Cozi Blog

Spring Fun!

Spring is upon us! The kids are tired of being indoors, drinking hot cocoa, and watching the snow fall. The days are longer, the sun is shining brighter, there's a hint of spring in the air, and snow is turning to rain; it's spring! The vernal equinox is a wonderful time to plan some spring fun with your children. If you want to mark the entrance of spring this year, here are some resources and ideas to enjoy:

1. Plant flowers together! Head out to your local garden center and let your kids pick out the flowers they would like to plant. Have them plant the flowers, and also water them throughout spring and watch them grow!
2. Give your children a watercolor set and white construction paper, and have them paint their own spring masterpieces to hang around the house.
3. Enjoy bird watching! Birds are now migrating north, so it is the perfect time to head out to an open field and watch them. And since it's spring, there are many opportunities to feed ducks, watch scampering squirrels, and take in the natural world coming to life.
4. When a rainy day pops up, pull on your galoshes and go splash in the puddles. Make it fun!
5. Enjoy playing leap frog!
6. Fly kites!
7. Play Frisbee. To make it more interesting, play Frisbee golf. Hang buckets from trees, and have the players toss the Frisbee into the buckets for points.
8. Purchase small terra cotta plant holders for the kids to decorate with tempera paint. They can paint bugs, butterflies, or anything else they like!
9. Gussy up lollipops to look like flowers. Use felt, googly eyes, heavy card stock, and a glue stick to create flower faces atop the lollipops--a sweet treat.
10. Make paper mache eggs. Blow up small balloons, and paper mache the balloons with liquid starch and newspaper strips. When the balloon is dry, stick a pin in to pop the balloon. Cut out a hole large enough for the goodies you will place inside. Fill your egg with the treats, and seal the flap with either paper mache or tape. Paint the eggs with tempura paint in a variety of spring colors, and have the kids write their names on their eggs with markers.

Have a great time celebrating spring with your kids and their friends this year. It will be a bloomin' good time!

--Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

Clutter Busting Tips

Here’s a brief description of my recommended 10-step plan. This process will work — whether you want to organize one junk drawer, a stack of papers, one room or your entire home.

1. Dedicate time. If you simply say, I’ll get organized “someday,” then “someday” will never come. You need to plan for this and schedule the time.

2. Gather supplies. No, this is not a shopping step; it’s one where you gather the garbage can, the recycling bin and boxes for items you will be eliminating.

3. Establish a staging area. If the area you’re working in is small, spread out to another area where you can temporarily use the space for the next step.

4. Sort. The goal is to sort things loosely into groups of “like” items, so you can begin to see the quantity in each group.

5. Purge and eliminate. During the sorting process, you will more than likely run across items you no longer treasure and that you can eliminate by donating, selling, recycling or pitching.

6. Group like items together. Most likely you started this already in Step four. Now it’s time to be more specific about groupings.

7. Examine your space. Is there enough room for what you are organizing? Do you need to take measurements so you can look for organizing products or systems?

8. Shop. And you thought you’d never get to this step! Time to shop for products or systems that once installed will to help contain your groups of like items. Don’t forget to take a list of needs with you, including measurements of spaces where products will fit or of items they need to accommodate.

9. Install products. This could be as simple as putting things in a new container, or slightly more time-consuming, like installing a new closet organizing system.

10. Maintain. Devote the five to 10 minutes it takes each day to ensure your new organization systems continue to work for you and your family.

As you work through this process, establish a home for everything you have. Once you’ve done this, it’s important to review your new organizational systems with all family members. After all, you don’t want your hard work to go to waste. When you are finished, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done, or better yet, treat yourself to something, such as a movie, lunch with a friend or a massage.

Notice I didn’t list anything that would add clutter!

-- Laura Leist, Eliminate Chaos

Laura is an organizing and productivity consultant, speaker, and best-selling author. She is the founder of Eliminate Chaos and the President-Elect of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers). Copyright Eliminate Chaos. Used with Permission.

Spring Cleaning to Simplicity

After a long winter, it is refreshing when springtime finally makes an appearance. But for me, springtime means more than just warmer days and colorful landscapes; it means it’s time to simplify my surroundings. Since I enjoy creating a warm and cozy house, simplifying my décor does not mean stark and empty. But it does mean less clutter. Here are some ideas for bringing springtime simplicity to your household:

1. Let the sun shine in. Consider removing your drapes for the season. Or at the very least, replace heavy dark drapes with light, shear panels.

2. Replace candlesticks and holders with fresh flowers or a glass bowl of lemons and limes.

3. Store area rugs away until next fall and go with the cool clean look of bare floors. While you are at it, pack up extra pillows from the couches and chairs, as well as throws and blankets.

4. Clear off four items from your dresser, three items from your desk, 2 items from your fireplace mantle or living room shelves, and one item from your dining room.

5. Thin out your magazine collection. And to keep it under control, cancel half of your subscriptions, keeping just your absolute favorites.

These tasks may not be what traditionally comes to mind when you think “spring cleaning,” but cleaning the clutter can make just as much of a difference to your household as cleaning the dirt and grime from a long winter season.

What spring-cleaning tasks help you bring order to your home when the days start to warm up? 

Debbie Jordan Kravitz is a Professional Organizing Coach and the Founder of Virtually Organized by Debbie LLC. For more tips about anything and everything related to organizing and simplifying your home, time, and life, you can check out her blog at VirtuallyOrganized.com.

Last Minute Tax Tips

(ARA) - If you have yet to file your 2008 tax return, don’t panic. The key to getting it done quickly and efficiently is to have a game plan and know what to look for before starting. Use these tips to make doing your taxes easier this year.

Stimulus Plan
The new stimulus plan does not affect your 2008 Federal tax return unless you bought your first house between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009. If you did purchase your first house in this time period, you may qualify for the First-time Homebuyer Credit. To claim the First-Time Homebuyer credit, you’ll need to complete Form 5405. Keep in mind, however, that if you take the credit, you must pay the amount back over 15 years of subsequent tax filings. In other words, the credit is like an interest-free loan.

Tax Preparation Software
Using tax preparation software can help you be more efficient and accurate. Not only does it include the latest tax law changes like the updated First-time Homebuyer Credit, it also does the math for you and notifies you when information is missing. Most products are easy to use and understand, and include advanced tools to find deductions and credits. The price, additional fees, and included forms and schedules differentiate the products. For instance, some include five federal e-files.

e-File
Nearly 90 million taxpayers e-filed their returns in 2008 and the Internal Revenue Service reports that nearly 52 million tax returns have been e-filed this year. The IRS has made a big push for filing your tax returns electronically this year, and for good reasons. Thanks to the software that checks for mistakes, the error rate for e-filed returns is about 1 percent, compared to 20 percent for hand-filed returns. Those who owe money are also given additional payment options, including credit card, electronic funds withdrawal and the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.

Tax Refunds
Approximately 75 percent of taxpayers receive a refund. So far this year, the IRS reports that the average Federal refund is $2,811. If you need your refund sooner than later, it’s best to e-file with direct deposit. This method makes it possible for you to have your refund in as few as eight days, compared to up to four weeks with paper returns. Through Form 8888, you can split your refund into more than one account.

Alternative to Filing an Extension
If you can’t pay the full amount you owe, don’t file for an extension. Instead, file your return and pay as much as you’re able to by April 15 in order to avoid penalties and interest. The IRS will send you a bill with a notice and only charge interest and penalties on the unpaid balance. You can contact the IRS at (800) 829-1040 to discuss payment options, including short-term extensions, Installment Agreement or compromise. More than 75 percent of taxpayers eligible for an Installment Agreement can apply using the Web-based Online Payment Agreement application available at www.IRS.gov. Tax extension guidelines and process vary by state, so check with your state’s tax agency if you need a state extension.

Regardless of the question or topic, it’s nice to know you’re never alone. Information about various tax topics is available around the clock on the IRS Web site at www.IRS.gov, and more tax tips and TaxACT product information can be found at www.TaxACT.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Five Activities for Family Bonding

Nothing soothes the soul quite like a comfortable tête-à-tête with a friend or family member. Too bad most of us get more face time with the grocery store clerk than with the people who really matter in our lives. Looking to reconnect? Try these tactics.

Jettison the TV
A radical step, but it works. Exiling the tube to the basement, if only temporarily, can free up hours every day. Your brood will be forced to find alternate entertainment, which actually might include (gasp!) talking to one another.

Try a Little Gamesmanship
Standing dates for munchies and games (anything from gin rummy to a board game — whatever suits your fancy) are just an excuse for what you’re really after: a gabfest. Set up the card table, put out the chips and let the chatter begin.

Book Some Time
You don’t need to host a national TV talk show to start your own book club. For fun kids’ games, literacy-promoting activities and tips for parents, visit the RIF Reading Planet, an online feature of the nonprofit organization Reading Is Fundamental.

Champion a Charity
Community service is a terrific way to carve out quality time with loved ones and to give back to others. Lists of opportunities, from raking leaves to serving meals, are available online at such sites as Volunteer Match and Habitat. The Points of Light Foundation has a special section just for families at Points of Light.

Par-Tee
Gather the clan for a monthly bash. Make it a memorable event by having alternate generations select music from different decades. (For added family fun, you can even ask for theme-appropriate dress.) Or rent a movie projector and set up an outdoor theater to enjoy a film alfresco.

--Making Life Better

Tips for Stress-Free Mornings

Are your weekday mornings spent maniacally hunting for homework, fixing hair that won’t behave and scrambling for a nutritious breakfast? Check out these helpful tips for stress-free living at 7 a.m.

De-Stress Your Hair-Care Routine
First step — get the right haircut. If you are the wash-and-go kind, don’t ask for a high-maintenance style. If your hair is naturally curly and you live in a rainy or high-humidity city, don’t dream of that sleek Hollywood look for rushed weekday mornings. If you’re pushed for time in the morning, wash your hair the night before — you’ll find it far more manageable than freshly washed hair — and you can wet it just before styling.

Do More the Night Before
Instead of waking up earlier, take 15 minutes the night before to prepare for the next day. Right after dinner, set the table for breakfast. Pull out the toaster, cereal, bread or presliced bagels and, of course, the coffeemaker. Set up a slow cooker with oatmeal. Or make some pancake batter and refrigerate it for quick flapjacks.

Family Departure Lounge
Create a “departure lounge” — a place at the front door where everyone can organize important items (homework, keys, shoes, backpacks) for the morning. Buy colored plastic bins and assign one to each member of the family.

Refrigerate Your Keys
If you’re forever forgetting special-occasion items on your way out the door (like the brownies you made for the school bake sale), here’s a trick: Leave your house or car keys in the refrigerator along with the brownies. When you try to find your keys, you’ll remember to take the brownies along too.

-- Making Life Better

makinglifebetter provides tips and smart strategies to help you feel good, look good, and get more out of life.

Easy Entertaining

After 23 years of marriage and countless dinner parties, I started taking my husband Michael's advice to "do what you know" and "keep it simple". When I finally gave up the "pageant," as my husband so irritatingly called it, my experience drastically improved and I began to actually enjoy the process.

The Set-Up

Round seating: Many years ago I bought a round table from a party rental company for $125 that I use every time I have a dinner party. I love round seating-everyone can see each other and it makes for great conversation amongst the whole table.

Flea market finds: Flea markets are an incredible resource for so many  things for entertaining on a budget. A stack of cloth napkins is a must. They really do make a difference in the overall presentation of your table and with a little spray starch you can keep them looking their best. Flea markets have a
great selection of eclectic silverware and plateware that you can mix and match. Mix it up with a few different sets of salt and pepper shakers and your table will look amazing.

Candles: All shapes and sizes! Votives are the best and very inexpensive. I love to dress the table up with candles and vintage candlesticks found, again, at the flea market. Dim the lights or turn some off and have lots of candles burning. It makes the room more warm and cozy-and who doesn't look beautiful in candlelight?

Flowers: Go to a farmers market and pick up bunches of your favorite flowers. I always save vases whenever I receive arrangements and reuse them. Tulips are great because you can pack 3-4 bunches in the vase and they droop down beautifully, not blocking your view of the person across the table.

Glassware and stemware: Don't be married to the idea that you have to have full sets of anything. Mixing and matching works great! Try to make things coordinate but don't make yourself crazy. With the lights low and candles glowing, people will never notice.

The Main Event

Drinks: What is a dinner party without some good drinks? Choose a designated spot for your "bar" and set out an array of beverages. I like to put out a few bottles of wine and some hard alcohols and mixers and let the guests be their own bartenders. It makes it less formal and gets the evening started.

Appetizers: Think simple. Some loosely layered prosciutto next to some goat cheese, a wedge of Jarlsberg cheese and some water crackers goes a long way. Anchor the platter with a mound of fresh red grapes, and you've made the dish even more attractive.

The main dish: Put the recipe books away! The best thing I ever did was start making dishes that I have made many times, are easy, quick and delicious and offer a nice presentation.

Dessert: A cake or pie that is made ahead works best when you are keeping it simple. Some ice cream and fresh berries on the side makes the perfect ending to a great night. Another alternative is to ask your guests to bring a dessert. Most people will ask if they can bring something-take them up on the offer! It makes them feel better not coming empty handed and it gives you one less thing to think about.

The Clean-Up

Clean as you go and your sink won't be piled up at the end of the night. Put the leftovers away and go to bed. Perfection can wait until morning. When all is said and done, what's most important is the company. If you are relaxed and having fun, they will too.

-- Mary beth Evans, HybridMom 

Hybrid Mom covers issues relevant to women balancing home and work schedules while the needs of their families and themselves. They provide a voice to the fusion of roles represented in motherhood today.

Piercing Screams

One of the first rules of parenting is that you're not supposed to put holes in your children. Likewise, dents, bruises and other forms of damage are strenuously frowned upon.

This is why I was very surprised to find myself the week after Christmas trying on purpose to poke a hole in Lucy's ear.

"Sit still!" I said.

She screamed. Then I screamed. We were like this: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"Calm down you guys," Alice said. "It'll only hurt for a minute."

Like Alice knows. She doesn't have pierced ears. She's vowed to put the ritual off until "I'm a teenager or like 80," in fact. But her calming words worked. Lucy and I both stopped with our shrill piping, and Alice sat down on the couch next to Lucy and held her hair back while I worked the plastic ear-piercer thing around Lucy's minuscule lobe and got ready to squeeze.

How did I get to this point?

It wasn't anything I ever asked to do, that much is certain. Every year at Christmas, though, the kids draw a cousin's name from the hat. Then they buy that cousin a gift that costs less than $10. It's so much better than trying to shop for all 20 of my nieces and nephews.

My niece Ellie drew Lucy's name. A few days later, my sister called and said, "Can I get Lucy an ear-piercing kit?"

"Well..." I said.

Lucy is only 8, and I thought we'd wait a few more years before the piercing thing. I wanted to make sure she was old enough for the responsibility of it. You have to keep your earlobes clean and Lucy is the star student in Pigpen's Li'l Filth Academy. There is no other explanation for the way her shirts look at the end of a school day.

And then there's the little matter of not losing earrings. Lucy has lost three uniform sweaters this year, and each one had her name and phone number in it. It takes a certain amount of talent to lose something so thoroughly. Chances are her earrings will wind up not just lost, but in a parallel universe.

So naturally, I said yes, yes, let's pierce her ears. When she opened the box on Christmas day, she was thrilled. And my dad, a retired surgeon who pierced my grandma's ears, my mom's ears, my ears and my sisters' ears, was willing to do the deed once again.

I cleaned Lucy's earlobes carefully with an alcohol wipe while my sister held Lucy's hair back. I didn't want to look. The thought of Lucy in pain—even if it's in the name of beauty—still gives me the queasies. But I looked. I looked long enough to say, "Dad. You're doing it at an angle. Don't do it at an angle."

"I'm doing it at an angle," he said, "so the earring doesn't drop forward." This has been a problem for my mother, but it's because she wears heavy earrings.

"Don't do the angle thing," I said.

Then snap! The deed was done. And yeah, my dad did the angle thing. Then he did it again on her other ear, but at less of an angle.

I looked at Lucy, who looked so grown up with tiny studs in her ears. And I held her tight, to hug any remaining pain away.

There was just one problem. Because the first earring had gone in at such an angle, you could see the back of it from the front of her ear. She has really small earlobes, but yikes. It didn't look right. I imagined her being bothered by it every time she looked in the mirror for the rest of her life.

The next morning, I did the only thing I could.

I took out the earring so that the hole could close up. We waited a week for the do-over, a week in which Lucy was lopsided but as cute as ever. I sat Lucy down on the couch, and once our screams had stopped echoing off the walls, I put the plastic piercer thing in place. I looked at it from the front and from the back.

"Ready?" I said.

"Ready."

I squeezed, hoping I'd get it through on the first try. It turned out just fine. Perfect, in fact. Even Alice approved.

In the months since, the earring healed and she has fun switching her earrings to match her moods. So far, she hasn't lost a single one. And what I've gained is the knowledge that you do what you need to do when you're a parent. Even if it goes against your instincts. Even if it makes you scream.

But next year, if one of my kids draws that cousin's name for Christmas, she's getting a hamster. A pregnant one, maybe, so I'll have a little gift for my dad, too.

--Martha Brockenbrough

Plan Your Spring Break With Help From Cozi

You might feel like winter vacation just ended, but spring break is almost upon us. Depending on where you live, spring break might pop up on your family planner anytime between mid-March and late April. If you’re headed away for some fun in the sun, you’re probably counting the days until your vacation. For most of us, though, spring break means entertaining the troops, arranging extra child care, and stocking the cupboards with plenty of snacks for your kids and their friends. All of this involves some extra organization and planning, but with a little advance preparation and a positive attitude, spring break can be a week of fun for everyone.

Who’s Watching the Kids?
Arranging child care during school vacations can be tough. If you and your spouse can each take a couple of vacation days, you can split up the week and cover the child care without additional expense. If that’s not an option for you, most community centers have day camps during spring break, and some sports organizations offer spring break camps. If nothing like that is available in your area, consider asking a stay-at-home mom or dad to watch your kids for part or all of the week. Of course, you’ll need to pay, but if your kids end up with some of their buddies for the week, they’ll be thrilled, and the parent in charge might be thrilled at the chance to earn some extra money.

Add Activities to Your Family Calendar!
Whoever’s watching the kids, they’ll need to have some plans. While you don’t need to over-schedule your kids during spring break, adding some fun activities during the week can provide diversion and excitement. For a good mix, consider adding one special activity to your family organizer each day, with plenty of time before and after for the kids to lounge and relax. If your kids are old enough, you could let them each choose an activity, and add it to the weekly schedule. Whether it’s seeing a new movie in the theater or spending the day at the zoo, you can have some fun times and make fun memories with your kids during spring break.

Add Spring Break Memories to Your Family Journal
Don’t forget to take spring break pictures! Whether you’re away on a special vacation or spending the week at home, you’ll undoubtedly have lots of laughs and fun moments. Remember your good times with some fun pictures and notes in your Family Journal. Make spring break ’09 the first of many spring breaks that your family records in your Cozi Family Journal!

Don’t Forget the Snacks!
Adding a few extra items to your shopping list will help prepare you for the onslaught of hungry kids that could descend on you during the break. If your neighborhood is full of kids, you could easily find 10 little ones raiding your fridge a time or two during the week. You don’t want to turn them away empty-handed, so preparation is essential. Just by adding a few extra quarts of milk and some chocolate chip cookies to your grocery list, you’ll help make your house a fun destination for all the troops. Better yet, add cookie-making ingredients to your shopping list, and make homemade cookies with the kids now that you have some extra time.

Have fun!

Birthday Party Planning Timeline

If you’re going to party like its 1999 with your special birthday child and her friends, here is a suggested preparation timeline so you stay stress-free and can enjoy the big day.

Six Weeks Before:
• Choose a party theme with your child
• Draw up the guest list
• Reserve your entertainer or party venue, if outside of your home

Four Weeks Before:
• Prepare your invitations
• Ask for an updated class list from your child’s teacher (if necessary)
• Determine games, activities, and food that will be in line with your theme
• If ordering a cake, place your order at this time

Three Weeks Before:
• Mail invitations
• Purchase party supplies, especially if ordering online
• Arrange for extra help, if needed

One to Two Weeks Before: 
• Draw up a schedule of activities
• Purchase crafts supplies and favors
• Call families who have not yet responded (this is important in case the guests did not receive your invitation)

Three Days Before:
• Buy food, as well as film and batteries for your camera
• Charge your video camera
• Call your entertainer, if one has been hired, and confirm his appearance and what he will be doing during his allotted time
• Assemble party favors.

One to Two Days Before:
• Bake the cake or pick up your pre-ordered cake
• Confirm your help if you have asked parents or someone else to play this role
• Decorate your home or be sure decorations have been gathered for your outside venue
• Prepare food if possible

One Week After the Party
• Send thank you notes

Have a great time planning…you’ve got plenty of time!

-- Lisa Kothari, Peppers and Pollywogs

Lisa Kothari has based her ambition on helping parents throw the best childrens parties without the added stress that planning often creates. She is the founder of Peppers and Pollywogs, a kids' party planning company providing families with party ideas and inspiration.