Sunday Link Love

Sunday’s are a nice, lazy day here at the Mirabella Mansion. After church the boys watch football and I catch-up on my Google Reader. Some people read the Sunday Paper, I read the blogs!

Here are some highlights from this past week:

• You might want to print out this Thanksgiving Cooking Schedule to follow.
• I’m totally going to make Spiced Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding for Thanksgiving this year.
• Little Dude and I will have lots of fun making these Cereal Box Turkeys (I’m also thinking these will make super cute Snowmen or Santas too!)
• How about some Chocolate Cake in A Cup for a quick and easy dessert?
• Here are some tips on Preparing Your Family’s Winter Wardrobe.
• You know I love tips! Here are tips on Taking Better Pictures of Your Toddler.

Oh, I don’t want to forget my own site!! How about some Frugal Ideas for Cooking Black Beans?

Have a great week!

Free First Aid Training

In an attempt to stress to communities just exactly how significant first aid training really is and how it can actually save a life, many organizations are coming forth with free first aid training. They are often called mini courses but these organizations are fitting in the major core lifesaving skills in a matter of just a couple of hours. Basically, they are cutting the basic first aid and going straight to circumstances that are life and death. They teach how to identify and react in the event of heart attacks, strokes, and other areas where life depends on quick reaction and the ability to think level headed until medical help arrives.

These courses may not be available in your area just yet but there are sure to be soon and remember that they are not offered year round but only during certain times. For example, classes might only be held a few times a year and are open to anyone who pre registered. However, the response has been so overwhelming that it is prompting more and more organizations to follow suit. Although the fees to take first aid training are not great, it was obvious to other organizations including non profit and for profit to extend these services that matter so much to those who are indigent.

Many online free first aid training courses are offered too as well as websites that you can directly go to and it will give you step by step instructions on which procedures to follow. These types of websites are great and often very resourceful however when time is of the essence and a matter of life or death no one is going to have the time to perform a Google search for what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest.

If the time happens to come where you are in a position to save someone’s life do you know what to do or do you think you might know what to do? Many people might watch a video or read a book and think that they are able to do what they watched. It might be a little different if you watched a video on changing spark plugs but what happens when you are attempting to save a life and there is no room for error whatsoever?

Often the free courses would be offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, perhaps through your local hospital, or very often by your employer. More and more employers are incorporating employer paid first aid training as a good faith gesture and to show their concern for the community. People are now starting to realize more so than ever the need for unity and caring within their communities.

This has been a great contributing factor to why more organizations are stepping forward with the “free” approach to first aid training. And as more and more people show an interest in the free training the more extensive it is likely to become meaning that more lives will be saved.

Keeping Track of Your Schedule

The first thing to remember when deciding on a scheduling technique is that you need to find one that will fit not only your needs but also your personality.  Trying to adapt to someone else’ techniques may just make you avoid the schedule all together and that’s not the goal.

Some people prefer electronic planners such as a PDA or via their email program such as Outlook or Google Calendar while others may be more comfortable with paper planners, which are available in daily, weekly or monthly formats and in a variety of sizes.  Another option though not portable, is a large dry-erase board or bulletin board hung in your home or office.

Make sure the size of your planner will fit your lifestyle.  If you are going to carry the planner with you a lot, find one that will fit inside your purse or bag comfortably or briefcase.  If it doesn’t fit well, or is very heavy, it is going to be more of a hassle to carry it with you.

On the other hand, if you are going to keep the planner on your desk, consider opting for a large 8 ½” by 11” size.  This will provide you with plenty of room to write notes on.  An additional plus, it that this size is often divided into fifteen minute increments, which can serve as a very helpful tool.

If you decide on a paper planner,you can give yourself a visual image by color coding your tasks with highlighters.  For instance, assign the color blue to all of your personal and family obligations, such as doctor’s appointments, soccer games, family reunions, etc. and your business activities another color.  This way you’ll be able to see what you should be doing at a quick glance.

Choose various color for various activities or part of your life.  Choose categories that suit your needs best. If you have a day job and a home business, you may want to assign a specific color to each.

Once you’ve decided on your color and corresponding categories begin highlighting activities in your planner.  If one particular color seems to be dominating your week, you may want to consider re-evaluating how your time is being spent.

With the improvement in technology, digital planners can perform similar highlighting functions.  Smartphones combine a cell phone, planner, and even an Mp3 player all in one little package.

If you like the idea of keeping track of your schedule electronically, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a PDA or smartphone, use a program such as Outlook or Google Calendar.  One of the features of Google Calendar is that you can share your calendar with other users.  This can be helpful if you plan a lot of events (such as pot-luck dinners, game nights, etc) and want to let all of your family and friends know about them easily.

The dry-erase board/bulletin board option is great for those that are very visual or those who like to have a lot of space to make notes.  One board can be hung in the kitchen as a reminder to all to keep track of everyone’s appointments, games, and so forth.

Another board can be kept in your home office to keep track of your work, bill payment schedules, and the like.  If you work on multiple projects, you may want to have several boards, so you can easily see what needs to be done for each project.

Freebie Seeker Tips!

Are you a freebie and coupon hunter? Do you constantly enter giveaways and sweepstakes? Then you must be filling out tons of forms! Reduce your time spent by automating your information and passwords. Download RoboForm today!The free version works for most people!

Freebie programs make their money from sponsors. Frequently once you join a program, such as Quality Health or FreeFlys, you’ll receive emails with offers. When you open the link provided, there are several offers available that require you to enter your information. You don’t always have to complete these offers. Scroll down the page to to SKIP the offers. Do this a few times, and you’ll get to the program’s home page.

Remember, YOU WILL BE INUNDATED WITH EMAILS. I highly recommend you open a separate email account to use for your freebie seeking. Gmail (Google) works well and has great filtering features.

How To Keep Track Of Your Schedule

When it comes to keeping track of your schedule, it is very important to find one that fits your needs and personality.  If you try to adapt to someone else’s scheduling techniques, you may find yourself avoiding the schedule. 

Some people prefer paper planners and others like electronic ones, whether in the form of a PDA or through their email program, such as Outlook or Google Calendar.  A third option would be large dry-erase boards or bulletin boards that you can hang up in your home.

Paper planners come in a variety of sizes and can be found in “one page per day” formats as well as “weekly” formats, where the entire week is spread out between two sheets of the planner. When you open the planner, you are able to see your whole week, spread across the two pages.

When deciding what type of paper planner to choose from, make sure the size will fit your lifestyle.  If you are going to carry the planner with you a lot, find one that will fit inside your purse or bag comfortably.  If it doesn’t fit well, or is very heavy, it is going to be more of a hassle to tote it around.
On the other hand, if you are going to keep the planner on your desk, you may want to opt for a large 8 ½” by 11” size.  That way, you’ll have lots of room to write down any notes.  Plus, this size is often divided into 15 minute increments, which can also be a very helpful tool.

An advantage of using a paper planner is that you can use highlighters to help you get a visual image of where your time is going. For instance, you can assign the color blue to all of your personal and family obligations, such as doctor’s appointments, gymnastics meets, soccer games, family reunions, and so forth.

Keep choosing colors for the various “parts” of your life.  You can decide the categories to best suit your needs. If you have a day job or a home business that you work to earn money, such as a virtual assistant, while you are working on developing your more personal business, you may want to assign both of those different colors.  For instance, the money-earning job can be green and the personal business can be pink or orange.

Once you have decided on what your colors will be, start highlighting activities in your planner that match each colors’ category.  If you notice one color is dominating your week, you may want to step back and evaluate how you are spending your time.

As technology improves, more and more digital planners can perform similar highlighting functions.  You can even find “smart phones”, that combine a cell phone, planner, and even an Mp3 player all in one little package. 

If you like the idea of keeping track of your schedule electronically, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a PDA or smart phone, you can use a program such as Outlook or Google Calendar.  One of the features of Google Calendar is that you can share your calendar with other users. 

This can be helpful if you plan a lot of events (such as pot-luck dinners, game nights, etc) and want to let all of your family and friends know about them easily.  You may want to keep that calendar separate from your personal calendar, though.  Not everyone needs to know when your next dentist appointment is.

The white board / bulletin board option is great for those that like to have a lot of room to write or who are very visual.  One board can be hung in the kitchen to divvy up household chores among family members or to keep track of everyone’s appointments, games, and so forth.

Another board can be kept in your home office to keep track of your work, household bills, and other things.  If you work on multiple projects, you may want to have several boards, so you can easily see what needs to be done for each project.

Keeping Track of Your Schedule

The first thing to remember when deciding on a scheduling technique is that you need to find one that will fit not only your needs but also your personality.  Trying to adapt to someone else’ techniques may just make you avoid the schedule all together and that’s not the goal.

Some people prefer electronic planners such as a PDA or via their email program such as Outlook or Google Calendar while others may be more comfortable with paper planners, which are available in daily, weekly or monthly formats and in a variety of sizes.  Another option though not portable, is a large dry-erase board or bulletin board hung in your home or office.

Make sure the size of your planner will fit your lifestyle.  If you are going to carry the planner with you a lot, find one that will fit inside your purse or bag comfortably or briefcase.  If it doesn’t fit well, or is very heavy, it is going to be more of a hassle to carry it with you.

On the other hand, if you are going to keep the planner on your desk, consider opting for a large 8 ½” by 11” size.  This will provide you with plenty of room to write notes on.  An additional plus, it that this size is often divided into fifteen minute increments, which can serve as a very helpful tool.

If you decide on a paper planner,you can give yourself a visual image by color coding your tasks with highlighters.  For instance, assign the color blue to all of your personal and family obligations, such as doctor’s appointments, soccer games, family reunions, etc. and your business activities another color.  This way you’ll be able to see what you should be doing at a quick glance.

Choose various color for various activities or part of your life.  Choose categories that suit your needs best. If you have a day job and a home business, you may want to assign a specific color to each.

Once you’ve decided on your color and corresponding categories begin highlighting activities in your planner.  If one particular color seems to be dominating your week, you may want to consider re-evaluating how your time is being spent.

With the improvement in technology, digital planners can perform similar highlighting functions.  Smartphones combine a cell phone, planner, and even an Mp3 player all in one little package.

If you like the idea of keeping track of your schedule electronically, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a PDA or smartphone, use a program such as Outlook or Google Calendar.  One of the features of Google Calendar is that you can share your calendar with other users.  This can be helpful if you plan a lot of events (such as pot-luck dinners, game nights, etc) and want to let all of your family and friends know about them easily.

The dry-erase board/bulletin board option is great for those that are very visual or those who like to have a lot of space to make notes.  One board can be hung in the kitchen as a reminder to all to keep track of everyone’s appointments, games, and so forth.

Another board can be kept in your home office to keep track of your work, bill payment schedules, and the like.  If you work on multiple projects, you may want to have several boards, so you can easily see what needs to be done for each project.

The Agony of De-FEET: Fight The Frump

A blog that has made the Cara Honor Roll (aka my Google Reader) recently posted a fab “Opened Toed Shoe Pledge“. Go check it out! It’s a very cute pledge that all women should take if they want to wear sandals.

So let’s take a minute to talk a minute about pedicures. If you haven’t had one – GO GET ONE! It is totally worth the 25-30 bucks and half-hour to get your tootsies soaked, scrubbed, pumiced, moisturized, filed and polished. Plus, a massage is sometimes included all the way up the calves! It’s wonderful. Seriously, do it!

Now, once you have a professional pedicure, the do-it-yourself type sucks a little bit. But it is important to maintain a nice foot. Especially during the season of super cute shoes! So my advise to maintain the sandal-ready foot, is these simple steps:

• Keep a pumice stone in your bath/shower. You can take an extra minute every so often to scrub those feet to a smooth finish.
• Also keep a nail brush in your bath/shower. Nothing ruins a pedi more than dirty toes!
• When applying lotion, don’t skip the tootsies! Keep them moisturized with the rest of your body.
• At the very least, keep your nails trimmed by either using clippers or a file.
• When polishing, always apply a base coat to protect your natural nails. And always apply a top coat to protect the polish.
• If you are afraid of chips in your polish, stick with a pale neutral color so it’s not as obvious.
• If you’re in a bummy-mood, paint your toes red. It’s an instant pick-me-up! (a glass of wine helps too!)

For more beauty tips (as if you need them) visit my pal Mrs. Fussypants.

How To Keep Track Of Your Schedule

When it comes to keeping track of your schedule, it is very important to find one that fits your needs and personality. If you try to adapt to someone else’s scheduling techniques, you may find yourself avoiding the schedule.

Some people prefer paper planners and others like electronic ones, whether in the form of a PDA or through their email program, such as Outlook or Google Calendar. A third option would be large dry-erase boards or bulletin boards that you can hang up in your home.

Paper planners come in a variety of sizes and can be found in “one page per day” formats as well as “weekly” formats, where the entire week is spread out between two sheets of the planner. When you open the planner, you are able to see your whole week, spread across the two pages.

When deciding what type of paper planner to choose from, make sure the size will fit your lifestyle. If you are going to carry the planner with you a lot, find one that will fit inside your purse or bag comfortably. If it doesn’t fit well, or is very heavy, it is going to be more of a hassle to tote it around.
On the other hand, if you are going to keep the planner on your desk, you may want to opt for a large 8 ½” by 11” size. That way, you’ll have lots of room to write down any notes. Plus, this size is often divided into 15 minute increments, which can also be a very helpful tool.

An advantage of using a paper planner is that you can use highlighters to help you get a visual image of where your time is going. For instance, you can assign the color blue to all of your personal and family obligations, such as doctor’s appointments, gymnastics meets, soccer games, family reunions, and so forth.

Keep choosing colors for the various “parts” of your life. You can decide the categories to best suit your needs. If you have a day job or a home business that you work to earn money, such as a virtual assistant, while you are working on developing your more personal business, you may want to assign both of those different colors. For instance, the money-earning job can be green and the personal business can be pink or orange.

Once you have decided on what your colors will be, start highlighting activities in your planner that match each colors’ category. If you notice one color is dominating your week, you may want to step back and evaluate how you are spending your time.

As technology improves, more and more digital planners can perform similar highlighting functions. You can even find “smart phones”, that combine a cell phone, planner, and even an Mp3 player all in one little package.

If you like the idea of keeping track of your schedule electronically, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a PDA or smart phone, you can use a program such as Outlook or Google Calendar. One of the features of Google Calendar is that you can share your calendar with other users.

This can be helpful if you plan a lot of events (such as pot-luck dinners, game nights, etc) and want to let all of your family and friends know about them easily. You may want to keep that calendar separate from your personal calendar, though. Not everyone needs to know when your next dentist appointment is.

The white board / bulletin board option is great for those that like to have a lot of room to write or who are very visual. One board can be hung in the kitchen to divvy up household chores among family members or to keep track of everyone’s appointments, games, and so forth.

Another board can be kept in your home office to keep track of your work, household bills, and other things. If you work on multiple projects, you may want to have several boards, so you can easily see what needs to be done for each project.

Ha – I'm Right And Have Proof!

I’m finally getting through my Google Reader. I’ve become days behind and really needed to get through the posts. I subscribe to 56 feeds on blogs about cooking, frugal living, organizing, home making and business. And there are a few friend’s blogs thrown in there. Well tonight, while catching up with the goings-on in the Blog-o-sphere, I came across a post that has thrilled me!

You see, ever since I started dating my husband, I’ve argued with my dear sweet mother-in-law about refrigerating hot foods. Ok, not really an argument – more like a light hearted bicker that deep down makes me steam with anger because I know I’m right but I laugh it off since she is my mother-in-law.

{Long Exhale}

Anyway, it drives me nuts that after dinner, she’ll leave food out to ‘cool down’ before putting them in the fridge. Remember, I’m not talking about food straight from the oven, but food from the dinner table. She insists that it’s not good for the refrigerator or the surrounding foods to put hot items in the fridge. I however remember my basic home-economics class in middle-school and know that this is a big ‘no-no’ because you run the risk of bacteria growing on your food.

Well, Heather at HomeEc101 has a fantastic post proving me correct, with proof from the USDA and FDA.

Foods that cool too slowly will spend a long time in the
“danger zone” for bacterial growth.

So everyone take note:
1 – Refrigerate your foods as soon as possible to prevent bacterial growth
2 – Cara is right

Thank you Heather!