Tag Archives: winter

5 Reasons to be Thankful it’s Winter

It seems like all anyone in the Midwest can think about this time of year is when spring will arrive. Now that it’s March, you might you might mistakenly expect spring to begin making its entrance. It might be happening other places, but it’s not happening here in the good old Midwest of the United States. It’s one thing to survive a long, cold winter as an adult. It’s another thing altogether trying to survive it with a baby. An adult can handle a long walk in 20-degree weather to maintain her sanity. A baby can’t. If you happen to … Continue reading →

I’ll Do It Tomorrow

I went outside this morning for the first time this week. You might think that going three days without ever leaving the apartment is crazy, but there have been weeks this winter when we haven’t ventured out. It’s a beautiful, sunny day, and if I wasn’t able to look at the temperature or see the snow, I’d think it was spring. The sky is blue, there’s a breeze rustling through the trees, and I can hear the mellow clanging of our neighbors’ wind chimes. Sure, I could bundle my baby up and take her for a walk in the stroller. … Continue reading →

Children’s Fitness in Winter

Winter is in full swing and so that makes for indoor recess a lot of times with my children. When they come home, the first thing they want to do is turn on the television or sit in front of a computer or video game. Oh how I miss those carefree days of summer when they were constantly outside riding bikes, jumping on the trampoline or taking a swim. Even in fall and spring they were outside running around. But now we are stuck inside and they are losing the motivation to do anything physical. Since I started my treadmill … Continue reading →

JJ Cole BundleMe: Not Just For Carseats

A well-meaning friend gave us a JJ Cole Original BundleMe for Christmas. It’s pink, it’s thick, and it’s adorable. Is it safe for a carseat? I’m not so sure. For this reason, we decided not to use it on our daughter’s carseat. Although we don’t use it in the carseat, the JJ Cole BundleMe is not collecting dust. I found an awesome way to use it. It is especially handy if you live in a state where winter lasts from November to April and is bitterly cold. Before I get into what I use the JJ Cole BundleMe for, let … Continue reading →

Maternity Coat Shopping Guide

Looking for a warm coat that will fit over your baby bump? All of these winter coats are available for less than $80. Snag one now just in time for Christmas. (Tell your hubby to wrap it and pretend to be surprised when you open it!) 1. Liz Lange® Maternity Melton Wool Coat in Red – Available at Target for $49.99 (sale) I’m partial to this coat because it’s the one I wore last year and I loved it. It’s incredibly warm and the pleats allow the coat to expand while you grow. It’s also the perfect coat for postpartum … Continue reading →

Staying Warm (and Why It’s Important!)

Winter “officially” starts on December 21st for the Northern Hemisphere… but it’s cold right now here in the Pacific Northwest. With the economy the way it is at the moment, it might be tempting to try to keep energy bills lower by keeping the house cooler than you might normally like it. Here are some tips to help you keep warm if you’ve got the thermostat set low. Number one: Check doors for drafts. If you can see daylight around your door, then the cold air can get in. Think about weather stripping or a draft stopper to help keep … Continue reading →

Smart Savings Solutions to Prepare for Winter

Many people tend to be in the deepest financial crisis in the winter months. This may be due to a few different factors and can be different for each family. Here are some common causes of a winter financial crisis as well as some smart savings solutions that you can get started on right now to prepare for winter and protect yourself. Causes of a winter financial crisis Illness With flu and cold season approaching, an illness could cause a financial crisis in more ways than one. Doctor visits, prescriptions and even hospitalization can take a toll on your finances. … Continue reading →

Good Ideas from Good Housekeeping

It is spring, and as you might have been able to tell from my recent blog posts, I am so ready to be done with winter and to get my home into shape. I have been perusing some household tips from older magazines that I bought in bulk at our local library (only $1 for a lot), and pulling out anything that seemed useful. I have some tips from the magazine, Good Housekeeping that I thought were especially useful for this time of year. I am remembering them off of the top of my head, plus embellishing the tips to … Continue reading →

A Guide to Winter Bedding

I rank warm winter bedding up there as one of the top essentials to have in a home. Forget the HDTV, the new kitchen, the coffee maker. If you have warm bedding you’ll be okay. Having warm bedding can not only keep you comfortable at night, but it can also greatly reduce your heating bills. With a thick down comforter, for example, we are able to turn our heat way down at night, lower than recommended by the department of energy for energy savings. With spring approaching, it is a great time to find some end of season deals on … Continue reading →

Affordable Family Ski Adventures

Nothing says fun like shooshing down a freshly groomed mountain on a sunny winter day with family and friends. Now, imagine how much more fun you could have knowing that you could hit the slopes without breaking the bank. In an effort to attract travel-weary, penny-pinching families right now, ski resorts from Maine to California are offering cost-saving deals, with Salt Lake City-area resorts offering some of the most incredible bargains. In addition, since 11 ski areas are located within an hour of the airport, competition among city hotels yields substantial savings too. Another way to keep money in your … Continue reading →