With summer here we spend more time at the beach and on the water. This year I wanted to try kayaking and maybe, some rowing. Actually, I tried it last year but soon realized I have very little upper body strength and was super sore the next day! This year I am going to be ready.I started training: well using, the Lifecore R900 Rowing Machine about a month ago. My nephew does a lot of rowing an...

My Mother-in-law fell and broke her collarbone as well as four ribs. She is in her late 80's and lives alone so her safety is always a concern. She was able to quickly call for help with her lifeline necklace. After a week in the hospital, she was transferred to a short term facility where she spent a month. She is now home (with a chore helper and visiting nurse) and working on getting bac...

With summer weather finally here my family is spending more and more time in the water. All of us have sensitive eyes and use swimming goggles if we are going to be in the water for long. Everyone seems to have his or her favorite brand with three of us preferring the Speedo Vanquisher Swim Goggle. We are easily able to tell which are ours, as we have them in blue, clear and mint. They are also...

Cold therapy is used to reduce swelling and pain. I know this because I have very active kids and have learned it is great for all the sprains and pulled muscles they get over and over!. I rely on Kwik-Kold Instant Ice Packs. They don't need to be refrigerated and so they are great to keep in a first aid kit. When needed, you just squeeze them and follow up wit...

My Experiences:The Lexmark Z1300 printer is a very basic, inexpensive printer. It is perfect for those who need to occasionally print a few pages. At less than $30, it was a perfect solution for our kids who only need one to print out their homework. After months of higher use than expected use, (including a few photos) it is still performing perfectly.SETTING UP THE LEXMARK Z1300Everything to ...

I can still remember the first set of walkie talkies I ever got. They were a Christmas gift for my twin sister and me. We loved them and used them all the time, for years they rated right up there as one of our favorite items! We'd hide them in our pockets and then "tell" where the older ones we're hiding when one of us was "it" during a game of hide and seek or as a...

My husband and I took an amazing Alaskan cruise on the Mercury, a ship in the Celebrity Cruise line. It sailed roundtrip from Canada Place in Vancouver, B.C. and visited three ports: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. We had been to all three of the ports before, so we spent most of our Port time walking around on our own. We did catch the Lumberjack show in Ketchikan which was a lot of fun.The Mer...

The Pedigree brand provide dogs with a somewhat nutritious, soy-free, canned food. Iti is one of the few brands that both of my dogs will eat. I would have to say that their favorite would have to be  Pedigree's with Chunky Chicken.IS THIS A GOOD DOG FOOD? My sister says she buys dog food by looking at the label, and seeing if she would feed it to her family! She does all sorts of odd ...

The Proctor Silex Electric Kettle is a great little appliance. It measures approximately 9-1/6 by 5 by 7-1/3 inches. It is white in color with a blue swish on the side that allows you to see the water level.It is simple to use: just add water, close the lid, plug it on and flip the switch. When it has reached its boiling point, it automatically turns itself off. You can then take leave it plugg...

Kids are crazy about Webkinz's! My daughter loves all of hers and spends a lot of time playing with them both online and off. Since we have a Golden Lab it only made sense to pick her up the Golden Lab Webkinz as soon as it came out. The Yellow Lab is really adorable (just check out the picture) and is really soft. Like all Webkinz, it has a W on it's little paw, his back right one...

I needed another vacuum! Not a high quality one, just one that worked and would last through the kids using it! I found just what I was looking for with Eureka's the Boss Super Lite model.FIVE REASONS TO BUY THIS VACUUM I won't count (but will mention) the box proudly states #1 selling Vacuum in America on all four sides! 1. The weight This is a lighweight vacuum, weighing less tha...

We bought the Travel Alarm Clock flashlight for our daughter's month trip through Germany. She was part of a group of 150 teens from the US who camped, stayed in hostels and host homes throughout Germany. It was perfect because it not only would wake her up when needed but the flashlight would be there if she needed it. As it turned out, she did! In fact, she ended up using it over and over...

I like unique things: both for myself and to give as gifts. One such item is my reflective photo coasters. I got two sets as a gift and they have always gotten great reactions from everyone who sees them. So much in fact, I have since bought four sets for friends as gifts and another set for myself!WHAT MAKES THESE COASTERS SPECIAL?Instead of using plain, boring coasters (or even worse, letting...

If you've ever had a child who was a light sleeper, you know how hard it is for either of you to get a decent nights rest! The Conair Sound Therapy with Clock Radio may help solve that problem!My oldest child had a really hard time staying asleep until we found a teddy bear with a "beating heart" inside. As soon as we would turn it on, she would hear the beating hea...

I first bought the Hound Dog Bulb Hound to plant some bulbs at my mother-in-laws. She is in her mid eighties and still loves to putter around her garden. She needs to have garden tools tht are easy to use.She had moved to a small senior complex where the last tenant had left one neglected rose bush in the small plant able area outside her little patio. The first nice weekend, six of us went ove...

Like most kids, mine love treats! And, like most Moms, I worry about them having too many of them. In fact, sometimes I worry I'm too concerned. That was, until I found Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops. Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops - Loved By MomsWhat is so great about Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops? Glad you asked! First off, like the name suggest, they are organic. They are not made wit...

I bought a pair of Nike ankle weights to get more out of my walks. A friend of mine uses them and has seen great results so I figured; I'd give them a try too. Why Wear Ankle Weights?The great thing about ankle weights is that they let you exercise while you are just walking around! You can strengthen your legs and your bottom by just wearing them while doing everyday thing like spending ti...

Our dog is an outdoor dog. That's not to say we don't let her come in, he just prefers to be outside about 80% of the time. Jake's water intake really increases in the warmer months and so to make sure he always had fresh water we picked him up the Trendy Home Automatic Watering Dog Bowl. These come in different sizes but since Jake is a big dog (over 50 lbs); we bought the large si...

We have two Eagle Creek Soho Slings which we use when traveling. They are great for all the little extras nobody has room for nor wants to carry around while sightseeing. It is larger than a purse yet smaller than a backpack. It is also the perfect size for more local outings where I prefer (or need) to have my hands free: hiking, horseback riding, zoos, museums, etc. It is a wonderful, lightwe...

Camano Island State Park encompasses 134 acres of protected forest as well as 6,700 feet of saltwater beach frontage. It is located on Camano Island (one of the San Juan Islands) in Washington State, about 60 miles north of Seattle. It is a fun place to bring the family for the day or for an extended camping vacation. Picnicking at the ParkCamano Island state Park is a nice place for picnics. T...