Family, Home and Garden

Baby care

2011-07-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

New parents face many problems and issues that they are expected to understand and deal with immediately. Unfortunately, newborns do not come with an instruction book so here are a few topics that you may need to know about.

Bathing your baby: Until your baby’s umbilical cord falls off one to two weeks after their birth, only give her sponge baths. A cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with alcohol can help to dry the umbilical stump or follow your pediatrician’s directions. After the stump falls off, you can give him a bath in a sink or shallow tub.

Caesarian delivery: A caesarian is usually performed to make delivery safer for you or your baby. C-sections can be done for many different reasons including stalled labor, complicated labor, problems with the baby that may make delivery difficult, or other problems. It does not matter if you deliver vaginally or by a caesarian section, you are still a mother with a beautiful new blessing.

Circumcision: Many doctors agree that there may be some benefit to circumcision, but it may not be absolutely necessary. It may help to lower the risk of urinary tract infections and eliminates just about any chance of penile cancer. Circumcision does not cause long-term emotional problems for your child.

Crib death (SIDS): Many studies have been done regarding SIDS. Although the cause of SIDS has not been definitely defined, there are some correlations that have been made between SIDS and the following things:

Male babies are more likely to die from SIDS than females

Prematurity makes it more likely

Minority children are affected by it more often than non-minorities

More children of young, single mothers die from it

Children who live in a home with one or more smokers are more likely to be affected

Some people say that sleeping with your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS, but the American Academy of Pediatrics disagree with this statement and go on to say that there is a greater risk of SIDS in babies who co-sleep.

Back sleeping is what most pediatricians recommend for babies to decrease the SIDS risk. The reason for this is widely debated between health experts. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.

Do You Want Home Luxury Hot Tubs?

2011-07-25T03:17:00.001-07:00

If you asked 100 people about the most memorable moments from their vacation, spending time in resort or hotel hot tubs would be among the most popular answers. So, why not bring that memory home and experience it whenever you want? Whether it is spending time with family or a romantic evening with your significant other, hot tubs are the quintessential element for making your home a vacation hot spot.

Here are a few things to consider in making your outdoor hot tub into a fun getaway or the perfect place to relax.

Size is not a problem

Don’t think you have the space for an outdoor hot tub? Think again. Hot tubs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. So, if you have a small deck in the city or a sprawling estate in the country, there is a spa that will satisfy your needs.

Mix it up with plants

A hot-tub paradise can be a tropical setting with lush beautiful plants, or a luxuriously steamy spot surrounded by snow. Use various size planters around your hot tub and stagger the plant heights to create depth and plant holly and evergreens in the winter. During the summer, add some hibiscus for vibrant splashes of color that will have you thinking you are in Hawaii.

Party over here

Many luxury hot tubs come with options like stereos to create the perfect party scene. Select Jacuzzi models include upgrades that let you plug in your MP3 player or listen to AM-FM radio through the built-in speakers. You can also have a hot tub with rotating colored lights and built-in cup holders - great for entertaining! Barry Wilson from Newcastle, Ontario Canada says of his J-480 luxury Jacuzzi Hot Tub, “It has become one of my favorite places on the planet… A little Kenny Chesney beach music and the hot tub put the whole world in perspective.”

Want to slow it down?

Bring the whole family together to enjoy the relaxing qualities of an outdoor spa. Nothing gets people communicating better than the peaceful sounds of a waterfall and the stars overhead. It's also a great place to get together with friends for conversation and stress reduction.

With a hot tub as your foundation, you can create a versatile at-home vacation environment. Add a touch of your personal style with the right accessories and you are on your way to a family gathering place or neighborhood hot spot.

Have an idea for turning your future or existing Jacuzzi Hot Tub into your dream vacation spot? Share it with us by leaving a comment.

How to build a house in one day?

2009-11-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

Sounds unbelievable right? Know that it is impossible to build a house in just one days. This is possible if you choose to build a modular home. All parts of the house Fri prefabricated and are mounted on the spot. There is need is a team of 5-6 people (good professionals), 1 machine with crane and some will.
You can see these clips as soon as it built such a house:

With all that is being built so fast, a modular home meets the highest standards in terms of:

- House insulation (polyurethane foam insulation modules are on the inside, with a lower heat transfer coefficient, so better than other conventional insulation systems such as polystyrene or mineral wool)
- Resistance to earthquakes (although looks like delicate being made of Lego pieces, know that such a house is very resistant to earthquakes, material which is built by giving them more flexibility than in the case of brick houses)
- It is eco

However, one thing should be said, the foundation must exist before the house.
So if decide to move overnight, you can opt for the system construction.

How to Create a Garden Theme Bedroom For Preteen Daughters

2009-10-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

by: Alyssa Davis

Has your daughter outgrown cartoon character or Flower Power bedroom theme? If so, then it is time to select a new theme for your pre-teen. Have you considered using a garden theme? Such a theme is ideal for daughters who have grown out of -girly- themes, but are not yet ready for themes that are more mature. A garden theme is light enough for pre-teens, yet not too -serious.- Here are some tips for creating a garden themed bedroom for your pre-teen daughter:

1. Focus on flowers to create a country cottage theme

The key to a country cottage theme is flowers. Use wallpaper borders with flowers or outdoor cutouts on the walls. Other options include stencils to create various outdoor scenes. Only include a tree if the room is relatively large. Items to add include butterflies, birds, bunnies, cats, and a picket fence.

Use beddings, throw rugs, and curtains with flowers, flower flowers (and perhaps some butterflies as well). The key is to keep everything light and flowery.

2. Chase the blues away, with blue walls, wallpaper and wall art

Consider painting the walls sky blue, to represent-well, the sky. You can further embellish the walls with a variety of wall art, such as leaves metal wall hangings. This will help to create the aura of a garden. Such wall art is available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure that the wall art complements other elements in the room, such as the carpeting, furniture, drapes, and beddings.

3. Catch butterfly items for a butterfly garden theme

Use wallpaper cutouts of butterflies and flowers, and then attach them in various places on the bedroom's walls. Another idea is to paint grass or a pond at the base of the walls, to emphasize the garden theme. You can also find a wide variety of butterfly items in department stores, such as comforters, drawer pulls, lamps, pillows, rugs, and sheets.

4. Let your imagination run wild with a fairy garden theme.

You can select among many types of fairy theme products, including:

- bedding items (i.e. comforters, quilts, sheets)
- figurines
- lamp
- murals (install them as you would wallpaper)
- night light
- throw pillows
- throw rug
- wallpaper cutouts

Okay, so how do you transform fairy theme products to a fairy garden theme room? Simply add some dried flowers wherever you have fairy theme products. This will create an effect similar to the one that leaves metal wall hangings create.

5. Accessorize, accessorize!

The number of items that you can use to accessorize your garden theme bedroom is nearly unlimited. They include:

- chairs
- curtain rods
- curtain tiebacks
- lamps
- pictures
- posters
- tables
- tissue holders
- trash cans
- throw pillows
- wall hooks

Mix and match accessories to find the perfect combination.

Consider a garden theme bedroom for your pre-teen daughter. Include items such as floral wrought iron wall hangings to bring the lovely, relaxing aura of the outdoors - indoors!

Hay Bale Gardening

2009-10-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

by: Timothy Samuel

Hay bale gardening technique is a low-cost and convenient way of growing flowers and vegetables. Growing vegetables in a hay bale garden is similar to the technique used to grow vegetables in a raised bed garden. If you are just getting your bales, give the bales a thorough soaking, and let them begin to break down before you plant your vegetables. Hay or straw bale gardening is another great way have your garden if you have limited space, terrible soil, a bad back or those who are confined to a wheel chair! So much time is saved by not having to weed or hoe or even water as often as well. This project was first researched by a Dr at the University of Minnesota Extension says, "Hay bales provide a well-aerated, disease free growing medium that is perfect for growing vegetables.

The popular method of hay bale gardening is getting more popular in town, a friend told him how to get prosperous crops using nothing but wheat straw, potting soil, a little fertilizer and some tomato plants "Every fall I get some bales and let them sit out all winter to get good and soggy, I plant a few every year and I've had real good luck. Another friend who was in the landscaping business showed him how to use wheat straw to garden "He had all kinds of crops including cucumber, squash and green beans, you can raise almost anything except corn, because it's too tall and the bale will fall over .

Bales first should be situated in a full sun formation, with twine and wire ties kept in tact. Since bales may be used two seasons, synthetic twine can be used to provide the most durable binding. For optimum root penetration and plant growth throughout gardening months, bales should be placed with strings wrapped horizontally and straws set vertically. The next step is hydration, the key to successful hay bale gardening. A form of hydroponics, the hay bale is like a sponge, and you can't let them dry out, or your crop just does not work. While watering the bales twice per day, fertilize them every other day for six days with one-half cup each of a high nitrogen fertilizer. Working with the bales is much easier than working on a traditional garden. You're putting your garden at eye level, you can see your progress, you can weed it a lot easier and harvest easier. (Posted by Denise in Creative Organic Gardening). Straw bale gardening is an interesting option for those who have either limited soil, limited space or have difficulty bending over. This is important if you intend to get two years possible out of each bale in your straw bale gardening efforts. Remember several things about placing your bales in your straw bale gardening layout. Straw bale gardening layouts can be placed end-to-end to create long gardens or grouped into traditional bed shapes or even set up as maze types of gardens. How crazy does it sound, growing tomatoes in bales of hay. I planted peppers, tomatoes, flowers and beans in the hay bales in different arrangements that were pleasing to the eye. Somehow I find it oddly interesting kind of like growing tomatoes upside down. In my garden adventures with hay bale and straw bale gardening I have tried several different gardening techniques. While I like growing melons and gourds in the bales both are heavy feeder so I created a hay bale/ straw bale square garden technique to use with these crops. Lay the bales out to form a square with an open section on the inside. Now it's time to prepare the bales for planting. Straw bale gardening has many positive aspects. Valerie Everett I prefer straw bales as they contain less seed and last longer but straw is more expensive so my choice for the garden depends on the best buy I can get or which crop I am growing. For squash plants and gourds I use hay bales. First get bales that still have the string tightly around the bale. And if you know where you want your garden position the bales. For more information and tips on gardening go to www.Teegoes.org

How To Build A Chicken Coop

2009-10-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

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Not only will you have a self sustained miniature-farm that produces fresh organic eggs everyday, recycles your food scraps and provides high quality fertilizer, but you'll be proud to know that you made something with your own two hands.

Also, building your own chicken coop just makes economical sense. You can build a chicken coop at just a fraction of the cost of buying a pre-built one. Most pre-built chicken coops you buy need to be assembled anyway, you're really just paying hugely inflated prices for the material.

Unfortunately, building your own chicken coop is not as easy as hammering some wood and wire mesh together. You need to take into account materials, insulation, ventilation, lighting, positioning, nesting, perches, litter collection and protection from the elements and other animals.

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HOME - a documentary that need to be seen with your family

2009-10-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Home is a 2009 documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The film is almost entirely composed of aerial shots of various places on Earth. It shows the diversity of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet. The movie was released simultaneously on June 5, 2009 in cinemas across the globe, on DVD, Blu-ray, television, and on YouTube. Opening in 181 countries, the film broke the world record for the largest film release in history.

"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film.

HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet."

Yann Arthus-Bertrand

The documentary chronicles the present day state of the Earth, its climate and how we as the dominant species have long-term repercussions on its future. A theme expressed throughout the documentary is that of linkage—how all organisms and the Earth are linked in a "delicate but crucial" natural balance with each other, and how no organism can be self-sufficient. The first 15 minutes include footage of the beginning of the natural world, starting with single-celled algae developing at the edges of volcanic springs. By showing algae's essential role in the evolution of photosynthesis, it also explores the innumerable species of plants which all have their origins in this one-celled life form. In the rest of the first hour of the film, the documentary takes on a more human-oriented focus, showing the agricultural revolution and its impacts, before moving on to talk about the harnessing of oil, leading to fire, industry, cities and inequality gaps like never before. It portrays the current predicament regarding cattle ranches, deforestation, food and water shortages, the use of non-renewable "fossil water", the over-quarrying crisis and the shortage of energy, namely electricity. Cities such as New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Shenzhen, Mumbai, Tokyo and Dubai are used as examples of the mismanagement and wastage of energy, water and food. The recession of marshlands and glaciers are shown in vast aerial shots of Antarctica, The North Pole and Africa, while mass emigration and refugee counts are shown currently and forecast in the event that these events remains unchanged. It is at this point that the film begins to focus on global warming and the carbon crisis. Home shows how melting glaciers, rising sea levels and changing weather patterns are ravaging the people who have least to do with climate change, but also how it soon will affect rich populous areas. Here, about three minutes of film is given to displaying harsh facts in large white text on a black background followed by a video representation of the fact. This is followed by a positive conclusion. The documentary shows the awful truths regarding our impact on the Earth, but also what we are now doing to combat and reverse it: including renewable energy, the creation of more and more national parks, international co-operation between various nations on environmental issues and the extra education and reform being had across the globe in response to the current problems facing the earth.

You can see HOME documentary on YouTube in HD : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

Toy Shops and the Internet

2009-10-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

by Jenny Talorman

The stores can also be very crowded and extremely unhelpful to someone shopping for a child. A great alternative to regular toy stores are online toy shops. These stores offer all the same items, and sometime even better ones, than regular toy shops while offering the convenience of shopping from your own home.

Action figures

If a child really likes action figures, he or she is likely to have many already. It can be hard to find new action figures that the child does not have in the store. Searching online can be a great place to find hard-to-find types of collectable dolls. Many online toy shops offer a larger variety and selection than any retail store. It is also possible to find these toys through auction sites and other person-to-person sales.

Interactive toys

It seems that almost all of the toys made for children these days are interactive. They talk, walk, make computations, make things, take instructions, and more. There are computers designed for children, game consoles designed for children, and strange interactive contraptions that don’t really have a purpose, but look cool. It can be hard to know which toy to purchase for a child who loves interactive toys. An online toy shop can often be helpful in choosing the right interactive toy for a particular child. Many online stores offer toy guides for relatives and friends of a child who wishes to buy a toy. The guides offer helpful tips about what toy is designed for what age level. Many of these sites also review different toys of all kinds to help people choose the best toys for their kids.

Hard to find toys

If you have a child who has to have a certain toy that cannot be found anywhere in stores, you are in luck with online toy shops. Not only do online stores often have a larger number of a certain toy than offline shops, but sometimes they are even cheaper. If you cannot find the toy in an online store either, then it is possible to search auction sites or trading sites to help get the perfect toy for your child. It is also possible to find toys that are no longer being made, such as toys that you had when you were a child. These toys often carry more meaning to a child because they have meaning to you as well.

Other kids toys

If you are a parent or friend of a child you have probably noticed how many commercial toys there are. Most of the toys in stores are promoting some type of television show or movie. If you do not want your child to be a walking advertisement, then alternatives must be found. Online toy shops are some of the best places to find wholesome toys that are not related to any movie or television show. These toys encourage imagination and offer a wholesome style of play that is good for any child. Check out these online toy shops today.

see also: PC Tattletale - Parental Control Software -Help Parents Keep Their Kids Safe Online

Alternative Energy Initiatives - Let The Sun Shine On All Of Us

2009-10-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

by Dave Richard

Recently, I attended an Alternative Energy Convention - one of many I attended over the last few years. It seems like these type of conventions are getting more and longer every month. My opinion is that that these conventions are held so often nowadays because the Global Warming Crisis that we are facing is growing more rapidly than scientists initially anticipated.

What worries me is that at all these conventions, the "clever" people and the "powers-that-be" agree that our needs (and "wants") are outpacing what Mother Earth can provide. They all agree that we must look into initiatives to generated cleaner, greener alternative energy sources. Some of them had ideas of using currents in the ocean, some agree that the wind is the answer and some look at the sun. The truth is that most of them went back home in there energy-thirsty 4-track vehicles, not to ever think of their noble ideas again.

A attend these conventions because I am an engineer in appliances that generatate sustainable alternative energy for big corporations - even in the oil industry. I asked many times, but not once did I get a turn to speak or to air my opinion at a convention. You see, I'm not a scientist, politician, or a chairman of an organization that wants to save the earth - I'm merely a person with an interest in doing what these meetings are called for - that is generating alternative energy.

What these "know-alls-but-do-nothings" do not realize is that alternative energy is not only limited to corporations, but that the small guy, the individual, can also contribute. The challenge is to "school" people and to promote the idea. It is not just about driving hybrid cars, and doing recycling - it is more about our own efforts to "whip" the energy, oil, and manufacturing industry (I'm convinced that many of these conventions are held by them, anyway).

Well, I already decided a few years ago that "charity" begins at home and I started to research small-sized appliances of generating alternative energy - something that any family can afford. My research lead me to the Internet and I was pleasantly surprized that many websites provide resources that teach you how to build your own appliances to generate alternative energy.

However....Since I began with my quest to find an inexpensive solution all those years ago, I've been through literally every emotion imaginable - frustration... anger... jubilation! Eventually, and after a lot of hard work, I did filter out the best resources on the Internet and ever since then I'm generating enough energy to go 'off-grid' - that's right I "whipped" the energy company - they're not getting a dime from me anymore. Now, all of a sudden, I'm also "smart" enough to be invited as guest speaker at conventions and seminars about alternative energy!

See, nowadays, trying to find the resources to make your own energy is difficult because there are so many guides, videos, and websites on the market to choose from and unless you have the time and money to test them out, you're basically going to go round in circles....and potentially lose a lot of money.

Added to my quest to "go green", I'm saving $1000s a year on energy bills! In the last year or two I focussed on small-sized energy saving appliances for the average household. I'm also often asked to do reviews of products and training material about this subject.

I came to realize that "charity" realy starts at home, and that home is Earth. I also believe that we shouldn't look or drill deep down into a hole to find our energy - let's look up - after all the sun has enough sustainable energy to shine on all of us.

see also: How to make your own solar panels for less than $200

Solar Panels and Wind Turbines - Build Your Own And Save On Your Energy Bill

2009-10-05T14:41:00.000-07:00

Is it easy to build a solar panel? How much will it cost me to get the material? Is it safe? How much can I save on my energy bill? Where do I get the material? Who will teach me how to do it?

Hi, I am Dave Richards. These are just some of the questions I get every day. It seems like everybody is becoming more and more interested in generating their own energy nowadays.... and with good reasons.

With constant climate change we are facing huge challenges and that may be the reason for you, but we are also in the middle of the most destructive global economic crisis known to mankind. This maybe the reason for many others - they want to save money.

No matter your intentions, you can have the benefit of both if you decide to generate your own free, clean, environmentally friendly energy to power up your whole household.

There are many websites teaching you to build your own solar panels and wind turbines. However, not all of them are good. If you do not know which one to choose you will go round in circles and even lose money. With my experience in the alternative energy arena, I already reviewed many of these websites and I found only a few that have valid techniques (see my website for the latest reviews).

To answer a few of the questions above:

To build your own solar panel is indeed very easy. In fact, my 12 year old daughter learned to do it in less than two days! It is also a fun project for the whole family.

Most of the material or parts can be found at your local hardware store and to build one solar panel can cost you in the region of $90 to $150.

Many of the guides that I recommend promotes safety. In fact, I will not allow my children to help me build any electricity generating appliance if it is not safe!

When following the step by step instructions of the experts, you can initially save up to 50% on your energy bill. With replication, you can even go "off grid" in a few months. Yes, I'm not paying a dime over to my energy provider - thanks to my 4 solar panels!

Magniwork - The Secret For Generating Free Electricity and you'll never have to pay a single dime to power company

Isn't it time for us, the small guys, to also get involved in protecting our resources and leave behind something to our children and their children? It just seems that "big business" talks the talk, but never walks the walk. Isn't it time for us to determine our own financial stability and to save where we can instead of waiting for "bailouts" from government?

Isn't it time for us to take charge? Will you take charge?

Article by Dave Richard