Like most parents out there, you're probably not completely sure what defines a hipster. The title embodies a whole culture of general music taste, eating habits and lifestyles, but you don't have to worship The Smiths just to get the look. The hipster look can range anywhere from nerdy and conservative to punk rock and risque, with various levels in between. For parents who want to help their children achieve this look in an appropriate and budget-friendly way, read on for four hipster staple fashion items.
1. Thick Black-Framed Glasses
Prescription or not, glasses are the ultimate hipster accessory to capture that nerdy, mysterious look that's signature of hipster fashion. The hipster look also tends to have a more laid back element to it, so wearing glasses as opposed to contacts expresses a carefree and confident nature. If non-prescription lenses feel too silly, go with circle style, John Lennon style sunglasses for the same effect.
2. Cuffs
Bold jewelry is always in style among hipsters, and this year's trendy cuff bracelets can't get much bolder. She can rock this classic style with a graphic tank featuring her favorite band, some cut-off denim shorts and studded loafers to keep the punk look going. For an even edgier look, gold spike bracelets are especially big on the hipster scene today, and pair nicely with colorful cuffs.
3. Anything From the Thrift Store
The best part about hipster fashion is that it's supposed to embody a simple, low-cost lifestyle. Thrift stores are a favorite fashion spot for this group, which is guaranteed to have prices at a fraction of what you'd find at stores like Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. Look for novelty vintage fashion items that will make her wardrobe stand out. Better yet, dig through your old high school closet for some gems you won't believe are back in style.
4. Maxi Dresses and Skirts
Hipster style is closely linked to the bohemian look, which is essentially just 60s hippie fashion. With the new trend of maxi dresses and skirts, parents can avoid those dreaded hemline arguments because these styles are about as conservative as it gets. All she needs is a cute graphic tee, a fringed handbag and a braided hippie headband to complete this effortlessly chic look.Although some hipster styles can get a little extreme, the fashion trend is mostly good news for parents. For the most part, the style is age-appropriate, cost-efficient and overall pretty nice looking. Not to mention, the culture itself promotes positive behaviors, such as reading, creating/appreciating art, living a greener lifestyle and eating an ethical and sustainable diet. It might not be the style you would choose, but hey, at least they're not wearing bell bottoms!
I hate selling things. If I could make a list of top things I HATED to do, selling stuff would be in the top 5... nestled snugly under cutting off a finger and giving birth naturally, and just over looking for a babysitter. Yeah, top 5 things I hate to do.
Honestly, opening my Etsy site and trying to sell hats and stuff was painful. But circumstances forced me to step up to help pay the bills. It worked. But I hated doing it. I hated trying to get people to buy my stuff... I hated charging them... when really, I just wanted to crochet for fun and give stuff away. I love giving stuff away!
So when my friends approach me to sell things like Mary Kay, doTerra, Avon, Vitimin pills or whatever, I shut down. I don't dislike them and I don't let it ruin our friendship, because to me NOTHING in this world is more important than family and friends and good relationships. I don't have anything against those products. In fact, I use just about all of them. I support my friends whole heartily and buy stuff from them and I send people their way. I enjoying helping out. AND I LOVE my essential oils!! Not to mention Pampered Chef -- can't live without my pizza stone and mixing bowls!! But I don't want to sell it. No thanks.
So when I got this email from my good friend, Natalie about a business opportunity, I did the big eye roll. I don't know why everyone wants me to sell their stuff. Everyone knows how I feel about it! But she gave me the whole "Don't be a butt head, Cat, please just show a little support and listen in on a phone conference " Although, she said it so much more nicely. I thought about skipping it and just saying I listened in... but then I started feeling guilty about being a turd. So I did it. I called the number, typed in the entry code or whatever they call it and listened in on a conference call with 50 other people all over the US.
The company is called Mialisia. And they are going to sell jewelry. My first thought: there are a million of those companies. Then they started telling their story and how they started and what made their jewelry different from others. It is completely adjustable. You can mix and match and redesign each set to meet your fashion needs. Hmmm... that was kind of cool. Here is a quick video of what one set can do so you can picture what I am talking about:
They also explained how they started at craft fairs and sold out quickly. They couldn't keep up with Etsy orders either. So they decided to expand... and now they were trying to find people to help sell. The company has yet to launch. It is just in the beginning phases. But you could apply and get a top slot held for you now.
Blah Blah Blah... it was nice and all... but I don't want to sell anything. In fact, I recently closed my etsy shop and sent all my business to my sister or friend Heidi who does the crochet blog with me. Besides, I am WAY too busy. I got my fitness challenge coming up. I got all my races... we are moving this fall to Oklahoma (I know, a little scary considering what is going on there right now). I just have too much going on to worry about this. AND the biggest reason I hate selling things, is that I am afraid of losing friends. My friendships are WAY more important to me than any money. I really truly feel that way.
So I told my friend, thanks but no thanks. And I thought that was it.
Then I just had to tell Ben.
Ben had grown up on this kind of stuff. His family had sold all sorts of stuff growing up. He learned all about successful things and scams and to top it off he took some finance and business classes in college that talked all about businesses like this. Not to mention that before we got married he had had a bad experience and so both of us had no interest in things like it.
But then I told Ben it was just starting and that it hadn't been launched yet. I told him not to worry, I wasn't going to do it... I know how he felt when he thought I wanted to sell doTerra (which I didn't, but he thought I did), so I assured him I was passing on it. Then he flew out of his seat (yeah, he really did, it was pretty amazing to see) and yelled: "Are you freaking crazy?! Do you have any idea what kind of opportunity this is?! You would be at the top of the ladder!! That's like once in a lifetime opportunity! Take it!!!" I was confused. What? Then he started making all these graphs and explaining it to me.
I still wasn't too convinced. So for a couple days I put it out of my mind. Then two nights ago I dreamed about it all night. No kidding. Then all day yesterday I couldn't stop thinking about it. I thought, well, it was only $50 to get one of the "founding" slots (there are only 500), and then to purchase the starting Party Package it was $500. They said that if you got other people on, you would earn $50 credit toward that package... but I put no stock in finding anyone who would do it. Not that I don't trust myself... but I don't like to pressure my friends into anything. And I can't even get people to join my fitness challenge, let alone make a business investment. So then I thought, well, I could just invest the $500 and then at least sell what I had if I didn't like it and get that money back that way right?
So I talked to Ben again.
He was SO for doing it. He told me that I needed to take chances (like signing up for the Ragnar wasn't a huge chance) to see cool things happen. So I gave in. I called my friend, Natalie, and told her we would give it a go. She was shocked! She knew how I was. But she was so thrilled. We talked on the phone for about an hour and she answered all my questions. Then she told me to do what I hate doing the most: share it with my friends. AHHHHH physical and mental agony.
"Cat, you would be selfish not to share this opportunity," she basically told me... being a little nicer, but I read between the lines. She then emailed me a bunch of stuff. Flyers, pictures, the contract, everything I needed to know and more. Ben and I read through EVERYTHING. Twice. I was still having a really hard time being sold on this whole new adventure.
I mean, come on. ME? Selling jewelry? I hardly even wear it myself! My kids are always losing what I do have and I can't ever afford the things I really want. I don't even know how to match it... I am the least fashionable person around. And as I looked through the pictures she sent, I just felt so clueless... I wasn't even sure if what I was looking at was fashionable.... I know, I am such a dork.
Then I saw this:
Click picture for larger view!
The woman hidden within me flew to the surface .. I was in love. I HAD to have that! It would look SO amazing with my scarf I made a while back (which is a HUGE hit on Pintrest in the Doctor Who fan pages, by the way)... Okay, maybe I could do this after all. Maybe.
So I sat at my computer staring at my Facebook Page. The ominous question hung in the air: "What's on your mind?" How could I share this with my friends without getting unfriended and shunned. It took me two hours, no joke, to compose a status update to share. This is what I came up:
I never, ever, EVER do this! So not me. And I wouldn't even mention it, but I would feel bad not sharing. I have come across an AMAZING business opportunity. Perfect for those of you stay at home mom's who would like to earn a little extra money (or more). I honestly can't believe this landed in my lap, and am so excited about it. (Ben even more than me...) Have you ever wondered if what life would be like if you were one of the first to start Avon, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, doTerra, etc? If you want to know more, let me know and I will send you the information for a soon-to-be-launched company and how you can be a part of it. (No, you don't have to unfriend me... I am not going to try to get you to buy anything. This is not a scam. I just really want to help out anyone who is looking for something). That's it!
I left it open. I didn't tell them what it was... I just wanted to spark some curiosity.
Now, it is really hard for me to get people interested in anything. It is like pulling teeth to get people to join the fitness challenge... and I couldn't get anyone to run the 5K with me a couple weeks ago, until I met Liz. Even getting people to enter giveaways or come over and read my blog... it's rough. So I was prepared for the proverbial Facebook crickets. What I didn't expect was to be sending out emails until 1 in the morning! People were WAY more interested than I was... wow. I guess anything to do with money is cool.
And I didn't lie. I am really excited about it, just scared. Things like this are super hard for me. But I guess this is the summer for reaching out of my comfort zone and taking on new challenges. Who knows, it might just be AMAZING and I will love it!
So now, just so you can never call me selfish (lol), I am telling you all about this opportunity. If you want, email me (nutsinanutshell(at)gmail(dot)com) and I will send you the information so you can check it out. If you want to know even more, there will be another conference call you can listen in on Friday, 24th of May, tomorrow, at 5:15 Mountain Time, just like I did. Here is the info: The phone number to call is 559-726-1300 and the access code is 669461# -- if you choose to announce yourself (I didn't) you can say I sent you.
Also, if you are in the SLC/Provo Utah area, they are holding a little open house thing at Thanksgiving Point tonight. I am going to go... so not another thing that is me... but my sister lives there and I bribed her with her favorite food to watch my kids :) Here is the flyer:
Click flyer to make larger
Anyway, that is my spill. Even if you aren't interested, stick around, come back and visit us still... because if I get good with this I may just have to do some giveaways :)
-Cat
PS I will post more pictures of the different jewelry sets on my Facebook page for you to check out. Click here!!
Since we moved to northern Utah back in 2008, Ben has been wanting to run the Wasatch Back Ragnar. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a 200 mile relay race from Logan, Utah to Park City, Utah over the course of 2 days (about 30 hours). I have had less than zero interest in doing it. First it looked way too hard. Second, it has lots of dirt roads and trails, steep hills, and long distances. With the dust and elevation changes, my asthma would KILL me! Not interested. But Ben REALLY wanted to run one. So the last few years we have keep our ears open to hear if anyone needed a team member. None of our friends were really into it, and Ben's army buddies just looked at him like he was crazy. Their take on the whole thing was "why run if you don't have to."
Since this was our last summer in Utah, it might be Ben's last chance to do it.
Then a couple weeks ago, I got invited into a runner's group on Facebook. The next day one of the guys on there asked if there was anyone who wanted to be on his Ragnar team because he had a couple spots to fill. I got SO excited because I knew Ben had been wanting to do it SO BAD! I called Ben and asked him if he was free that weekend and if he wanted to do it. "HECK YA!" he said. I instantly contacted the guy and we set things up. I even went and met him and gave him the money for Ben to be on the team.
Not even 20 minutes after I handed the check over, Ben's commander called him and requested him to come in that weekend to get things ready for the unit's Annual Training coming up. Ben told him that he was busy and was running the Ragnar that weekend. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say even in the Reserves. Because he went on and on about the commitment Ben made when he enlisted and the example he needs to set as a platoon leader and future officer. That making sacrifices was what being in the Army was all about. Then he said that ultimately he was going to leave the choice up to Ben.
So Ben came up with this plan that he was going to work really hard and get all the work done early so he could still run the race. But Friday night at drill, his commander called him into his office and asked him what he decided. So Ben explained his plan. Again, wrong answer. To say his commander was not happy is an understatement. He was ticked. He told Ben that he had no choice in the matter and would report when he was requested to. No Ragnar for Ben.
Disheartened, he called me with the bad news. It wasn't just that his dream of running it was shot, but he felt like he had let down the team he had signed up with. I was upset because I blamed myself for getting Ben in this pickle and in trouble with his commander. Plus we already had payed for it.
I started asking my friends if any of them wanted his spot. Heck, it is hard enough to get people to join the fitness challenge or to go work out with me let alone convince them to run this super rough re-lay race. Yeah, I pretty much got the cricket treatment. My more active friends were already running it or were planning on heading down to the St. George Marathon that is going on that same weekend.
I started crying. Here I was, stuck. I felt let down. I had felt so good about getting Ben signed up it. I felt good when I prayed about his commander letting him do it after all, and I STILL felt in my heart that things were going to work out. But they weren't!! I was DREADING calling the team and telling them Ben had to back out and we couldn't find a replacement.
Then came Saturday. A new day. New days are the best right? And that was the day I headed out on my 8 mile run. If you haven't read the story, click here before you continue because it has a lot to do with what happens next!
I felt on top of the world after that run! My self confidence shot right up to the sky. I know I have a lot to work on still, but I was on an amazing path and I knew I would get to where I eventually want to be if I keep pushing myself a little harder.
Now, you all know, that I am a very, VERY spiritual person. I love my faith, my religion, and I live it the very best I can. Because of my lifestyle and the things I do, once in a while I am privileged to have some AMAZING spiritual experiences. And Saturday was one of those days.
I was in the shower having a conversation, or prayer, if you will in my head. I was feeling very thankful for the Lord helping me to achieve my goals and lift me up on that run when I almost felt like giving up. I pray a lot when I am in the shower -- it is one of the only times I am alone, away from screaming kids. It is also the place I get my best ideas and the place I de-stress and meditate. After I finished giving my thanks, I asked the Lord what to do about the Ragnar. I was so confused because I had felt so good about signing Ben up... I was starting to mistrust my gut feelings. I couldn't believe I could have been so wrong... Then all of a sudden I had a revelation, or epiphany, if you will. It was so clear that I could have sworn there was someone in the bathroom talking to me.
"Catherine, Ben was never meant to run the Ragnar. You were!" It hit me like a sledge hammer to the back of the head.
"What!?" The thought never once crossed my mind! I started crying. I can't! It's too hard! There is no way I can do that, not with my asthma... or my weight... I still have 40 pounds or so to lose. I just can't... not me.
Then an amazing feeling of comfort and peace settled around me and I had the thought: "Yes, you can. You just proved today what you can do it you put your mind to it. You can do this, Cat. You NEED to do this."
The feeling was right... and I just knew what I had to do. I jumped out of the shower and grabbed my phone. I texted this to Ben: "I will run in your place."
One minute later, he texted me back: "That's my girl!"
So I emailed the team captain and told him what happened and asked if he would take me instead. I thought I was less than a consolation prize, more like a boobie prize, since I eat Ben's dust when it comes to speed; but he was actually thrilled to have me. He encouraged me and made me feel like I was more than welcome and as long as I gave it my all it was good enough for them.
I know now, looking back, that I would never have signed up to do this for myself. That the good Lord knew the only way he would get me on those trails was to sign up Ben first and pay the money. A very sly trick of fate, if I say so myself. A trick I am very grateful for. I get a chance to really prove myself, and I am going for it!!
So there you have it. I, Cat, am going to run the Ragnar Wasatch Back next month. And it's going to be hard and my body might want to give up, but I won't. I am going to love it, blisters and all! And I am going to cross that finish line in victory and earn my very first running medal.
Here's to reaching new heights, amazing and seemly impossible goals, and the miracles that make them happen!
-Cat
PS: If you need a little motivation to get yourself moving this summer, please join our challenge!! Click on the link on the top of the right sidebar for more information. Please spread the word as well. We have 12 sponsors signed up and over 40 challengers as well -- trying to get to 100 challengers!! We can do it!
For those of you who are regular readers, you know that I am training for my first ever 1/2 marathon in Aug (13.1 miles). These last two weeks, I have been dreading today like the plague. I am talking SERIOUS anxiety. On the schedule I follow, I was scheduled to run 8 miles today. Last week I was supposed to run 7, but I had the 5 K, so I skipped it. Now it was up to 8. So much for working up to it, right? The furthest I have ever run was a 10 K (6.2 miles) and I thought my legs were going to fall off. So now all of a sudden I am up to 8... I was terrified!
I could just not do it. Right? Last night I thought about it. Well, Ben is at drill... AND it was raining, chances were it would be raining tomorrow too. Those were good excuses right? BUT I already had a babysitting trade set up. AND I had already told all my Facebook friends that I was going to go for it -- doing that, means COMMITMENT right? Stuff gets serious when you announce it on Facebook...
Suck it up, Cat!
So this morning, the boys and I got up early and popped over to Walmart and I bought me a Running in the Rain outfit. I could do this. I KNEW I could do this. So far, this body has gone above and beyond to prove that to me. It was ONLY 8 miles right!? That is still 5 miles short of the half that I am doing in Aug. I needed to do this.
So off I went in the pouring rain.
I was surprised how clean the rain made the air! My asthma was NO problem for the first time in a long time! I was breathing nice, and pounding the pavement. Before I knew it I had done 3 10 min miles right in a row! By mile 5 I started to slow a bit, but I was determined to keep it up as long as I could. Just after mile 5 I started to feel the blisters manifesting themselves on my left foot... and they escalated pretty quickly. The rain was pouring down pretty hard as well, and the wind was hitting me face on. It pretty much sucked. When I hit mile marker 6.5 I was dying. I had to speed walk -- but I wouldn't let myself do it for longer than 2 minutes, that's my running rule. After two minutes, and a quick prayer, I started running again. Just as I hit mile 7, I didn't think I could go anymore. Only one more mile, I told myself. Cat, you can do this!!
Then I had a little miracle.
A song started playing that I had never heard before. In fact, I have NO IDEA how it got on my workout play list. Ben must have put it there or something.
Just when I needed it the most, this song inspired me like no other running song has ever before and my legs started running a little faster... some kind of stored spiritual energy kicked in, and I was able to do what I thought I could't do!! Before I knew it, my running app informed that I had just run 8 miles in 1 hour 40 min and 2 seconds. (My goal had been 1:45:00).
I started crying as I slowed to cool down pace. I never thought, not in a million years, that someone like me could get this far. I have worked so hard, climbed over many obstacles, and beat the odds! Then I felt warmth on my back, and the sun had peeked out on me -- it was only for a minute. But it was a SIGN! Someone (other than myself) was proud of me.
My dorky victory pose
And I am feeling pretty dang awesome!! Totally worth all 10 blisters!
-Cat
No excuses people! Sign up for my summer challenge NOW! We currently have 10 sponsors signed up, that means PRIZES!! No one has ever regretted doing the challenge, not ever. The only regrets are from the ones who don't do it. Click here for more information, and PLEASE share this post with your friends, you never know who is out there that just needs a goal, a little inspiration, and some motivation!
I recently received a short story by email to share with the boys. So for this review, I decided to make it a video review and let the boys talk about the story. Something new and different.
Here it is!
To purchase a copy of this story and others click here!
-Cat
PS Don't forget to sign up for the summer challenge!! It is going to be SO FUN this year!! Click here for details!
I lied to you all last week when I said that it would be the week of book reviews. I had every intention of doing it, of course, but then life happened. Story of my life. I was, however, able to finally finish the book I have been pushing though the last few weeks.
To be perfectly honest, I had a hard time getting through this one. The book is called In His Stead: A Father's War by Judith Sanders. This is what the back of the book says:
AN ANCIENT LAW, A MODERN WAR, AND A FATHER'S LOVE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDS...
Retired Army Ranger Thomas Lane once burned for the taste of gunpowder and the thrill of the battle. But as he struggles to cope with his own PTSD and the death of his eldest son, killed by an IED in Afghanistan, Lane learns that the price of war is far too dear.
When the National Guard calls up Lane’s youngest son to serve, Lane knows he will do anything to save his child—even if it means going in his place, a pursuit unheard of since the Civil War when slaves were sent to war in place of their masters. In His Stead, Judith Sander's second novel, follows Thomas Lane's crusade against the United States Army, its JAG corps, a vengeful officer, the very son he is desperate to save, and his own wife, who has the Solomon-like choice of losing either a husband or a son.
Capturing the essence of family life in wartime—the good, the bad, and the hopeful—In His Stead explores what it means to be a father and a man.
First off, I just want to start by saying that this book is definitely an emotional journey if you are into that kind of book. Everywhere I look it up, you will find fantastic reviews, and readers that absolutely adored it. If you love this kind of thing, you will love this book. Go and order it right now!
As for me, and I HATE writing stuff like this because it makes me feel horrible, but I didn't really like the book. The main character, Tom's, personality grated on me. The first 50 pages of the book he was a bit of a whiner. I wanted to yell at him to man up. The fact that he encouraged his son to join the National Guard and then was absolutely SHOCKED that he got called up to be deployed was just silly to me. We live in a day and age that if you join, chances are, you WILL be deployed.
The book was based around the idea of a father's love and what he will do for his son and how he went to war for him. I just kept thinking that if a father should teach his son to be brave and courageous on his own and then to love him enough to step back and allow him to learn his own lessons and fight his own battles. That by doing that is showing more than doing everything for him. But this was how I was raised, to take personal responsibility for my OWN actions and live my own life. This was how my husband was raised as well. He is a third or forth generation soldier, and that's how they raise their sons to be men. My father-in-law is currently still active in the military. My husband is Army and he currently has 3 brothers who are enlisted as well. I asked Ben what he would think if his dad offered to go in his place if he got deployed. He had the MOST disgusted look on his face. He said that first off he would lose all respect for his dad for not showing him the respect and trust he felt he deserved. And secondly, he would be angry at him for not believing in him and letting him serve his country in the way he was raised and trained to do.
So you can see that with this mind set, this book drove me a little crazy. But that's how we were raised and that is how we are raising our sons. We are the fighters now, and one day we will need to step aside and hope that our children can carry our touch on and take what we teach them to make this world a better place. It would be an injustice to take away that opportunity from them.
Now, this book has all sorts of "reasoning" for what the characters did. And if you go for that sort of thing, then great, you will love this book. But my brain is wired a little different.
But don't let my review deter you from checking this book out, after all, I didn't like Twilight either, and we all know how popular THAT series is.
If you're a service member, keeping kids - and your spouse, for that matter - happy is a constant exercise, the kind of everyday work that requires attention to detail, diplomacy, courtesy and effective communication. Psychologists recommend several techniques to establish tighter and better bonds with kids in general, and the offspring of service members in particular.
Enjoying Parent-Child Time
Try to spend quality time with your kids and make the best of that time spent together. Considering that you could be gone for several weeks - even months or years, depending on your service - making the best of the little time you have with your offspring is a smart move. For example, you can plan fun activities, quiet periods, reading sessions and, even, romantic interludes with your spouse to make your kids feel the bond between their parents.
Military Networking
Join community activities and military groups. By interacting with other service members, and having your kids and spouses meet other families, you boost chances that your family can better understand the military life. Military networks also can help keep your kids' morale up when you're deployed - or, worse, wounded in combat.
Showing Constant Affection
Display affection to your children as often as possible, even if you're physically not present. In the era of the Internet, social networking and the miscellany of devices that go from tablets and mobile phones to tablets, you can keep in touch with your family wherever you are. The key is constancy in what you do. The last thing you want is to communicate every now and then, such as on a child's birthday, on Father's Day or during the Thanksgiving holiday season.
Establishing Important Moments
Depending on your rank and service, you might be entitled to time off around school vacation periods. Take advantage of that reprieve and spend some quality vacation time with your kids.
Author: This article was written by Marquis C. on behalf of SET Financial (www.setfinancial.com), a online community lender based in South Carolina. Marquis is a New York-based author, freelance writer, investor and banker. He has authored articles since 2000, covering topics such as politics, technology and business. A certified public accountant and certified financial manager, Marquis received a Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University, majoring in investment analysis and financial management.
As we're coming up on the summer months here, proper fire safety in our homes becomes more important with every passing day. We know you want your home to be a place of safety for your families, and we want to help by sharing some of our important tips for fire-proofing your home.
1. Stay in the kitchen whenever you have the stove or oven on. Even if it's just going to be a few minutes in another room, that few minutes could be more than enough time for your curious 5-year-old to accidentally drop something on the burner or set a hand towel on fire.
2. Unfortunately, there are some circumstances that require you to step away for a minute. Maybe you’re preparing a feast or slow-cooking a bird. In these rare situations, be sure that you leave behind someone old enough to know where the heavy lids and baking soda are stored — to smother grease fires and help put out most other kitchen fires.
3. Believe it or not, there are some home security systems that can protect your home from more than just burglary. In this case, we’re talking fires, and there are tons of sites out there with home security information on that sort of thing.
4. Watch how many plugs you keep in your power strips. You don't want to have overloaded outlets slowly heating up underneath a pile of cords — it's just asking for a little spark of disaster.
5. Be very careful about using portable heaters. It's easy to forget that these appliances can cause fires if you leave fabric or other flammable materials sitting nearby. Try to keep your heaters in open areas where nothing will hinder their air flow.
6. Don't ignore your smoke detectors when they give you that annoying little beep every hour or so reminding you to change their batteries. In fact, it's a great idea to go ahead and press the "test" button on all of your smoke detectors in the house monthly. Taking 10 minutes a month to test them and change batteries is more than worth the effort if it means potentially saving someone's life.
7. Remember that children love to explore new things — including matches, lighters and sparklers. Be sure to keep these flammable and exciting items some place where kids can't reach. If you are worried, check in your kids' hiding places for burnt matches to double-check that they haven't been experimenting on their own. It’s been known to happen and while a healthy understanding of fire early in life can be important, it should always be supervised for obvious reasons.
8. If you keep firewood, store it at least 30 feet away from your house walls to prevent potential fire dangers outside from entering your home. Many barn fires are started from bales of hay sitting too close to the barn and heating up too fast. The same principle applies to any building.
9. In case of a power outage or other emergency, flashlights are always the best option for a light source. Candles and lighters can be dangerous, especially in cases where there might be other hazards such as gas leaks.
10. Many household items are also hazardous and contain potentially dangerous materials. It's wise to store highly flammable materials — paint cans, gasoline, propane, etc. — away from the home. Be sure and observe proper disposal procedure for these items, as well.
We hope these quick tips can help you feel a little safer this summer and we wish you and your families all the best! Thanks for keeping our homes and communities safe!
Not a member of Rolling Stones and not the legendary balloonist, Brian Jones has dedicated the better part of his writing career offering free advice to families and homeowners alike. Having spent a decent amount of time writing for home safety experts, he knows a thing or two about securing the home front.
