By The Book - How To Take Care of MY Kids Review and Giveaway. *Closed*

Do you have to call the Doctors office to get a list of your child's immunzations? Do you have a questionnaire to hire sitters or nanny's?
Do you have an information sheet with your child's bus # and drop off location along with teachers names and school information on it if needed for a sitter in an emergency?
Do you have a secret family password that your children know?
Do you have a list for a sitter that would have your children' routines, likes and dislikes, discipline, medications and emergency numbers listed?

Now you can have all this and a lot more in this "By the Book Kids" Book. This comes in e-book and also binder form with tab dividers, charts and lists for you.
This book is a great place to have everything you need for your kids! I love these kinds of things that compile everything you need into one place. Working in the pediatricians office I get calls all the time with parents who have no idea when their child's last tetanus shot was or even when they had their last well child physical...not to mention they do not even know the names of the medications or doses they are on. So having this section of the book is a BIG plus for me!!

How To Use This Resource (Straight from the Book itself)
By the Book is divided up into different sections, each serving its own
purpose to meet your child’s needs. Each section deals with a different aspect
of childcare, be it the nap time routine, how to feed the fish or what you
allow and absolutely do not tolerate. Some sections will be useful for the four hour sitter.
Some will be helpful to the full-time nanny. Other sections are just for the parents. We’ve included everything. So customize the book to meet your needs. Use what you want, then put the rest in the back. As your needs change, you will be able to let the book change with you, creating a living document that grows with you
and your family.

To Buy: Go to www.Bythebook.com and purchase either the hardback cover for $19.95 (+S&H)
or the e-book for $9.95. You can also buy the cover and tabs for $4.95 (+S&H) so you can print out your own book. Karen has graciously offered my readers a discount! Coupon code BTBK7757 (case sensitive) for a 25% discount off the hardbound book!! (That takes the price to $14.96 (plus S&H). Fantastic!!

To Win: You can win a hardback copy of this book by going to the site By The Book and go "inside the book". Tell me one of the sections in the Table of Contents. Come back here and write in in the comments. Be sure to leave your e-mail on your comments to be able to win.


For Extra Chances To Win!! (Be sure to add a separate comment and e-mail for each entry)

1) Twitter about this contest! Come back here and tell me you did.

2) Subscribe to my Review blog. (right sidebar)

3) Subscribe to my Organizing Blog. (Right sidebar)

4) Blog about this contest! Come back here and add the link to your blog.

5) Follow me on twitter. Come back here and add your twitter name.

6) Follow my blogs (add yourself to right sidebar to follow). For each one of my blogs you follow (organizing and review site) you can earn an extra chance. Tell me about each one you followed when you come back here to comment.

7) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Review, Pouchee) to your sidebar and earn an entry for each one you add. Come back here with the link to your site where you added them.


This contest is open to US mailing address only.
Only one person from mailing address eligible to win.
(will send out an e-mail to the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me or I will pick another winner.)


This contest will run until Tuesday July 21st @ 8pm est.

BIA Parade of Homes Review and Ticket Giveaway

I was lucky enough to be contacted and asked to come see a preview of the BIA Parade of Homes in Dublin, Ohio before it opened.
I am thrilled to be able to share a couple of the homes with you. What I am so absolutely thrilled with is that most all of these builders are incorporating "organizing" components into their homes. I am going to keep my commentary down as there is so many neat pictures to show! I will give you the links to the info pages on the two homes that I show case their organizing specialties.
This first home is a home by M/I Homes. (Above picture)
The organizational specialty in this house has to be the woman's closet! I'm not sure of the dimensions to this closet, but it could easily be a bedroom in many of our homes.

These closet doors open up to a mirror where you can see the front and back of your outfit. There are 3 windows in this closet and a chandelier! Keep in mind that these homes are still feverishly being worked on getting ready for judging. So the drawers that should be underneath are sitting on top of the window seats.



The center photo shows looking through the two closet racks.
The man's closet is dark wood and wonderful also.









Now this is an organizers dream home!! It is built by Romanelli and Hughes and Sarah Schnulo is designer extraordinaire!!
You walk from the garage that Premier Garages have outfitted into the Family Organizing Center....250 sq. ft of pure Organizer's Love!!

This is the washing center. There is a washer and dryer stack unit in the family organizing center. The main laundry room is on the 2nd floor of this home, so this is just a bonus laundry center. It is meant to be used for those sports uniforms that come in dirty or wet snow clothes. You can take them off before you ever have to go upstairs. (And yes there would be a place to hang a robe if needed).

Directly across from the laundry center is your family command center. Calendars, places to put mail and bills, hook up for a computer...don't you just love it!?
That is Sarah who designed this area (she is my new hero!!)
If you come in the garage door and look to your right this is what you will see.

Is this too cool or what?


This is where you can take off those jeans that you may have gotten mud on and throw in the dirty clothes hamper. The basket above may have your clean jeans folded in them, or your cloth cubby may hold your robe or pair of shorts.
When you come in from school, the jacket can go on the hook...sit down to take off your shoes and store them in the shoe cubbies and toss your hat in the cubby above.
You can hang your book bag on the hooks at the end of the hall.


Do you know what this is? Do you have any idea? It is a walk through PANTRY!!!
Yes...as you come in with your arms loaded with grocery bags you can walk through and unload them so you don't have to carry them all the way into your kitchen. This backs up to the desk command center. It is like a big square in design. (keep in mind there were workers everywhere still putting up all the finishing touches on these houses..hence the ladder in the pantry)
I could go on with other pictures and features of this house. There is the storage shelves that are utilized under stairs, built in desk in the kids room. The house is divided into zones. The kids have a back stair case and their own game room with big screen tv and games. Go to my Organizing Blog to see some more pictures of this incredible house!
Loving this house!! Want this house....but for now I will just dream about this house!


I have been given a set of tickets to give away to come see this fabulous BIA Parade of Homes in Tartan Ridge, Dublin Ohio. Please only sign up if you are in Central Ohio and will attend or want to make plans to come and visit.

To Buy: Tickets cost $12 each and you can find the information here.


To Win: I will be giving away a set of tickets to attend the BIA Parade of Homes in Dublin Ohio.

1) Go to BIA Parade of Homes and check out their site. Tell me what the dates are for the 2009 Parade of Homes in Tartan Ridge. Come back here and comment on it. Please be sure to leave me your e-mail address.

For Extra Chances To Win!! (Be sure to add a separate comment for each entry)

1) Twitter about this contest! Come back here and tell me you did.

2) Subscribe to my Review blog. (right sidebar)

3) Subscribe to my Organizing Blog. (Right sidebar)

4) Blog about this contest! Come back here and add the link to your blog.

5) Follow me on twitter. Come back here and add your twitter name.

6) Follow my blogs (add yourself to right sidebar to follow). For each one of my blogs you follow (organizing and review site) you can earn an extra chance. Tell me about each one you followed when you come back here to comment.

7) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Review, Pouchee) to your sidebar and earn an entry for each one you add. Come back here with the link to your site where you added them.


This contest is open to US mailing address only.
Only one person from mailing address eligible to win.
(will send out an e-mail to the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me or I will pick another winner.)


This contest will run until Monday July 13th @ 8:00 pm EST

Mommy Grace Book Review and Giveaway - 5 Winners!!! *CLOSED*

The Mommy Grace Book is for any mom that feels:
1) She isn't perfect
2) She is messing up her kids
3) She should cook, clean, mother better
4) She needs a course on raising children
5) She is a terrible mother

...You get the idea. This book lets us know that we are NOT PERFECT MOMS and NEVER Will BE...and guess what????? THAT IS OK!!!!
We have God To be in control and that is the central message of Sheila Schuller Coleman's message in this book.

As mothers we almost all feel we are not good enough to handle this job and do it "perfect" like we feel we are supposed to.
This book is designed to help us get rid of our "Mommy Guilt" by giving us "Mommy Grace."
She uses really nice short real life stories that are funny and really enjoyable to read.
What I really like is that she showcases that "God designed each mother for her particular child". Isn't that neat?

TO BUY: Go to Hachette Book Group and it will direct you to where you can buy it for $14.99 ($16.99 Canada)

TO WIN: THERE WILL BE 5 WINNERS!!!!!
Go to Hachette Book Group and tell me what the publish date of this book it. Come back here and enter your answer in the comment section. You must make sure you include your e-mail to be able to win.

For Extra Chances To Win!! For each entry make sure you do a separate comment!

1) Twitter about this contest! Come back here and tell me you did.

2) Subscribe to my Review blog. (right sidebar)

3) Subscribe to my Organizing Blog. (Right sidebar)

4) Blog about this contest! Come back here and add the link to your blog.

5) Follow me on twitter. Come back here and add your twitter name.

6) Follow my blogs (add yourself to right sidebar to follow). For each one of my blogs you follow (organizing and review site) you can earn an extra chance. Tell me about each one you followed when you come back here to comment.

7) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Review, Pouchee) to your sidebar and earn an entry for each one you add. Come back here with the link to your site where you added them.


This contest is open to US mailing address only.
Only one person from mailing address eligible to win.
(will send out an e-mail to the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me or I will pick another winner.)


This contest will run until Thursday July 9th @ 8:00 pm EST **THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED**

TasteCasting - Dunkin Donuts in Worthington

Who doesn't love donuts? I know I sure do! I was lucky enough to get to go as a part of the Tastecasting team to the new Dunkin Donuts in Worthington, OH
We got to taste donuts, coffees and breakfast sandwiches. I know I got an education to what they had. I never thought of anything other than the donuts...(which is usually enough in MY book!!) Ok...I will let you drool over the next couple of pictures...


Ok..we all know how wonderful their donuts are right?
But they also have some other really great products....some of which you can eat without feeling guilty

There is a menu of items called the DD Smart menu. They are a healthier option with calorie counts below 300 calories. This is the Egg White Turkey Sausage Flatbread sandwich. It was really good!! Very filling and I just had a portion of one to sample. I will be getting another one of those for sure. Ok...so if I get one of those along with my donut it would be better than just eating donuts right?

I tried an iced coffee with cream and a shot of blueberry syrup in it. Now that was fun too. I sipped that all the way home and really enjoyed it.

This was the cutest little sample cup of their really yummy coolattas! These are on special until July 14th for only $1.99. Now...do not think they are tiny like my sample....look at the site. These are 16 oz sizes. I tasted the strawberry and vanilla. I do have to say that my favorite was the strawberry..although the vanilla really tasted good too. You can have them made with skim milk and they can fall into the DD Smart Menu with only 140 calories for a small. Yeah!
Stop by and visit and tell them Tastecasting sent you!

Custom Magazine holder review and Giveaway *CLOSED*

Have you ever looked at the magazine holders you can buy for your magazines and thought how plain they look? Well...no more. You can have the cutest shelves in town with Lisa's Vintage magazine holder. She has dressed up a basic magazine holder that can hold light weight magazines or catalogs with vintage fabrics and bows.

I think it looks so cute! She has added a place for a label to be added to it also. (Love labels!!)

She has many other items she makes and sells!! So you will need to check out her site! Pale and Pink Roses

To Buy:
Go to Pale and Pink Roses and you can buy them. They are $24.99 (plus s&h)


To Win one of her Magazine holders:

1) Go to Pale and Pink Roses and check out their site. Tell me which item you like the best on her "whats new" page. Then come back here and comment on it. Please be sure to leave me your
e-mail address.

For Extra Chances To Win!!

1) Twitter about this contest! Come back here and tell me you did.

2) Subscribe to my Review blog. (right sidebar)

3) Subscribe to my Organizing Blog. (Right sidebar)

4) Blog about this contest! Come back here and add the link to your blog.

5) Follow me on twitter. Come back here and add your twitter name.

6) Follow my blogs (add yourself to right sidebar to follow). For each one of my blogs you follow (organizing and review site) you can earn an extra chance. Tell me about each one you followed when you come back here to comment.

7) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Review, Pouchee) to your sidebar and earn an entry for each one you add. Come back here with the link to your site where you added them.


This contest is open to US mailing address only.
Only one person from mailing address eligible to win.
(will send out an e-mail to the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me or I will pick another winner.)


This contest will run until Thursday, July 2, 2009 @ 8:00 pm EST THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home Book Review and Giveaway! 5 Winners!! *Closed*

Are you a cleaner? I have to admit I love things when they are clean, but even though I am an "organizer" it doesn't necessarily mean I am the best "cleaner". I used to come home from school every couple of months to find my bedroom completely rearranged. I always thought it was big fun to have my bed in a new place. I thought my mom was just making my life fun. But she was cleaning! Everything, under the bed, behind the dresser etc. I have to admit...once furniture is in a place in my house, it doesn't get moved very often! I just do the best I can getting the vacuum underneath the bed.
Mrs Meyer's Clean Home book is like the book of knowledge when it comes to cleaning your home. She has "No-nonsense advice that will inspire you to clean like the Dickens." She has all kinds of neat tips and tricks. She takes each area and breaks it down. She gives you the "toolbox" of what you will need for each area of your home. She throws in humor and family/parenting advice along the way. It is cleaning the way we dream of!

For instance on this page about the bathroom sink. On the right hand page with the sink it says,
"Got TOOTHPASTE dripping down the side of the sink? Dab it up with a CLOTH and RUB IT ON your sink and shower faucets to BRIGHTEN them up."
Ok, right there I didn't know you could use toothpaste to brighten your faucets. I did know you can use shampoo to clean your shower (Fly Lady), but this was a new one for me.
On the left side of this page she has a chart for the different kinds of sinks and what to use to clean them including, porcelain, acrylic, limestone, marble and granite and solid surfaces.
The book is great ladies. The only way it could be better would be if when you open it she jumps out of the book and cleans your house for you!! (Now wouldn't that be cool!!)


To Buy: Go to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home site and it will give you a list of where you can purchase this book for $19.99/$21.99.


To Win: 5 WINNERS!!!!

Hachette Book Group is giving me 5 books to give away!!! Isn't that great!!!

1) Go to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home and check out their site. Tell me what kind of water she doesn't want you to waste! Then come back here and comment on it. Please be sure to leave me your e-mail address.

For Extra Chances To Win!!

1) Twitter about this contest! Come back here and tell me you did.

2) Subscribe to my Review blog. (right sidebar)

3) Subscribe to my Organizing Blog. (Right sidebar)

4) Blog about this contest! Come back here and add the link to your blog.

5) Follow me on twitter. Come back here and add your twitter name.

6) Follow my blogs (add yourself to right sidebar to follow). For each one of my blogs you follow (organizing and review site) you can earn an extra chance. Tell me about each one you followed when you come back here to comment.

7) Add any of my 3 buttons (Organize with Sandy, Review, Pouchee) to your sidebar and earn an entry for each one you add. Come back here with the link to your site where you added them.


This contest is open to US mailing address only.
Only one person from mailing address eligible to win.
(will send out an e-mail to the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me or I will pick another winner.)


This contest will run until 8:00 pm EST Thursday June 25th, 2009 THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

If you want a great Deal - Check out Buxr.com!

Buxr is a great resource for those of you trying to find some great deals, offers, coupons. In fact the fun thing about Buxr is that you can actually earn money for sharing your great deals! If you are picked as having the hottest deal of the day you can actually win money.
Here is a description that Buxr gives:
"Buxr.com is a social bargain hunting site where community members gather to share hot shopping deals. All of the deals on Buxr are shared, rated, and vetted by our community."

It is a very simple site, no bells or whistles, just down and dirty bargains listed here! There is a discussion board, faq page, and one of the things I really liked was a "how to" use the site video.
This is the faq page. I found it very helpful.
For those of you who are always tracking down the best deal...this site can help you two-fold. One, you can find some great deals. (Heck, if you get paid for posting the best deals, then you know that everyone is going to only post good ones!)
The 2nd thing is that you can post the deals that YOU find other places and make some money. How fun is that?
Check it out!! Buxr.com