Go Graham Go! |

Graham has one of those storage cubicles in his room.  It really has been great for storing a lot of his miscellaneous items (shoes, books, toys, etc).  The only problem I had with it was putting it all together.  I mean, it wasn't overly hard, but it was time consuming and annoying!  the backings are flimsy cardboard that could probably be punctured by any of his various toys if tossed  hard enough.


When I was contacted by Way Basics about reviewing some of their line, I was really intrigued by what I saw on the website.  First of all, it is constructed with 99% recycled paper.  For those of you trying to lessen your carbon footprint this would be a great way to go.  Secondly, you can configure these cubicles any way you would like because they are not attached to one another.  This is great when you decide you would like to rearrange the room and need a little extra space.  Finally, there are absolutely no tools required!  This is my favorite part.  My husband actually put together one cube during a commercial break (we are 24 fans)!






Now, my first thought when I head that the product was created from recycled paper was, "and how long is this going to hold a few books."  When I headed over to the website and saw that a grown man could stand on one I was impressed (not what these were intended for by the way).  The Way Basics version is also much thicker than the one in Graham's room which makes me feel a lot better about the quality.

If you are looking for some simple storage solutions or even some cute furniture that is eco-friendly, Way Basics could be a good choice for you.  I know that we have been impressed just from the little bit we have experienced.  Prices start at about $22.

This product was provided free of charge by Way Basics. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.


Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Our family has been saving quite a bit of money each week just by me being more organized and intentional about what we are buying.  I don't have to use a ton of coupons to easily cut my grocery bill in half.  What have I been doing you ask?  I have been meal planning and taking inventory of the things we have on hand.  I have literally taken our grocery bill from about $100 a week down to about $50 a week.  This includes buying organic meat.

I was recently contacted by Karin Brough who is one of the sisters behind a brand new software called The Dinner Solution.  This software is a smart way to help you menu plan and organize so that you save!  If you find yourself spending over $100 a week on groceries or taking your family out to dinner more than once or twice a week, you might want to look into doing some menu planning.  Not only can it be healthier, but it is also easier on your wallet!

The Dinner Solution has been a great way for me to organize.  I can easily plan a week at a time (my brain just won't allow for more).  If you want to plan even further in advance you can do that as well.  There are recipes that are included with The Dinner Solution software, or you can easily add your own.  Once you have your meals added and planned...my favorite part...it prints out a grocery list for you!  All you have to do is add on the household items (if you need to buy any) and you are finished with your grocery list!  For me, this is half the battle!

You can also organize with The Dinner Solution by printing out freezer labels or inventory lists so that you aren't buying 2 more boxes of fruit bars on top of the 4 you already have in the cabinet (can you tell I have done this before).  Having an inventory also helps you make the most of what you have which saves you big bucks in the check out line.

You can purchase The Dinner Solution basic for $39.95 and the Premium for $59.95.   The Dinner Solution is only compatible with Windows.

This product was provided free of charge by The Dinner Solution. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

There's a lot to be said about having an organized house or office. Organization can be the key to helping your child be more successful in school and taking some of the stress out of your life. The thing is, it is hard to know what tools you need to help your specific needs. Smead has come out with a great new tool to help you assess you and your families needs called Smead Organomics.

The Smead Organomics website let's you choose if you would like to organize for one or for multiple people. It also let's you narrow things down by choosing what kind of help you are looking for (projects, meetings, immediate reference, etc.). Once you select your activity you have the opportunity to choose how you best work (visual, detail, team, etc.). This will bring you to a few examples of some organizing ideas that are geared to the way you think.

I am a visually oriented organizer and like to see things in their "homes". For projects, Smead recommended that I use the Colored Classification Folders in a desktop rack, Colored Poly Slash Jackets in a 3 ring binder, or Colored Super Tab Folders. Smead sent me these organizing items along with a few others in order for me to organize my life a little bit better. I had fun getting things in order and enjoy being able to put my "eyes" on everything I need! I like it when a company actually makes it easier for you to use their products!

If you are looking for some new ideas to rearrange the clutter in your house or on your child's desk, take the Smead Organomics evaluation for yourself. It is fun and easy to use!



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Browsing Etsy the other day, I found the sweetest little shop that has some great pencil cases, pouches, and more! All unique and perfect for back to school. Check out alliebeans! I love her whimsical patterns and the character of each of her items. Fall in love with hedge hogs, hippos, turtles and more. What a great way to send your one of a kind student back to school!






Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Our closet seems to be overflowing with shoes. It is not that we necessarily have some sort of shoe addiction, but for me, shoes have accumulated over time. I have been in about 3 or more weddings all requiring me to purchase shoes that I don't want to part with after paying big bucks for! My husband has several pairs of dress shoes and then I have a few myself. Sometimes it just starts to get a little out of hand!


The Shoes Under also has a nylon handle you can use to pull the case out form under the bed. The seams are reinforced and double stitched. This is also a great way to keep special shoes (bridal shoes) safe because it zips closed. You can purchase one for $10 right now on the website. They will also include a second one free (you have to pay the $6.99 shipping and handling for both). You can also purchase them from Amazon.



Subscribe to Go Graham Go as well as follow us on Twitter!

Before I had Graham I remember thinking to myself, what is all the hype behind people documenting every single time the baby eats, sleeps, or dirties a diaper? Was it really going to be that important for me to keep track of these things? This was coming from a person who had not yet been a mother and I soon found the reason behind all of this tracking! It was important for nursing and to see how well my baby was thriving.

During the first 3 months it is hard to establish a routine and if you are breastfeeding it can become a little tricky. I did pretty well to keep all of the information stored in my mind, but there would be times when sleep deprivation got the best of me and it would have been nice to have it written down. Every time we went to the doctor I was asked how many times he nursed per day and how long, how many dirty diapers and wet diapers he had per day and how well he was sleeping. How nice it would have been to just whip out this cute little notebook!

Aunt LaLa's Log was developed by a mom who needed a more organized way to keep track of all of these things. When she was tired of writing things down on the backs of papers, she and her sister developed Aunt LaLa's Log and the rest is history!


This adorable baby log can be found in several different styles and colors to suit your taste. You can shop by "boy" or "girl" themed journals. There are 90 days worth of charts that allow you to make notes of feedings, diapers, naps and anything else you think is important. There is even a section for keeping up with sicknesses and some general information. Aunt LaLa's Log also comes in a layout for Twins! I personally love the way the charts are laid out. They are done in such a no non-sense way! There is plenty of room for filling in or checking and it even provides a place to check to keep track of what side you nursed on! You can tell that the creators of this practical baby log have been there!

Aunt LaLa's Log would be perfect for the baby who has to be in child care. Even if it is a family member who is watching your child, you are going to need to know what went on during the day. This would be a simple way for your child care provider to keep things organized. Aunt LaLa's Journal is sized so that it will fit easily into most diaper bags or purses.

Aunt LaLa's Log retails for about $29.95 for the standard and $49.95 for Twins.

When thinking about Earth Day which is right around the corner, the number one thing that comes to my mind is how much my family wastes on lunches and all things that revolve around packing food! On any given week we normally use 8-10 plastic baggies and who knows how many paper towels. It was definitely time for us to find some better options.

LunchBots offers 100% stainless steel lunch containers that prove to be healthier than plastic containers! Some plastic containers are made with harmful chemicals such as PVC that do not need to be anywhere near the food we would like to eat! I actually am just finding out about all of this myself. Luckily I eat lunch with some pretty "with it" people that have been filling me in! This is why I was so excited to find a stainless steel alternative!

LunchBots are lead free and you can even check out their lab results on their website! There are two styles to choose from, the Uno and the Duo. The Uno is the single container that is perfect for sandwiches and the Duo has a divider that is perfect for keeping your carrot sticks and wrap separate! The LuncBots are extremely roomy and are easy to carry. I can easily fit them in Graham's bookbag as well as in my purse. They are so versatile that my husband doesn't even mind carrying them.

The LunchBot retails for $14.99! That is definitely a deal when you think about how much you will be saving in the long run.

We have been trying to find ways to save money and waste around our house lately. One way we have come up with is to start making more lunches at home to take with us to work instead of eating out. We have also been trying to use less snack and sandwich bags. It all really starts to add up after a while.

The Bento by Laptop Lunches is a perfect way for kids or adults to carry their lunch. Because it folds up flat, it is easy to carry most places with less bulk. The interior has 5 different compartments that all have their own special function! There is even a container perfect for sauces and dips! Anyone with kids knows that a special compartment for dip is a must! There is also a special place for the stainless steel fork and spoon. The Laptop Lunch User's Guide has some helpful tips as well as tasty and simple recipes that your kids will love. The Bento is BPA free as well as free from phthalates, lead, and PVC.

Check out all of the products offered by Laptop Lunches! They really have this organizing and using less thing figured out!

I found the most adorable store located in Australia through the Family Review Network! Bright Star Kids has everything from wall graphics to labels to bag tags! Bright Star Kids designs and manufactures all of the Wall Graphics on their premises in Australia. Every single product that they produce is made from the best quality removable vinyl that is available. They have a wide variety of designs and styles to choose from as well!

We had the chance to try out the Train Spotting Wall Graphics! At first I was a little nervous about what these graphics would to to my walls or that they would be permanently affixed! I was so thrilled to find out that they are simple to put up and they come off with ease! Because they are made from vinyl, they seem to be highly durable as well! It was fun to create our own little railroad scene on Graham's wall! If we found that we wanted to change the look, we simply peeled the piece off and re-applied it with no trouble! We had the entire railroad up in about 10 minutes. There is no lifting and the colors are extremely vibrant! The wall that you see in the photos is probably about 8 feet wide.


These wall graphics would be the perfect idea for sprucing up a kids room on a budget! They have graphics for girls rooms, boys rooms, and nurseries. The packages run from about $26-$52 and there is a $10 flat rate shipping charge. When you think about it, this is a lot cheaper than buying a of pictures and frames! The bargain is that most of these wall graphics could take up an entire wall if you wanted them to!

Bright Star Kids send all orders from Australia within 2 working days of receiving your order. Most US customers find that their parcels arrive in around 2 - 3 weeks, but if you live in a more remote area this could take a bit longer. The Wall Graphics come in a protective large cardboard envelope, so if you're not home when your mail person tries to deliver it, they will leave a note and you will have to collect it from your local mailing office.

Kids labels, they are everywhere! I must say, they are a necessity if you take your child anywhere (church, day care, preschool, mother's morning out, etc.). You pay good money for your sippy cups, kids shoes, jackets, and snack cups...DON'T LOOSE THEM!

We learned the hard way that even in a church nursery things will be misplaced or sent home with the wrong child! We started labeling Graham's things from the very beginning. Despite our best efforts, there were still some things that went missing. Well, now there is a label company that has given their labels a brain! That's right! Oliver's Labels is "how kids' stuff finds its way home" with its own ID number!

By using Found-It, Oliver's Labels FREE online lost-and-found, your hard earned money will make it back home! Here's how it works: When someone finds an item with the Oliver's Label attached they are prompted to go to oliverslabels.com/found. There they will find instructions to enter the code found on the label. Oliver's Labels then matches you to the code and sends you a notification email! Oliver's Labels acts as an intermediary between you and the finder so you never have to share any of your personal information!

Oliver's Labels are also very versatile! They offer the Original Label, Stick-eez Clothing labels (no ironing or sewing required), mini labels (for smaller items like toothbrushes or spoons), Iron-on Clothing Labels, Large Bag Tags, Shoe Labels, and Mini Bag Tags. There are several cute designs to choose from as well as Allergy Designs (No Dairy, No Eggs, etc). There are even labels for adults!

These labels are also durable! Oliver's Labels are made from high-performance, waterproof, weather-proof and scuff-proof materials that have been tested to be long lasting in a huge range of environments. The sticky labels are so durable that they can be used on items that go in the dishwasher, microwave, fridge, freezer and outdoors. The colorful iron-on clothing labels can be easily thrown in the washing machine and dryer and the bag tags are meant to withstand harsh outdoor conditions.

I am quickly learning that just because you had a sweet and angelic baby, does not mean you will have a sweet and angelic toddler!! Ok, seriously, Graham is pretty good compared to others I've seen, but the grocery store is the battle field! It has become so bad that I generally grocery shop on days when my husband is home or I just send my husband. Occasionally we will tag team it!

But.....

I stumbled across a life saver the other day! It is called OnTray and it is a little sanity saver in the shape of a square! Oh my.. where have you been all my toddler mom life?! Such a simple idea right? Well, leave it to a mom to figure it out! Laura, mom to three boys, invented this precious jem when she couldn't find anything to help her out! BLESS YOU LAURA!




I don't know what your grocery store experience looks like, but mine looks like a three ring circus! It all starts with the pep talk, "We are going into the grocery store and you are going to sit in the cart for mommy." Once we are in then he starts, "Juice, cookie, bite, want down...." you know the drill if you have a toddler. And being the super woman that I am trying to be, I try to manage this while getting out my coupons and marking items off my list! By the end of the trip we are both in tears (not to mention a few of the other shoppers)!

OnTray is a simple container that attaches to the grocery cart handle bar. The snack tray faces your child and their snacks are at their reach! Your hands are free! OnTray even comes with a lid so that you can easily store it in your purse or diaper bag. When you are ready to use it just attach the lid to the bottom and it helps hold the OnTray with more stability. If you happen to be child free for your shopping experience, you can still use it to hold your coupons, calculator, shopping list and pen! Hooray for sanity!

OnTray is BPA FREE, dishwasher/microwave safe, made in the USA and retails for: $7 or 2 for $12!

I am a lover of organizational products. I also am a lover of hand bags! My husband is always after me to "go through" my bags and get rid of some! "But what if I NEED it for something!" I had a storage bin I kept them in...until...the Handy Hold All!

Sarah Shaw is the creator behind this genius device! Not only did she come up with the handy hold all, she also creates her own fabrics! Before she started designing items to make our lives easier, she made costumes for movies such as "Ocean's 11" in her made-to-order costume company, Raggs to Order. Sarah left costuming and started Sarah Shaw Handbags, which rapidly grew, soon selling to over 600 stores nationwide! Simply Sarah was born after she realized that there was so much more left to create!

The Handy Hold All has 7 hanging loops with snaps. Each snap can hold 2-4 items! It even comes with Simply Sarah's own over the door hook! Not only can you hold purses, but it is also great for baseball caps, belts, scarves....the list goes on! I have mine hanging on the back of our bedroom door so that it is out of sight but convenient!

The Handy Hold All is also very affordable retailing for $30! Sarah has also generously offered Go Graham Go readers a 50% discount between now and 2/28/09 with code: gograham

Here's how it works:

First you clip your coupons. Sunday's paper is a great place to find those. Also, if you haven't done it, sign up for the mailing lists of your favorite stores! They generally send out coupons!

Next you pull out the convenient CoupStacker that allows you to pre-sort your coupons by categories.

Once you have your coupons sorted, you file them into the Pre-labeled category pockets. I love the labels as well! You can tell a mom made this! Great thinking!

Here's where it takes it a step further than a regular coupon book......

There is a section to file the coupons that will expire this month so that you are sure to use them before they are bad! The "Coupons to be used on this shopping trip" organizes you before you arrive at the store. There is also a "Checkout" pocket for you to place all of your coupons that you plan on using on the shopping trip saving you and all the people behind you in the line valuable time!

If that's not enough to make you want to buy it right now, Amy also includes a handy bag for your Couponizer to protect it. You can store it in your car so that you are sure to always have it with you!

See it in Action:

It never fails, the cell phone ALWAYS rings when I am in the worst position to find it (balancing a baby on a hip while shopping, getting in the car, etc). And it never fails that I can NEVER find the blasted thing!

If you are like me, your purse/diaper bag is HUGE because you have to carry everything but the bathroom sink when you leave if you have a baby or toddler! I dig around in that never ending bag that seems like the abyss when checking out to find my wallet or pen and check book. Screaming kid? Forget finding the cheerios! They are mangled up in all the other junk that is just floating around in there!

Enter... the Pouchee (insert angelic singing here)

This organizational tool is a dream come true! Sandy Jenney from Organize with Sandy sells these genius contraptions! If you haven't already seen her site you need to check her out! She also has 3 awesome blogs and was interviewed here for her organizational tips! There are separate spaces for cell phone, blackberry or handheld organizer, eyeglasses or lipstick, credit cards/license, inside room for money and extras with zippered pouch, and convenient carrying loops so that you can just pick it up and put it in another bag! What more could a girl ask for??!! I am no longer digging around for my phone when it rings and there's no angry mob forming behind me in the checkout line while I try to find my wallet!

The Pouchee retails $21.50 for cotton and $22.50 for leatherette! These would make excellent graduation, mother's day, or birthday gifts! I love mine!

Here are the Features:

*Six credit card pockets
*Four other pockets on the outside that are great for your cell phone, glasses, pager etc
*Inside contains a zippered pocket for money, loose change or anything else you may want to stay hidden
*Two small interior pouches for lipsticks or more pens
*Divided middle with 2 roomy sides that can fit your checkbook, wallet or PDA
*Expands to 4" wide

See it in Action:

How much can you fit in the back of a Subaru Outback? One pack and play, one full size stroller...wait... that's it! So, where do I put the groceries?


We've been storing our full sized stroller in the back of my car because we are limited on closet space! The pack and play usually hangs out back there too for similar reasons and because we use it every once in a while when Graham has to be watched by people other than our regular baby sitter. When I get groceries, they usually go in the seats not occupied by the massive car seat and the floor board! There is just never enough room!

When I saw the StrollAway I knew I HAD to give it a try! WE LOVE IT! I have room for groceries now! The best part is that it comes already assembled and is super easy to use. You just adjust the holder to suit your stroller and hook it on! It literally took me a minute to have my stroller hanging inside the closet on the door! It actually took more time to open the box the Strollaway came in!



Here are the features of the StrollAway:


*Heavy duty steel construction.
*Slides easily over the door.
*Spacer included to fit any door width.
*Folds flush to the wall when not in use.
*Coming soon! Wall mount version for the garage, and multi stroller system!

The StrollAway retails for about $49.

For more baby gear organization and storage solutions Click HERE!

I am so excited to share with you this wonderful find I came across a couple of weeks ago! It is Alphabet Soup Designs and why I am just now finding out about them I don't know, but they are an absolute dream come true! Their specialty is custom invitation and announcements, but they also have things like personalized place mats, bag tags, waterproof labels, enclosure cards, door hangers, notecards, the list goes on! They have stylish work that is very affordable!

Alphabet Soup Designs gave us the opportunity to try out one of the placemats! What I love about it is the fact that it has several purposes! Of course, you can use it as a placemat, but it is doubles as a coloring page! Flip over the cute design on the front and you have a blank space for doodeling! Most restaurants provide free crayons, so just take your placemat with you! They even have the option for lines for bigger kids to practice writing! The crayon comes off with a damp rag!

Here's Graham's in use (Concrete Truck):





What We Love:

*FAST! Pretty much everything is turned around within 2 days most things ship priority.

*PROOFS: Sent for ALL invitations and Christmas cards at no extra cost and also send a proof if it is requested or if drastic changes are done to the design.

*CUSTOM: Nothing is preprinted or set in stone so almost anything can be done. Alphabet Soup Designs also does custom work for a small art fee so if there's something you need but do not see email/call and they can get it going!

*LITTLE PICASSO: Have your child's artwork turned into one of their fabulous items!

*OPTIONS, OPTIONS, and more OPTIONS: bag tags, placemats, dishwasher safe labels, invitations, door hangers, recipe cards, stickers.........

*PRICE: They often offer monthly discounts so keep checking in! Even when they don't, they are affordable! This giveaway has ended and a winner has been chosen.

How many of you have had to take your baby on a trip or over to a friend's house for the day and also have to lug along your pack 'n play along with all of your other baby gear? It makes for a crowded car, lots of lifting, and a ton of time! Well thanks to the Korbie, you no longer have to deal with any of this!

Korbie is an all-in-one baby item that combines a diaper bag and a bassinet all in one! Impossible you say....well...here it is in all of its useful glory! Thank you to Maria Pistiolis who is a professional seamstress and a delightful grandmother to 10 from Charlotte, N.C. The idea for the Korbie came to her as she watched her daughter struggling to juggle a baby, a purse, a diaper bag and a suitcase through the crowded terminal. She took her prototype to the Everyday Edisons crew and her concept was carried out to completion!

What We Love About the Korbie:
*Storage, storage, and more storage! This bag has a ton of room!
*No more lugging around a ton of baby gear!
*Insulated pockets for bottles (easily fits 4 standard bottles)
*Single-push release makes getting to essentials a breeze!
*Sturdy, stain resistant and water repellent nylon
*Saddlebag design allows the Korbie to straddle the back of chairs
*Sturdy bassinet with carrying straps (supports up to 25lbs)
*UV-coated, nylon bassinet (even good for outdoors)
*Fashionable design
*Soft, washable terry cloth surface and safety harness on changing pad


The Korbie retails at $149.99. If you consider the pirce of a good diaper bag and a pack and play this is a bargain! Go Graham Go readers receive a 50% discount by using code: GoGrahamGo at checkout! Talk about bargains!!