Scrubbly bubbly clean sink

After finishing the dishes at night, our new way to clean the sink is to pour in baking soda and scrub with a half of a lemon. The lemon makes the baking soda bubble and help clean the sink, and it leaves a fresh scent.

Why can't I sleep?

We all know the feeling; you go to bed and your mind starts racing, keeping you awake for hours. I usually start to think, "okay, now I'm going to sleep."

There are many factors that weigh in when it comes to poor sleep habits, but some of them can be changed or improved by us.

*To begin with, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco all can all affect sleep. Try to stay away from these things after lunch if you're having trouble sleeping at night.

*A regular sleep schedule can help dramatically. It may not sound appealing to get up at the crack of dawn on a weekend, but it will actually help your overall sleep pattern.

*Television and computer screens both stimulate brain activity. Turn them off an hour before you try to sleep.

*Fast-paced music increases heart rate. Doctors say you'll sleep better and longer if you listen to soft, relaxing music an hour before bed.

*Turn your clock and other lights away from you. Even the illuminated numbers on your clock can be enough light to disturb your rest.

*Temperature can be a big factor too. Most people want to be snuggly and warm when they sleep, but being overheated can actually bring on nightmares (also a handy tip when it comes to getting your kids to sleep). Keep your home cool at night and don't sleep too bundled up.

Hopefully by trying some of these tips you're in for a better night's sleep soon.

Zzzzz

Windows made easy and green

After doing a little research, we have come up with our favorite way to clean windows. There's always the old standby of vinegar and water, but I don't like the smell. We did a little research, used some different products and our favorite product made my Shaklee called Basic H2. It has no VOCs, no chlorine bleach, no phosphates, nitrates or borates, recyclable packaging, biodegradable surfactants, and contains sustainable natural ingredients. You mix this product with water to make several different household cleaners. The window cleaner takes only a couple drops of cleaner mixed with 16 ounces of water. They also sell a window cloth, which works great especially for inside the house. So here's what we do.

For windows inside, mix Basic H2 with water, spray on windows, and wipe horizontally with the window cleaning cloth.

For outside, fill a bucket with water, add your H2 and use a sponge (we found a compostable sponge made of natural cellulose at Trader Joe's) and get the windows very wet to clean the dirt and grime from them. Then use a squeegee to get the majority of the cleaner off. Use a dry towel and use vertical strokes to complete the drying.

Notice we use horizontal strokes on the inside, vertical on the outside. That way, you can tell if there are any streaks which side they're on.

These tips will get your windows looking cleaner and brighter in no time.

Diagnosing Childhood Asthma

When our son was three months old, he suffered from RSV, which turned into bronchiolitis. The doctor told us what to watch for to make sure it isn't childhood asthma. There are two types of asthma, allergic and nonallergic. When your child is five or older, there is a breathing test that can be performed to measure the speed and amount of air moving in and out of the lungs. In younger kids, we need to rely on symptoms.

We were informed that chronicity is the best way to determine if your child has asthma. If your child has trouble breathing one time, it may never happen again. If your child has frequent coughing or respiratory infections (pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis) they should be evaluated for asthma.

Some ways to tell if your little one is having trouble breathing according too William Anderson, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist, are

Rapid breathing 0 children should breath around 20-25 times per minute.

Retraction between the ribs is a sign of airway narrowing.

Wheezing or whistling sounds when a child exhales.

Frequently a child who has asthma at a young age will outgrow it and have no further trouble as an adult.

4th of July Safety

Ahh, fireworks! They're so enamoring. The California State Fire Marshal has the following tips to keep your 4th safe.

*Always read directions

*Always have an adult present

*Use fireworks outdoors only and never near dry grass or flammable materials

*Keep a safe distance

*Light one at a time

*Never point or throw fireworks toward people

*Have a bucket and hose handy

*Never attempt to relight or "fix" fireworks

*Never carry fireworks in your pocket

*Do not wear loose fitting clothing when using fireworks

Also, as this is one of the busiest weekends of the year for camping, the following are some campfire safety tips from the US Forest Service

*Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, rotten stumps, logs, and dry grass.

*Keep plenty of water handy and a shovel for throwing dirt in case your fire gets out of control

*Keep your fire small

*Be sure your match is out and break it before throwing it away

*Never leave a campfire unattended

*Drown the fire with water, stir the remains, add water again. Move rocks in case there are burning embers underneath them

*Feel all materials with your hand and make sure no roots are burning.

Using these tips will help to keep you safe for the 4th of July. The fun part is up to you.

Happy Independence Day