As part of National Preparedness Month (observed every September), I like to take a straightforward look at various disaster preparedness topics (see the series page for a complete list of the topics we’ve explored previously). This year, as I update my family’s preparedness plan and replenish the supplies in our disaster kit, I’m … [Read more...] about Dare to Prepare: 8 of the Best Foods to Keep in Your Disaster Preparedness Kit
health and safety
Getting Exercise as a Busy Homemaker
I’ve noticed that exercise occupies a precarious position in the minds of many women I know. Some shun it because they view it as vain, believing it is only a means of losing weight to become more attractive. Others worship it, spending hours each week pushing themselves to extremes to prove they are stronger than their aching muscles. Still … [Read more...] about Getting Exercise as a Busy Homemaker
Healthy Snacks for Road Trips
We’re about to spend three long days on the road as we move across the country. I find it challenging to be cooped up in the car for long periods of time like this, but snacks somehow make the experience more tolerable. Instead of absentmindedly consuming tons of high-fat, high-sugar, and/or high-sodium snacks, I’m identifying and … [Read more...] about Healthy Snacks for Road Trips
Why It’s Good for Kids to Roughhouse with Dad
When I leave them alone for a time, I often return to find my husband swinging my daughter around and tossing her up in the air. Though this is sometimes scary for me, my daughter’s smile and giggles indicate she absolutely loves it! Dads often engage in this sort of roughhousing or horseplay with their children. This is challenging for … [Read more...] about Why It’s Good for Kids to Roughhouse with Dad
Easy Ways to Increase Your Consumption of Vegetables
Do you love vegetables or do you view them as necessary evils? I really enjoy a number of them, but there are also many that I don’t like. My husband enjoys far fewer than I do, so we struggle to eat recommended amounts of these very important foods. Because the health benefits of diets rich in vegetables are so significant (decreased … [Read more...] about Easy Ways to Increase Your Consumption of Vegetables
Food Safety at Barbecues and Picnics
‘Tis the season for picnics and barbecues. I’m eager to eat a juicy burger, flavorful baked beans, and refreshing watermelon. What I’m not eager for is foodborne illness, a surprisingly common consequence of improper food handling at these gatherings. Fortunately, several commonsense measures can keep us safe as we enjoy our favorite foods … [Read more...] about Food Safety at Barbecues and Picnics
Ways to Conserve Water Outside the Home
Last week we looked at dozens of ways we can conserve water in the home. Water conservation outside the home is just as important. In fact, given how much water is used in yards, it may be even more important! Water use outside the home is so critical because urban lawn watering is the single largest demand on the majority of municipal … [Read more...] about Ways to Conserve Water Outside the Home
Ways to Conserve Water in the Home
Most of us in the U.S. are easily able to access clean water. We simply turn on a faucet and it’s there. Until we face drought conditions, we typically don’t give thought to how water is a scarce, precious resource. Only 1% of the world’s water is freshwater that is accessible for human use; global demand for this water increases by … [Read more...] about Ways to Conserve Water in the Home
