Category Archives: Health

Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packet Safety Tips and Take the New KEY Pledge Today!

Cleaning & Cleaners, Health, Safety, ,

My 13 year old does his own laundry and I am absolutely thrilled about that. I have decided however, not to push my daughter who is 7, into helping me with laundry until she’s a few years older, despite her desire to help. I am a believer that parents should not put their kids at risk just to learn something that they can just as easily learn when they are older and more capable of remembering the proper techniques. You wouldn’t teach a 1-year-old to ride a bike or an 11-year-old to drive would you? My personal belief is that you should consider waiting until your child is about 10 years old before you teach him how to do laundry and hand over laundry responsibilities to him or her.

American Cleaning Institute KEY Plege

It is important to make everyone aware of the need for safety when using, storing, and handling the new, concentrated packs of single-load liquid laundry packets. Single-load liquid laundry packets, when handled, used, and stored properly are a convenient, easy-to-use product to help get your laundry done more efficiently and effectively.

The convenience of these products is a boon to adults but it’s important to remember these packets contain highly concentrated detergent and need to be treated like any other household cleaning product, stored safely up and away – out of sight and reach According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), in 2012, poison centers received reports of 6,229 unintended exposures to highly-concentrated packets of laundry detergent by children 5 and younger..Thanks to ACI (American Cleaning Institute) there is now a safety education program aimed to equip consumers with the proper education and awareness on how to properly use, handle and store singleload liquid laundry packets. The name of this consumer program is the KEY Pledge Laundry Safety Campaign.

Parents should take the American Cleaning Institute’s KEY Pledge keypledge.com, because we all play a KEY role in laundry safety. Parents, caregivers and adults can all BE THE KEY to a safe laundry room and routine; we should all be aware of the simple, safety steps when it comes to properly using, storing and handling the new single-load liquid laundry packets to ensure our family’s safety.

And by taking the KEY Pledge, you will have access to the following:

  • Track KEY pledges and follow pledge progress across the nation and in your home on a heat map. Check out how your area is doing!
  • Enter a sweepstakes** for a chance to win a $2,500 grand prize to help makeover your laundry room

Single-load Liquid Laundry Packets Safety Tips

  • Do not let children handle laundry packets
  • Do not puncture or pull packets apart
  • Store out of child’s sight and reach
  • Keep the packet’s package closed and in a dry place
  • Packets quickly dissolve upon contact with water, wet hands, or saliva so it is necessary to keep them dry

Here are a few additional safety tips to keep in mind when you have single-load liquid laundry packets in your household with children:

1. If there is a reason to believe a child may have been exposed to the contents of a single-load liquid laundry packet call the Poison Help Line immediately. The # is 1-800-222-1222.

2. Store these packets in the same safe manner as you would store any other household cleaning product such as drain cleaners, toilet bowl products and bleach.

3. You know that a child should wear a safety belt when riding in a car. Parents are also aware that they should teach children safety measures when they are crossing a street. Treat the handling and use of single-load liquid laundry packets with this same degree of concern and caution.

4. Take the time to carefully read the warning statement on laundry products. Even if you have been using one of these cleaning products for months (or years).

Be safe. Be careful. Be responsible. Education is the KEY to your family’s laundry safety.

All children are different; even your own children. You might think that because your first child didn’t try to get into the laundry detergent or other cleaning supplies, that your youngest will be the same and so you store cleaning supplies in a less safe place than you might if your first child did have issues with getting into things.

Don’t think that way. Just because your first child always looks twice before crossing a busy street, doesn’t mean that your second child will think the same way, right? You get what I’m saying.

Keep your home safe for you and your children. Visit keypledge.com and pledge to be the KEY to a safe laundry room and routine.

Product News: New White Cloud Facial Tissue Boxes designed from kids receiving treatment at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, have arrived!

Health, ,

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of White Cloud. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you remember when White Cloud, the maker of premium quality paper products from bath tissue to wipes, teamed up with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® in January and asked the kids receiving treatment there to design the new White Cloud Facial Tissue boxes? Then  the top 10 submissions were posted to the White Cloud Facebook Page where fans had the opportunity to vote for their favorite design?

White Cloud Tissues

The new boxes have arrived!

Now, the three designs that received the most votes from the White Cloud’s Facebook page have been printed on White Cloud Facial Tissue boxes! The new boxes, with bright colors, polka dots, sunshine and lions will be available in select Walmart stores for a limited time beginning May 24th.

Also, the winner’s hospitals will be presented with a $15,000 donation on behalf of White Cloud. How wonderful is that?

Did you know that The White Cloud brand is carried exclusively at Walmart? And that White Cloud Facial Tissue is only available in select markets? To find out if this product is carried in your area you can use the White Cloud Store Locator.

Coupon Alert!!

Be on the lookout for a $0.75 off coupon in July’s All You magazine.

To find out more information on White Cloud products you can check out the White Cloud Facebook Page, White Cloud Twitter Page, and White Cloud Pinterest Page.

Visit Sponsor's Site

4 Reasons Kids Should Wear Sunglasses + 4 Cute Pairs of Kids Sunglasses!

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Alicia's Corner, Health, Travel,

On a perfect summer day you and your children are walking into Disney World. You’ve been planning this adventure for months. On your way into the park, you do a last minute check of your bag. Do you have everything? Food, extra clothes, sunblock, and a pair of Ray-Ban Junior glasses?

Why would your child need a pair of sunglasses? For the same reason you need them, for protection from Ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Many people are aware that UV rays can cause sunburns, skin damage, and even cancer.  Less of us are aware that too much sun can cause sunburns on the cornea.  This is a painful reminder to kids and adults to wear sunglasses, but it heals eventually. What doesn’t heal over time are the long-term effects of too much UV. UV is a contributing factor to eye diseases like cataracts. When parents protect their child’s eyes with high-quality sunglasses, they reduce the risk that their child will develop eye problems later in life.

Now all of this may be a lot to think about on a summer day at Disney World.  But during the spring and summer months it is especially important to protect your baby or older child from too much sun. Unfortunately, children are at more risk for eye damage than adults. They are still growing and have less natural eye protection. They are also outside more than adults and have greater sun exposure than Mom and Dad.

How Not Wearing Sunglasses Can Be Harmful for your Child:

  1. Squinting requires muscle activity and can be a contributor to a child’s headache and twitching eyes because (contraction of the muscles).
    Adults should keep in mind that wearing sunglasses will cut down on crows’ feet around their eyes.
  2. UV exposure is harmful to the eyes as well as the skin – Source: Webmd.com
  3. After a long day in the sun, your child’s eyes may be bloodshot, swollen, and light-sensitive. – Source: Webmd.com
  4. Many ophthalmologists educate parents about not only the long-term health risks from UV exposure, such as cataracts, but short-term benefits of wearing sunglasses such as being able to see better in very sunny situations such as on the beach or in an area with a lot of concrete sidewalks such as Disney World, a popular summer vacation destination.

Fortunately, several companies make kids’ sunglasses that are stylish, cool and kid-proof. Ray-Ban Junior, RealKidsShades.com, and Julbo Kids Sunglasses, all offer excellent eyewear options for children.

Here are a few kids sunglasses worth taking a look at

 

Kids Sunglasses

1 – Ray-Ban 65mm Shield Sunglasses (Big Boys) Grey/ Green One Size at Macy’s

2 – Julbo Looping III Sunglasses – Girls’ at REI

3 – Chili’s Jellie Sunglasses at REI

4 – Baby & Kids Sun Smarties Sunglasses with Strap at One Step Ahead

When shopping for your children, look for glasses that are designed for kids with a pair of straps. Adult glasses may not offer the same level of sun protection.  Ray-Ban Junior offers the same level of quality they have on their adult products, but sized for kids.  Julbo Kids Sunglasses offer fun, functional products that are shock-resistant with customized kids frames.  At RealKidsShades.com, you can find products that are comfortable, durable and cool. All these companies offer straps for their glasses.

It can be tempting to buy a pair of toy shades for your little one. Toys only give your baby the illusion of protection during hot summer months. Vendors like RealKidsshades.com offer quality products that have 99-100% UV protection and sturdy construction.

Now is the time to teach your children to take care of their eyes by using quality sunglasses. Just like eating right, if you set the example now, you’ll be giving them a great foundation in life.

 

 

 

My 48 Hour Super Charge Cleanse – Day 2 Including Weight Loss Update

Health, ,

I’m on day 2 of my 48 Hour Super Charged Cleanse.  If you didn’t read why I’m cleansing, read this post.

This post is not an explanation of what I’m doing, it’s an update.

Day 1, yesterday, I was supposed to drink the cleansing drink 4 times as a replacement for all meals and a mid-afternoon ‘meal’.  I forgot the mid-afternoon meal and felt a little shaky and hungry around 6:30pm.

David Kirsch 48 Hour Super Charged Cleanse

Day 1

Weight: 127.8

8am – 1st cleansing drink

I drank a lot of water between the 8am drink and 12:30pm drink.   I should have had the 12:30 drink closer to 11:30 but I was busy working and time slipped by. I felt fine all morning.

12:30pm – 2nd cleansing drink

I had an appointment to get my nails done with a friend at 1pm which helped keep my mind off of not eating.  Although I don’t eat much or usually have cravings, just knowing that I CAN’T eat, has been difficult for me.

3:30pm – 1st Thermo Bubbles drink

Around 3 I started feeling more hungry than I would have liked and I was getting offended when my husband or daughter would eat a snack around me.  Rather, my hunger pains were getting worse. That is when I remembered and drank a glass of Thermo Bubbles (pink lemonade) which helps energy levels and curbs appetite.  Again, I am not doing this cleanse to starve myself or with the expectation of losing even 5 pounds so curbing my appetite was just a comfort issue at that point.

7pm – 3rd cleansing drink

Around this time it was sinking in that I really wasn’t going to eat for two days so I drank this drink very slowly as if I was eating a meal so I could savor it.  Then I realized that I missed a cleansing drink somewhere during the day (you are supposed to drink 4 of the cleansing drinks in a day) so I sped up the drinking a bit knowing I’d have to squeeze in another before I went to sleep.

9:30pm – 4th cleansing drink

At 9:30pm I felt good. I didn’t feel hungry or like I hadn’t eaten all day.  I drank my 4th cleansing drink of the day and went to sleep pretty early for me.

I had hoped to sleep through the night and until at least 8 to make today seem a bit shorter but I woke at 3am feeling hungry and I was also apparently sleeping on top of a push pin all night.  My husband had been working on rearranging some pictures in our room Wednesday afternoon and left a push pin in the bed!  I was able to get back to sleep and woke at 7am.

Day 2

Weigh-in

I weigh myself every morning and this morning I weigh 2 pounds less than I did Tuesday morning but I don’t expect the 2 pounds to stay off once I start eating again.  I just wanted to let you know that I have lost a little weight. I imagine that the weight loss is more significant with the 5 Day Ultimate Detox or 7-Day Cleanse.

7:30am – 1st cleansing drink of the day

I felt pretty hungry by the time I fixed my first cleansing drink of the day.  It’s 8:04am now and I still have about 1/2 of the drink left.  Remember, you are supposed to drink these drinks slowly.  I feel good.

Plan for the day: I plan on drinking my 2nd drink at 11am, 3rd at 4pm, and 4th at 7pm with a Thermo Boost around 1pm.

Learn why I chose David Kirsch’s 48 Hour Super Charged Cleanse here and see his cleansing and health products here.

 

 

My body cleanse journey

 

 

This is NOT a sponsored/compensated post.

My Cleansing Journey – Why I’m Cleansing and What I’m Using

Health, New posts, Personal,

Before I had my son 13 years ago, I weighed 95-100 lbs and never thought about weight.  I was not judgmental about people who carry extra weight in the least.  I never thought a thing of it.  I had small friends, big friends, and very big friends and looked at them all the same.  Long story short, I got down to about 110 lbs right before my son turned 1 and was happy with my weight.  Then I had a car accident when my son was a year old.  That changed my body. I suffered muscular and nerve damage which still affects me 11 years later.  My 6-year-old daughter has never had the experiences that my son had including seeing me hike up Kennesaw Mountain without stopping or swinging her around, or having a jump rope contest.  I have been carrying an extra 15 lbs of weight for a few years now and can’t lose it which makes me pretty miserable.  Clothes don’t fit me right.  Many moms know what I’m talking about.

Side note: I have a type of spinal arthritis that is currently causing me a lot of pain and discomfort. In the last month I have been to my physician, had MRI’s, went to a rhuemotologist, and am now in physical therapy twice a week.  Yay!  Those things are all a step in the right direction.  I can’t walk on a treadmill because any jarring of my neck causes serious discomfort.  I can’t really do any cardio exercise now which I would normally do to loose 10-15 pounds.  I went through menopause at 33 years old which could be why losing this 15 lbs is being more difficult that one would expect. 

I don’t eat many carbs or starches, I don’t snack on cookies, candy, chips, or ice cream, and I don’t drink milk.  What gives?  I just can’t lose this 15 lbs.    I drink a ton of water. I keep a pitcher on my desk filled with water so I can refill my water glass often. I guess drinking a lot of water doesn’t flush extra weight off though.  Bummer.  I don’t eat a lot and often skip lunch – which I believe is one reason why I’m not losing weight.

 

My body cleanse journey

 

I took the leap and started a cleanse this morning!

Today I started David Kirsch’s 48 Hour Super Charged Cleanse.  I received the cleansing kit and a couple of other ‘cleansing’ products that will go into more detail about in a moment, a few days ago.  Every day since, it seemed like it was not a good day to start the cleanse.   I have never done a cleanse before and I am nervous about the idea of not eating food for two days.  Although I don’t eat much, it’s knowing that I CAN’T eat that makes me anxious.

I am doing the David Kirsch 48 Hour Super Charged Cleanse for a few reasons.

  1. I want to start fresh with my body but I’m not ready for a full-on 5 day cleanse
  2. I have heard and read great things about David Kirsch’s products.  I researched several cleansing programs and based on reviews and factual information I chose David Kirsch’s cleanse.
  3. I would like to jump start my metabolism and immune system
  4. The cleanse is supposed to pave the way for clean eating
  5. The cleans helps with energy levels

I don’t have high expectations for the cleanse. I don’t expect to lose even 5 lbs, I just want to feel healthier.  Cleansed, I guess.   During the cleanse I will drink a lot of water and can supplement with Thermo Bubbles which helps to boost metabolism and elevates energy level.

After the cleanse I will replace one meal a day (or add lunch) with a Chocolate Protein Shake for a few days.

It’s 9:49AM and so far I have enjoyed one glass of the lemonade flavored 48 Hour Super Charged Cleanse.  I feel great. I almost feel like I have more energy than I normally would at this time of the morning.  I am going to have to keep very busy today.  I will start packing for our upcoming trip to Florida and I have an appointment to get my nails done with a friend.  My daughter has gymnastics and my son has a test to study for, etc.. so those things will hopefully help keep my mind off of food.

Here’s a summary of what I’m using:

A cleanse isn’t for everyone.. and who knows.. it might not be for me either.  I bought all of the David Kirsch products that I’m using at SkinStore.com because they currently have a 20% coupon code. 🙂  Just visit the site and you will see the code on the right side of the page if they are still offering it.

Wish me luck and I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

Have you tried a cleanse?

Alicia

 

This is NOT a sponsored post.  This is a personal story.