Too bad I already have a calendar for this year because I found this fabulous calendar by Chaos Simplified!  Yes, I still use a paper calendar.  For me, it is easier to use and I can flip around and see more at a quick glance.  Check out the details and pictures I snagged off their website!  It has some really fantastic features!

The Womans Planner

Introducing the 2011 Womans Day Planner . . . Life Planner 

 Not only is this designed to simplify your days, it's now got your whole life under control!

The Features

• 3" fold over page marker - so you won't lose your place
• A newly designed monthly 'budget page' complete with fixed and variable expenses
• the keep it all together 'social planning' page
• the same amazing half page format to keep you sane
• birthdays at a glance page
• yearly finance/budget page
• household appliance tracking
• wish lists for everything your wishin' on
• xmas planning
• a page to keep track of what your saving for
• contacts
• notes
• the most incredible extra - pocket dividers in between each month to hold all those bills, cards, school notes etc.
  
  

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The unique format
It's what completely sets it apart  You no longer have to make the big decision each year, 'week at a glance' or 'month at a glance'.  The half pages allow you for both options all at the same time.
 the financial page - split into 2 pay periods in order to plan out at which point in the month will work to spread out the expenses within the income.  Now includes a space to track Fixed and Variable expenses to keep on budget.
 the social page 

• My Goals for . . .  A spot to record your goals for the month for; me, family, household and finances.
• family notes -  which could be used for homeschool lesson plans, what is going on for each family member for the month.
• What's happening this month, What's ahead for next month.
• Things on my mind - a chance to take a minute with a scripture to uplift and encourage.
• Important dates - record them and buy the cards ahead of time.

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Here's how the 'New' half page format works - 
Your 'weekly view' is always on top each month and the 'month view' is always on the bottom. The new format is due to the new pocket dividers in between each month.  Why the half page format?  This completely eliminates the 'month at view' drawback of having not enough space to plan and the 'week at a view' drawback of turning the page for the next week and realizing you totally forgot that you were supposed to have 4 dozen cookies at the school for Monday!
Use the month to jot down quick what is going on and then use the week section to record the details.

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Do you love it?   They also have an adorable planner for girls too!
















I will be bookmarking this for next year!
-Melissa

Avoiding the Post Office is Easy

Frequent trips to the post office are a big part of many businesses.  Before kids, repeated trips to the post office were inconvenient. But these days two babies, a large stroller, and a tiny post office just don't work out well!   During the holidays, post offices are so packed and I want to completely avoid them!  Here are some easy ways to mail from home! 


1.  Use an online source.  Stamps.com offers USPS-approved postage that you can print and mail from home.  Click the link below for their current offer.




2.  Use a scale to weigh materials at home.  Enter the information into the USPS website and affix pre-purchased stamps.  Here is what I do:

• Buy a scale to weigh packages at home.  You can find them at Staples, Office Depot,  Sam's Club or order them online.

• Purchase letter envelopes, manila envelopes, and bubble envelopes in bulk.  I find them significantly cheaper at Sam's Club.  You can also grab several flat rate envelopes and boxes free-of-charge from the post office or their online store to keep on hand.

• Stock up on stamps in a variety of amounts by purchasing them from your local post office, your mail carrier, or from the United States Postal Service website.  To purchase from you carrier, request a "Stamp Purchase Order" envelope (mine is orange).  You write your order and contact information on the front, enclose a check, place it in your mailbox with the flag up, and in 1-2 days your carrier will deliver the requested stamps with a receipt at no additional charge. 

• When you are ready to mail an item, fill your envelope or box and complete the address information.  Weigh your package using your scale.  Visit this USPS postage rate calculator site to enter the destination, type of package, and weight to calculate mailing options.  Be sure to  carefully read details to select the appropriate shipping method.  The final screen will tell you how much postage to affix to your package based on which option you choose.

• You can place packages under 13 ounces with postage paid in stamps in your mailbox  for pick up.  You can also arrange for Carrier Pick-Up if the package won't fit.  Click the link for more information on how to pay for postage on items more than 13 ounces so they can still be mailed from home with "carrier pick up."

Mailing from home will save you time and can expedite delivery to your customer!  It is a great way to mail out catalogs, product, fliers, pamphlets, and postcards to customers without waiting until your next post office trip or having to make repeated special trips. 
-Melissa

Do-It-Yourself Photo, Website & Blog Resources

When starting this blog, my expense budget was $0!!!  I wanted it to look clean and professional but with no experience and only basic computer skills, I needed some help to figure things out.  Trial and error definitely is a learning strategy but I didn't want to spend a ton of time making mistakes.  A blog I follow had a New Years post about creating a new look for her blog. By following her tips, tutorials, and using links from this post, I edited the photos and made the header on this page.  I created a "button" and am working on building a code that people can use to add my button to their page.  You will find her posts and links helpful to:

• Edit personal photos to make them look more professional.
• Update your blog by changing the look or adding new features.
• Update your website using ideas from these sites.  Create a "button" or ad that people can add to their page to link their readers directly to yours.

Here is the link for the Samster Mommy blog I'm referring to.  Natasha's post was amazingly helpful and gives you a list of resources she used!
http://samstermommy.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-new-blog.html


Two of the best blogs Natasha refers to are Sneaky Momma Blog Design  and Beautiful Blog Designs.  Sneaky Momma has a list of her tutorials on the right sidebar.  Click on Beautiful Blog Designs and you are taken directly to a list of her tutorials.  I refer to these sites often when updating my blog or looking for a new feature!
Picnik is a fabulous site that I discovered last fall.  I LOVE this site! You can upload and edit photos for free.  The Samster Mommy blog has a link for a tutorial on how to use some of the free and advanced editing options on the Picnik site.  I was really excited when I saw information on Picnik in this blog!

Give your blogs and websites more pizazz for free!  If you don't have one, maybe now that you know how easy it is, you can start one!  Enjoy!

-Melissa

Climbing Out of a Rut

In a rut?  We all go through them personally and professionally!  Nothing goes your way and everything you touch falls apart.  You may be unmotivated or can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  If another person asks you to do something or another thing goes wrong, you feel you might just snap.  Maybe, business has stagnated or sales have dropped.  You might have faced some really serious trials.

So goes the leader... so goes the group.  You are a role model for others: your family, your community, perhaps for other business owners in your organization; your attitude affects others.  When mom is in a rut, the rest of the family is likely to follow suit.  In business, John Maxwell calls this "The Law of the Lid."  People within an organization tend to perform below the standards or example set by the leader.

At the conference I recently attended, I asked around to find out how other ladies pull themselves out of a rut.  Most answered that they pray.  While I agree this is a critical step, I kept wondering what had to change in order to snap out of it.  Then it came to me... it's all about our perspective.

A trainer within our organization is known for her thoughts on "the pit."  She says, "When you are in "the pit", don't decorate it!"  Don't plan to stay there long enough to throw a pity party or make it a home!

Our frame of mind, the tape that is playing through our thoughts-our internal voice, the attitude of our thoughts... affect how we see and respond to everything!  So if we find ourselves in a rut, what should we do?

Get a fresh perspective!

• Pray- as was the most common answer I got in my poll!  Look for assistance from the One who controls it all.  Ask for change and direction.
• Stand back and take a fresh look at your situation. Where do you see negativity?  If you need help viewing your situation, ask someone who knows you well to help. 
• Choose to change your thinking and your attitude.
• Identify activities and actions that need a change.  If you keep doing the same things, getting the same results- change what you are doing!
• Look for the positives daily and focus on those.
• Associate with positive people.
• Refuse to let the actions of others control you.

"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with you... We are in charge of our ATTITUDES." (Charles Swindoll)

Happy New Year!
-Melissa