With my son a teenager and not interested in the fun parts of Halloween, I am finally able to do these with my niece who is 2 1/2. I am very excited when my newest niece who is 2 1/2 months and my nephew who due to arrive late Dec/early Jan will be able to take part in these activities.
This year I will be taking my son to something we can enjoy for Halloween - Universal Studios Hollywood. We will be screaming and running from monsters during their Halloween Horror Nights and taking their RIP tour. You can see this at http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/hollywood/2009/index.php.
Because we will not be home this year for Halloween I want to do some special treats prior. I did a search and found the best and easiest recipes were at the kraftfoods.com in their Halloween Center. Not only did they have sweet treats but meals as well. How fun would it be to have a pre-Halloween dinner. She's a girly tomboy who loves monsters and finds them amusing. From a simple search of easy cookies or sweet treat turns into the planning of a Halloween themed feast.
You can find Halloween recipes at http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/Entertaining/HolidaysEvents/Halloween/Pages/HalloweenCenter.aspx
I will be saving these for next year since there are a few Halloween parties being planned.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
CDC Says “Take 3” Actions To Fight The Flu
CDC Says “Take 3” Actions To Fight The Flu
These actions will protect against 2009 H1N1 too!
Flu is a serious contagious disease. Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications.
This flu season could be worse because there is a new and very different influenza virus causing illness called 2009 H1N1. CDC expects both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season and is preparing for an early and possibly severe flu season.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu):
Take time to get a flu vaccine.
CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.
Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
Seasonal flu vaccine also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from making them sick.
A seasonal vaccine will not protect you against 2009 H1N1.
A new vaccine against 2009 H1N1 is being made.
People at greatest risk for 2009 H1N1 infection include children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.
Ask your doctor if you should get a 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
Take everyday preventive actions.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other measures to keep our distance from each other to lessen the spread of flu.
Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.
If you get seasonal or 2009 H1N1 flu, antiviral drugs can treat the flu.
Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
The priority use for antiviral drugs this season is to treat people who are very sick (hospitalized) or people who are sick with flu-like symptoms and who are at increased risk of serious flu complications, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older and people with chronic health conditions. (Most people have been able to recover at home from 2009 H1N1 without needing medical care and the same is true of seasonal flu.)
Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics.
For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.
Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
Visit the CDC 2009 H1N1 website to find out what to do if you get sick with the flu and how to care for someone at home who is sick with the flu.
This information and more can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
These actions will protect against 2009 H1N1 too!
Flu is a serious contagious disease. Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications.
This flu season could be worse because there is a new and very different influenza virus causing illness called 2009 H1N1. CDC expects both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season and is preparing for an early and possibly severe flu season.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu):
Take time to get a flu vaccine.
CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.
Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
Seasonal flu vaccine also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from making them sick.
A seasonal vaccine will not protect you against 2009 H1N1.
A new vaccine against 2009 H1N1 is being made.
People at greatest risk for 2009 H1N1 infection include children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.
Ask your doctor if you should get a 2009 H1N1 vaccine.
Take everyday preventive actions.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other measures to keep our distance from each other to lessen the spread of flu.
Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.
If you get seasonal or 2009 H1N1 flu, antiviral drugs can treat the flu.
Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
The priority use for antiviral drugs this season is to treat people who are very sick (hospitalized) or people who are sick with flu-like symptoms and who are at increased risk of serious flu complications, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older and people with chronic health conditions. (Most people have been able to recover at home from 2009 H1N1 without needing medical care and the same is true of seasonal flu.)
Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics.
For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.
Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
Visit the CDC 2009 H1N1 website to find out what to do if you get sick with the flu and how to care for someone at home who is sick with the flu.
This information and more can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tea Giveaway!
Tea Time with Liv is having a tea giveaway!
Come see how you can win a free tea gift pack or tea sample pack
http://teatimewithliv.blogspot.com/2009/10/tea-giveaway.html
Home Drug Tests
As a mother of a teenager I hope that I have raised my son to be responsible and make good choices. We have had the talks concerning drugs, alcohol, and sex, but I am always worried the peer pressure will speak louder than the lessons he has learned.
I have always told my son I can and will drug test him randomly. I know all that I used to get away with when out of my parents sight so I am not naive to the fact there is something that will happen that I do not approve of. Just as I will periodically check up on any social networks he is involved in, I will check to make sure he does not involve himself in bad choices concerning drugs and alcohol.
This past weekend I made my way to Walgreens where they have home drug tests available. They have single tests for cocaine, marijuana, steroids, alcohol, and multi tests that test a variety of drugs. I chose a multi test that would test for drugs common in our city.
I am proud to say he passed with flying colors. Nothing came up questionable including his behavior. He did not fight it, seem overly nervous (beyond the nerves of a first time drug test by mom and dad).
Sadly I know there are kids in or around his peer group that have experimented with drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. With knowing I may randomly test him again I just hope he continues to make the right choices and not put himself in a bad position.
I have always told my son I can and will drug test him randomly. I know all that I used to get away with when out of my parents sight so I am not naive to the fact there is something that will happen that I do not approve of. Just as I will periodically check up on any social networks he is involved in, I will check to make sure he does not involve himself in bad choices concerning drugs and alcohol.
This past weekend I made my way to Walgreens where they have home drug tests available. They have single tests for cocaine, marijuana, steroids, alcohol, and multi tests that test a variety of drugs. I chose a multi test that would test for drugs common in our city.
I am proud to say he passed with flying colors. Nothing came up questionable including his behavior. He did not fight it, seem overly nervous (beyond the nerves of a first time drug test by mom and dad).
Sadly I know there are kids in or around his peer group that have experimented with drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. With knowing I may randomly test him again I just hope he continues to make the right choices and not put himself in a bad position.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Lowe's Build and Grow clinic
This is great for kids. My son used to take part in this until a couple years ago when he became too old. I still have his apron and some of his old projects.
| Fire Truck |
 |
| October is Safety Month! Kick it off right with Safety Saturday at Lowe's and this awesome Fire Truck! |
Monday, September 21, 2009
World Alzheimer's Day
World Alzheimer's Day, September 21, is a day when the Alzheimer's Association and other organizations around the globe unite our efforts to raise awareness about the disease and its impact on our families, communities and nations. World Alzheimer's Day was first launched on September 21, 1994 by ADI.
In 2007, the Alzheimer's Association began a movement to dramatically increase awareness and concern about Alzheimer's. We're calling on 5 million Americans — one for every person living with the disease — to become a Champion and join the Alzheimer cause. We're closer than ever to research breakthroughs that have the potential to change the course of this disease. Now is the time for you to take action and join us. Let's win this fight!
Click here find your Alzheimer awareness items at So Chic Bag Boutique
*sign up form provided by the Alzheimer's Association and not affiliated with Life of a work-at-home mother or So Chic Bag Boutique and will not receive emails from Life of a work-at-home mother or So Chic Bag Boutique. Life of a work-at-home mother supports the Alzheimer's Association and provides this service as part of that support.
In 2007, the Alzheimer's Association began a movement to dramatically increase awareness and concern about Alzheimer's. We're calling on 5 million Americans — one for every person living with the disease — to become a Champion and join the Alzheimer cause. We're closer than ever to research breakthroughs that have the potential to change the course of this disease. Now is the time for you to take action and join us. Let's win this fight!
Click here find your Alzheimer awareness items at So Chic Bag Boutique
*sign up form provided by the Alzheimer's Association and not affiliated with Life of a work-at-home mother or So Chic Bag Boutique and will not receive emails from Life of a work-at-home mother or So Chic Bag Boutique. Life of a work-at-home mother supports the Alzheimer's Association and provides this service as part of that support.
Free Samples
Take a look at these free samples available from Walmart
Zyrtec
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid77026.aspx
Emergen-C
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid75256.aspx
Huggies Little Movers
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid77406.aspx
Kotex
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid77118.aspx
Zyrtec
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid77026.aspx
Emergen-C
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid75256.aspx
Huggies Little Movers
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid77406.aspx
Kotex
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid77118.aspx
Thursday, September 17, 2009
I am looking for your articles
I want to hear from other WAHMs and how you live as a WAHM. Send your article to disneyandmickeyfan@yahoo.com with "Life of a WAHM" in the subject line for consideration. Please no ad articles. These must relate in some way to being a WAHM.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
From Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Get a head start on dinner with this fresh take on a slow-simmered, all-in-one meal that makes clean-up a breeze.
Serves: 8
Total Time: 4 hr
Prep Time: 15 min
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon(s) cornstarch
- 8 medium carrots, cut into thirds
- 2 medium onions, each cut into 8 wedges
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 1 (3 pound) beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 tablespoon(s) Worcestershire sauce
Directions
- In slow cooker, stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth. Add carrots and onions; season with salt and pepper, and toss.
- Sprinkle roast with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; place on top of vegetables, and drizzle with Worcestershire. Cover; cook on high, 6 hours (or on low, 10 hours).
- Transfer roast to a cutting board; thinly slice against the grain. Place vegetables in a serving dish; pour pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve, if desired. Serve roast with vegetables and pan juices.
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Posted using ShareThis
Monday, September 14, 2009
Living on a budget
In today's economy many are playing it safe. Being careful about your money doesn't mean not spending at all. Not spending is the worst thing we can do for our economy. If no money is flowing, the economy worsens. So how do you spend without going overboard?
Set a budget. Layout your bills. Know what is coming in and out every month. Know your monthly pay then begin to list all you have to spend - mortgage/rent, utilities (electricity, water, gas), phone.
Set a budget for grocery shopping. Make a list of meals for the time period in which you are shopping. If you shop twice a month, you need enough meals for 14 days. If you spend what you need, you will get through the basics. In your grocery shopping cut those coupons. Check with your local store about price comps. Walmart is big about matching prices of other stores. Use your grocery list to shop through grocery store papers and coupons. Never ever go to the store hungry. If you are hungry you are likely to over spend.
Take that calculator with you every time you shop regardless of grocery or clothing. If you are keeping an accurate total (minus taxes) you will be aware of your spending and tend to spend less.
Still need help staying on track? Get gift cards. If you use gift cards to pay you can't go over. Having cash works for some but cash can be easy to spend. Before you know it, you open a wallet to not enough money.
Use gift cards for the extra spending you enjoy. I enjoy Starbucks. At $5 a pop that can get costly if I am not careful. On average I visit Starbucks twice a week. That is roughly $40 a month. If I only allow myself to use a gift card for my purchase I can't over spend. If I choose to go more than twice in a week I am quite aware that means 1 less coffee in a future week. What I find happens is I tend to think twice about my visits and spread them out giving me extra at the end of the month.
I really enjoy going out to eat. Lets say this month I don't have enough for a full dinner but I have enough to purchase a $25 card for next month. I do this each month and save up for a full dinner. Many restaurants allow you to add to gift cards vs buying a new one each time. Try this and see how you can eat out from time to time.
Another trick to save those pennies is always round up when balancing that check book. If you spend $17.63 cents, mark it down as $18. Some banks do this for you. My bank does not offer this so we have to take care of this on our own. At the end of the month we average saving $20 just on typical spending. Take that extra and move to a savings account. One you don't have easy access to.
With every paycheck, pay yourself first. I like to start with $25. I find it easy to work with $25 less each month. Move that over to savings. If it is gone before you start spending you don't miss it.
Join clothing swap groups in your area. This is a great way to exchange clothes for something new. This is great for kids. If you don't have one, start one.
Check sites such as gasbuddy.com to find the best gas price. Don't go out of your way. Look for typical routes such as a route to and from work. Don't bother going 10 miles to save three cents. No point in wasting gas when you are trying to save.
Have all those movie channels but rarely watch them? Get rid of them and use a services such as the red box in your local area ($1 a night DVD rental) or Netflix. Not only are you saving on the cost of dropping premium channels but you are paying lesser taxes. Even paying for a pay per view movie works out on average lesser than premium movie packages.
Do you enjoy visiting zoos and amusement parks? If you visit these more than twice a year check into annual passes. These cost more up front but you save in the end. This also allows you to enjoy more visits than if you had to pay for individual trips. Another great benefit is most annual pass holders get discounts such as food.
Have kids in school that take lunch? Are you doing this to save money or a preference? If you are trying to save money add up those numbers and make sure you are. We find spending $2 a day for school lunch is actually cheaper than the average $2.50 if he took lunch. Most times lunch taken to school is a sandwich (bread, meat, cheese, mayo), bag of chips, fruit, and a drink. Add in the average cost of Ziploc bags, paper bags or lunch bags, small thermos, cooling pack, it works out to a tad more. You may find you spend less on your child taking lunch but check the numbers. You may be surprised.
Before buying a new bottle of your favorite cleaning product, do they have refill bottles instead. Why pay for a new bottle when you can save by buying a refill bottle. Most times I personally find the refill bottle is roughly $2-3 more than the single purchase giving me a minimum of 25% savings.
Check that cell phone. Most people have a plan that is well above their needs. Make sure you are not overpaying for services you need. Not only check the minutes but check add ons. Do the same with your home phone. How many may have an answering service when they have an answering machine at home.
Cheaper is not always better. If you have to use twice as much toilet paper using the cheap brand vs the name brand, are you really saving. Don't be blinded that cheaper is better. There are times a more expensive brand costs less in the long run.
Buying bigger because it is cheaper? Think again. This past week I decided to buy 4 cans of ravioli. They had a choice between single cans and a 4 pack. It was $0.46 cheaper to buy single then the 4 pack offered. This is not uncommon. I have come across this frequently. You always assume it is cheaper and many stores count on it. Compare prices and don't assume.
There are several ways to live well on a budget. Remember a budget doesn't mean cheap it means frugal. Sometimes that means work but you can find great deals if you are willing to look. You can really save if you are willing to be aware of your spending.
Set a budget. Layout your bills. Know what is coming in and out every month. Know your monthly pay then begin to list all you have to spend - mortgage/rent, utilities (electricity, water, gas), phone.
Set a budget for grocery shopping. Make a list of meals for the time period in which you are shopping. If you shop twice a month, you need enough meals for 14 days. If you spend what you need, you will get through the basics. In your grocery shopping cut those coupons. Check with your local store about price comps. Walmart is big about matching prices of other stores. Use your grocery list to shop through grocery store papers and coupons. Never ever go to the store hungry. If you are hungry you are likely to over spend.
Take that calculator with you every time you shop regardless of grocery or clothing. If you are keeping an accurate total (minus taxes) you will be aware of your spending and tend to spend less.
Still need help staying on track? Get gift cards. If you use gift cards to pay you can't go over. Having cash works for some but cash can be easy to spend. Before you know it, you open a wallet to not enough money.
Use gift cards for the extra spending you enjoy. I enjoy Starbucks. At $5 a pop that can get costly if I am not careful. On average I visit Starbucks twice a week. That is roughly $40 a month. If I only allow myself to use a gift card for my purchase I can't over spend. If I choose to go more than twice in a week I am quite aware that means 1 less coffee in a future week. What I find happens is I tend to think twice about my visits and spread them out giving me extra at the end of the month.
I really enjoy going out to eat. Lets say this month I don't have enough for a full dinner but I have enough to purchase a $25 card for next month. I do this each month and save up for a full dinner. Many restaurants allow you to add to gift cards vs buying a new one each time. Try this and see how you can eat out from time to time.
Another trick to save those pennies is always round up when balancing that check book. If you spend $17.63 cents, mark it down as $18. Some banks do this for you. My bank does not offer this so we have to take care of this on our own. At the end of the month we average saving $20 just on typical spending. Take that extra and move to a savings account. One you don't have easy access to.
With every paycheck, pay yourself first. I like to start with $25. I find it easy to work with $25 less each month. Move that over to savings. If it is gone before you start spending you don't miss it.
Join clothing swap groups in your area. This is a great way to exchange clothes for something new. This is great for kids. If you don't have one, start one.
Check sites such as gasbuddy.com to find the best gas price. Don't go out of your way. Look for typical routes such as a route to and from work. Don't bother going 10 miles to save three cents. No point in wasting gas when you are trying to save.
Have all those movie channels but rarely watch them? Get rid of them and use a services such as the red box in your local area ($1 a night DVD rental) or Netflix. Not only are you saving on the cost of dropping premium channels but you are paying lesser taxes. Even paying for a pay per view movie works out on average lesser than premium movie packages.
Do you enjoy visiting zoos and amusement parks? If you visit these more than twice a year check into annual passes. These cost more up front but you save in the end. This also allows you to enjoy more visits than if you had to pay for individual trips. Another great benefit is most annual pass holders get discounts such as food.
Have kids in school that take lunch? Are you doing this to save money or a preference? If you are trying to save money add up those numbers and make sure you are. We find spending $2 a day for school lunch is actually cheaper than the average $2.50 if he took lunch. Most times lunch taken to school is a sandwich (bread, meat, cheese, mayo), bag of chips, fruit, and a drink. Add in the average cost of Ziploc bags, paper bags or lunch bags, small thermos, cooling pack, it works out to a tad more. You may find you spend less on your child taking lunch but check the numbers. You may be surprised.
Before buying a new bottle of your favorite cleaning product, do they have refill bottles instead. Why pay for a new bottle when you can save by buying a refill bottle. Most times I personally find the refill bottle is roughly $2-3 more than the single purchase giving me a minimum of 25% savings.
Check that cell phone. Most people have a plan that is well above their needs. Make sure you are not overpaying for services you need. Not only check the minutes but check add ons. Do the same with your home phone. How many may have an answering service when they have an answering machine at home.
Cheaper is not always better. If you have to use twice as much toilet paper using the cheap brand vs the name brand, are you really saving. Don't be blinded that cheaper is better. There are times a more expensive brand costs less in the long run.
Buying bigger because it is cheaper? Think again. This past week I decided to buy 4 cans of ravioli. They had a choice between single cans and a 4 pack. It was $0.46 cheaper to buy single then the 4 pack offered. This is not uncommon. I have come across this frequently. You always assume it is cheaper and many stores count on it. Compare prices and don't assume.
There are several ways to live well on a budget. Remember a budget doesn't mean cheap it means frugal. Sometimes that means work but you can find great deals if you are willing to look. You can really save if you are willing to be aware of your spending.
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