For Parents F \ Three EasyTips For Starting The Week Off Right (NAPSA)—It’s 8 a.m. on Monday morning: Do you know where your brain is? Off in a million direc- tions, dealing with questions like “Mom, where’s my...” or “Honey, can you...?” And, like every other day of the week, are you struggling trying to remember who’s supposed to be where, when and why? “Life has become a constant juggling act andit’s harder than ever to keep all of the balls in the air,” said Lian Dolan, co-host of the “Satellite Sisters” radio show and a mother of two. “But muchneeded assistance is only a few minutes away for busy parents. “With three simple steps, they'll find that they can manage the madness and make the most of their limited time.” Step 1—Tune into Technology Face it, sticky notes and bulky day planners don’t cut it anymore. What’s needed is an online resource to help make senseofit all. For example, MakingLifeBetter. com is a new, free Web site from Unilever that helps moms better managetheir lives. It’s packed with family-friendly recipes, beauty advice and hundreds of tips. Best of all, it features a free online organizer from Cozi that manages schedules and activities with a shared family calendar, tracks shopping and to-dolists, and helps families stay in communication, all in one place. According to Cozi Family Experience Manager Amy Schottenstein, sites like MakingLifeBetter.com and Cozi help busy momssimplify their daily routines so they can enjoy spending more time with their families. “Time is at such a premium today and online | View: @ All TH Tuesday APRIL 2008 " 1 92345678 ye io 1 12 13 14 15 416 17 18 19 20 21 22 18 BR Wednesday 7 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Moo a | David @Anne @ Emily @ Ryan @ Lily 8:15a — 3:00p 8:30a 3:30p 7:00 p 8:30p 8:15a 3:00p 9:00. -10:30a 12:00 p 1:00p 1:00 p — 2:00p Thursday 6:00 p 7:30p 8:15a 8:30a 3:00p 3:30p 6:00 p 7:00p 1:00 p Friday — ALL DAY — 8:15a 3:00p 8:30a 12:00 p 12:00 p 1:00 p 3:08 6:00 p oT nN Te dTie 3:30p 1:00p 1:00p 2:00p 7:30p | Science Fair David Sales Mig Basketball Practice @ Childcare @ Pebble School eeee Emily's Recital @ Lunchbunch @ Work out w/Sarah @ Piano @ Volunteerat School Field Day Pilates with Bethany Soccer Game Mom & Dad's Anniversary @ Classroom Momin Lily’s Class. e Party Planning at Pebble @ Lunchwith Katrina and Rob @ Lunch with Steph @ Art Class e Dinner at Lucy and Tim's IJ Type appointment here [A Print mak ingli iayfa0Je 2:00 p Month Childcare 12:00 p -12:30p 8:30a — 3:30p = Week ~6) Send to Phone 5 Set up Outlook Sync Home Calendar + Shopping List + Family Journal makinglifebetter + Settings * More v Monday mornings can be easier if you use a handy Web site, MakingLifeBetter.com with Cozi, to coordinate family schedules and find quick, easy meals. resources built for busy families are a helpful way to free people up to do the things they really wantto do.” Step 2—The Powerof One One-dish dinners. One online shoppinglist. One area for bags, keys, books, equipment, phones. One basket for each family member’s stuff. Whole outfits in one place. Even a one-touch mail delivery system whereyou take the mail from the mailbox and put it either into the shredderor into the designated family member’s basket will save time and energy and decrease the frustration of losing things in the clutter of a black hole. If you find yourself adding anotherdish to the menu or putting things into new piles, stop immediately and return to the numberone. Step 3—Just Play Start the week uncluttered by enlisting little hands to help with cleanup on Sunday night. You can even add this to your Cozi family calendar on MakingLifeBetter.com so everyone in the family can save the date. However, resist the urge to nag or nudge andshift the focus to fun. In under a minute, you can turn a floor full of dirty clothes into a game of H-O-R-S-E basketball, so clothes make their way to the hamper without you. Add a twist to any room with a toy explosion by putting on a timer andcalling it “speed demon”—if the room is tidy in five minutes, everyone gets an extra scoop of ice cream. Sunday will be forever known as Funday or Sundae! These days, when every day of the week is a challenge, the key is to simplify your life with tools that are at your fingertips.
