Life without electricity after hurricane Sandy.....

Its the little things in life that you really miss when the power is out long term.  Being able to brew coffee in the morning or drying your hair.  When was the last time you needed to dry your hair by sitting near the fireplace? Fresh food in the refrigerator is a nicety too.  For the past 3 days we have gone to bed when the sun went down since sitting around in the dark got old real fast.

It really makes you appreciate what life must have been like just a few hundred years ago.  The big difference is that for people hundreds of years ago there was nothing to compare it to.  They lived that way and knew no other way of life. It was normal for them and not a hardship.
  We on ther otherhand know what we have lost when the power goes out. We miss being able to run the dishwasher or turn on the tv.  The power being out has forced us kicking and screaming back to a simpler way of life. Maybe we should take a lesson from this all and learn to not take good things for granted.  Count our blessings, spend more quality time with our families....

Preparing for yet another hurricane....

Well here we go again another hurricane looming off the East coast heading straight for New Jersey.  I am really hoping it is all hype but am preparing for the worst.  I would rather take it seriously and be prepared for nothing than to wish I had done more later.

 
Aside from the obvious of taking in or tying down all things that can be picked up by the wind and turned into projectiles.  Make sure you have a supply of enough food that will not need cooking and water (one gallon per person per day) to last at least a week.  If you have pets or infants at home make sure you have enough supplies for them as well ie food, formula, diapers.  Fill all possible containers with water for washing and cooking in addition to water you may have bought.  Fill the bathtub as well in case  you need to flush the toilets manually.  Temps in the fridge and freezer should be  turned down to the coldest settings, Ziplock bags should be filled and frozen to use as water later and to cool down the fridge if the power goes out.  If you have a generator make sure you have extra gas to run it.  Fill your car gas tanks. Don't forget to make sure you have clean laundry to last a while since if the power goes out you will not be able to run the washing machine.  Make sure you get cash from the banks as well since ATMs and card swipe machines  at the store will not work if the power is out.  Gather your important documents together and keep them with you in a Ziplock bag.  Flashlights, a battery powered radio,  and lots of batteries are a must.  Please do not use candles! Don't forget something to entertain the kids and yourself while waiting for it all to pass!

Hope this list helps! Stay safe everyone!

My ring on Ivillage.com

I am so very excited!  My ring was included in the Beauty and Style section of IVillage.com!  come check it out! made-new-jersey-15-fab-designers-garden-state

Host an Online Jewelry Party! Earn Free Jewelry!

 

 Would you like to host a Jewelry Party but don't want the hassle of cooking or cleaning your home for guests?  Or perhaps you are like many people who just don't have an evening to spare for hosting a party at home. 

Here is really simple way to do it and earn yourself some free jewelry in the process!

The method is simple - set a date or dates with me for your Jewelry Party to occur. I'll get you, your very own 'code'. Pass around the date, and code to all your family and friends (and anyone you'd like to 'invite'). When they make their online purchases, and use their code - you start earning free jewelry!

Just by hosting an Online Jewelry Party you get $45 of FREE jewelry!

Plus . . . 

get an additional discount of . . .

15% of your guest purchase total of $800+, or

10% of your guest purchase total of $100-$799.

Plus . . . 

get another $25 of FREE jewelry for 

each new party booked from your party!

(redeemable at or after that party).

Plus . . . 

get another $25 of free jewelry if you have 20 or more guests!

In addition, each of your 'party-goers' will be entered to win a FREE pair of earrings to be shipped with their order. 

This is a fantastic (and easy way to earn yourself some great jewelry, and you don't have to worry about getting out of your pajamas, cleaning your house, or preparing food.

Please contact me at: larissawowk@gmail.com to register your party!
Please write virtual party in your subject line.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/LarissaWowk

Black Friday Sale!

http:\\www.etsymom.com

I belong to the Etsy Mom's Team on Etsy.  We are having a great Black Friday sale so please come check it out!

Please also visit my site where you can get 15% off your order just use coupon code EM15OFF  

Larissa's Handcrafted Jewelry

How to Make Eating Out with Kids a More Pleasant Experience

Hungry kids and long waits for food to be delivered to the table is enough to make many adults shudder at the thought of even attempting to go out to eat.  What is needed is a way to keep the kids distracted during their wait.  Many restaurants have gotten smart and provide kids with crayons and a placemat to draw on but this does not always occupy them the entire time.  I have started taking along an activity kit that helps fill the void especially at places that don't provide crayons.

I purchased a small zippered bag from a dollar store along with several other items.  Here is what I include in the bag:

• a mini pack of uno cards
• a ziplock bag of legos
• mini puzzles from Five Below
• colored pencils
• stickers
• magnet games
• a small drawing pad 
• a mad libs book
• bendaroos
• travel size games such as connect 4, tic-tac-toe, memory etc.
• I spy cards
• mini books of mazes or other puzzles from dollar stores
• some fruit snacks in case the kids really can't wait to eat something
• antibacterial hand wipes

These items can and should be adjusted  according to the age of your child and varied from time to time and will help make the entire dining out experience more pleasant for all involved.  What sorts of thing do you bring along when you go out with your kids?

Snow Fall in October and Chess?

After the freak snow storm we had here on October 29th, we like many people, were left in the cold and dark.   Literally.  It took 5 days for us to regain electricity.  We heated the house with our gas fireplace and all slept in one room.  And so began the joys of "camping out"  with 3 children in our family room. Lots of take out food was consumed, many flashlights were lit. School was cancelled for 3 days because the buildings could not be heated and lit.  And of course there was quite a bit of whining and fighting between the kids on that first and second day and then something miraculous began to happen.  They actually started to really interact with one another and for the most part got along well.  They decided that since the TV was not working they would all sit down and learn to play a new game.  What did they pick?  Chess.  They took turns holding the flashlights and reading up on the moves the various pieces could make and began to play  basic games against each other until they no longer needed the instructions.  By the time the lights came back on they were playing fairly well and holding mini "tournaments".

How did your kids get through this or other extended blackouts?