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I recently ran across a wonderful feature on CountryLiving.com that suggested some lovely ideas for making your Thanksgiving dinner table truly special. Here are a few of my favorites:

* Look for table linens that actually have words of thanks printed or embroidered on them. This is an elegant way to remember the real meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday.

* Use the colors of fall to bring some drama to your dinner table. Rich reds, bright oranges and lush greens are all perfect for adding some autumnal color in your home.

* When creating your centerpieces, incorporate things like small pumpkins and gords or berries and leaves. And remember to keep them low in height so dishes can still be easily passed by your guests.

* Consider adding place cards or menu cards to your table for a more formal look. Use card holders that reflect your fall theme.

You can see these and many more ideas at CountryLiving.com. Have fun planning the perfect Thanksgiving table!

With some of the strange weather we’ve experienced in 2009, it’s clear to me that nature is capable of making changes. The question is, are we? There’s no denying that we live in a use-it-once-and-toss-it society. So many food products, for example, come in plastic containers that are immediately discarded after their initial use. Food storage containers and plasticware generally meet the same fate. To be more environmentally conscious, use, wash, and reuse regular utensils and dishes, rather than their disposable counterparts, whenever you can! It takes changing your habits, but it’s worth it!

Buy multi-use containers instead of single-use whenever possible, such as more durable food containers that are designed to be microwave and dishwasher safe. If you do use traditionally one-use plastic products such as those listed below, try to find corn-based biodegradeable single-use products and try to wash and reuse them as many times as possible and then recycle them rather than throwing them away.

Plastic Storage and Sandwich Bags
Plastic sandwich and other storage bags (freezer bags, snack bags, and so forth) are extremely convenient. But next time you’re done with your sandwich or other snack, instead of tossing the bag into the garbage, wash it, instead. After washing it, turn it inside out and dry in your dish drain or a wooden bag dryer. You can even throw it into the washing machine!

Plastic Dishes and Utensils
When you buy plastic plates, bowls, cups, and utensils for camping, picnics, parties, or other activities, save them instead of throwing them away. After using them, put them in the dishwasher (or wash them by hand) and then add them to your camping or picnic gear or keep them handy for the next get-together. You can also take the utensils, for example, to work and reuse them for meals or for stirring your coffee or tea in the morning.

Plastic Food and Water Containers
Many types of plastic containers can be reused for storing, refrigerating, and freezing foods. Yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, and similar containers are great for storing leftovers. You can refrigerate or freeze them, and then when you are ready to eat the contents, put the food into a pan or pot to warm on the stove or into a dish to reheat in the microwave. Note: Do not microwave food in these kinds of disposable food containers. Chemicals leech into the food. Yucky!

Water, soda, juice, and sports drink bottles can also be reused, though they must be carefully cleaned after use to avoid contamination by bacteria. If properly cleaned, these liquid containers can be reused several times. Eventually, the plastic will start to wear down, though, so don’t keep them too long (probably no more than a month or two).

Milk jugs and other opaque containers, on the other hand, are designed for very short-term use and should not be reused for storage of food or beverages because they break down very easily.

Kaboom® is proud to be an official sponsor of 2009 Bathroom Blogfest.

I am a busy Mom with 3 young children and have probably spent 4 of the last 7 years or so working on potty training. And as a result, I have seen my fair share of public restrooms.

All of my children began potty training with a fear of public restrooms. To begin with, the toilets were sized for adults and so there was that horrible feeling of dangling feet or, worse yet, the feeling that I might actually fall in if Mommy lets go of me. Then there was the noise. It seemed that each public toilet flushed louder than the last and it sent my kids screaming in terror as they attempted to block out the noise by covering their ears.

Fortunately, the fear eventually subsided and has now given way to fascination (which may actually be worse)! My youngest child always manages to announce in a loud voice at restaurants, in church, or anywhere else that others may hear, that she needs to go to the bathroom. So, never one to ignore that plaintive cry for fear of an accident, I race with her to the ladies’ room where my daughter proceeds to inspect everything from the toilet seat covers to the soap dispenser. Occasionally, she will actually use the toilet but most times we return to the rest of the family after nothing but an exploratory visit and lots of cries from me saying “don’t touch that!”

Not 5 minutes later comes the inevitable request again to go to the bathroom. I consider ignoring the second request while people around me begin to stare as my child begs to go, but eventually I give in and back we go. I have, on occasion, made this trip upwards of 5 times before my daughter eventually decides it’s time to go. But that ultimate success is a great reward!

So, in summary, it’s safe to say that at this point in my life, I don’t care if I never see the inside of another public restroom

About five years ago, my dear friend Alison turned me on to composting. Composting is a great way to recycle organic materials such as plant food scraps, egg shells, fruit and vegetable peels, leaves, grass clippings, plant matter, shredded cardboard boxes, and similar materials right at home, even in a simple container under the sink. You can also add a small amount of garden soil or compost starters or accelerators, if desired, as you begin composting. You’ll want to avoid using meat or bones; styrofoam or plastic, vegetation from diseased plants, or human or pet waste in your compost pile!

When you are ready to begin composting, you can use a simple composting pile without the bin, or there are many types of composting bins available—larger, smaller, static, and tumbling. Before you begin composting, think about the location of your compost pile. Think about how much space you will want for composting, and consider the visibility of your compost, particularly if you choose not to use a compost bin. For a single compost pile, two to four square feet of area is usually best. When you compost, go higher, rather than wider, as a higher pile of compost produces better heat. After you start your pile, mix or turn it every so often (when you add more material is a good time) so that it is adequately aerated.

For best results, use a wide variety of materials in your compost. Having too much of any one thing will throw off the pH of your compost, and the material will not decompose very well. Also, make sure that your compost pile is neither too dry nor too wet—you need moisture to keep the composting process going, but your compost pile shouldn’t be soggy. Temperature, oxygenation, humidity, and the carbon-nitrogen ratio (which can be kept in balance by monitoring the humidity and composition of your compost) all affect the success of your composting, so keep these factors in mind.

If you’re planning to carve pumpkins this Halloween, here are some useful tips to make sure the process is both fun and safe for everyone.

* Be careful of sharp tools – We all know that sharp tools are a necessity when carving pumpkins but always make sure that your children are supervised during the process.

* Lay lots of newspaper – Try to contain your mess when gutting your pumpkins by laying down lots of newspaper. You may even consider working outside if the weather is warm enough.

* Clean thoroughly – Make sure to get all the pulp out of your pumpkin as any hanging pieces can pose a fire hazard once you light the pumpkin with a candle.

* Waste not, want not – Rather than throwing away all your pumpkin seeds, consider using them in some of these clever recipes.

* Artifical light – Consider using artifical light instead of candles to light your pumpkins since this helps eliminate most of the fire hazard and can be just as effective.

* Clean up easily – Finally, when you’re all done, use your favorite GreatCleaners cleaning products to give your home back its sparkle.

Happy Halloween!

No matter where you live, as we approach Winter, there are some things we should all be doing to get our homes ready for the colder weather. I found this great article on About.com with a list of 10 items we should cover during the winterizing process:

1. Have your furnace inspected, stock up on filters and remove any flammable materials from the area.

2. Prepare your fireplace, have your chimney cleaned and stock up on firewood.

3. Check doors and windows for cracks and install storm windows if you have them.

4. Check your roof for worn or missing shingles and clean out your gutters and downspouts.

5. Store your lawnmower and make sure your snow blower is ready.

6. Seal any foundation cracks and close off any entry points.

7. Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and install a carbon monoxide detector.

8. Insulate your plumbing and drain garden hoses.

9. Prune trees, seal patios and wood decks and move delicate potted plants inside.

10. Prepare an emergency kit.

For the full article – visit About.com and remember to always be prepared!

I’m a huge fan of teaching my kids about eco-friendly alternatives. Recently I ran across the Food Kozy, a fun and attractive way to wrap up sandwiches, wraps, fruit and more. They are perfect for school lunch boxes as well as yours. And they are even more perfect for the environment!

Get rid of your plastic baggies and grab yourself a set of Food Kozies. They are reusable and are easy to rinse in your kitchen sink. They come in the lime green color shown here as well as orange. So do something good for your kids and the environment and check out this great solution.

Do you ever feel like you live in a toy store? Most families have a hard time avoiding mountainous eruptions of toys that trickle throughout their homes. There are ways to find a happy medium, so you don’t have to feel like your house is being taken over by monster trucks, dolls, children’s books and flashing musical instruments. We may not be able to hide our children’s tracks through our home entirely, (and who would want to, anyway?), but we can keep toys in check with these simple organizational tips.

Less is Less

Children are all for having “too much of a good thing,” but we can teach them how to scale back to keep everyone’s life more sane! For every new toy or book that comes into your home, one should be donated to charity or put into storage if you plan on saving them for a younger sibling. Convincing your little ones to adhere to your “out with the old, in with the new” policy shouldn’t be too difficult. Most kids will happily part with an older toy, as long as it doesn’t have sentimental value, to welcome a new addition to their toy box. *Top Tip: Also keep in mind that toys aren’t the end all be all in childhood entertainment. Spending time outdoors, in parks and museums and partaking in family activities rounds out playtime and cuts back on the need for tons of toys.

Enlist Kids to Help with Clean-up

Teach your children from a very young age to put away their toys and books when they’ve finished playing with them. A fun way to encourage this habit is to purchase bins for each type of toy: plush toys, musical instruments, Legos, trucks, etc. Take a picture of each set of toys, perhaps as your child plays or poses with them, and then tape the photograph to the outside of the bin. This will enable your child to see exactly where his toys need to go during clean-up.

Book Smart

Purchase a small bookcase to house all of your children’s books. Make sure it is topple proof and sturdy before  acquainting your child with her reading niche. Teach her to put away her books when she’s finished reading them. Kids love to sort and stack books, so this activity will give them pride in their book collection, and help nourish their love of the written word.

Decide What “Look” You’re Going For

Some parents want to camouflage their children’s toys and belongings, while others are happy to have them out in the open as part of their home decor. If you want to maintain a more sophisticated home appearance, there are a variety of sleek baskets and containers that will conceal toys when they’re not in use. You may also store toy containers under a bed or in a closet, and only take them out at playtime. If you’re lucky enough to have a designated play area in your home, opt for cute, child-friendly toy storage boxes so your kids may easily access their entertainment. *Top Tip: Don’t buy storage containers or toy boxes that have heavy lids or hinges, as you want to avoid any injuries from lids slamming closed or hinges pinching your child’s fingers.

Routine Round-Up

Staying on top of toy clean-up and organization is essential. Daily maintenance is required so things don’t get out of hand and you aren’t tripping on remote controlled cars on your way to make dinner. Sometimes toy clean-up is required several times a day, but it is worth the effort to maintain a sense of decorum, and safety in your home.

If you’re a parent, you know that life will never be the same now that you have children. In the same vein, our homes will always be touched by their wonderful musings. Go easy on yourself and your children if your home is less than perfect! The above tips should help you find a comfortable way to live amongst all of your children’s gear and reverie!

Did you know that dryers are typically the biggest energy zappers in our homes?

There’s no better time than the summer season to let your laundry air dry in the sunshine. Even if you don’t have a sprawling backyard and clothesline, you can still hang your clothes to dry indoors on a rack in your basement, garage or other dry area. By doing so, you’ll not only save money on your personal electricity bill, you’ll also pitch in and help save the planet from global warming.

Line drying is beneficial for clothing, and may even prolong the life of certain garments. Tumble dryers can be rough on clothing, while line drying poses no wear and tear. We’ve all scratched our heads over unbelievably wrinkled, scrunched up clothing sometimes pulled from the dryer. When you shake out clothing and pull it taut before hanging it to line dry, wrinkles are eliminated. Sunlight acts as a natural bleaching agent, so whites get even whiter on the line. For this reason, turn bright colored clothing inside out, or hang vibrant items to dry indoors. If you think your clothes aren’t as cuddly when dried on the line, simply add fabric softener during your wash cycle to soften the load.

As you know, I’m all about re-purposing household items, and those dryer sheets will need a new job while you hang your laundry out to dry on clotheslines. Here are ten clever ways to use your dryer sheets outside of the dryer:

1. To leave a fresh scent in odorous areas, place a dryer sheet in the bottom of the diaper pail, under the liner of the kitchen trashcan, at the bottom of the laundry basket, inside stinky shoes, in your gym bag and under the seat of your car.

2. Dust your blinds with a dryer sheet and watch the dirt stick.

3. Pin a dryer sheet to your shirt while in the great outdoors, and it will act as a mosquito repellent.

4. Wipe your television screen with a dryer sheet to remove static and dust.

5. Use a dryer sheet to clean soap scum off shower doors.

6. Rub a dryer sheet across your clothing or fabric furniture to collect and remove pet hair.

7. Next time you spill flour, powder, or sawdust, easily wipe it up with a dryer sheet.

8. Clean scissor blades with a dryer sheet to restore smoothness.

9. Place a dryer sheet in your luggage and clothes will smell laundry fresh throughout your trip.

10. Rid an old or used book of a musty odor by enclosing a dryer sheet between its pages.

Most of the above work with used dryer sheets as well, minus some of the fragrance.

GreatCleaners’ newest bathroom cleaner is a product called Kaboom® Foam-Tastic™. This fantastic foam sprays on blue and then turns white as it cleans. I actually tested this product out myself to see if it really works as advertised. I sprayed the foam around the rim of a sink and sure enough it came out of the can a bright blue color. I stood and watched as it turned white signaling that the cleaning was complete. I then rinsed off the area and was amazed at the results. The scum and grime was completely gone and I never scrubbed, wiped or sponged the area at all!

I highly recommend Kaboom® Foam-Tastic™! You can buy it online now and save $1.00 off the retail price. Don’t spend any more time cleaning than you have to!