As we head back to school and into Fall, days seem to
get shorter and the to-do lists get longer. This month we've got some ideas
to help you get the most out of every day.
With our newsletter, it is our goal to provide useful
information and tips to help you keep your life in balance, and to be
on call for you when you need help.
Ellen Lovelace, Founder and President
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1 Labor Day
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a tribute
to the contributions workers make to the strength, prosperity, and well-being
of our country. (source: Department of Labor) Ironic, isn't it, that
now it's a huge shopping day, when workers have to work instead of
celebrating!
11 Patriot Day
Remember the brave victims of September 11, 2001, on
this day. The flag is flown at half-staff, and there is a national
moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. Eastern time. This day represents the
greatness of America,
be sure to commemorate it in your own way.
Fall arrives early this morning. Have you
forgotten exactly why leaves change color? Click here!
29 Rosh Hashanah
The celebration of the Jewish new year begins at sundown
tonight. Ring in the year 5769 by eating honey to ensure a sweet new
year!
Have other
dates this month that are important to you: birthdays, anniversaries, etc.?
Visit our Forget Me Not page on our website to learn how QCS can make
sure no important date ever goes forgotten again.
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Get the Family
Organized
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Now that
vacation time is over and everyone is back to work and school, it can be
hard getting the family organized and your systems working for you.
Here are some ideas on how you can control the everyday flood of paper
that seems so unavoidable:
Have the
recycle bin ready: as you go through the mail,
immediately toss everything that isn't a keeper.
Create
"in baskets": everyone in the household gets
their own basket for to-do tasks, papers to return to the teacher,
phone messages, etc.
Route it:
whenever paperwork enters the house-whether via the mail, or papers the
kids bring home from school-read it and route it to its proper
destination. Give it the family member who needs to act on it, file it,
or put it in your own "in basket" to be taken care of.
Schedule it:
keep one large family calendar with everyone's schedule and events on
it. Invites, tickets, directions, and other backup paperwork should go
in a folder right next to the calendar.
Online
payments: try setting up online bill pay through your
bank. You'd be surprised how easy it is to do, and it saves you lots of
paper and envelopes, not to mention postage.
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Soccer
practice, gymnastics, PTA meetings, shopping, work-it's that time of year
again. If your packed driving schedule is back in full swing, you're
probably feeling the continued bite at the gas pump. Although oil
prices do seem to be coming down, it never hurts to save a little.
Map it out:
plan your route and stops in a circular fashion to minimize your miles.
Doubling back and getting lost are just fuel wasters. To stay on track,
GPS units have come way down in price and are more than worth every
penny.
Take it easy:
Everyone is pressed for time, but speeding is a big gas guzzler.
Driving 10 miles over the speed limit can reduce your MPG by as much as
10 as well.
Streamline it:
if you don't need the roof basket or ski rack for everyday driving,
store it in the garage. On the highway, more than 50% of your engine
power goes to overcoming drag. A roof rack can reduce your MPG by up to
6, even when empty.
Shut
it down: when you're stopped for more than 30 seconds in a long
line of cars or waiting for your child, turn off the car. Idling gets
you zero miles to the gallon!
(some information courtesy of Consumer Reports, July,
2008)
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Tips from Our Concierges
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Who doesn't love back
to school shopping? Fall comes and we all want to look stylish and have
the latest gadgets. Here are a few tips to help you look your best this
year.
Style swap:
host a get-together where your friends bring clothes they're tired of
or that no longer fit. It's a great way to recycle and to score some
new favorite jewelry, accessories, and outfits. Take any leftovers to a
local charity.
Score it on
sale: annual sale calendars aren't as reliable as they
used to be. But industry sources say there are still predictable
bargains to be had in every month of the year. In Fall, the big sale
items are bikes, gas grills, nursery plants, winter coats, and small
consumer electronics. The models might be last year's, but the bargains
are well worth it.
Spread the love:
experts say we wear 25% of our clothes 75% of the time. Try hanging all
your clothes with the hangers in one direction. As you wear items,
re-hang them with the hangers facing the opposite way. Pay attention,
and you'll see some neglected items just begging to be incorporated
into your wardrobe. If you still haven't worn them by the end of the
season, toss them and make room for new things!
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