This sturdy paperboard set is bright, it’s fun, it’s floral AND it keeps you organized all at the same time!   It completely speaks my love language

I love this particular piece in the set….the letter holder.  This is where I keep all my bills to be paid and any other actionable items.  Love the colors!

The set also includes a collapsible storage box that fits CD’s perfectly or anything else that needs to be contained:

a magazine holder:

a pen holder:

It also includes a notepad holder and pencil:

AND a letter tray:

Six pieces, one set, a place for everything, all matching.  Woohoo!!

As for the value.  This set is available in my shop for $36.00 which I’m super excited about considering it retails for $55.00 on Amazon.    Love that!

Desk Organizer Set is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

A couple of years ago I told you about some fabulous organizing bags that my friend Lara of The Lazy Organizer use to sell.  I fell in love with them and bought several sizes and use them all over my house.  For a variety of reasons, Lara was unable to continue selling her bags and for quite some time now we’ve been unable to buy them.

Well guess what? THEY’RE FINALLY BACK!

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am about this, it feels like I’ve been waiting for forever.  The bags are now called Clearly Organized Bags and are under new ownership.  I’m happy to announce that these amazing bags can be found and are available for sale in shop.  Can you say happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!

OpenSky is the company I’ve partnered with to connect my readers to experts and the products they love and use.  You can browse through thousands of products, everything from food and cookware to home decor items, and you can get a first-hand review from bloggers (like me) that you know and trust!

Not sure what bags I’m talking about?  Let me tell you a little more about these bags and why I love them so much.

I have an obsession quirk about keeping all things similar contained in one place. As many of you know this isn’t always easy when you have kids.

I have noticed that as my kids get older their toys get smaller so in an effort to keep all those little pieces together I use a lot of Ziploc baggies. I like them for a number of reasons some of which include; they set boundaries for the kids and make cleanup easier for them, they are clear allowing you to easily see what is inside and they come in a number of different sizes which is helpful. However there are some downfalls to the baggie idea. This first being that using plastic baggies is obviously not a great idea for small children for safety reasons and the other is that they don’t take a lot of abuse and quickly can get worn out and have to be replaced.

That’s where the Clearly Organized Bags come in. They are perfect for organizing so many things!

I enjoy these bags immensely for reasons similar to the baggie idea plus more:

1. they work great for containing “like with like”

2. they are clear on the front so you can see what is inside

3. they are durable and reusable

4. the zipper is on the side rather than the top which means that you can actually fit more inside since the inside stays the same size and doesn’t get narrower at the top like a baggie does. It also means you can access items stored near the bottom quicker and easier (a plus for kids)

5. multiple sizes to choose from for multiple uses

6. handles are great for kids to carry around their toys (especially great for traveling)

7. not a safety hazard

Take a look at some of the ways I’ve used them:

to organize my son’s pirate men collection

to organize my daughter’s Barbie petshop collection

to organize my son’s Klutz pirate ship building collection (this set didn’t even come with a box so I was really happy to have this solution to keep all the pieces contained)

The handles also allowed me to create a fantastic diaper changing kit to cart around way back when.

So many possibilities that is for sure and today you have the opportunity to win a sample set of your very own.  One winner will receive one set of EIGHT organizing bags (as pictured in the first picture above) in a variety of sizes to get you started (a $35.00 value!).

Here is how to enter:

Simply follow THIS link to OpenSky and enter your email address over there (not here) prior to Monday, April 12th at 9:30 am PST. That’s it!  No purchase or comment necessary! This giveaway is now over.

One winner will be selected at random and notified early next week.

Even if you don’t win the sample set of organizing bags, you will automatically be given a 10% off coupon to use on anything in my shop – so you have nothing to lose!  How cool is that!  The coupon is good for one week, starting today, so hurry on over to get your coupon and come and see the great organizing products I have in my shop so far! (you can get your coupon anytime between now and next Friday, April 16th, even after the giveaway ends)

Thanks everyone!

Clearly Organized Bags Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

Have I told you I’m a little picky?  Okay I’m a lot picky and finding someone to put up with me when it comes to blog design is a little daunting to say the least.  So when Michelle from Cupcake Blog Design emailed me awhile back to say she would like to help me with my many issues I said a tentative okay.  Thankfully I’m happy to say she was fantastic and ever so patient with me and it was such a relief to know I was in good hands.  Michelle did my main blog design and has just recently updated this review site a bit to match.

Today Michelle  has kindly offered to giveaway a free custom blog design to one of my readers.  The giveaway is for a “Deluxe Package” ($75 value) which includes:

- a custom designed header
- coordinating background
- recoloring of text and links
- (up to 10) sidebar titles
- custom post divider
- custom signature

Although Michelle worked her magic design skills in Wordpress for my sites, this giveaway is only applicable to blogs hosted by Blogger.

To enter simply leave a comment on this post prior to Sunday, April 11th at 10:00 pm PST.  The winner will be chosen by random.org sometime after that.  Good luck!

Cupcake Blog Design Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

I love finding new products that solve a frustration in my life.  Gosh I get down right giddy when this happens.  So imagine my delight when not only did I discover a planner that filled a void for me but the creator, Corrie of Chaos…Simplified, is Canadian and living in the same province I’ll be moving to.  I love to support other women but rarely do I get to promote another Canadian woman.  So great!

I’m not even sure now how I first heard about this company but boy am I sure glad I did because I was thrilled to try out the awesome Womans Day Planner.   A planner that offers a unique format that has made my life so much easier.  Why?  Because I like to see a full month calendar at all times as well as have space on a week by week calendar for more detailed planning WITHOUT having to flip back and forth.  Flipping back and forth has always annoyed me.  A lot.  I’ve always wondered why I couldn’t see both at the same time.  Well you can with the Womans Day Planner and what makes it unique is the way the pages are split so you can flip through the weeks while still having the month view remain constant.  It’s hard to explain but in this picture you can see how the pages are divided.

Seriously it’s brilliant!  So much easier to get an accurate picture of what you have going on not only for the week but the entire month as well at the same time.

Let’s face it as moms our schedules can get pretty chaotic and without a little planning and organization we can easily get overwhelmed and scattered.  We need somewhere to “brain dump” in order to get all that clutter out of our heads and onto paper making it easier to sleep at night.  This uniquely designed planner will help you do just that!  There’s even space on the weekly view to plan your dinner menu

You have the benefits that a week-at-a-view planner offers (the space to plan) while at the same time it keeps the entire month in view so you can ensure that all your week plans coincide with what’s ahead. No more flipping back and forth, the month is either straight across the top of the page and the each week for the month is across the bottom or vice versa so the planner isn’t bottom or top heavy.

You have the room to plan your week . . . all the while keeping your full month in view so nothing slips past you!

At the beginning of every month there is also space for planning your monthly finances and goals along with room for additional notes.  It’s wire bound so it lays flat when opened.  The planner is 8×10 in size, runs from January 2010 to January 2011 and sells online for $28.95 Cdn (use code Spring2010 to get 15% off ~ enter into the box near the bottom on the right hand side of page -not in the voucher section)

The only suggestion I gave Corrie for improvement was to bold the days of the week to provide visual interest and help separate the two views.  I love that she was totally receptive to that for future publishings.

Also watch for the NEW Girls Day Planner set to be released in July 2010.  Perfect for girls ages 11-16.

Today Corrie is offering to giveaway, to one lucky random commenter, one copy of the 2010 Womans Day Planner.  To enter simply leave a comment on this post, prior to April 5th at 12:00 pm PST answering the following question.

What is the hardest thing to keep track of in your schedule?

Womans Day Planner + Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

For one week only, until March 1st, if you would like to purchase this product through my shop you are welcome to use the code 2FISH20 to get 20% off your order.  Enjoy!!

Today I’m excited to tell you a little bit more about one of the products I love and have listed in Org Junkie’s Shop.

If you have a young one like I do you know how much they love to ask questions.  My son loves to know what’s happening during the day and was constantly asking what are we doing now, what’s coming up next, is it preschool day, is it swimming day and on and on and on.  It drove me nuts because I felt like a broken record repeating myself over and over and over again.  When I was asked if I’d like to try out a kid’s calendar designed by a Canadian company called, 2 Fish Kids, I jumped at the chance.

My Week Calendar is a magnetic wipe-off calendar for young children that shows little ones how to organize their day and prepares them for what is coming up next.  I’m all over teaching organizational skills early!

My son, who is four, absolutely loves his calendar and let me tell you it has been a lifesaver to my day.  I promise you I’m not being melodramatic.  In fact I love this calendar so much that I just had to sell it in my shop.

The calendar comes complete with 58 colorful activity magnets and a dry erase marker.  Each morning my son gets up and, with my help, sets his day up with the planned activities we have scheduled for that day.  He can even track the daily weather if he wants.  Then throughout the day I see him checking out his calendar after every activity so he can prepare for the next.  I love to see how excited he gets about it and I love that it gives him the reassurance that he’s looking for.   This is one of those products that I didn’t know how much it would make a difference in my life until I had it.  We’ve been using it now for about 4 or 5 months and the novelty has not worn off with him.

The two Canadian moms of 2 Fish Kids that designed this product are happy to offer one of my readers a chance to win one of these calendars.  To enter simply leave a comment on this post prior to Friday, February 19, 2010 at 2:00 pm PST.

And if you’re interested in purchasing one, you can find them over here.

Good luck!

2 Fish Kids Magnetic Calendar + Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

I absolutely adore aprons and wear them all the time.  If you are ever having trouble feeling motivated to work around the house I’m telling you put on a cute apron and you will feel energized!  I was so excited to recently get the opportunity to try out one of the Flirty Aprons I’ve been seeing around blogland and I have to tell you, they are fun, fun, FUN!  Did I mention fun?  Oh my goodness girls, check out this beautiful Sweet Sunshine apron that arrived for me a couple of weeks ago:

Okay if that doesn’t make you want to bake a pie I don’t know what will…lol.  I asked my kind (and oh so gorgeous girlfriend) to model this thing of beauty for us so you could see it in action.

Apple anyone?

How about some Luscious Lemon Bars?

(okay I totally made up the name of the bars but it sure sounds good doesn’t it?)

Look at this sweet ruffle detail:

You can also see that the tie is long enough to fit any size AND it ties up at the neck for even more flexibility in size.

Let’s have a closer look at that beautiful bow shall we:

Ahh, so pretty.  Now no apron would be complete without pockets.  I don’t understand an apron without pockets.  It’s just wrong.  This apron is NOT wrong.  In fact it’s very very right.

I so want to look this beautiful (and tall!) when I grow up:

What’s not to love about a flirty apron?

Even the price is great at $30.00 available for purchase in my shop!

Some other fab features include:

Soft Designer Fabric

Strong 2-Ply Construction

Designed to Fit Every Woman

Won’t Fade or Tear

Let me tell you, as soon as our little photoshoot here was finished, I snatched that apron back so fast.  It’s mine, all mine I shouted!

Okay do you really think I’d be that mean?  Of course I let my gorgeous model keep the apron but I’m definitely expecting some Luscious Lemon Bars in return!   Thanks Joy

So here is where all you lovely readers get the chance to win a lovely Flirty Apron of your own.  You’ll even get to pick which one you’d like.  So take a look at all the super fun designs and let me know in the comments which one you’d pick if you won.  Be prepared to have a hard time making a decision though, they are all so stinkin’ cute….this is just a sample of them:

One winner will be chosen at random from all entries.  Giveaway will close on Tuesday, January 26th at 2:00 pm PST.  Open to everyone.

Have fun!

And be flirty!

Flirty Apron Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

Are you interested in learning basic organizing concepts and maybe uncovering the reasons why your past organizing attempts may not have gone as you wished?  Then this online workshop, hosted by Professional Organizer, Aby Garvey, is for you.  It’s appropriately called Organizing 101 and it’s presented in bite-sized pieces over the course of six lessons.  By taking simple action steps you won’t just learn how to get organized-you’ll understand the process and begin creating change in your home right away!

You know I love how Aby runs her workshops…informative, supportive, organized and fun!   What I may not have told you though is that Aby offers a money back guarantee.  That means if you join and decide it’s not right for you, they offer a full no-questions-asked refund in accordance with their cancellation policy.  How great is that!

Haven’t decided if an online workshop is for you?  Watch this short video to get an idea of what is involved.

To read all about what is being offered in this latest workshop go to Organizing 101.  Class starts January 21st.

Today I’ve got one seat to give away to one of you!  If you are ready for change and would like some help getting started, then just leave a comment on this post to enter to win.  Giveaway closes Tuesday, January 19th at 2:00 pm PST. Open to everyone.

Enjoy!

Organizing 101 Online Workshop Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

This past week I made two recipes from the newly released $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook written by Erin of $5 Dinners.  I made the Asian Chicken Wraps and Beef Roast and Potatoes.  They were both VERY easy to prepare and delicious.  Sure wish I’d remembered to take pictures for you.

The unique thing about Erin’s cookbook though is that out of the 200 recipes included every one of them was made for $5 or less.  That’s quite a feet.  And while I’m not sure I could match the prices she is able to achieve in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, since I live up here in Northern Canada where groceries are pretty expensive, I do like that she breaks down the cost of each ingredient so you know exactly how she got to her total.

As you would expect the ingredients are straight forward and not fancy schmancy.  I’m not a fancy girl by any stretch of the imagination and definitely don’t have the time to be running all over town trying to find something I can’t even pronounce that is for sure.

Another fabulous take away of the $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook, that I was really impressed with, are the many pages of how-to information at the beginning about strategic grocery shopping, couponing and meal planning.  Everything you need to know about these topics is detailed for you in plain English so you can be saving money in no time.  Erin does a great job of breaking it all down for you step by step so you too can be a savvy supermarket shopper.

My only disappointment about this cookbook is that each recipe does not include a picture.  However several pictures are included in the middle of the book.  I do understand though that it’s done this way in order to keep costs down.  The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook is currently available on Amazon for only $10.19.

I have TWO copies to giveaway to two of my readers.  To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite comfort food is?

Giveaway closes Tuesday, January 12th at 12:00 pm PST.

The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

Please note that this giveaway is now closed.  The winners are: #57 Marie, #81 Brook-lyn, #45 Sandra, #103 Shannon and #85 Pam!

The latest online conference being put on by A Woman Inspired is called Nurturing Creativity/Efficient Living and I’ve been asked to a speaker!  This online conference runs from Janurary 25th to 29th and is only $12.95 to register for the whole event.  Be sure to check out the amazing line up of speakers.

If only life was simpler: dinner ready on time.; freshly laundered clothes in everyone closet; every item has a place; money saving was easy and effective; time management was second nature to us. Hmmm… if only, right?

Well, we can ‘t change your home overnight but we can provide you with the tools to begin the process and motivate you to get started. We’ll have sessions on organization, money saving and management, easy meals, effective scheduling, overcome procrastination and more! This is one conference you can’t afford to miss!

I’ll be speaking on organizing and kids and how to get them involved in the PROCESS.  You can read more about my session and all the others here.

The best part about an online conference is that you can listen in your jammies if you want and if you can’t make it to all the scheduled sessions you can listen to them later on mp3.  It’s awesome!

You can register for the conference here.

Today I’m giving away 5 tickets to the conference!  If you’d like to enter your name please leave a comment on this post prior to Friday, January 8th at 2:00 pm PST.  Thanks!

Hope to see you there!

A Woman Inspired Conference Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews

This giveaway is now closed.  Winner is #204 Charity and #214 Ezzy!

Welcome to 2010!  It’s a brand new year and I know many of you are deciding that this is your year to get organized.  I have always said one of the best places to start in this quest is with menu planning.  Planning for your week in advance, saving time in the kitchen, eating healthier, saving money on groceries and basically eliminating this stress from your life are all excellent reasons to menu plan.  I feel such a sense of accomplishment from knowing what I’m going to eat for the week and my entire family benefits.  Menu planning is totally flexible and with practice and/or with a little help it can be such an amazing tool to implement into your organizational plan.

There are many menu planning resources out there for you to utilize.  Many of them do all the work for you and are a great service for those who feel they don’t have the time to menu plan or who just want someone else to take all the guess work out it.

However, like me, many of you enjoy perusing recipes each week and selecting your own recipes to include in your menu plan.  I know for myself I’m very particular about the recipes I chose and have a specific recipe criteria in place to help me achieve my goal of finding easy, quick and healthy recipes to include in my plan.  So when I heard about the service Plan to Eat I was very excited because it is a menu planning service that gives you the freedom of selecting your own recipes and then stores and organizes them permanently for you all in one place.

Plan to Eat allows you to import recipes from popular recipe websites or easily input them by hand.  Then all you need to do is drag and drop them into your menu planning calendar, print off your calendar if you chose AND as well print off a complete shopping list based on your chosen recipes.  It’s absolutely brilliant and organized!

Calendar:

Shopping List:

What makes Plan to Eat particularly brilliant though hands down is how easy the site is to use.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Things designed to make our lives less complicated tick me off when they are too complicated for us simple minds to figure out in the first place.  I abhor complicated with a passion.  So, considering I’m a pretty tough critic, I was very surprised when I checked out Plan to Eat and discovered the simplicity with how easy it is to use.

I just love the recipe import feature.  Many other resources similar to this one require you to manually add your recipes to the site.  Um no thanks, that would take me forever.  As you know I get the majority of my recipes from sites such as Taste of Home, Tasty Kitchen and Kraft Canada.  I’ve used the import feature with all three of these sites and all I have to do is add the recipe url, hit import recipe and voila my recipe is there, complete with ingredient list and instructions.  You can even upload a photo if you’d like.  It also keeps track of my favorite websites so I can go straight there from within Plan to Eat.  Stuck for ideas? Plan to Eat has a “search google” toolbar that lists your results right there with a handy import recipe button beside each one.  Just so awesome!!

I also love that you can add tags with each of your recipes to make finding them again a breeze.  I can create any tags I like and am not limited by a select few.

I also love love love the shopping list feature.  It automatically adds all the items from your selected recipes and then easily allows you to select/deselect items you don’t need.  You can also add in additional items as necessary.  Further making my life easier, when I print out the list I’m given a handy reference key that shows me which ingredients go to which recipe in case I need to make substitutions at the grocery store.

Plan to Eat is available for $4.95 a month or if you pay for a year at a time it is $39.00/yr which works out to only $3.25 a month.  You don’t have to just take my word for the awesomeness of this site either because you can try Plan to Eat absolutely free for 30 days to see if you like it.

Today Plan to Eat has kindly offered to giveaway TWO one year gift subscriptions to two lucky readers.  I’d really like to giveaway these two gift subscriptions to someone who thinks this service would benefit them in their menu planning endeavors.  Take a look around and if you think this is a service that would work for you leave a comment on this post letting me know.

I’ll close the giveaway next Wednesday, January 6th at 9:00 pm PST and the winner will be chosen at random from the comments left.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Plan to Eat Giveaway is a post from: Org Junkies Product Reviews