Daylight Saving Time ended this weekend. Were you able to get all your clocks set properly? Including the one in your vehicle?
Now’s also the time to replace your smoke detector batteries, check flashlight batteries, vacuum and flip your mattresses.
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
- Pay bills, rent and/or mortgage as needed.
- Look over the month ahead – what book are you reading for your book club, what doctor, dentist, salon or spa appointments do you or members of your household have coming up?
- Check over upcoming birthdays for November. Make time to write cards, purchase and send gifts, or plan a party.
- What’s your plan for using up Halloween candy, or spiriting some of it out of the house so your kids can’t actually eat that much of it?
- Book your travel for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas if you haven’t already
- Need to catch up on laundry you didn’t finish over the weekend?
- Make socialization plans for the week ahead and the upcoming weekend. I have a Family Night, a girls movie night, and a weekend movie date on the horizon so far!
TODAY’S PROJECT: Fire Safety
I take fire safety very seriously. I have been in a hotel that was on fire before. Though it was a small fire in a part of the hotel far from us, and I was in no real danger, it’s made me extra cautious.
I burn a lot of candles, and I use my fireplace quite often. Right now I’m burning a wood fire every evening, since it’s cold, dark and rainy. My stationery merchandise for my eBay business is all made of paper. I store it in my garage. I often think about how fast it would go up in flames if any accident happened. So I have to consciously think every day about minimizing fire risk.
Safety experts suggest that we test our smoke alarm batteries twice a year, when we change our clocks. They say we should replace them once a year, during the fall clock change.
Let’s replace our batteries in our smoke detectors (whether they need it or not) just to be sure you have fresh new ones. Put batteries on your shopping list if you use up your stash during our safety exercise this week.
Empty and clean your dryer lint trap. Clean behind the dryer and around the hose if you can. Inspect the hose for wear, and see if you need to have a professional come out to clean the hose. (Chimney sweep companies often offer this as a service they provide as well).
Vacuum or dust all the smoke detectors in your house while you’re at it. Is your smoke detector more than seven years old? Toss it out and get a new one. You can pick one up at RiteAid, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and even at some grocery stores.
Do you have a carbon monoxide detector?
See if you need to replace your existing fire extinguishers. If you don’t have any, now is the time to think about getting one for your kitchen, bedroom hallway, garage, and for each vehicle used by your household members.
Do you have a flashlight with working batteries next to your bed? Test it tonight in the dark. Can you reach it and turn it on quickly from a lying down position? Is it bright enough?
Do you keep a flashlight in your car? If so, have you tested it in the last week to see if it works?
Spend some time tonight with your family, especially if you have small children, discussing what to do in event of a fire. Practice your fire escape route.
Related links:
Fire Safety Tips at SafeKids.Org
Home Fire Safety (American Red Cross)
LOVELY BLOGS: Saving Room for Dessert
Tricia likes to save room for things she enjoys – not just dessert, but also photography, kayaking, hiking, watching great movies, baking and traveling. I love her reminders to savor life. Recently she’s blogging about a delicious looking olive, onion and sun dried tomato focaccia; sharing her spiced pumpkin cheesecake recipe, showcasing a gorgeous beet, avocado and pea salad; and baking dulce de leche sandwich cookies.
LOVELY CRAFTS: Grateful Wreath Kit
This might be a nice fall craft to do with your kids or grandkids, if you have any who enjoy making crafts. If done with the right approach and not too much bossy lecturing on being grateful, this might be a nice way to remind kids of your family values. Let everyone write something they are grateful for on a leaf. Display the wreath proudly. I might not put mine on the front door since it’s so rainy here, but it could hang from a nail in my dining room.
Grateful Wreath Kit, from Paper Source
LOVELY FRAGRANCE: Apothecary Candles
I’m loving these Paddywax candles for fall. I’m trying to decide between Chamomile & Fig and Tamarind & Orange. Besides the soy wax candles, these fragrances come in travel tins and room sprays. What do you think of the vintage themed coppery packaging on these?
Apothecary Candles, from Paddywax
LOVELY KIDS: Camper Play Tent
Living in rainy Seattle, I often put energy into thinking of indoor amusements for the children who visit my home. This Jetaire camper tent has caught my eye – how delightful to have an indoor camping party, complete with fireplace bonfire and s’mores. This tent is really expensive though, so I think I will skip it or use sleeping bags for an indoor camping party instead! Land of Nod also sells a cute retro styled Freezy Dream Ice Cream Truck tent too that’s just as expensive.
Camper Play Tent, at Land of Nod
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Black Bean Burgers with Portobello Mushrooms (Home Grown and Healthy)
Boston Lettuce Salad Recipe (Kiss My Apron)
DIY Lavender Bath Fizzies (A Delightful Home)
Easy DIY Peppermint Stick Candles for This Holiday Season (DIY Home Life)
Harvest Turkey Burgers (What’s Annie Making?)
111 Thanksgiving Recipes (Brown Eyed Baker)
The Psychological Comforts of Storytelling (The Atlantic)
Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Bread (Colorful Foodie)
What’s In Season? November Produce Guide (Cookie and Kate)
–Copyright 2014 Lovely Living
