If you’re looking for a fun, unique idea for your next party or celebration, then why not create a time capsule? This personalized treasure chest of current history, culture, trends and special memories is an easy and captivating activity for you and your guests.  Here are the top do’s and don’ts for making a personal time capsule.

DO tell everyone invited to the party that they will be creating a time capsule.  Half the fun is the anticipation.  It gives your guests a chance to plan what they would like to contribute.  If they are going to be writing something to add to the contents, then they will have a little time to think about what they want to say.

DON’T limit making a time capsule to just milestone occasions.  Of course, this is perfect for a first birthday party, graduation celebration or a wedding shower. Yes, it’s a great gift for any special event, but  you can also put one together for no reason at all.

DO choose the right container for your time capsule.  Boxes are too flimsy.  A big metal popcorn tin is ideal.  If your objects are small, a large metal cookie tin would work.  You could also use plastic food storage containers.  The idea is to use something sturdy, that will protect your treasures and keep them cool and dry.

DO include cultural and historic documents of the day.  Items such as newspaper headlines and clippings, a copy of this week’s TV guide, magazines like People and Newsweek, a supermarket receipt listing prices and a current top 40 music chart are all great.  Look for contemporary trends and fads in magazines and on the internet, and add pictures of them to the pile.

DO take photos of personal landmarks that might not be there when you open the time capsule.  How many places have you frequented in the past that have disappeared over time, only to be replaced by banks, mini-malls and parking lots?  Document places of interest that currently hold some meaning to you, and add them to the vault.

DO involve all your guests in the process.  If the time capsule is to commemorate the birth of a baby, then give each person a notecard to write their feelings, hopes and dreams for the child.  Or if you’re creating a time capsule for a graduate or a couple getting married, then everyone could write predictions of where they think the guest of honor will be by the time the capsule is unsealed.  Another fun thing to include is lists of favorites.  It will be interesting to see how those lists change over the years.

DON’T be surprised by your guests creativity.  Ask them to bring something small and significant that is either personal or represents the times to add to the time capsule.  You just might be amazed to see the clever things that they’ll supply.

DON’T just throw your items into the time capsule.  Certain things like photos, newspaper and letters can deteriorate over time.  Instead, place them in acid free envelopes, zippered plastic bags or even vacuum sealed bags for protection before including them.

DON’T add anything that could leak and ruin the contents.   Stay away from food of any sort, batteries and of course, liquids.

DO decide when your time capsule will be opened.  If you are making one for your daughter’s first birthday, you might want to wait until she’s 18 or 21 to open it.   Or if you’re creating one with friends on New Year’s Eve, you could decide to gather together again in 5 years to revisit the contents.

DON’T even consider burying your time capsule.  Between the harsh elements outside and the possibility you could move, you might never retrieve it.  You also could forget exactly where you put it.  Instead, tuck it away in a nice safe place inside, until you’re ready for the big opening night.

Putting together all of the elements that make up a personal time capsule is a great party activity.  It’s a wonderful gift for a milestone occasion.  And it’s also rewarding if it was created for no special reason.  But the best part is yet to come.  One of these days, it will be opened!

Time Capsule – Top Do’s and Don’ts for Creating One at Your Next Party is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

Protective Measures

The shopping cart cover will definitely help to protect your child from germs and bacteria on the handle of the cart. It will also prevent you from coming in contact with the same. This with proper hand washing techniques on your part will help stop the spread of viruses to you and your children. Teach your baby early how important this step is. You can also take antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer with you to help keep things clean. The shopping cart cover you purchase needs to also have a safety belt to prevent the child from falling out of the cart or tipping it over and causing injuries.

Versatile Choices

Shopping cart cover designs are very versatile and can be fitted with toys, pockets for storage such as cell phones and baby food and bottles. There may be a loop that you can attach the pacifier or a ring of keys to. The higher end shopping cart cover can be used as a mat or diaper bag when folded. They can also work in high chairs, swings, and strollers if necessary. They more you are willing to pay for your shopping cart cover, the more choices there are available to you. Some special models come with an extra pillow and extra large padding for added comfort.

Fabric Designs And Choices

The extreme list of designs can range anywhere from solid colors to a plaid or floral pattern. Certainly they can also provide patterns that match sports themes, animal themes, and other personal choices. The fabric you choose should be easily washed in a machine and easily wiped clean on the spot if necessary. The leg flaps also need to be longer so they do not pinch baby’s legs. You want baby to be comfortable so they will behave while you shop and also protected from the germs and bacteria the carts hold.

Safety Belts

As was said earlier, the important part of the shopping cart cover is the safety belt it provides. The attachment can be in many different forms but the main idea is to have it hold securely. Children, at a certain age will inevitably try to stand up in the seat of the shopping cart. The shopping cart cover will hold them in securely while still allowing them to move around somewhat. No parent wants their child to be injured as a result of not taking the proper precautions to prevent such things from happening.

What is Available in the Shopping Cart Cover is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

Let us commence with handmade glass beads and Baubles. It’s a actually exhausting and frightening thing to do working with beads and baubles when they are all mixed up in one storage container. All different colours and sizes of beads are in the same container and you are having a hard time finishing off your beading because you can’t sort out the express beads you want to use.

To keep beads and baubles organized, sort them out according to their sizes and colours. This is a straightforward way to help find and pick beads you would like when you need them. This is one way also of organizing left over beads after finishing a certain project or after purchasing loose beads from a shop. Beading for every age is great fun and being organized will help everyone enjoy it without becoming frustrated when trying to find something.

Organize things in order to display your beads. Old food container like baby food containers and small size bottles that you’ll find in your kitchen are good for storing miniscule seed beads. Larger boxes like plastic butter tubs and sauce jars are good for massive, corpulent beads.

If you want to keep them away yet still organized, consider a wooden jewelry box or if you would like try any sorts of jewellery box, which will also do, and an accessory dresser or drawer where you can correctly put your beading supplies.

Use clear jars or boxes that are the proper size for your drawers and cabinets. You can purchase old apothecary tables at junk stores that include numerous miniscule drawers, a perfect storage container to keep your tools and materials grouped. These boxes are ideal for storing your tools and materials in order and to hand.

But if you prefer to work in other areas or outside your home, and want to have something that you can grab in merely a snap, with your supplies within, you may use a convenient carry-case. Tackle boxes are also good for stashing your supplies, with a wide range of sizes, and frequently have lots of areas for small items. A chest or a little trunk with handles can be an alternative as well , you can find drawers and trays in it, where you can put and organize your tools and materials. You can always use normal baskets also, this is a good way to tote around all your boxes and jars full of your beading supplies.

Not only do you need to keep your beads organized, but knowing your jewelry making tools, their correct usage and storage is as important. There is no point in having all of your beads organized if your tools are all over the place and are not in correct working order.

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Organize Your Beading Stuffs is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

In America, plastics are given the rating from one to seven and this number is usually printed on the base of the container, and is inside the symbol of the recycling triangle image. The one to seven rating classifies the “resin identification code” that represents different types of resin. Apart from this, the abbreviations for the type of plastic will also be printed. Examples of these abbreviations are such as PET which is a type one in the plastics range and it stands for polyethylene terephthalate.

Disposable soft drink and sports water bottle made of plastic are rated on whereas milk jugs, shampoo bottles and liquid detergent bottles tend to be made from high density poly ethylene (HDPE), and labeled as number two plastic.

Number three is poly vinyl chloride (PVC) and items such as meat wrap, cooking oil bottles and plumbing pipes use PVC. Number four is low density polyethylene (LDPE) and can be found in cling wraps, grocery bags and sandwich bags. Number five is polypropolene (PP) and is commonly used in cloudy plastic water bottles and yogurt cups. Disposable coffee cups and take out containers use number six is polystyrene (PS) and baby bottles, some reusable water bottles and stain resistant food-storage containers come in number seven which is any sort of plastic that doesn’t fit into the first six categories. If a plastic container doesn’t have a recycling symbol with a visible number it is considered a number seven.

A study conducted in 1998 on plastics showed that bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical which mimics the hormone estrogens, can seep into the water from polycarbonate bottles. This study was published in the April 2003 issue of Current Biology. According to the research, BPA has a lot of harmful effects as it has been tested on the reproductive process of rats and mice. Some of the side effects are low sperm counts to changes in tissue that resembles early-stage breast cancer. These test show that similar changes can happen to human beings as a result of PBA. Bottles with number one bottles (PET) should only be used once and after finishing the liquid in them, take it to the recycling center.

For extended use, buy sports bottles and water bottles with number 2,4 and 5 ratings. These types of plastics are your best choices and they do not transmit any known chemicals into your body through the food and drink you consume. Also, these types of plastics are recyclable.  

UntitledKim is the author of Discountmugs.com. If you would like more information about plastic bottles , such as plastic bottles, please visit http://www.discountmugs.com

Better Health Benefits with Sports Bottles is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

Things you SHOULD bring

Valid passport. Chinese visa. Other legal documents that show you are allowed to enter and stay in the country. A photocopy of all your legal documents. So you can carry these with you when touring. Air itinerary and schedule. Your drivers license. Travel Insurance and its receipts. Copy of your medical history. Medical and Security Access. This is a MUST HAVE. I recommend International SOS. Address of your destination in China (Both in English and Chinese if possible). If you had to submit a invitation letter for your visa, bring that letter with you. Your hotel reservation. Important contact information. Most of the times, people don’t use their home country cell phones in China because the surcharge is very expensive. So if that’s something you are planning on doing, then write down the numbers you need from your cellphone, that way you can conveniently to make a phone call from China by using a phone card. A local map. If you are traveling on your own and planning on taking public transportation or walking, this is quite important to have. Pocket tissue. This one you actually don’t have to bring it from the US, but make sure you have it handy while you are in China. It’s weird but in most of the public bathrooms (except upscale restaurants or hotels) they don’t provide toilet papers. Credit Cards. Visa and MasterCard are common to use in China. Traveler’s checks. Don’t keep your receipts at the same place with the checks. Some cash in Chinese Yuan and in US dollars. Even though most of the plazas and big restaurants now accept credit cards (not all of them accept international credit cards though), but the bargain shopping areas, street food stands, taxis, ticket offices etc., only accept Chinese cash. Also, try to avoid airport currency exchange, they definitely have the crappiest rate. Go to your local bank and ask for your options. Deodorant with anti-perspiration. This is quite hard to find in China, especially in the small cities. The place I can think of that carries such thing is the supermarket named “Watson’s” Razors. Back in 2005 when some of my foreign friends came to China, we looked for shavers everywhere and could not find them anywhere! Things might have changed, but just in case, bring your own. Shaving cream. Shampoo and conditioners. I use Pantene, and even though this brand is everywhere in China, but I feel the quality is different. It’s definitely more watery and my hair feels drier after using the Chinese brand. So if you are picky with your hair, bring your own. Sunscreen. You can actually find lots of sunscreen protection lotions in department stores and supermarkets. But the SPF factor and other functions are limited (SPF doesn’t go as high as here in the US). Tanning sunscreen is defiantly not available since everyone tries to keep the skin white. Insect repellent. The brands in China are mostly oil based and quite inconvenient to apply. If you go in the summer, of course depends on where you are, you’ll probably need it for mosquitoes. Medicine. Even though the Chinese pharmacies do offer western medicines, it’s definitely a good idea to bring your own! Especially make sure to bring your prescription medicines, antibiotics, diarrhea medications, birth control, pain reliever, and anti-bacterial ointment. Dental floss. I know they are available in China and people do use them. But don’t expect they’ll be guaranteed available next to the tooth paste section in any grocery stores. Mouth wash. Same as above. Tampons. You can find them in some supermarkets but quite limited. So bring the brand you prefer. Pads are readily available everywhere in China. Your own clothing, underwear and socks. You will find bargain priced clothing items in China, if you are a tall or wear extra large in the US, then sizes you find in China would most likely be too small. Unless if you go to a tourist-friendly shopping plaza such as the Silk Market in Beijing. Women with larger breasts make sure to bring your own bras. Big suitcases. From my experience, people who come to visit China usually ended up buying another suitcase because they bought too many things during their visit. Things are cheaper and unique, so make sure to bring the biggest baggage you can find, and pack light on the way to China, so you leave plenty of empty space to bring things back. One thing to note though, if you are taking domestic flights within China, be careful with the weight of your baggage. Just like in the US, international flights allow a much heavier weight for check in baggage. Domestic flights usually only allow you to check in one baggage up to 20 kilograms in weight. Backpack. It’s convenient especially if you walk around everywhere. For girls, just bring your own purse. Shoes. Get some comfortable and reliable shoes so you can walk, hike and run in them. For the summer, bring a pair of sandals as well. Also if you consider your feet are big, then you probably won’t find your shoe size in China. Electric converter. Voltage in China is 220. Computers, cellphones and cameras don’t need the converter because they are universal voltage. Check the back of your electronics to identify which ones needs the converter for. Your home country cellphone. If you are from the US and your wireless carriers are AT&T or T-mobile, bring your cellphone and cellphone charger with you. Before you do that, call your phone company to ask them if you can unlock the phone. I did it once with T-mobile, it was easy and fast (you might have to finish your contract first). When you arrive China, all you need is to buy a Chinese sim card (cost about ?100 for the card with prepaid minutes in it) to replace your original sim card. If that’s not an option for you, you can also find an old modeled Nokia cellphone in China for around US$10. Your laptop. Though there are many Internet cafes in big cities in China, and the cost to get online per hour is very cheap. If you want to use Skype or get online comfortably at your hotel, then bring your own. Ethernet Cable. International Travel Plug Adapter. There are cases that the outlets in your hotel room doesn’t fit your plug for your computer. It’s very affordable to get something like this, you’ll need it in the future when you travel to other countries. Your embassy’s contact information in China. Your camera. Bring the charger, most of the camera chargers can be used worldwide without any electric converters. USB connector for your camera. Extra memory cards. Just in case if you take too many pictures and don’t have enough place for storage. Camcorder. A small handy Chinese dictionary. A Chinese phrase book. Just in case if you got lost and need to look for the bathroom Allergy supplies. In a foreign country, you never know what you’ll be allergic of. Umbrella. Alarm clock. Skin care products. China has all the major brands such as Clinique, Lancome, Olay and Estee Lauder. But if you buy them from the Chinese department store, they are so much more expensive than you buy them in the US. I guess it’s the tax that raised the price so much higher. A pencil and a memo pad. If you are traveling with a baby, make sure you bring all the baby stuff. Such as diapers, wipes, baby food and medicine. Multi-vitamins. Toothpaste. According to the FDA, some Chinese toothpaste could be dangerous to your health. Calculator. Could come handy for currency exchange and bargain when shopping. Super glue. In case if something falls apart during your trip. Coffee. Most of the coffee you find in regular supermarkets are instant coffee in China. So if you are big on drinking coffee and don’t want to spend too much money in Starbucks. Then bring your own coffee maker and lots of ground coffee. English magazines, novels and books. There are English books in the big Chinese bookstores, but the choices are very limited. Hair coloring. If you DIY, you’ll only find darker colors in the supermarkets. You can get all sorts of hair colorings in salons though. Moisturizer. Hand Sanitizer. U-shaped pillow for the long ride on the plane. Mp3 player and charger. Business cards. Your home keys. This is so embarrassing, but one time I left my home keys in China and could not get back in my apartment for a while after arriving the US. Plastic Zip-Loc bags. You’ll need to put small sized lotions in there for airport security. Sunglasses. Jet Lag remedy. Jetlag can be annoying, sometimes it takes up to one week to feel completely adjusted and normal again. If you are doing a trip less than a week, than I highly recommend you consider this option. Back up batteries for your electronics. Reusable grocery bag or plastic bags. In big cities, now you have to pay for plastic bags in supermarkets and grocery stores. Some gifts if you have friends or a host family to visit. A smile Hats. Ear plugs. When you are on the plane for a long time and hope to get some sleep. This really helps. Contact lenses and solution. English Movies and DVDs. Tic Tacs. I love them and couldn’t find them in Beijing. Favorite snacks from your home country. Appetite to eat delicious Chinese Food. Cereal. China has very limited choices.

Things you SHOULD NOT bring

Hairdryer. Unless your hairdryer can convert to different voltage. Most of the hotels provide hairdryers in the room. Iron/steamer. Again most of the hotel has these. If you need your own, it’s cheap to buy one in China. Weapons. That is an absolute NO. Bicycles. It sounds funny but some foreigners actually have tried to check their bikes in at the airport. You can defiantly find a pretty good quality mountain bike in China for around US$20 or so. Any illegal drugs. This is very serious, if you are caught to carry or sell any in China, you’ll be in big trouble and your home country might not be able to help. Anything that can be politically sensitive to China. Live animals. If you are thinking to travel with your pet to China, DON’T! I have a dog and I did lots of research to see if I could ever bring her back Beijing, it’s not impossible, but it’s way too complicated. First of all, there isn’t really a document clearly states the rules on this one. I even called the airport in Beijing, they all had different answers. All I know is you’ll have to leave your animal in the airport for a few weeks for them to check. You’ll have to pay lots of money and your animal will suffer in the cage for a long time. The worst thing is if there is anything that doesn’t look right, they have all the rights to send your animal back immediately or kill it. Plants and soil. Insects. Food. Lots of cash exceeding the legal limit. Cashmere, dry clean clothing. It’s a hassle to find a dry clean shop in China, Bedsheets. Towels. If you are the type of person brings your own towel anywhere you go, then sure, bring it. Toilet papers. Mailing envelopes. Social security card. Clothing that writes bad things about China in Chinese (or in other languages)! Military clothing. Can cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Tea bags. Valuable jewelries. Soy Sauce. Purses without zippers or closed top. There are thieves in China just like anywhere in the world. You should be extra careful because it can be crowded in China, especially if you are going to a sightseeing spot with lots of other tourists. Always carry your purse with the zipper zipped and in front so you can see.

If you have other things to add, feel free to leave a comment.

For Other travel tips to China, visit my blog at www.ChinaSundae.com.

101 Things You SHOULD and SHOULD NOT Bring with You to China is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

You can find diaper bags for girls and boys of different colours, material and prints at stores and diaper bags are also available in various price ranges, for various occasions. If you wish to spend less than $20 on diaper bags, you can buy cheap diaper bags from any one of the three popular brands of diaper bags: Care Bear Little Princess, Mickey Mouse, and Circle of Friends.

If you wish to get cheap diaper bags for girls, you can buy the diaper bags of Care Bear Little Princess, which comes with many pockets for keeping the bottles and wipes of the baby and you may even find a changing pad along with the diaper bag. Circle of Friends diaper bag and Mickey Mouse Diaper Bag are unisexual diaper bags, which can be used for either boy or girl.

You can even find cheap diaper bags, which come with additional baby items and some low cost diaper bags are designed like a carry bag, where all the amenities of a baby can be dumped directly. You can search for different features of the diaper bags and compare prices of various brands before buying.

How to buy cheap diaper bags? is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

• Full 8 ounces of powdered formula or .33 cup of dry goods fit in each compartment
• Store rice cereal and use as a serving bowl
• Top-rack dishwasher safe
• Removable funnel lid for each section for ease of use
• Separate compartments so contents do not mix

Innobaby Five Tier Packin’ Smart Storage System, Fuchsia

Innobaby Five Tier Packin’ Smart Storage System, Fuchsia is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

This Kit will help a lot during natural disasters.

FAMILY PREPAREDNESS
Preparing for natural disaster, whether it’s a hurricane, tsunami, flood, or some other event can mean the difference between life and death. Taking the time to assemble a Disaster Supply Kit before a disaster strikes will help cope with the temporary loss of everyday conveniences. What would you do without food, water, and electricity? Your supply kit should be built around basic items that help cope with these and other potential personal hardships.

The time to prepare a disaster supplies kit is now. During an emergency, supplies are in high demand and stores run out of inventory quickly. Once disaster hits, there isn’t time to search for supplies.

The American Red Cross recommends six basics to stock at home: water, food, first-aid supplies, clothing, bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. A good rule of thumb is to have enough supplies to cover your household for at least three days. Keep items you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container.
For more information, contact your county civil defense agency or local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Below are guidelines to consider for basic disaster supplies.

WATER
Store 1 gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food preparation and sanitation). Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household.
To purify water for safe drinking supply:

Boil vigorously 1 – 3 minutes; or
Use purification tablets available at most drug stores. Follow package directions; or
Use household bleach (must contain 5.24% hypochlorite.) For one gallon of water, add 8 drops if water is clear; if water is cloudy, add 16 drops (1/4 teaspoon). For five gallons of water, if water is clear, add ½ teaspoon; if cloudy, 1 teaspoon. Let water stand at least 30 minutes before drinking.

FOOD
Store at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food. Select items that don’t require refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, or require little or no water. * Include selections from the food list below in your Disaster Supply Kit.
Ready -to -eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables. Canned juices, milk, soup. If powdered, store extra water. Staples – sugar, salt, pepper, etc. High energy foods – peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix. Vitamins Foods for infants, elderly or persons on special diets. Do not use left-over baby food if not refrigerated. Comfort foods -cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, instant coffee, tea, etc. Extra pet food

WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT
Without electricity, food in refrigerators and freezers will spoil. If you know in advance that power will be shut off: Use perishable foods in refrigerator and freezer first. Make extra ice. Freeze extra freeze-pack inserts and keep them frozen for emergencies.
Buy a cooler. Freeze water in plastic containers, do not fill to top before freezing – allow for expansion. Know where to buy dry ice. 25 lbs. of dry ice should hold a 10-cubic-foot freezer cold for 3-4 days. Note: dry ice may be limited on some islands.
FOOD SAFETY
How long food remains frozen in the freezer depends on the amount, type, temperature, and freezer insulation. Keep freezer door closed for as long as possible to prevent loss of cold air. Large cuts of meat or poultry will stay frozen longer than baked goods or small items. In fully-loaded separate freezers, food may remain frozen for 48 to 72 hours. Food thaws quicker in a refrigerator/freezer, but should remain frozen about 12 hours or longer in a side-by-side unit or up to 24 hours in a top or bottom-mount freezer.

Use refrigerated foods as soon as possible. It is difficult to make general recommendations about food safety as this depends on the type of food, its preparation, and handling. Some guidelines:

Butter, margarine, and hard cheese are safe unless it has mold or a rancid odor. Fresh fruits and vegetables are safe as long as they are not mushy or slimy. Eggs will be safe for several days if shells have no cracks. Fresh meat, poultry, luncheon meats, or frankfurters should be discarded if allowed to warm to room temperature for more than two hours. Milk and cream will probably be sour after eight hours without refrigeration. Commercial (purchased) mayonnaise should be kept refrigerated once opened. Discard if left without refrigeration for more than two hours. Vinegar and oil salad dressings, jellies, and jams may be left unrefrigerated unless poultry or meat juices have contaminated them. Discard mustard, catsup, and pickles if moldy.
Previously frozen foods: Meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables can usually be safely refrozen if they still have ice crystals present or are very cold (40 degrees F or lower), but there will be some loss of quality. Refrozen foods should be used as soon as possible. When cooking, remember that refrozen foods have been thawed once. If thawing is necessary, do it in the refrigerator or microwave, not by thawing at room temperature.

Discard any food that has an off color or odor, or food that has warmed to room temperature for an unknown length of time.
Generally, if in question about the food safety, discard it.

FIRST AID KIT
Assemble a First Aid Kit for your home and one for each car. Each kit* should include:
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes 4 to 6 two-inch sterile gauze pads 4 to 6 four-inch sterile gauze pads Hypoallergenic adhesive tape Triangular bandages (3) 2-inch sterile roller bandages, 3 rolls 3-inch sterile roller bandages, 3 rolls Scissors Tweezers Needle Moistened towelettes Antiseptic Thermometer Tongue blades (2) Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant Assorted sizes of safety pins Cleansing agent/soap Latex gloves, 2 pairs Sunscreen
Non -prescription drugs
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever Anti-diarrhea medication Antacid for stomach upset. Syrup of Ipecac used to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center. Laxative Activated Charcoal, use if advised by the Poison Control Center.
For prescription advice, see your family physician.
Contact your local American Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first aid manual.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
Mess kits, or paper cups, plates & plastic utensils Emergency preparedness manual Battery operated radio and extra batteries Flashlight and extra batteries Cash or traveler’s checks, change Non-electric can opener; utility knife Fire extinguisher, small canister, ABC type Tube tent Pliers Tape Compass Matches in waterproof container Aluminum foil Plastic storage containers Signal flare Paper, pencil Needles, thread Medicine dropper Shut-off wrench to turn off household gas and water Whistle Plastic sheeting Area map, if needed for locating shelters.

SANITATION
Toilet paper, towels Soap, liquid detergent Feminine supplies Personal hygiene supplies Plastic garbage bags, ties – for personal sanitation uses Plastic bucket with tight lid Disinfectant Household chlorine bleach

CLOTHING AND BEDDING
Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. Sturdy shoes or work boots. Not slippers. Rain gear Blankets or sleeping bags Sunglasses

SPECIAL ITEMS
Remember family members with special needs, such as infants, elderly, or disabled persons.
For Baby
Formula Diapers Bottles Powdered milk Medications
For Adults
Heart and high blood pressure medication Insulin Prescription drugs Denture needs Contact lenses and supplies Extra eye glasses
Entertainment – games and books
Important Family Documents Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container. (Important documents and valuables are best kept in a bank safety deposit box.)
Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds Passports, social security cards, immunization records Bank account and credit card numbers, companies Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers Family records – birth, marriage, death certificates

SUGGESTIONS AND REMINDERS
Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supply Kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in air-tight plastic bags. Change stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Rotate stored food every six months. Re-think supply kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothing, etc. Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

YOUR FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN
Getting started… NOTE: Most shelters in Hawaii are not equipped to provide meals, beds, or emergency care. You must bring food, clothing, bedding, and special items with you. Pets are not allowed in shelters. Contact your local humane society or vet for information on how to care for pets and livestock in a disaster.

Contact your local civil defense office or American Red Cross chapter for information on preparedness. See the Emergency Information section in the white pages of telephone directories for information and instructions.
Meet with family members to discuss what to do in an emergency.
Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster.
Pick two meeting places:
a location a safe distance from your home in case of fire;
a place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.
Choose an off-island or out-of-state friend or relative as a “check-in contact” for everyone to call.
Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone.
Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches.
Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Test monthly and change batteries at least twice a year.
Contact your local fire department to learn more about fire hazards.
Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for information and training.
Hold neighborhood meetings to plan how the neighbors can work together after a disaster. Practice and maintain your family emergency plan regularly.

Creating a Disaster Supply Kit is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

When my husband, Dave, and I first started housekeeping together (we are still newlyweds…), he used to shake his head and occasionally comment on my refusal to use artificial chemical cleaning products in the home. Yes, it is a bit unconventional to say the least! But even he will tell you that he likes that our house is free of toxic chemicals.

Only ten years ago, I too believed the only way to really clean was with smelly household cleaners. Here’s the story:

Have you heard of the hygiene hypothesis? First proposed in England in 1989 by David Strachan, it was a possible explanation of why kids raised in larger families have a lower incidence of allergies. It has been studied extensively and has now been expanded.

The current thinking is that early exposure to bacteria, viruses, parasites etc. are important for the development of a healthy immune system. This is a radical shift in thinking from the antibacterial paradigm most of us were raised with years ago.

Ten years ago, I had a baby. I was living in England at the time. The medical community there was beginning to discuss and apply this new hygiene paradigm. I was encouraged to breast feed, of course, but also to not worry so much about sterilizing bottles and utensils after the baby was a few months old.

Naturally, as an over tired new parent, when the hygiene hypothesis was explained to me, I happily followed along. It did make a lot of sense. After all, babies have lived for thousands of years with lots and lots of dirt around and have thrived. Besides, sterilizing everything WAS a lot of work….

Well, guess what? At age 10, that same child rarely gets sick and has no allergies so far…even with a genetic predisposition to asthma from both parents!

For me the hygiene hypothesis paradigm shift led to a “re-think” about all the chemicals and insecticides that were being used in and around the house to keep it clean and “pest” free. It’s really quite incredible what a young child and parents are exposed to in terms of household chemicals these days. The question is why? If early exposure to microbes is good for baby – why expose a child to pollutants in the name of killing them?

So, the search for healthier alternatives began….

Through trial and error and speaking with other parents who have gone in favor of “green cleaning”, I learned that pretty much all household cleaning can be done using a bit of creativity and things you already have in your kitchen. Using greener alternatives is easy, inexpensive, good for your family and good for the earth.

Here are some ideas:

1. Baking soda: Acts as a scrub, polishes metal and deodorizes things. (a must have if you have a baby in diapers).

2. Lemon: Deodorizes, cuts grease, bleaches stains and disinfects. Mixed with baking soda, it removes stains from plastic food storage containers.

4. Salt: Another scrubber (more course than baking soda)good for cookware and ovens. Combined with citrus juice it removes rust.

5. White vinegar: Deodorizes and disinfects (again acid). Mix with water and a little dish soap and you’ve got a great all purpose cleaner for windows, floors, bathrooms and all the rest. Used full strength it fights mold and mildew and body odor in clothing.

6. Olive Oil: Mix two parts oil with one part lemon juice and use as a furniture polish. It smells great.

So, if you are thinking of going organic with the food you eat, why not go all the way and get rid of the pollutants in your house. You and your family will benefit with better health and more pocket money. If you have children – you won’t have to worry about poisoning. After all, what’s the worst thing that can happen from drinking vinegar except a tummy ache?

And, when you say you can eat off the floor in your home, you will really mean it!

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

Green Cleaning Ideas for Your Home is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers

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Baby Girl Pink Initial Sip N’ Munch, Letter A

Baby Girl Pink Initial Sip N’ Munch, Letter A is a post from: Baby Food Storage Containers