Ramblings | She Scribes

Security Checklist For Families – Post it on the Fridge!

May 12, 2012 By Kimberly Leave a Comment

My family never goes far away on vacation. We only go on day trips. The most we’re gone is about 6 or 7 hours. We also only go during the day time so that we don’t have to worry about our home at night. Thankfully we live on the top floor condo. There is no possible way someone could climb up the side of the building and into our condo through one of the windows. They would be seen by the whole complex. Not only that we have a dog who would bark like crazy if a stranger entered our home.

Sadly, break ins are at an all time high. Just recently my friend Lee has her home burglarized while her and her husband were at work and the kids were at school. Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach. My heart goes out to her and her family and I hope and pray that we never have to experience the same thing.

I thought this article was worth sharing with my readers. In fact I think it’s worth posting on your fridge so that you don’t forget any of these important tips.

The last thing vacationers want to worry about is their homes being burglarized this summer. Unfortunately, the months of July and August have the highest rates of break-ins, according to the FBI. Protection 1, the nation’s second largest electronic security company, offers the following summer checklist to ensure your readers’ homes are safe and secure.

Secure all windows, including those upstairs and reduce the chance of easy entry by cutting tree limbs away from second-story windows;

Remove objects that might allow access to your home, such as ladders or trash cans that could be used to enter a window or scale a fence;

Do not leave Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus posts letting people know that you will be out of town;

Turn your telephone ringer down, so no one outside can hear repeated rings, and review your answering machine message to make sure it does not imply you are away;

Make sure to have all mail, newspapers and deliveries stopped or picked up during all travel by a neighbor, friend or relative;

Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best hiding places;

Have a friend move your car occasionally if it is parked in the driveway;

Use timers to operate lights;

Consider having a professionally monitored security system installed that will dispatch the authorities in the event of a break-in or fire. Web-based security systems can even send vacationers email and text-message alerts of security events on their smart phones or laptops, and allow you to check in through video cameras.

Kim L., a She Scribes reader, told me that you can also ask the post office to hold your mail for you. You can even set it up online. This is a great tip, especially if you don’t have a friend, relative or neighbor who can pick up your mail and packages for you. Thanks Kim for sharing that tip. !

Have you ever been a victim of a break in? Do you have any other safety tips you would like to share with other She Scribes readers? Feel free to leave a comment.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the benefit of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own.

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Filed Under: Household, Ramblings, Safety, Travel

#ChildHunger – What happens to school meal programs when school is over?

May 11, 2012 By Kimberly Leave a Comment

Many children count down towards major events, like their birthday or Christmas. My son is counting down the number of days until school is over and summer vacation officially begins. He doesn’t like school at all. Knowing that summer vacation is just a few weeks away is making him very excited.

Many families look forward to summer vacation. For the kids it’s their time to “decompress” from the school year, stay up late, sleep as late as they want, hang out with friends and go on fun family vacations. Instead of looking forward to summer vacation some children are actually dreading it. For these children school is a place where they know they are going to get a meal each and every day. When school is out of session “food insecure” families either have to locate another place where their child or children can get a meal every day, or they have to go without a reliable meal source.

The term “food insecure” refers to families that do not know if they are going to have enough to eat each and every day. Often food insecure families go without meals. As a parent it breaks my heart knowing there are children in my own “backyard” who are going to be at night hungry.

No parent wants to be in a situation where they can’t provide steady meals for their family. Most of the time food insecure families are low-income families or families who have faced economic hardship such as the loss of a job or the loss of a parent. Even families that make decent money can find themselves suddenly in a situation that forces them to give up life’s most basic need – food.

Statistically 1 our of every 5 children does not know where his/her next meal is coming from. Think about that for a moment. One our of every five children. The next time you visit your child’s school or walk by a playground, take a look at the children you see. Statistically one out of every five of those children might go to bed hungry tonight. In fact, 17+ MILLION children are living in food insecure families across America.

Hunger has serious implications on a child’s ability to function and do well at school. Often a hungry child cannot concentrate on their classwork and often perform poorly on tests. Thankfully many school across the country provide meals (before school or after school) for children from food insecure families. Sadly this is often the only meal a child might have for the entire day. When school is no longer in session these meal programs often cease as well. So instead of enjoying the summer vacation the children the programs service at left hungry and counting the days until school starts again just so they know they are getting a meal every day.

Knowing this, doesn’t it make you want to do something? You can, and it doesn’t involve money (unless you want do donate financially).

One way to help is to donate non-perishable foods to your local food bank. I wrote a post about the kinds of foods and products food banks are often in dire need of. You can read the post here, What types of food donations do food banks need?

Another way you can help is with ConAgra’s Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. Simply purchase products like you normally would then upload the code found on specially marked packages to the Child Hunger Ends Here website. For each code that is entered in on the site, ConAgra will donate a meal to feed a hungry child to Feeding America.

Participating brands include

- Banquet

- Chef Boyardee

- Healthy Choice

- Hunt’s

- Marie Callendar’s

- Manwhich

- Orville Redenbacher

- Peter Pan

- Snack Pack

Chances are one or more of these products are found on your weekly shopping list so you wouldn’t need to do anything other then visit the Child Hunger Ends Now website and enter in the code.

When you upload the code you are also eligible to download a FREE song called ”Here’s Hope” sung by your favorite artist, Jewel, Owl City and/or Jay Sean. You can learn more about the song on this post that I wrote last week, http://www.shescribes.com/2012/04/heres-hope.html.

While you are on the Child Hunger Ends Here website be sure to look around. You’ll find a lot of information about child hunger, including how many children are hungry in your own “backyard”. You’ll be SHOCKED to learn just how many there are. I live in a affluent suburb of New York City and I was truly in disbelief as to how many children in the tiny county that I live in are in food insecure homes.

For more information about the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign please visit ChildHungerEndsHere.com.

You can also find more information about the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign by visiting ConAgra on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ConAgraFoods) and on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/ConAgraFoodsor @ConAgraFoods). To join the conversation on Twitter use the hashtag #ChildHunger.

Kimberly

*I am a brand ambassador for the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign and I am going to be compensated for my participation. Any opinions expressed are entirely my own. Stats and information provided by ConAgra and Feeding America.

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Filed Under: Charity, Children, Family, Ramblings

My Favorite Pet Blogs #BudgetLiving

May 11, 2012 By Kimberly 1 Comment

I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Pet Blogger. As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

As a blogger I can appreciate all the time and effort that goes into writing a blog (or website). Especially when it comes to writing quality topics that makes readers want to come back to that blog again and again.

Believe it or not, I also read blogs. I don’t get to read them as often as I’d like to due to time constraints. I need about 8+ more hours in my day to get some reading in, as well as a zillion other things I need to do.

I read all kinds of blogs, from celebrity gossip and entertainment blogs, to blogs that are similar to She Scribes. As the “mom” to five cats and a dog I also read some pet related blogs too.

Here are a few blog related blogs that I like to frequent as often as I can.

PetFinder Blog – www.PetFinder.com/Blog

All of our pets have been adopted from our local animal shelter, excep one (he was a ferral kitten we rescued). I am a firm believer in adopting animals from the animal shelter or rescue groups instead of purchasing from stores and puppy mills (reputable breeders are OK).

I like the PetFinder blog because it provides people with a lot of tips and articles about finding the right pet to adopt and other adoption related topics. I also like that it’s a part of the PetFinder website so you can look for pets in your area who are looking for their “forever homes”. I was looking there this morning and found a pair of lab rats that need adopting. Poor things. They were used for students to practice giving injections and were injected with saline. I would love to give them a loving home but I have a feeling with five cats it’s not a wise idea.

All Things Dog Blog (www.AllThingsDogBlog.com)

Like the title suggests this site is about everything and anything pertaining to dogs. I really like all the great information you can find on this site. There is an “Ask the Vet” and “Ask the Trainer” sections (among others) which I find especially useful. Some of the information is ideal for people who live in apartments (or a condo) like I do.

One article I read on their site talked about separation anxiety. When you are living in an apartment the last thing you want is your dog whimpering at the door all day long, or barking at every sound it hears. You also don’t want your dog to destroy the apartment because he/she is stressed out over being home alone. The article Ask the Vet: Dogs and Separation Anxiety is good to read if you have concerns with your dog and separation anxiety.

Another article I read that I could relate to is taking your dog out to do his/her “business” when it’s raining. Apartment owners don’t always have the luxury of a big yard where they can create a covered space for a dog to do it’s business. Our dogs have to go out in the pouring rain and just deal with it. That is easier said then done for some people. My dog Espn (pronounced Es-pin) hates the rain and refuses to go outside in it, not matter how badly he has to go. I found the article Ask the Dog Trainer: Rainy Day Potty interesting.

I also like that the All Things Dog blog has a resource to find locate dog groups in your area.

Pethooligans (www.PetHooligans.com)

This is another great site for practical information, tips and more pertaining to all kinds of pets, not just cats and dogs.

Two articles that I read on the site I think would be of interest to those who not only live in apartments, but also anyone interested in adopting a pet or those looking for budget tips.

What to keep in mind when you adopt your first pet.

Taking care of your pet and your wallet.

Vet Street (www.VetStreet.com)

This site is a wealth of information about all different kinds of pets, especially when it comes to health issues. If you have a moment you should read the article Disaster Prep: How to evacuate safely with your pets.

Other fun pet blogs/sites that I like to visit include;

Internet-Pets.Blogspot.com – Love the photos.

www.RomeotheCat.com – Another site with great photos but fun stories.

www.HolyCuteness.com – Super adorable animal/pet pictures and videos.

PetNewsandViews.com – Pet news in the headlines, useful articles and tips and pet resources.

Apartment Guide also has some great pet related articles you might want to check out. Here are a few I think might be of some interest to my readers.

What is your perfect pet apartment?

How to share custody of your apartment pet?

Stylish homes for your pet.

If you are looking for your first apartment, or perhaps you are looking to move into another apartment, be sure to check out Apartment Guide (www.ApartmentGuide.com). There you can enter in the city and state you are looking to move to and find available apartments.

Are you looking for a roommate, or do you want to become one? The Apartment Guide has a roommate finder feature too.

Apartment Guide also has a blog called Moving Today (www.MovingToday.com). There you can find a lot of useful information and interesting articles to help you before, during and after you move into your first apartment or another apartment. There are also a few non-apartment related articles there too.

For more tips on making the most of your space and budget, as well as other useful information, you can “like” the Apartment Guide on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ApartmentGuide) and follow them on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/AptGuide). They are even on Google+.

Kimberly

* Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

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Filed Under: Household, Pets, Ramblings

Need help with an important survey

May 11, 2012 By Kimberly 2 Comments

I’m working with a parenting community called The Motherhood to help encourage kids to spend time outdoors. Currently, according to research, kids spend an average of seven hours per day in front of a screen and only seven MINUTES outside. That is so wrong on so many levels!

Kids spend way too much time with technology, most especially their cell phones and the Internet (Facebook especially). When your kids lock themselves up in their room do you REALLY know what they are doing? For all you know they could be chatting with a would be abductor or sexting their boyfriend/girlfriend (can you tell I’m a paranoid parent? Ha Ha). My point is, if kids are outside doing things like riding their bikes, tossing around a Frisbee or throwing the ball for the dog it gives them less time to do things online or with their phones, thus keeping them out of trouble.

When I was growing up you would never find me in front of the TV. We didn’t have computers or cell phone either (I’m showing my age now). I was always outside. In the summer months I would be outside from dawn to dusk. I’d only go inside to eat, drink or use the bathroom. Even during the school week I’d head outside the moment I was done with homework and only come back inside when dinner was ready.

Ideally myself, The Motherhood, other bloggers and the National Wildlife Federation would love to change these statistics, as I’m sure many parents and grandparents across the country would too. We would very much love your help in changing that statistic, and it’s easy to do.

Click this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WP38C77 and complete a short survey to provide feedback on your family’s outdoor time and the challenges you face in getting your kids to play outside. The survey is anonymous, and your five minutes of feedback will help us gain a better understanding of how outdoor time fits in with modern family life.

If you have friends who might also be interested in helping with this initiative, please feel free to send the survey link to them too. You do not need to be a blogger, simply someone who cares about getting kids away from the computer and TV and get outside. The more people who can weigh in on this issue, the better. :)

THANK YOU for your help!

Kimberly

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Filed Under: Children, Family, Health, Parenting, Ramblings

What to do with left over business cards?

May 10, 2012 By Kimberly Leave a Comment

As most of my regular readers know I recently had a blog make over. Not only did my site get a fresh new look, so did my blog’s logo.

One thing I didn’t think of prior to my review was my blog’s business cards. I ordered A LOT of cards about a year ago and I must have about 200 cards left.

I am REALLY bad about handing out my business cards. I often forget to take them to blogger events with me which is not a bright thing to do. Especially when I am meeting with companies and public relations firms. Those are the people I really need to hand my cards out too. I also need to hand them out to other bloggers. It’s a great way to network with one another. Even when I do remember to bring them with me I often forget to hand them out.

If you are a blogger, do you always hand out your cards when you attend events? Do you find that they have helped you to make some great connections?

Now I’m stuck with around 200 cards and I’m not sure what I should do with them. Would it be wrong to continue to hand them out, even though my logo is different? Do you suppose anyone would really notice? All my contact information is the same. The only thing that is different is the logo. It’s not even that different. Mostly the colors have been changed around a bit.

I am not sure if I can toss them into the recycling bin because I purchased cards with a glossy finish. I’m not sure if that paper is recyclable or not.

I hate to just toss them away in the garbage. Especially since I have about 200 of them. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Does anyone know of any crafts I could utilize my left over cards for?

I’m also wondering what I should do for my next business card order. I want to do something a bit different then a traditional card. I thought about magnets but do people really put them on their fridge? Besides, I want to make business contacts. I doubt they have a use for magnets.

I was thinking about die cut cards which are cards that are in different shapes then the normal rectangle shape. I just don’t know if they would make my card stand out or would it be a nuisance if it doesn’t fit in someone’s business card holder.

I guess before I worry about ordering new cards I first need to figure out what to do with the two hundred or so that I currently have.

If anyone has any suggestions I’m certainly open to ideas. Please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks!

Kimberly

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Filed Under: Ramblings

May is Foster Family Month

May 8, 2012 By Kimberly Leave a Comment

When people think about the month of May their first thoughts are usually Mother’s Day, Memorial Weekend (aka “the unofficial start to summer), warmer weather, flowers and green grass. Did you know that May is also Foster Family Month?

There are all types of mothers in this world. You don’t have to be biologically related to someone to be their mother. My mom was biologically related to me, but she was my paternal grandmother, not my birth mother. My birth mother abandoned me. But that is OK. She had her reasons. My “mom” (paternal grandmother) was the best mom I could ever ask for.

I think people who open up their hearts and homes to foster children are extra special people. They get to be a mom to these children, even if it’s only temporary. Sometimes a foster mom is the only mom some of these children will ever have.

It breaks my heart that there are so many children in foster care. I wish each and every one of them could find a “forever home” whether it’s with their own biological families or foster families.

MercyFirst, one of New York’s leading not-for-profit human service agencies, has had amazing success with their Foster Care Program.

- 852 foster children were cared for by safe and loving foster families because of their Foster Care Program.

- 281 foster children were reunited with their families.

- 32 foster children got a permanent family through the Adoption Program.

There are several heart warming stories from some of the MercyFirst mothers on their YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/MercyFirstMediaRoom?feature=mhee. Their stories will warm your heart and make is smile.

It takes a very special person to be a foster parent. Personally I have A LOT of love to give and I would open my home to a foster child, if we had a bigger home (we only have a tiny one bedroom condo). I think for me the biggest challenge would be knowing that sometimes the children will only be with you temporarily. It would be so difficult not to get attached to the children and want to know what becomes of them after they leave your care.

If you have a few moments you should check out their videos. Some ladies have foster upwards of 30 children. Many of the ladies even adopted foster children too.

I thought I would share this with my readers, not only because it’s National Foster Care Month but also to show you that there are all kinds of mothers in this world.

♥