I saw the Post-it Pop-up Notes Desk Grip Dispenser at Staples a few months ago, and just had to have it. It was adorable. It still is, in fact. The disposable dispenser came with 200 post-it notes (alternating in orange and yellow colors), and has a rubber grip to help it stick/suction to whatever flat, smooth surface it happens to be on. The grip actually ripped off last month, but I was able to tape it back into place.

Overall, the dispenser is holding up well. Post-it notes dispense easily enough, and the bright colors definitely accent my desk area well! I just wish that the box was refillable!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I’m normally a Sharpie kind of girl, but when I was at the dollar store yesterday on a spontaneous quest to pick up some pool toys, they didn’t have any Sharpies available. So I purchased a BIC Mark It Super Duty Permanent Marker.

I have to say, this is the fattest permanent marker I have ever owned. But it feels so good to be held! It feels rugged and durable, though I’m sure that has a lot to do with the rubberized, textured gripping area. The marker itself is thick and steady, and definitely permanent. I definitely like this marker!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Two weeks ago I received an email from Shutterfly, advertising an offer for, among other things, free sets of note cards (only shipping & handling required). I had several photos in mind that would make a nice note card cover, and I can always use cards and stationery, and so I decided to order a set. I ordered one set (12 note cards, envelopes included), was able to easily add my own photo, choose the finish (matte or gloss; I chose matte) and check out, and had my cards in hand within a week’s time, for only $2.64 S&H.

The note cards are 5″ x 3.5″ (I chose the oorizontal layout), and come on sturdy card stock. The photo I chose came out beautifully, as did the cards themselves. My only tiny gripe is that Shutterfly took it upon themselves to advertise on the back of the note cards. I understand needing to get the word out about your company, but if a customer is paying for a product, they shouldn’t have to advertise for you, too!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Dr. Grip pen is, hands down, the most comfortable pen I have ever used. I first discovered them back in high school, when a friend of mine lent me one of her pens. It was a Dr. Grip, and I couldn’t get enough of it! I asked her where she bought it, and that night begged my mom to take me to Wal-mart.

I admit, the $7 price tag on the pen made me wince, since I was used to buying ten packs of BIC pens for just a few dollars, but in the end, it was so worth it. Here I am, almost ten years later, and I still enjoy Dr. Grip pens, and recommend them to anyone I know who is looking for a decent pen to write with.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Several weeks ago my husband came home with a sample of Brother Premium Glossy Photo Paper for me to use. I’ve kind of veered away from glossy in favor of matte, but I still use glossy off and on, particularly for photos of the kids, or photos with lots of colors.

So… I could tell you that I am pleased with the quality of the photo paper. And that while it doesn’t feel as thick as HP’s Premium Plus Photo Paper (Gloss), that it still seems just as good. And that paper thickness would be a moot point since most of our photos go right into albums or photo frames.

But instead I’ll let you judge for yourself. The following is a scan of the same photo printed twice: first on Brother Premium Glossy Photo Paper, and then on HP’s Premium Plus Photo Paper (Gloss). Ignore any crookedness – that is from me failing at lining up the photos properly on the scanning bed.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

After doing a quick write up on jenn.nu last week about them, I decided to check out Vista Print and use the coupon code BlogAddress75 and save 75% on an address labels order! Well, for $5.49 I ordered 140 address labels and chose priority shipping. I ordered them last Friday afternoon, and they arrived yesterday (Wednesday).

The address labels themselves are a lot bigger than I realized they would be! Up until this point I have always used address labels that I printed myself, using an Avery template with labels that are 1 3/4″ in length and 1/2″ in height. The return address labels from Vista Print are 2 3/4″ in length and nearly 1″ in height. No biggie – the easier to see, the better they are, I suppose!

My surprise at the larger size aside, I am pleased with the quality of these return address labels, and would definitely order from Vista Print again!

Two weeks ago I received a Mom Agenda from Mom Agenda. I have been using it almost non-stop since getting it. I meant to blog about the Mom Agenda much sooner, but I wanted to take a few days to try it out first. Then I got sick, then I got busy with Christmas portraits and shopping, and then I had my wisdom teeth removed. Anyway, back to the Mom Agenda. It is described by the master behind this handy masterpiece as an upscale day planner that provides a way to track the multiple schedules that many moms are responsible for managing … the planner looks and feels like a gorgeous new accessory.

So true! I am in love with my Mom Agenda, and have been taking it with me everywhere, referencing it as often as devout Christians reference the bible (no offense to any devout Christians who may be reading this blog). What I love most about the Mom Agenda is the rows reserved for up to four children (or in my case, two children and a husband who often qualifies as a child himself!). Normal planners and organizers become cluttered with daily notes such as “Alyssa – doctor – 10pm” and “Ryan – doctor – 2pm” squeezed in with my appointments and tasks and those of my husband’s. I love being able to separate everything with the Mom Agenda. I’m a very organized, neat freak person, so being able to keep my planner neatly organized with every child’s needs and schedules categorized is very awesome indeed.

The Mom Agenda is a brilliant creation thought up by the very people who benefit so greatly from it – a busy mom of four! I highly recommend this agenda to any mom who is looking to get a little more organized while still keeping tabs on the schedules of all of the people in her household, including herself!