Time to reboot your morning routine

(ARA) – The beginning of the new school year means busy mornings for both mom and the kids. We rush out of bed, shower and get dressed, wake up the kids and give them breakfast, and make sure they catch the bus on time. The routine may be chaotic, but it gets both you and the kids on track and helps you stay on schedule for the rest of the day.

But no matter how well-organized we are during those first weeks of school, just when we think we have our mornings under control, autumn activities kick in. That means an even busier schedule of school, after-school lessons, club meetings, sports practices and homework. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s only going to get more hectic.

Registered dietitian Mitzi Dulan is a nutrition and fitness expert and mother of two busy, active girls. She understands how difficult it is to stick to the morning routines we kept during the first days of school.

“As the fall season rolls around, children begin participating in sports, music or other extra curricular activities,” she says. “They may need additional gear or school supplies. And as the cool fall weather kicks in, we need to put away the summer and early-fall clothing and make sure everyone has new clothes for the colder months ahead.”

As carefully as we had planned our morning schedules at the start of the school year, she says, “with so much more to pay attention to, suddenly we find it harder to stay on track. Now is a good time to get back into good habits and to start new ones.”

If you’ve fallen off your morning routine, here are some tips to climb back on:

1. Do as much as possible the night before. Make your kids’ lunches. Give them their baths or showers. Check homework and other school-bound material. Lay out the next day’s clothes. Load backpacks and book bags, and sit them by the door. Set the table for breakfast. Get the coffeemaker ready to perk at the push of a button. Leave as little to do in the morning as you possibly can.

2. Wake up a little earlier. Set your alarm 15 minutes early to build in a little cushion of time to make sure breakfasts are eaten, shoes tied, and teeth and hair are brushed. Take a moment for a quick inventory: Does each child have his or her lunch money? Do they have the sports gear, musical instruments or other items that will be needed for after-school activities?

3. Don’t skip breakfast. Kids can be thrown off schedule easily, especially when it comes to eating breakfast. Make it easy for your child to start the day with breakfast by providing items that taste good and provide essential nutrients. A quick, nutritious way to start the morning is with Carnation Breakfast Essentials drinks. Each serving has two times the protein of an egg and two times the calcium of a standard 6-ounce cup of yogurt, plus 21 vitamins and minerals.

4. Avoid distractions. Turn off the TV, the radio, electronics, cellphones, and hand-held games. The morning is busy enough without electronic stimulation. Check your voice mail and email before everyone else gets up, or put it off until the kids head out for school. Not only can you get more things done, but you can actually spend important family time together at the breakfast table.

5. Set up a neighborhood “walk pool.” If there are several children in your community who take the same bus to school, there’s no reason for each child to be accompanied by his or her parent every day. Talk to your neighbors and set up a schedule to take turns walking a small group of kids to the bus stop each morning. It will bring the neighborhood closer and give everybody time for an extra cup of coffee.

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Raking in autumn fun: Safety tips for families

(ARA) – The arrival of autumn brings cool, crisp air and colored leaves, but for many parents, fall signifies a return to routines. Beach toys have been replaced with homework and lazy summer days have turned into bustling fall schedules. But don’t worry – there are several things you can do to keep the fun going from summer into fall. Whether it’s helping children to develop new study habits or taking them to soccer practice, the outdoors can make learning more enjoyable.

Whether your children are exercising their bodies outdoors or their minds inside, it is important that they learn how to have a fun and safe season. These tips can help benefit your children’s health while they’re in the classroom and playing outside this fall.

* A physical education class in school might not be enough for your child. Encourage fitness at home by going for an after-dinner walk to the neighborhood playground or keep balls and games on hand.

* Walking to school with your child is a great way for your kids to enjoy the outdoors, allowing you to teach them about the exciting new changes in nature. Pair up with local parents to start a “walking school bus,” and accompany a group of neighborhood children on an educational walk to school.

* The sun’s strongest rays of the day are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. no matter the season, so it’s important to make sure your child is properly protected during recess or physical education classes. Try a hat, a pair of sunglasses, and Coppertone Kids Stick, which is quick and easy to apply.

* Looking for a cool place to bring the family for after-school or weekend fun? Coppertone’s MyUV Alert iPhone App has an outdoor activity finder to keep your family busy through fall, helping you to find local bike paths or parks.

For more information to safely enjoy the warmth of the sun this fall, visit Coppertone.com.

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Ten cold-weather plumbing tips for homeowners

(ARA) – That first chilly autumn morning is the perfect reminder that when winter arrives it can be sudden, often leaving homeowners unprepared for the plumbing problems associated with cold weather. The number of frozen pipe claims nearly tripled nationally from 2008 to 2009, to more than 26,000 claims. This hassle and extra expense is easily prevented with a couple hours worth of weekend chores or a quick call to your local plumber.

People in northernmost states should take preventive action to protect their plumbing systems by late October. Southerners should follow by late November. Failure to prepare early might prove costly when pipes freeze, which is why the plumbing experts at Roto-Rooter recommend taking these winterization precautions early, when time is on your side, instead of waiting until cold weather arrives.

These 10 tips that can save you a bundle are easily managed in between raking leaves and carving pumpkins.

* Disconnect outside water hoses. If left connected during freezing temperatures, water in hoses will freeze and expand causing connecting faucets and pipes to freeze and break.
* Inspect outside faucets. If dripping or leaking, make the necessary repairs or call a plumber before a freeze.
* If your home is equipped with interior shut-off valves leading to outside faucets, close them and drain water from the pipes.
* Cover outside faucets using an inexpensive faucet insulation kit.
* Insulate pipes in unheated areas. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around exposed pipes.
* Make sure your furnace is set no lower than 55 degrees during the winter to prevent pipes from freezing. Note that when pipes freeze, water pressure builds causing cracks, whether the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel. Even a tiny crack can unleash 250 gallons of water in a single day.
* Your water heater works harder during winter months. Drain corrosion-causing sediment from the tank, which reduces energy efficiency if it’s not removed.
* Set water heater thermostat to 120 F for optimum performance without risk of scalding.
* Clear any leaves and debris from roof gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage throughout the winter season.
* Inspect and clean sump pit. Remove any rocks and debris from pit then dump a bucket of water into the sump pit to test the pump. If it turns on and pumps water out then turns itself off, it is operating properly.

Visit www.RotoRooter.com/plumbing-basics to view an instructional video on winter plumbing preparation and what to do in the event that a pipe does burst. Become a fan on Facebook to stay up-to-date on plumbing tips for every season.

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Fall photography 101

(NC)—With the beautiful colours, and the harvest moon, autumn is the perfect time to let your inner photographer shine. To help capture those iconic fall moments, Matt Lewis, digital technology and photography professional at Black’s Photography, offers these helpful tips:

Pets and children—Short attention spans make awesome candid photography. Rake a big pile of leaves and let them go nuts. Be sure to have your camera set for action shots—or a fast shutter speed on a DSLR.

The moon and sky—That red moon that hangs low is a rare but beautiful photo opportunity. To make the most of it make sure you have a sturdy tri-pod and set your camera for a long-exposure. The tri-pod will eliminate camera shake, while the lengthy exposure time will enhance the sky’s glow.

Trees and landscapes—Trees and landscapes can be a difficult subject when there is so much colour and detail. For the best results, pick a focal point and an angle that compliments it.

“The most important tip to keep in mind when taking a photo is to capture a moment,” says Matt Lewis. “The fall is the perfect time to get outside and have fun testing out different types of equipment and lenses.”

Once you’ve captured the perfect shots, be sure to compile them into a photo book or photo album that you can share with others. Black’s PhotoBook design service allows you to choose the photos you want to include, upload them online or in-store and then leave the rest of the work up to the experts. The end result is a perfectly designed photo book capturing the best of your fall photography.

For more tips on fall photography please visit www.blacks.ca.

www.newscanada.com

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Doris Day

Sit back, relax and listen to the beautiful song “Autumn Leaves” by Doris Day.  It is dreamy and makes me want to frolic in the leaves.  Enjoy!

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Red & Gold Block Floral Table Runner

Artificial Mixed Leaves Wreath

Mosaic Leaf Hurricane

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Scene From "Baby Boom"

Autumn is the time to be cozy by the fire or snuggled up on a blanket and watch some comforting movies.  Here is a list of some possible movie choices for this Autumn Season:

Baby Boom (1987) – this is a sweet and touching story about a cut-throat business executive living in New York City who gives it all away when she adopts a baby that was given to her by a deceased relative.  She packs up and moves to the countryside to start a new life.  Many of the scenes are shot in Autumn and winter and it will make you want to snuggle up with your honey!

Mystic Pizza (1988) – I love this tale of small town girls growing up in Mystic, Connecticut.  At times heartbreaking and at times quite touching this movie has a bit of spunk for everyone!

Funny Farm (1988) – this is a story of a husband and wife who move to the country.  He is a writer and they have just purchased the home of their dreams.  Will it be so picturesque once they settle in or a nightmare?  It’s funny, it’s sweet and it will warm you all over.

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) – make sure you have a box of tissues with you for this one!  It is an emotional roller coaster full of love, hope and tragedy.  I’ve seen this movie at least 15 times and I still cry everytime.

Sweet Home Alabama (2002) – Again, this is a movie about a New York city girl who finds herself in the country.  The movie features charming scenes of small town life during the Autumn season.

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Autumn

I adore Autumn.  I think pretty much everything about it is magical.  It goes by way too quickly for me, but I’m thankful I currently live in a part of the United States where I get to experience the changing of the seasons.  That said I thought I would compile a list of the few reasons why I love Autumn so much!

1. SWEATER WEATHER – I don’t mean to scream that but I just love sweater weather.  To me, sweater weather is where you can where a pretty cardigan, a lovely pullover or long sleeved top without having to wear a heavy coat.  It also means it is below 77* (this is the temp where our bodies start to sweat).  Dislike of sweat = love of sweater weather.
2. The Beautiful Leaves – recently my husband and I took a trip to the Ozark Mountains and enjoyed the changing of the leaves.  Reds, oranges, yellows and touches of green are nature’s most beautiful color palette.
3. Fall Festivities – such as pumpkin carving parties, wine tasting parties, hay rides, haunted houses and so much more.  It just seems to me Autumn is the perfect time for gatherings with friends and families.
4. The Food – the sweet, sweet comfort food.  I find myself craving things like: apple pie, slow-roasted brisket, baked butter and brown sugar squash, and yeasty dinner rolls.  If this is the time to splurge on calories it would be now.
5. The Holidays – Halloween and Thanksgiving (’nuff said).  Don’t get me wrong, I also love Christmas but it seems so much chaotic and hectic than Halloween and Thanksgiving.  My idea of the perfect Halloween is handing out candy and watching scary movies with my husband, and for Thanksgiving cooking a big turkey dinner!

Is Autumn your favorite season?  If so, why?

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Autumn Morning - To set this image as your background, click the image to open the large version, right-click on the image and select Set as Wallpaper (or Set as Background).

If you’re looking for some free fall wallpaper for your computer, have a look at these (as of the date of posting this, all of these are pop-up and adware free).

From pumpkins to a myriad of autumn leaves and everything else in between, you’re sure to find some lovely fall images on the following sites.

Or, simply use the image to the right if you like.

Blue Mountain is our top pick – they have some of the most beautiful free wallpapers, but you have to register (free) to get them.

American Greetings is another favorite of ours for free autumn wallpaper, like Blue Mountain, all you have to do is register for free to get access to their great fall scenes including “Halloween Lights,” “Lazy, Maize-y Kittens” and “Red Apple Puppy.”

PicsDesktop has a nice variety of free autumn wallpaper in several sizes.

Graphic Freebies has fall foliage wallpapers in four sizes.

Wallpapers TLC offers lots of fall wallpapers, however only in two sizes.

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Fall is without doubt my favorite time of the year. As a gardener you may be considering planting trees for beauty and sustainability. If you are thinking about planting deciduous trees, fall color is one factor you might want to consider.

Here it is late September and it won’t be long before the fall leaves color the mountains with vibrant tones of red, yellow and green. You can even be given fall color alerts through the various national weather channels!

Colors usually peak around the last half of October with the higher elevations changing color first and then trickling down into the valleys.

If you have a child, you’ve probably been asked why trees leaves turn yellow, orange, or red in fall. Although you might not think of it as a color, brown is another color of fall. You have to understand a little about botany to get a better grasp on fall colors.

As the chlorophyll breaks down in the leaves, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange. The autumn foliage of some trees show only yellow colors such as our local polars here in the Pacific Northwest.

Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn months, one or many colors that range from red to yellow. Autumn colors (especially red) are not just due to the breakdown of chlorophyll; in fact anthocyanins (red-purple) are actively produced in autumn. Autumn weather conditions favoring the most brilliant colors are warm sunny days and cool, but not freezing, nights. The amount of rain in a year also affects autumn leaf color. A warm, wet period during fall will lower the intensity, or brightness, of autumn colors. As sunlight decreases in autumn, the veins that carry sap into and out of a leaf gradually close. The brightest colors are seen when late summer is dry, and autumn has bright sunny days and cool (low 40′s Fahrenheit) nights.

Now this is interesting: University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have a new theory about why autumn leaves turn scarlet and why the hues are more vibrant some years than others. They say that the red pigments — called anthocyanins — in plants such as maples, oaks, dogwoods and viburnums act like sunscreen. “The pigments shade sensitive photosynthetic tissue in fall while trees reabsorb nutrients from their leaves,” says horticulturist Bill Hoch. “Trees need to store as many of those nutrients as they can before the leaves drop.”

Here is my interpretation of Autumn: Autumn is warm lazy days with crisp nights whispering of the winter to come. The days are shorter and our gardens are shutting down for a long winter’s nap. Even human beings respond to the changing season. Fall weather signals us to get our crock pots out and make wonderful steamy soups and stews. I love autumn!

The way leaves change color is, in its own way, no less miraculous, the result of a complex shift in chemistry as a tree prepares itself for its winter dormant period. Through fallen leaves, Nature has provided the decaying leaves to help replenish and add to the fertile forest floor. And the cycle of life goes on!

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