The little darlings are back in school and while your house might be eerily quiet, how many sticky spots are you stepping in, and have you bothered to take a look at your cabinet facings and door knobs… Brace yourself. It’s not pretty. All the remnants of lemonade stands and popsicle parties are glaringly obvious now that it’s just me here all day.

Here are a few tips to help get your house back under control in no time!

Clean in small bursts. We know you have more to do in a day than to clean and no one wants to spend a whole weekend making the house spotless, only to see it in ruined by Monday morning. We LIVE in houses, and living in something means it will get messy and dirty. Clean a little bit each day.

Protect and Keep those carpets in tip top shape. Vacuum heavy traffic areas 2 to 3 times a week, and the rest of your carpet once a week. Use an indoor/outdoor mat at your doors leading in from the outside, to cut down on dirt getting in your house. I like the idea of everyone removing their shoes at the door, but we can’t ever seem to remember to do that.

Dishwash switch plates and outlet covers. Kind of like door knobs, my light switch plates tend to get pretty grimy and dust typically covers the backsides of switch plates and outlet covers, which doesn’t help allergy sufferers. Unscrew and place plates and covers in the dishwasher, which will clean and sanitize them. While those are washing, you can move on to your next chore. Multi tasking at it’s finest!

Everything has a place, and everything in it’s place. This is a big rule for us. 3 kids equals a lot of stuff. Shoes, backpacks, school supplies, etc. Designate areas for the items that seem to never be able to find a home. Create a sock or shoe basket. Find a spot and install some hooks for those back packs every afternoon. If everyone knows their items have a home, they’re more likely to get it to the right spot rather than dumping it in the middle of the floor. (In theory, anyway.)

Basket system. Much like the above with finding a home for their items … Keep a laundry basket or decorative basket in the family room. Throughout the day, place those items in it. At the end of the day, all items need to be back where they go. Otherwise, they risk being donated. Kids will listen when they hear that part!

Sort and Toss on the Spot. Don’t let mail and school papers pile up. If it’s junk mail, toss it immediately in the recycle bin. Same with school papers. Look through those worksheets and tests, give high fives for the good scores and toss it. Anything that needs to be saved, file appropriately. Everyone in our house has a file box with their name on it. School schedules, forms and papers that need to be kept go there. Make sure to check it weekly and discard as needed.
What tips do you have for reclaiming your home now that the tiny humans have gone back to school?

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By: Allana Pinkerton, Certified CPST and Global Safety Advocate for diono

Did you know every 33 seconds, one child under the age of 13 is involved in a crash? As September 17^th kicks off Child Passenger Safety Week and September 23^rd marks National Seat Check Saturday we wanted to share some tips on car seat safety.

Check List for Proper Installation
1. Read the manuals for the car seat and vehicle. Pay close attention to warnings, expiration dates
and registration procedures.
2. Watch car seat manufacturer installation videos on their website. Always use a reputable source
to get more information on installations.
3. Make sure the car seat can be installed with the LATCH system and seat belt individually. Many
car seats have weight limitations on the LATCH system and you will need to install with the seat
belt eventually.
4. Place seat belt or LATCH strap through the proper belt path. There is only one for infant car
seats and two for convertible car seats. Convertibles have a rear-facing and a forward-facing belt
path. Forward-facing Combination seats have a forward-facing belt path only.
5. Be sure seat belt is in locked mode if using vehicle belt. The seat belt will most likely lock at the
retractor or at the latch plate.
6. Pull LATCH or seat belt webbing tight.
7. Check for tight fit at the belt path, only. Car seat should move less than one inch in either
direction.
Securing Child in the Car Seat
1. Place harness strap in the correct position. Harness straps for a rear-facing child should be
placed at the shoulders or coming from just below. Forward-facing is at or just above the
shoulders.
2. Pull the harness straps snug and comfortable so you cannot pinch the webbing when grasping at
the collar bone. The straps should lay flat on the child and not be twisted. Harness straps should
be comfortably snug.
3. The chest clip is a positioning device to help keep the straps on the child’s shoulders. Place the
chest clip at arm pit level.
4. If you are using an infant car seat, check the manual for the correct position of the carrier
handle when traveling in the car.
General Safety Tips
1. Choose a car seat that fits your child and vehicle correctly. Choose a seat you will use correctly
every ride.
2. #LookforBaby may sound silly, but we are all living more distracted lives these days. Too many
children are unintentionally being left in hot cars. It can happen to anyone. Keep your purse or
phone on the floor in the back seat. When you reach your destination you are more likely to
remember to get those items which will help you keep an eye on baby before you lock the door.
3. Check the car seat installation before every ride. Just give it a tug at the belt path to be sure it is
still secured to the seat belt or with the lower anchors.
4. Don’t transition children too soon. Keep them rear-facing as long as possible. Keep them in a 5
point harness and do not skip booster stage for older children. Some children do not fit in the
adult seat belt until age 12.
5. Set a good example for your kids and make sure all passengers are properly buckled so they stay
safe as well.
6. Register the car seat so you can be notified in case or any recalls.
7. Do not use the car seat if it has been in a severe crash or following the instruction manual
guidelines.
8. Do not buy a used car seat unless you know the history, how it was stored and if has not
expired.
9. Follow the instruction manual for proper washing instructions. Never soak harness straps or use
abrasive cleaners on any part of the car seat.

Allana Pinkerton, Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician
Allana Pinkerton is the Global Safety Advocate for diono. She began her career in Child Passenger Safety as a National Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in 2001 and advanced into the position of a National Instructor in 2002. In 2004, she founded a non-profit organization, Sit Tight, which provided education and free car seats to underserve communities.

As the Global Safety Advocate, she facilitates educating the staff, consumers and the media about car seats. Allana works closely with the marketing team, educating at consumer and industry trade shows, as well as writing blogs on CPS issues. She is called upon to work with engineering and product development team on current and new products. As diono expands across the globe, Allana continues to expand her role assisting the diono European and China teams.

Thank you ALL for participating in the Disney on Ice Rocks Birmingham promotion.  Congratulations to all of our winners! For those of you that didn’t win, here is an offer for you on tickets to the show.

Save $5 off select seats and performances!

Coming  September 22-24, 2017 to the Legacy Arena at BJCC
Use Customer Code: MOM17
Restrictions, exclusions and additional fees may apply.
Tickets at market pricing. Offer valid on the following performances: Friday, September 22^nd at 10:30am & 7pm, Saturday, September 23^rd at 6:30pm and Sunday, September 24^th at 5pm. Offer expires 9/24/17.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Follow your heart straight to adventure at Disney On Ice! Just keep swimming with Dory and new pal Hank from Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory as they set out to find her parents. Cheer with the Emotions from Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out. Venture to wintery Arendelle where Olaf and Kristoff help reunite Anna and Elsa and learn love is the most powerful magic of all. See the Disney Princesses achieve their dreams through bravery, kindness and perseverance. And celebrate true friendship with The Toy Story gang. Make unforgettable memories with Mickey and your Disney friends when Disney On Ice presents Follow Your Heart skates into your hometown!