Fav Pin Friday – #Pinterest Linky Party

Link Up A Post You Would Like Pinned

If you are going to help pin on this post, please only pin my Fav Friday Badge (which I would really appreciate).  I do not want anyone pinning pictures that aren’t mine.  I did link the pictures up to my pinterest board where they are located. I would love for you to go and repin those, and that will help the person who originally pinned the item.

 

Look at the awesome use of space under these stairs.  I love this.  You do have to have the proper set up to be able to use this space. In my home, you can’t get under the stairs like this, so I couldn’t do it.

But I have also seen this used in basements (and the shelves hold extra pantry goods or such). I’ve seen it in a garage /workshop where there was an upstairs room.  He had his tools and had organized containers to hold his supplies and had them on the stairs.

 

 

If you know me, you know I have shoe envy.  I can’t wear these, but I sure do appreciate and love them!

 

Aren’t these darling?  Someone pinned them as Valentine boxes for boys, but I went to the web site where she made them. They are actually Tattle Monster boxes.  She made these for the teachers, and the kids can put their “tattles of other children” in here, to help reduce the tattling in the classroom.

Guidelines

1) Add a link from one of your blog post you want pinned.
2) Be sure to use the picture you want pinned for the picture we see on here.
3) Would love for you to tweet this out, or stumble or pin it. lol
4) Be sure to pin a couple other pins you see on here too!

If you like the pinterest parties you can go to Kim’s at Crafty Mama of 4. She has Pin it Friday 

If you need some help knowing how to link up, this link party tutorial should help.

If you would like an invitation to join Pinterest, please let me know in the comments and I’ll invite you.

Organizing & DIY Link Party – Week 2

Review of Giant Eagle Market District in Pittsburgh

I drove about 3 hours to Pittsburgh PA last December 2010 to go to the Giant Eagle Market District Store.  I wasn’t even sure that it was the actual grocery store that I was going to, until I was there. (shows what a dingy I am).  I just knew it was called the Market District and I also knew that I was going to do some cooking!  There were five bloggers,  Kim from www.Crafty Mama of 4.com and Beth from www.The Plus Size Mommy.com were both there, and they were from the Pittsburgh area.  The couple from Columbus Foodies, along with myself.

I loved the candy section, can you tell?

and one more!

Ok… now for some healthy stuff!

The store was pretty amazing.  Of course you had your normal food items, but then there were so many speciality foods – get this… they grow their own lettuce there!!  They also sell other lettuce, but isn’t this cool?

How often have you seen sugar cane at your grocery store?  Beth was laughing because her husband is from Jamaica and she said she wanted to get him one for Christmas.

Just how items were displayed was unique. I loved this sausage … it reminded me of garland.  Maybe I’m just a little too much into the Christmas decorations right now?

This was a bin of coffee beans…oh did it smell good there.  There are things like oil and vinegar bars there. You purchase your bottle and you can come back and refill it from all the different kinds of oil and vinegar. Who knew?  Not I…. I don’t use enough oil and vinegar to even think about it.  Obviously…. gourmet cook I’m not.

There is an entire area for cheese!  I looked at what looked like some really crazy fancy dessert and asked about it.. it was a dessert cheese! Never would have thought!  I am realizing I am just a regular ol’ gal! LOL

Just had to take this picture!!  I just thought it would be a cool picture.  Big barrel of pickles….. now I do know what those are!

We toured around this massive grocery store, stopping at the beginning of our tour for a smoothie. I got a peach one and had supplements added of antioxidants and protein.  It tasted pretty good… maybe a little too yogurtery for me (in other words…. it had that healthy taste to it – although it was still very good)

There is a restaurant in the store. You can sit down and eat a meal – tour the open food bars, get a piece of pizza or make a crepe – and then sit down with a glass of wine and eat.  In Pittsburgh being able to buy alcohol in grocery stores is something unusual. But they got a permit with some very stringent regulations. The alcohol has to be rung up on separate cash registers and there has to be a separate entrance – those are just two of them, I’m sure there are others.

After our tour we went up to the cooking school as you saw on the video. That is something that I would take advantage of if I lived close. What a fun evening for a group of ladies or several couples to have a date night. They also have kid classes – we saw the beginnings of the gingerbread houses that were going to be decorated the next day by the young class.

Our cooking class was fun! There were two teams of 4 people each. We each had our own stove tops and food trays. I did some cooking, but I was having too much fun taking pictures to cook much.

My favorite was the Porcini scented mushroom risotto. I’ve never made it. After you sweat (yes sweat.. a new cooking term for me too) the shallots – you add the Arborio rice. It has to toast and the shell start to crack….you then add in the broth slowly… I mean really slowly. You add 1/2 cup and then stir, until it soaks in… another 1/2 cup…and so on and so forth – until you add 4 cups. It took us about 20 minutes to make it. Then you add in heavy whipping cream and Parmesan cheese.
Then cooking sous vide was of course all new too. Sealing your food in a bag… then cooking in a hot moving water bath… just seems almost simple to me. I mean, it makes me think of cooking frozen food – like vegetables. But the water bath units are very expensive, and they move the water around. The advantages – you can cook the food all the way through evenly adn uniform every time. So for the filet mignon, if 4 people want medium rare steaks – you just set the temperature to the specific temp to get that done and they will all cook the same, all the way through.

Donna was such a great hostess to us! As we toured Giant Eagle we had several people behind the counters telling us we couldn’t take pictures. All I had to say was, “I’m with Donna” and point to her. They would all say, oh.. ok. LOL

I always love to do things with Kim and Beth. We have such a good time together.

Disclosure: I was sponsored to go to the Pittsburgh store for the night I had to stay over by Giant Eagle.  I also received a gift bag.  I did not receive any cash compensation for the actual traveling to and from Pittsburgh. The pictures, video and thoughts are all my own.

(I reposted this blog post from my Chat with Sandy blog. It was originally posted 12/16/11

 

Share your DIY, crafts, decorating or organizing projects!!

You can find the link for my button on my top “Buttons” Tab. (right now I only have the Organizing Mission Monday button, so it is fine to continue to grab that) 
1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or crafts or decorating are WONDERFUL!
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list. If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple. If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s on this post please Click Here.
This party will be open until January 15, 2012

School Supply Shopping

Purchase Yours & Help Others Too

Have you done your school supply shopping yet?  Hard to believe we are talking about going back to school already isn’t it?  But it is coming up very fast! Within weeks for most of us.

The kids get so excited to go and get school supplies. But they can get very expensive.  As expensive as they are for us, have you thought of the families that can’t afford them at all?  Have you ever considered buying extras to give to families that need help?

But don’t necessarily think of kids over seas or in the inner city. There are more than likely many families in your own school district that need help.  They might be the families that really need help, but don’t qualify for all the government programs.  Call your school principal and ask them if they can anonymously donate for you.

We were lucky enough last year to be involved in a program through Elmer’s, called Bag it Forward.   We were able to purchase supplies to outfit two full book bags of supplies.  We called the principal of our school and she knew of a couple of families that could use them.

My suggestion would be to actually go to a different school than your kids go to. The last thing you would want would be for your kids to realize that was “the school bag they donated” and tell the kids or tell other kids.  I had a discussion with the kids over this and explained how donating without others knowing is a really cool thing and that they wouldn’t want to embarrass any other children.

Even if you can’t do an entire book bag… what about just getting some extras of certain things?  I just found spiral notebooks at Walmart for $.20 each. I mean wow!

So consider why you are buying your supplies this year – if you are able to spare some extra, consider helping others while you get your kids school supplies this year.

 

Organizing Mission Monday Link Party – Week 25

Card Cubby – New Colors & Giveaway! (closed)

One more day before my dining room reveal!  I’m excited to show you.  But I’m going to be even more excited to show you my blog makeover. You might be seeing that REALLY soon too!!

Most of you know I love the Card Cubby. Enough that I began selling it in my store.  I’m not one to sell a lot of things (although I do want to start doing eBay or something to sell some items we don’t need anymore as compared to donating absolutely everything like I usually do). I only sell the Card Cubby and pouchee purse organizer at this point because I have to really LOVE something in order to associate my name with it.

You can see a review of the Card Cubby here. But it is an index file for all those gift cards, store discount cards, library cards that you end up with.  You can look under the letter “K” and actually find your Kohl’s Cash or under “S” for that Subway card that you accumulate points on when you buy something at Subway.  I used to just have them all together and I would have to shuffle through the pile to find what I wanted.

I just got a couple new colors for the Card Cubby that I wanted to share.  These are also awesome ways to give a gift card to a new grad, someone having a birthday or someone getting married.  People get so many gift cards now a days for gifts. Wouldn’t they love to have this to organize them?

The Tooled Leatherette Card Cubby

 

The Silver Grey Croc Card Cubby

I also restocked my black Croc and Red Croc Card Cubby’s!   You can find them in my Organize with Sandy Store.

Zebra Card Cubby

You can win this Zebra Card Cubby…. keep reading.

Featured Bloggers

 

Susan from Home Road thinks outside the box! Love it!

She took this trivet, pot holder, carrier (not sure what the official name is) and created this!  I mean really… who thinks of that?  I love seeing organizing products created from items that aren’t intended for organizing.

You can see how she created this and some other great shots of it on her blog, Home Road – Funky Desk Top Organizer

Look what Amy from Gabriel’s Good Tidings made? Isn’t it cute?

The clothes pins are really cute too. Here is a better shot of those.

You can see the rest of her tutorial on her blog  Gabriel’s Good Tidings !

Be sure to stop by and say hi to my featured bloggers!

Card Cubby Giveaway!! (Closed)

I am going to give away a Zebra Card Cubby!  (like one in picture above)

***I am also giving a 10% discount from today until June 30th, 2011.  If you use the code “Summer 11″ it will take off the 10%. This is good on the Card Cubby and pouchee purse organizer!

Required For Entry: Leave a comment below telling me how you would best like to use the Card Cubby if you won.  **Be sure to come back here and leave me your answer in your comment. Your e-mail has to either in your comment or on your profile.

FOR EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN:

**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment to win. The winner is picked using Random.org. It just goes the number of comments….not by what you say.

1) Leave a link in the link party for one of your blog posts.  (1 entry)  You can leave more than one link in the link party, but only one of them counts towards an entry.  You HAVE to include a comment if you want your link to count as an entry for the giveaway.

2) Subscribe to my Organize with Sandy blog (1 entry)

3) Follow me on Twitter @OrganizerSandy (Leave me your twitter name) 1 entry

4) Stumble one of my posts for 5 extra chances to win. (tell me which post – please don’t stumble this post, as giveaway posts aren’t so great to stumble.)  5 entries – be sure to leave 5 comments below for this one.

5) Tweet this out up to 3 times a day. You can use the tweet button at the top to make it easy. ( Pls leave your url link) 1 chance for each tweet.

Please keep in mind I approve my comments. So you won’t see them right away. Never fear!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on Sunday, June 19, 2011 *Closed*

Any comment that comes in after the above time will be deleted. This is open to US mailing addresses only. Must be 18+ to win. One person per mailing address only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org

You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you are picked as the winner, or else I will go on to the next winning number.

 

Link up to my Link Party

I would love to see what you are working on this week. But as always you can link up any organizing or cleaning or DIY post to my link party.

You can find the link for my button and also my “Proud to Be Featured Button” on my sidebar Rules 1) Link to your specific post – not your blog
2) Please Link back to my blog with my button or link (link just above underneath my button)
3) I’d love if you’d follow me on google and/or FB. The google is new and I’m trying to build it
4) Blog post related to Organizing or Cleaning or DIY or decorating
5) No sales pitches or web sites.
6) If I feature you I will use one or more of your pictures with a link back to your blog.
7) Feel free to link up more than 1 post.

Looking for other link parties? I have a whole list of them. Thumbnail via day above and keep scrolling down to find a more extensive text lists by day on my link party list.

If you aren’t sure how to link up… see my link party tutorial here. It is simple.

If You Are On A Reader and Want to View All the Great Link Up’s Please Click Here.

This link party will be open until 11:59 on Sunday June 19, 2011.  Feel free to leave more than one post. (But only one counts as an extra entry for the giveaway)

Craigslist

Craigslist or eBay? Which should I use?

We have wanted to get an eBay account going for some time.  I am doing some more decluttering and have some great items to get rid of. Imagine that? My hubby has some antiques at his farm that he is going through and he wants to sell those.

Craigslist

I’m hearing some really negative talk about Craigslist lately.  I just read a story about a woman getting robbed at gunpoint at her own home.  She was the seller and this guy came to look at some jewelry she has for sale. I know those situations happen anywhere..with anything. More than likely crimes aren’t any worse than they ever were, they are just getting some media attention.

I’m hearing about job scams on Craigslist. There was even a notice on Craigslist warning of them.

On the other hand, I have several people telling on Facebook that Craigslist is a great way to go.  I don’t have to worry about shipping things, so that is one headache averted. But I won’t be reaching the audience that I would if I were on eBay.

eBay

Dave and I have wanted to start an eBay store for awhile.  What seems to always stop us is – how to begin.  I have read a few different things in the last year or so.

There are different opinions about which is the best day to start your bidding and ending your bidding? Who is right? Which is better?

People say the fees are too high. I got onto one of their communication boards the other day to look for some information on how to begin. I read a thread from sellers that weren’t selling anything and they wondered what was up. One person had over 1,000 items in their store and in the last five days had not sold a thing. He said that has never happened to him. They were all saying how terrible their sales had been. So then I think… should I even start one? Someone who doesn’t even really know the ropes? What chance do I have?

Does anyone know of any other ways to sell items that are popular, but don’t cost a huge monthly fee?

Has anyone done a look into just listing items to sell yourself on your blog? Anyone have any luck with that or have you ever seen it?  What would you think of that if you saw items like that in my store or mentioned occasionally  on my blog or sidebar? I wouldn’t be able to do bidding….  good or bad?

Thoughts?

Old Time Pottery Review

Do You Have an Old Time Pottery Store Near You?

Hopefully you do! If you’ve not been there before, then you need to go! You will find a massively big store that has just about anything you could need for your home.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time! This is not a store that you zip in and back out of quickly. I don’t know if I have ever spent less than an hour in here.  Oh wait… yes I have. I had to run in to get some extra baskets one time and spent only about 15 minutes in it. (But that was an exception)

One thing about Old Time Pottery stores is that merchandise varies in each store.  They buy huge quantities of merchandise (hence the good prices for some high end products) and they get new shipments in each week. This is one of those stores that it really pays to shop frequently! And if you see something you really like, don’t hesitate to buy it, because there will be others who like it as well…. and it might not be there next time you go to the store!

Ok, so you know many stores like that right? But do they also have discounted prices on everything? That is why it is so fun to go to Old Time Pottery.
I have made many trips there recently. I used plastic baskets from there for my pantry, refrigerator and freezer reorganization.  These are the ones I used on my pantry, I got red ones for my ref. and freezer.

I also got some wire organizers that I used under my sink, and pantry and also plastics cupboard.

It isn’t your fancy-smancy store.  It is very basic. Grab your cart and start your adventure.

There is a little bit of everything.  I love all the baskets they have there.

But I have recently been there for items to decorate in my dining room.  (You’ll see those in a later post when I show you my finished dining room….but if you watch the video close you’ll see what I got on the check out counter) Here are a few other fun things you’ll find at Old Time Pottery (that you haven’t already seen in my video)

They also have a contest going on. You can see rules for the VIP Old Time Pottery card contest below (hint…. it can earn you five extra entries into this contest! Double whammy goodness!)

 

 

 

To Enter to Win 1 of four $25 gift card to Old Time Pottery!!!

Tell me: If you have an Old Time Pottery Around You. Which store (or state if you don’t want to be specific)  If you don’t know go to Old Time Pottery and plug in your zip code to find out. (sorry, no online sales – in store only) **Be sure to come back here and leave me your answer in your comment. Your e-mail has to either in your comment or on your profile.

FOR EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN:

**Each of these HAS to have a separate comment to win. The winner is picked using Random.org. It just goes the number of comments….not by what you say.

1) Go to the Old Time Pottery Web site and sign up to be a VIP OTP (Old Time Pottery) shopper. No purchase necessary. You will register and then you can print out a coupon to take to your OTP store to enter. You are entering to win a $50 gift certificate! (They are picking weekly winners) This promotion is good until June 17th. (5 extra entries – add 5 comments)

2) Subscribe to my Organize with Sandy blog This is for 1 chance to win!

3) Follow me on Twitter @OrganizerSandy (Leave me your twitter name) 1 chance

4) Stumble one of my posts for 5 extra chances to win. (tell me which post. Post 5 comment entries)

5) Tweet this out up to 3 times a day. You can use the tweet button at the top to make it easy. ( Pls leave your url link) 1 chance for each tweet.

Please keep in mind I approve my comments. So you won’t see them right away. Never fear!

See lots of way to enter!!

This contest will run until 11:59pm est on Wednesday , May 25, 2011  *THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED*

Any comment that comes in after the above time will be deleted. This is open to US mailing addresses only. Must be 18+ to win.  One person per mailing address only. Winner will be chosen by Random.org

You will have 48 hours to reply to my e-mail if you are picked as the winner, or else I will go on to the next winning number.

I was given a $50 gift card for Old Time Pottery, but this in no way swayed my opinions.  I was talking about going to Old Time Pottery on my past posts, before they contacted me.  The pictures and videos and opinions are my own.

 

Shopping Saturday – elfa pantry

Need I Say More?

This is the elfa pantry system from The Container Store.  First of all I would like to have that large of a pantry, second… love the colors.  Hmmm…. I might be able to do something with the colors!

Purse Organizer – Card Cubby

Card Cubby

Another Product I Found To Help Keep My Purse Organized Is The Card Cubby

When I first saw this I thought it was only to use as a business card organizer. I didn’t need that. Then I realized the full potential of the Card Cubby and I fell in love.

Do you have a zillion discount cards, frequent user cards, gift cards, library cards, rewards cards?  We get so many. I had a stack of them in my wallet and I would have to pull out that stack and thumb through them every time I needed one.

I found the Card Cubby and realized how wonderful these little alphabetized dividers could be!

If I need my Target gift card I just go to the letter “T” and there it is!

It makes it so nice an easy when you are in a store.  Not having to dig through everything and hold up the line, or worse yet, knowing you have that discount or gift card and you can’t find it!

There is a little zipper pocket in the back of the card cubby that you could carry some hidden cash. I like to keep a little sharpie in mine. That way when I have a gift card, I can write the remaining balance on the back of the card. Makes it so easy the next time I need to use it.

I keep my Card Cubby right in my purse.  But I know some people who don’t want it in their purses, they just keep it in their car so it is still near by when they need it.

It comes in all kinds of fun colors, so it is easy to find down inside your purse.

Here are some more of the fun colors:

And some more, but you can see them all at my pouchee store that also has my Card Cubbies:

I don’t think of this as a good coupon organizer.  You would have to fold the coupons and it really wouldn’t do well for that.  There is a coupon organizer in my pouchee / card cubby store that works great for that.

There is also a front window on the Card Cubby where you can put your business card or a picture.

This product has been a life saver for me and helped me to organize my purse much better, so I wanted to let you in on one of my favorite products.
I do sell the Card Cubby ( I did not invent it and do not make it) in my pouchee store.

**You can also use the discount code “ORGANIZED PURSE” for 10% off of the Card Cubby through March 31, 2011.

Be sure to watch for the rest of my posts this week:

Purse Organizing -  (Part 1)
Purse Organizing - The pouchee (Part 2) *watch for the discount code to order one
Purse Organizing – All those purses

I want to see your purse organizing! If you link up your purse post to my linky party and it is of your purse organizing, I’ll pull a picture and add a link to this post too!

I’d love for you to link it up to my Organizing Mission Monday Link Party
It will be open until March 27th to link to.

I LOVE your comments!

Shopping Saturday – Pottery Barn Entryway Organizer

Wouldn’t It Be Cool To Have This In Your Hallway?

A seat in the middle to put on and take off your shoes?  Love the baskets on top for hats and mittens. This is the Brady 5-Piece Entryway System from Pottery Barn.

Of course I don’t have the room in my home to have this. I really have no hallway, and I don’t have a mud room.  However, I am going to be making a mini one of these in my garage once we get our shed.  But Dave will be building it  (I also couldn’t afford this one)

Shopping Saturday – Wall Organizers

This is decorating I love. lol That is an organizer for you – right?

This wall organizer unit it from Pottery Barn. I love it.  White or black, but I have to say I will probably have to find an alternative, as this is out of my price range when you add all the pieces I want together.

Here is another piece that I really like.

These wall pockets are from Ballards. I actually found these after I saw a blog post from Nike from  Knock Off Decor about making them yourselves.  Ok, I’m not that talented!  She does an awesome job.

Actually I am planning on getting something very similar to these as I decorate the house.  The four pocket one from Ballards is a real possibility.  I’ll let you know if I end up getting something like this.

Shopping Saturday – Woman’s Closet

Check out this awesome “woman’s” closet.

Remember last week’s master bedroom that I would love to have? Well, here is the closet that goes along with that master bedroom.  Now keep in mind this is only the woman’s closet.  Yes on the other side of the room was the man’s closet.

This is just a small part of the “closet”. Can you believe this is a closet?  They were getting ready for the Parade of Homes in this MI home. They had one of the drawers pulled out sitting on the window seat.

Check this out….

The doors open out to make this 3 way mirror!

Now look at this touch in the closet.  Remember this is the closet!!

Now to see through from one side of the closet to the other.

You can see some more drawers sitting on the floor, they were going to be opening the Parade of Homes the next day, so there was still a lot of finish working going on.  Kind of reminded me of Extreme Home Makeover last minute rush!

Wouldn’t that be awesome to have a closet like this?

If you have an awesome closet.. link it to my Organizing Mission Link party – Mission Spring Cleaning !!

I LOVE your comments!!

Shopping Saturday – Master Bedroom Envy

Wow… I want this master bedroom!!

This master bedroom was part of a Parade of Homes I attended.  This was a master bedroom from the MI home. I would like to shop and buy a house that had a set up similar to this.

You can see the man’s master closet to the left of that little kitchenette, the woman’s walk in closet is to the left. (omg I’ll have to show you the closets next week.. I’d love those too!

Wouldn’t it be nice to have this little kitchenette in your room too?  How fun!

Feel free to link up or just visit my Organizing Mission Monday Link Party!

I would love it if you could vote for my blog! You can vote up to once per day. Just click the button. Thank you!

I LOVE your comments!!

Shopping Saturday – Ikea Cubby Sofa Table

Shop Till You Drop – Or Window Shop like me and Don’t spend

I have to stop shopping at Ikea ..what do you think?  Actually this was from the same Saturday a few weeks ago.

I kept seeing this table throughout the store at Ikea.  Again.. with cubby’s. I must have an issue with those.. what do you think?  lol

I am still working to see if there is a way I can use this at my house. If I figure it out.. I’ll be the first to let you know! It was $99 (guessing I was wrong on the $99, maybe I was dreaming that?)

I can see it behind a couch, but I love the thought of it in an entryway.

I looked it up for someone and it is  called the Hemnes Sofa Table and it costs $149 (plus the baskets cost extra)

What do you think?  Where could you use it?

I would love it if you could vote for my blog! You can vote up to once per day. Just click the button. Thank you!

Disclosure: I am not an affililiate or working for Ikea in any way (although I wish I was..lol)

Shopping Saturday – Ikea Coat Rack

I want to highlight something I would like to have each Saturday.

Doesn’t mean I’ll ever have it, but if I had the place to put it, I would have something similar.

I don’t have a place to put one in my house right now, but I still am always attracted to them when I see them.  I would need a bigger or longer bench with more shoe cubbies for my family!

We are planning on purchasing a shed for our backyard. That way we can clear out some of the excess (5 kids… bikes, lawn mower etc.. ) from the garage and I plan to move a shelf and put something like this by the doorway.

This is from the Ikea store. I do not have it, but would like to!

Oh.. I get to go today on my way back home!!  yippee.  I’ll let you know what I find there.

I would love it if you could vote for my blog! You can vote up to once per day. Just click the button. You can Vote Daily. Thank you!

Disclosure:  I am not representing Ikea in any way. I am not an affiliate, nor being compensated by them in any way. I just love their store… I wish they would ask me! lol

Get Organized for Black Friday Shopping

The Sales Are Coming.. Are You Ready?

How many of you like to do the “combat” shopping ..as my husband calls it?

I do!!  I have gone Black Friday shopping most years and think of it as fun.  I go alone… I have my list….and my plan in place.

To be successful I think you have to do your homework.

1) Have your list made out of what you want to buy
*No impulse buying when everyone is grabbing a deal

2) Have your BF ads together. (or use your smart phone to access your saved online BF store ads)
*The crowds can over whelm you, mix you up and make you forget things… have them marked and ready to go.

3) Know your plan of attack.
*Which store will you go to first?
*What time does each store open?
*Which stores match prices of items at your other store?

4) Grab your mug of coffee (and I suggest adding a packet of Cold Stone Creamery Cocoa to it..oh yum) or Hot Cocoa and get ready to either head out really early….or stay up really late from the night before.

One of the things I have done the last couple of years (last year I did online BF shopping only...but other than that) was to go to Walmart on the Wednesday before BF.  I knew what I was planning to buy and found out where it was in that store.  Then I would use the other store ads to get that item at the lowest price and purchase it at Walmart.

One year I went to an all night Walmart an hour before their BF sale started. All their specials were in the middle rows covered with black plastic. But most of the items I wanted were not at their sale. I went around filling my cart with items that other stores had on sale (and I had their ad with me) and got all the door buster prices!  I have to admit that the woman at the register wasn’t too happy with me. She called over a manager, but the manager ok’d everything. I had exact items, I was there during the right times and none of my ads listed % off…they were all actual pricing.

Here are my other Black Friday posts from the last 2 years

Black Friday Shopping…Organized 2008
Organize and Prepare for Black Friday Shopping 2009
Black Friday Shopping (online) 2009

You have to watch ads now though, some say no price matching during Door Buster pricing.  I haven’t looked this year.  But I will be checking things out online this year.

Here are a couple Brands and products that you should keep your eye out for.  I’m thinking you should watch your Walmart BF ad to see if they are going to be in there and if so… I recommend these Brands.

Seagate Go Flex Hard Drive
Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker
Elmers Products

Disclosure: The Brands that I mentioned are all clients of Collective Bias.  I was not asked to mention any of these Brands in my post and I do not know for sure if any of them will be in the BF ads – but I do like their products and will be watching out for them myself on Friday.  I just wanted to let you in on that. I am also the community leader for the Cold Stone Creamery Hot Cocoa group in CB.  That one is just a no brainer for me to mention, because I’ve been drinking it myself everyday.. duh!

Charming CHARLIE Fashion Store

What kind of store will attract an Organizer? A store that is organized by Color!

This store uses two of my favorite organizing things

1) Organizes with color
2) Organizes with Cubbies

I love how they organize their whole store by colors.  There are items in several places. There might be a necklace or purse that you like in pink, but you need it in green…. go over to the green zone and you may find it!

Be sure to check out my whole post on Charming Charlies that also have a video on my Explore Ohio with Sandy blog!

Sears Hometown Stores’ Food Drive

The Sears Hometown Stores are holding their 4th annual food drive. These food drives will benefit the local communities that store is located in. The one that is closest to me is the Mt. Vernon, Ohio store. The food collected will either go to the Mid Ohio Food Bank for Knox county or it will go to local food pantries in that area throughout the months of November and December.

The Mt Vernon Sears Hometown Store will receive donations of canned and boxed non-perishable food items November 8 through December 31.
To find a store nearest you go to Sears Hometown Stores. (There are about 950 of them)
In the past 3 years they have collected more than 250,000 non-perishable food items throughout these stores.

Here is a quote from the press release I received:
“We welcome the opportunity to host this event again,” said Marty Kozar, CMO/DVP for
Sears Hometown Stores. “We feel privileged to join in a local effort to lend a hand to those
experiencing hardship in our communities, and want to encourage our customers to open their
hearts and their cupboards to this initiative.”
You can donate non-perishable canned and boxed food, cleaning, diapers and paper products in the donation boxes at your local Sears Hometown store during business hours.
**Now here is the bonus – For being so generous and helping others, Sears is going to help you. You will get a discount off your bill. How great is that? Thanks Sears.

If you do not live near a Sears Hometown Store you can make your donations (cash or food) to your local food pantry.

Disclosure: Sears Hometown Stores have provided me with information for this article. They have not paid for this post nor given me any form of compensation for this post.

Walmart Greeter

Kudos to a Walmart Greeter – He Brightened My Shopping Experience

 

It isn’t every day that I make a post about an employee of a store. Actually I never have before…but this man made me want to. I was standing in line waiting my turn to check out of the Easton Walmart in Ohio and I have to say I completely enjoyed watching this “greeter” say hi to people and check receipts as others left.  What did I notice?  His smile, his genuine smile.  It wasn’t a fake “I’m the greeter and I have to have a smile plastered on my face” smile…he was truly enjoying what he was doing.  A greeter in Walmart….not a high powered businessman making millions, not a movie star signing autographs, but a Walmart greeter.  I was impressed.  He wasn’t putting on a show for anyone, he didn’t know I was watching or anyone was watching. He was just being friendly.
I told the cashier that I was enjoying watching him. She told me that they put the right person there.  I told him as I left that I enjoyed watching him.  He smiled and told me that was nice of me.  I walked out of the store.  Went to my car and felt like I wanted to do more.  I called customer service….and waited…and waited and almost hung up, but I didn’t want to, I wanted to tell someone about him. When she answered,  I asked his name and asked what I could do to let someone know he was doing a great job.  She said I could contact the store manager and tell him or send in a letter.

I left, went to another store and shopped but felt compelled to go back. I wanted to take his picture and do a blog post…ok, how strange will that be I thought?  Hi…I am going to take your picture.  I have to say that I was out of my comfort zone. I pulled in the parking lot and told myself as I went down the full row of cars that if I got a close space I would get out and go get his picture. Sure enough the 2nd car from the end pulled out just then.  I pulled in and then I saw him walking in the parking lot.  Perfect I thought.

I went over to him and told him I was so impressed with his attitude that I wanted to do a blog post on him. I asked if I could get his picture and he agreed.  He told me I was sweet.

His name is Jamar.   If you see this Jamar…be sure to tell him hi and smile at him.  If you see any “Jamar” as you go about your day…be sure to tell them their smile made your day.

How often do you feel like your day was improved because someone smiled?  Someone was friendly…..someone who was  a Walmart greeter….made my day brighter.  I’m impressed.  I hope this man goes far in life….he deserves to.

Furniture Moving Pads

I was reorganizing my own office and was frustrated that I could not move this big massive and very heavy desk myself. I literally could not even budge it. I was about to twitter how frustrated I was when I remembered I had purchased these furniture moving pads last year and had never used them. I ran down to my basement and got them out of my organizing drawer of goodies!
These were the big size (I think I could have used the small ones). I brought them up and the only hard part was getting them under the legs. I actually got under the desk and used my back to lift the desk just enough to slip them under.
I only used 2 on the 2 legs closest to the wall. I got on the other side of the desk and it slid easily!! I was more than excited. I thought I was at a stand still until my hubby got home. But I got it moved and was able to finish the office myself and surprise him.  I actually don’t even remember where I bought them, but you can find basically the same thing at The Container Store.
I am sold!!

Disclosure – I purchased these myself and I have not been asked to do a review or blog post on them, I just wanted to share what I have found with you!

Card Cubby

I love the Card Cubby!! I have been using it close to a year now and think….wow, this is another product that I wish I thought of. (same with the pouchee..wish I came up with that one!)

I use mine for all my “cards”: discount cards, gift cards, library cards, insurance cards and special coupons..either free things or like 20% off Kohls card. I do not use it for all my coupons.
I also have one for business cards. So when I go to conferences I pull the other one out of my purse and throw in my business Card Cubby.
Pair this with the pouchee and you have one very organized purse.

I actually had 2 girls come up to me at the Type A Mom Conference and ask to see in my purse. They wanted to see if I really was organized. I was a little nervous wondering if I was going to pass the test (I am certainly not perfect and I can be known to throw something in my purse in a hurry when stressed!) But I did pass their test..{phew}. It basically looked just like this, except I have the brown croc card cubby now and my fall purse is that cool yellow gold color.

Full disclosure: I am an affiliate for the card cubby and I sell the pouchee (but I wouldn’t do either if I didn’t think these were the coolest purse organizing tools ever…duh!)

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