Hurricane Sandy and I
As many of you know, we are (were?) in the path of the franken-storm. I want to thank you all for your prayers and love and support. We are currently one of the only 4 houses in our town without heat, power, internet, etc- and PSE&G says “by monday” – yes, 9 days in total, and 6 from today- and that is all the info we have. They say since there are only 4 homes, they don’t consider us a priority. Getting around is difficult, [Read more…]
Fun Ways to Teach Your Kids About Science
Most of us have heard, “Children absorb things like sponges.” It sounds cute, but there is actually quite a bit of truth to that saying. Children are eager to learn, they have lots of energy and are always looking for something new to see, hear or do.
So, if you’re a parent who has been wondering if there is a certain age for a child to start learning about science, the honest answer is “no”. Right now, at this very moment, you can start incorporating fun and lasting ways for them to start understanding some of the basic principles of science. Here are five fun ways how:
Take them flower searching. Something that you can do during the spring and summer months is take them outside to look for flowers. As they pick various ones (in your yard, of course), explain to them what each one is called. If you happen to see some bees in a flower’s vicinity, share with your child the pollination process: that bees and butterflies carry pollen from one plant to another because they get [Read more…]
How to Secure Your Home Before Going on a Family Vacation
When you’re getting ready to take the kids and spouse on a big trip, there’s a lot to account for. You’ve got to make your travel plans, secure your lodgings, make arrangements. More often than not there’s a rental car to reserve — and you’ve got to make sure entertainment, food, and other activities are account for, planned, and centrally-located. Basically, a family vacation is something that has a lot of moving parts, and when you’re in charge of putting it together the pressure can certainly build up. On top of all this is the fact that you’re going to be leaving your home empty for however long you’ll be gone. This is almost always a worrisome fact, as we all hope that we’ll get back from our trip to find our house still locked up tight and with all our possessions sitting right inside, where we left [Read more…]
Buy.com Review
Buy.com is one of the biggest internet retailers around and has been since 1997. There has been a constant evolution of the site which has lead to millions of satisfied customers who instead of buying items from a big warehouse support smaller scale retailers. This leads to a greater diversity in products, as well as the ability to support ‘the little guy’ while still getting exactly what they want for some stellar prices. With the support of customer service from buy.com, retailers are top shelf. [Read more…]
Talking to Your Kids About Common and Fatal Mistakes That Teen Drivers Make
Learning to drive is a major milestone for teens, one of the first significant steps into maturity and adulthood. Driving gives a sense of freedom and independence, no longer being tied down to a particular neighborhood. The barrier of distance has been broken down; the endless possibilities of exploration now lay wide open. Of course, this freedom comes with heavy responsibilities. Some teens are sadly unable to handle these responsibilities at such a young age and fall into unsafe practices on the road, endangering both themselves and those around them. Be sure to talk to your kids about these driving mistakes and how to avoid them.
Bringing up this subject is often difficult for parents. You may feel like your kids aren’t listening, view you as uncool, or fail to take the conversation seriously. In spite of all this, it is important to have this conversation. Try to avoid staging the situation [Read more…]
Top 5 Ways to Build Your Emergency Fund
Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls when you least expect them. These complications are
common for people all over the world, but many are unfortunately incapable of handling them. An
emergency fund can be tremendously beneficial in helping you handle the many surprises life can throw at you. Consider these 5 great ways to establish an emergency fund and give yourself a sense of security for the future.
- Bolster Your IncomeIf your income is too low to make an emergency fund possible, start looking for ways to bring in more money. You might be able to fit a part time job into your schedule, or start selling collectibles that you’ve accumulated over the years. Maybe you’ve been working with the same company for a long time and are eligible for a raise or promotion. Whatever path you take, bolstering your income will make it much easier to start building an emergency fund.
- Cut Down ExpensesWe [Read more…]
