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!

Review & Giveaway: ChicoBag

ChicoBags - a New Beginning

One of my goals this year is to attempt to be more responsible and eco-friendly with what I bring into my home and use in my daily life.  Having Fibromyalgia it's been really hard to deal with the myriad of plastic bags and boxes that I get.  I do reuse the plastic bags in the bathroom and at my sewing table - but it's still hard to use them all up efficiently.  I've decided that I'm going to try to make up some of those *Plarn Bags* using strips cut up from the millions of plastic bags under my kitchen sink.  (Click on a link for a tutorial)

Lately though due to the numbness and pain in my arms and shoulders it's been getting harder to carry heavy things in my hands and I received one of the "Sling" reusable bag(s) from Chico to try out to see if it would help me since all the weight won't be on one shoulder. 

The Sling bag is very large and when I wear it the bag rests on my left hip or I can swing it around to either the front or the back depending on my comfort, how tight my shoulders and back are and still use it comfortably.  The "handle" is fairly wide and sits flat on my shoulder comfortably without bunching up or folding in half. 

The Bag is 13.5" x 14.5" Pouch 4" x5.5" (approximately).  It's very large, easily fit a kleenex box, my easy lunchbox and my TENS unit without being too heavy or uncomfortable. 

I was very impressed with the high quality of this bag and Chico has very high standards in the making of the bags. Their bags are made of up to 100% recycled content.  The Sling is made with 99% recycled content (that's HUGE).  The fabric used in the bag production is 100% recycled PET. Many other components used in production (the aluminum carabiner, polyurethane cording, etc.) are made from recycled sources as well.  A printed list of recycled materials used in manufacturing appear on the inside of the bag and backside of the pouch.

For those of you who have Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, Chronic Pain, Back issues or maybe have small kids that you are carrying you may want to consider another bag that Chico carries.  The Messenger bag has a strap that is adjustable (the Sling bag I described above is not) and offers a little more support.  It also has loops that attach to the new waist strap accessory (sold separately) for added support and stabilization.  Both bags can be washed in cold water and then hung to dry.

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own ChicoBag online HERE.  They have several different styles and even a great SET of 3 Produce Bags designed to optimize freshness when paired with the right produce. All three bags are machine washable and stuff into an adorable apple pouch with an attached carabiner, making it easy to carry and store your bags when not in use.  Prices for the set of 3 start at $11.99 and $15.99.

WIN IT!

Chico is offering one of my readers a bag of their very own.  It's a Sling Bag and I'm sure you'll love it as much as I love mine!  Isn't that nice of them (applause!)?  The WINNER will receive the bag to the right:

Mandatory entry:
Go to ChicoBag's website and tell me something you learned about ChicoBag.  This is Mandatory and must be done before any optional entries please.

Optional Entries:
(Pls note, these entries are optional. You do not have to do them to be entered. You do need to do the mandatory entry. Please include your email address on each comment. You can enter your email this way: contact(dot)thebooklady(at)gmail(dot)com) NOTE: (+3 = 3 entries)

"Like" ChicoBag on Facebook, be sure to leave a comment on their page and leave me the hyperlink. Thanks so much!
Follow ME on GFC (left sidebar)
Follow ME on Twitter
Follow ME on Facebook

Add this giveaway to any book hops or giveaway linkies using this link (be sure to leave the web address w/ your comment) (+3)

Tweet: " RT @familyliteracy WIN a Sling Bag from ChicoBag @ http://ning.it/eKyYjU Ends 2/05, US, #organizing, #home, #shopping " (can RT daily 3x (5 hours apart pls), please add hyperlink to comment)

Details:
The US Winner will be drawn on 1/28 at 10 pm. They will have 48 hours to respond to my email w/ their address so their book can be shipped to them. Street address - no PO Boxes please.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a ChicoBag  for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."