After your first frost, don't wait to remove annual plant material from your beds. If you want your flowers to reseed for volunteers next spring, let them dry a bit, but the rest needs to come out. Add the dead residue to your compost heap or mulch them into the grass. Your garden beds (and your neighbors) will thank you!
Whatever we do, Halloween (candy!) is on the way. If your kiddos love the sweet stuff, be sure to insist they brush after each candy indulgence! Eating two pieces and brushing is better than coating your teeth with sugar all day long! Healthy teeth rule!
Spend an afternoon at the park with your kiddos mapping the area. Preschoolers might tell you where to put things, and older children might want to draw their own. Then combine them into one map. On your next visit, have each child suggest where to visit first. Color code each child's suggestion and you can rotate who gets first choice. Sharing is better!
For your electric stove or trusty toaster, use a straw to loosen stuck crumbs or other bits of food. Pinch it flat at the end to slip inside those tight spaces that nothing else will fit into. (Make sure your appliance is cool, first!) Clean stove, happy kitchen!
After a summer of rain, your basement might need more than a simple sweep-up. Accumulated moisture can leave an undesirable aroma. Baking soda (non-toxic for pets and children!) can be used to absorb much of the smell. Sprinkle it around, and in a few days, sweep or vacuum. Repeat as needed!