Earnest Parenting » How To

How To Choose the Right Glasses for Your Child

Amy LeForge — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:24:25 +0000

(Editor’s note: please welcome Leanne’s great suggestions on how to get the best glasses for your child. Thanks Leanne!)

Looking after a child’s eyesight is something any parent worth their salt will be keen to do. Booking an eye test is the quickest part of the process, but when it comes to choosing a frame that suits the individual boy or girl in question, some mums and das can feel a little stumped.

You’ll want to select a quality pair of spectacles that flatter the shape of your child’s face, but there are a number of things to bear in mind before you attempt to select the perfect eyewear.

Browse the whole range of frames

Like children, frames come in a whole range of shapes and sizes. With this in mind, it’s really important to take your time looking at all the colours and styles that are available. Don’t rush through the opticians’ shelves and grab the first pair you see, as you could miss something much more suitable or more competitively priced.

Try things on together

Kids aren’t likely to relish the idea of a visit to the opticians and get bored pretty easy. The best thing to do to combat this is make it as much of a stress-free experience as possible. You can make the whole visit fun by letting them try on the spectacles they want and letting them see what you like in all kinds of specs. Try thick and thin frames to see how they compare as well as plain and pattered designs.

Think carefully about designer eyewear

Just like adults, many children want to look stylish and have the latest labels, but there is no point opting for designer glasses if your son or daughter is going to grow out of them in just a year – or if they are going to break them when running around the playground! However, if you do decide to let them have designer frames, there are plenty of options available, but perhaps think carefully if it is worth the extra cost.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If you are trying different pairs of spectacles on your child but are getting nowhere, don’t be afraid to ask your sales assistant for some advice. An optician’s staff are trained to help give honest advice about the things you’ll need to make an informed decision – so let them give you some feedback on your potential purchases.

Choose the right features

Once you have picked out a pair of frames that suit your child, you’ll be presented with a number of extra options – like ultraclear or extra-light lenses. You will want to make sure the glasses come with an anti-scratch resistant treatment, case and cloth and if it is possible to insure your glasses in case your child takes a tumble at playtime.

So if your son or daughter needs glasses, why not take a trip to your nearest opticians and see if there is a great-looking pair that suits them?

Earnest Parenting: tips for parents who want the best glasses for their child.

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Preparing Yourself to Drive in Snow – 3 Things You Should Do

Melissa Cameron — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:18:02 +0000

I lived in heavy snow country for many years when my husband and I first married, and it was always important to get ready for winter driving. I thought when we moved to Texas that I was putting that behind me. However, after a few years here, I’ve come to realize that it is just as important here where snow fall is rare, and usually light.

It has been even more important in the last few years when we’ve been hit by some unusually large snow falls. Just this last winter we got hit by a bit snow fall of over 11 inches. That was mind blowing to most Texans who usually get spooked over a mild dusting of snow.

I usually start my winter driving preparedness in mid-November, before all the holidays, but not too early. I thought about starting it even earlier after last year, but I got caught up in the Halloween festivities with my two girls, and it got pushed back.

I figured it was more important to enjoy those times with them since they are getting older, and pretty soon Halloween isn’t going to be as much fun as it is now. So, I’m getting ready to begin my winter checklist in November again this year.

The first thing I do is go over my car insurance. Of course, car insurance is important at any time of the year, but I want to make sure the insurance I am carrying is the best I can get for the money. I read auto insurance reviews to see what other companies are offering, and compare them to my current policy.

After that, I compare the prices of the various policies to make sure I am getting a good deal for the amount of insurance I have. Since we have a house and a few other assets, I don’t want a particularly cheap policy if it comes at the cost of coverage value. I want my insurance to at least cover up to the amount of assets we have so we don’t lose the house because of an accident.

Winter Automobile Maintenance

Since I take the cars in for oil changes every few months anyway, I usually end up having to take them in during the month of November. When I do, I have the oil changed to a lighter weight of oil so it doesn’t gum up if the temperatures drop.

I have the mechanics do a quick check up of other fluids and I also have the tires checked to be sure the threads are good, and they are generally in good shape. If there are any problems with the tires, I have them changed. Good threads are important when the roads are slippery from winter snow or freezing rain.

Getting Prepared for Snow Emergencies

After the car is mechanically ready for snow, I make sure the emergency kit in the trunk is in good shape. I always carry the following items in my emergency kit:

Batteries
Flashlight
2 quarts of oil
A gallon of fresh water
Screwdrivers and wrenches
A tire jack and lug wrench
Some small pillows
A couple of blankets

Most of the items stay good indefinitely, but water can get stale and even grow algae over time. Being in a dark trunk helps, but I try to rotate the water in the emergency kit several times a year. One of those times is in November when I’m preparing the car for driving in the snow.

Batteries are another thing that can drain over time even when not in use. I never keep batteries in the flashlight when it’s not in use. That prevents them from corroding and ruining the flashlight. There’s nothing more aggravating than reaching for a flashlight and having it not work, and not even changing the batteries will help if it’s corroded.

Finally, mental preparation is important when getting ready to drive in snow. Some things to remember are:

Give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going, and never rush
Go slower when streets are wet and slippery, even below the speed limit where necessary
Don’t cut people off, and don’t crowd from behind. Give yourself plenty of stopping room.

Take your time, be prepared and enjoy the holidays and the beautiful snow covered scenery.

As a freelance writer, Melissa Cameron spends a lot of time researching the best ways to save money, and get the best deals. That includes finding the best ways to get insurance for her car. Compare car insurance online and make sure you get the best deals, she always tells her readers. Melissa also writes about parenting and living with her husband and two girls, while investigating the local history of Austin, Texas.

Earnest Parenting: helping parents stay safe in the snow.

Image courtesy of doortoriver via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.

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Winter Project: Plant Bulbs for Spring

Amy LeForge — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:27:32 +0000

(Editor’s note: Stan brings us some suggestions for a project now that makes spring extra beautiful. Thanks Stan!)

For Next Year’s Garden – Plant Bulbs Now
At the end of every gardening season I think about the changes I would like to make for the next year. I review the color combinations of the annuals and perennials. I consider which perennials will be ready for dividing. I make mental notes of plants to propagate for the school’s plant sale fundraiser. I make plans for the outdoor furniture I’ll buy at the Kingsley Bate outlet. My head is full of ideas for making my garden better.

Nothing shouts out the new gardening season than the riot of color from spring-flowering bulbs. That’s why planting bulbs is at the top of my list of fall gardening tasks as I plan for next year.

Tender vs. Hardy Bulbs
In temperate climates like where I live in Virginia you must plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall because these “hardy” bulbs need a period of cold temperatures in order to bloom. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are the most popular hardy bulbs.

Other hardy bulbs are called minor bulbs, not because they are unimportant but because they are small. Minor bulbs include:

• Scilla
• Grape hyacinth
• Glory-of-the-snow
• Winter aconite
• Crocus

Nothing says spring like masses of minor bulbs blooming beneath trees. I have large drifts of scilla and grape hyacinth under an old maple. The bulbs get enough sun because they bloom before the maple leafs out.

Unlike hardy bulbs, “tender” bulbs do not tolerate frozen ground. Because of where I live I have to lift my tender bulbs out of the ground, store them overwinter, and replant them in spring. It’s a bit of work, but I think it’s worth it. My friends in the San Francisco Bay area, on the other hand, just leave their tender bulbs in the ground through the winter.

Dahlias and tuberous begonias top my list of tender bulbs.

Bold Bulb Combinations
Every summer I spend hours poring over bulb catalogs deciding what to order for fall planting. Some years I prefer a calm palette of pastels, while other years I go for the “wow” effect. Last year was a wow year. I bought a mix aptly called “Shock the Neighbors.” Deep purple tulips, orange tulips, red tulips, and yellow daffodils kept my garden in color for weeks.

Forcing Bulbs for Winter Bloom
No matter where you live you can enjoy flowering bulbs all year round through a process called “forcing.” Forcing artificially provides bulbs with the conditions they need in order to bloom (usually periods of cold). You can either buy the bulbs after they have been prepared or you can do the preparation yourself. I used to do it myself, keeping the bulbs in the refrigerator for weeks at a time before forcing them into bloom, but now I buy bulbs ready to pop.

Fragrant paperwhite narcissus are the easiest bulbs to bring into bloom in winter. With their huge blooms, amaryllis are my favorite. Last year I sent all my friends potted amaryllis for the holidays, every one a different color.

The Daffodil Principle
Every spring, a field that is a mile from my house lights up with daffodils of every shape and color. For generations the family planted daffodil bulbs every fall; it was a family tradition. What started as a few bulbs in the field is now a vast meadow of color. Bulb by bulb, year by year. These daffodils remind me that everything takes time, that the small steps I take in my garden each year will make a big difference.

Stan Horst gardens in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where he runs a family cabin rental business. He particularly enjoys exploring the out-of-doors with his wife and two teenage children. A former cabinetmaker, Stan likes to share his knowledge on the website he publishes to help people find the right outdoor furniture storage bench for their homes.

Earnest Parenting: tips for parents who want to plant gorgeous bulbs with their kids.

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Time to Improve the Grocery Budget With Savings Angel

Amy LeForge — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:41:35 +0000

Back in January of 2008, I joined a local grocery savings program called Savings Angel. Founded in West Michigan, the program took the sales flyers of local grocery stores and matched them with coupons from the Sunday paper. Online coupons were also linked. At $19.95 a month, this program was a great way for those of us who live nearby to find the best sales and coupon deals each week. I easily saved that amount of money each week I shopped and more, making the program very worthwhile.

At the time, Savings Angel monitored just a few stores: Rite Aid, WalGreens, Meijer, and Family Fare. It was difficult to recommend here on the blog simply because of the limited scope. Many of you don’t have any of those stores nearby.

Over time, I abandoned the Savings Angel plan because it took me so long each week to get ready to shop. Going through the database and then hunting for my coupons (even in the files I’d sorted per program suggestion) took a long time. Shopping took quite a while as well because the printed list wasn’t in the order of the store and I struggled with flipping through papers and coupons and walking back to get items I’d missed. Eventually the time issues were too much. I settled for clipping coupons where I could and buying in bulk when sales were hot.

As prices of groceries continue to rise, and as my children are consuming more and more food, I’ve been feeling the need to get back to a more structured savings program. Out of curiosity, I logged in to SavingsAngel.com to see if they’ve made any changes.

Boy have they! According to my count, nearly 50 stores are now part of the program. From Von’s to Publix to Whole Foods (in some states, not all yet) and Winn Dixie, Savings Angel covers a whole LOT of shopping lists!

New to me is the feature allowing all coupons to be pulled together in a single list. Printable coupons are grouped together, so it’s just a matter of clicking through the links to get them. Also! I can tell the program I want to buy multiples of an item and it’ll calculate my cost and savings for me automatically. What a way to budget my shopping! On top of that, I can move the items in my shopping list around simply by dragging and dropping. When I go to the store today, my list will be in the order of my store which speeds up shopping considerably.

I’m so excited to be back in Savings Angel, especially with all the improvements. It’s allowing me to be an extreme couponer, but without all the insanity. (Have you watched that show?? Some of those featured spend a lot of hours per week on coupons. I can’t do that.)

If you want to join Savings Angel, go for it! You really can save a lot of money with the program, and it’s actually the easiest one I’ve seen. There are freebie programs out there like CouponMom, but you’ll need to invest more time to make it work. Right now, you can sign up for Savings Angel and get 4 weeks for ten dollars (it’s a Christmas deal). There are day passes and week passes available, but this is really the best offer on right now.

Full disclosure: that is an affiliate link, so if you click on it and join I earn some money. Anyone who joins Savings Angel is then given their own affiliate link, and can earn their own credit from other sign-ups. I heartily endorse the program, especially with all the improvements they’ve made in the last 2 years.

Earnest Parenting: helping parents manage their budgets in tough times.

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5 Gadgets Perfect for Grandparents

Amy LeForge — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:30:27 +0000

(Editor’s note: Please welcome Sandra who has some winning suggestions for your Christmas shopping this season. Thanks Sandra!)

Shopping for Grandma and Grandpa is not the easiest task. You probably want to give something meaningful, but also something that doesn’t just take up more unnecessary space. The following collection of gadgets is perfect for both aging friends or Grandparents. These items add more fun, and ease to life, while still being affordable. Bless someone this year with a bit of modern technology that is sure to have them smiling and feeling loved.

An E-book Reader
A fabulous gift, this holiday season is an E-book reader. With age comes a greater likelihood of eye strain, but with the E-book reader your eyes can relax and so can your arms. Instead of lugging around a stack of heavy paperbacks, your elderly loved one or friend can enjoy toting around an entire library in one small compact device. There are several different types of E-book readers on the market today and a plethora of helpful accessories, like fun cases, screen protectors, and personalizing stickers. Have fun picking out the right one for the Grandparents.

Single Cup Coffee Brewer
Instead of driving to Starbucks, your loved one can experience an amazing variety of coffee flavors in no time at all—right at home. With a Single Cup Coffee Brewer, you don’t have to worry about the mess associated with a normal coffee pot. You also don’t have the hassle of wasting a huge pot if there is just one or two of you. This Single Cup Coffee Brewer also allows you to try a great variety right after the other, with this gift—the tasty possibilities are endless.

Flameless Candles
Nothing is quite as comforting as the flicker of a glowing candle. Flameless candles are a wonderful gift this winter as they add extra ambiance to any room, they require no matches, and they have long lasting battery life. Most flameless candles are made out of real wax and many are often scented in yummy holiday flavors like pumpkin spice, gingerbread, or caramel apple. Now, instead of searching for that last box of matches or worrying about the flame hazard, you can simply enjoy the beauty of candlelight in a much more convenient way.

Wii Fit
Research has shown that the Nintendo Wii Fit has been associated with helping seniors stay active and more balanced. This fabulous game is easy to install and can provide endless hours of entertainment and physical exercise, right within the four walls of your living room. Wii Fit has a huge variety of games and ways to keep your body moving and the varying stages of difficulty, make it easy to use for all different levels of mobility.

Massaging Slippers
At the end of the day, who doesn’t love a little dose of comfort? Sending Grandparents home this season with a pair of massaging slippers is sure to provide some everyday luxury. Most massaging slippers have memory foam built-in, to contour to the bottom of your foot. The gentle massaging vibrations will have those aches and pains, disappearing in no time at all.

Sandra Harris is a blogger for the nursing and elderly industry. She works with a handful of Houston nursing homes.

Earnest Parenting: helping families choose awesome gifts for grandparents.

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