To solve all these problems, I’m getting the Mobi Valet, a small pocket for your cell phone in the car. The phone can sit safely where it can be close for hands free, speaker use and still out of the way. I wont have to keep it in my lap or in a cup holder where it will rattle around or compromise a spot for hot coffe.

I had almost forgotten about the Slim Away until yesterday when I was at the gym. I noticed a woman in the locker room zipping up her Slim Away. I wanted to ask her if she enjoyed using it but was too shy. I did notice that I could not tell she was wearing it under her workout gear. Luckily, I heard another woman approach her and ask her about it. She said it was really helping her to keep motivated and work out more regularly.

I’m thinking of adding the Slim Away to my workout routine. I’ll keep you posted!

While I will still get the personalized picture frames as gifts, I will also ask friends to do at least one random act of kindness and then email me about it. Imagine how many good deeds can be done in just one day!

What are some of your ideas for random (or not-so random) acts of kindness?

Due to the fact that I had to get on the road to meet up with my family way too early for a Saturday morning, I decided to take it easy on Friday night and even attempted to get to sleep early. So, I propped myself up in bed in my sea of pillows with my book and decided to rest early and hopefully fall asleep early. Is it just me, or is it every time that you try to go to sleep early it’s as if everyone knows and tries to stop you from sleeping? Long story short, my phone kept ringing, and each time I would jolt awake and not be able to fall back asleep. I had to be up by 6. I made it to the family adventures in time, don’t worry.

The entire family (almost 20 of us) went out for a family dinner to a Chinese food restaurant. This place is known for their duck – they serve up to 300 whole ducks a day – but being a vegetarian, I ordered vegetable fried rice. Needless to say, I wasn’t full by the time dinner was over. But, my mom and dad had a gigantic piece of my favorite chocolate cake at the house for me. How horrible is it that after dinner I came home and ate half of m chocolate cake? Does it make it better that I only ate half and not the whole thing? Either way, I did it, and it was delicious.

Now, I literally spent the time with my whole family and extended family all day and night, so you can imagine, I needed Sunday to recover. My friend and I got smart. We decided to make the most of what could be a lazy Sunday: We grabbed our yoga gear and yoga water bottles and went to a 9 a.m. yoga class. What a way to get motivated for the day. I spent the rest of the day preparing food for this week’s breakfasts and lunches. I am ready for the week! ]]> http://www.Taylorgifts.com/blog/yoga-girl-water-bottle/feed/ 0 http://www.Taylorgifts.com/blog/8-pocket-coupon-organizer/ http://www.Taylorgifts.com/blog/8-pocket-coupon-organizer/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:52:16 +0000 KateStecher http://www.Taylorgifts.com/blog/?p=1290 We are getting near the end of January. Have you kept your resolution for a full month? I am especially interested in those of you who chose to save more money. What are you doing to save more money and how is it going?

Every day and I am bombarded with emails from my favorite stores. It takes everything I have not to look at all of them and shop every day…because who doesn’t like 30% off? I also joined several groups to receive emails about discounts on places and things going on in the area. Of course, I will never stop clipping coupons and saving them in my coupon holder for all of the hard copy coupons I get in the mail and particularly for the grocery store.

In addition to coupons, I have just been better about not purchasing things I don’t need, keeping up my coffee savings account, buying things on sale at the grocery store, and making sure to use what I have in the house before I buy new food items that will go bad. Tell me what your plan is and how it’s been going.

Our favorite topic is discussing how great it would be to leave work on a Friday evening, go home, lay on the couch, and figure out what to order for dinner so the most time off the couch we would have would be to open the door for the delivery man. Since this never happens, it’s a nice dream to share with good friends who are all just as busy as the next.

These dreams got me thinking…why can’t we have a night in just for us? Why are we always hustle and bustle and on the move to get something done. Which has led me to my next life decision: this Friday, whether I am alone or with friends, I will grab that large bowl fill it with popcorn and MnM’s and eat a delicious and balanced dinner of salty and sweet and either watch whatever TV is on or watch movies…because we all deserve a night in. Anyone want to join me?

For Christmas I received a few new pieces of art for my wall. I am excited to hang my new art on the walls, but dread the actual hanging. I always have a hard time juggling holding the nail steady, swinging the hammer while trying not to hit my fingers. When I hang the picture, I realize the nail is in slightly the wrong place, so I try again. When all is said and done, I have bruised fingers and several holes in the wall. I just found the new InstaHang eliminates the hassle and potential injury.

InstaHang allows you to hang your picture, posters, and mirrors on your wall in one simple step. By using the InstaHang you just need to push and the peg will go into the wall. The InstaHang peg holds up to 10 pounds, so you can hang virtually anything you might want!

So now you can enjoy your empty walls and all of the potential they have. The InstaHang will help you decorate like a professional without the hassle.

There are lots of ways to cut back and save. I have been finding more and more little shortcuts that allow me to save a little bit of money, but do not make me feel like I am missing out on life and things I enjoy. For example, I now have a travel coffee mug. I have not given up my favorite little independent coffee shop coffee, but I have cut down from 5 days a week to 2 days a week and I brew my own on the other 3 days. Is it saving me millions of dollars? No. But, I am putting $3 into a “coffee savings account” every time I bring my own coffee to work in the morning. Let me tell you what, $3 three times a week is $9 a week – multiplied by 52 weeks in a year equals $468 savings every year! I’ll take it!

There are many other ways to save some extra cash throughout the year. For example, heating cost in your house. Instead of raising the heat every time someone in one room gets cold, you might consider something like purchasing a mini metal fireplace heater to warm up that room a little more without raising your energy bill by raising the heat in the whole house. Also, don’t think of that spare change and “useless.” Save those pennies and you’ll see
how much they add up. You can even make it easier by using a sorting bank that will sort your coins for you into coin wrappers so once it’s full you can take it to the bank and fill up your bank account!

What other ways can you think of saving money for your New Year’s resolution? Happy savings!!

New Years resolutions are tricky entities. We make New Years resoltuions because we want to make a change in our lives…we have the best of intentions for our New Years resolutions, but somehow our want to make a change becomes a burden or too difficult and we fall off our new wagon and back into our old ways. For 2012, let’s make a real change – let’s stick to it! The goal of the 2012 New Years resolution is to follow through – so make your resolution something you truly can do! Don’t set yourself up for failure. If you’ve never worked out before and you want to lose some weight, don’t make your resolution to hit the gym 5 days a week and go on a super-strict diet 7 days a week. Start with smaller steps, such as Cook healthy meals at least one more day a week and exercise at least one more day a week than before. This way, you’re able to accomplish your goal and you’ll be setting yourself up for easier success. If you like to stay active but you’re too busy to hit the gym, and too cold to go running outside, take the plunge and purchase that elliptical you’ve been looking to buy but never did!

This year, take the time to really think about your New Years resolution for 2012. Make a change in your life that you believe you really can make without feeling guilty. Make your New Years resolution right for you this year!

1.

Personalized Pendant Necklace

2.

Personalized Stainless Steel Charm Bracelet

3.

GPS Cup Holder

4.

Manicure Set

5.

Micro Touch Max