Free Kindle Books 10/29

A few reminders, prices change all the time and these could no longer be free when you click on the link. These books might go back on in a few weeks, so check back. Also even if you don't have a kindle device, your smart phone or computer can get these free books.

Made With Coffee Recipes. 28 deliciously easy cake, muffin, brownie and dessert recipes made with coffee.

Cake Making Made Easy - Instructions and 60 Cakes

100 Brownie Recipes - Easy Recipes For 100 Of The Best Brownies

The First-Timer's Cookbook (First Timer's Cooking & Baking)

Lily Lemon Blossom Welcome to Lily's Room

The Misadventures of Electrolyte and the Justice Purveyors #1

Some more items for Hurricane Sandy

In case you still need to order a flash light for this week, here are a few ones that might help:

HY-88E Emergency Dynamo Solar Self Powered AM/FM/WB(NOAA) Radio w/ LED Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger w/ USB adaptors and cords

HYBRID SOLAR POWERED FLASHLIGHT WITH EMERGENCY BATTERY BACKUP BLACK (*2-pack*)

Quakehold! 70280 Grab-'n-Go Emergency Kit, 2-Person, 3-Day Backpack

Premium Solar Charger - Ultra Thin Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger for Cell Phones, iPhone, iPod, and Most USB Powered Device - Also Includes Built-in LED Reading Light and Window / Windshield Suction Cups

d.light S10 Solar LED Lantern

Organizing Yourself

A Jewish Homeschool Blog, put together a nice booklet of organization. I'm seeing all sorts of organization booklets like this on the internet from organizing months to weeks, to days. What's great about this booklet is that it takes into consideration keeping kosher and Shabbat. For example there is a checklist for Shabbat.

I personally do a lot of our organization digitally, but I think this is a great visual tool. I hope to see other ones like this.

Naturalizer 20% off + Free Shipping

Naturalizer is having a 20% off sale with free shipping



Oxford Heath Shoes


Naturalizer Vision Shoes

Quicken 2013

We use Quicken to do all of our budgeting and finances. I like it better than Mint for my overall tool because I can plan my bills and expenses for the next two months. One of the frustrating things I have felt is that I can only access it on my home computer. I want to be able to see everything from my phone or tablet. I want to know whats coming up in case someone else wants to use this computer. I also wanted to be able to access the finances without having to remote desktop into my computer if I happen to be out of town. Because of this, I have been using Mint to do budgeting and keep track of things and Quicken to do my planning.

Apparently in Quicken 2013, I can access my financials from multiple devices. I haven't decided if I'm going to purchase this or look to an online tool, but I'm curious what other people are using. Does anyone else have a running list in their ledger with the next month's worth of bills?

Quicken Deluxe 2013 [Download]

Preparing for the Possible Disaster

I grew up in Los Angeles, so we always had an earthquake kit. It had can food, bottles of water, flashlights, and a battery operated radio. The basics that you needed in the event of an earthquake. I also had a pair of shoes tied to my bed. My mother thought I was crazy, but in in 1994, when the San Fernando Valley was hit with a big earthquake early in the morning, I could easily find my shoes in the middle of the mess that my room had become.

When we moved to Baltimore, I quickly learned that before snow you needed Toilet Paper, Water, Milk, Batteries, and probably a couple of other items I never got. I didn't know why at the slight chance of snow the supermarket lines were long and the shelves were emptied of these necessities, but that was how Baltimore prepared for snow. When it snowed, good portions of my neighborhood were out of power for a little bit.

Last Fall and this Summer, we experienced a different type of natural disaster. Last Fall, we were out of power for 4 days. Postponing the opening of school for many schools in the area. We were lucky to rely on friends freezers to not loose too much food. We also went out to eat a lot. We didn't really need much of the items that I needed in my earthquake kit growing up. And the Milk that everyone gets before a snow storm wouldn't have done us very good. This summer, we had the entirely opposite side of things. We had freak storm that took lines down on our home in Baltimore and we were without power for 6 days. We were lucky enough to get out of town for the week, but we lost lots of food.

Now it's time to prepare again for Hurricane Sandy. What I'm told is LIPA households loose power all the time. I wonder if that will be true if we do get 100MPH winds. Will we loose the freezer full of food, my husband has spent hours cooking and baking. How long will we be without power? What are the grocery stores like after a storm.

What kinds of things should we have around?

Here are a few things we have purchased to equip us for storms:

Stanley J309 300 Amp Jump Starter

Duracell Powerhouse USB Charger with Lithium ion battery / includes universal cable with USB and mini USB,

Rayovac 813-12PP Alkaline D Batteries (12-pack)
You can save by doing Subscribe and Save and this is eligible for the Mastercard 10% discount

Trademark Emergency Lanterns (Set of 3)

Bread machine

We have a 1.5lb Bread Machine by Toastmaster that we have used and abused. It's been great and we have made tons of challot in it. It is one of those essential kitchen gadgets in our home.

If you don't have a bread machine here are some deals:

Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker, White for $65.08

Oster CKSTBRTW20 2-Pound Expressbake Breadmaker, White for $59.99

Breadman TR520 Programmable Bread Maker for 1-, 1-1/2-, and 2-Pound Loavesfor $58.99


West Bend 2 Lb. Breadmaker for $59.88

More Cool Hanukkah Ideas

While walking through a toy store today, I saw some great ideas for future gifts.

Q-BA-Maze 2.0 Starter Box: Cool Colors for $19.18

Educational Insights Design and Drill Take-Along Tool Kit for $20.99

Quercetti Tubation for $17.81

No Phones at Meals

I have become more and more attached to my phone, it's how I read, it's how I stay in touch, it's how I communicate. About a year ago, I instituted in the house that during meals the phones needed to be put away for all adults. Meals are our chance to really communicate with one another and talk. So I felt very strongly that this unnecessary distraction needed to go. For me it has been mostly easy. There is an occasion where I feel the need to look something up, but this hasn't been as easy for others family members.

I have other friends who have a no phone rule from the time that they get home until first thing the next morning. I'm impressed that they can do it each day.

Do you have a time each day that cell phones are turned off or put away?

Navigating the trains

I remember when we first moved to Baltimore. I was leaving an event and decided to explore a little bit. This was before GPS or my smart phone. I ended up at an intersection and because there were no signs I felt completely lost. I turned around and headed home. About 6 months later I hit the same section from another direction and realized I should have just continued.

I had a similar experience this evening. I lived in NYC during college, so I'm very familiar with the 1 and 9 (although I don't think the 9 exists anymore). But I'm not at all familiar with the A C E, which are the closest lines to my office. When I was leaving my meeting I waited at the train station, wondering if the B train would take me to Penn station. My phone had no reception and there aren't any maps. In college I really didn't pay much attention to my surroundings. As I learn to navigate the trains again, I know I will find faster ways. I just need to pay more attention.