Being a Home Maker : Organizing the Home with Labels

Getting Organized Easily with Labels


I love labels. There I’ve said it. As someone who is obsessive about organizing, labels are part of my organizing tools that make my life easier and better. Having labels around means that everything can be categorized easily and quickly. A drawer filled with neatly-labeled spice jars or a cupboard stacked with labeled laundry essentials makes work quicker besides looking neat and organized.

Ever since I started using labels, I’ve gotten addicted to them and have used them pretty much everywhere – the kitchen, laundry room, cupboards, bookshelves, medicine cabinet and the craft closet.

Unfortunately, I don’t own a label maker since I haven’t been able to find one here in India. What I do own are readymade labels that can be used anywhere and everywhere. So, all I do is peel off the back paper, stick them where needed and write. Simple and easy.

So what are your favorite organizing tools?? Or what makes your life at home and work easier and simpler?

Pic.courtesy: sonictk http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonictk/360613804/

Book Review – The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville

Understanding the Importance of Respect in Our Personal and Professional Lives

I love reading self-help books. Part of being a Nichiren Buddhist is constantly improving oneself or “human revolution” and self-help books by good writers are a great inspiration. I recently got the opportunity to review The Power of Respect by Deborah Norville through the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger Program. Thank you, Thomas Nelson.


About the Book

In a time when everyone is caught up in the race to get ahead, respect is an ingredient that often gets left out of most human relationships. The Power of Respect talks about the importance of being respectful to others at home and at the workplace and in all relationships. It talks about how simply by being considerate and thoughtful towards others we can make a significant difference in everyone’s lives, including our own.

About Deborah Norville

Deborah Norville is the anchor of Inside Edition, the nation’s longest running and top-rated syndicated news magazine. She is also a two-time Emmy Award winner, a sought after lecturer and a best-selling writer. Other books by her include Thank You Power, Back on Track, I Can Fly, I Don’t Want to Sleep Tonight and Knit With Deborah Norville.

Review of The Power of Respect

The book under review consists of seven wonderful chapters that deal with the significance of respect in various situations. So, you have Chapter 1 that discusses the importance of respect in every relationship and aspect of life, while Chapter 2 details being respectful at home, raising children who respect others and also, being a respectful parent. Chapter 3 and 4 are filled with helpful advice, examples and suggestions on being respectful at school and in relationships. Chapters 5 and 6 talk about how respect plays an important role in the professional sphere for workers and leaders. Chapter 7, one of my favorite parts of the book, is all about self-respect.

Each chapter ends with Respect Reminders which is basically a checklist of things that we, as readers, can start doing instantly to be more respectful. Every chapter also has checklists and tips inserted throughout in neat tables as well as inspiring quotes on respect.

What I Like About The Power of Respect

The best thing about The Power of Respect is that it isn’t preachy. It talks to you. I loved reading it, since it was more like talking to a friend and learning about something important and vital. Deborah Norville’s easy writing style and interesting insights make The Power of Respect a wonderful read.

Buy The Power of Respect

Being a Writer : A Promotion and a Guest Post!

Why Writing for Suite 101 Just Got Better!



Well, I have news. And am sure the title of the post says it all. I had applied sometime in October for the post of the Buddhism/Taoism Feature Writer at Suite 101 and I just got selected **happy dancing**.

Being a Feature Writer at Suite 101 has the following responsibilities and benefits –

• I have to write 4 articles a month on my topic, that is, Buddhism/Taoism. I can write on other topics as well but I have to meet this minimum requirement .
• I get my own Topic Page and a Suite 101 blog for Buddhism/Taoism. I will be creating a schedule for posting to it regularly and will keep all of you posted.
• I get a 20% FW bonus since I've crossed 50 articles. Plus, I get an additional 10% bonus when I reach 100 articles, which should happen sometime this month**more happy dancing**
• Most importantly, I get to write on a topic that I love. Being a Nichiren Buddhist, I love to read and learn about Buddhism in general and being able to share this with so many people is simply awesome.

Now for the second part of my post. I recently got the opportunity to guest post at Laurie Pawlik-Kienlin’s blog Quips and Tips for Successful Writers. My post offers tips on staying motivated while writing for Suite 101. Laurie is the Psychology Feature Writer at Suite 101 and Quips and Tips has recently been voted among the Top 10 Writing Blogs.

So, head on over to Quips and Tips and do check out my guest post.

Do share your achievements and feel-good moments for this week or even, the month. It is always so great to have more things to celebrate.

Being a Mom: Why I Still Buy Baby Einstein Products

Or Why I Didn’t Expect Baby Einstein to Make my Toddler A Genius


The renowned Walt Disney Co.’s Baby Einstein DVDs were in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. According to this news story on CBSnews.com, Campaign for a Commercial-free Childhood had complained to the Federal Trade Commission about the “claims made on "Baby Einstein" packaging and the Web site were not supportable by scientific research.” While the Commission didn’t take any action, the campaign wasn’t satisfied and according to the news story, brought the matter to a group of lawyers who threatened Disney with a class-action lawsuit.

To cut a long story short, parents who expected the Baby Einstein DVDs to make their kids a “genius” could now get refunds or exchange the DVDs for books or other Baby Einstein material.

Well, the news article did get me thinking. Did I really think that a DVD would turn my child into an “Einstein”? Oh, puh-leez. I love Baby Einstein products – books, toys and DVDs. Do they help my toddler? Of course, they do. Just as an example, I was able to teach my daughter relationships – mommy, daddy, sister, grandpa-grandma using their books. Their DVDs are a great source of healthy edutainment and so much better than quite a few of the other so-called kid-oriented programs on television. But, did I expect the DVDs to make her a genius? No. Do still I think the products are great? Yes.

I pay a lot of attention to the kind of toys I buy for my daughter (read my post on it here) and yes, Baby Einstein meets all the requirements. So, for me as a mom, they are a great choice.

However, I don’t use the DVDs as a babysitter for my toddler. I watch them with her just as I would read her a book. I point out things that I think she may like and grasp. I sing to her and hum tunes along. She loves them. It makes her happy and that is enough for me.

So, while I have nothing against parents of toddlers who may have thought that the Baby Einstein DVDs will turn their babies into “Einsteins”, I do think that the whole hoop-la and refund business was a bit over the top. Just my humble opinion.

What do you think? Refunds Justified? Right? Wrong? Please feel free to comment and share your opinions.