The Microsoft Office Parent Toolbox helps picky eaters, social butterflies and military wives all at once.

If you are into lists or DIY cards and invitations, or organization in general (or wish you were, ahem ) then you'll definitely want to  check out the smart Parent Toolbox group over at Slideshare. Basically Federated Media authors like Pioneer Woman, ParentHacks, Craftzine, Mama Pop and Cool Mom Picks (hi!) are offering up some of the ways we use Microsoft Office at home for family stuff, on behalf of our sponsor, Microsoft. And really some of the ideas are very cool. Kristen used Powerpoint to create a really great little slideshow to explain Daddy's current Afghanistan tour of duty to the kids. (Bring Kleenex--it includes actual audio of Daddy.) While Liz used Excel to create a decidedly less emotional, but equally effective interactive New Foods Chart to help get her kids interested in trying foods that aren't white. Or peanut butter. We found our own inspiration from nifty entries like a colorful Make Me a Playdate! chart from Mindy of The Mommy Blog, and a clever kids behavior chart to help Jason at DadCentric wrestle his five year-old son into a state resembling obedience. Hey, if it works for kindergarten teachers across America, we figure it's worth a shot.  -Kristen and Liz EXTRA-COOL: WIN IT! While you're browsing around the Parent Toolbox, register and start leaving comments. Because for every comment you leave or document you upload to the Parent Toolbox by the end of the year, you'll be entered to win one of ten copies of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007. Details here. Note: This contest is managed by Federated Media and our sponsor Microsoft, not Cool Mom Picks.