Household Tips

Here is some great advice from the Ohio credit union association. Follow these tips to avoid getting in over your head this holiday season. No one wants to still be paying for Christmas in March!

– Make a list of who you will be buying gifts for, assign a dollar amount, and stick to it.
– Avoid using credit cards. Instead, pay for gifts with cash.
– Shop early and compare prices.
– Take advantage of sales, coupons, and special offers received in the mail.
– Don’t shop for yourself.
– Pay with a credit card if you can’t use cash; don’t use a debit card. Under federal law you can dispute credit card charges if you don’t get what you were promised. You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on your credit card.
– Protect your identity by not using debit cards when purchasing gifts online.
– Know return and exchange policies for the stores where you make purchases.
– Have a plan for paying off your bills. For example, make up your mind to pay off your bills by Valentine’s Day. You don’t want to still be paying for holiday gifts on the Fourth of July.

Need some ideas of top-rated toys for the kids this year? Check out this child-approved list:

Serpent’s Spiral Coaster (K’NEX)
Winner: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Lead Free Platinum Award, iParenting Outstanding Products, Parent’s Choice Foundation, and National Parenting Center

The newest addition to the K’NEX Thrill Rides Series, the Serpent’s Spiral Coaster is the biggest, baddest roller coaster ever. The giant coaster features K’NEX micro parts for bigger, more intricate building. Coaster cars travel up the motorized chain lift, enter the mouth of the serpent five feet above ground, and then go spiraling down more than 38 feet of winding track!

For ages 9+. $59.99

Pop Beads (Parents(R) Magazine)
Winner: Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products and National Parenting
Publications Awards (NAPPA)

Future fashionistas will have a blast making their wildest jewelry dreams a reality with the Pop Beads make-your-own jewelry set. Classic pop beads, which feature a knob at one end that fits into a corresponding hole on a neighboring bead to link them together, get a distinctively modern update with cool shapes, textured surfaces and funky colors and patterns, all in silky-to- the-touch rubberized matte plastic.

For ages 4+. $20

SEE Toys Dynafly (Zen Design Group)
Winner: Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence Kid-powered SEE (Safety, Ecology, and Economy) Toys Dynafly features a
unique power crank that kids use to convert their own energy into electricity. This means that they never require disposable batteries, and unlike electronic toys that use solar power, kids control when and for how long they play. Dynafly features a dynamo ‘giggle crank’ — kids turn the crank to hear Dynafly laugh and buzz as they power him up for playtime. Dynafly’s big, buggy eyes light up with six colorful LED lights, while his movable fiber optic wings burst with colorful lights and his tail glows
red.

For ages 5+. $29.99

Colored Blocks (Brio)
Winner: Parent’s Choice Foundation Silver Honor Award Brio brings a modern edge to classic wooden toys with the all-wood
Colored Blocks. Budding builders will spend hours constructing colorful creations with the variety of fun shapes and stylish colors such as red, white, lime green and black.

For ages 12 months+. $26.99 (50-pc set); $43.99 (100-pc set)

Kid K’NEX Zoomin Buddies (K’NEX)
Winner: Parent’s Choice Foundation and Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence

KID K’NEX Zoomin’ Buddies is a playful set filled with friendly creatures on the move. Build fun, kooky characters that are vehicles, too! The set includes lots of colorful KID K’NEX rods, connectors, wheels and big, blinking eyes to add charm and charisma to any creation — from clunky trucks to silly sailboats.

For ages 3+. $9.99

10 Model Speed Machine (K’NEX)
Winner: Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products Speed demons and construction aficionados are in for the ultimate building experience! Loaded with 150 parts, the 10 Model Speed Machine comes packaged in a handy storage case and contains ideas for 10 high-velocity models sure to satisfy any young builder’s need for speed, including a Rocket Ship, Hovercraft and Speed Boat.

For ages 5-7. $9.99

Double Ferris Wheel (K’NEX)
Winner: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Lead Free Platinum Award An exciting, high powered ride, the Double Ferris Wheel stands over 3 feet tall with 850+ K’NEX pieces creating two star shaped wheels that spin in opposite directions as a result of the battery-powered motor included.

For ages 9+. $29.99

Kid K’NEX Country Pals and Undersea Pals (K’NEX)
Winners: Creative Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice For the littlest builders in your home, Country Friends and Undersea Pals are filled with friendly, familiar creatures from land and sea. Little animal lovers will spend countless hours creating fanciful, far-fetched versions of their favorite country-dwelling creatures with the Country Friends Set, while young aqua-nauts will be bubbling with enthusiasm over the fun, friendly comrades they can create with the Undersea Pals Set.

For ages 3 +. $9.99

Water Works (Parents(R) Magazine)
Winner: BabyZone Amazing Toy Award and National Parenting Center Who needs paint to make great art, when water can be just as creative? The Water Works two-sided drawing tablet comes with four pens that easily fill with water. Both sides of the tablet board are covered by a special fabric that yields images when drawn upon with the water-filled pens. Images fade as the special cloth dries, meaning energetic young artists can quickly move on to creating countless new momentary masterpieces.

For ages 18+ months. $20

Kitty Keyboard (Parents(R) Magazine)
Winner: Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products Your toddler will feel like one groovy cat when he’s jamming on this sweet and silly feline-shaped instrument. Kitty Keyboard is chock full of purr-fectly fun features sure to keep active tots engaged and entertained. The keyboard lets kids choose from one of four different instrument sounds, including piano, bells, organ and banjo, or, they can embrace their inner kitten by activating the “Meow” button, turning the entire keyboard into a kitty concert-every note gets played in “meow”! Other entertaining functions include: automatic beat buttons, a record and play-back feature, a microphone with retractable cord and two prerecorded melody buttons that include fun favorites like “B-I-N-G-O” and “Hokey Pokey.”

For ages 2+. $30

Safari Figure 8 (Brio)
Winner: Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence The Safari Figure 8 set allows young adventure seekers to take the safari train to see animals in the wild. Safari guide figures are ready to lead you through the jungle expedition. Set also includes an engine and animal wagon to transport everyone, a decorated viaduct and jungle trees, and jungle friends like the zebra, leopard and rhinoceros.

For ages 3+. $34.99

Pull Along Duck (Brio)
Winner: National Parenting Center A traditional pull along toy, Brio’s Pull Along Duck is certainly eye catching, brightly painted in yellow, red, and blue. As a child pulls the duck along, the head shakes, the wings flap, and best of all the duck quacks! These fun, simple actions are sure to entertain a child for hours.

For ages 12+ months. $14.99

And for more ideas for kids and stockings, check out this post!

The Consumer Product Safety Coalition published this list of wonderful advice for staying safe around the house this holiday season!

Trees and Decorations:

— When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning.

— When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

— When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways.

— Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.

— In homes with small children, take special care to avoid sharp or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

— To avoid eye and skin irritation, wear gloves when decorating with spun glass “angel hair.”

— To avoid lung irritation, follow container directions carefully while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Lights:

— Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA. Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and are required to have safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.

— Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets.

— If using an extension cord, make sure it is rated for the intended use.

— Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

— When using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacles or a portable GFCI.

— Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Candles:

— Keep burning candles within sight.

— Keep lighted candles away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.

— Always use non-flammable holders and keep away from children and pets.

— Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room or leave the house.

Fireplaces:

— Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that, if eaten, can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting. Keep them away from children.

— Do not burn wrapping paper or plastic items in the fireplace. These materials can ignite suddenly and burn intensely, resulting in a flash fire.

— Place a screen around your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby flammable materials.

Get a free brochure with holiday decorating and toy safety tips at CPSC’s web site http://www.cpsc.gov.

It isn’t terribly often that the CDC endorses a product, but they have basically done that. I have not been a big fan of hand sanitizers… This is making me think twice!

Every three minutes, a child puts a hand in his/her nose or mouth. Considering that some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks that children touch throughout the day, it is easy to see how clean hands are critical to avoiding sickness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps in avoiding getting sick and spreading germs to others. With the common cold accounting for nearly 22 million school days lost annually, according to the CDC, this is a critical time for parents to teach–or remind–the whole family of proper hand hygiene.

“There are plenty of unwashed hands out there. Only one in five of us does the job properly,” says Dr. Charles Gerba, Professor of Environmental Microbiology at the University of Arizona. “Everyone needs to be sure they understand how to wash properly and how and when to use alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers such as PURELL(R).”

Effective hand hygiene practices include washing hands frequently with soap and water and, when soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based instant hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. PURELL(R) Instant Hand Sanitizer kills 99.99% of the most common germs that may cause illness.

Everyone, no matter what age, can benefit from a hand hygiene refresher during cold and flu season. It comes down to three basic steps:

1. Tell your children why clean hands are so important. Proper hand hygiene is critical to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

2. Show your children how to wash hands properly, according to CDC instructions:
— Wet your hands with clean, warm water and apply soap.
— Rub hands together to create lather and scrub all surfaces (including between fingers and under nails).
— Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday).
— Rinse hands under running water.
— Always dry hands thoroughly.

3. Help your children keep clean anywhere they are. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers such as PURELL(R) effectively kill 99.99% of germs that may cause illness. There is no evidence that germs become resistant to alcohol — the main ingredient in PURELL(R) — or to other antibiotics as a result of using alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers. Show children how to use hand sanitizers properly:

— Apply alcohol-based hand sanitizer to the palm of one hand.
— Rub hands together — so that product covers all surfaces of hands and fingers — until hands are dry.

Then: remind, remind, remind. Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently throughout the day, particularly before eating, and after using the bathroom and playing outside. Check with your school to see if you can send your older children in with a travel-size container of PURELL(R) to carry in their backpack, for quick and easy hand cleansing when soap and water are not readily available.

Our friends at Crest (of all places), have come up with some interesting tips for building the perfect stocking. While my favorite source will always be the dollar store, there are some gread ideas in this list!

For many, the traditional stocking (and included stocking stuffers) is the best part of Christmas morning. Whether it’s tradition for you to open your stocking before or after the bigger gifts, the little surprises found inside often inspire laughter, kisses or yelps of excitement. Just as fun as discovering your own stocking is the opportunity to create the perfect stocking for friends and family.

Keys to creating fabulous stockings are to think outside of the box and have fun! Below are some tips from SpinBrush(R) for stuffing a stocking with care:

– Stockings can be inexpensive: Stock up when favorite items are on sale.

– Create a theme stocking: Create a stocking theme that matches the recipient’s personality or interests, such as:

* For your “HERO” - This stocking might include a ‘Greatest Dad/Mom’ mug, superhero apparel or figures and a DVD set of any superhero flick or show.

* For Travelers - For the person who is always jet setting, suggestions include an alarm clock, a Crest(R) SpinBrush(R) Slim, a manicure set, a passport holder, a pack of cards, a stress ball, luggage tags, a paperback and a journal.

* For Pet Lovers’ - This stocking might include stationery, a calendar, cat/dog socks, a picture frame, a figurine and fuzzy slippers.

* For the Foodie - Gourmet nuts, cookie cutters, the latest kitchen gadget, a wine cork, a potholder, dishtowels and mints make a stocking that would thrill any food enthusiast.

* The “Kid” - An ‘adult’ stocking that celebrates childhood. A
slinky, crayons, bubbles, coloring books, candy and animated movies will take the recipient back to a simpler time in life.

* For the Gym Lover - This stocking is stuffed with the latest in exercise accessories and equipment. Smaller, ’stuffable’ items include a pedometer, an exercise band, an energy bar, an mp3 player and a water bottle.

– Stockings aren’t just for mantles anymore: Tradition says that stockings are ‘hung by the chimney with care.’ To add festive cheer, however, display stockings on the Christmas tree, a coat rack, the front door, along staircase railings or in other open spaces throughout the house.

– Start a tradition: Every year, fill a stocking with a collector’s item that the receiver would appreciate, such as a limited baseball card, a charm for a bracelet, an action figure or a special coin.

And while you’re preparing, remember these handy tips for wrapping your gifts!

Here’s something I don’t usually think about…. With all the extra folks wandering around your house during the holidays, your home is sure to become a haven for germs. The Maids Home Services has some tips for keeping those pesky germs at bay and keeping your home safe from viruses during the holidays.

– Wash your hands regularly in warm, soapy water. Place antibacterial hand sanitizer in plain view for guests to use. Make an effort not to touch your mouth, nose or eyes without first washing your hands.
– Spray disinfecting spray on a cloth and wipe all hard surfaces — doorknobs, appliance handles, keyboards, remote controls, light switches, phones, facial tissue box covers, tables, chairs and counters. Viruses can live for up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.
– Keep germs at bay in the bathroom by stashing disinfecting wipes near the toilet and sink for easy, quick clean up whenever needed.
– Hosting overnight guests? Wash items like towels and bedding in hot water with soap. Be sure not to share these items until they are thoroughly cleaned.
– To keep children safe, an effective way to clean and sanitize toys is to put them through a dishwasher cycle. Make sure items are dishwasher safe and are placed securely on the racks away from the heat source. Turn off “heat dry” and run the wash cycle as usual.

Another tip for keeping germs at bay? Encourage kids to soap up by keeping “fun” soaps at their level. Whether you buy cute-shaped soap dispensers or bar soap with embedded Santas, giving kids something they’ll like to wash with will certainly improve your chances of getting them to suds up! For a fun soap product for kids that I loved, check out Squid Soap by the folks at Airborne!

I have started planning our annual (?) Christmas open house. We live in a historic district, and every year our district hosts a tour of homes, supplemented with luminaries. It’s quite lovely. A couple of years ago, I decided that this was the perfect night to host an open house, and so it began. We generally have about 30 people in our 2,400 square foot house. It’s pretty packed. We open up the outdoor seating areas, too, which helps. But it isn’t perfect!

That’s why I was excited to see these tips from furniture.com. I can actually USE some of these! Maybe they’ll help you, too?

– Make Small Nooks for Small Talk: Create cozy conversation areas by arranging nesting tables to hold guests’ food and drinks. And after the festivities, these space-saving tables will serve a million more uses, for snacks, games, craft projects, and more.

– Don’t Crowd: Face the facts: Ten guests won’t fit around a dining table made to seat four, no matter how you try. Either upgrade to a larger table, or spread out with a more casual buffet. Or, consider a bistro-style dining set to evoke a social atmosphere. The taller-than-standard table height makes it easy for guests to serve themselves drinks, buffet dinner, or even make their own desserts!

– Mix & Mix: Matching all the furnishings within a room is design passe. Experiment. Mix sizes, scales and textures to give your rooms a unique — rather than a retail showroom — style.

– Create Walls of Inspiration: Give the walls a fresh new color, border, or mix of textures for visual interest. Express who you are with a new piece of artwork that encourages conversation. The most harmonious arrangements take cues from the room. For instance, try hanging pictures in a rolling up and down grouping over a camelback sofa.

– Add Color: A little bit of color can go a long way. Bright accent pillows, bold frames and coordinated candles in decorative candleholders can make a dull or sterile room more attractive and welcoming.

– Light Up Your Life: Bring a new look to a room by updating the lighting. Coordinate the look by making sure lamp heights are equal throughout, and all have the same color shade.

– Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize: Arrange accessories symmetrically for a formal look, or asymmetrically to get creative. Highlight a special item by placing it against a contrasting surface. Reflect the seasons and bring nature indoors with arrangements of leaves, stones and fresh flowers.

– Don’t Stress: Forget perfection. Anything “out of place” makes a home more cozy and charming. Go for what feels right. It’s your house — above all else, enjoy the party.

For more guest entertaining info, read this post!

If your house is anything like mine, you sometimes find yourself with helping hands on offer… But without any idea for what to have them do to help! Enter our friends at Whirlpool. They have some ideas for helping hands and for other ways to ease your holiday stress load!

– Chop, Chop: Get the kids involved sorting chopped vegetables for appetizer platters, soups and stuffing. With your supervision, let them take the lead by peeling carrots or washing potatoes.
– Baking Bonanza: Bake several batches of sweet treats at once and freeze extras or give them to neighbors and co-workers as festive platters.
– Pantry Raid: There’s nothing worse than realizing you ran out of an ingredient halfway through meal preparation. Take recipes with you to the store to make sure you get everything on your list. Also, substitute stale bread for bread crumbs, applesauce for vegetable oil or graham crackers for pie crusts when in a pinch.

Comfort in the kitchen? I am all about that. I’m not into animal skin patterns, though…. Anyone have one? Do they actually work?

Let’s Gel announced today it has released its new line of Chef’s Mats by Gel Pro that continue to revolutionize the kitchen experience. Expanding their wildly popular offering of ergonomically perfect basket weave-textured floor mats, the latest Gel Pro Mats feature exotic faux textures, including ostrich, rattlesnake and alligator skin. The mats have become the luxury standard for home and gourmet kitchens across the U.S. The mats not only provide a one-of-a-kind comfort experience, but due to availability in a variety of colors and textures, they have also been embraced by interior designers and home owners interested in augmenting their kitchen decor.

Gel Pro Chef Mat’s are a step above other anti-fatigue mats on the market because of their style and comfort. They are scientifically engineered with the following features:
— Soft gel absorbs shock and reduces pressure caused from standing for long periods of time on hard wood, tile, or cement floors for those with back pain, foot pain or arthritis
— Gorgeous and durable synthetic leather is stain-resistant and easy to clean
— Non-slip bottom keeps your kitchen floor mat from migrating
— An antibacterial additive to eliminate mold/mildew

http://www.gelmats.com

Sometimes I come across a press release that is just funny. Like today. I can name a number of good reasons to buy a new mattress. They all involve getting a better night’s sleep. According to a recent survey, though, you should buy a new mattress to improve your sex life!

Americans aren’t getting the satisfaction they deserve in bed. But according to a recent Better Sleep Council (BSC) survey, the secret to a better, healthier relationship may be hiding under the sheets.

In the BSC’s latest consumer poll, one out of every two respondents identified an old mattress as the culprit in an unsatisfactory night’s sleep and a leading contributor to increased irritability and stress in their romantic relationships.

According to BSC findings, an overwhelming 78 percent of respondents agreed that a new mattress could be the key to a better relationship with their significant others. Among leading relationship benefits, people noted that a new mattress could:
– Leave them more rested at night and more cordial to their partners throughout the day (52 percent),
– Reduce tossing and turning by their significant others, leading to fewer disturbances and annoyances during the night (40 percent),
– Encourage them to spend more time in bed with their partners (27 percent),
– Improve their sex lives (26 percent).

New BSC Consumer Resources Make Mattress Shopping E.A.S.E.ier

Wondering when and how to shop for a new mattress shouldn’t leave you tossing and turning. To determine whether your mattress is ready for retirement, and to learn the correct way to shop for a new one, the BSC offers the E.A.S.E. method. Here are a few tips to get consumers started (to view the complete mattress buying guide, along with entertaining video clips demonstrating the dos and don’ts of mattress shopping, visit http://www.bettersleep.org)