I’ll admit it. I am a person who sends boring Christmas Cards. Not the fancy ones people spend hours toiling over with a picture of the kids and the dog on the front. Nothing hand made or personalised.
I buy the dregs from the near empty shelves at my local newsagent [...]
Are you an Eco-conscious mom or mom to be? If so, you’re going to love this review!
Several weeks ago I was contacted by Earth Baby Organics with an offer to try their products, then share what I think. I was able to give my preference [...]
For the full post, visit http://restlesschipotle.com/index.php/2009/03/28/root-beer-pot-roast-seriously/
I promise you won’t be sorry!
Root Beer Pot Roast
Black Angus organic pot roast, 5 lbs 36 ozs of root beer, room temperature Salt and pepper to taste 10 organic carrots, peeled and cut into chunks 1-2 onions, optionalSeason roast on all sides and set aside for 15 minutes [...]
With the beginning of swim season in many areas, ear infections can be common. If you want to avoid antibiotics, check out this video for information on how to use natural remedies.
If your child is prone to Swimmers’ Ear, a condition where water becomes trapped in the ear after baths [...]
Every home should have a basic First Aid Kit in case of an emergency. The United States Government has issued a small list of items you should have on hand. Whether you live in the States or elsewhere in the world, the items below are always handy to have:
Things You [...]
By Joanne Kimes and R.J. Colleary with Rebecca Rutledge, PhD,
Authors of Teenagers Suck: What to do when missed curfews, texting, and “Mom can I have the keys?” make you miserable
As we all know and regret deeply, kids aren’t born with instruction manuals informing us of the intricacies of how they [...]
We’ve all seen the commercials for pro-biotic yogurts. Is it true that we need extra bacteria in our gut to keep us regular? Popular physician, Dr. Joeseph Mercola talks about the benefits of pro-biotics.
[...]
Father’s Day is coming- this Sunday! What are you going to do for Dad?
This year the kids and I are going to make Mr. Fletcher feel like a king. No, not king, but King with a capital K. The plan is:
Dad sleeps in- normally he gets [...]
You may have noticed I have been missing in action for a while. A big part of why was the sudden decline in health of my mother. She is a diabetic with many health problems that stem from prolonged neglect of her diabetes.
You might wonder what this has to do [...]
First Encounters — Not a Time for Fairytales
By Simon Oaks,
Author of Will Marry for Food, Sex, and Laundry: How to Get Him — and How to Keep Him
Everyone puts on a show to impress someone at the beginning of a relationship. You meet a guy, you feel [...]
When I met Eileen Parker, I never knew that what began as a business contact would turn into a valued friendship. After just one email from Eileen, I knew this was a chance to know someone who took their special needs and molded them into a company [...]
If you were walking by my home, odds are that you would be like everyone else I have spotted. The music and bouncing sounds would make you turn your head. With 4 children under 10 you can bet that we have a lot going on! With the [...]
There are times in a marriage when the road becomes bumpy. Relationship advice, marriage counseling, and sometimes just talking will help. The worst is avoided, both spouses realize, “Hey, we do love one another! Let’s just tough this out.”
What if that does not happen? There are little things that chip [...]
Special Thanks to Jill in Montreal for the alert!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 233-5921
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
Evenflo® Recalls Children’s Activity Centers Due to Fall Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary [...]
The Art of Parenting Non-Conforming Kids: Six Ways to Teach Your Kids to Live Fearless, Authentic, and Wildly Successful Lives
By Robin Fisher-Roffer,
Author of The Fearless Fish Out of Water: How To Succeed When You’re The Only One Like You
Parents take note: We’re living in a time when being [...]
My Precious Kid generously sent me a Teddy Bear Child Locator to try out. Unlike other locators I have thought about purchasing, this one combines function with a fun form. The Teddy Bear has been a security lovey for children for years, what better icon [...]
Last night I was reading a new article on herbal remedies and children. Parents are giving their children herbs, which in itself is a great thing. Complimentary and Alternative Medicine has gained quite a bit of a following. In the past decade science has proven what [...]
Now I’m not much of a trendsetter. The shirt I’m wearing was outdated several seasons ago and my hairdresser knows I’m such a creature of habit she doesn’t bother to ask what I want anymore.
But I have a girlfriend who is. She splurges on shoes, dangerously sexy dresses, bags and [...]
The good people at Oreck asked me to try their new IntellaShield vacuum and I
agreed to share the results with my readers. I agreed to give the
vacuum a try in my home. Here are my findings and opinions.
According to the press release, a [...]
If you know me, you know I am a huge advocate of child safety. Having children is a full time job and their safety is a major concern of parents the world over. While performing searches for ‘autism safety products’ I found a very special site.
My Precious Kid sells [...]
Urine is probably the top ‘worst’ stain of all. While working in nursing homes, I noticed how fast the sheets and other washable fabric seemed to wear. This was due to the washing techniques used to remove urine and feces. In most facilities, anything that can be washed is put [...]
How often do you really clean the coils on your fridge? Once a week? Maybe once a month? Or if you are like thousands of others, you have forgotten that your fridge has coils.
Your appliances will last a lot longer if you give them a regular cleaning. Once a [...]
Almost every parent is aware of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). If you are not familiar with SIDS, it is when a baby between the ages of 0-12 months dies without any known cause. Even with an autopsy a cause is still unknown at this time.
There are things you can [...]
Hi! It has been a while since I have updated here at Family Resource. You are probably wondering what in the world happened.
Well, yours truly added another little DirtMonkey to the zoo. Yes, crazy as your favorite (I hope I’m your favorite!) blogger is, she has a new baby [...]
For those of you who visit Family Resource and have a child who is in the autism spectrum. This also works well for Fragile-X children. Feel free to print out and modify this to your needs and for sending to family and friends.
Posted via permission of this [...]
If you plan to let your children travel with a friend or family member this holiday season, there are a few things you should do to prepare for the trip. It may come as a surprise, but there are parents who do not take proper precautions when sending their children [...]
How often do you wash clothes? Laundry is a huge ‘money sucker’ and I am not just talking about the energy costs. The more often you wash something, the more wear it gets. It isn’t just having clothes on that ruins them, it is the detergent and drying action. Yes, [...]
While checking out my favorite blogs I saw that former Family Resource blogger, Jennifer Chait has posted links to the W.A.T.C.H. 2008 top ten Worst Toy List.
Jennifer states that there are some pretty suspect toys out there this year. For more on her post and for a link to the [...]
It is almost Thanksgiving, but the media has been saturated with Christmas marketing. This year the onslaught has been a little earlier, probably due to the state of the economy. If the retailers advertise longer, they stand to possibly break even this year. Or so it would seem.
Here are [...]
Scams Burn
In the past year or so a very popular scam has hit the United States, targeting anyone who checks their mail. The scam involves a check so real that even banks do not catch on. The checks almost all have identical numbers [...]We have all been suckered into clicking on the really amazing ‘free’ offers that pop up online. From a year’s worth of diapers to free computers, it is out there. Who would not want a free year of something or other? I know that I would. In fact, the very [...]
Last night I was watching Criminal Minds. Something one of the characters said struck me pretty hard. I haven’t been able to get this out of my mind. This is a subject I feel very strongly on, but I want to know what you think.
In the show, [...]
Crayon stains are the bane of many parents and teachers around the world. More than once a crayon has found its’ way into the dryer, staining not only the original garment but often the entire dryer load. The clothing is salvageable, even with some old, set in [...]
The stockmarket isn’t the only thing to crash this month. Unfortunately, several outages of the FamilyResource servers have left us worse for wear. Many fantastic blog posts were lost, and right now the FamilyResource blog is on hold.
We will be back soon, with a new, secure server so please hang [...]
You’ve got this sleeping thing mastered and your tot is practically sleeping through the night. Believe it or not he probably is because “sleeping through the night” according to pediatricians is six straight hours. But just when you think it’s safe to relax your sweet baby turns into a toddler.
Toddlers [...]
Babies can sleep anywhere up to eighteen hours a day. Sounds marvelous, doesn’t it? Sure. Until you find out that they only sleep in two to three hour bursts. This is especially draining on new parents. The best advice to give new parents is, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.”
While [...]
Now you’re ready to move on to actually finding a school. You’ve weighed the different philosophies and decided on the one or couple that would best work for you and your child. The next step is doing the research — is there one of those schools in your area?
Word of [...]
With the start of the school year fast approaching some thought needs to be given about preschool and getting your child acquainted with the idea of school before they “have” to go. How do you find the school that is best for you and your child? Here is a list [...]
With the summer season upon us you can never be too cautious around water or read too many articles on water safety. Most children love water and are like bugs to a zapper when it comes down to it. So vigilance is the watch word while your child is around [...]
If your answer to the lifestyle question was travels a lot then you’ll need a low maintenance pet like a cat, rodent, reptile, or fish. A pet that you can leave enough food and water for short trips and for longer trips have a friend come over every couple of [...]
When picking the perfect pet for your family, there are a few things to consider:
*are you and your family ready for a pet — do you have the time and resources to devote to a new pet in the home
*is your child old enough to handle a pet — keeping [...]
Being healthy is always a hot topic but lately it seems the “be fit” crusade is in a definite upswing. To lose weight or maintain a healthy figure, a person can spend up to 45 - 60 minutes working out three to five times a week. To get healthy or [...]
There’s nothing much worse than being yanked out of a pleasant night’s sleep by pain and nothing does that better than getting cramps in your calves. You know them, and you lay there whimpering as you try to work them out so you can go back to sleep. The cramp [...]
asthma - a paroxysmal, often allergic disorder of respiration, characterized by bronchospasm, wheezing, and difficulty in expiration, often accompanied by coughing and a feeling of constriction in the chest.
“asthma.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 18 Jul. 2008. .
Basically, the airways in your lungs are inflamed and [...]
Toning your upper body is a topic in and of itself. Weights are one way to fight the arm flab but there are a couple weightless toning exercises that work and don’t require you go out and spend money on weights.
The Chest Expander
Target Area: Chest
Benefits: Firms up the [...]
With swimsuit season upon us, we all go out of our way to try to look our bests. Around New Years it hits us that summer is fast approaching and that is why over half of us always make our New Years Resolution to be losing weight so we can [...]
It’s July and we’re now in the firm grips of sun, heat, and more heat. Here are some tips to keep cool and keep the electric bill from rising. These tips are especially useful if you don’t have air conditioning at all.
Shade. Before it starts to get hot, close the [...]
Doing any kind of car traveling with a toddler can be an adventure in and of itself. Whether you’re taking a long road trip or just driving to Grandma’s here’s some tips to make the trip a little easier on the whole family.
Breaks. If you are going for any distance, [...]
In my defense, I’ve never actually cooked a turkey. Sure I’ve seen them done, I’m no stranger to the kitchen during Thanksgiving preparation, but I’ve never had to do it on my own. That is, until last year.
I have no idea what possessed me to blurt out, “I’ll cook this [...]
Raising a child is hard, but harder still is not losing sight of your partner in the process. With the high demands children place on your attention, time, and energies, it is easy to fall into the habit of tumbling into bed in exhaustion without a thought for your partner. [...]
As a mother of a three-year-old who likes to go to the movies, I have a rant. My husband and I took Three-feet-of-fun to see Pixar’s new movie, Wall-E. My rant isn’t about the film, which was excellent by the way, but rather the amount of time it took for [...]
I earn a living from home doing a little bit of everything: writing, illustration, design, and culinary type stuff. I’m often asked how I’m able to do all of that with a toddler underfoot. Well I guess he’s considered a preschooler now, but you get my drift.
There’s only way to [...]
We have mastered potty training, finally. Three-feet-of-fun is three and a half years old and is now a champion underoo wearer. He didn’t have much of a choice, he’d outgrown public changing tables and I was tired of changing diapers. It had nothing to do with the baleful stares I [...]
My husband and I took our three-year-old, three-feet-of-fun to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda on Friday. He loved it and sat enthralled the entire time from the previews to the end credits. After the movie he talked animatedly about his favorite parts, reenacted some awesome Kung Fu, and [...]
I’m a bit late in welcoming Lisa as the new Family Resource Feature Blogger. I hope she’ll forgive me!
Lisa is a good friend and a great writer, I hope you enjoy her posts as much as I enjoy them. Her post on behavior techniques was a great first post!
I’ve [...]
Woman: What’s your secret?
Me: Secret?
Woman: Your son. Is he always that well behaved?
Me: Well he has his moments, but yeah, usually.
Woman: How do you do it?
Every evening after dinner my husband and I take three-feet-of-fun, our three-year-old son, to the park and last night I unexpectedly became a child behavior [...]
Every trip the the market can be fun and educational for the little ones. Even tiny babies (assuming they are awake) can benefit from the learning possibilities while you get your grocery shopping done. Here are some tips for making your next trip to the market (or any store for [...]
In this third installment of Beyond the Sandwich, we’re looking at lamb.
This meal is ideal for the day after your holiday lamb leftovers and when you might want something lighter.
Mediterranean Lamb Salad
Ingredients:
Romaine lettuce
Field greens
Greek olives
Spanish Olives (with or without pimientos)
Fresh garlic
Fresh basil [...]
You can clean your computer. No, don’t break out the sponges! Vacuuming is a great way to make sure you get the most dust out of your computer, resulting in better connections.
A hose and brush attachment are the best tools for the vacuuming. The soft brush end will loosen [...]
If you have not heard of Second Life, it is not surprising. Most of the popular video games that people are very familiar with are on gaming consoles such as Xbox, Playstation, and Wii. Even if someone does not have a computer, these gaming systems are known.
But virtual reality games [...]
Probably everyone has seen that one scene from The Graduate where during the Benjamin’s party, one of his parent’s friends says something to the effect of: “I’m going to tell you one word about the future. Plastics.” Many of us even remember the old commercial sponsored by the American Chemistry [...]
If you live in the US, then you are feeling the bite from rising gas prices. Nearly everything purchased has seen a hike in cost due to the rising cost of gas. Since prices are not going to come down any time soon, why don’t we discuss how to save [...]
You’re thinking: I don’t have time to read the labels, grocery shopping is chaotic enough. You’re envisioning what that trip to the market will be like if you stop to read every label: The six-year-old will decide to ride the cart backwards, the three-year-old will start screaming that he must [...]
In this installment of Beyond the Sandwich, we’re looking at turkey. There always seem to be leftovers when you make a turkey, and after a while, turkey sandwiches can get a little boring. Here are two easy recipes to breathe new life into those turkey leftovers: turkey tortellini soup and [...]
Last night my husband told me about something that is possibly an Urban Legend, but is still disturbing no matter where you live. It seems that, according to the reports, a new gang has moved into our area. They are supposedly ‘bumping’ cars with theirs, then when the people in [...]
We’re hosting Easter dinner this year for the extended family of 15, which means that despite the gazillion-pound ham that I bought at the market yesterday, there will be left overs. There always are. And of course, with left overs comes the lingering question of what to do with them [...]
When cleaning your family computer, the first thing you should clear is the first thing that loads when you computer starts. This is the start-up and tells your computer what programs to allow to run when the whole system starts.
The problem with many computers is that there are [...]
Every now and then, my husband and I try to get out without our darling boy. In fact, last summer, we started having a standing date every Friday night. Once the colder months hit, our “standing Friday night date” went by the wayside because we didn’t feel like braving the [...]
Today many families rely on computers in one for or another. Some of you may work from home, share photos with family, speak with friends, or use the computer as an outlet if you are disabled and unable to leave home. Children use computers to complete homework. You [...]
Puddles!
The snow is melting. The spring rains and seasonable mixes are fallingand that means one thing and one thing only to the little onespuddle jumping. To parents this instills thoughts of wet shoes, socks and cuffs, mud and the germ fest that might be lurking within those growing pools [...]
The WWE Superstar recently was divorced from his wife of 21 years. He had been having an affair with his singer/reality show [...]
Thanks Julie!
When I first learned about Family Resource, I instantly bookmarked and it became one of my primary family resources (every pun intended). So you can only imagine how excited I am to be joining some esteemed company as a guest blogger here–and Dawn Allcot is going to be [...]
Id like to introduce this months Guest Blogger, Erika-Marie Geiss.
Erika is the Editor in Chief of the new WAHM Magazine located at http://www.wahmmagazine.net . She is a mother, a writer, and a good friend. She will be posting right after me, so lets give her a wamr welcome to Family [...]
My oldest daughter and I had a conversation about sex yesterday. I tried to play it cool, but inside I was in a turmoil. She is 14 and very interested in boys. I can remember that age well, very well. My daughter thinks and says to me all the time [...]
There is a new website that is dedicated to recruiting people who enjoy playing video games and want to contribute to a good cause.
Gamers For a Cure is located at http://www.gamersforacure.com and is open to all gamers who are 18 and older. For a donation of just $10 USD, [...]
Winter seems to be dragging on this year. Here on Long Island, weve had a total of three inches of snowmaybe. Weve also been treated to several 50-degree days in the middle of January and February. But the rest of the country hasnt been so lucky.
Maine has received no [...]
After discovering I was pregnant, I became determined to give up caffeine. Not only was I aware of the dangers in consuming excessive amounts (and I drank coffee in excess!), but it make me feel queasy.
After enduring two weeks of withdrawal headaches, I had broken the addiction, but not the [...]
I just received a new book to review. I’ve been ill, along with the children, so it has been a rough time trying to get it reviewed! The book is actually a cookbook with some really tasty recipes. The press release had an interesting recipe in it, but I thought [...]
Parents-to-be face many important decisions. Breast-feed or bottle feed? Cloth diapers or disposable? To go back to work after the baby is born, or not? To vaccinate or not to vaccinate?
For me, many of these answers were easy. Breast-feeding, disposable diapers, and continuing to work-at-home as a freelance writer after [...]
The dangers of caffeine for pregnant women has been all over the news lately. The latest study was released shortly before I found out I was pregnantbecause the Universe loves a good joke!
The latest study, published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, claims that even 10 ounces [...]
This has been on my mind lately. In fact, this has been gnawing at me quite a bit.
Why do some parents not take responsibility for the action of their children?
I experience this quite a bit. A person I know refuses to ever hold themselves accountable for anything their children [...]
The bookstore is stocked with more self-help books than anyone could possibly read in a lifetime. But every once in a while, a book fills an important niche in a way no titles before it have. Such is the case with Hannah Keeleys Total Mom Makeover. Subtitled The Six-Week [...]
Winter is still going strong here in the Northeastern U.S. and being from the Southeast, the snow each year is a treat. My children enjoy bundling up then making snow angels. I think that is their favorite part of playing in the snow. Last year we had a giant fort, [...]
*Edit*
The picture has been replaced. I do not have the authority to remove it. If you still disagree with it’s placement, then please contact the people who placed it on the internet in the first place. Family Resource did not take the photo, but this site has a right to [...]
Since Dawn has been talking about fish, I thought I would offer a recipe for tuna.
Lemon-Lime Tuna Salad
1 can tuna, drained and rinsed.
cup mayonnaise
cup chopped onion
tsp lemon juice
tsp lime juice
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
Mix all of the ingredients in a [...]
The average American eats only 16 lbs. of seafood a year. Health professionals recommend eating 39 lbs., or at least two 6 oz. servings, a week.
Since a friend introduced me to this easy tilapia recipe, it has become a family favorite! You can substitute fluke, flounder, or any other [...]
Stay away from certain fish because they contain high mercury levels. Eat fish because it can boost your unborn babys IQ. Whats a mom-to-be to do?
A study out of the University of Bristol has found children whose mothers ate fish more than three times a week did better [...]
It has been snowing and blowing here in New York. I have a lot of people ask if we really enjoy the cold and the snow.
Yes! We adore it. I love the snow each winter, I grew up in an area that did not have much snow and before moving [...]
When youre trying to conceive, youll find myths all over the internet and in the advice of well-meaning friends and relatives. A close friend and I recently went through this adventure together (well, not together, of course) and, in researching for this post, I noticed we were perpetuating some old [...]
In the aftermath of Valentines Day, I am wondering how many people are glad it is over.
I spoke with a few people yesterday who expressed that. Either they were sick of the media hype, hated how the holiday was portrayed as for women only, or just had no one [...]
I dont know anything about parenting. Yet.
So what am I doing as a guest blogger on a families and parenting blog? Thats easy. Just five weeks ago, I got some information that told me I had better learnquickly!
The very same day I found out I was pregnant, Julie [...]
Hi all!
We are going to have a new Guest Blogger this month. Stacey Graham has left us lonely, so to help fill in the gaping hole her absence will bring, I have searched far and wide to bring you another very talented writer.
This months blogger is Dawn Allcot. She [...]
In the essence of keeping to our healthy resolutions, hubby and I have been moving our diet to a more plant based one. We have cut out all red meat and pork, leaving only seafood and fowl. We feel better and have found that our grocery bill [...]
I’d like to thank Julie for the opportunity to write for this great blog! The past few weeks have brought some interesting challenges to Family Resources; I’m happy to see that Julie will only allow intelligent and creative dialog into the blog arena giving people a chance to discuss real [...]
When the heck did I get so old? Why is it when “Jump” by Van Halen comes on the radio I’m freaked out by the thought of a balding man in spandex, when 20 years ago I thought he was a rock god? Have you LISTENED to those lyrics? I [...]
Sometimes things do not go the way you would like.
Lately, I have had some interesting setbacks which have prevented me from posting as much as I would like. The sickies have gone around the house, landing me in bed a few times or causing the children to need constant [...]
This year, when your husband hands you a gift that you would rather not have, restrain yourself from giving him the look of death. I know, I know, many women will wonder why they should not tell him to take that emergency car survival kit and put it where the [...]
Mmmmm, there’s nothing better than fresh homemade applesauce. Families are so used to buying jarred prepared applesauce that most of us have no idea how easy it is to make lovely chunky sauce ourselves with only a few ingredients. This recipe calls for only 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, you [...]
Mmmmm, there’s nothing better than fresh homemade applesauce. Families are so used to buying jarred prepared applesauce that most of us have no idea how easy it is to make lovely chunky sauce ourselves with only a few ingredients. This recipe calls for only 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, you [...]
Chocolate is a wonderful thing. From ancient times, chocolate has been used in medicine and relaxation. Nearly everyone knows about Montezuma and his desire for, welldesire. His legendary consumption of chocolate drinks supposedly gave him the stamina he needed to keep up with a huge harem.
In recent times, chocolate has [...]
