Joy's Internet World Blog

Share Your Favorite Crock Pot Recipe

2012-12-25T17:54:00.002-05:00

Funderdome Kids Play Place in Ft Lauderdale

2012-08-17T16:14:00.000-04:00

A Review of Funderdome located at 1455 SE 17 Street, Ft Lauderdale, FL. Dated August 17th, 2012.

Funderdome is a 9000 square foot indoor play area for children ages 6 months to 12 years old. I have two children, ages 9 (girl) and 10 (boy) so I am always looking for something fun for us to do.

Funderdome has a climbing wall, a sky trail ropes course, ball blasting area, a laser maze, a three level play structure, basket ball area and a toddler area.

My Overall Impressions Were As Follows:

Clean

Fun

Physically active environment for kids to play

Supervision is provided for activities that require it

Air conditioned

Seating area for adults

WIFI was supposed to be available, however on the day I was there it was not working.

Café with good selection of food and drinks, priced pretty much how one would expect for this type of business.

Loud. The sound of children’s voices is very loud and the high ceilings magnify it. There was also loud music playing part of the time I was there.

Admission seems pricey for a kids play place, but there is nothing like it around. Businesses like this need to stay in business because there aren’t enough of them. My children each brought a coupon from school, for buy 1, get one admission for free, so with one coupon, the price was good. Regular admission on Friday was approximately $21.00 including tax for each child. (free for adults)

One thing I really appreciated about this play location was that there were NO arcade game machines and no redemption games. Children go through money so fast at places like Chuck E. Cheeses, Boomers, and Kabooms. I really appreciated having NONE of those games. Keep in mind those type of games bring in additional revenue, so children’s play places that do not have those games must charge more for admission and food because that, and birthday parties are their entire revenue source. My son attended a birthday party there last year that went on for several hours and he still wasn’t ready to leave because he was having so much fun!

I recommend Funderdome as a place to take your children to play. How many times have you typed into to your computer “what to do in Ft Lauderdale with kids”?

You will be required to sign a waiver agreement, which is normal for this type of place.

Have your children wear comfortable, physical activity type clothes.

Feed them before you go so that they won’t be hungry the minute you walk in.

Expect to stay at least 2 or 4 hours. One hour is not enough time, especially if it is busy on the day you go, because your child will probably wait in a short line for things like the rock wall and the ropes course.

Expect to purchase some food or drink there. No outside food or drink is allowed, which is pretty standard for this type of center.

I really had no complaints about the place, other than the loudness inside. It feels a little cramped when busy. However if it were bigger, it would be harder to keep track of your children, so the size is really okay.

Salon Express Nail Art Stamping Kit Does Not Work!

2012-07-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

Salon Express Nail Art Stamping Kit like may other enticing items advertised on TV appeal to our young girls, making them believe they are a "must have" item. My daughter spent her allowance money on a Salon Express kit and after several attemps she realized it was yet again another product advertised on TV that does not work as claimed.

The packaging says "Fun, Neat & Easy To Use". It certainly wasn't fun, but rather frustrating. It wasn't neat because the stamp didn't work and she had to keep removing the bottom layer of nail polish with nail polish remover and reapply the bottom layer, wait for it to dry then try the stamp with another color on top of the base coat. It was definitely not easy to use because after many attemps she just gave up. The packaging also says "Professional Salon Results". Clearly you already know what I am going to say about that! They lied, and it is false advertising!

A few months ago she bought Slushy Magic and was faced with the same disappointment. What snow flake technology are they talking about? Her drink did not slushify!

Now I have started saving her receipts so that we can return these type of purchases that are advertised as something they are not. As a consumer it is so annoying to see these products being sold at many retailers to unsuspecting consumers. The company making them, Spark Innovators of Fairfield, NJ is making a profit and the retailers selling it are also making a profit because most people don't bother to return this type of item.

Let us not put up with these type of products that don't work! Save the receipt and for goodness sake return items like this, that don't work and get your money back. Why should the makers of Salon Express continue to sell this product and make profits?

We as consumers need to send a clear message to companies who falsely advertise their products, and to retailers who continue to sell them, not caring that they are garbage products that don't work. They make a profit, what do they care? Are most people really going to go out of their way to return a product under $10 or $20 dollars? For people who have little time, this is more of a hassle than it is worth, especially if if was purchased somewhere that they don't frequent.

Retailers are gambling on consumers loosing receipts and/or not having time to return the items that don't work. Walgreens has a specific shelf for products "as seen on TV". Well my friends stay away from these products because they are usually cheaply made and don't perform as advertised.

Adorable Puppy

2012-07-08T12:52:00.001-04:00

My Daughter loves to visit the pet store to hold the puppies. We held this adorable puppy today. We have an older dog who would most likely to be jealous if we came home with this puppy, and we are planning to travel in two days so the timing would not be good to add to our family at this time. However it was hard giving the puppy back and seeing it in the pet store cage. I felt bad leaving it and saying good bye! Any other dog lovers out there?

Google's Privacy Policies And Their Power!

2012-02-19T11:01:00.000-05:00

Google plans to start tracking and keeping the data on our activities on all of its services and combining it into one big file about each one of us. This is set to start on March 1, 2012.

When we use Google’s services it is not so surprising that they keep track of that, but when they combine it all together to get the complete picture of YOU, that is a little scarey!

Here are some services you may use from Google...

Google Search (all your searches and clicks are tracked
Google's Chrome browser
Mobile phones (Android or other device)
Image Search (all your searches and clicks are tracked)
News (what stories you click on)
Google Apps
YouTube (all your searches and clicks are tracked
Docs (all your content!)
Groups (discussions)
Ad Sense (you income from such)
Google +
G mail (all the content of your emails)
ETC...

Google's policy is that you can opt-out by not logging in to ANY of their services!

Here's the thing, Google isn't properly getting our permission to do this in a clear manner that everyone understands. If everyone was clearly aware of what they were doing, and use their service anyway, then they have made an informed decision.

Most people don't know that Google collects this information, but then to take it a step further and combine all the separate information into one big picture of YOU, and then be willing and able to turn it over to the government when requested is way too BIG BROTHER!

For more information check this out http://www.change.org/petitions/google-ask-fairly-about-our-privacy .

Many of us use Google because we love Google, but let's not have the wool pulled over our eyes and be led around like a herd of sheep. Government must NOT have access to everything about us, and neither should Google.

Whitney Houston May You Rest In Peace And Sing With The Angels

2012-02-12T12:01:00.001-05:00

Whitney Houston may you rest in peace and sing with the angels. It was a sad evening as we turned on our TV's to find another wonderful singer gone too soon, at such a young age. We expect older people to die, but we are always shocked to hear of a young famous person's death.

Many of us never personally knew her, but her music touched our hearts and we feel blessed to have heard her music. I was always saddened to hear of past turmoil in Whitney Houston's life with addiction. Unfortunately drugs have caused so much harm to such wonderful people.

I often wonder how as a society, we can do such seemingly impossible things like put people in space, send robots to mars, create space stations, yet we can't come up with a sure fire way to cure addiction.

As a parent of young children, I pray my children don't go through any substance addiction issues as they grow up.

One seemingly common thread I notice is that often people have self esteem issues, which perhaps play a part in their addictive disease. Do these issues come from childhoold or experiences or is someone predisposed biologically to have self esteem issues, has often been a question in my mind. Perhaps, it is a combination of both. There is an article I found as follows about that at 4therapy.com

Ironically the lyrics in her "Greatest Love Of All" song speak directly about loving yourself. "Learning to love yourself. It is the greatest love of all."

Whitney Houston had the voice of an angel and her voice was an inspiration to many singers. I hope people who loved her will look at their own lives and if they are having similar struggles, will reach out for the help they need to recover before it is too late.

Granted at this time, we do not know if substance abuse had anything to do with her death, but it certainly affected her life in a negative way.

Whitney Houston's death should remind us, that if any of us have people in our lives who struggle with addiction, we should love them and encourage them to seek help as many times as it takes.

As Whitney Houston reminds us in her song, we need to show our children all the beauty they possess inside and give them a sense of pride so they can love themselves. (and hopefully avoid the self esteem issues that can lead to substance abuse).

Thank you Whitney Houston for all the beautiful music you provided to the world and for sharing the gift of your voice with us! I hope you have found everlasting peace!

Is Sending Flowers Important on Valentine's Day? Find Out Now!

2012-02-08T12:57:00.000-05:00

Is sending flowers important on Valentine's Day? The answer depends on who you ask. Some couples don't acknowledge Valentine's Day and other go all out and make it a big deal.

If you can afford flowers you should get your sweetheart flowers. Unless she doesn't like flowers due to allergies or some other reason. Most women love flowers and why not? Valentine's Day Flowers are beautiful and giving them shows you thought of your loved one and decided to part with some money to show her that she is special to you.

Click on the picture below to order some beautiful Valentine's Day Flowers!

There are a few things that go nicely with flowers such Precious Moments items. Click on the picture below if you want to order Precious Moments.

These are simply adorable! Precious Moments always have the cutest items!

Then of course there is always jewelry which will cost more. Many women love jewelry. I myself like how it looks on others and when it is not on me, but I don't wear it often.

Men you should give your woman something nice on Valentine's Day. What is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day? Beautiful flowers are always wonderful to give either alone or with chocolates, or a figurine, or jewelry.

I hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Angry Birds Everywhere... Why Parents Let Their Kids Play So Much.

2011-08-01T16:25:00.001-04:00

Angry Birds are everywhere! Kids and some adults can't get enough of them. There are children playing Angry Birds that can't tie shoe laces, and can't read a word.

Why are parents letting their children play angry birds so much? Well for one thing, while parents are driving it keeps children quiet (when they aren't fighting for your smart phone).

The game is, in essence a babysitter, while parents go about their daily errands on the run. A time when normally whining from children is at a peak and parents patience is at a low, in swoops the Angry Birds game to the rescue of everyones sanity. Everyone is happy!

As the beginning of school approaches, demand for Angry Birds merchandise is increasing. Some items your children will love are:

Angry Birds Shoe Charms

Rovio Angry Birds 5" Plush Set

Angry Birds Backpack Clip Assortment

Angry Birds Shirts for Kids

Angry Birds Lunch Box Pigs

Angry Birds Backpack, Lunchbox and Pencil Case

Angry Birds Party Pack (Birthday Party Angry Birds Theme)

Pick up your child a little surprise! There is one surprise they would absolutely love and so will you because your phone can become your phone again! Apple iPad (First Generation) MB294LL/A Tablet (64GB, Wifi) perfect for playing Angry Birds!

My other hobby is a website about how to make your home energy efficient
so that you can save money and spend it on your children!

Angry Birds are Hot, Hot, Hot in Back to School Must Have Items !

2011-07-21T09:40:00.004-04:00

Angry Birds have seemingly becoming the popular thing for this years back to school must have items.

If you have a smart phone and / or children you probably know about Angry Birds by now. The minute my eight year old girl saw a plush angry bird for sale, she had to have it, and was willing to use every last penney of "her money" to buy it. (Much to my disgust)

As a parent I always dread the next "must have theme," because it never ends with just one item. Kids just want to collect anything that has that theme on it, and they use it as a status symbol amongst each other to show off their angry birds items.

Why do I dread it? Because it costs money! It is seemingly so important to your child yet, you can't waste money on their every passing whim, because you know that in a short time it will be discarded for the next must have theme!

I usually try to get my children just a few items that don't break my wallet, that way they are somewhat content and I can live with the money spent.

Below is one of the Plush Angry Birds (some come with sounds)

Below is an Angry Birds backpack clip.

Angry Birds T Shirts.

There is also an Angry Birds Lunch Bag, Angry Birds Backpack, Angry Birds Soft Plush Shoulder/Handheld Bag.

More Angry Birds Items

Get your Angry Birds Items now before they sell out! Surprise your kids with a gift they will love!

Where Oh Where is Casey Anthony?

2011-07-18T21:26:00.000-04:00

You know that the media just can't wait to find Casey Anthony so that they can keep this story alive as long as possible. I think it is time to move on with our lives, if only the media would stop talking about her.

The media has turned her into a celebrity. Public opinion remains mostly against her, understandably so, but I wish they would just quiet down on the story, so as to not give Casey Anthony any more attention than she already has had. People like her don't mind negative press, as long as they are the center of attention.

Stop giving her more attention! Stop talking about her. Nothing brings innocent little Caylee back. I do agree with people who want to voice their opinion that they will boycott books or TV interviews. But really do you think the general public won't watch if she gives an interview on TV? Everyone seems to be obsessed with her. Enough already!

When I am not discussed with the Casey Anthony TV coverage I am working on my website http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/

Media Must Assist in Closure of Casey Anthony Trial.

2011-07-12T18:04:00.000-04:00

The discussions continue in the media about the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, yet many of us have Casey Anthony trial fatigue! How long will the media keep it fresh and keep discussing it? I feel bad that no justice was done for little Caylee, and disappointed in the verdict, but now it is time to move on with our lives.

If you are truly up in arms and full of frustration about this verdict, then why not put this energy to good use and help other suffering children. There are children all around us that are being neglected, who need food, shelter, clothing and the like.

Caylee will be remembered in our hearts forever, but the verdict can not be changed. Casey Anthony will be free on Sunday July 17th, 2011. Ill will toward jurors and the Anthony family does not change the situation at all.

The media continues to discuss and dissect the case, especially Headline News (HLN) evidently because us viewers are still watching it. The media needs to talk about other news events and stop covering all the dissection of the case! We viewers need to stop watching it and move on as well!

After the verdict I decided to watch significantly less coverage because it was depressing being upset about something that I have no control over. All the lying was upsetting me as well.

It was time for me to move forward with my own life, with my own children, and put the Casey Anthony trial behind me. Time to get back to raising my children and teaching them right from wrong, and not to lie, so that they end up being good people.

As a mother, it is scary to see the dysfunctional relationship between Casey and Cindy Anthony. I can only hope that my daughter and I have a better relationship as she grows up!

When I am not commenting on the Casey Anthony trial, I am working on my website.... http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/

Casey Anthony Trial Verdict A Disappointment To Many.

2011-07-06T14:58:00.000-04:00

People are just completely shocked at the outcome of this trial. How do we know Casey didn't just hold her daughter underwater then later call it an accidental drowning?

Even if we believe the defense and it was an accidental drowning, why on earth did she have law enforcement, and many others looking for a live child? There should be some penalty above and beyond the giving false information to a law enforcement officer, for having all kinds of financial resources directed at finding a believed to be alive, but missing child?

Weren't hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on this wild goose chase? She is getting away with too much! Not charged with murder, and not punished for causing the false alarm of looking for an alive child, knowing the child was dead. To bad the prosecution can't come back with a charge related to failure to report an accidental death and improper disposal of a body (since the jurors must have believed that theory.)

She should be sentenced to 10 years of community service and paying a fine or the like, since not found guilty of murder. I wondered why there were things the jury didn't get to hear because it may be inflammatory? Wasn't it all vital information they needed to make a decision?

Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty Of Murder.

2011-07-05T15:55:00.000-04:00

Casey Anthony found not guilty of murder after the jury having the case for just over a day. She was found guilty on four counts of providing false information to law enforcement. The media it seems had already tried her and found her guilty judging upon their reaction. Everyone seems to be in shock.

I think there may have been jurors who were suspicious that she did kill her daughter, but there just wasn't enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to convict her. Unfortunately there were more questions than answers, and with several witnesses having obviously lied on the stand it must have been hard to guess the truth.

Did she get away with murder? There certainly is that chance. I think the fact that George and Cindy Anthony did not go over to her prior to leaving the room, speaks volumes.

I am sad to say, I believe justice was not done for Caylee Anthony.

Casey Anthony Trial - Sex Abuse Allegations... Are They True?

2011-07-02T11:05:00.001-04:00

The Casey Anthony Trial has many people trying to figure out the truth of what exactly happened to this precious little girl Caylee Anthony. We all want to see justice for this little innocent girl who's life tragically ended much too soon.

If you have been closely watching Casey Anthony's reaction to testimony, there has been very little reaction. In fact surprisingly little emotional reaction even when testimony was on the subject of her daughter's remains. She looks like she just doesn't care about her daughter quite frankly.

Watching tape again, of Jose Baez giving his opening statement, I was surprised at how emotional Casey looked during the part where Jose Baez brought up the alleged sex abuse by her own father, compared to the emotional reaction on her face during the rest of the trial.

Is there some truth to the allegations? Casey having to act normal at school, when things might have been quite abnormal at home, would explain her acting in a completely inappropriate, covering up way when things went wrong with her daughter, if it was an accident.

I think it is suspicious that Cindy never took Casey to a gynecologist appointment prior to her being pregnant. Really why not? Was she afraid they would find something out? What would they find out? Was Cindy thinking Casey was not sexually active? Or did she know she already was with her own father and not want that found out? That is gross and I hope not true! Everyone is being torn apart with speculation in this case which is unfortunate.

As a mother, if I had a teenage daughter, and if I had any inkling of her being sexually active, I would absolutely want her to go to a gyn appointment and get birth control, and make her understand the consequences of such behavior. STD's, Aids, Pregnancy, Heartbreak.... etc.

To me it seems abnormal that Cindy Anthony did not take her to a Gyn sooner. Even if she was sexually abused, did that make her kill her own daughter? I see no connection there. But if it was a pool accident and Casey felt responsible for the accident by not watching her daughter, and tried to cover it up because she was afraid of what would happen as a consequence of someone finding out, then I can see some of the odd behavior making sense.

If she used chloroform and killed her daughter, then she deserves the death penalty. The problem is that we may never know the actual truth of what happened. In my mind there has to be more evidence to make a decision.

I invite you to comment below.....

Cindy Anthony appears to have willfully given false evidence and is caught!

2011-07-01T23:35:00.000-04:00

The web of lies spun by the Anthony family just seem to keep growing. Cindy Anthony in an attempt to cover for her daughter, Casey Anthony seems to have perjured herself on the stand today as proven by computer experts who testified she (or someone using her user name, but why would they?) was entering information into her computer at work, at the times she claimed she was a home searching on the computer.

Casey Anthony has had her mother covering for her bad behavior for years it seems. Parents that keep covering and helping their adult children are enablers that cause more problems for their grown children by preventing their child from facing consequences for their actions.

I feel sad that Cindy lied for her daughter Casey. If no perjury charges are filed against Cindy then what message are we receiving? It's okay to lie under oath? Granted the whole family has been through a terrible, horrible time with the loss of Caylee but I think she shouldn't completely get away with it.

Ironically her attempt to cover for Casey and getting caught, may be the very thing that seals Casey's fate as far as premeditation goes. It certainly puts premeditation back on the table for the jury to consider.

Krystal Holloway appeared believable yesterday, making me believe George was capable of lying as well. Although I thought most of his testimony was believable except for the part about the affair.

I have heard the suggestion that perhaps the Anthony dogs were sleepy a lot because Casey Anthony was experimenting with the Chloroform on them first!

Parents out there... don't lie for your children! Bring them up right, let them face the consequences of their actions from an early age, and they will hopefully learn to be responsible and make wiser decisions through their own experiences!

Unfortunately innocent Caylee is no longer here and that appears to be the consequence of Casey's behavior.

Please feel free to comment below........

Casey Anthony Trial - Did she do it? or was it an accident?

2011-06-30T21:27:00.001-04:00

Casey Anthony trial updates June 30, 2011

Krystal Holloway seemed quite credible on the stand today. Later on an interview with Vinnie Politan she clarified the testimony more regarding the “this was an accident that snowballed out of control” statement made by George Anthony. She admitted not asking more questions, so she was unsure exactly if the statement meant that he knew it for a fact or suspected it.

In my opinion, it was an odd statement because an accident is out of control. If one had control of an accident then one would prevent it in the first place. If he knew it was an accident and Caylee was already dead then why hadn't he told law enforcement unless he had something to do with it or the cover up somehow? He didn't appear to be protecting Casey, so why didn't he just come forward if he knew something?

George Anthony's credibility was definitely questionable regarding the existence of an affair with Krystal Holloway. His manner even changed when he answered the questions finding the questions “funny”? I can't see where any of it was funny. I wonder why no further texts were entered into evidence?

The Casey family pet burial methods used over the past years suggest that someone in the family dumped Caylee's body because she was dumped much the same way. In a cloth laundry bag and two plastic garbage bags. They probably thought they were doing it the “right” way. Had Casey ever attended a funeral before? It's not like you can run out and buy a coffin for your child is missing when you are trying to convince people she is alive and kidnapped.

Casey was involved and if a pool accident why hide it? A pool accident is not usually considered a criminal act. BUT if the death involved accidental overuse of chloroform then Casey's cover up makes more sense because she obviously didn't want to get caught.

Prosecutors say the mother drugged her daughter with chloroform and then pressed duct tape over her nose and mouth and suffocated her on June 16, 2008. They say Casey hid the body in the trunk of her car for several days before dumping it in a wooded area a quarter-mile from the family home.

I think that this could very well be what happened, or that the child was drugged while in the trunk, while Casey partied and then died.

I invite you to comment with your opinions below. It is such a sad case.

Casey Anthony trial hanging on the testimony of Crystal Holloway

2011-06-30T10:53:00.000-04:00

Wow Crystal Holloway had some powerful testimony today. Personally I believe George Anthony and her did have an affair. I don't know why the defense did not subpoena the gate records to see how many times George Anthony visited Crystal Holloway and what times he visited. That would give the jury an idea who might be telling the truth. She claimed he went there about 12 times, while he claimed just a few times.

Crystal Holloway seems to be telling the truth. During her testimony George Anthony sat there as stiff and unemotional as Casey has been throughout the trial. So now I am doubting his testimony with regard to the affair.

The real question though is did George Anthony know there was an accident, or did he believe there may have been an accident that snowballed out of control? At the time did he believe or know Caylee was dead or alive? Why would he make that statement if he thought she was still alive?

Casey Anthony Trial - who do we believe? Add your opinion here!

2011-06-28T15:22:00.002-04:00

The Casey Anthony trial has been twisting and turning with contradictory testimony which leaves me wondering "don't they know that they have to tell the truth?" and "don't they know that when two people say two opposite things one of them must be lying?" The jury has a tough job ahead of them.

What is the point of testimony in a trial if people just lie? I have been frustrated at trying to figure out who is lying and who isn't out of the Anthony family members who have testified so far.

I have decided to keep an open mind about Casey Anthony's guilt or innocence on the premeditated murder charges. However I don't have a good opinion of her, and think poorly of her lying, tattooing, partying ways while her daughter was supposedly "missing", or perhaps already dead. Clearly Casey Anthony is an odd person with some sort of problems because the way she behaved just wasn't even close to normal.

Sadly I am not sure we will ever know exactly how, when or where Caylee died because no one seems to be able to be truthful. So many things don't add up. How could no one know where she was? Someone knew.

I am just hoping for some heated questioning from the lawyers that gets someone to admit something so that the truth comes out.

Today June 28th 2011, Lee Anthony's testimony contradicted Cindy Anthony's testimony about her sending the investigators to search the wooded area based on a psychic tip. The area they searched by the way, was not exactly the same as the area where Caylee's remains were found. Same general area, but not the same spot.

I want to invite comments below where you can give your opinion as the trial goes forward.

If you want to take a break from the trial and do something productive please visit my website at http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/ it's full of information on how to make your home more energy efficient!

Which Cracked Feet Products Work? Read before you buy!

2011-06-22T16:02:00.000-04:00

Cracked feet or more commonly cracked heals can be embarrassing and annoying to deal with. When the cracks get deep enough they form a fissure and can be very painful and even bleed.

At times people give up trying to solve the problem partly because they have already tried so many lotions, creams, oils and pastes that all claim to work wonders, but many of them make no significant difference at all! After spending so much money on things that don't work, one becomes afraid to waste more money on yet another lying miracle cure.

The manufacturers loosely throw around claims like “guaranteed and clinically proven,“ and other terms that, in my experience simply aren't true. The picture shows all the products I presently have on the side table next to my bed. I have used more products in the past as well, so the pictured products aren't an exhaustive list of what I have tried.

Miracle Foot Repairs directions are to apply 3-4 times per day. Who has that kind of time? Amlactin, Heel Rescue and Blue Goo Cracked Heel Foot Softener all have the same directions to apply twice a day. That is much more reasonable.

I recommend the Blue Goo Cracked Heel Foot Softener because in just one application in the evening with socks pulled over your feet for the night I see a marked difference in the morning. I recommend continued use once a day, or twice a day as needed.

The product is made of emu oil and beeswax and goes on like a thick yellowish paste. It has an odd smell and doesn't wash off your hands as easily as the other products, but it works for me. So if you are still looking for a product that may work for you, give it a try!

Please feel free to comment below or post your recommendations. I have not tried heeltastic so if you have tried it please comment on your experience with it!

I also have a website about how to make your home more energy efficient

Tips for surviving your family trip to Universal's Islands of Adventure this summer.

2011-06-14T22:17:00.000-04:00

Follow these tips and feel free to add more tips in the comment section below!

1. Wear comfortable shoes!

2. Wear upper clothing that is light colored rather than dark colors to stay cooler.

3. Wear clothing that dries easily (You will get soaked on the water rides).

4. Apply sweat proof/water resistant or water proof sunscreen to all skin exposed to sun prior to going
(don't carry it along unless you think you will have to reapply it).

5. Take Advil or Tylenol or something like it, with you in case your feet really start to hurt

6. Take anything extra that you don't need out of your purse prior to going (it gets heavy).

7. Don't take back packs with extra clothes or towels unless you have a stroller.

8. Keep a towel or two in your car for when you return at the end of the day, you may be wet from water rides.

9. Take a camera and don't forget to use it!

10. Sit for brief breaks often in an air conditioned building.

11. Drink fluids before getting there (cheaper elsewhere) and then keep hydrated while there. Yes you will have to spend money there on some food and drinks.

12. Eat a big breakfast prior to going so that you aren't so hungry there (food is expensive there) unless you are likely to feel queasy if you eat too much and go on a roller coaster etc.

13. Sneak in some fruit snacks packets or granola bars in a small paper bag, because even if you aren't that hungry you will feel tired and that will pick you up a little. (costs less than their food)

14. People who are prone to inner thigh chafing should apply powder prior to going, and ride water rides only at the end of the day.

15. Even though it is very tempting to go on water rides between noon to 4 pm, don't go on water rides until the end of the day because walking in wet shoes and clothes isn't real comfortable.

16. Don't bother using the large body dryers that cost $5, it will dry your hair and skin but most clothes will stay wet.

17. After water ride don't immediately go to an indoor attraction, the air conditioning on wet clothing is uncomfortable. Some people catch a cold that way. Another reason do the water rides last.

18. Don't buy your children or self gifts/souvenirs until the end of the day so you don't have to carry them all day. Carrying a large stuffed animal around with you all day gets very hot and is inconvenient when trying to go on rides.

19. Before getting in a long line to wait for a ride, ask if any of your children have to use the restroom first.

20. Two adults should accompany two or more children in case one child wants to go on a ride and the other doesn't. One adult can be with ones riding and one adult with those not riding.

21. Be patient with your children, remember this is something special you are doing with them.

22. Some children may not be ready for the aggressive rides. (personally I don't think kids age under 7 would enjoy it as much as Magic Kingdom)

23. Avoid fighting, especially with your significant other or spouse. Let the day be happy!

How to keep MOLD growth out of your home!

2011-05-26T13:25:00.000-04:00

The occurrence of mold in homes is common in humid climates. Energy efficient homes constructed with an air tight building envelope to help prevent energy loss, are also prone to having mold problems.

Newer homes seem to have increasing incidence of mold problems, perhaps due to poor ventilation and other factors such as building materials used, poor HVAC planning, failing to control humidity and so on.

Molds are a group of organisms from the fungi kingdom. Their role in nature is to break down organic matter. Mold requires moisture to grow. Molds digest the wood, paper, carpet, foods and whatever they are growing on.

Mold in homes can cause allergic reactions like itchiness in the eyes, nose and throat, chronic sinus infections,and increased asthma rates, along with other health problems such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, rashes, fever and headaches, nausea, and fatigue.

If a household member is suffering from some of the above mentioned symptoms, which then dissipate when they leave the home, and you notice a musty smell in you home you may have a mold problem. You can look for evidence of moisture on carpet, drywall, wood, insulation, in attic and also look in 'hidden' places such as behind baseboards, under carpeting, or in the ventilation system.

Some types of mold produce harmful mycotoxins and other types are not as hazardous to healthy individuals but can still cause irritation. Exposure happens most commonly through inhalation. One can also be exposed to mold by touching it or accidentally ingesting it. (Eating bread with mold on it)

Mold is reproduced by tiny spores or “seeds”, that float through the air both indoors and outdoors, and are invisible to the naked eye. Mold spores can be found in the general dust in a home. Mold begins growing when mold spores land on wet or damp surfaces. Excess moisture is the main cause of problem mold in homes.

Once mold has become a problem to a home it can be costly to remediate. One must correct the conditions which enabled the mold to grow, then repair the damage to the home. Leaking water problems must be addressed quickly because the moisture spreads to affect a larger area, thus causing more damage as time goes on. Insurers limit their coverage for mold damage because potential losses could be huge.

Below are some ways to help avoid mold growth in your home:

1. Fix any water leaks immediately

2. Keep humidity inside your home to below 60% by:

a).Using air conditioners and dehumidifiers as needed.

b).Making sure moisture sources are vented to the outside such as bathroom vents, clothes dryer vent, exhaust fans when cooking and so on. Don't forget to turn on the vents in kitchen and bathroom as needed.

For further helpful tips for homeowners please visit http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/

Pet Dander Awareness - So You Can Be More Sensitive To Friends With Allergies!

2011-02-25T22:53:00.001-05:00

Ask someone who is allergic to pet dander and they will tell you that pet dander is a big indoor air quality problem and they will avoid entering a person's home because of it.

Pet dander is tiny microscopic flecks of skin shed by pets of all varieties. The fur or feathers of a pet are not the dander, but can contain some of the flecks of skin. Dander is so tiny and light weight that it easily floats in the air to places where your pet may not even go. Dust on a high ledge will contain dander in a home with a pet. Dander can include proteins in saliva, urine and feces as well. When dried these can fleck into small pieces and become airborne.

Airborne dander can be inhaled by the allergic person and cause a reaction. Pet dander remains suspended in the air for a long time, and can stick to bedding, furniture, drapes, and even clothing that is worn out of the house into another building or home. Pet dander hitchhikes its way around on fabrics so easily because the edges are jagged. Cat dander is said to be the stickiest. That means pet dander can be in buildings, homes, schools, offices and anywhere indoors, even when no pets actually live there!

Lung function declines for people who are allergic to pet dander and they experience nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing and chest tightness, and even, swollen glands and hives. They also experience watery, itching eyes and rashes or eczema. People experience different reactions at different concentrations of pet dander. Some are more sensitive than others. Pets can trigger asthma.

Pet dander, sometimes called pet pollen can even stick to walls and ceiling and become airborne again. Pet dander enters our bodies through our eyes, nose and mouth. It touches our mucous membranes and bronchial tubes. It's the protein in the skin and and saliva that it the allergen.

Washing and HEPA vacuuming of interior surfaces helps remove dander. Also air duct cleaning, commercial steam cleaning of carpet and wiping down walls and dusting surfaces with a damp cloth rather than a dry duster may help.

Pet dander is also food for dust mites who's fecal matter adds to indoor dust causing allergic reactions too. High humidity further adds to the problems.

In conclusion, pet dander has a bigger effect on indoor air quality than most non-allergy suffering people realize. It's hard to completely get rid of because it is airborne and sticks to fabrics and other materials. Even in public buildings that are well cleaned, pet dander will return on clothing of people who have pets at home.

Pets are popular even when their owners are mildly allergic to their dander. Removing a pet from a home and doing a thorough cleaning including air ducts, washing clothing and fabrics, steam cleaning carpeting, wiping down walls, replacing air filters and so on will help improve the indoor air quality for someone who suffers from pet dander allergies.

Please visit my website packed with good information on how to make your home more energy efficient. http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/

Do I Need My Air Ducts Cleaned? - The Answer Will Surprise You!

2011-02-25T08:40:00.000-05:00

Air duct cleaningsounds good and sanitary and is advertised as almost a necessity, however even with indoor air pollution becoming an issue of growing concern it may not be right for you. I used to think everyone should have it done if they can afford to, but I never actually read further about it until recently. Now my opinion has changed.

There is no substantial evidence that points to air duct cleaning in and of itself, as having a great impact on the energy efficiency of your home. There are some circumstances though that call for air duct cleaning. If your home suffers from one of these situations, you may wish to consider air duct cleaning. Anything super gross in your air ducts, other than some dust should trigger some desire to get your air ducts cleaned.

Air duct cleaning is recommended if there is visible mold growing on hard surfaces in and around air ducts. Keep in mind it is hard to see inside the air duct for visible mold so you many want to contact a professional if you suspect there might be mold in there. Also if air ducts are infested with rodents or insects or if they show excessive amounts of dust and debris. If particles are released into your home from your supply register, that would indicate a need for cleaning as well.

Much of the dirt or dust adheres to the inside surface and does not necessarily enter the living space. Dirt and dust build up sound gross, but unless it is coming out of the supply register it isn't causing a problem. Mold growth inside air ducts can be dangerous if the mold is toxic. Inhalation is the most dangerous way that humans come into contact with toxic mold. Even though not all mold is toxic, it is safer to treat it as though it is, until lab tests prove otherwise.

If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet and moldy, it should be removed and replaced. The conditions causing the mold growth must be corrected or the mold will recur.

Presently the EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but rather only as needed. There is also the question of what chemical biocides will be applied to the inside of air ducts to kill bacteria and fungi and whether these biocides are safe or whether they can cause more problems than the contaminants themselves.

Ozone, which is a lung irritant, is sometimes used instead of biocide. A light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal and does not warrant cleaning with biocides or ozone.

Preventing water and dirt from entering the duct system is the best way to prevent contaminated air ducts. Use high efficiency air filters, and change them frequently as needed. Have your air conditioner cooling coils and drain pans cleaned or checked yearly if possible. Vacuum your carpet with a HEPA filter vacuum.

Keep moisture out of air ducts by repairing any leaks or damage. If you see standing water and debris in the condensate pan that isn't draining have it checked right away. Air ducts running through attics, crawl spaces and other non-air-conditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated. Steam cleaning and any method involving moisture should never be used to clean air ducts.

Some companies advertise application of a sealant to prevent release of dust and dirt particles inside the air duct to the air. There are still questions about the safety and even the effectiveness of sealants. Also how they perform over time and do they disintegrate under different conditions is still questionable. More evaluation and research is needed before this type of procedure should be widely recommended.

Methods of cleaning air ducts are different depending on what the air ducts are made of. Sheet metal air ducts may be cleaned differently than flex duct, fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined air ducts. Clean air ducts sound great, but don't just get your air ducts cleaned with dangerous chemicals without doing research and understanding that there are likely risks involved, that haven't been fully discovered yet.

If you suffer from allergies, or have other health problems your evaluation may be different than other peoples evaluation. Look up the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html#Should before calling someone to clean your air ducts.

For more discussion and information on how to make your home energy efficient and cut your electric bills please visit my website at http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/

Please feel free to share your opinion and comments below!

2011-02-24T15:13:00.001-05:00

Bathroom remodel for energy efficiency. Find out why other people are doing it! http://ping.fm/EoIj9

2011-02-24T15:10:00.001-05:00

Find out when you do and don't need a Building Permit to perform home repairs and remodeling on your home... http://dld.bz/PyNM