cool thing alert!!!!!

I've been using a new service online that I think all of you should try. It's really helping me stay organized. It's Cozi.com - an online family organizer. I'm sure you've seen a ton of different online organizers that claim to simplify your life but this is really the first one I've found that works for ME. It's so fantastic that it will work for your entire family.

First - you add yourself and all of your family members and assign each of them a color and a separate color for the entire family. When you add events to your calendar, you can color code it so that you will be able to tell which person has stuff going on. You can even add multiple family members to each of the calendar entries. When you're done, Cozi will save everything on your account and you can also print it off in weekly or monthly form. It's super easy for the whole family to know what is going on.

Second - you can make TONS of lists. Grocery list, To do list, Garage sales list, etc. You can even save recipies. You have total creative freedom. I actually made a different list for each of the stores I shop at so I can keep track of the things I need to buy from those stores. Each list will have its own color so that it is easy to separate. The best part is that you can add your mobile phone numbers for each family member (my children are obviously too young to have a cell phone, but it would be great for older kids). On the Cozi website you can actually have these lists sent to your mobile phone or to your spouse or kids. Maybe your husband is leaving work and you have a list of things you need him to pick up before he gets home. Cozi makes it possible to text a list to him so that he won't have any excuse to forget everything you wanted him to pick up. Or maybe you need your teenager to meet you somewhere. Make a list of the directions of where to meet up and send it to them via Cozi.com! You can even have your saved recipies sent to your phone! What's better than that??? If you happen to be out of the house and decide to stop by the store unplanned, Cozi offers a number you can call to retreive the list you need!! How cool is that?!?

Third - there is a mini-blog where you can detail little things that happen in your life. Whether you want to make note of something that happened on vacation, baby's first words, or whatever you wish, you can blog it on Cozi. You can even add a little picture next to the blog. As of right now Cozi doesn't allow others to view this blog. It's a family only view. They hope to eventually make it to where extended family or public can view it. For now though, only you and your family can see it.

Fourth - there is a collage screen saver that you can personalize with your own pictures. That's pretty self explanatory and you can view what it looks like when you check out the website. You'll have all of your organized information and favorite pictures in a quick view on this screensaver.

This has helped my family already and we've only been using it for a few days. It was too cool that I couldn't resist blogging about it here. Best of all - it's a free service!!! (although texting rates will apply via your cell phone provider)