At Home With Valerie

  4 Tips for a Productive 2021 (Family Features) This year has taught many workers a thing or two about being productive when offices and homes blend into one. As the calendar turns to 2021, consider these key products and processes to stay productive next year. Find a system (and stick to it): Creating an organizing system is an easy way to ensure your at-home workspace is ready for optimal productivity. Designate space to house all your work items – a drawer, cabinet or box – and keep work items organized by type (pens, papers, computer gear, etc.) At the end of each day, transitioning to “offline hours” can be easier when you have a place to stow your work items. Start your day clean: Studies have shown cleanliness has a direct impact on productivity. Yet, many people struggle to find the time and energy to clean, especially at the end of a busy day at home. An option like The DEEBOT T8 from Ecovacs provides a hands-free cleaning experien...

I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you and your family at this wonderful holiday season!  I truly hope that you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Trees - Decorated trees date back to Germany in the Middle Ages, with German and other European settlers popularizing Christmas trees in America by the early 19th century.  A New York woodsman named Mark Carr is credited with opening the first U.S. Christmas tree lot in 1851. A 2019 survey by the American Christmas Tree Association, predicted that 77 percent of U.S. households displayed a Christmas tree in their home. Among the trees on display, an estimated 81 percent were artificial and 19 percent were real. Source:  www.history.com

  "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" is a line from an editorial called "Is There a Santa Claus?" The editorial appeared in the September 21, 1897, edition of The (New York) Sun, and has since become part of popular Christmas folklore in the United States. It is the most reprinted newspaper editorial in the English language. In 1897, Dr. Philip O'Hanlon, a coroner's assistant on Manhattan's Upper West Side, was asked by his then eight-year-old daughter, Virginia O'Hanlon (1889–1971), whether Santa Claus, a legendary character, really existed. O'Hanlon suggested she write to The Sun, a then prominent New York City newspaper, assuring her that "If you see it in The Sun, it's so."  Virginia O’Hanlon’s original letter to the Sun In so doing, Dr. O'Hanlon had unwittingly given one of the paper's editors, Francis Pharcellus Church, an opportunity to rise above the simple question and address the philosophical issues behind ...

 

Dear Friends ,   As we enjoy the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the season when family and friends gather, and the big picture in terms of how we're all expected to get along on this increasingly crowded planet of ours.   The holidays often put people around the table who may not normally see one another throughout the year. Far flung relatives, cousins, in-laws, and other guests-of-guests may come from all walks of life. Their political, religious, and social viewpoints may differ widely from our own. Yet when we see them during the holidays, we do our best to tolerate differences. Ideally, we look for ways to connect rather than provoke arguments.   Tolerance is not always the easiest value to embrace. Now, especially, we can find ourselves thrust into polemic arguments driven by political and media forces which command enormous attention and influence. Social media and a profound lack of face-to-face interaction makes it easier to distanc...

 

 

A Difference-Making Disinfectant (Family Features) With a need to protect your home and family like never before amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s exceedingly important to ensure your spaces are properly disinfected, which means bacteria and viruses are completely inactivated or destroyed. Consider these steps to disinfect surfaces with an option like Original Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner. The disinfectant received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency for kill claims against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, after third-party laboratory testing proved the disinfectant’s efficacy against the virus when used as directed on hard, nonporous surfaces. To learn more, visit pinesol.com/covid-19-resources .   SOURCE: Pine-Sol

Make the Most of Holiday Gatherings This Year (Family Features) The holiday season may look different this year, but family, friends, gratitude and good food never go out of style. This year, you can make the most of your intimate holiday gatherings with new traditions, cooking shortcuts and creative ways to keep friends and family close, no matter how far apart you are. For more information and ideas to spice up your holiday meal this season, visit BobEvans.com . SOURCE: Bob Evans

 

  In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row,     That mark our place; and in the sky     The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,     Loved and were loved, and now we lie,         In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw     The torch; be yours to hold it high.     If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow         In Flanders fields. BY  JOHN MCCRAE

(Family Features) In most pets, the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are nonspecific and could easily be attributed to other illnesses. To protect yourself and your pets from the dangers of CO, it’s important to keep working alarms throughout the home, test and replace them as recommended and understands the signs. Learn more about protecting your two- and four-legged loved ones at Kidde.com . SOURCE: Kidde

(Family Features) Traditional family activities like trick-or-treating create fun moments and memories, but the effects of COVID-19 on this Halloween will bring about change for the spooky excitement. You can still ensure a special night for your little ones and all the ghouls, goblins and ghosts in your neighborhood by following safety measures aimed at keeping everyone healthy on All Hallows’ Eve. Consider these tips for safe trick-or-treating from the experts at the National Safety Council and leading candy maker, Mars Wrigley. Before Buy individually wrapped candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Fun-size packs are one of the easiest forms of candy for trick-or-treaters to grab and go. Create fun, individual candy goody bags for a no-touch option for trick-or-treaters. Make sure your yard is well-lit; replace any burnt-out light bulbs. Create signs encouraging trick-or-treaters to stay 6 feet apart and display them in your yard. Don’t hand out treats if you a...

(Family Features) Warm, delectable dishes go hand-in-hand with cool fall evenings when the crisp air sends you to the kitchen for a filling meal. Look no further than easy recipes like meatballs that pack fulfilling flavor to feed your family when the autumn temperatures dip. These Grass-fed Beef Meatballs with Garlic and Herbs can be the perfect solution anytime you’re craving a warm, comforting meal. They’re made with New Zealand grass-fed ground beef, which provides an unrivaled taste. Grass-fed year-round, the animals roam and graze freely over lush green hills and pastures, resulting in lean, flavorful meat that tastes just as nature intended. Paired with a tomato-based sauce, the meatballs are baked before being topped with Parmesan cheese and parsley then served hot for a dish that warms you from the inside-out. While preparing the meatballs, be sure to wet your hands prior to shaping them as it helps prevent the meat from sticking to your hands. Find more comforting fall ...

(Family Features) Even though Halloween may look a little different this year for many families, there are still ways to make the most of popular seasonal traditions, like costumes, spooky decor and festive treats. Rather than venturing out to look for a costume, get creative at home with everyday craft supplies and delivery boxes to make unique, low-cost costumes – or “boxtumes.” Not only are boxtumes a simple way to save money by upcycling delivery boxes you’ve accumulated, but making them can be a fun activity for the whole family. Your creations can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Turn an everyday hero into a Halloween superhero this year with a DIY Fire Truck Boxtume, or make it a duo costume perfect for siblings by adding a DIY Fire Hydrant Boxtume to match. With Amazon Prime’s fast, free shipping, any crafting supplies or candy you may need – and the box for your DIY creation – could be just one order away. Share your upcycled box creations on social media using #...

  Sending you my warm wishes from home to home and from heart to heart to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! May this day be a beautiful reminder of the wonderful things in life.

  Disasters often strike without warning. Is your home prepared?

  🍁 Fall is a great time to sell.

Did you know cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries?! Fire Prevention Week is here and the theme for 2020 is safety in the kitchen. 👨‍🚒👩‍🚒🚒 #FirePreventionWeek #Firefighters #FireSafety #homesafety  

Getting pre-approved doesn’t just give you an idea of how much house you can afford, it also lets sellers know you’re a serious buyer. With more houses receiving multiple offers, a pre-approval letter can be a key factor in a bidding war, and you don’t want to miss out.

 

 

 A little sweat equity can really pay off when it comes time to sell your home. 

(Family Features) If there’s one thing parents know, it’s children thrive on routines. When it seems like everything is changing, routines can create stability. “When children know what to expect, they don’t feel powerless and out of control,” said Rashelle Chase from KinderCare Learning Centers’ education team. “Children like to plan just as much as adults do. When they know what will happen next, they can set their expectations.” Routines can also help children regulate their emotions – and avoid meltdowns or outbursts – because their days follow a pattern and are predictable. There’s typically a sense of comfort in knowing what comes next. Whether your child’s back-to-school routine includes actually going to school or distance learning, consider these tips to help create a sense of stability. Set a schedule Talk with your child about his or her school day and how it will be different. Work together to come up with ways you can both ease into the new routine, whether your c...

 

Providing teachers and families tools for in-person and at-home learning (Family Features) The COVID-19 pandemic presents many new challenges for this back-to-school season, particularly for teachers and families as they prepare for a new normal whether it’s in a traditional or virtual classroom. With 90% of teachers paying for supplies out of their own wallets, Clorox is helping ease the burden of an unprecedented school year by donating $1 million to ClearTheList Foundation to provide resources teachers need to set students up for a successful year ahead – wherever they’ll be learning. Visit Clorox.com/Support-Our-Teachers to learn more about the initiative, find tips and resources for this back-to-school season and enter for a chance to win $5,000 for your family plus $20,000 for your local school. SOURCE: Clorox

(BPT) - By Dr. Bela Sood, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist and senior mental health policy professor at Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. This pandemic is unlike anything we've ever experienced, so how can we help our children cope, especially when we're also feeling anxious? The key lies in acknowledging our own fears and concerns, while understanding how each individual child handles emotional challenges. Parenting is hard. Parenting during a pandemic can feel especially challenging as you balance changes in work, home and school. Here's how you can provide support and reassurance, whatever your child's stage of development. Start with yourself Even infants pick up on their parents' moods, so your emotional state will affect how your children cope. As instructed on airplanes, during turbulence you should put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. The same is true of turbulent times: Take care of yourself first. Reflect on h...

(eLivingtoday.com) Because most colleges and universities require applicants to submit ACT or SAT results as part of admissions consideration, prepping for the test itself can be a critical component of that process. While it can oftentimes be hard to deal with the anxiety that comes with a rigorous test meant to show your mastery of certain subjects and concepts, such as reading and mathematics, consider these test prep tips to help boost your score while simultaneously lowering stress. Register Early To allow yourself as much flexibility as possible, taking college entrance exams during your junior year of high school is encouraged. If you don’t get an ideal score, you can refine your approach and retake the exam with a better idea of what to expect. Take a Practice Test Any test prep plan should start with a practice SAT or ACT exam. Taking practice tests under realistic conditions can help you gain a better understanding of the content of the test, improve your time mana...

You can spark your child’s imagination with reading, which allows playful creativity to take over and learning to ensue. Whether you, your child or someone else does the reading, there’s sure to be a memory produced, experience gained or knowledge added when there’s a favorite book or story involved. For more information on the importance of youth reading, visit rif.org . SOURCE: rif.org

(Family Features) If spending more time at home than usual has you reaching for snacks more often, keep some quick, flavorful options on-hand to help fuel you and your family throughout the day when hunger pangs strike. One versatile pantry staple that can fit a variety of snack cravings: popcorn. With no artificial additives or preservatives, light and airy popcorn is naturally low in fat and calories, non-GMO and gluten free, making it a sensible option to enjoy one handful at a time or sprinkled with seasonings that satisfy your taste buds. A whole-grain food, popcorn has energy-producing carbohydrates and fiber, which can help keep you satisfied longer. Plus, it’s simple enough to make that kids can help in the kitchen by popping it themselves or adding toppings. Whether you’re craving something sweet, salty, spicy – or nearly anything else – freshly popped popcorn can serve as the perfect base ingredient to simply mix in your favorite toppings or create more unique tastes b...

Homeownership doesn’t just make your wallet happy. While the idea of buying a home can be overwhelming, I’m here to make it as easy as possible.

Be honest! This year has definitely been like none other.