Fire Safety, Emergency Preparedness Concerns for Families

Last year, a family of seven kids perished in a home fire in Pennsylvania. Without faulting the Clouse family and with deepest sympathy, it's important to ask: could this tragedy possibly have been prevented? What can we as parents take away from this terrible tragedy? The need for family emergency preparedness. And the holiday season is a time to be particularly aware of fire dangers: candles in Halloween pumpkins, decorative candles, holiday lights, flammable Christmas trees. More decorations mean more things to catch fire. I almost sent our mobile home up in smoke (and us with it) leaving a Christmas candle burning. Thankfully, we had a smoke alarm and charged fire extinguisher and my husband is a quick thinker. So check those fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Here are more resources for parents to prepare their children for emergencies and prevent home fires. read more

Cheap Recycled Bible Character, Saints Costumes, Halloween or All Saints Day

Every parent has a little different spin on Halloween. Some go all out with the spooky costumes. Others celebrate it but only allow certain costumes. Still others make it a religious event where kids dress in Biblical costumes. Many Catholic families celebrate it for the religious holy day it is--All Saints Day. Whether you celebrate Halloween and trick-or-treat and have children dress as saints, or if you celebrate All Saints Day with a costume party, here are easy cheap Bible character and saints costumes. Use recycled materials green, eco-friendly free costumes, too. Read on Easy Bible Character and Saints Costumes for Halloween or All Saints Day 

Uses for Baking Soda: Green Cleaner, Odor Neutralizer, Health, Beauty Care

Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) is the definitive multi-tasker. It is the quintessential cleaner and scrubber. Baking soda deodorizers and neutralizes all sorts of odors. It's use in the kitchen, bathroom, nursery is limitless. Baking soda can be used in a multitude of ways medicinally and for first aid. Baking soda should be on every glamor girl's vanity table. And here is some great news; baking soda costs about $.39 a box. Here are over 25 ways to use baking soda in many different applications. 20 Uses for Baking Soda: Cleaner, Odor Neutralizer, Health Aid and Beauty Care 

Easy, cheap kids' party: Fall backyard shindig or beach bash

As the days grow cooler, now's the perfect time for a backyard fall bash. And who knows--with Indian summer, we still may get a few summery days. Why not celebrate with a backyard bash or beach party? Here's an easy cheap kids' party plan for children in preschool to middle elementary. read more

Surprise costs, hidden problems remodeling our 100-year-old home

My husband and I bought our Grand Haven, Michigan, home in 2000. We hoped to save money buying a 100-year-old fixer-upper for just $52,000. Newer homes that needed less work were selling for about two to three times what we paid for ours. We've had to make do with a lot of inconveniences that would cost us far more than we saved in purchase price to properly fix. Even fixing our home on a shoestring has cost us nearly as much as we saved -- around $49,000. Here are some of our costlier old-home-buying surprises.  read more

Green Up Your Shopping and Save Money

Living green also means saving green with these eco-friendly shopping tips. You've heard it said "you can't have everything"? Maybe not always, but you can with green shopping. Here are ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and save on grocery shopping. Save time, money, gas, hassle and patience! 'Green Up' Your Shopping and Save Money

Easy, cheap kids' party: Farewell to summer backyard shindig, beach bash

The lazy days of summer are winding down. If your kids aren't back to school already, they will be soon. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, signals the last official hurrah of summer. Why not round out the holiday out with a backyard bash or beach party? Here's an easy cheap kids' party plan for children in preschool to middle elementary. Use this plan for an earth day party, too.  Easy, cheap kids' party: Farewell to summer backyard shindig or beach bash

Stay Cool in Green Ways without Air Conditioning

Much of Lower Michigan is getting blasted by scorching temperatures and far-below-average rainfall. City-locked Detroiters have suffered through record high temperatures since May. The Detroit News reports that the city could see its highest temperature ever in the next few days. Here are details about this epic heat wave along with tips on inexpensive ways to cool off in the metro area (some of these apply to any metro city).  Epic Heat Wave Hits Detroit: Ways to Stay Cool 

Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning- Summer Heat Tips

Meteorologists are comparing summer 2012 in Michigan to 1988. In 1988, it was 90-plus for weeks with no rain. I felt every degree of it because I was 8-9 months pregnant and living in an upstairs apartment with no air conditioning. We have never had a central air conditioning unit. For most of our 25-year married life, we survived summer heat without air conditioning period. We bought two small portable window units last year, but for over two decades we managed to stay cool without an air conditioner. Here's how. 'Heat Dome' Survival Without Air Conditioning

Best Green Ecology Movies for Earth Month

Earth Day, formerly Arbor Day, is celebrated on April 22. Spring is manifesting herself in a big way in April and the whole month is devoted to earth-friendly activities. Those of us who care about our planet know that every day is, or should be Earth Day. Here's a list of green-themed films that explore environmentalism and green living. Topics include oil, fuel alternatives, sustainable living, corporate farming problems, health issues, pollution and more. Use these for science class, homeschool, activist rallies and public awareness campaigns. Read on at Best Green Ecology Movies for Earth Month - Yahoo! News