Easy Shoe Storage

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Next stop in the Organizational Bliss series is shoe storage.  And it's definitely a hot topic based on the amount of activity about it on Pinterest. But few of those ideas are as easy and cheap as the solution we found at Ikea today.  

Like everyone else, we have a shoe avalanche to contend with. We also have a tot who loves her shoe variety and can be forgetful about putting them away. Of course we cut her some slack because she is only two, and, more importantly, there isn't any place designated for her shoes - until the Ikea "Kusiner" wall pockets came on the scene.

A couple of Command Hookskeep it secured to the wall.

The total for this sweet little set up?

Ikea Kusiner Wall Pockets: $3.99

A package of Command Hooks: $5.63

$9.62 for shoe storage that's compact, off the floor, non-damaging to our walls, and easy to access for our tot?  That's a little slice of organizational bliss for sure.

DIY Cleaning Solutions

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Christmas is over.  But this will not be a glum post about missing the holidays. Instead I'm excited for the new year.  Packing away the decor leaves fresh, open spaces and loads of possibilities. My guests have gone home and I'm imaging ways to hostess next year so that opening up our home will be more fun, seamless, and welcoming.  I do love Christmas, but it is time to move on and embrace what's ahead.

So this brings me to the Organizational Bliss project.  As I took down that decor, I got an eyeful of some spaces that need a good cleaning. I could blow the equivalent of dinner and a movie on cleaning products, but there are simple homemade alternatives.  I recently checked out Tsh Oxenreider's book, Organized Simplicity, The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living from my local library.  The most valuable part of it for me was the bevy of cheap, natural cleaning solution recipes for just about every stain or mess in the house.  And I'm going to share them with you.

In a few places I've noted that washing soda is not the same thing as baking soda.  Washing soda, sometimes called soda ash or soda crystals, is a cleaning agent that works well on oil and alcohol based stains. It is not interchangeable with baking soda.  Substituting baking soda will reduce the effectiveness of the solution. Washing soda can be purchased at your local market and at Soap.com.  If you buy on Soap, remember to shop through BigCrumbs to get cash back. Read here for more details about how BigCrumbs works.

And now the recipes.

Carpet Cleaner, Heavy Duty
1 part salt
1 part white vinegar
1 part borax

Mix the ingredients into a paste and rub on the affected area.  Let it sit for a few hours.  Then scrub away with a brush or damp cloth.  Make only as much as you need because it doesn't store well.

Dishwasher Soap
1 part borax
1 part washing soda (*not baking soda)

Mix the ingredients and substitute in equal measures as you would for your regular dishwasher soap.  If your water is particularly hard, increase the amount of washing soda.

Furniture Polish (for unvarnished furniture only)
1/4 cup olive oil

4 Tbsp white vinegar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well before each use.  Store any extra in the fridge because lemon juice can spoil. 

Glass Cleaner
 2 tsp white vinegar
1/4 gallon water

Combine in a spray bottle.  Works best when used with crumpled newspaper to wipe down the surface.

Laundry Soap

1 cup unscented, dye-free soap (such as Ivory), grated or ground with a food processor
1/2 cup washing soda (*not baking soda)
1/2 cup borax
A few drops of essential oil for scent, optional

Combine and store in a  labeled container.  Use 1 tablespoon for lighter loads; 2 tablespoons for heavy loads.

Mold Remover
1 part hydrogen peroxide (found at drugstore)
1 part water

A few drops of essential oil, optional

Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle.  Let the cleaner sit on the stain for about an hour before scrubbing off.

Oven Cleaner 
3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup water

Mix the ingredients into a paste and apply over a dampened area.  Let sit overnight.  Then scrape off and rinse clean.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar

Combine all ingredients and pour into the toilet.  Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub with a toilet brush and rinse.

Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp borax
1 Tbsp liquid dish soap
2 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle and spray on affected areas and then scrub.  For tough spots, apply baking soda the area to add extra scrubbing power. (Recipe courtesy of this page).

Tsh also runs a smart little blog, The Simple Mom, with lots of inspiring ways to down-size, declutter, and live life more thoughtfully.  I recommend a browse when you need a break from cleaning or maybe a post-Christmas pick-me-up.

Happy cleaning and happy new year!

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Swagbucks Explained

 

I don't do full retail price very well.  As a deal seeker, a coupon code scavenger, and a shipping fee dodger, paying sticker price almost physically hurts. Swagbucks is one of the ways I avoid full retail price pain.  If you're not "swagging", here's a tutorial on how simply browsing the internet can send cash your way.

What is Swagbucks?

Swagbucks is a search engine just like Google, Yahoo!, or Bing.  But when you enter a term to search, "cute baby animals" for instance, you'll earn points, or "Swag bucks", toward gift cards and other items.

Here's what happened when I hit enter after typing in "cute baby animals". 

Score 9 Swag bucks for me! These Swag bucks are automatically totaled at Swagbucks.com and can be redeemed for some very useful things such as gift certificates or other prizes, such as electronics, jewelry, toys, housewares and more. If you're thinking, "Eh, the gift cards are probably to places I never shop at", may I offer the following as a mere snippet of the sites where Swagbucks offers gift cards:

• Amazon
• PayPal
• Barnes & Noble
• Travelocity
• Starbucks
• Sears
• Lowes
• KMart 
• Dominoes Pizza
• Fandango
• CVS
• GAP
• JCPenney

and many, many more.

So What's the Catch?

There aren't any true catches with Swagbucks. But there are some things to consider to make your swagging experience as rewarding as possible.  

Sort of Catch #1: Not every search earns Swag bucks.  It's about every 8th or 9th search. The points range from 5 to 50 points each time.

Sort of Catch #2: The first few links to load will be from sponsored ad sites.  The rest of the un-sponsored web results are right below those.  Like this:

I'll be blunt; Swagbucks is no Google.  If I need to do in-depth searching on a topic, I google it.  But if I just want to find something easy like the name of a website, maybe a recipe site, an online store, or email, then I use Swagbucks.  And don't tell the Swagbucks folks, but I mentally skip over the ads and go right to the web results, unless what I need turns up in the ads section.  Sometimes it does.

How do I start?

Just register at Swagbucks.  It takes, like, 2 seconds.  Maybe 3.  And international deal hunters, Swagbucks is for you too.

How Do I Earn Swag bucks as Fast as Possible?

There are 6 main ways round up the points quick. Number 2 is my favorite.

1) Install and use the search toolbar.  When I need to search for something fast, I don't have to navigate way from the tab I'm browsing on.  I pull down the drop down menu and choose the Swagbucks search engine.  Here's a snapshot of what mine looks like,

The toolbar can be downloaded from the Swagbucks site.  Look for the "Toolbar" menu item on the main page after you register. 

2)  Find "Swag codes" easily on sites like sbcodez.com.  These Swag codes are just a combo of letters and/or numbers and can be entered on the main page at Swagbucks for instant points.  

3) Follow Swagbucks on Twitter and Facebook to see the swag codes that they randomly give out. 

4) Rack up on points fast by participating in surveys and watching sponsored videos on their site.  Swag bucks can also be earned by making purchases though their site, participating in polls, or playing games there too.

5) Search with Swagbucks on Fridays.  Fridays are "Mega-Swagbucks" days, and the points are even greater on these days.

6) Download the Swagbucks Search App on your Android phone.  Any searches you do on it can also earn points.

If you found this info helpful or have other strategies for successful swagging, please share by submitting a comment.  I love to read your messages.

Organizational Bliss: A DIY File Folder

When I started Operation Organizational Bliss, tackling the counter tops was a top priority.  I don't need to tell anyone how easy it is for these spots to attract clutter.  You already know.  

I have one counter top that is a particular mess magnet.  It's where our tot's art project supplies accumulate.  See for yourself.

I could try to train myself to put those things elsewhere, but that would be like trying to force a square peg through a round hole.  The craft stuff gets deposited there because it's easy to reach, and the items stay in view so they aren't forgotten. It's a natural place for them.  And I'd rather not retrain myself if I don't have to. I don't want to serve our organized spaces. I want our organized spaces to serve me.  That's when the bliss happens.

So the craft supplies need to be in that location, in view, nicely displayed, and done on a dime.  It's a tall order.  One that will need multiple solutions.  This week, I got in gear on the first solution by DIYing a file folder to house the coloring books, loose leaf sheets of paper, sticker sheets, and a few of mom's cooking magazines too.  Sure, I could've bought a file folder.  But my local HomeGoods store wanted to sell me a cheapy cardboard version with a dizzying paisley print for $14.99.  Nuh uh.  So I made my own and customized it exactly how I wanted for a fraction of the cost. Here's the play-by-play.

DIY File Folder Tutorial

You'll need:

• cardboard box
• duct tape
• fabric to cover
• Elmer's glue
• colored paper or contact paper
• white spray paint (optional)
• stiff card stock (optional)

Step 1

Step 1 - Start with a sturdy cardboard box. The thicker your cardboard, the nicer your final product will be.  Cut out the pieces to form the sides and bottom of your file folder.  I'm not getting super detailed on this because the pictures tell most of the story.  For a rough idea on dimensions, this file folder is approximately 12" h x 9" l x 4" w.  

Step 2

Step 2 - Tape the sides and bottom of your file folder together using a thick tape.  Duct tape is an obvious choice.  You can use camo colored duct tape if you want it to look extra tough like mine. Hooah!  Another reason to use duct tape? It will help seal the bottom from any spills that happen on the counter top.

Step 3

Step 3 (optional) - I knew my fabric was thin and that striking green duct tape would show through.  So I spray painted my file folder white.  Skip this if your fabric provides enough coverage.

Step 4

Step 4 - Cut your fabric into a rectangle large enough to wrap around the whole file folder.  Allow for at least 2" of extra fabric on the top, bottom and sides so that you can tuck and glue it with ease.  Glue your fabric to the cardboard.  The seam should start and end in the back.  And remember to check that the pattern is oriented in the right direction on your file folder.

At this point your file folder looks like this.  (Note that I didn't cut the fabric to along the slanted edges yet.  It's easier to trim those pieces after gluing to the sides).

Step 5

Step 5 - Trim the excess fabric, fold neatly inside the corners (pleats work well), and glue.

Step

Step 6 - Take some coordinating colored paper and cut it to fit inside the file folder.  I used blue wrapping paper because I liked its glossy finish.  But it was also very flimsy.  So I taped it around a thicker piece of card stock.  And by card stock, I mean a couple junk mail fliers taped together and trimmed to size.

Step 7

Step 7 - Last step! Glue the colored paper (exposed side of the flier faces the glue) into the file folder.  I turned my file folder on its side and laid a heavy book inside it to help the colored paper bond nice and flat to each side of the file folder. You could also use contact paper instead and skip the gluing.

And the finished product with the world's cutest product model too.  Those Barker Beauties ain't got nothin' on this.

We had a "before" so we need an "after".  One more time.

I can see more counter space already.  On our way to Organizational Bliss!

Don't forget Big Crumbs!

Maybe you've seen my post earlier comparing the big three cash back sites Shopathome, Ebates, and Mr.Rebates.  There's one missing from that group that trumps them all.  It's Big Crumbs, and I like the way they do business. 

You remember how a cash back site works, right?  You visit the cash back site, click the link to the online retailer you want to shop at, and then you shop at that retailer as you normally would.  Everything looks the same from that point on.  In the background, a percentage of your order total is tracked and sent back to you in the method you choose as free, easy cash.  That's it.  It's so easy, you are throwing away money if you don't use one when you shop online. 

Now back to Big Crumbs.  Big Crumbs is better than all the rest all for these reasons:

• Large selections of online retailers to choose from.
• Their percentage of cash back is generally among the highest out there.
• Coupon codes are prominently featured for even more savings.
• Cash is paid out every month compared to bi-monthly or quarterly for other sites.
• The minimum cash back balance to have for payment is only $1. 
• You don't have to do anything to initiate your monthly payments (unlike other sites, eh hem, Shopathome, I'm talking to you).  Once you've chosen your payment method, the money comes automatically, the way it should.
• You can opt to receive your cash back through your PayPal account or through their BigCrumbs Prepaid MasterCard.  (Note that the email address you sign up using is where they'll send your cash if you choose to receive through PayPal).
• It's not just for US shoppers. Australia, Canada, Ireland, and United Kingdom, this site is for you too!
• And even more love for the international shoppers - you can earn cash back on eBay.ca, eBay.com.uk, and eBay.com.au.

And while I rave about Big Crumbs, no site is perfect.  Here are my honest critiques.

• In rare cases, your cash can take up to 60 days to appear in your account.  That rare case happened to me on a big purchase.  Maybe the big purchases take longer?  Nevertheless, I followed their instructions for contacting them through the Help Link, and I learned that the Help Link is incorrectly named. It should be the No-Help Link, or the Link-That-Does-Nothing Link, or maybe the We-Ignore-Inquiries-From-This-Link-So-Don't-Bother Link.  That pretty much tells the story.  In the end, my nice sizable cash back amount was credited to me; It just took the full 60 days (while I wondered and wondered and wondered where it was.  Not cool guys).
• No option to receive your cash back via paper check.

But still, a whole lot more pros than cons.  

Every month I see a nice little deposit in my PayPal account from Big Crumbs, and it's welcome sight.  I hope you get to see it soon too.

Are you Swagging?

Photo: Swagbucks.com

If not, Fridays are a great day to start! Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days!  The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you even more dividends today.

Not using Swagbucks yet? Sign up because,

• It's Free
• It's Easy
• It pays you for something you already do - perform internet searches.

I'm just a few points away from my next $5 Amazon gift card.  Awesome!

FREE Ice Cream at Cold Stone Creamery on Sept 30th

I love a deal that helps support an amazing charity and throws in a lil ice cream too!  Mark your calendars on September 30, 2010, because just such an event is happening at Cold Stone Creamery locations around the nation. 

All through the month of September, Cold Stone Creamery has been  partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes for sick kiddos.   This is a cause that I love and I support with part of the proceeds from my own Medium Gold Wishbone Necklace.  It's a demure matte gold wishbone just under an inch long and made from luxury, durable materials. 

But back to the FREE ice cream!

Now in its charitable efforts, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted a wish that has very tasty derivatives for all.  Kate is an 11 year old girl whose wish was to be an official Cold Stone Creamery TasteMaster for a day.  (Nice wish, Kate!)

From 5 pm - 8 pm on September 30th, the fruits of her labors, titled Kate's Creation, will be served in 3 oz portions to each Cold Stone Creamery patron for FREE. 

And just what is in Kate's Creation? It's a mouth-watering combination of Caramel Apple Ice Cream, chocolate shavings, Graham Cracker pie crust, and apple pie filling. Get a look at this dessert. 

Kate, you shouldn't have! 

And the sweetest part?  85% of the donations acquired during the ice cream giveaway will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  So while it is free, be charitable and contribute a buck or two or more if you can. Well done Kate, Cold Stone Creamery, and Make-A-Wish Foundation!  Can't wait to participate. 

And don't forget to check out the Daffodil Boutique for a second look at that Medium Gold Wishbone Necklace and many other sparkling niceties too.

Rebate Sites for Canadian Shoppers

Purchasing online from our friends to the North pays its dividends too!  Here's a comparison of two well known Canadian cash back sites.

Mr.Rebates Canada:

• A great selection of over 2000 participating online sites to choose from.
• Coupons for your shopping destination site are easy to find on the site. The terms and conditions for those coupons are displayed too.
• Mr.Rebates promises not to offer your email address to third parties.
• Cash is paid out every month. 
• Can elect for your cash back payment through cheque (your address must be on file) or PayPal.
• Must earn 10 CAD in cash back before you qualify for a cash back payment.
• Gift card purchases are not eligible for cash back.
• Earn 20% cash back on each of the Mr. Rebates purchases that your friends make when you refer them.  
• Earn 2.50 CAD just for signing up!

Great Canadian Rebates:

• Accepted by 300 Canadian merchants
• Earn 10% cash back on your friends' purchases when they credit you as their referrer
• You must turn off 'Ad blockers' before clicking on their links
• Can't use coupon codes from other websites when making your purchase
• Cash is paid every 2 months
• Must earn 3 CAD in cash back before you qualify for a PayPal cash back payment and 20 CAD for a cheque payment. Referral or Signup Bonuses do not count towards the minimums.
• Can elect for your cash back payment through cheque (your address must be on file) or PayPal.  
• This site promises not sell or give away member information to third parties.
• Earn a free toonie (that's a Canadian 2 dollar coin for the non-Canadians out there) just for registering!

Happy Mega Swagbucks Friday!

Photo: Swagbucks.com

Remember Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days!  The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you even more dividends today.

Not using Swagbucks yet? Sign up because,

• It's Free
• It's Easy
• It pays you for something you already do - perform internet searches

It's Mega Swagbucks Friday!

Photo: Swagbucks.com

I just used a $5 gift certificate to Amazon that I earned from Swagbucks!

And I'm looking forward to earning more today because Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days!  The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you even more dividends today.

Not using Swagbucks yet? Sign up because,

• It's Free
• It's Easy
• It pays you for something you already do - perform internet searches

Up to 15% off at Soap.com

Photo: Soap.com

If you're looking for an alternative to the other online drugstores, consider Soap.  This is the new offshoot of Diapers and they have some great perks.  For one, they have fast shipping - like just a couple days to most locations fast.  They have a great selection of items and, as I like best of all, they offer coupon codes.  In fact here's tiered set of them that are good right now.

$5 off $50 - use coupon Laborday5
$10 off $75 - use coupon Laborday10
$15 off $100 - use coupon Laborday15

 

And if this is your first order, use code KLXR8877, for 15% off your entire order regardless of amount. 

Plus get an additional 7% off your order when you visit the Soap site through Mr.Rebates. 

Special Bonus: Orders of $25 or greater qualify for Free 2 Day Shipping.

It's Mega Swagbucks Friday!

 

I'm just a couple points away from another $5 gift certificate to Amazon!

 

And I bet I'll earn those today because Fridays are mega-Swagbucks days!  The normal searches you do on the internet can earn you even more dividends today.

Not using Swagbucks yet? Sign up because,

• It's Free
• It's Easy
• It pays you for something you already do - perform internet searches

Image courtesy of swagbucks.com.

How I Got $51 Off Running Shoes

I've taken up running and I'm starting to appreciate everything about it.  Well everything except the price tags on decent running shoes.  I'm a saver and a deal hunter.  And yes it pains me to drop what feels like a college tuition on a new pair of running shoes, but it's critical for your joints to run in good shoes.  So every 3 to 4 months, I ante up for a new pair of running shoes. 

This model is my favorite.  It's pink.  It's gel filled.  It fits my foot like a glove and makes me feel like my shoes have wings.  

And how much does this much euphoria cost me at retail? $139.99 - before tax, before shipping.  Ugh.

However, today we celebrate everything about this new pastime of mine, including the cost because with this deal, I got them for $91 - taxed and shipped.  Here's how you can too on just about any style that makes your tootsies feel like they have wings too.

1. Login to Shopathome and get 11% off right off the bat
   
2. Search for Roadrunnersports.com at Shopathome
3. Find your perfect pair of shoes (mine were on sale) and put them in your shopping cart.
4. Add the VIP membership to your cart for $1.99 as an introductory price for the first year. (This takes 10% off your total and will ship this and all future orders for the next year for free).
5. Put a note your calendar for 1 year from today or sooner to log back into Roadrunnersports.com and cancel your VIP memembership unless you want to renew at the full price next year - which is projected to be a $24.99 charge. (The VIP membership could save you money in the long run if you buy shoes often enough). And don't feel dishonest about this - Road Runner plainly states on the site that you can do this.
6. Enjoy your shoe purchase when it arrives 5 to 7 days later and at much, much less than brutal retail.

Not using Shopathome yet?  Why the heck not?  Here's some reasons to get you off the fence.

Also, for a limited time, Roadrunnersports.com is offering a tiered discount plus free shipping when you shop through this link. (Cannot be combined with the Shopathome discount).

$10 off $115

$15 off $125 

or $25 off $150 order 

My purchase didn't qualify for this because it was already on sale below the lowest threshold, but this might work for you.  So figure out what gets you the best bang for your buck and then go running!

Image courtesy of asicsamerica.com.

Sued for Blogging?

Ok.  Whose idea was it to give the lawyers Internet access?

You know you can't shout "fire" in a theater or "bomb" on an airplane.  But did you think that candidly reviewing the poor customer service at your local dry cleaner would make you a target of a defamation lawsuit? How about just commenting about it on someone else's site?  It seems like voicing your opinion on a product, person or idea would be protected speech regardless of where you do it.  But recent court rulings are changing precedent on the speech that the First Amendment covers. And when that Internet speech damages a person's or an entity's reputation, your next blog follower could be a lawyer.

David Savage at the LA Times writes,

"Most people have no idea of the liability they face when they publish something online," said Eric Goldman, who teaches Internet law at Santa Clara University. "A whole new generation can publish now, but they don't understand the legal dangers they could face. People are shocked to learn they can be sued for posting something that says, 'My dentist stinks.' "

And it's not just bloggers that need to be mindful.  Commenters can influence public perception too and can face prosecution for publishing their opinions. Commenting anonymously won't save you either.

Under federal law, websites generally are not liable for comments posted by outsiders. They can, however, be forced to reveal the poster's identity if the post includes false information presented as fact.

"A lot of people don't know how easy it is to track them down" once a lawsuit is filed, said Sara J. Rose, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer in Pittsburgh. 

The article finishes with this sobering piece of advice,

"The first thing people need to realize, they can be held accountable for what they say online," Baron said. "Before you speak ill of anyone online, you should think hard before pressing the 'send' button."

My first reaction is to recoil at the intrusion of the courts on Internet speech.  And then I remember, this is America.  We'll sue for anything here. However I'm not completely beyond seeing the other side of the coin.  Internet bullying and smear campaigns are ramping up as mean kids and malicious competitors move their tactics into the digital arena.  Lies often do run faster than the truth can catch up to them. 

But even still, I value honest opinions.  And I especially want to know when a product fails.  So far word of mouth is the best messenger for reigning in the over-reaching claims that many most advertisers present.  If honest opinion is hemmed in from all directions, how will the truth catch up to the advertisers' lies? 

Bloggers, will you be changing your tone in light of this?

Image courtesy of examiner.com.