Going Green
The past few months, I've been trying to 'go green' and change the way I live to help the environment... nothing drastic, like being a freegan (only eating food found in the trash), but I've tried to make some small changes here and there. I started by buying a recyclable bag ($1 at Wal-Mart) to put my groceries in, that way all those plastic bags don't get sent to the landfill (although I always forget and leave it in the car!) If you don't want to do that, you can at least recycle your plastic bags and take them back to the store when you go the next time. We've started recycling trash at our house too. I feel bad for not doing it all this time, but it just wasn't as easy as it is now (Bentonville has a great recycling program). I never realized just how many things we used and threw away that could have been recycled. We've really cut back on our trash because most of it is going in the recycle bin. I don't ever see myself giving up the disposable diapers or composting my own yard waste, but I'm at least trying to make a difference. I guess if everyone makes some small changes in their life, it can add up and leave less of an impact on the environment. If you have some tips and would like to share some things you're doing to help out mother nature, please leave them in the comment section.
Posted at 7:27 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Forget something?
If you're like me, I'm always writing to-do lists or little reminders all of the time. Just yesterday I called my home phone to leave a message for myself to pick up medicine for one of my dogs. The problem with Post-it notes or any other type of paper note is that I forget where I put them or they get lost before I've completed my list. Since I am an email-checking addict, why not send reminders via email (which I've done before too)? There are some great websites that will send you birthday, appointment, even get your laundry out of the dryer reminders via email or even text message. You can set up when you want to receive the reminder too... that way it doesn't get lost in your inbox. You can check them out a couple of sites that offer this service for yourself at Memo To Me, Email Addresses , or I Want Sandy.
Posted at 5:49 AM by Jennifer Haile
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What snow day?
Posted at 4:06 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Lost and Found
Since moving seems to be the biggest thing happening in my life right now, it's all I can think about.. and unfortunately for you, blog about. I've been packing a little each day so hopefully by the time we move in 2 weeks, I'll actually be finished! :) While I was emptying out the closet in our guest bedroom, I found a mystery box that was still sealed from when we moved into our current house 4 1/2 years ago. I opened it up and it was mostly junk that probably should have been thrown out the last time we moved, but I also found a 33 cent stamp and 10 one cent stamps. It just so happens I was sending off some mail yesterday and needed a stamp, so it was perfect. The stamps (all 9 I had to use) took up the entire envelope... that business is going to think I'm crazy! The 33 cent stamp came out in 1999, and was increased to 34 cents in 2001, so that stamp has been in hiding for years. It's almost like finding some money in an old coat... not quite as exciting, but still, it was like free money! Moving is such a cleansing process because it's the only time you're forced to examine everything in your house, one closet at a time. Here's to cleaning out the coat closet... please let their be some money in there!
Posted at 6:51 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Put some $$$ in your pocket!
I have a new love in my life... and his name is Craig. I'm not talking about a person or animal.. I'm talking about a website. It's called Craigslist.org. I really didn't know much about the site until late last year when my sister told me about it. She was about to move and wanted to sell some old furniture... so she turned to Craigslist. You can place free online classified ads... with pictures! You can sell furniture, tickets, cars, etc... whatever you want. You can also swap homes, look for a job or even meet other people in your community. It's really a neat website. The best part about the classified ads, besides being free, is you can post a picture of the item you're selling. Since we're about to move to a new place, we have some furniture that won't fit or work in the new home... so why not sell it? In the past 2 weeks, I've sold a computer desk, coffee table, bar stools and given away an old chest. It's fantastic! You can make a little money and you don't have to haul anything away! Now if I can just find someone to buy my couch....
Posted at 3:40 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Parents Guild to NWA
a fantastic website and blog for everything kid-related in NWA. Teri and Kim actually just teamed up to create an events calendar for Peekaboo. The other business I talked about was Life Made Simple. They are gearing up to host "Sitter Socials" in NWA and the River Valley. I've blogged about how hard it is to find a 
sitter, especially if you're new to the area or don't have family nearby. The Sitter Social is kind of like speed dating, but for moms and sitters. You get to meet a room full of potential sitters and hopefully will find one you like by the end of the night. You also get to leave the event with a booklet with each sitter's resume and picture so you can remember who they are. You can find out about the events at Life Made Simple's website.
Posted at 4:07 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Need help finding a daycare?
Are you searching for a new daycare? My husband and I just bought a new house, so we'll be moving soon (locally), which means the search has started for a new daycare for Jackson that will be closer to our new home. As all parents know, this is a big decision. You want to find the daycare you feel comfortable with and know will take care and love your children like you do. We absolutely love Jackson's daycare facility now and hate to leave. When we were looking around for his first daycare, someone told me about the Child Care Resource and Referral Center at the Jones Center. They are a great service and I've already contacted them to help me find a daycare again. All you have to do is tell them what kind of daycare you are looking for (at home, center, academic, etc), what town, and even what price range. They help narrow down your search so you can find a starting place on who to call for tours. After you've found a few you like, check out www.arkansas.gov/childcare. This site lists what violations have been reported at each daycare and if any complaints have been made. They won't list the complaint, but they will list the date it was made. To get in touch with the Child Care Resource and Referral Center, just call 479-751-3463 or email them at ccrrc@jtlshop.nonesnet.org. Good luck on your search!
Posted at 3:38 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Root for Uno!
The Westminster Dog Show is underway and history could be made this year. There's been a lot of talk about Uno, the cute beagle who won best of breed yesterday (pictured are my 2 dogs, Snoopy and Abbie.. who are just as cute in my opinion!). The hound group always gets a little forgotten at dog shows. Since I have 2 beagles, I'm always wanting to see that breed as well as other hounds at the show. Well, this year, Uno might just take home the biggest prize of best in show. We'll just have to wait to see if he truely has the bark to win the top prize. Stay tuned...Update: Uno won! Love those beagles... he was howling during his victory speech.. too cute!
Posted at 4:40 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Aches and Pains Forecast
When the weather changes, some people say they can feel it in their bones and that very well may be true. Of course, I get all my local weather from 4029tv.com, but for national weather forecasts, I check out the Weather Channel's homepage. The other day I came across a pretty neat forecast... it was the aches and pains forecast for people with chronic pains, like migraines or arthritis. It's pretty neat. It tells you the forecast for the potential of aches and pains due to the weather. To check it out, just go to the Weather Channel's website and click on Healthy Living and then Aches and Pains. If you need help deciphering the forecast, here's a guide I found on that site.Aches & Pains Index
This index forecasts the potential for weather-related aches and pains, especially in people with chronic health conditions (such as migraines or arthritis) that might make them sensitive to changes in weather conditions. "10" represents the highest risk of weather-related aches and pains. "1" represents the lowest risk.
The Aches & Pains Index is calculated using barometric pressure, absolute humidity, chance of precipitation, temperature and wind. Areas of quiet, dry weather during warmer times of the year are generally associated with lower levels of aches and pains. Approaching areas of low pressure or strong frontal systems, both leading to stormy weather, may cause higher levels of aches and pains.
The scale for the Aches & Pains Index is: Very High (9, 10), High (7, 8), Moderate (5, 6), Low (3, 4), Minimal (1, 2)
Chance of Precipitation
Precipitation includes not only rain, but also snow, sleet, hail or any other form of water that reaches the ground. It is considered a factor in aches and pains because rainy weather accompanies changes in barometric pressure and humidity. For those who are sensitive to hot weather, rain can cool the atmosphere and may bring some relief.
Humidity Change
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. An increase in absolute humidity (the amount of water vapor per unit of air), especially in the summer, is commonly associated with an increased potential for aches and pains. Some research also finds a correlation between dry, cold air and migraine headaches.
The four levels of the Humidity Change scale are: Steady, Slight, Moderate, Significant
Temperature Change
Rapidly rising or falling temperatures are a hallmark of big weather changes, indicating underlying shifts in barometric pressure. Extremes in temperature, not just changing temperatures, can also affect the potential for feeling aches and pains. Low temperatures may trigger migraine headaches, exacerbate circulatory conditions and contribute to arthritic joint stiffness. Cold weather has also been associated with an increase in asthma-related hospital admissions.
The four levels of the Temperature Change scale are: Steady, Slight, Moderate, Significant
Posted at 8:14 AM by Jennifer Haile
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Peanut Butter Spread
My friend Robin is always experimenting with recipes and trying new things and I've enjoyed getting some fantastic recipes from her over the years. The last one I got is so good, I have to share it with you all. It has become my favorite breakfast food! It's a spread with peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, and raisins. It's so good, my husband has come home from work the past 2 nights and headed straight for the fridge to get out the spread. The best part is that my 15-month-old loves it too. We've been going through a stage lately where he'll eat something one day and not the next, but he hasn't turned this down yet! Here's the recipe if you want to try it out:3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup apple juice
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup peanut butter
Posted at 7:31 AM by Jennifer Haile
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