Stress & Pancakes

I had a really stressful week for some reason.  The beginning of the week wasn't to bad but by Wednesday I went to work at my usual time and as soon as I walked in the door I was told that if I had an email from myself with the subject line "Trouble" NOT to open it, just delete it.  Now, I was fine with that - but I definitely wasn't expecting to have a hacker break into BOTH of my gmail accounts (I had them linked together), change ALL of my passwords, find my Paypal account (which they did not manage to break into and then do the same to my Facebook account.




Anyway, I figured I had earned Pancakes from IHop tonight and took myself out, but first I went to Half Price Books (I LOVE that place) and got myself the January 2011 Better Homes and Gardens.  There was a really good article that gives you 25 ways to pare down and get organized for a new year - here are my favorites:

1. Reserve one Saturday morning every few months for a family cleanout.  Set a timer for 30 minutes and have each person find things in his or her own space to donate or throw away.  Box up the donations and drop them off right away, then reward yourselves with lunch out - or better yet - how about a picnic lunch and an afternoon at the park?  ~ Meredith Schwartz, penelopeloveslists.com
2. I LOVE this idea!  Make clutter busting a family game.  Write tasks on Ping-Pong balls.  Each person chooses a ball, completes the task, then chooses another one.  After 30 minutes, whoever has the most balls gets a prize - like a no chores day or gets to choose a family activity for the afternoon! (By Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch, authors of Pretty Neat: Get Organized and Let Go of Perfection

You can post your ideas for everyone to see in the comments below.  I can't wait to read them all - Thanks!  Tina
Before you leave, I have several giveaways going right now you can click on the links for these giveaways to enter.  

Gorton's Giveaway Announcement, 2/7, US

5 lucky readers from GivingNSharing will WIN 2 coupons for Gortons Seafood on 2/7!  Now, before you go getting excited you also want to enter the Mandatory entry THIS weekend because Gortons is giving away an XBox 360 w/ Kinect bundle and The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout Game!  NOTE: The facebook contest ends 1/31!      Click here to Enter 

and then post your Mandatory Entry by clicking on the Gortons Giveaway Link (above)

Sling Bag from ChicoBagEnds, 2/05, US

Be sure to go to She_Scribes and enter to WIN a CASE of Oatmeal, enough for a whole month!  YUM!