Tag: Family Life

I have to admit that I am really squeamish when it comes to bugs. Even worse is when pests invade my home especially those huge tree cockroaches that we get in the hot summer months. Since I own an older home, then they seem to find it easier to make it into my home. I have a huge coffee table book that I had bought at a yard sale for $0.50 cents that is extremely heavy. I have made it my roach killing book. I take plastic grocery bags and tie them around the book so the book isn’t full of roach guts. I drop the book on them which instantly kills them. After my husband gets home and sees the book on the floor, then he knows he has a roach to dispose of for me. I admit it seems a little silly, but it works great for me as I hate to get near them. I am not talking about a small one either, but the ones than are at least 6″ long! YUCK!

PestWorld.org is your go-to resource for everything you need to know about bugs, rodents and other household pests. You can identify your infestation, find helpful prevention tips, pest photography and videos, educational articles on a variety of pest topics, and more.

In the fall, pests often enter our homes seeking shelter from colder weather, so it’s important to take steps to pest-proof your home. Pest issues are better handled by licensed pest professionals. They have the knowledge, training and tools to properly identify a pest species and recommend ways to safely remedy an infestation before it becomes a serious problem.

You can find a pest professional in your area by entering your zip code in the Find a Pro database on PestWorld.org: http://www.pestworld.org/find-a-pest-control-professional/.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the National Pest Management Association. The opinions and text are all mine.

I compiled a list of Halloween safety tips to keep your little ones safe while out Trick or Treating!

To kids Halloween means a night of fun dressing up and getting lots of FREE CANDY! With so many kids out on the streets, parents want to keep them as safe as possible.

There are lots of great Halloween Safety Tips, but I wanted to list the top 10 that I feel are the most important to go over with your kids before Halloween gets here!

These are not in any particular order.

Trick or Treat: 10 Halloween Safety Tips

1) Buy flame resistant costumes. Ensure they fit well so they are not tripping. You will also want to check their shoes so they won’t trip.

2) Opt for Face Paint instead of masks. Halloween masks can get in the way of them seeing well especially at night. Make sure the paint is non-toxic and test a patch before applying as some kids can have an allergic reaction to the paint.

3) Add reflective tape to their costumes. The costumes will be more visible especially in the dark.

4) Have your kids walk in groups. It’s always a great idea for the kids to walk in groups for added safety.

5) Have older kids carry a cell phone if an adult is not present.

6) Go to neighborhoods you know. Also, stress to your kids the importance of not going into a stranger’s home for candy.

7)  Use sidewalks when available. Make sure they also look both ways before crossing a street.

8) Use a flashlight or glow stick. Also they could wear those glow in the dark necklaces.

9) Don’t go to houses that aren’t well lit or dark. If the house is dark (porch lights off) then it means they are not handing out candy.

10) Check all candy before eating. Warn your kids not to take or eat any unwrapped treats from strangers.

Afterwards I always limit my son on eating too much candy especially as it’s on a school night. Also make sure to remove all and any face paint so it doesn’t irritate their skin.

I am very fortunate that the neighborhood we go to close down main roads which makes it much safer. The majority of the house owners sit outside handing out candy which makes it easy to watch your kids. Also, stress to your little one(s) to be polite. I know it should go without saying but so many kids do not say thank you after getting candy. My son gets lots of compliments from the house owners on how polite he is. I understand kids get excited and want to get to the next house quickly, but they really do appreciate it. 🙂

Some of these are common sense, but I think it’s a great idea to review with your little ones some of the rules before they go out. I hope you enjoy and the kids have a fun and safe Halloween!

Do you have some great Halloween safety tips to share? Then leave me a comment as I love to read your thoughts and tips.

I have a great website you can visit for fun Halloween coloring and activity pages you can print out!

I found some fun Free Halloween Coloring Pages this morning that I had to share with my readers! I know you have to print them out, but this is a fun way to keep your kids occupied. This is also good for those that homeschool or even teachers. There are lots of free coloring pages for any holiday. This site also had some free Halloween activity pages like word jumbles or word search! Enjoy!

As I am preparing for Tropical Storm Isaac to hit my area, I wanted to write this post. I live on the Gulf Coast which means hurricanes are something we have to deal with from time to time. There are always items you should have in stock, but especially during times of the year where natural disasters are more common. For us Hurricane Season starts June 1st until November 1st. No matter where you live or a natural disaster is local to your area, there are certain supplies we all should have in our house.

• Batteries (D for flashlights and AA)
• Flashlights, candles, lanterns
• Bottled water
• Non-Perishable foods (canned & boxed food)
• First aid kit
• Weather radio
• Gasoline
• Generator
• Cash

If you have young children, then extra diapers and formula unless you nurse.

What about your house?

Always pick up items that could get blown away like lawn chairs, patio furniture, and such. Also, you might want to board up windows, or clean out gutters. It’s always a good idea to have extra towels if you need to mop up excess water or blankets.

If you know a storm is coming, then charge up your cell phones and laptops ahead of time. You will want to have a charge and texting is a great way to keep in touch with loved ones to let them know you are safe or to contact someone for an emergency.

I have a couple of small fans to run on a generator so I can at least stay somewhat cool during a power outage. I also like to wash clothes before a hurricane hits so I have clean clothes as who knows how long before I have power again. It’s a lot of little things that you forget in the midst of trying to pack up items if you decide to evacuate. Bring toilet paper with you as well as many of those essentials as you can get stuck for hours trying to leave. Know your evacuation route and maybe you can stay with family or friends that are out of the storm’s way. Also, it’s a good idea to keep your important documents in one area including insurance and such so you can grab it. I also like to bring jewelry I can’t replace (I don’t own much) and pictures with me. I have a list of things that I have to take that I can’t replace for the worst case scenario.

The main thing is stay calm, have a plan of action, and know who or how to contact someone during an emergency or extended period of a power outage.

Please share your tips on what you do to prepare before a natural disaster or even after.

I hope everyone has a very Happy Fourth of July today! Be safe if you are outside in the sun today so use plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of water!

Enjoy the day and remember our country is celebrating it’s Independence today and thank your current and past military for protecting and serving their country!