Services Available:

Call Cari today to book your group's presentation - she has taught a variety of topics to MOPS, CSPOMS, Sertoma and other organizations and can suggest a talk for your needs. Or, gather a group of friends and have your own personal workshop in the privacy of your home for as little as $50! Ask about this month's special on Staging for sale or living, her low hourly rate for organizing, assistance with real estate marketing and purchases, Family Manager coaching, and her favorite new system for paper control.

Save on organizing products!

Mention "thecluttercutters" when you check out at http://www.dynamicframes.com/ - maker of Li'l DaVinci art cabinets (the BEST way to store and display your child's masterpieces) and save 10% on your order! Mention The Clutter Cutters to receive 5% off your order at http://www.theclearviewcorp.com/. Cari is a fan of the Corner Step Shelf - it added valuable storage to her tiny, triangular pantry!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Resolved to get organized in 2009?

Register now for our next study of The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home (Fast Solutions to Hundreds of Everyday Dilemmas) beginning Thursday, 1/8/09, at Mardel. We'll meet for eight weeks (9:15-11:15am, no childcare available) and benefit from discussion, accountability, and coffee! $30 includes the book and all sessions. Registration is limited to 11, so don't delay! Email cari@thecluttercutters.net for registration details. If this day/time/location doesn't work for you, we can also do a study group at another location just for your friends!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Organized holidays

Christmas is fast approaching, so I'd like to share some of my favorite tips for enjoying a less stressful holiday season.
1. Write down what each present is on the gift tag as you open it. Save the tags in a sandwich bag until thank you note writing time.
2. Host a swap party: invite friends to bring their unwanted items, such as bath sets, clothing and toys, set up areas indoors like you would for a garage sale, and "shop" from each other's discards. At a recent swap, new owners went home with candles, Barbies, a dress, a slow cooker, loaf pans, scrapbooking tools and recent magazines, among other items. Some were brand new and can be given as gifts!
3. Share rarely used spices and such with neighbors. Compare what each of you has before buying pricey items that will lose their flavor before being used up. Then, divide the shopping list.
4. Compare shipping rates at www.shipgooder.com to find out which service is cheapest for your destination. Or, let online merchants ship your purchase directly to the recipient.
Check back soon for more tips!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Free food - you'll thank me when you try it!

When was the last time you found a restaurant you like so much that you HAVE to go there once a week (OK, I went twice last week)?
Rod and I love Mu-Shu's (http://www.mushus.com/). Not only is their "fresh Chinese cuisine" served up fast (and steaming hot), but it is the best darn food this side of P.F. Chang's, our former favorite. For only $5.99, you can try a lunch sized entree (no skimping here, it's plenty) with your choice of brown or white rice, and a spring roll or soup. But, don't miss the turkey potstickers. The sauce is so good, we order extra to bring home - not that there are ever leftover potstickers - but that stuff is great on just about anything. I was only half-joking when I suggested that Rod try it on his morning cereal.
Now, the free part: Mention my name, Cari Pemberton, and that you saw this on my blog, and you'll recieve free Crab Mu-Goons (several of their dishes have fun names) with the puchase of any entree. This offer expires 12/31/08, but don't wait to try them out. We need to support our locally owned businesses!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Patriotic Girls

Publication:The Colorado Springs Gazette;
Date:Nov 1, 2008;
Section:Parent;
Page Number:72
Election FEVER
Presidential campaign offers opportunity to expand kids’ political awareness and teach the responsibilities of citizenship
By Kate Jonuska It’s a subject that’s usually complex, often passionate and always controversial. It’s a topic that you probably don’t want your child to learn about on the street or from TV. No, we’re not talking about birds and bees, but something almost as volatile and important in your child’s social education: politics. In this election year, when the presidential campaign invades our daily lives, more families are finding political issues cropping up at home and are using that opportunity to broaden their kids’ political awareness. For many families, talking about politics and government is an important way to shape a child’s moral character and their perspective of the world. “It’s our personal belief that just as you pass down your faith, you should help inform your children’s political outlook, explain why we believe what we do,” says Cari Pemberton, mother of this month’s cover models Bethany Salgado, age 12, and Erin Pemberton, age 6. Pemberton has gone to great lengths to get her daughters involved during this historic election year — they attended a McCain-Palin event as a family — because she wants them to grow into passionate and informed citizens. “Don’t be lukewarm. Be passionate about something,” she says to her daughters. “Apathy is a huge problem in America. If people were as passionate about politics as they are about football, our country might be in better shape today.”

Fellow Clutter Cutters!