Monthly Archives: April 2009

Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites

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Inspired by my first official mosquito bite of the season and a lifelong hatred of mosquitoes I decided I would share some of the numerous home remedies for mosquito bites I have tried and what has proven to be waste of time and effort as well as a few that sometimes actually work. They do make products that are a mosquito magnet in hopes that they would be helpful for getting rid of them, but I am not sure how well they work, and I’m not too keen on the idea of spending several hundred dollars to find out if it doesn’t. (Though if you want to send me one, I’ll surely test it out.)

I don’t remember exactly when I started hating mosquitoes, but I do know that it started pretty early. In the eighth grade I wrote an essay about how much I hate mosquitoes. It was our first writing assignment of the year and I was sitting in class itchy as could be.  Here is a short little excerpt of what I had written as a 13 year old girl:

“I hate mosquitos more than anything in the world. They must see me and somehow mistake me for the central blood bank. In the summer, it looks as if I’ve caught some strange contagious infectious disease from the pink polka dots of calamine lotion.”

Not much has changed since then, except I now no longer leave my house without bug spray. There’s a small bottle of it in my purse, the kid’s diaper bags, the trunk of my car, and I also keep it nearby on our porch and in the medicine cabinets. This probably seems like a little overboard, but it’s seemed to have become a necessity – without it I would be one itchy miserable mom!

Anyways, if you are like me, even with the best prevention methods you still end up getting bit from time to time, especially in unsuspecting situations such as while grocery shopping or taking a shower. So here are some things you can try for quick fast relief. Some of them worked for me, but not others – others I know swear by methods that were a total failure for me. Remember that this is no substitute for medical advice in any means  – I’m not a doctor, a nurse, or specialist of any sorts.

Calamine Lotion: My dear Calamine. (Y’know, Calamine could actually sound like a pretty girl’s name if I didn’t associate it with one of my biggest pet peeves in the world. ) What can I say about Calamine? It’s pink and so a lot of times it will get all over your clothes. It feels good for about 5 minutes and then the itching starts all over again.

Benadryl: Benadryl in both the over the counter oral medicine and the spray is always good to have on hand, though it only works about 75% of the time for me. When I have been attacked by mosquitoes sometimes taking benadryl medication will provide some relief for about an hour or two. Make sure you follow the dosing carefully – it will make you sleepy.

Witch Hazel: I’ve tried this one a few times, with and without baking soda mixed with it. This is usually best only for the mildly irritating single bite – not so good when your whole leg is covered in them and you are going crazy.

Deodorant: Someone suggested this to me once and I tried it. Unfortunately, the kind I use may be strong enough for a man and ph balanced for a woman, but it doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to battling bug bites. I haven’t tried other kinds or brands, which I’m sure may have different effects since they all have different ingredients.

Toothpaste: If you use a toothpaste with fluoride and baking soda in it, this may provide some very temporary relief. It works much better at making acne disappear than bug bites unfortunately.

Asprin: Supposedly if you rub an aspirin over the bite immediately after being bitten it will prevent it from getting all swollen and itchy. Haven’t used this one enough to say it works.

Aloe Vera Gel: Hey, while you’re rubbing a bunch of other weird things like toothpaste all over your skin, why not try aloe vera gel? Sometimes that cool soothing feeling helps.

Salt Water: Mix a solution of salt and water and apply to skin. Warning: If you’ve scratched the bite to the point where it is bleeding this is going to burn a LOT! The pain will make you forget how itchy it is!

Now that you’ve read all of these crazy concoctions and supposed cures for itchy bug bites, you may understand why mosquito bite prevention is the best thing and why I have a ridiculous supply of bug spray. There are two kinds of bug spray I have used that do actually work pretty well most of the time – they are Avon Skin So Soft, which even now comes in a spray bottle and is DEET free, as well as OFF! Skintastic . The Off! Shouldn’t be used on small children however, since it is believed that DEET is bad for them, which makes the Avon Skin So Soft a better choice if you have small kids.

Anyways, have any thoughts on mosquitoes? Anybody have an experience with a mosquito magnet? What crazy home remedies for mosquito bites have you tried?

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Recipe for a Hot Sunny Day

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lemon-lose-weightOn a hot sunny day there’s nothing like a fresh squeezed lemonade shakeup recipe to enjoy while outside basking in the sun. We’ve finally got our first warm sunny day with temperatures above 70 degrees and let me tell you right now it’s wonderful. We’re supposed to have this beautiful weather for the next week or so – so if this blog seems a little neglected that very well could be the reason why!

I’m not sure what it is about lemonade that makes it the perfect compliment to when we’re outside grilling on a charcoal grill and enjoying a little barbecue picnic. Fresh squeezed lemonade is also perfect for sitting out on the front porch or the back deck while working outside or watching the kids play on their swing set.

So, to celebrate this beautiful day, here’s my favorite fresh squeezed lemonade shake up recipe to make an entire gallon for you and friends and family to enjoy:

You Will Need:
A nice big pitcher
12 Lemons at room temperature
Cold water
2 cups sugar or sugar substitute (As much as I try to be sugar free completely lemonade does need a little sweetener added to it! You may want to use more or less depending on the tartness of the lemons and your own preferences)
Ice

Directions:

1. Juice the Lemons: There are a few ways to get the fresh squeezed juice out of the lemons. For the best results, the lemons should be at room temperature. (You can cook them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds which may also help. You will then also want to roll them on a table to help the fibers break apart and get the juice flowing. There are all types of lemon juicers available from motorized to the standard type of citrus juicers. You can usually get them pretty cheap – less than $1 if you get a secondhand one or $5-$6 for a plastic one at the store. You simply cut the lemons in half and then turn it over the juicer, which will collect the juice for you.

2. Mix juice and sugar: I’ve found I like to mix the juice and the sugar on their own. This is the part that makes me call it a “shakeup” recipe. If you cover the container and shake it really hard I’ve found that’s the best way to make sure the sugar and the lemon juice is mixed together the best. Just be careful not to spill all the lemon juice you worked so hard on squeezing!

3. Add Ice and Water: Once the lemon juice and sugar is mixed, you are ready to add the water. I usually use a 2 quart pitcher and so just fill it up to the top line with water. Then using a wooden spoon I stir it all together. I do not like ice cubes in my drinks, but I’ve learned that this is just some weird strange quirk unique to me. Most people like ice in their drinks, and so assuming that you are “normal” you would pour it over glasses of ice. You can then decide to garnish with fresh lemon wedges or slices.

So there you have it, a fresh squeezed lemonade recipe for a hot sunny day. Enjoy!

10 Family Fun Earth Day Activities

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Earth Day is April 22nd each year and there are many fun things the whole family can do to celebrate their planet together as well as focus on being more environmentally conscious and friendly. To kick it off this year, I’ve decided to create a list of 10 fun family earth day activities and projects you can do with your kids and friends.

A lot of people might believe that the whole concept of Earth Day is pretty silly, others may think every day should be earth day. However, realistically in a world of convenience foods and wrappers and electronics sometimes it can be difficult to practice being environmentally responsible 100% of the time. This is why Earth Day is such a great day to celebrate with your family – just one day of learning about better ways to take care of the earth or practicing different ways to be more eco-friendly can make a huge difference when millions of people are involved.

The ideas I’ve come up with here are completely simple and easy to do and only things I would actually do with my own family. You don’t have to have any special skills or knowledge. Most are also budget friendly and free to do. One of the big perks about being more environmentally conscious is that it can also save you money – since you are much more careful about buying things you don’t really need or throwing things away.

1. Plant Something
Kids are natural gardeners. I was amazed the first time my son and I tried planting tomatoes. He was three years old and I thought for sure he was going to crush or kill the plant. Instead, he gently lifted them out, “tickled the roots” as he likes to say, and helped me place the starters in larger pots.

You can plant just about anything. Seed packets are available in stores for less than $2 a package and you can get a small bag of potting soil for less than $5 if you don’t already have dirt to use at home. Anything can be a planter – old dishes, old shoes, even egg shells, so it can also be a lesson in reusing old items too. You can try your hand at flowers, herbs, vegetables, even grass seed. Teaching kids how plants grow will give them excitement to watch it as it sprouts and blooms. You can also talk to them about how plants help keep our air clean so we can breathe.

2. Eat Dirt
No, I don’t really suggest you and your kids go out to the backyard or a nearby park with a spoon and a fork. But dirt is another name for a fun treat that kids can eat either at school, as a snack, or after dinner treat can be a good old classic recipe of dirt. It’s made out of mostly crushed up Oreo cookies, pudding, whipped cream, and some gummy worms. To make it healthier, use skim milk, sugar free pudding, and the reduced fat cookies. You can find the official Nabisco Recipe Here.

3. Go Unplugged
We constantly have televisions, video games, computers, and lights on in our homes. For one day and one day only (and maybe even for just an hour or two) take some time and go unplugged with everything that requires electricity in your house. Not only will it will teach the kids that turning off lights and unplugging tvs will help the environment – but it could give you and the kids a chance to go play outside, read a book, and spend some other high quality time together with one another.

4. What Can I Do With This? Game
Most of us somewhere in our closets, basements, garages, and maybe all three have “junk”. There’s plenty of things we have that we don’t really need anymore or use and probably should just be tossed in the trash. While cleaning out junk doesn’t sound like any fun, it can be if you make a game out of it. Take whatever objects you’ve found that you think you should throw away and then have the whole family brainstorm for different things they can do with it. Maybe an ugly old sugar bowl can become a basketball hoop. Maybe that broken action figure can decorate the window blind handle. Be creative and see what you can come up with!

5. Decorate Your Own Reusable Grocery Bags
Getting into the habit of reusing cloth grocery bags isn’t difficult to do at all – and can make a big difference in landfills since those plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to biodegrade. You can make your own if you are crafty, but if not blank canvas totes are often sold in craft stores or can even be ordered online for less than $2 a bag! Decorate with permanent markers, iron on transfers, fabric paints and more. You’ll also be amazed at how much better they are for carrying things – you’ll never worry about one of those plastic bags breaking again!

6. Go For a Nature Walk
Walking outside in a park, the woods, or maybe even in the backyard can all be a fun way to spend time together and really marvel in how wonderful our planet really is. Look at the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the animals. You may even want to consider making a scavenger checklist of things for the kids to look for. (For example, a leaf, a pine cone, a bird, etc. etc.)

7. Make Your Own Paper
Each year tons of paper is thrown out or wasted. Chances are if your kids go to school they come home with countless worksheets and flyers. (Unless you’re lucky and they have a teacher who goes paperless!) The good news is you can turn this paper into fresh new sheets for your kids to use for craft projects and artwork. Instructables.com has a lot of videos and how-to’s. This project is a little more advanced and probably better for older kids, but can still be a great fun messy project to dig into together that is also good for the environment!

8. Take a Trip to the Museum:
Museums are a great place for kids to learn about the world and the environment. Learn about animals, stars, rocks, plants, and more. You can find a museum near you by visiting museum spot. Many will have activities for kids just for Earth Day and admission is usually very affordable. This one is perfect if your Earth Day is rainy or cold!

9. Watch Earth Day Movies:
After you’re hour of no power (or however long you decide to go unplugged in our suggestion above) you can always watch some movies together with your kids about the environment. One of my favorites is Over the Hedge, which is about animals who are at risk for losing their homes. (Don’t worry – it has a happy ending!)

10. Visit the Library
There are many books available about our environment at your local library. You can read stories, learn about anything from erosion to recycling, and get books about even more fun projects you can do together. Best of all? The library is free. Be sure to see if they have a copy of The Lorax, which is a great book by Dr. Seuss to read to kids about protecting our earth.

Now that you have all of these great ideas on some fun things you can do as a family together for Earth Day, you can help make a small little difference in keeping our world a safe, clean, and happy place to live! And hopefully you’ll agree with me that most of these ideas were pretty easy. (Okay, so maybe the paper making one will be tricky – but should be okay for older kids!) You can choose to do some of these all on April 22nd, or spread it out throughout the week and weekend as well.

If you have any ideas for family fun earth day activities and projects, I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Strawberry Hemangioma on Infants

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Seeing a strawberry hemangioma on infants when you have a newborn baby can be alarming, but for many parents it is nothing for any major cause of concern. Sometimes also called a strawberry birthmark, they are actually very common. My daughter was born with one on her stomach right above her belly button, which made me interested in learning more about them. (Once the doctor wrote down and spell out the word “hemangioma” for me of course!) As she gets older we have already noticed it has started to fade away considerably, and expect it to be completely gone before she reaches her third or fourth birthday.

What is a Strawberry Hemangioma?
Basically a hemagioma is an abnormal cluster of blood vessels that collect in one spot that causes a red patch on the baby’s skin. They can appear just about anywhere – on the head, face, arms, stomach, legs, feet, etc. Most of them first show up within the first few days or weeks though it can be a few months and then progressively get a little larger for another few months. Typically by the time the baby reaches his or her first birthday the hemagioma will not get any larger and will actually start doing the reverse of fading away and shrinking.

The causes of this condition is relatively unknown still, though it is common. It is slightly more common in fair skinned girl infants and premature babies, though there seems to be no link to genetics or actions that the mother did during pregnancy.

What is the treatment?
For most infants, no treatment is necessary whatsoever. If the strawberry birthmark is in a place that it does not affect their normal development, the doctor will likely take a look at it when they have their periodic check-ups, but often will advise that no treatment is needed. There are a few cases however when a hemangioma must be treated, such as when it poses a threat to the baby growing and developing. For example, if the mark is extremely large in size it may be necessary to shrink it, especially if it is being scratched or risks becoming infected. Others that appear in places such as the ears, eyes, throat, or internally can be a cause for concern for both parents and doctors alike.

Fortunately, there are many different options available for treatment if it is believed to be necessary. Steroids, either taken orally or injected into the birthmark directly can often reduce the size and swelling without the need to surgically remove them. If this is unsuccessful, then laser surgery may be needed to remove or reduce the size of it. If your child needs treatment, speaking to your doctor will help you understand the best way to remove it as well as discuss the benefits and risks to the different ways to treat it.

Now you know everything you need to know about a strawberry hemangioma on infants! If you have a story to share about your kids, feel free to leave it in the comments below.

Free Handwriting Fonts for PreSchool

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If you like making things on the computer for your toddlers, you’ll love these free handwriting fonts for preschool aged children. You can make all kinds of different crafts with them, ranging from unique printables to signs for your home or even cut them out for large letters they can play with. They can also be great for your scrapbooking projects as well. All of the fonts are 100% free, you just need to follow the link to the site that has them to download.

To install the fonts on Windows Vista, all you need to do is download it, unzip the file, then right click on it and choose “Install” – your computer will guide you through the rest.

I have only included sites where I regularly download fonts myself, so I am pretty sure they are all spyware free, but please check just in case – I cannot take any responsibility for any damage you do to your computer when installing these fonts.

My Favorite Free Handwriting Fonts for Preschool:

Angelina is a light, fun style perfect for your preschool girl. You can learn more about it and download here.

Anmari is a fun, cartoon style handwriting font that has a bit of playfulness to it. You can download it here.

The name of this font may be Catholic School Girls, but you certainly don’t need to be Catholic or a school girl to appreciate the nice curved letters and how well this one could work for preschool applications as well! Available here.

Child’s play looks and feels exactly like the name sounds and is perfect for any early childhood learning printing project. You can learn more about it and download here.

Everyone knows that crayon is the writing utensil of choice for young children, preschoolers, and moms who can’t find a pen anywhere to save their life. This font wonderfully captures the look and feel of writing in crayon. Available Here.

Dad Hand goes to show that not just moms are involved. It also has the playful and lightweight handwritten style that might be great for your kid’s projects. Also, this fun font is easy to read. Get it Here.

Dear Teacher looks as if it has been written by someone who is just learning to write, which makes it great for just about any craft or project related to early learning. Download Here.

Pencil Pete is a great font that looks as if had been written with a pencil and would be fun in different colors and sizes. You can learn more about it and download here.

These are all great fonts for using for your school, scrapbooking, craft projects and will give you that pre-school handwriting look pretty easily and professionally. Be sure when downloading the fonts that you take special attention to the licensing and usage terms and conditions of each font – some may be restricted for personal or non commercial use only.

Do you have any favorite free handwriting fonts for preschool or know of any other good sources for getting free fonts? Share them in the comments below.