As you walk out onto your patio, the sun glistening on your face, you might be amazed at the sight of how beautiful your wicker furniture looks. Some of the pieces that you can place on a patio include a couch, chair, coffee table and end table with a lamp. There are cushions that you can use that will match the overall design of the patio and the rest of the home as well as the color of the furniture. After everything is in place, you need to follow a few tips that can help to keep the furniture in the brilliant condition that it’s in when it’s purchased.

It’s actually easier than you would think to take care of this type of furniture compared to something that’s made of leather or cloth. One of the things that you want to do is treat the pieces with a protectant that can be sprayed or gently brushed on so that the material doesn’t dry out. If the furniture will be in the direct sunlight for long periods of time, then you want to get the items treated as soon as possible. It will help prevent cracking that is sometimes seen with a lack of moisture that is retained in the wicker.

Take off any of the cushions and clean them first. It’s best to wash the covers and air dry them to decrease the chance of shrinking. If you want to regularly dust the furniture, you can do so with a damp cloth. Microfiber cloths and dusters also work well when you are cleaning as they can trap more dust than one that is made of cotton. A handheld vacuum can also be used if there is a lot of dust buildup. A paintbrush with stiff bristles can get between some of the crevices on the furniture. If there are any stains, you can usually get them off with hot water and soap as the material is usually easy to simply wipe off. It doesn’t tend to soak up stains like cloth material does, making it easier to maintain the beautiful colors. Companies like Wicker Paradise can give other tips on maintenance before you decide to purchase your furniture.

Activision Publishing, Inc. and ConAgra Foods’ Kid Cuisine have teamed up to bring even more fun to frozen-food grocery aisles. Available now through April 15, kids everywhere in North America can enjoy a variety of Kid Cuisine meals inspired by Skylanders®, the pioneers of the toys-to-life category, giving fans all the more reason to play with their food. The promotional meals will be available at all participating major grocery stores and supermarkets across the country, as well as Walmart and Target.

The Skylanders-inspired Kid Cuisine meals will infuse the magic that the blockbuster franchise is known for with this novel partnership. Fans will enjoy meals featuring their favorite characters such as Stealth Elf and Kaos shaped chicken nuggets with gem-shaped cookies, and Spyro and Dream Catcher-shaped macaroni with pudding that changes color while you eat! Fans will be able to get their hands (and mouths) on nine different Skylanders-themed Kid Cuisine meals:

• Cheese Pizza
• Beef Patty
• Mac & Cheese
• Fish Sticks
• Mini Corn Dogs
• Fun Nuggets
• Popcorn Chicken
• Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pizza
• Spaghetti

What’s more, fans will get an extra treat inside each Skylanders Kid Cuisine meal box; a free Stealth Elf Skylanders Battlecast card. Skylanders Battlecast brings cards to life in a new free-to-play mobile adventure, set within the Skylanders universe. The game offers everything from collectability to strategic card combat, online PvP and an exciting single-player campaign, appealing to both Skylanders fans and classic card battle enthusiasts. Skylanders Battlecast lets players create a team of their favorite heroes and build the ultimate deck for battle.  Portal Masters won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to continue to build their ultimate deck of cards on their quest to become a legendary Battlecaster in anticipation of the game’s official launch in 2016.

From me and mine to you and yours, we wish you a happy and prosperous 2016.  Here’s hoping it’s the best year yet.

When super heroes come to mind, there is no doubt that our kids (and let’s face it, ourselves) can never get too much of Batman.

DC Kids has released the animated Batman Unlimited series where Batman and his crime fighting squad battle it out against the cyber robotic animals to keep Gotham City safe.

The DC Kids YouTube channel makes it easy for our kids to watch their favorite DC characters, on-demand, and from any device. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyu8StPfZWapR6rfW_JgqcA?sub_confirmation=1 

For even more fun, there is an extended online experience on the website <DCKids.com> where kids can play games, download free printable activities, read comic books, and more.

DC Kids is giving away $100 for Amazon, which makes it a great time to check it all out.

Watch the video below and enter for your chance today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Raising little ones can be difficult at times.  We all know this and looking back at past mistakes or hurdles can often help other parents.   Today we will be looking at an interesting period of time for little ones.  When your cute little baby starts to become mobile. Going from that cute little bundle of joy and a crawling dashing little cutey.

First of all don’t panic, Your little wonder is growing.  Their little muscles are becoming stronger and its time to start emulating everyone else and get around a bit.   In this time period is im portatn to realize moving around in teh wrong type of diaper can lead to some disasterous situations.  We have all seen or heard about diaper explosions and leaks of such massive mess the question of, “Do I really want this anymore?”will come up.

The best way to keep these situations to a minimum is with the proper fitting diaper as well as good quality diapers.  One such diaper is the Huggies Little Movers.  Which have some awesome features like:

• Shaped for fit and flexibility
• Available in sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6
• DryTouch® liner absorbs on contact
• Double Grip Strips for a comfy fit that lasts
• Leak Lock Protection for up to 12 hours of protection
• SnugFit waistband
• Features New Huggies® Brand Moving Baby System

Huggies gives great support, super absorbancy and a name you can trust to keep your little one happy and moving without a puddle following behind them.  The trick with diapers and other items like them that do not expire, buy in bulk at  stores like Sam’s Club for extra savings.  While you are at it be sure to check out the other items available at Sam’s as well.  From choice cut steaks to fresh vegetables Sam’s has some stellar deals for your bulk shopping needs.

When a kid turns 16, one of the biggest responsibilities they take on is getting a driver’s license. Not only do they need to be a skilled driver on the road but they also need to understand proper car care. As a parent, you may have practiced driving with them and prepared them for being a responsible driver, but have you prepared them for taking care of their car? This is just as important and can actually begin long before they turn 16.

Involve Them at a Young Age

Kids can become involved in taking care of a car from a very young age. You can start out when they are little by having them respect the interior of the car. Make them pick up their trash and not leave things in the car. If they spill or make a mess, have them help clean it up. This sets a good habit for them that they will likely carry on as they get older.

Talk about Proper Car Care

As your kid gets older, you can begin to talk with them more about properly caring for a car inside and out. Teach them some basics of car care. Have them help check that all the lights are working properly. Involve them in small repairs, like changing the windshield wipers. As you do these things, make sure you explain why they need done.

Get Them Involved in Cleaning

Kids also will enjoy being a part of cleaning the car. Make it a family experience. Have everyone work to get all the debris and road grime off the car. Again, make sure to explain why you are doing it. It isn’t just about making the car look good. It is about prolonging the life of the car and is an essential part of car care in Greenville.

Give Older Kids More Responsibility

As your kids get closer to driving age, you can begin to involve them even more. For example, teach them how to check the oil and talk about oil color. Teach them about why regular oil changes are important and why they need to check the oil. Go over some things that can be learned about the car by just checking the oil.

You may also teach them how to change a flat tire and make sure all the tools that are needed are in the car. Show them where these things are located. Make sure you talk about why tire pressure is important and why it should be monitored. Explain about tire wear and what it can tell you about the operation of your vehicle.

By getting your kids involved in car care from an early age, you are going to make them more responsible car owners. They won’t be likely to take their car for granted once they have one of their own. They will also be safer drivers who are aware of all the important things that need to be monitored and check on their vehicle. So, when your kid finally turns 16 and has that shiny new driver’s license, you can be confident that he or she is going to be ready for the responsibility of owning a car.