This Christmas and holiday season, many parents worry about getting that perfect gift for their child that will cause them to light up when they open it. One popular image is of a child opening a box that is moving only to discover a real puppy or kitten popping out to surprise them. But is this really a good present for your child? The answer is actually a little more complex than a simple yes or no, so lets look at the proposition: Why you shouldnt buy your child a pet for Christmas Pets are not just... Read More

If youre like me, you may have a love-hate relationship with the holidays. Sure, when the temperatures dip and the decorations come out, I get a special tingle because it is one of the happiest times of the year to be with friends and family. But when I start to think of all the things that I have to do for the holidays, my anxiety level has a tendency to start escalating. Here are a few tips to getting organized this holiday season: Make a list and check it twice No, youre not Santa. But creating a detailed list of everything... Read More

Winter is right around the corner and although many people are excited about the chance to play in the snow or get ready for the holidays, others are dreading the time (sometimes for the exact same reasons). Winter can take its toll on a family, especially if you are unprepared. Here are some special tips to handle several common problems during the winter months. Illness Winter is the cold and flu season and its important to prepare your family for this. Its a good idea to go ahead and buy some cold and flu medication and... Read More

Welcome to the wonderful world of new home ownership. Whether this is your first time with us or you are an old pro at moving into a new house, there are a few things that you need to do to make sure that your time in the new home gets off to a good start. Heres our list of the top things to do when moving into a new home: Clean and Repair I know, this one sounds like a crazy idea. Didnt the old owners clean before they left? Actually, you have no idea if they did or not. So the first thing you need to do is a deep cleaning... Read More

The kitchen is definitely one of those areas in your home that gets the dirtiest; it is also one of those areas that must be kept clean. Any kind of bacterial build-up can get into the food that you prepare in this area, possibly leading to food-borne illnesses spreading amongst your family. To prevent this, it is usually a good idea to make sure that you do a regular deep cleaning of your kitchen to make sure that it stays pristine. Here are some of the best practices when it comes to deep cleaning the kitchen: Kitchen: Put... Read More

Fall is right around the corner and if you are looking to keep your home looking trendy and in step with the season, then its time to start looking at redecorating. Every season has a special style and themes, but fall is especially great with all of the different fall color options. These tips dont necessarily call for a complete overhaul of your home, of course, but they can provide some ideas to freshen things up now that the days and nights are getting cooler and crisper. Go Neutral Instead of investing in different fall... Read More

If youre like us, you take pride in your home and want it to look its best all the time, not just when company is coming for a visit. But maintaining your home can be a tiresome project that takes a lot of energy, especially after youve put in eight-plus hours at work and ferried the kids around to school and activities. Home hacks are essential because they can make some of the more mundane tasks of home maintenance a little easier and up the creativity quotient when it comes to the appearance of your home. Here are some of our... Read More

If you have kids, then you know how hard it is to raise them to eat well. We are overwhelmed each day by commercials for junk food, and grocery stores are papered with cartoon characters and bright colors all meant to entice children to eat sugary foods. These marketing tactics help contribute to the nations obesity problem. So, if you want to set your kids on the right path to eating properly, here are some tips on how to help them: French Fries Arent a Vegetable When you eat at a restaurant, then you know that most kids... Read More

The debate has raged for years between nature and nurturewhether you are the product of your biology or your upbringing. Some believe that children are born with naturally creative talents and others think that it is something that can be taught and cultivated in a child. The reality is probably a mixture of both. But creativity is definitely a quality that you want to encourage in your children. Here are some ways that you can do just that: Dont Try To Answer Everything Children are naturally inquisitive, always asking... Read More

August is always a strange time of year: its those dog days of summer when the hours seem longer, and the hot weather can be its most stifling. But its also the downside of summer when the school year approaches and moms start looking at the first day with a glint in their eyes. And right around the corner, we know that fall is coming with its cooler temperatures. This August, take time to enjoy the end of the summer but think about getting your home ready for the school year. With that in mind, heres a list of some simple tasks: ... Read More