Parenting for the Miley Cyrus Generation

A Thoughtful read from Lindsay Bentley

I didn’t watch the VMA’s last night, but one glance at Facebook this morning told me that Miley did something. I was curious, so I looked it up. I watched about 10 seconds of her performance before becoming overwhelmed with sadness and turned it off.

August 30th, 2013 | Category: FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Are Help Guides a Help for College Prep Test Studying?

Each year, millions of students gear up for a battery of pre-college testing. In order to help students do their best, Americans spend about $4 billion dollars on classes, tutors, study guides and books.

While helpful, many test prep resources can be dull, making it more difficult for students to stay focused. To help make effective test prep more engaging, Wiley Publishing, Inc. has created a unique and exciting way for students to build their vocabulary and raise scores using Stephenie Meyer’s popular “Twilight” series.

The “Twilight” books have a very loyal following, particularly among teens. Many parents looking to harness that passion into constructive study time find that the “Defining Twilight” guides are a perfect fit.

The series first began in June 2009 with “Defining Twilight” and then expanded to include “Defining New Moon.” The third and latest book in the series, “Defining Eclipse: Vocabulary Workbook for Unlocking the SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT,” will arrive in stores on May 24, just in time for the release of the movie “Eclipse.”

Author and test prep expert, Brian Leaf says, “Every time I see a newly administered SAT test, I am amazed at how many of the vocabulary words appear in the ‘Twilight’ books – words like solicitous, macabre, inexorably, inure, baleful, ecstatic, blithe, placate, haggard, belligerent, stymie and nebulous. Students who learn all the vocabulary words in the “Defining Twilight” series will absolutely raise their test scores.”

“Defining Eclipse” has 40 four-page chapters with well over 600 vocabulary words and synonyms. Just grab a copy of “Eclipse,” refer to the page where each vocabulary word appears, read the word in context, and come up with a definition. Then check definitions against those provided in the workbook, make corrections, and complete the drills. Students will acquire vocabulary skills, learn synonyms, word parts, and memorization tools, and get drills and quizzes to integrate what they’ve learned.

To find out more about “Defining Eclipse” and other books in the series, visit places like cliffnotes.com

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July 21st, 2010 | Tags: , , , | Category: Family Education, Family Values, FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Don’t Let Winter Drafts Get You Down

(Family Features) – Are you shivering and bundling up inside your house? If your thermostat is set at the desired temperature, your furnace runs continuously, your utility bills are ridiculously high, but you are still cold, it is probably because energy is escaping your house.

As it gets colder outside, here are some clues that will indicate if your home has air leaks:

  • You feel drafts or air moving even when all of your windows and doors are closed.
  • The floor directly in front of the sink feels colder than the rest of the floor.
  • There is a drastic temperature difference between levels in your house.
  • You find bugs in the same room over and over again.

Outside air typically enters the home where building materials meet and where wires and pipes penetrate through the walls.

The EPA estimates that homeowners can typically save up to 20 percent of heating and cooling costs by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basement rim joists. Sealing and insulating these areas add up to an average of $200 worth of savings a year on energy costs. 

There are several easy and cost-effective ways to eliminate drafts.

  • Replace weather-stripping around doors, including the garage door.
  • Add extra insulation in your attic.
  • Insulate perimeter walls in your basement.
  • Insure that the chimney flue is closed.

Filling gaps and cracks with an insulating foam sealant is an easy, fast solution that anyone can undertake. Sealants such as Great Stuff form an airtight, water-resistant seal that cures rigid. The foam is sandable, paintable, and can be trimmed with a utility knife afterwards.

Some common and effective places to seal include the holes where the HVAC ductwork enters the living space from the basement and attic, the attic hatch frame, plumbing stacks and shafts, and pipe, wire and conduit penetrations.

For a full list of places to use foam sealant, visit http://greatstuff.dow.com/pdfs/checklist.pdf.

SOURCE:
Great Stuff

January 2nd, 2010 | Category: Family Sharing, FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Helpful Holiday Hosting How-Tos

(Family Features) – With the holiday season in full swing, party planners everywhere look to answer the same festive question with their annual gatherings – how do you spread the holiday spirit among guests? While décor and music play a role, nothing raises spirits more than a memorable hors d’oeuvres and drink spread that satisfies appetites and makes guests jolly.

Here are a few tips from King’s Hawaiian for creating a sumptuous first-course spread and festive setting that will keep guests entertained:

  • Deck The Halls! Create an enticing aroma and beautiful display with candles. Set them atop holders accented with ribbon and seasonal trimmings from pine and noble firs (widely available this time of year).
  • Punch it up! Create festive punches with a variety of toppings so guests may garnish however they want. Use red maraschino cherries, mint sprigs or cranberries. Consider pre-mixing drinks, so that you can enjoy the company of your guests. Also, offer beverages with and without alcohol for varying guest preferences.
  • Ho Ho Hors D’oeuvres Made Simple! To minimize your time in the kitchen, incorporate tried-and-true, ready-made dishes that can be created well in advance and served at room temperature. Veggie dips, cheese trays and fruit platters all work well. Professional caterers recommend having 10 to 12 appetizers total per person.
  • That’s Hot! As a complement to cold dishes, serve warm recipes that can be created almost to completion well in advance of the party. Just pop them in the oven right before guests arrive so they will be served warm, with minimal fuss.
  • Festive Finger Foods. Add flair to dishes with themed-toothpicks, colored sauces or decorative dips. Present them on attractive serving dishes which display seasonal colors. 

Here is an easy and elegant hors d’oeuvre recipe. Make the mixture and pour into muffin tins a day in advance of your gathering and, shortly before guests arrive, pop them in the oven to bake these simple and savory soufflé bites.

For more festive recipes, visit www.kingshawaiian.com

Mini Cheese Soufflé Bites

Ingredients

  • 1/2 16-ounce King’s Hawaiian Original Bread, cut into 1/2-inch thick vertical slices
  • 1 1/4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives

Preparation

  1. Trim crusts from bread slices and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
  2. Beat eggs in large mixing bowl. Add milk, cheese and Worcestershire sauce. Mix together, then stir in bread.
  3. Let stand for 15 minutes.
  4. Put 1/3 cup soufflé mixture into buttered muffin cups.
  5. Place the muffin tin into a jelly roll pan filled with 1/2-inch of water.
  6. Bake in a 375°F oven until set, about 25-30 minutes. Remove when they have puffed up and are slightly brown on top.
  7. Sprinkle chives on each soufflé, for garnish.

Serves
Makes 10-12 servings

December 15th, 2009 | Category: FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Craft Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

(Family Features) – Handmade holiday items bring a unique and personal touch to the season, making the giver and receiver feel special. This year, millions of families will be spending more time together creating low or no-cost crafts such as gifts, cards and decorations. In fact, the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) estimates that in almost 43 million U.S. households will create handcrafted holiday gifts and decorations this year.

“Crafting provides an opportunity to spend time with friends and family while creating unique, one-of-a-kind gifts that don’t need to cost a lot of money,” said CHA President and CEO Steve Berger.

To inspire you, here’s an idea to get you crafting this holiday season.

Swirl Place Setting

Courtesy of www.ilovetocreate.com

Materials:
Aleene’s Fabric Fusion
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Tulip 3D Fashion Paint
65088 Gold Glitter
65408 Gold Metallics
Red placemats and napkins
Gold fabric – 1/4 yard
Cardstock paper
Buttons – gold (4)
Bulky yarn – red
Eyelash yarn – red
1-inch low tack masking tape
Scissors
Scratch paper
Paper towels
Pencil
Ruler

Placemats

  1. Use tape to mask off around edge of placemats and across one corner of napkin. Start the flow of the Gold Metallic paint on a paper towel using an even pressure on the bottle. Squeeze thin lines of gold in assorted sizes of swirls on placemat. Immediately and carefully place scratch paper over paint then lightly rub over paper. Remove paper and tape. Let dry. Continue with remainder of placemats and napkins.
  2. Add a Gold Metallic line around edge of pattern and across the diagonal on the napkin. Let dry.
  3. Squeeze a thin line of Gold Glitter to all swirls and let dry.
  4. Squeeze a thin line of Fabric Fusion next to edge on the top of placemat. Press bulky yarn into glue. When dry, flip placemats over, apply a bead of glue to edge then press in eyelash yarn, twisting yarn so fibers show around edge. Let dry.

Napkin Rings

  1. Measure and cut a strip of cardstock 2 x 7 inches. Apply Fast Grab to one end of strip, overlap and hold with tape until dry. Continue with desired amount of napkin rings.
  2. Cut strips of gold fabric 4 x 7 1/2 inches. Apply a thin even coating of Fast Grab to the ring; press on fabric then smooth with fingers. Apply glue to the fabric edges then fold to the inside and press to secure. Let dry.
  3. Cut a 12-inch piece of both yarns then wrap together. Tie around napkin ring and knot on top. Add a dot of glue to the back of the knot to hold in place. Trim ends.
  4. Cut the shank from the back of button; add glue and press in place over the knot.

For votive and place card instructions, visit www.ilovetocreate.com. 

Family Holiday Wreath

Courtesy of www.terriocraftprojects.com

Materials:

Wreath
Words of inspiration (K&Co.)
Rub-ons (K&Co.)
Favorite photos or seasonal stock photographs from www.iStockphoto.com
Heavy cardboard
Metal saying
Wire
Wire cutter
Glue gun

  1. Attach metal saying with wire to center of wreath.
  2. Print or download photos. The ones in this craft were printed in sepia.
  3. Adhere photos to heavy cardboard to fit the size of photo.
  4. Add rub-ons to photos.
  5. Glue words to wreath.

December 8th, 2009 | Category: Family Fun, Family Seniors, Family Sharing, FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Safe Winter Driving

Winter weather poses unique challenges for drivers. Before heading out onto snowy or icy streets, take a few minutes to refresh your memory on how to drive safely in wintery conditions.

Before Leaving

  • Make sure the gas tank is at least half full and the windshield washer fluid reservoir is full.
  • Clear as much snow off of the car as you can, including the roof, headlamps and taillights. Scrape ice off of windows and side mirrors for maximum visibility.
  • Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
  • If you are going to drive a long distance, find out what kind of weather to expect. Visit the National Weather Service website at weather.gov to check the forecast.

On the Road

  • Slow down. Tires lose their grip in slippery conditions, so accelerating, stopping and turning all take longer on snow-covered roads. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
  • AAA recommends that the normal following distance of three to four seconds be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
  • Accelerating slowly reduces wheel spin. If you’re starting from a standstill on ice or slick snow, start in second gear if you have a manual transmission. Some automatic transmissions have a winter mode that automatically starts in a higher gear.
  • Don’t lock the wheels when braking. This can make the vehicle slide or skid. If your vehicle has an antilock braking system (ABS), depress the brake pedal firmly and hold it down. Do not pump the brakes. ABS usually send a vibration through the brake pedal – if you feel this, don’t let up, it’s normal.
  • Do one thing at a time. Consumer Reports says that asking a vehicle to do two things at once – such as braking and turning, or accelerating and turning – can reduce your control. When taking a turn, slowly apply brakes while the vehicle is going straight. When it’s at the right speed to take the turn, let up on the brakes and smoothly turn the steering wheel. After you’re through the turn, slowly depress the accelerator to regain speed.
  • Correct for a slide. If the rear of the vehicle begins to slide during a turn, gently let up on the accelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide to straighten out. If the front end begins to slide, let up on the accelerator and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go.
  • Pay extra attention to other drivers – they may not be driving as cautiously as you.

For more safe winter driving tips, visit consumerreports.org, aaa.exchange.com or the Federal Citizen Information Center at pueblo.gsa.gov.

December 2nd, 2009 | Category: Family Fun, Family Seniors, FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Tips to Find Great Deals Online at Holiday Time

(Family Features) – Bar·gain [bahr-guhn] – noun: an advantageous purchase, a great deal, especially one acquired at less than the usual cost.

These days, people are getting more creative with how they spend. When it comes to shopping, many are turning to the Internet for great deals on seasonal items, trendy fashions and the latest in tech gear.

One popular shopping resource is eBay. With over 88 million worldwide users each month, it has long been known as a place to find deals on new and used items.

Three eBay insiders – Constance White, style director, Cat Schwartz, gadget and toy director and Karen Bard, pop culture expert – have some tips to help deal hunters in their quest for the hottest items and the best bargains this year.

“The key is in the keyword search,” says White. “To find the best deals, be specific with your search terms. Instead of searching for shoes in general, try searching by designer, style, trend or even intentionally misspell the brand name to unearth hidden gems.”

Schwartz advises, “Consider searching pre-owned, re-furbished or used products, as well. Buying these goods eliminates waste going to landfills and scores you a great deal on a unique find.”
 
Bidding and buying strategies also play a key role in how much you’ll pay and how soon you’ll get the item. The basic strategies are:

  • Daily Deals. Follow eBay’s Daily Deals, hot items at steep discounts. Visit http://deals.ebay.com to sign up for the Daily Deals e-mail, and information about the freshest deals will be delivered directly to your inbox every day.
  • Buy It Now. Buy the item at a fixed price, and forgo the auction process.  “Buy It Now is an easy way to make a quick purchase without bidding,” said Schwartz. “Use this option to purchase the item at a guaranteed low price.” 
  • Bid Early. In auction-style listings, bidding early with the absolute highest price you are willing to pay (a true maximum bid) allows eBay’s Automatic Bidding to do the work for you.
  • Watch, Wait, Bid Late. “Another approach to auction-style listings is to watch the listing,” says Bard, “most bidding takes place at the end of the auction. Bide your time; you’ll get alerts when items you are watching are ending soon so you don’t miss out.”

Whether you’re an eco-conscious fashionista or are trying to keep up with the latest tech trends, being a savvy shopper can get you what you want without breaking the bank.

For more information and to find great deals on must-have items, visit ebay.com.

November 27th, 2009 | Category: Family Sharing, FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Everyday Family Indulgences

Easy (and affordable) ways to unwind

(Family Features) – Women across the country are meeting the demands of busy schedules and tightened wallets by setting aside life’s simple pleasures and putting themselves at the bottom of the to-do list.

In fact, a new survey commissioned by the makers of Edwards frozen desserts finds more than nine in 10 American women have cut back on indulgences during the past year.

Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents are cutting back on events out with friends and more than one-third (35 percent) are cutting back on even the smallest treats, such as manicures and desserts.

The survey also found that:

  • Nearly all (94 percent) American women in the study admit that they don’t indulge or treat themselves as often as they’d like because other people or commitments come first.
  • Fifty-six percent of women say they don’t treat themselves as often as they’d like because they can’t afford to.
  • Nearly a third (32 percent) of women say they now have less free time for themselves than they did a year ago.

Small rewards offer sweet peace of mind

Heather Reider and Mary Goulet, founders of MomsTown.com and hosts of MomsTown Radio, know a thing or two about the challenges of juggling a family and career while making the time to treat themselves.

“Self-pampering may seem like the last thing on your mind these days, but treating yourself to something special is so critical to relieving the stress of every day life,” says Reider.

“A personal treat does not have to break the bank and can be as simple as an at-home facial or sneaking a dessert in at the end of the day,” adds Goulet.

Reider and Goulet share these tips and strategies for effortless and affordable ways to celebrate everyday indulgences.

The silent treatment

In today’s age of technology, the silent treatment is imperative to maintain sanity. Home phones, cell phones, email, instant messaging, pagers, not to mention the multiple ways you get pinged when you turn on the computer, can all be overwhelming. Get serious about your silent treatment and power off the technology. Turn off the ringer on all phones, shut down the computer, and turn off the television and the radio. Now it’s time for a 15 to 30 minute scheduled time out because you deserve a little peace and quiet.

Bring nature indoors

A great way to nurture yourself is to bring nature indoors. You can do this simply by cultivating a container garden. This could be a window box, urn, basket or round fish bowl. For a fabulous display of nature indoors use a Bonsai plant, an orchid, a robust green plant, herbs or layer two different kinds of tulips. This is especially good for chilly winter months as floral aromas and popping colors can brighten a dark day.

The flip side

Pamper yourself by flipping to the right side of your brain. Engaging in art and creative pursuits fires-up the right side of your brain, which is the side of the brain that savors freedom. The left side of your brain is good when you need to pay the bills or figure out your kids’ 5th grade math problem. Spend a little time painting, drawing, making jewelry or knitting. You deserve to play on the flip side.

Back to basics

It’s hard to do but it is important to put yourself at the top of the to-do list every once in a while. Simple indulgences, like an Edwards Singles Á La Modes dessert, are a quick and easy way to treat yourself to something sweet, as well as fill your kitchen with a delicious home-baked aroma.

Essential essence

Treat yourself to the power of fragrance. Aromatherapy sachets placed in drawers are a sensational way to feel good without having to do or spend much at all. If you’re looking for an energizing scent try citrus, peppermint or bergamot. To take the stress down a few notches choose lavender, chamomile, sandalwood or ylang-ylang. You deserve to tickle your nose.

Budding beauty

Invest in four to six bud vases or use any vase that’s lying around your house. Go to your local farmer’s market or grocery store and buy a bouquet of flowers. When you get home, break the flower bunch apart into single stems and place the flowers in the bud vases. Distribute these vases around the house in the rooms you visit most frequently. Place one by the kitchen sink, the vanity in your bathroom, on your nightstand, in the powder room and in your kids’ bedrooms. You’ll be amazed at how your kids will appreciate the gesture. Then when you walk around your home you’ll be greeted with flowers wherever you go. And you did it with just one bouquet.

Hit your funny bone

When it comes to our emotions it’s really hard to multi-task. It’s nearly impossible to be sad and exuberant in the same exact moment. You deserve to laugh so choose more moments to get a giggle in your day. Read something funny or rent a funny movie.

While life is full of stressful moments, the benefits of taking time to rejuvenate and unwind really can make a difference.

For more information on Edwards Singles Á La Modes desserts, visit EdwardsBaking.com.

October 15th, 2009 | Category: FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

FamilyCrossings Fall Updates Are Now Online

Here is the short list of updates for fall 2009

The Family Home Page

* Your Family Home Page now supports “Drag and Drop”. Each family member can re-arrange the blocks of content on the home page. Content areas can even be hidden.

Using this new feature is easy, just click on a block and while holding down the mouse drag the block to its new location. To delete a block click the header and then click the red X. Made a mistake? Use the Quick Links area to find the “Reset Default” button.

Family Videos

* FamilyCrossings.com now has a new section for sharing videos. This area functions very much like YouTube.com. You can upload video files in the following formats .wmv, .avi, .mov, .qt, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .flv. File uploads should be NOT be larger than 75 MB. When the file has completed the upload process our software will automatically convert it into a Flash file and the original video clip will be deleted to save you storage space. Please remember to keep the original file on your computer. Don’t forget to add Crossings that contain search words and geo tags. The three most recent videos will be displayed on your home page.

Photo Galleries

* We added the ability to re-order the sequence in which photos appear in a gallery. Click on “Edit Gallery” and then drag the image into the new order. Select “Save” when you are finished.

* The “Edit Gallery” area includes Photo Album Covers controls that allow you decide which photo to use as an anchor image when viewing all the albums.

News Digest

* We also added a weekly email News Digest to your family website. Every week FamilyCrossings.com will send an email to your family letting them know about upcoming events, birthdays and see links to new content that was recently added. As an Administrator for your family you will need to log in, click on Administration, click on the link “Site News Digest”, check the box enable to enable this new feature for your family. By default all your family members will then have the News Digest delivered to their registered email address. Each family member can option out of this feature by clicking on “My Settings” and de-selecting Yes, I want to receive the weekly E-mail Digest of Your Family Site news.

October 13th, 2009 | Category: FamilyCrossings Update | Leave a comment

Fire Safety 101

(Family Crossings) – As the time change nears, there are a few simple things you can do to make your home and family safer.

This Fire Safety 101 guide will show you easy, affordable and ultimately life-saving precautions you can take today that can help prevent a fire in your home.

Get the Facts

Home fires seem to be things that happen to other people – so why should you be concerned?

  • Approximately every three hours a home fire death occurs somewhere in the nation.
  • Two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes without working smoke alarms. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way. According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by providing an early warning and critical extra seconds to escape.

While 96 percent of American homes have at least one smoke alarm, 19 percent do not have at least one smoke alarm that works, mostly due to missing or dead batteries. This means roughly 25 million homes are at risk because of non-working smoke alarms and an additional 4.5 million homes are at risk by not having smoke alarms.

For the 22nd year in a row, Energizer and the IAFC are partnering in the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program. Established to help reduce the tragic number of home fire deaths and injuries, Change Your Clock Change Your Battery urges Americans to change smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall – this year on November 1.

In addition to changing smoke alarm batteries, take some time to learn about fire safety and to complete a home fire safety checklist. You can make your home safer – today.

For more information, visit energizer.com/preparedness.

Fire Facts

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) believes that fire deaths can be reduced by teaching people the basic facts about fire.

Fire is FAST!

  • In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire.
  • It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house. In minutes, a house can be engulfed in flames.
  • If you wake up during a fire, you won’t have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape. 

Fire is HOT!

  • Heat is more threatening than flames. A fire’s heat alone can kill.
  • Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this air has the potential to scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin.
  • In five minutes a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once: this is called flashover.

Fire is DARK!

  • Fire isn’t bright, it’s pitch black.
  • Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness.
  • If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you’ve lived in for years.

Fire is DEADLY!

  • Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill.
  • Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath.
  • The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape.

Statistics provided by the National Fire Protection Agency and the United States Fire Administration.

Home Fire Safety Checklist

This is a very basic checklist to help you identify potential fire hazards in your home.

General Fire Safety
YES __ NO__ Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries are changed at least once a year. Use the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program as a reminder to help keep the batteries fresh.
YES __ NO__ You have both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms.
YES __ NO__ There are working smoke alarms near the sleeping areas.
YES __ NO__ There are working smoke alarms on every level.
YES __ NO__ The smoke alarms are cleaned regularly and tested once a month.
YES __ NO__ Portable fire extinguishers are available and family members know how to use them properly.
YES __ NO__ You have a home escape plan and practice it regularly.

Heating Hazards
YES __ NO__ Combustibles such as clothes, curtains and furniture are away from stoves and heaters.
YES __ NO__ Heating appliances are tested every year.
YES __ NO__ All alternative heating devices used are Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) approved.
YES __ NO__ Carbon monoxide detectors are installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.

Electrical Hazards
YES __ NO__ Electric cords are not worn, frayed or damaged.
YES __ NO__ Extension cords are not under rugs, over nails, through water or across passageways.
YES __ NO__ Electrical outlets are not overloaded by multiple plug devices.
YES __ NO__ Electric appliances are not used near water.

General Housekeeping Hazards
YES __ NO__ Closets, basements, attics and garage areas are clean of old paper, boxes, paint cans and other trash.
YES __ NO__ Flammable liquids and oily rags are disposed of after use or stored in a tightly closed metal container.
YES __ NO__ All combustibles are stored a safe distance away from any possible heat source.

Kitchen Hazards
YES __ NO__ The stove and oven are in good working condition.
YES __ NO__ The stove area is kept clean and free of grease.
YES __ NO__ Combustible materials are kept away from open flames and heat sources.

September 21st, 2009 | Tags: , , , | Category: Family Sharing, FamilyCrossings Update | Comments are closed
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