Search Results for: blog preparing for cold and flu season

Thinking Ahead to the Colder Months

Since this week we had our first official day of fall I am starting to think about the upcoming winter months and how I can best prepare for them with my fitness routine. Walking outdoors will definitely become a thing of the past since I live in Wisconsin. However I could also look at shoveling snow as an alternative. At any rate, the colder months also tend to bring other unwanted things into the home, like illness. Colds, the sniffles and the flu are sure to hit my home. The thing about getting sick is that I know I will … Continue reading →

Tips for Shooting Winter Landscapes

In a previous blog I mentioned that we experienced our first snowfall of the season this morning. It yielded little more than a dusting, but it sparked a flurry of activity for my 3-year-old daughter. She ran to the window to watch the fat flakes fall then ran to the closet to dig out her new winter gear. “Mama, it’s snowing. I gotta get my boots,” she told me very matter-of-factly. Regular readers of this blog also know that I made a pact with myself to get outside and capture more winter scenes this season. I didn’t start today, but … Continue reading →

Channelling the Home Gurus

Every once in a while, while I am taking care of my home, I think of those home gurus and all of their advice. Some of it is very good: “Only surround yourself with the things that add meaning to your life,” and some of it is bad: “Bathrooms should be cleaned three times a day.” Ack, really? Still those home gurus have done a lot to help us with turning our houses into homes. Which home guru do you most relate to? Peter Walsh Super clutter organizer Peter Walsh wants people to “live rich and full lives without drowning … Continue reading →

Germs, Germs Go Away

This winter is trying to kill me. I have been sick since November, since my flu shot to be exact. Now I’ve never been one of those people who won’t get the flu shot because they believe it makes them sick. I sign up gleefully every year, the truth is I’m healthy as a horse so a little vaccination can’t hurt. Anyway, I digress, I think it’s the cold medicine. I’ve taken all the precautions, I use hand sanitizer, I wipe down everything on a regular basis but what I have keeps coming back. I think I might have to … Continue reading →

Six Things You Should Check on Your Roof

If you want to have the best protection from the winter weather and a roof that will hold up and be safe, you should check the following six things. It could be the difference between being safe and warm in the winter and having a major problem with your roof. 1. The first thing you should do is to check the framing structure of your roof. Stand back and look to see if there are any parts of your roof that sag or parts that are uneven. Sagging could indicate a problem with the roof deck. 2. Next, get on … Continue reading →

Wash Me, Please

There I was down in the basement, picking up our new playroom yet again. The kids were upstairs in the living room playing a new dance game on the Wii. They were having a lot of fun, judging from the giggling and the various stomps and booms I was hearing through the basement ceiling. I admit that I had an ulterior motive for being down in the playroom–to identify some items that could get passed on to other kids. Every once in a while, I would climb the basement stairs and ask the kids, “Hey, can we donate item x?” … Continue reading →

Germs in the Laundry

Did you know that there were germs hiding in your laundry? These germs can make you and your family sick. Here is what to do about them. If you aren’t washing all of your laundry in hot water (and I certainly don’t), then you are not getting out all of the germs and bacteria that could be making your family ill. Laundry washed in cold or luck water only gets out about 80 percent of existing bacteria. Where is all of this bacteria coming from? There is bacteria living in dishcloths and kitchen towels, underwear and bath towels, among other … Continue reading →

Our Love Affair with a Floor Steamer

Well, I’ve been wanting a floor steamer for a while, and we finally got one! We took the plunge. Would it be a household help or an extra chore? We purchased the unit from Target and were ready to go. Like any new toy in the house, my husband and I battled over who would get to try it first. I wanted the steamer for deep cleaning without using chemicals. My husband wanted it as a substitute for the everyday mopping we had been doing with the Swiffer Wet Mop. We are analytical people and were ready to converse on … Continue reading →

Laundry Tricks to Use When You’re Sick

I’ve been sick for the last few weeks, and the laundry has really piled up. I’ve tried to keep up with emergency items (“Mom, where is my favorite green shirt?” and “Honey, did you happen to wash my black pants?”) but honestly, trying to get it all done when I get winded just sitting was a bit much. I’m still sick, but as we are definitely in a crisis mode with the laundry, I’m aiming for at least two loads of laundry a day, completely washed, dried (or hung), and folded when dry. Putting it all away is another story, … Continue reading →

Sick Kit Tricks

With the colder weather here (snow in October!) and a few viruses already under our belt, it is definitely time to check and supply the sick kit. The sick kit comes in handy when anyone is sick, including mom. Maybe I should say especially mom, since when I am sick I tend not to get rest, and this draws out the illness more; can I get an Amen? While I don’t often store the entire kit together in one place, I do make sure that everything needed is stocked in easy locations. Standard kits might include tissues, medication, etc., but … Continue reading →