Sunday, September 30, 2007

Waitless.com

I was playing around on Sprint tonight, trying to still figure out my new Treo755. I love it as it combines my Palm with my cell phone. It rocks!! However, I am still figuring it out, so if you get random calls from me, it is because I most likely accidentally called you from my contact list. If you click on a contact's phone number, it automatically dials it!

I happened up this part of the Sprint site called Waitless.com. Check out how to peel an egg! I think that is so great! Since I have to eat a lot of protein, I like hard-boiled eggs whites for a snack. However, I hate to peel the eggs. This will make it a cinch.

Monday, September 24, 2007

List is growing

OK, I listed items 1-3 last week. Of course, I took out Raggedy Ann to wash her and give her to charity instead of throwing away. I felt guilty, which is probably why we hang onto things much longer than we should, instead of getting rid of them!

Here is what is leaving my house this week:

4. TV - my neighbor said he wanted it after much prodding. I don't think he believed that we wanted to get rid of it. Our rule is one TV in the house and I think the new one exceeds that rule!

5. Some amplifying thingie that the husband has been keeping, just in case we need it. I will see if my neighbor wants it.

6. TV stand - sitting in the game room closet, holding boxed. Once again, I don't think my neighbor believes that we really want it gone.

7. Bathroom rugs - I hate the one with latex on the bottom, as they get weird stains on the latex, that don't come out when you wash them. I feel guilty for throwing them away, worried that I may be contributing to an overflowing landfill somewhere. So there they sit, taking up room in the laundry room.

OK - I think that is it for the beginning of the week. We shall see what else I find as the week progresses.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

The first three things

Clutter, I mentioned it the other day and then as I was purging my magazines, I ran across an article called Declutter Your Mind. "Is the road to enlightenment lined with stuff? Hardly. Just throw out 50 things... start with old clothes, lipsticks, or keys, then move on to the negative thougts that litter your head and hold you back." (Real Simple, April 2007)

OK, I was going to do a smaller number, but 50 seems like a good number. My goal is to throw out or give away 50 items a month. Of course, magazines and catalogs only count as one! Then you are supposed to keep a list, so that you can review and see your progress.

So let's start:

1. Why we had a fake black spider, I don't know, a left over from Halloween years ago. Well, the autistic girl I drive to school loves Halloween items. She happened to have the same spider in with orange markings, and ours had green markings, so I gave it to her as a gift this week. She loved it.

2. Old bronzer - it was too dark anyway, but I felt guilty throwing it out. Gone today.

3. Raggedy Ann doll - my mother thought I would want it, but what do you do with a well-loved doll that is at least 30 years old, other than put it on a shelf?

OK, that is what I started with, next week, I will update my list and let you know what else has gone away.

Here are some helpful links to articles and other forms of interest.

16 Quick Ways to Take Control of Your Life
Essential Everyday Forms and Checklists
Organize Your Organizing Systems

Friday, September 14, 2007

New products!

I am happy to report that Costco is now carrying the giant size refill of Method Hand Soap. Their products rock!

While Sweet Water is not my favorite fragrance (I would rather have Green Tea & Aloe), I love the idea that for $7.99, I can get a huge refill bottle of soap that is NOT anti-bacterial. I am anti anti-bacterial!! Now if only Bath and Body Works would make Coconut Lime Verbena in a normal formula...

I am also in need of more laundry soap, and may check out Wintree laundry detergent. Since we have a front-loading washer, I have upgraded to the Tide HE formula and am about to run out. It supposedly makes less suds, etc. However, as a former marketing major and retailer, I am always skeptical, as I know companies want to upsell.

Wintree looks interesting, as it is HE compatible and has natural lavender oils as a fragrance. Mmmmm, I love the smell of lavender. Yes, it is environmentally friendly, blah, blah, blah, which is good, but if I see another magazine article capitalizing on the "green trend"... It has become another way to sell more magazines.

The true question will be how much it costs! I am hoping that the price will be competitive, especially since they don't have the huge advertising costs of Tide, which ultimately get passed onto the consumer.

I may run down to Costco today as I have a cold, which meant no gym today! First rule: thou shalt not work out if sick, if you think you might be getting sick, or if you can't decide whether you are sick or is it just allergies. Oh well, I did enjoy sleeping in until 7:00 this morning! Yeah!

Will keep you posted on my findings...