Blessingheartt Inspirations: How to Throw the Best Outdoor Party of the Fall

When the hot weather abates, outside beckons, making this the best time for an outdoor party. How do you prepare? No doubt, you have a good idea who will attend and what you will serve. How will your place look and feel? This post will help you think about that. A successful al fresco party requires outdoor space that is comfortable and attractive. Add furniture so that everyone can sit. Wood is a good choice, and it can be chic and casual. Rattan is another natural choice; a sofa with colorful cushions adds comfort and energy. If you want to go modern, use L- or U-shaped sectionals and chaise lounges. Your décor must be natural. If your outdoor space isn’t already planted, rent planters and vases with shrubbery, other greenery, flowers, or combinations of flora that suit your design, and place them strategically. (Don’t forget a floral table decoration)

 

Track lighting is a great solution to controlling ambience—lighter areas for food & beverage service, lower light for conversation, and very dim light for dancing and other activities. If you have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, clean it up and let it enhance your party. It will be cozy, especially if the evening grows chill. Decorate it using rocks or stones, if you think more greenery won’t work. If you have a swimming pool, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to light it dramatically, maybe with floating candles or spotlights. Finally, use special table service and beverage cups/glasses; find table covers and napkins that coordinate with your theme. Make your outdoor space inviting, comfortable, and festive, and you will have the best party ever.

 

 

how to throw the best out door party

Kitchen Safety for Children on Their Own

It's estimated that roughly 7 million children world wide are "on their own" or are "cared for by a sibling" for short periods of time after school. Often the kitchen is the first place children go when they get home. What are the most important food and safety facts that children should know? Here are some clues to kitchen safety that you will want to remember. 

1. Hands carry lots of germs. The first step in food safety is to wash your hands before making or eating a snack. All you need is a little soap and water. Make sure the water is warm, and lather up. Scrub the back and front of your hands, between the fingers and don't forget your fingernails. Wash for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse under running water and dry with a clean towel.

This may sound nice but not necessary. Proper hand washing, however, could save you from becoming ill.

2. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating ... use just clear, clean water-no soap. 

3. When using a knife to cut your food, always cut away from your body. 

4. Microwave cooking is fast but can cause serious burns. Check with a grown-up for specific directions before using the microwave oven. Some general tips for safe microwaving include:

 Never turn on an empty oven. This can cause the oven to break. 

 Read package directions carefully. Make sure you know how to set the microwave oven controls (for example, 10 seconds, rather than 10 minutes). 

 Use only microwave-safe cookware. 

Food coming out of the microwave can be very hot. Never pop any food right from the microwave into your mouth. Allow the food to cool for several minutes before eating. This includes letting microwave popcorn set a few minutes before opening; then open the bag so the opening is pointing away from you. Steam from the bag can cause serious bums. 

 Food gets hot in the microwave. Have potholders handy to remove hot dishes.

5. Hot liquids, not fire, are the most common cause of burns to children. If you get burned working in the kitchen:

a) Go to the sink and hold the burned area under cool, running water. 

b) If the burn begins to blister cover it loosely with a sterile gauze, or a clean cloth. 

c) Tell a grown-up whenever you are burned. If the burn is severe and hurts badly, get help from an adult immediately.

6. Germs grow quickly in foods that are not stored properly (i.e. milk, lunch meat, hard-cooked eggs, yogurt or foods left out on the counter at room temperature). Put these foods back in the refrigerator as soon as you've fixed your snack. 

7. Discard foods like bread, cheese, jelly, fruits, vegetables or any other foods that have mold spots or look bad. Fruits and vegetables that are shriveled or have soft spots should be thrown away. 

8. If you spill something, take the time to clean it up properly. 

9. To use a toaster safely:

 Keep the toaster away from curtains or towels or other things that could catch fire. 

 Plug it directly into the electrical outlet. Avoid using adapters with many other appliances plugged into the same outlet. Unplug toasters and other kitchen appliances when not using them. 

If toast gets stuck, unplug the toaster. Do not use any object to remove the toast from the toaster. 

Toasters can catch on fire. If you see flames from any kitchen appliance, tell a grown-up immediately. If an adult is not home, call 911.

10. Use a stove only if you have been trained to use it by an adult. Keep things that will burn away from the stove. Towels, potholders, plastics and paper towels can all catch fire quickly when near direct heat or flames.

Keep an eye on the stove when cooking food. Turn pan handles away from the front so someone can't knock them off while walking by. Always turn off the stove when you're done cooking.

11. If something on the stove catches fire:

a) Smother the fire with a lid. 

b) Turn off the burner. 

c) Once the fire is out, tell an adult there was a fire. 

d) Leave the house and call 911 if the fire has leaping flames.

DO NOT THROW BAKING SODA, SALT, WATER OR FLOUR ON A FIRE.

DO NOT CARRY A BURNING OBJECT TO ANOTHER ROOM

How do you motivate children to do their homework?

The best "punishment" for not doing the work is their grade. You need to make it very obvious that they are the ones who are in control of their own studying, and that if they don't work hard enough to pass, you are going to be sad when they fail, but you are not going to step in and do any of the work for them.

Be careful about threats and punishments to get your child to do homework. They may be less motivated to do it. It is almost better to not make them do it, let them fail for a brief period, and let them learn the lesson by themsevles. Then, if after say, five weeks, they still haven't learned a lesson, it's time to intervene.

• Have a set time each day when they must sit down and do schoolwork. This means no tv, no internet, no cellphones, no loud music (soft music is OK but no iPods or earphones because they do turn those up too loud and distract themselves). If they do not have homework that day (or if they claim that they don't), they still have to spend that time studying - have them read over their textbook and write down an outline of what they read into their notebook, or have them write out the important terms and definitions from the chapter, or have them recite what they have learned out loud to you. So long as they are spending that time studying, they'll learn something.
• Get a big family calendar. Write down every assignment's due date on this calendar - also include things like extracurricular activities, important events, and whatever else they need to plan ahead for! With a big visual cue in the kitchen or family room, they cannot say they didn't know something was due, or they forgot to study for a test.
• Bribe them! It's not as bad as it sounds - just as you work for a paycheck, kids need something to work for. If your kids are not motivated by the desire to get a good grade, then you have to come up with something else as a motivation. The only thing to watch out for here is the temptation to use "negative motivation" and take away something fun whenever they don't do well - that's not what I'm talking about, and it doesn't really work well anyhow. Psychological studies have proven that rewards help you change your bad habits faster and more permanently than the fear of punishment. Come up with some sort of reward with your kids - it could be a special movie night, or a small monitary reward for each good result, or a family trip - whatever they would want badly enough to work at their homework and "earn."

(2) - Don't think 'bribe', think 'positive reinforcement'. For most kids today computer, TV, X-box or Ipad time are major motivators so agree with your child that for each hour of completed homework time theycan have 30 minutes of 'media' time. But of course you have to monitor their performance - both in achieving the homework tasks and not over-running their reward time. If they've only earned 30 minutes 'media' time and the programme they are watching is 40 minutes then you have to turn it off (or record the rest) and get them back on task.


Rewards don't have to be this fancy though - studies have shown that even acknowledging someone works effectively as positive reinforcement, so a comments like, 'Well done! I'm really proud of you. That looks really good. Was it hard? Aren't you clever! Which part of it did you find hardest?' will motivate your child and strengthen their relationship with you

Family-Friendly Living Spaces

Family living rooms fulfill many needs. With multitasking amenities and customized storage, these organized living spaces are perfect combinations of lovely and livable with room to grow

Style doesn't have to trump storage. Creating a sense of togetherness is simple when kid-friendly features blend with livable style in your home's gathering spaces. Here's how to make a living room store everything and work for your family.

Storage Bench

Pack two functions into one with a storage bench. A cushion on top provides a place to sit, while cubbies below can be used for books or bins full of toys, games, or crafts supplies.

Console Cabinet

In an open living room floor plan, consider a console cabinet an essential piece. Position one behind a sofa that "floats" in the middle of a room and you'll have a spot for lamps to illuminate the seating space, a surface for placing drinks, plus plenty of storage.

Tiered Coffee Table

While the surface of a coffee table offers plenty of function, get even more from this living room staple by choosing a tiered model. Stack books and magazines on the shelf below, and use baskets both on and underneath the tabletop to corral other items.

Built-Ins

Invest in built-ins to give your living room architectural presence as well as an organized appearance. Frame a doorway with shelves, or consider cabinetry around a fireplace.

Nesting Tables

Nesting tables, usually in sets of two or three, stack together but can be pulled out for extra tabletop surface as needed. They take up less floor space -- ideal for small rooms -- but still offer room for storage.

Console Table

Like its cabinetry cousin, a console table adds storage but provides a different look. Baskets or bins can be lined up beneath for additional storage.

Hutch

Hutches, pie safes, cabinets, and armoires are stylish storage additions for more formal or traditional living rooms. These handsome pieces bring substance to a space while providing plenty of concealed storage for organizing necessities.

Coffee Table with Drawers

Drawers stacked beneath the top of a coffee table can conceal all sorts of items such as board games, remotes, magazines, and more. Since these pieces tend to be a bit more bulky than leggy, open coffee tables, they work best in larger or more open spaces.

Skirted Table

Turn a simple table into a storage gold mine with the addition of a skirt. For a DIY version, first cut and hem a piece of fabric to size. Then place hook-and-loop tape around the top edge of the table and attach the skirt. Slide storage bins or carts beneath the table.