This website is organized by the American Academy of Pediatricians.  It has great information for parents about keeping their kids healthy.

http://www.healthychildren.org

Posted: January 13th, 2010 under Home and Family.
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Wisconsin’s No Call List became effective January 1, 2003. Signing up identifies you as someone who does not wish to receive telemarketing calls. It’s free and available for residential telephone customers in Wisconsin. Your number will remain on the List for two years. Adding your phone number to the List will help reduce (but not eliminate) telemarketing calls.

https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp

Posted: November 30th, 2009 under Home and Family.
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Have you been feeling sick and wonder if it could be the flu:  Try this site: https://h1n1.cloudapp.net/fluquiz.aspx

Remember this is NOT a substitute for talking to your healthcare professional!!

Posted: October 27th, 2009 under Home and Family.
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There’s a website started by a mom of four young children in suburban Chicago. Her second child, John, was diagnosed at age one with severe dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut and legume allergy. He also is asthmatic, so the likelihood of a life threatening reaction from food is increased. She spent a few years learning the ins and outs of food labels, ingredient and product information, and most importantly, how to cook and bake for not only her son, but for the rest of her family as well. The blog is about sharing useful information, swapping safe recipes and sometimes just a place to speak and vent… http://www.foodallergymama.com/

Posted: September 17th, 2009 under Home and Family, Safety.
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There’s a social network designed to help you organize and plan your daily life and coordinate activities with your friends and family… http://www.yadahome.com

*Applications built around shared utilities (calendars, to do lists, photo albums, journals, and grocery lists). 

*Area resources that help connect you and your communities (events calendar, area guide)

*Fun distractions including: local events, games, puzzles, today in history and comics.

*News and advice that help inform you and positively impact your individual and family lives

*A network where you share personal information with those you have invited to share.

Posted: August 4th, 2009 under Home and Family.
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There are several things in our homes and at work that are “secretly” using electricity.   We can save money by implementing some of the following ideas:

Use a programmable thermostat. Set it to raise or lower the temperature setting automatically when you’re not home. – Lower your temperature down by 1 to 2 degrees in the winter and raise it 1 to 2 degrees in the summer months. (Especially at night when you are sleeping).  Don’t run your heat as high or your cooling system as low whenever nobody is at home.  

Make sure all air filters are clean, all year long.

Heat/cool only rooms that you are using.  As long as there is no air-return vent in that room, close the vents and doors to unused rooms.

Install storm windows or install inexpensive plastic sheeting on the inside to control temperature efficiency (especially in winter)

Make sure all your doors and windows are sealed with weather stripping strips and or sealants, such as caulking.

On a windy day feel for leaks around windows and doors, make sure you get them all sealed as quickly as possible.

Check for holes in your roof and in all heating/cooling pipes, vents.

You should also try to have a full load when washing clothes and dishes. You can also save money by washing your clothes in the cold water cycle. They even make special detergents now for the cold cycle.

Keep your refrigerator and freezer full. A full refrigerator will cost less to operate than an empty one.

Use a clothes line to dry your clothes. If you must use the dryer, then place 2 or 3 dry hand towels in with a load of wet clothes. Cuts drying time down almost in half.

Dryer – Make sure it is clean and free of lint. Consider the use of an off-peak meter. The power is cheaper, but you have to use during times when overall electrical demand is lower (late evening etc.). Check with your local power company for more information.

Hot water – If you have electric hot water, that could account for a large part of your bill. If possible, switch to gas. If that is not feasible, reduce the temperature of the tank to 130-140 and insulate it with a jacket.

When using dishwasher, don’t use heat dry. Instead do it late at night and open dishwasher to air dry.

During the winter months, use dark-colored curtains in windows. During the summer, use lightly colored ones. This will use the sun’s energy to your advantage.

Lighting is another major electric expense. One way you can save money on lighting is to replace a fourth of your lights that you use the most with fluorescent lightning. If you do this, you can save about fifty percent of your lighting energy bill.

You can also save on your lighting expense by using dimmers, timers and motion detectors outside. And, of course, you should always shut off lights that you are not using.

When buying appliances, look for the energy star label. This label shows that the government rates this appliance as being energy efficient.

Posted: June 25th, 2009 under Home and Family.
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 Many of these ideas came from http://www.staycationidea.com/

Staycation Ideas

• Staycations offer affordability. According to the American Auto Association, an average 2-person vacation will average $244 per day. When you add a couple of kids, the price goes even higher. By staying home and enjoying nearby attractions and activities you can literally save $1000s!
• Staycations offer convenience. Vacations are full of headaches such as packing, airport delays, remembering what you can or can’t carry on to a plane, high gas prices at the pump, and keeping track of all the paperwork like tickets, passports, money vouchers and itineraries. With a Staycation, you avoid all of this, plus, you never have to worry about forgetting your toothbrush!
• Staycations offer true family bonding. With no exotic destinations or must-see attractions to compete with, you can put the Family back in Family Vacation. Staycations will help you create those great moments family memories are made of.
  

*Visit a pick-your-own farm – http://www.wiberries.org/

*Explore a pond

*Go to the Zoo

*Fly a kite – make it and fly it.

*Family Game Night

*State Parks – The Wisconsin State Park System provides places for outdoor recreation and for learning about nature and conservation. The 99 state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/LAND/parks/

*There are 3 free weekends at National Parks
June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16
The closest one to us is Effigy Mounds National Monument. 
Find others at http://www.nps.gov

Posted: June 19th, 2009 under Home and Family, Things To Do.
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A local business has some things that can help kids stay entertained during travel. Plus these can keep the kids focused on Jesus. Here’s the site:  http://www.travelingword.com

Posted: June 16th, 2009 under Home and Family, Things To Do.
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This morning we talked about something cool going on at the Monona Terrace & Convention Center for kids – and it’s FREE…

LAKESIDE KIDS! – Wednesdays, 10-11AM
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Come to Monona Terrace on Wednesday mornings and enjoy this fun children’s program. Local performers and organizations will provide entertainment, hands-on fun, and learning for children ages 4 to 8. Programs will be held on the rooftop unless otherwise indicated. In the event of inclement weather, program will be moved inside. Please call 608-261-4000 after 8:30 a.m. the day of event for program location. If transporting kids by bus, please call 608-261-4062 at least 48 hours prior to event.

Details: http://www.mononaterrace.com/community/community_events.html#lakesidekids

Posted: June 10th, 2009 under Home and Family, Things To Do.
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