Garden Tips
If you are interested in starting your own little veggie garden plot, here are a few tips.
1. Find a spot that is suitable to your needs. For example: sunny, away from animals, etc.
2. Check the pH balance of your soil and compare it to the needs of your proposed veggies. Most seed packets have the necessary pH information. Add compost or potting soil to your growing area if needed.
3. Consider building a grow box lined with chicken wire. Especially if you live in gopher-prone areas.
4. Purchase seeds from a reliable source. Try to buy heirloom or non-genetically-modified seeds.
5. Set your seeds out in seedling trays. Grow veggies that are appropriate for your current climate/season.
6. Water your seed faithfully.
7. Transplant to your garden area when seedlings have at least two sets of leaves. Maybe more.
8. Continue to water and check for troublesome weeds daily if you can.
9. Harvest when ripe and enjoy!
Emergency Contact Information
Even though we rarely leave The Boy with a sitter, I felt compelled to create an Emergency Information sheet for him soon after he was born. It’s actually nice to have on hand. I keep a couple of copies with the age and weight sections blank. Then I can just fill out a new one every few months or so. This is a handy, one-sheet to have for sitters or even for yourself.
I have emergency and non-emergency numbers for poison control, fire, police, and gas and electric. I have my home address and directions on how to get to my home. This might be especially helpful for a young babysitter who might need to tell an emergency service provider how to get to your home. I have The Boy’s name, birthplace, blood type, immunizations (I just pencil in “18 months immunizations complete” or something to that effect), age, weight and known allergies.
I have various family numbers listed, along with the names and numbers of our pediatrician, eye doctor, dentist and preferred hospital. At the bottom of the page, I’ve listed our medical insurance information and a brief, signed medical release statement in the event that The Boy needs medical attention and I cannot be reached. I’m happy to say (knocking on wood) that we’ve never had to use this information. It sure is nice to have all in one place though. I do leave a copy out when we have a sitter and I usually have a copy in the diaper bag for the rare occasion that I leave him at someone else’s house.
911
Poison Control
Fire Department Non-Emergency Number
Police Department Non-Emergency Number
PG&E Emergency Number
Home Address and Phone Number:
Directions :
Full Name:
Born at:
Blood Type:
Immunizations:
Age:
Weight:
Allergies to Food:
Allergies to Medicine:
Family Numbers:
Doctor:
Dentist:
Eye Doctor:
Preferred Hospital:
Medical Insurance Information:
Medical Release Information: I authorize any hospital or emergency facility to administer emergency medical treatment for my child, , in the event that I cannot be reached.
Super Baby Food
As a single-income family on a tight budget, we made most of our own baby food when The Boy first started eating solid foods. Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron was my food bible for a good year and a half. I still use it, although not as frequently and I’m sure I’ll return to it if The Boy ever gets A Sibling.
This book is chock-full of information on feeding infants and toddlers. There are recipes, food storage tips, health and safety tips and homemade craft ideas. There is a month-by-month guide to foods that could be introduced to your baby along with tips on how to prepare and store these foods at home. There are over 350 nutritious and delicious recipes for your baby and toddler. Who knew that I could whip up a batch of homemade crackers just like that?
I felt lost and confused when it came to feeding The Boy as he began to start on solids. This book really helped me plan out what foods to introduce and when. It also gave me some great ideas on how to store these foods. (In ice cube trays – you must read about that!) I highly recommend this book for any parent who wants to save money (and the environment – fewer plastic and glass containers) when it comes to feeding your baby. You will also know exactly what is going into your baby’s tummy. No extra preservatives or sugars.
The book is reasonably priced for the amount of information it contains. I was lucky enough to find it at a used book store for about half it’s new price. Remember to check out your library book sales, yard sales and online book trading/buying sites for cheaper books.
Cleaning Thrift Store/Yard Sale Buys
Here are some hints for cleaning items that you purchase at a second-hand store.
1. Clothing
Wash clothing in hot water if it is material that will not shrink or be damaged by the heat. If you don’t want to risk shrinking or bleeding dyes, wash on your long setting (if your washing machine has one) in cold water. Steer clear of used undergarments.
2. Shoes
Break out the lysol, baking soda, some newspaper and find a sunny spot. Spray the shoes with lysol and let air dry in the sun. Next, sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes and then stuff it with newspaper. I don’t know exactly why this works, but I’ve had luck with this method of getting rid of unwanted odors. Let them sit in the sun another day or so, then remove the newspaper and shake out the baking soda.
3. Toys
Give the toys a hot, soapy bath. Use a small amount of bleach in the water if you think it is necessary. Rinse well – this is important! You don’t want baby chewing on a soapy, bleachy toy. Let dry on a towel or in the dish rack. If the toy is plush, throw it in the washing machine.
4. Furniture, Bikes, etc.
Large outside toys (bicycles, scooters, swings, etc.) can usually stand a good spray with a hose. If you think they need it, use a bucket of soapy water on them or lysol spray. Furniture, such as a high chair or booster seat can usually be cleaned up pretty easily with your trusty lysol spray and a hose. I like to hose things down outside and then let them dry in the sun. Of course, I live in an area where we have dry heat for a good part of the year.
Bike Trailer Review
Way back Before Kid, the Man and I used to do a lot of bike riding. We met at college in a very bike-friendly community and going out for an evening bike ride after dinner was par for the course. Over the course of the years we moved to an equally flat town, though one that was not quite as bike friendly, gave up my bike and had The Boy. As The Boy began to approach his toddler years, we realized that maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to get rid of my bike! We needed a way to get out in the evening as a family without the stroller or the car. A friend (a non-bike-rider) gave me her bicycle and suddenly we were back in business. The only problem being what to do with The Boy.
Our first decision was whether to go with an on-the-bike seat or a trailer. We opted for the trailer for various reasons, one of which being that I was uncomfortable with balancing the bicycle with the baby on it. So we embarked on a journey into the world of bicycle trailers. We wanted something fairly inexpensive, yet safe. the overwhelming choice for safety and quality was the Burley. However, this was far out of our price range. And you don’t often see them at garage sales, as people tend to keep them forever (at least in our area). After much research, we chose the InStep Quick N EZ. We are quite happy with this trailer. It cost less than $100. It seats two children and has some storage space as well. It attaches to the bike quite easily and was easy to assemble. We have yet to use the front wheel, but it does convert to a jog stroller as well. The only down-side for us is the space it takes up in the garage (along with our bikes).
Now, I must admit that the weekend after our trailer arrived our neighbors found an InStep Quick N Lite at a yard sale one street over – doh! However, they have had some problems with one wheel that was slightly bent when they bought it. I am perfectly satisfied with our trailer and the money we spent on it. We now have another free activity to pursue as a family. We often bike to the pedestrian bridge that spans the creek on the other side of town. The Boy loves to run back and forth on the bridge and watch for fish. And, especially on windy days, we are getting some exercise too!
Remember to wear your helmet! Happy Biking.
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