Apr 08

Are You Prepared?

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I’ve lived in earthquake country my whole life so I’ve heard the “be prepared” mantra a few hundred times. I’ve lived through earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

After the big rumbler in Mexico on Easter Sunday – which I felt – I’ve had my emergency kit on my mind. Is it ready? When was the last time I checked out the contents? What else do I need to add to the kit to be sure we’d have everything we needed if disaster struck? What about our car? Do we have enough supplies to keep us safe and fed for 72 hours?

Here’s a list provided by www.ready.gov. Check it out and see if you’re ready.

Recommended items to include in a basic emergency supply kit:

  • Water—one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food—at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First-aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone and chargers

Additional items to consider adding to an emergency supply kit:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  • Cash or traveler’s checks and change
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.
  • Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire extinguisher matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
  • Paper and pencil, books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
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Apr 01

Got Stress? Ten Ways To Snap Out Of It In 10 Minutes Or Less

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Women carry the weight of the world on their backs.

Between family life, professional strains, and a to-do list a mile long, a woman wouldn’t be considered human if she didn’t succumb to the stress on occasion. 

If counting to 10 no longer works to relieve your stress or helps you to refocus then consider a new strategy for managing your daily stress. Whether you’re a full-time stay-at-home mom or a multi-tasking wife, mother, and business executive, every woman experiences stress from trying to juggle all of the titles of her day-to-day life.

Think you don’t have time to take a break? You can’t afford not to put these 10 ideas into place. Besides, each of these 10 tips will help you de-stress in 10 minutes or less.

1.       Go outside. A crying infant will calm down once she takes a deep breath of fresh air and feels the sunshine on her face, and it can help to bring Mom’s heart rate down too. Step outside for a few minutes and take a few deep breaths. Even if you just sit on the front porch, the new perspective will energize you to return to your routine.

2.       Exercise. Getting your heart rate up will get those endorphins pumping. It’s a natural stress reducer and energy booster. Can’t sneak away for a workout? Run around the park while your kids play, run up and down the stairs, turn some tunes on and dance around the house, or play a couple of sets of tennis on your kid’s Wii.

3.       Get it on paper. Worried you’ll forget one of the zillions of things you’re supposed to do today? Is your mental to-do list overwhelming you?  Then take a minute and write down all of the things you need to do. Next put a star next to the three most important items and then get to work on them.

 4.       Laugh. It really is the best medicine. Use those 10 minutes while you’re kids are brushing their teeth and getting dressed to find something that will make you laugh. Lock yourself in your room after they’re tucked in and watch a few minutes of a “Seinfeld” or ‘Friends” re-run, read funny jokes online, or peruse the cartoons in the paper.

 5.       Close your eyes for 10 minutes. It’s amazingly refreshing to spend 10 minutes just lying on your back with your eyes closed. You can feel all of your muscles begin to relax and your breathing slows down. Giving yourself a mental and physical break can allow you the chance at a second wind later.

 6.       Call a friend. Need to vent? Did something upset you and cause your stress level to shoot through the roof? Then call a trusted pal and get it off your chest. Once you’re done ranting, thank them for listening, and then change the subject to a happier note. You’ll feel better and your friend will still want to take your calls.

 7.       Hop in the shower. Washing away your bad day or a stressful situation can be done literally as well as metaphorically with a quick shower. The steam helps you breathe a little easier and it relaxes your muscles which tense up when you’re under the gun.

 8.       Pop in the iPod. The kids are playing happily but they’re wound-up and rowdy. The dog is barking at your noisy neighbor. The dishwasher is running and the TV is on and you’re trying to focus on getting a few things done. If the distractions are stressing you out, then pop in your ear buds from your MP3 and tune it all out.

 9.       Reaching relaxation. Remember those stretches from your yoga or Pilates class? Strike a pose or two and feel yourself slip into a better, more Zen-like state.

 10.   Let it go. Is it all too much? Is the list a mile long? Does the possibility of bedtime seem like mission impossible? Then free yourself from frustration and decide to not do it all. Remind yourself that if it doesn’t get done, it doesn’t get done. Think about the consequences and decide which objective is more important – getting it done or piling on more stress? If the answer isn’t to add more stress then you’ll have to find another way or time to get the rest of it done.

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Mar 25

Easter Egg Hunt Fun Is As Easy As 1-2-3

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

Want to have an Easter Egg Hunt this year in your neighborhood? Not sure you’re up for planning a big activity? No worries. Here are three simple steps to hosting your own Easter Egg Hunt.

1.       Pick a time and a place.

Whether you decide to host it on a Saturday or a Sunday morning, at a park or in your yard, pick a time and place that will work for the majority of folks you plan to invite.

2.       Make up a flyer to announce the plans.

On your invitation you should encourage each family that wants to participate to bring a dozen eggs for each child that will hunt eggs. The eggs should be taped shut and filled with individually wrapped candy. Have the participating families drop off the eggs to you the night before the big hunt so you can hide them before everyone shows up. Or you can have everyone bring the eggs on the day of the fun and you can hide the eggs in a designated area of the park while the kids play on the playground. (Older children make great helpers when it comes to the hiding.)

3.       Enjoy a picnic afterwards.

Invite everyone to stay after the festivities for a picnic. You can invite folks to BYOF (bring your own food) or have families bring a side dish or salad to share.

On Another Note: Need an easy but cute hairstyle to go with your daughter’s Easter dress? Check out this post for hair-do helps for little girls.

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Mar 18

Powerful Two Letters “N” and “O”

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

In my Monday post, I shared my feelings and frustrations about how I struggle to say “no” to the things in my life. It’s easy to say no to things I don’t really want to do (like organizing Aunt Mildred’s pill bottles) but it’s much harder to put the kibosh on things that I enjoy, such as my friends, traveling, and reading a book on the couch while snuggling up with my pug, Aggie.

However, saying those two powerful letters and giving up on great things is much easier said than done. In fact, I call myself a reformed people pleaser, so I know how hard it can be to overcome the addiction to making others happy. So, how did I overcome this fear of saying no? And how can you do it without feeling overwhelmed by guilt?

First, look at your top three priorities in your life at this time. These are the things you’ve deemed to be more important. It’s easier to say no to something when you can see how it’s holding you back from where you really want to focus.

Ask yourself these questions to figure out what you need to eliminate in order to work on your top three objectives.

• How much of your day do you put forth to get to these goals?

• What are you spending your time doing instead?

• What can you cut out to carve more time into your day to focus on your most urgent tasks that will get you to your goals?

Next, look at where you can cut out a few things here and there, or double-duty some tasks, to make your life work better for you. For example, instead of making lunch plans with a girlfriend I have made plans to take a walk with her instead, so I can get in my exercise without losing touch with my besties.

Finally, ask for help. Your true friends will help you stick to your goals and will pitch in to help you succeed. Lean on them to pick your kids up from soccer if you need to squeeze in a workout before dinner to achieve your objective of exercising daily. Or ask your spouse to pitch in with the laundry or to do the dishes after dinner so you can read for 30 or 45 minutes so you can participate in your book club.

Here are a few more tips for saying “no” without saying “no!”

1. Don’t commit right away. Instead of agreeing to a task on the spot, tell that person you have to check your schedule and that you’ll get back to him or her. This method gives you time to really think about and decide if helping your friend organize the next PTA carnival is really helping you reach your goal of spending more time with your family.

2. Choose your words carefully. For example, your mother says, “I’d really love it if you’d help me clean out my garage this weekend. Will you come over?” You’re not going to say, “No, mom. That’s not on my list of top priorities and you’ll have to find someone else to help you.” Instead, you can say, “I’d really like to help, but I’m very busy right now. I can help you next time you work on it, or I can give you one hour if you really need my help this weekend.”

3. Stay firm. Some people drive a hard bargain (i.e. guilt-trippers) and they will try to solve your busyness in order to get you to do what they want. In these cases I’ve found it’s best to hold your ground and be a broken record. “I’d really love to do that but I’m just not available.” When they press for details, be prepared to repeat your previous answer. Even the most persistent folks will give up after three or four attempts.

4. Let go of the guilt. No matter how many times you practice saying that magic word of “no” you will find yourself staring face-to-face with guilt. It’s a reality that comes when you decide to set boundaries. It does get easier, but the guilt never goes away. The best way to overcome the guilt is to look at your top three priorities and remind yourself that those are more important to you than whatever it is your saying, no to. Unfortunately, there’s no guilt-removal pill you can take. Instead remember the old saying, “You can please all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time.”

Question: How do you say, “No,” without putting strain on a relationship?

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Mar 11

10 Things To Make You Happy Today and They’re FREE

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

It’s been said, “The best things in life are free.” Here are 10 things I love that are FREE.

  1. Entrance to great museums. We love hitting the museums in our metro area on days when entrance is free. We also love the museums that don’t charge an admission fee. We learn so many things and spend a great day together and it doesn’t cost us a dime.
  2. Quiet time with my husband. There’s something incredible about that hour or two between putting my kids to bed and putting myself to bed. It’s the fastest few hours in my day, but some of the best hours I get to spend with my guy.
  3. Cashing in on double coupons. If you hit a good sale and you are using multiple coupons, you can actually get some items for free or even make money by purchasing certain items. It’s the same high that retail therapy offers without the credit card hangover—and the guilt – later.
  4. Snuggling with my girls. Each of girls still really likes to snuggle up in front of the fireplace and watch TV with me. I know the day will come – sooner than later – when they’ll no longer be comfortable being that cuddly, so I treasure the times we get now.
  5. The library. I know it goes without saying, but I love nothing more than loading up my arms with a stack of good reads for me to enjoy with the girls and a few just for me. There’s nothing better than reading a good book – except doing it for free.
  6. The park. No matter how big or small the city is where you live, there’s always a park full of happy kids working off all of their energy. It’s a great place for a mom to enjoy some down time while the kids work up a sweat.
  7. Facebook. For a busy mom, this is an invaluable way to keep up with old friends, share information quickly, and it’s just fun (and moderately addicting).
  8. Game Night. We get a little competitive at our house, so game night is never boring. We have to remind ourselves to put the kids to bed some nights because we get so into going one more round.
  9. Skype. It’s a great way to keep in touch with family and friends that live far away. It’s great to be able to see and speak to those we love and miss. It makes them not feel so far away.
  10. Taking a walk. We live in a beautiful neighborhood, surrounded by natural beauty. It’s easy to get caught up in the stresses of home life, but a stroll around the neighborhood reminds me about the bigger picture.

 

Question: What’s on your list of favorite FREEBIES?

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Mar 04

Need a Vacation Destination? Check Out This Top 10 List

Guest Blogger, Tried and True Thursdays 3 Comments »

 

Guest blogger, Alan, shares his list for 10 trips great trips for families. They’re all places kids will love. How many have you visited?

1. Niagara Falls, N.Y.

 Situated on the border between the United States and Canada, this is a great American treasure. The America side is called American Falls, the Canadian side is called Horseshoe Falls. There is an IMAX Theatre you can’t miss which has a stunning film about the falls.

On the Canadian side: The Dinner Theater is a good place to visit with the kids. You can enjoy a meal while you take in the family entertainment.

Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory: This is a short drive away in Queenstown Heights. You’ll be able to view thousands of different types of butterflies.

Niagara-on-the-Lake: Consider taking the drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Considered by many to be the prettiest town in Canada, the drive allows you to take in the scenery, and the tour only takes around 30 minutes.

2. Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Fla.

 Walt Disney World is the largest, most visited resort in the world. It spans more than 25,000 acres. Walt Disney Resort is a must-do at least once in your lifetime. There are massive queues for some of the attractions and some parts need updating, but it’s an experience that you and your kids will never forget.

3. Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.

 This is the largest canyon in the United States spanning over 277 miles and is 18 miles wide. There are many different ways you can explore the canyon by train, plane, or helicopter tour.

4. USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

If you want to educate your kids on a little bit of history and hit the beach in one trip, then head to Hawaii. Pearl Harbor is history that our children should never forget.

A guided tour of the ship will keep your kids happy.

5. The Star Toys Museum, Baltimore, Md.

Carrying over 12,000 items, this is Thomas Atkinson’s collection of all the best “Star Wars” memorabilia. You have to make an appointment to get the tour but admission is free. It’s a non-profit organization; however, donations are accepted.

6. Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.

Sleep under the stars at one of the best places to camp in all 50 states. Yellowstone, the first national park in the U.S., has many different types of wildlife in the park to view and photograph. You might even run into a bear or two. Yellowstone is also known for it geysers, including the most popular attraction, Old Faithful.

The kids can apply to be junior rangers. A visit to the IMAX Theatre is also a good idea to see the park up close from a unique perspective captured on film.

7. The National Zoo, Washington, DC

 This 167-acre zoological park has more than 4,000 animals and 500 different types of species, including pandas. Admission is free but parking is $20. Be sure to check out the kid’s farm area.

 8. Civil War Battlefields, Gettysburg, Pa.

Getting a sense of the history of the United States is so much easier when you can actually stand where history was made—including walking on the battlefield. This was the scene of the war’s bloodiest battle and the location of Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech. Trips like this give the kids a much better perspective of our country’s history and they will love the moving tributes at this site.

9. Mount Rushmore, S.D.

One of the most famous man-made attractions is Mount Rushmore. It represents the first 150 years of American history. The four presidents carved into the side of mountain are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

If visiting during the evening, don’t miss the lighting ceremony.

10. The Statue of Liberty, New York City, N.Y.

Probably the most famous landmark in America, every kid should make at least one visit to this remarkable symbol of freedom. Make sure you get out to Liberty Island and climb the stairs to the 10th floor observatory. The boat also stops at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum which is a welcomed bonus.

Alan Murray is the webmaster for http://www.baby-names.tv/ . The site has a lot of information on more than just baby names, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and much more (Check out pregnancy info HERE.).

Question: What would you add to the list?

Note: Short on cash? Check out these tips for great travel savings from last week.

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Feb 25

Spring Break: Six Tips for Finding Deals

Tried and True Thursdays 1 Comment »

Had enough of winter? Ready for some sunshine and relaxation? Plan a getaway for spring break and take a break without breaking your bank.

Here are a few tips to have you soaking up the sun under budget.

1.       Get off the beaten path. Skip the obvious hot spots and pick somewhere you’ve always wanted to go besides Cancun, Hawaii, or Disneyland. Most major cities have great attractions for families and national parks are still a great deal for families. (Check out next week’s post for ideas on must-see places for families.)

2.       Buy a Citypass. If you’re hitting a big city, then this can save you long lines and lots of cash, and you’ll still see all the main attractions.

3.       Subscribe to save. A lot of websites will deliver “the deal of the week” to your email to notify you of good deals on airfare and hotels. Be sure to subscribe to email feeds for airline frequent flier programs, TravelZoo.com, and About.com/budgettravel.

4.       Hold out for a good deal. Track airfare rates on sites like Yapta that will alert you to good deals to your favorite destinations.

5.       Skip the hotel. Instead of a hotel, consider doing a home exchange, using hotel points (similar to airline miles), or renting a condo or timeshare. This is especially helpful if you’re traveling with a large family and you need more room to spread out and want access to a kitchen to save on food costs.

6.       Snack on this. I always pack a small suitcase, full of water bottles and snacks, so we can grab and go at Costco prices instead of becoming a slave to convenience stores. Once the bag is empty at the end of our getaway it’s a great place to stash souvenirs from our trip.

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Feb 18

What’s Your Love Language?

Tried and True Thursdays No Comments »

Even though The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman isn’t new it’s a classic. The heart of the matter, according to the author, is that we all have a way we like to receive love from others and that is usually the same manner in which we reciprocate our love. However, others in our life may not speak that same love language and as a result, we should not only identify our own love language but also those of others we love.

I took this quiz many years ago and discovered I didn’t fit into any one of the three areas but instead was an even split between all three — touch, gifts, and praise. My husband laughed out loud when he heard the results of my quiz. I defended myself and said, “What? It makes me well-rounded and easy to please!” He quickly replied, “Or it makes you high-maintenance.”

So, if you dare, check out this great widget on my blog (bottom right hand column) to take the quiz. Invite your spouse or significant other to discover what their love language is too. (Thanks fellow blogger, and occasional guest poster, Joy, for the tip on the great love languages quiz widget.)

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Feb 11

Tornado of Love

Tried and True Thursdays 4 Comments »

One Valentine’s Day many years ago my husband and I were caught in a tornado.

Luckily the only major damage we experienced was to our plans for the night. The entire area lost power and every restaurant and grocery store was closed. When we got home from work and pondered our “romantic” night ahead, I was optimistic we could salvage our night. My optimism quickly faded, however, when I realized the power outage would mean we would be eating cold food out of a can and freezing our behinds off in our small two-bedroom apartment since our heater was electrically powered.

Because we were powerless in every way to turn our pathetic Valentine’s Day into anything more than a very long, very cold night, we vowed to never have a bad Valentine’s Day again in the years to come. So, here are three tried-and-true ways to celebrate Feb. 14 so you don’t end up huddled around a candy cane-scented candle leftover from Christmas pondering its ability to heat a room.

1. Go out on Feb. 13.
Once we started shelling out the big bucks for a babysitter my husband and I decided that crowded restaurants and long lines only added up to an expensive night. We discovered that going out a day early meant empty theatres and no need for reservations.

2. Celebrate with the kids, too.
I usually make a “red” and “pink” meal and we eat from festive plates with our young romantics. Start with a shrimp appetizer, dive into spaghetti and meatballs (Lady and the Tramp-style) and then wash it all down with cherry 7-Up.

3. Nothing beats a great movie.
After dinner gather everyone on the couch and watch a kid-friendly romance like “Enchanted” or “Little Manhattan.” After the kids are tucked away, flip on the classic chick-flick “The Notebook” or the guy-friendly “First Knight.”

Question: What’s your favorite romantic movie?

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Feb 04

The Secret Is Out: An Expert Shares Tips on Bra Shopping

Guest Blogger, Tried and True Thursdays 1 Comment »


By Amanda Farmer (guest blogger)

I people watch. I see you at the mall. I see you with your friends. And honey what I see isn’t always pretty.

For example, this week as I was sitting at lunch – Subway to be exact – a co-worker of mine and I were people watching. A woman walked in wearing a too-tight blouse exposing four lumps. Four lumps don’t look good. It’s not attractive and it’s not sexy.

I can’t help myself. As a manager at Victoria’s Secret, I’ve been dishing out advice for years and I love to turn my people-watching into one-on-one bra consultations. But since that might not go over so well, I’ve agreed to be a guest blogger.

So here’s my advice just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Problem Area No. 1: Your bra is too small.

Diagnosis: If you’ve got four lumps then your bra is too small. If the cup comes up half way or if it doesn’t completely cover the lump then your bra is too small.

Solution: You probably need to buy a larger cup size. How do you know? The underwire of your bra should cup the breast tissue. Need a way to test it? If you push the outside of the underwire what do you feel? If it fits properly you should touch your ribcage. If you find breast tissue instead, then you’ll know that the cup is too small.

Problem Area No. 2: Your bra is too big or the elastic band is too stretched out.

Diagnosis: If the band comes up in between your shoulder blades then you’re in the wrong size. You either weren’t buying the right-sized bra or you’ve stretched out the band over time.

Solution: Buy a new bra that fits properly. This one is dead. Gone. Put in the grave. Cover it with dirt. It’s a done.

Problem Area No. 3: Your straps are creating gouges in your shoulders the size of the Grand Canyon then your straps are too tight. Ladies tightening the straps won’t help lift them up. Bra support comes from the elastic band being fitted properly.

Diagnosis: If you can’t get two fingers underneath the shoulder straps, then they’re too tight. This pulling will only wear out your bra faster and your bra will be dead.

Solution: Loosen the straps until you can fit two fingers underneath the straps and make sure your bra is fitting appropriately in other areas.

Problem Area No. 4: Buying a bra that doesn’t fit right. Many ladies spend $10 on a bra and then they get $10 of support from it.

Diagnosis: Having any discomfort when you wear your bra or having any of the previous three problems.

Solution: First, you should get measured every six months. Forget what size you’ve been for the last 10 years because it’s probably not the size you are today. Once you’ve been sized you need to be fitted, too. Let the associate come in and show you how it should fit.

Solution No. 2 (if dealing with an associate one-on-one is too uncomfortable): Make sure the center of the bra in the front is directly in front of the center of the bra in the back. You should imagine an arrow shooting directly through you. Also the hook should be on the center hook for proper support.

Other Tips:
Straps falling off your shoulders? Pick a wider strapped bra.

Don’t be afraid of lined bras. A lined bra will give you coverage so you won’t show throw. It will also give you more cupping shape. Besides, no one wants to see that you’re cold.

A padded bra will give you cleavage enhancement. But be careful to not buy textured bras that will show through the fabric on your shirt. Like some texture close to your skin? Flat lace can be worn with everything.

What color is best? Nude can be worn with everything and should be worn with white tops. White on white makes it see-through. Black should never be worn with white. It’s just tacky.

How many bras should I own? At least three: one to wear, one to wash, and one to rest. Bras need a rest from all of their hard work. If you wear the same bras multiple days in a row you will stretch it out faster.

How do I wash my bras? If you choose washing machine expect your bras to last two months. Instead wash them by hand and then lay them flat to dry. This will add an extra six months of life to each of your bras. Buying additional bras will lengthen the life of the bras you already own if you rotate and wash them correctly. Also, lingerie bags don’t count as hand-washing. In between hand-washing your personals you can take them in the shower with you and freshen them up with body wash and then lay them flat to dry.

Can you offer special advice for the super-sized or super-small? There’s a bra for everyone. Try specialty stores like Victoria’s Secret, Lane Bryant or Torrid if you’re a living large. More petite ladies should try European sizes at specialty shops.

How much should I spend? Bra shopping is an investment so you get what you pay for. Don’t be afraid to spend $20 or more per bra. If you care for them properly they’ll last longer and offer more support along the journey.

Question: More questions? Ask Amanda by sending me an email at ann@3girlsandapug.com. Don’t worry. It’s anonymous.

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