In this technical day and age full of emails and digital photo sharing there is still something very special about receiving a hand written note. I still like getting the mail to see what goodies are in there but all to often it’s just a bunch of bills!

Make it easy to stay in touch with a loved one by creating a greeting card organizer stocked full of the supplies you need to send out a quick note. You will want to include some of the following:

• Greeting cards (Next time you are at the store stock up on a few cards that you love so you have plenty on hand to choose from)
• Thank you notes
• Personalized stationary
• Return address labels
• Colored Pens
• Stamps

Grandparents enjoy seeing your child’s artwork! Make sure you mail of a few pieces from time to time to share the love.

This week Mabel’s Labels launched their Ultimate Back-to-School Combo so I thought I would share how the company has transformed our school experience.

First of all, I have to mention those lovely backpacks sold online and in catalogs that promote getting your child’s name embroidered across the back. They are adorably cute, but I don’t recommend letting every stranger out there know your child’s name. Instead use a Bag Tag to help identify your child’s back pack in case it gets lost!

Labeling school supplies can be a real pain especially if you have to label each individual crayon and marker like we have to do. No worries, this year we are using the Tag Mates (Skinny-Minis also work) to cut down on time getting supplies ready.

Last but not least, I will never have to worry about losing the extra clothes we keep at school in case of accidents. Having Tag Mates on them has been very helpful in keeping up with the clothing!

What about you, how have your Mabel’s Labels helped out at school?

I quickly learned after my first child was born that much of the cutesy stuff hanging in the closet would hardly get touched. It seemed like between changes and messes and drooling my son lived in onesies until it was time to go outside. Most of the clothes were never worn because he grew out of them so fast. Now 9 years later I am happy that his school has a simple dress code. It helps take the guess work out of what we need. I simply buy what we need for a little over a week, because we rarely go over one week for doing laundry. After having three children clothes can get a little pricey so this guideline has helped us keep clothing under control. Of course we throw in a couple of extra fun outfits and the grandparents and aunts tend to send extras as well but by keeping the clothing we buy to a minimum we really cut out the clutter.

What about you? Do you keep tabs on how much clothing the kids have or do you go all out?

Whether you are a working mom, a stay at home mom or a mixture of the two, we all have one thing in common! We spend most of our waking hours trying to take care of other people and we leave very little time for ourselves!

From the time the alarm goes off in the morning until your head hits the pillow at night can you count how many minutes you have had to yourself? To be the best wife, mother, boss or employee you can, make sure you take time for you!

Giving yourself at least 30 minutes each day can be such a stress reliever and help you stay focused on what is important! Try soaking in a bath, going for a walk, reading your favorite book or just going for a drive on a scenic route!

How much “me time” do you give yourself and what is your favorite way to spend that time?

Whether you are decluttering your kitchen or your closet, here are a few simple questions to think about while you are sifting through your stuff. Sometimes decluttering can be an emotional process and asking yourself these questions will help you determine what’s worth keeping and what’s letting go.

1. Do I Love It? … I forgot about this award I got when I was in college…should I take a picture of it and let it go, or do I want to display it?
2. Do I Need It? … Are You kidding me, part with my hair dryer? Never!
3. Will I Ever Use It? … These black boots are cute, but I haven’t worn them in 6 years!?
4. Is It A Duplicate? … Wow, I really have three melon ballers?
5. What Is The Worse Thing That Will Happen If I Let It Go? … Ok, I’m letting go of two of my melon ballers. If I have a big melon decorating party I will just have to borrow a few more.

What questions do you ask yourself when decluttering?