some serious trouble. Many people will willingly part with their unused inserts if you ask nicely.

- Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, has been featured as a media expert source on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, FOX & Friends, ABC News NOW, MSNBC, Kiplinger Personal Finance, Smart Money and many more.
To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com.

Labels: Andrea Woroch, couponing, guest blogger

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 5:18 PM 3 Comments

Ten Fun Fall Activities

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At times you run out of ideas and creative ways to keep the little ones busy. Not only do you want them to have fun but you'd like them to enjoy the beauties of the season with simple yet memorable activities. Suzanne Beal has whipped up ten Fall Activities that will help you get through atleast the first several days of Fall with a big smile!
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Ten Fun Fall Activities

1. Make a cup of cocoa. Nothing is as effective as battling chills than a taste of warm chocolate. Just ask them.

2. Create a leaf rubbing. Fall provides countless varieties of leaves. Place leaves under a sheet of paper and rub the top with crayon or chalk to create beautiful memories.

3. Get adventurous and go outdoors. Have a competition to see who can create the tallest mountain with fallen leaves. Want a little more fun? Have fallen leaf ball fights!

4. Read it now: One Leaf Rides the Wind. A single leaf opens the door to a visual extravaganza as a young girl explores a traditional Japanese garden.

5. Fall is a perfect time to visit an apple orchard. The benefits include homemade applesauce and apple pie – two seasonal favorites.

6. Stuff a Scarecrow. Bad news for birds, good news for those pants you haven’t worn since 1983.

7. It’s the simple things. A sensory walk outdoors will reveal the sight of changing leaves, the feel of crisp wind and the familiar scent of fall.

8. Let them play dress up. It’s a lot more fun than asking them to put on a sweater and the more layers they use the warmer they’ll be.

9. Staying in on a windy day? Check out Baby Genius’ Four Seasons, a DVD that pairs the classical music of Vivaldi with scenes from the natural world. Wind and rain have never felt so good.

10. Read it now: In On Our Way Home a Papa and baby cub’s walk through a fall forest reveals the magic of an autumn evening.


Suzanne Beal,
Editor-in-Chief and contributing writer at Little One Books

* Read more Guest Posts from Suzanne*

Labels: guest blogger, Little One Books, Mommy Tips, Suzanne Beal

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 11:47 AM 0 Comments

Top Twelve Ways to Read to Children

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Have you ever wondered how to get your little munchkin to develop a love for books?
Well Suzanne Beal has twelve time tested and parent researched ideas that are a sure fire route to reading success.
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Top Twelve Ways to Read to Children

We’ve pulled every trick in the book to generate a genuine appreciation for reading.

1. Remind your littlest readers what every pediatrician should have already told you: Books are for reading, not eating.

2. Reading begins with an appreciation of the alphabet, and alphabet books are a great way to learn letters A to Z. Check out Alphabet City, Alphabatics, and The Handmade Alphabet.

3. Act it out. Use different voices to make your characters come alive. Check out You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You.

4. Have beginning readers identify the first letter of each word that starts a paragraph, and have them guess what word it might be.

5. Engage young listeners’ empathy. “How do you think Red Riding Hood felt when she met the wolf in the forest?” See Today I feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day.

6. Give it a tune and sing your favorite stories in harmony. Check out two super sing-able books: Snuggle Puppy and Jazz Baby.

7. Do they know a story by heart? Ask if they can “read” the book to you as you point out the words in each sentence.

8. Work on the importance of end punctuation. Which sentences demand an answer? (Look for the question mark). Which ones are generally loud? (Find the exclamation mark)!

9. Practice alphabetization by having your child play librarian and putting books in order. For a story about a librarian on the loose see Wild About Books.

10. Nap time? See if you can whisper the whole way through sleep inducing stories like Time for Bed.

11. Ask kids to mimic the Bard of Avon himself (Hi Shakespeare!) by finding words (and letters) that rhyme. See Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom.

12. Activate their imagination by having them guess what’s coming next. Check out the delightful Overboard!


Suzanne Beal,
Editor-in-Chief and contributing writer at Little One Books

* Read another Guest Post from Suzanne*

Labels: guest blogger, Little One Books, Mommy Tips, Suzanne Beal

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 8:39 AM 0 Comments

Send Some Homemade Love on Grandparent's Day (9/12/'10)

What better time than Grandparent's Day (September 12) to teach children the joy that comes from doing something for someone they love?

As Grandparent's Day approaches, help your children give or send an especially heartfelt remembrance to their grandparents, and create good feelings for all! With a few easy, inexpensive, and creative ideas from the new 5th edition of Grandloving: Making Memories with Your Grandchildren, your family can start a wonderful new Grandparent's Day tradition.


The trick is to set the stage and let your little ones' imagination take over!

· Grandloving Placemat- Create a collage of family photographs, laminate it into the shape of a placemat and send it to Gram and Gramps so the smiling faces will bring joy to every meal.

· Make a CD of "My favorite times with Nana and Papa are..." statements to send as a reminder of the importance of being together.

· Have your child draw a flower and insert their photo in the center, then draw a sun, pasting the grandparent's photo in the center. Caption it with "You are My Sunshine" and if your little one knows the words, have him sing the song on a CD or in person to accompany the gift!

· Make a little coupon booklet of things the children can do for their grandparents...everything from posing for a photo to helping rake the yard will be appreciated!

· Back your children's photographs with magnetic tape and send for display on the grandparent's fridge.

· Create a homemade video for Grandma and Grandpa. How about "Our Family History from the Eyes of Your Grandchild!" The whole family will treasure the results!

· Grandloving puzzle· Make a homemade puzzle card. Paste a photo of your child on cardboard, cut it into pieces and send with a note that says, "Put this together and see who loves you!"

· Make a list of "I love you because" statements to send to Oma and Opa to let them know how special they are.


- by Sue Johnson, Julie Carlson, and Elizabeth Bower

These and other suggestions for creating strong bonds between parents, grandparents, and grandchildren are found in Grandloving: Making Memories with Your Grandchildren, 5th edition, winner of 8 national parenting awards. A collection of over 225 fun and inexpensive activity ideas and insights from more than 350 families worldwide, Grandloving is a guidebook that can be used again and again all year round. Available by calling 804 462-0884 or going to www.grandloving.com.

** You can read my review of the 4th edition of Grandloving here.**

Labels: Grandloving, Grandparents Day, guest blogger

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 6:26 PM 0 Comments

How to Wear A Backpack

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Back to school means backpack time! Kids love picking out backpacks with their favorite superheroes or Disney stars but overstuffed packs can take a toll on young bodies. Are your kids wearing their backpacks the right way? Parents should be aware that overloaded backpacks can cause back pain if worn improperly.

Dr. Andrew Casden says “overloaded backpacks can lead to fatigue, muscle irritation and tiny muscle tears that bring kids into the office with pain. Students should know the proper way to wear their backpacks to avoid pain.”

The good news is that most times the damage isn’t permanent and pain can be alleviated by minor behavior adjustments. Dr. Casden recommends the following 5 tips for children:

· Reduce the weight in the pack – weight should not exceed 20% of the child’s body weight.

· Bend at the knees, not at the waist when lifting heavy packs.

· Wear the backpack over both shoulders, not slung over only one.

· Place heavy items in the back of the pack.

· Consider a pack on wheels that can be dragged rather than carried.


Back pain in children is rarely serious, but should not be ignored either. If children complain of persistent pain, you should consult a physician to rule out any medical problems.


- Dr. Andrew Casden is the associate director of Beth Israel’s Spine Institute

Labels: guest blogger, Mommy Tips, School

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 2:43 PM 1 Comments

Nerd

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I'm thrilled to introduce Suzanne Beal as a guest blogger on the Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports. Suzanne is the Editor-in-Chief and contributing writer at Little One Books.
What do we have in common?.....A love for books and 4 year olds that love to be read to!
Suzanne's passion for reading can be seen in her written work. May this piece inspire you to grab a book and cuddle up on the couch with your little one. Enjoy!
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One of my earliest memories is learning to read, struggling to make sense of all those letters placed side by side like so many houses tilting this way and that along the street, and the urging of a parent sounding out what they spelled: “ca… caa.. CAT!”

I was an avid reader from an early age and Doctor Seuss’ biggest fan. Seuss’ frolicking creatures with tufts of pink hair clambering among fluffy trees hardly demands literacy to enjoy, but imagine my delight upon hearing the sing-song quality of his words.

Now, with a son of my own I’ve discovered an almost greater pleasure — reading the Doctor’s work aloud. My son, like many four year olds, loves language, but often gives it a twist all his own. “Well, tickly,” he said, “It’s a dollhouse.” I think he meant to say ‘technically.’ Or when I used up the last of the butter on my pancakes, “Mommy, you’re being an ingredient.” He meant to say ‘greedy,’ but I appreciated that in his eyes I really was what I ate.

My son is in good company. Not only did Dr. Seuss pull words never before seen out of his cat’s hat, but he also got them to stick. Seuss is credited with inventing the word “nerd” which appeared for the first time in the 1950’s classic, If I Ran the Zoo. A detail that revealed exposes me as one.

Suzanne Beal,
Editor-in-Chief and contributing writer at Little One Books


Would you like to share some words that you or your little ones have made up?

Labels: guest blogger, Little One Books, Suzanne Beal

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:57 PM 2 Comments

Sunscreen Tips for Kids Going Back To School

Summer vacation may be over, but that doesn’t mean kids will be out of the sun.

Data suggests that the majority of sun exposure in a person’s like occurs before the age of 18. So… how can you be sure to protect your children when they are back at school and out of your sight?
Dr. Kavita Mariwalla suggests following these simple rules:

• If your children play sports, pack water-proof spray-on sunscreen in their backpack. Make sure you tell them to spray it on while getting ready for practice or the big game (30 minutes before sun exposure). The spray version is easy to apply and they don't have to feel shy about asking a team mate to help them out.
• Consider washing your child's practice clothes and uniforms with Rit Sunguard. Available on-line and in most grocery stores, the easy to use powder can be washed in with clothes in the laundry and confers added SPF to t-shirts, shorts and socks - good for multiple washes.
• Buy empty lotion bottles (travel size) and fill them with sunscreen to pack in your child's backpack. That way it is easy to transport and easy for you to monitor their use.
• Don't forget sunglasses. Beyond a fashion accessory, sunglasses protect your child's eyes from harmful UV rays
• Encourage wearing a hat. Though most children are resistant to wearing a broad-brimmed hat, baseball caps are better than nothing. Just remind your child to put sunscreen on their ears and the back of their neck!
• If your child is in tournaments lasting the whole day in the fall, designate a "sunscreen parent." Just like the "snack parent" who provides nourishment to keep the kids on the field, the "sunscreen parent" can keep them safe and free from sunburns. Making this part of the sport environment creates healthy habits early on.
  

What is the data to support the importance of sunscreen use?

Data shows that basal cell skin cancer is rising in people under the age of 40. In addition, a study done in 2000 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that children who wore sunscreen consistently developed fewer moles than those who did not.
The same study showed that sunscreen use is even more important for children with freckles because it decreased the number of nevi or moles they acquired by up to 40%.

An epidemiologic study completed in 2009 showed that male children are at higher risk than female and additional risk factors for developing moles include spending 5 - 6 hours /weekly/ between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm outdoors. That's not a lot of time considering most sports practrice at least 1 - 2 hours a day. And don't forget those soccer tournaments!


So, if your child is playing sports when school gets back in session, remember these tips and keep them protected even when they are not under your watch.


- Kavita Mariwalla, MD, is the Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and Beth Israel Medical Centers

Labels: guest blogger, Mommy Tips, sun, sunscreen

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:41 PM 1 Comments

The Grandmother's Bible (A Zondervan Review by a Grandmomma)

Just before Bunny Boo was born, the folks from Zondervan sent me the best gift I could ever give my Momma...
or should I say the best gift I could ever give Bunny girl and Bunny Boo?
It wouldn't have been right for me to review The Grandmother's Bible, so here's the review by the 'Grandmomma' herself.....


At my daughter’s home when I was welcomed with this beautiful Bible-The Grandmother's Bible I did not know quite what to expect.

I was amazed and thrilled when I read it’s content…what spilled out was the Holy Bible in the New International Version, where the text is contemporary and easy to follow. Alongside the Holy Bible, which is spaced out to the 365 days of the year, there were encouraging and uplifting experiences shared by wise women of the world-women who have raised their children and are now blessed to see another generation and be part of their lives.

I could immediately connect to the writers not just ‘cause I am a grandmother to two wonderful and beautiful grandbabies but like the writers and self, I want my grandchildren to experience the unfailing love, mercy and protection of God and have a close relationship with Him.

The Grandmother's Bible is rich with spiritual insights, perspectives, prayers and devotions. Personally, I was quite taken up with the unique prayers a grandmother prays, centering round and focus on a specific, individual grandchild which would make the ‘grand’ relationship between the two even more special and unique.

The Grandmother's Bible is spiritually uplifting and encouraging for the grandmother as it does re-enforce her beliefs and core values. The imparting of faith, experience, love and wisdom is both a privilege and responsibility bestowed on a grandmother. This privilege of passing on the legacy is echoed right through this Bible.

The Grandmother's Bible includes:

• 365 devotions – readings draw grandmothers closer to their Lord and to their grandchildren
• Grandchild in Focus – a simple plan to help grandmothers pray regularly for their grandchildren
• Praying the Scriptures for Your Grandchild – Bible verses in a prayer format
• Stories to Share – over 150 key Bible stories ideal for sharing specific life lessons
• Talking Points – a practical guide for using Scripture to discuss over 40 relevant topics, such as salvation, knowing God’s will, friendship, etc.
• Perspectives – original, thought-provoking articles addressing personal aspirations and the joys and challenges of being a grandmother
• Special sleeve to hold grandchild’s photo
• Custom presentation pages
• Two-color design in an easy-to-read type
• Book introductions, topical index, and more
• Complete New International Version|For many women, being a grandmother is God’s finest gift—they have achieved great depth of experience and breadth of love, and they have grandchildren with whom to share these qualities.
• Thoughts shared by over 60 well-known Christian women—including Ruth Graham, Elisa Morgan, Elizabeth George, Thelma Wells, Karen Kingsbury, and Carol Cymbala—also includes stories, and encouragement in this Bible’s articles and daily devotionals.
• A focus on daily prayer

I love the The Grandmother's Bible and it will go with me wherever I go. I am really appreciative of it and would recommend you either gift this to the grandmothers you know or women who step in the role of a ‘grandmother’ or buy one for yourself. An excellent guide or refresher manual…you just can’t go wrong.


Guest posted by Bunny girl and Bunny Boo's Grandmomma, who is spending two precious months building memories and strengthening bonds with her two darling grandbabies.


* Click here to browse through a few pages of the book.*


Buy it:

You can buy The Grandmother's Bible for 34.99 US$ or in these stores near you.





** EBMR Disclaimer: Zondervan sent me this book for review purposes only. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.**

Labels: Christian, guest blogger, Reviews / Giveaways, Zondervan

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 4:45 PM 2 Comments

Energize your Blog with Dominique (Week 5)

Labels: Dominique Goh, Energize your blog, guest blogger

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 7:25 AM 0 Comments

Energize your Blog with Dominique (Week 4)

Here is a list of other NING forums for moms which I have joined and found to be beneficial:

Mom Blogger Club

Momlogic
Mompreneur Cafe

Twitter Moms

Babble Playground

Besides these Ning sites there are many other different types of forums around based on your particular focus topic. For example: search using the keywords 'parenting forum' and type in your town/country, you will be able to see a whole list of relevant forums to join.

How to drop links in a forum?

As with joining any site, you will be required to fill out your profile and maybe include a signature.

It is in your signature that you can link back to your site.

If the forum that you join allows html formatting within signatures or hyperlinks, you can add a clickable link to your site

You could also link to key posts on your sites in your posts on the forum. Be wary about too much self promotion as it maybe regarded as SPAM by the moderators or other forum members.

By setting up a common signature across different sites and even within your own e-mail system it will definitely make your signature (i.e. your calling card) more prominent.

Anyone who reads your post and is interested in what you have written would be inclined to click on your link and visit your site. This would in turn work well in boosting your traffic from external URLS.

Labels: Dominique Goh, Energize your blog, guest blogger, Mommy Tips

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 11:15 AM 1 Comments

Energize your Blog with Dominique (Week 3)

This is the 3rd article from a 5 week series by Dominique Goh from 'Learning with Dominique'.

If you missed reading the last article, click on the link below to visit the same.

Week 1: How to make your Blog Unique
Week 2: Boosting your Readership

I won Dominique's blog giveaway a while ago and part of the prize package was 5 guest post articles. I thought a topic that would benefit all of us would be how to build a blog that appeals to more visitors. Dominique jumped on it and has beautifully titled the series- 'Energize Your Blog' .

Feel free to leave any comments, questions, suggestions below each post.




Before you can get others to link back to you there must be a bait there to attract them.

One of the best ways is to host contests and giveaways on your blog. Where there is a chance of winning something for FREE there will always be an interested crowd. However just listing a giveaway on your site is not going to bring in the traffic if your blog is relatively new.

There are a few ways by which you can build traffic for a new blog.

1. List your blog on blog directories/social media sites.

2. List your blog on Mom directories

Labels: Dominique Goh, Energize your blog, guest blogger, Mommy Tips

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 11:18 AM 0 Comments

Energize your Blog with Dominique (Week 2)

I'm sure as a blogger your wish would be to have a growing and responsive readership. There are a few ways by which you can grow your readership.

First of all before you start there are two questions you need to ask yourself:

1. How much time can you spend online?

It is important to note the amount of time that you have each day (or week) to spend on building up your blog profile and adding content to it.

It is essential to have a blogging calendar set up so that you can systematically and efficiently work on adding relevant posts and schedule out what is needed to market and run your blog.

2. Who are your targeted readers and where can they be found?

You need to spend time analyzing the demographic details of your readers and what they are sourcing for within your blog. If your aim is to build up your blog you need to know how and where to find the right audience.

Forums and related blogs are some places you can venture to search for your potential readers.

Now that you have answered these two important question it is time for you to take some action.

Here is a 5 step plan which you can implement to boost your readership:

Step 1- Create descriptive and interesting post titles for your posts.

Step 2- Post regularly.

Step 3- Respond to comments on your post.

Step 4- Engage your readers with questions, contests and assignments

Step 5- Add social bookmarking widgets on your blog

- Dominique Goh is an elementary school teacher, Mommy to 2 active little boys, cake decorator, internet consultant and the life behind 'Learning with Dominique' and her parenting site 'From Dominique's Desk'

Labels: Dominique Goh, Energize your blog, guest blogger, Mommy Tips

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 7:27 AM 0 Comments

Energize your Blog with Dominique (Week 1)

Labels: Dominique Goh, Energize your blog, guest blogger, Mommy Tips

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 8:13 AM 4 Comments

CLOSED: Back to School tips with the Joyful Organizer and a great giveaway (BTSC-Day 4)

The winner for the giveaway has been chosen by Random.org and is announced on this post


With Crayola's Back to School Survival Guide chat scheduled at the Tweetgrid tonight (8-10pm CST, RSVP here- Don't forget!), I thought posting this great Back to School article by Bonnie Joy Dewkett, founder of the Joyful Organizer, was perfect! Not only was Bonnie kind enough to share this article with us but she has also sponsored a great giveaway....more about that, after the article! ;>

Going from summer break to a school routine isn't easy on anyone. The summer months bring a lot of fun, beautiful weather, and a lackadaisical routine that is just not easy to break when school starts again. However, this year you can make the necessary changes gradually, and avoid the stress that normally comes with the arrival of the yellow school bus. By making the transition slowly, and with a positive attitude, the school year can get started off on the right foot!

Shopping:

Back to school shopping can be fun, if you are not under stress to get it done. Start by having your child go through their closet and determine what clothes are still in good condition and still fit. Depending on their age, you may want to assist them with this task. Remember, the weather in September is usually warm enough to wear shorts, skirts, and tee shirts. So there is no need to run our and buy winter clothes. However, if you want to start shopping early, start in July when the back to school sales start to appear in stores. The back to school season hosts the second largest sales of the year (second to Christmas).

Second, take inventory of your child's school supplies from the year before. If they have tons of pencils, crayons, etc, there is no need to buy more. Save yourself time, money, and clutter by checking first.

If your school does not supply a local store with the necessary supply list, call your child's teacher for it. This will also allow you an opportunity to introduce yourself and become acquainted before the academic year begins. If your school accepts donations, this may also be a good time to ask the teacher if there are any supplies they would like for their classroom for the coming year. Keep in mind that some supplies, such as lunch boxes, are hard to find during other times of the year. Consider purchasing two if your child is rough on these items.

Start buying your child's school supplies on your weekly trips to the grocery store, or super stores. Involve your child in the process. Have them calculate the amount they have spent on supplies, have them pick colors they enjoy, and have them pick a planner that will fit their academic needs and their personal style. If your child feels invested with their supplies they will be more likely to take care of them, not lose them, and most importantly to use them effectively.

One of the most important supplies that you will buy your child is their planner/organizer. It is very important that they like the planner they are using. Keep in mind that some districts require students to use their school's planner, or a particular brand. Make sure that your child understands how to use their planner, and they have a system for the following: writing down tests, quizzes, homework, reading, and long term projects. Starting these good habits at the beginning of the year will ensure that they are followed throughout the school year.

One of the easiest, and most effective planners, to use is a teacher's planning book. These have open weeks so you can put the dates in yourself, and you can quickly switch between weeks. The pages are large, and therefore give you a great visual of the work your child has to do. I recommend using different colored inks or highlighters for different subjects. Or if you child is older, you can consider using different colors of highlighter for different academic significance. For example, quizzes are highlighted in yellow, projects in green, tests in pink, and long term papers in blue.

Morning Routine:

The morning routine is one of the most stressful parts of the day for most families. Start developing good routines and habits during the summer months, and they will naturally take effect during the school year.

Develop a place in your home for your child's backpack. This should be a place by the door, such as the entryway, or a hallway. This is where they should keep their backpack at all times. Your child can remove their homework, books, and other necessary supplies to complete their assigned schoolwork. When they are done with these items, they should be returned to the backpack to be grabbed on the way out the door in the morning.

Develop a place for permission slips and other items that need to be read, signed, or need attention. This too can be in the entryway or hallway. Purchase a small wall mounted file, or magazine rack. Have one slot for incoming, where your child can put anything that needs your attention. It is very important you check this slot daily, take any required action, and then place them in a second slot for outgoing items. Your child must check this slot daily and take any applicable papers back to school. Many teachers require students to have a designated folder for items of this nature.

Get your child into the habit of taking their lunch box out of the backpack every night and bringing to the kitchen for a refill. Have them pick it up from the kitchen in the morning and place it back into their backpack.

If your kids sleep later in the summer months, start getting them back on a normal schedule slowly. Get them up 10 minutes earlier each morning until you have comfortably reached your morning wake up time.

If your kids have a hard time getting dressed in the morning, have them plan and lay out their clothes the night before. Purchase an organizer that has the days of the week printed on it. Have your child assist you in picking out the week's worth of clothing at the beginning of the week. This ensures the clothing your child wants to wear is clean and avoids unnecessary loads of laundry mid-week.

If your child is a little older and wishes for more independence, consider having a fashion show night at your house. Set up holiday lights as runway light, playmusic and have your child try on lots of different outfits. Take pictures and have them printed. Mount them on a bulletin board near the closet. This will help make quick outfits during the week, and it will help inspire creativity.

Even with clothes and outfits laid out of the week, your child can use their creativity. Place boxes full of scarves, sunglasses, hair accessories, and jewelry close by. Your child can chose from these in the morning, as long as they do not take too long to do it.

Some websites even offer wardrobe planners where you can track the clothing you have, its color, and size. This may help you track what you have and what will need to be replaced soon. It will also give you an idea of what your child has too much of at any one time. The trick with these lists, however is to keep them up-to-date.

If your child is small and or often loses clothes and accessories, now is the time to write their name in everything to give it a fighting chance of coming back home.

Daily Maintenance:

It is important that you maintain your daily routines with consistency and an upbeat attitude. Nothing makes a tough morning worse than complaining and being negative.

In the evenings, do your homework while they do theirs. While your kids are studying, sign their permission slips, pay bills, clean, etc. This will help designate the time as serious and necessary. Kids learn by example and if they see you working hard, they will follow suit.

If your kids need help with their homework, it is helpful if you are in the area. If your kids cannot do homework in their rooms or need your assistance, designate a place in the house where homework will always be done, such as the kitchen table. In order avoid running for supplies, purchase your child a shower caddy and fill it with all necessary supplies, such as a ruler, calculator, pencils, glue sticks etc. Check the supply level regularly and make sure it is clean and organized.

Maintain a family calendar with everyone's schedules, appointments, field trips, sporting events, etc. A wipe off magnetic one works great and can be stored on the fridge in plain sight.

Instead of leaving all of the laundry for the weekend, consider doing loads every day during the week. Putting the laundry in or switching it to the dryer are both small chores your children can do for you while you cook dinner.

Consider maintaining a meal plan and calendar. This will help you with grocery shopping, and more importantly, deciding what is for dinner after a long day.

If meal preparation is a challenge for you, consider researching meal preparation businesses in your area. These businesses allow you to prepare and freeze multiple portion meals for your family that are then stored in your freezer, and accessed when you need them.

Having a stress free and successful school year starts with preparation. Get started the right away this year. Avoid the back to school rush and the stress of transitioning from summer frolicking to academic routines. Just by changing a few habits you can make your academic year a successful, happy one!

To read more guest posts from Bonnie, visit this link.



The Giveaway

Have you been downright stressed about the way your child's room looks or even the way that home office is shaping up? Well you don't have to fret over your disasters any more, Bonnie Joy Dewkett from The Joyful Organizer has kindly agreed to help you make your cluttered, terribly organized mess a beautifully organized place.

One winner will have the privilege of working one on one with the Design Organization Queen, Bonnie via a 1 hour email coaching session, to improve, beautify and organize the living/working space of concern. What a great giveaway- a free space makeover consultation just for you! (P.S. I would love to feature your before and after photograph on the blog and a brief on your makeover story) So wow...now you have a free makeover and a blog feature!!


Here's how you can win it:

1. Mandatory entry (without this, all other entries will be disqualified)-

Leave me a comment letting me know the space that needs desperate help in your home


Additional BTSC entries:

- 2. Subscribe to my blog (remember you need to activate the subscription if you subscribe via email) or Follow my blog & leave a comment stating that you subscribe or follow.

- 3. Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment with a link to your blog post)

- 4. Add the link to this giveaway on a Mr Linky on a blog giveaway site, forum, carnival. (leave a comment with the link)

-5. Snag my Blog button (the cute little bunny on the right!) and leave a comment with the link

- 6. Snag the Back to School Carnival button (the cute little bunny on the left!) and leave a comment with the link


This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 years and above.

1 winner will be chosen with the random.org generator on August 22 2009 at 10 pm Central time, so enter before that. The winner's name will be posted thereafter. Please note if the winner does not get back to me 48 hours after his/her name has been posted, I will pick a new winner.

Labels: Back to School Carnival, Bonnie Joy Dewkett, BTSC Giveaways, guest blogger, Reviews / Giveaways, The Joyful Organizer

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 5:04 AM 32 Comments

'Home Sweet Home Office' from the Joyful Organizer

For those who work at home, organizing and maintaining a home office can be a unique challenge. After all, your kids wouldn't put toys on your desk, and your significant other wouldn’t dump the mail on your keyboard at an office. Maintaining order and organization in your home office presents more challenges than organizing a traditional office. Keep reading to discover 10 easy ways to keep things together so you can attain your highest level of productivity.

1. Invest in quality and functional furniture. If you are trying to run a business on a piece of wood propped up with cinder blocks, chances are you aren't working as effectively as you could. Do some research and purchase furniture that meets your business and ergonomic needs. Consider looking into some discount or used furniture stores for ideas if you are working with a budget.

2. Establish multiple workstations or zones. Create an area that you can do computer work, another area for letter writing and other physical paper manipulation, and finally a station for filing and housing archival information and paperwork.

3. Make sure your business hardware is functioning properly, clean, and accessible. If is it extremely difficult to access your fax machine, chances are you will never use it. Keeping all your hardware clean and out in the open will help you move about your office and perform tasks quickly and efficiently.

4. Keep cleaning products such as a duster and multi-surface cleaner in the room. If something needs to be cleaned, you don't have to leave the room and risk getting distracted to clean up.

5. Keep snacks and drinks on hand. If possible, utilize a mini fridge in your office. Getting thirsty or hungry during the day will lead you to leave your office for food or drink. Again, you run the risk of getting distracted and not returning to work quickly. Also you’ll do your best work when your body is nourished!

6. If you are running your household finances from the same office, file all paperwork in a separate filing cabinet or a separate drawer. Color code files to make the separation clear to everyone.

7. Set working hours. Create a schedule for yourself just like you would if you had a job you had to leave the house to do to. Make sure you family and customers know what business hours you keep.

8. If you haven’t already, consider using a P.O. Box to receive your business mail. This will keep it separate from your personal bills, correspondence, and periodicals— saving you time sorting.

9. Keep office supplies on hand. You don't need a supply closet full like you would if you were in an office of 100 people. Running out of printer paper, and having to stop your day to go buy more, creates a distraction. If you don’t already, keep a list of your office supply inventory and make a single trip to replenish many items.

10. Define your business space. Make sure the whole family knows that that is your job and they need to respect your space. Have an inbox for any items that family members want to give you for your attention during the workday. Most importantly, set the right example by respecting your time and work space.


Bonnie Joy Dewkett

Labels: Bonnie Joy Dewkett, guest blogger, Home Sweet Home Office, Mommy Tips, The Joyful Organizer

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 3:36 PM 0 Comments

'Preparing for a Family Emergency' from the Joyful Organizer

Everyone thinks that it will never happen to them. They will never be rushed to the hospital, nor will their family members need to be contacted in case of emergency. Well, think again. Even the healthiest family members can have an accident and need assistance. Here are some tips to help your friends and family take immediate action if your family is affected by a crisis.

1. Have a cell phone entry for "In Case of Emergency" or ICE. Emergency medical personal will look for this first. Program in more than one if you can. You can call them ICE 1, ICE 2, and so on. Also, carry a card in your wallet/purse with any medications that may cause you to have an allergic reaction. Have the names and numbers of family members you would like to have contacted if you are unable to do so yourself.
2. Have a phone sheet at your home or give it to family members in advance. This sheet should include anyone needed to care for your home or children, including their schools' telephone numbers. This will make it easier for anyone taking care of your kids and/or home to do so.
3. Keep a small travel kit ready for each family member. If you are hospitalized your family members can bring this to the hospital for you. If your children need to go stay with a family member, they will be ready to go quickly and easily.
4. If you are out running, playing tennis, etc, use a shoe or bracelet identification system. This should include names and numbers of those you want to be contacted first. Tell your family members you are putting their names on your identification. Road ID (www.roadid.com) offers a service that will also house your medical information.
5. Know your medical history. If you are on medications, know their name and dose. Go to the doctor regularly, and pay attention to key health numbers - Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. Providing emergency personnel an idea of your “normal” levels and general health condition will help them determine what is wrong.
6. Can't remember your medications and health history? Don't worry! You can create yourself a mini cheat sheet on the computer. Type it up, shrink the font, and tuck it in your wallet. You can do the same for your kids too and put it in their backpacks.
7. Contact your kids' schools about what the action steps they would take in case of emergency. Also, make sure a family member (with proper identification) can pick up your children in case you are unable to.
8. Talk to your family members. Devise a plan about who would take care of children, who will be responsible for calling other family members, etc. Having a plan in place will help a stressful situation go much more smoothly.
9. Don't be afraid to ask for help! If you need assistance, ask for it! Family members, school teachers, and friends will all step up and help you in an emergency situation. Don't suffer because you are worried about taking up someone else's time.
10. Make copies of your address book. Many phone and handheld address books will allow you to make print-outs. Having at least one other family member with a copy to make calls on your behalf if you are hospitalized.
    

Labels: Family Emergency, guest blogger, Mommy Tips, The Joyful Organizer

posted by Marina@EBMR @ 5:04 AM 0 Comments