Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from my family to yours!

Allergy tips for Children

Well its spring and in the south that means its Pollen Season. If you have ever been to the south during the start of spring you'll be familiar with the ever present green hue on every car from Tennessee to Florida. So here are some tips to get us all through Pollen Season.

1. Benadryl - this is a staple in my house. Nate is always with a runny nose during pollen time and giving him Benadryl helps to cut off the drips! Our Dr has given us the OK for long term use so be sure to ask your Dr.

2. Paper Face mask - if your toddler is like Nate they are probably always wanting to be outside helping in the yard. If you purchase some of these mask, you can get them at Home Depot, have you child wear them when helping with outside task like mowing the lawn. This will help cut down on all the allergens that they would breath in.

3. Limit outdoor time in the mornings - Pollen is highest in the morning so limit the time spent outside during high pollen times.

4. Keep windows closed - Keeping you home windows closed will help keep pollen from getting in your home as much. Use air conditioner in your home as well as in the car.

5. No playing in leaves - If you still have to rake up any leaves don't let your child play in the leaf piles. I know this is great fun but its also horrible on the allergies.

6. Thorough spring cleaning - dust hides in great places like behind the TV, on top of the fridge, under the stove. So be sure to clean these places often to avoid having a dust pile up.

7. Buy hypo-allergenic pillows. You can also get hypo allergenic bed covers too!

8. OTC allergy medicines - In addition to loratadine, there are many other over-the-counter allergy medicines available that you can give your child. Many, including Benadryl, Triaminic Cold & Allergy, and Dimetapp Cold & Allergy, can make your child sleepy and likely shouldn't be used on a regular or daily basis. A non-sedating, once a day, allergy medication would be a better choice for your child's daily allergy symptoms.

*note Benadryl does not effect each child in the same way. Ask your Dr about daily use.

Summer Festivals (tt)

Summer is fast approaching and if you're like me you will be looking for things to do with the family. Check out some of these great festivals for ideas of great family fun.

1. Riverbend Festival - 64 days and counting. A huge music celebration in Chattanooga TN. Some of the performers this year include Daughtry, Vince Gill, and Craig Morgan to name a few.
2. Memphis in May - a month long celebration of culture. There is a National BBQ Cookoff Contest too .. yum you can sample the bbq too!
3. California Strawberry Festival - who can resist strawberries?
4. Worlds Longest Yardsale - 630 miles of goods offered for sale.
5. International Dogwood Festival - beautiful dogwood trees with lots of entertainment.
6. Santa Barbara Kite Festival - great fun. Kite are available to purchase too.
7. Movies in the Park, Cumming, Ga - they'll be showing Happy Feet and Night at the Museum
8. New Jersey State Sandsculpting Championship
9. Taste of New Orleans - in San Antonio!
10. Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival
11. Bite of Seattle - FREE ADMISSION
12. Pittsburgh International Children's Festival
13. Maryland Seafood Festival


visit other Thursday Thirteen list

Buddies (WW)

my son (rt 3) and my brother ( lft 5)

visit other Wordless Wednesday post

What a day

Well I've been working all day on getting scrapbook pages done for a friend of mine. I've been finishing up on some orders that I have out. So I've been sitting here working in photoshop all day (well almost all day I did take a break for lunch).

It is so dreary outside here that is depressing. It rained like crazy yesterday and today the leftovers made the sky an ugly grey. Nothing says spring like southern rain storms and grey skys.

I've also been catching up on my blog reading and came across the latest contest at 5 minutes for Mom. They are giving away a Dyson vacuum. I've saw them in the store but I could never justify paying $500 for a vacuum so I entered the the contest. There are over 1200 entrys so my changes are not so great but hey ... stranger things have happened!

Jell-O Boats

These are great fun for toddlers to eat (and play with)!

Ingredients:

2 large oranges, halved
4oz pk Jello, fruit flavor of choice
1 small can mandarin orange segments, optional
1 pk of fresh raspberries, optional

Prep:

Squeeze the juice from the oranges without breaking the skin. Carefully scrape out the inside (a grapefruit knife would work great) and discard.

Make the jello according to the package instructions, reducing the amount of waster by a quarter if you choose to add in a fruit. Divide the fruit if you choose to use it between the orange halves. Fill the orange halves with the jello and refridgerate until they are completely set.

Take a wet knife (hot water works best) and cut each orange half in half again. This will give you four quarters after you slice both halves.


If you'd like to add more fun to it cut 8 triangles in waxed paper. Thread a party toothpick down the center of the waxed paper triangles then insert it in the jello. This will make the Jello boats which the kids will love.

**NOTE** Make sure to use caution when using toothpicks with children. Never leave you child unattended with a toothpick at any time.

Back to the old layout

Well, while I really liked the 3 column layout (which I paid for) it was super slow to load for me. I can only imagine those of you on dial up would simply choose not to come back because of the load time. I'll be working on getting a new 3 column layout (if you create these please email me or leave a comment and I'll email you).

Sorry to those of you who had to deal with the slow loading.