I never buy myself anything, and I know that most moms are like me.  We buy everything for our families, and we take care of ourselves last.  The last winter coat that I got was when I was in high school (and I graduated in 1995).  I was definitely needing a new coat this year, and my Lands End Women’s Weatherly Jacket fit the bill.  The first thing I loved about the jacket was that it was not bulky.  I am a heavier person, and trust me when I say this, I don’t need any more bulk than I already have.  Now, even though the jacket is not bulky, it is still super warm (and this jacket was put to the test today when it was snowing out this afternoon).  The second thing I love is the fabric it is made from.  It is very comfortable; I could easily go to bed wearing this jacket.  I also have short arms, and I am able to adjust the jacket at the wrists.  For those who don’t have that issue, you have no idea what a pain it is to own clothing and coats that constantly covers your hands.  The pockets are fleece lined, and you also have side entry handwarmer pockets (and since I don’t like to carry a purse, these pockets come in super handy).  There also is an inside mp3 player pocket and some security pockets.  Lastly, there are a ton of colors to pick from.  I personally like blue, so that is what I got.

If you or a loved one needs a new coat this year, definitely make sure you check out Lands End.  You cannot go wrong with this brand!

If you have athletes in your house, you definitely need to look into getting some Cleatskins.  This is one of those products that it is hard to believe no one has come up with before, because it is so genius.  They are designed to fit over cleated shoes and quickly and conveniently take athletes (you know, those people who don’t need to take Phentermine to lose weight) from the field to the street.  These fit over all types of cleats:  baseball, soccer, football and more.  I remember when I played soccer in high school, and I would have at least two pairs, if not three pairs, of shoes I brought school.  I hated that after practice or a game, we always had to change into a different pair of schools.  I know that this is something we will definitely be investing in when my kids get a tad older and are in sports.  All of the floors in my house are real hardwood, and I will not have them marking it up.  They also protecting your cleats from wear and tear, and are machine washable (that has to be a mom favorite right there!).  It also creates a sealed barrier which keeps dirt and grass out of your home and car.

If you have an athlete in your family, this is the perfect Christmas gift.  These come in a multitude of sizes and colors, so you should have no problem finding a Cleatskin for the favorite athlete in your life.

School is upon us again.  Madison was in preschool last year and is in it again this year.  She had two backpacks that she used last year, so neither of them are very worn out at all.  I decided that since it was only preschool and they would work perfectly fine, I was not going to buy her a new backpack.  To the left here is the backback that she is using this year.  I feel slightly guilty, since it seems that the rest of the kids have new backpacks.  However, when I came across PakNak Charms, I knew I had my answer.  This was a way to alter her backpack and make her happy without me having to by her a new one.

Now, I got a snail and a butterfly to add to her backpack since it goes with the Tinkerbell theme pretty well.  She noticed right away that I added them!  The PakNak charms are made of a soft material that is both flexible and weatherproof!  It took me less than 5 minutes to attach, and I can easily switch the places of the charms.  Now, Madison’s backpack is pretty busy.  Can you imagine the difference these would make on a single colored cooler or backpack?  All I know is that the PakMak charms made my 4 year old a very happy little girl!

As a work at home mom, I often feel like I am going in 20 directions at any given time.  Add in extended family and you really think your life is a circus.  My kids are only 4 and 1 so I can only imagine how much worse this gets.  Qlubb is one of those organizing sites that allow you to not feel that your life is a circus.  You can use this as your own personal orgaziner, family organizer, playgroups organizer, school, organizer, or even a community organizer!  There are even sign up sheets you can use — I can definitely see this coming in handy for your next family reunion.  It is just as easy to add tasks as it is to add pictures.  The majority of the things you want this to do is on the main page which makes nagivating the site quite easily.  This is one of the few sites out that I have ever seen that allows you to use your social networking to benefit your real life.

If you need to get organized, check out Qlubb, and let me know your thoughts.