In Arts, Back to Basics on February 1, 2010 at 9:00 am
My years of working as a custom framer I have one advice to give for picking out frames and mats for whatever it is you are framing. Make sure you design the frame and matting to fit the image/picture you are framing. Don’t pick out styles or colors to match where you want to put the picture.
Surprisingly, that is one of the biggest mistakes people make. They know where it is going to go in their house, so they pick out that bright blue mat to match the wall coloring. Ooops. What happens when you repaint the wall? Or when you want to put the frame somewhere else in the house?
In Back to Basics on January 15, 2010 at 9:00 am
{image by Kennalyn}
We all have a list of people’s birthday we want to keep track of each year. Several ways of keeping track of it all to fit your lifestyle…
For the paper lover: Make a chart with the month in the heading. Then list each day of the month below it, not set to any days of the week. Fill in people’s birthdays accordingly. Kennalyn.com is offering this free printable birthday calendar (pictured above) on her site for a limited time. It’s free until Jan. 21. After that you can purchase if for $2.
For the online savvy: Hallmark and American Greetings offer free online birthday and special event calendars. They will alert you of the approaching birthdays in advance sending the reminder to your email or phone. You can even keep an address book of people to send cards to and when it is time, you are a few clicks away from having a personal card sent.
For the iPhone user: There is an app for that. Actually several apps ranging from free to $0.99. myDays seems to me to be the best since it allows you to create a personalized eCard that you can send to the person from your phone.
For the computer friendly: If you are already using the calendar on your computer to organize your family calendar, simply turn on the reminder or alert for each person’s birthday.
In Back to Basics on October 26, 2009 at 9:00 am
In case of emergency (I.C.E.) are ways for professional help (police, firemen) to find information about you in situations where you unable to communicate with them. The first place emergency response members look for information about you is the wallet. Second, your cell phone. So write or print on a little index card your I.C.E. information for your own safety. I did this when Kaye was first born. I made I.C.E. cards, even for the kids, with the following information and slipped it in our wallets.
- Full name.
- Address and phone number.
- Birthday, including year so they can determine your age.
- Who to contact in case of emergency, preferably 2 people, a spouse or parent and someone not in the same household.
- Blood type, in case you are in need of blood in an accident or something.
- Insurance information. I would be nice to have your insurance card in the wallet too.
- Any medications or vitamins you are taking.
- Allergies.
- Family doctor’s name and phone number.
- Any health conditions (diabetic, anemic, and so forth).
- A profile picture of the person would be helpful too, especially for the children so they can identify who they are treating.
You can also go to www.childsafekit.com to get as many free tri-fold Child ID kits as you need. It saves your child’s emergency information, including fingerprints.
In Back to Basics, Education Week on October 8, 2009 at 9:00 am
Invest in a personal fireproof and waterproof safe or file box. You can find them at Target, Wal-Mart, or office supply stores. Put the originals of important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, marriage certificates, bank and credit card information, emergency contacts (someone outside of your household). Have copies of your important files in your regular filing systems for easy access.
In Back to Basics on September 29, 2009 at 9:00 am
Planning on a fall cleaning and getting rid of some things? Do a yard sale. But plan the yard sale toward the beginning of the month as that’s when most people receive a paycheck and more willing to spend.
In Back to Basics on September 14, 2009 at 9:00 am
Don’t forget that pen and paper is still the best way to write a note. It will make the world of difference to your spouse, children, friend, family, or even teacher to receive a surprise note carefully hidden in their lunches, books, computer, bathroom mirror, desk, or even mailbox. Thank yous and I love yous are always appreciated. A great excuse to keep fun stationary around.
In Back to Basics on August 27, 2009 at 9:01 am
Now that the children are heading back to school (except mine because they’re not old enough), make heading out the door in the mornings easier. Do most of the work the night before. Have each child prepare his/her backpack and set it next to the door or in the car. Prepare lunches if you can. If not, pack the non-perishable items the night before. Check to make sure they have all their papers signed, forms, assignments, and homework. Have them lay out their clothes. Get non-perishable breakfast foods to set on the table. It will calm your mornings.
In Back to Basics on August 20, 2009 at 9:00 am
When purchasing fabric for a sewing project, make sure you write down the fabric care/washing instructions. Pin the instructions to the fabric so you will remember how to wash it when you finally get around to using it. And if you are making a gift for someone else, be kind and write the care instructions and attach it with a pin or ribbon to the gift.
In Back to Basics on August 13, 2009 at 9:00 am
Changing the air filter in your home regularly keeps the carpets clean. The air in your house flows along the edges of your carpet. If you change the air filter every 3-4 months, it prevents dark lines from developing where the carpet meets the walls.
In Back to Basics on August 6, 2009 at 9:00 am
Introducing…
Back to Basics (BTB) Tips. Ideas, suggestions, and hints to help you with everything and anything. Hoping it will help in making our lives simple. Resulting in more efficient use of our time. Leading to more time to enjoy or do the things we love.
No. 1: I often receive comments from others about the cleanliness of my car with two children passengers. I learned it all from my father. The trick to having a clean car is to keep the trash out. Even if it’s not vacuumed or haven’t been dusted or polished, the car will be noticeably cleaner if you just get rid of the garbage and put away things that do not belong in the car (shoes, food containers, blankets, toys, books).
Reuse plastic grocery bags and keep a few somewhere accessible, but not too noticeable such as the pockets on the back of the driver or passenger seat. Any time you have trash in the car, grab a bag and collect all the pieces of garbage. Do a routine check every few days. I do a quick scan over of the interior of my car whenever I park the car in the garage. Collect the trash, grab the things that needed to go back in the house, then come back for the kids. It only takes seconds.
