Prepping Kids for Emergencies

There are several things that you should teach your child before an emergency situation arises. I've been working with my toddler and preschool to help them be prepared in case something happens or comes up:

1. Their Address: I remember a story not too long where a 3-year old got lost in a corn maze and couldn't answer a policeman's questions. Kids should learn to answer basic questions that a policeman might ask them if they're lost. I have worked with my kids so that they know their address. My two year old and four year old know where their address so if something happens they can tell a policeman where they live. Or if they call 911, they can tell them our address.

2. Parents Names: I've also worked with my kids so that they know my first and last name and my husband's. If a police officer asks them who their parents are, then they will be able to answer.

3. Where to Go If There's a Fire: If there's a fire you should have a meeting spot outside so all the family members know where to find each other. If your fire alarm goes off, you should also practice going outside and meeting in that spot. If you ignore your fire alarm when it goes off because the batteries are dead or a different non-emergency situation, your kids might learn to ignore it to and not leave the house when there's a real emergency.

4. Familiarize Your Kids with What Emergency Workers Look Like: We point out what a police officer looks like to our kids so that they know who to look for in case of an emergency. We've also been on Fire Station Tours so that our kids know what Firemen look like with their full gear on and to let them know that if there's a fire it's okay to go to them. Firemen with the full gear on are pretty scary to kids and it's important that they understand not to hide from them in an emergency situation.

5. How to Dial the Phone: I've been working with my preschooler on how to dial my phone and telling him if mommy or daddy are hurt, use the phone to dial 911. We obviously can't practice dialing 911, but we can practice learning to dial numbers and getting used to the phone.

6. If Something Doesn't Seem Right Get Mom and Dad: We had something bubbling over and smoking a little on the stove. My son recognized that something what wrong and yelled for daddy to come fix it. It's important for kids to realize that if something doesn't seem right that they should come to mom and dad and tell them immediately.

What are some ways that you've prepped your kids for emergency situation? What are some of your tips?

How We Save Money on Entertainment

I've had a couple conversations lately with different people on saving money on TV entertainment, phones, etc. It seems that if you have cable, landline phones, internet, cell phones it adds up to a pretty significant bill each month, $160-$180 (not including cell phones). To save money, my family pays for internet, we use cell phones, we have a Roku device that we use with free channels and pay for Netflix around $69 (not including cell phones). Cable and landlines are expensive. We find a lot of things we like on Netflix and we can borrow movies from the library for FREE. Our cell phone plan is with T-mobile so we often get to utilize their free T-mobile Tuesdays. They are some cheaper options, but we like T-mobile. Sometimes on T-mobile Tuesdays, they offer free VUDU credit for movie rentals, which I use to buy an episode or two of a TV show. We also don't buy a lot of movies. We've gotten a couple of Disney Movies from Blogger Giveaways. I post about different blogger giveaways monthly and they're worth entering.

What are some tips you have to save money?

Kroger Friday Freebie and Snack Shot Instant Win Game

Today only you can download a coupon for download your coupon for 1 FREE Hershey's Gold Peanut & Pretzel Bar (1.4 oz.) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates (Smith's, Fred Meyer, City Market, Dillon, Fry's, Kinger Sooper, etc) and must be redeemed by March 4, 2018. Click here for more details.

Enter Kroger's Snack Shot Instant win game to earn a chance to win digital coupons for free products and/or coupons for $10 off $10 purchase or $20 off $20 purchase. You can enter once per day until February 25, 2018 and it's worth trying it every day to see if you might win something. Click here for more details.

Kroger Friday Freebie and Instant Win Games

Today only you can download a coupon for download your coupon for (1) ONE BODYARMOR SportWater (1 liter size only) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates (Smith's, Fred Meyer, City Market, Dillon, Fry's, Kinger Sooper, etc) and must be redeemed by February 4, 2018. Click here for more details.

LAST DAY - Enter Kroger's Game Day Greats Instant win game to earn a chance to win one of the thousands of digital coupons for free products. You can enter once per day until February 2, 2018 and it's worth trying it every day to see if you might win something. So far, I've won a jar of Ragu Sauce and a 1.25 liter of Pepsi product. Some of the other prizes are: Bertoli Olive Oil, GE Reveal HD LED lightbulb, Haagan Daazs Ice cream, Tyson Any'tizers and more. Click here for more details.


Enter Kroger's Snack Shot Instant win game to earn a chance to win digital coupons for free products and/or coupons for $10 off $10 purchase or $20 off $20 purchase. You can enter once per day until February 25, 2018 and it's worth trying it every day to see if you might win something. Click here for more details.

Boise Events for February

Looking for fun activities to do in Boise for February? Check out these listings:

• February 3, 2018: Wild at Heart at Zoo Boise from 10 am to 5 pm. FREE Admission day at Zoo Boise with fun enrichment activities and you can make a Valentine for your favorite Zoo Animal. Which Zoo Animal is your favorite? Click here for more information.
• February 6, 2018: Chocolate Dreams with Kay Johnson at Rediscovered Books from 7 to 8:30 pm. Click here for more information.
• February 10, 2018: Run 4 Luv at Ann Morrison Park. A 10K, 5K and half marathon run. Click here to find out more and to register.
• February 10, 2018: Library! at Collister 10th Anniversary Celebration from 12 pm to 5 pm. Come celebrate with face painting, crafts, giveaways, behind the scene tours and more. Click here for more information.
• February 10, 2018: Foothills Family Days at the Foothills Learning Center from 10 am to 1 pm. Click here for more information. 
• February 17, 2018: Our Prehistoric Water Shed at the Boise Watershed from 10 am to 1 pm. Click here for more information.
• February 28, 2018: Tricia Levenseller and Erin Summers at 7 pm at Rediscovered Books. Click here for more information.

February Giveaways (low to moderate entry)

I like entering low to moderate entry giveaways and I share each month some of the blog giveaways I've entered and found online. Check back often to see if I have posted more giveaways. I try and post them as I find them. If you are hosting a family-friendly giveaway on your blog and would like to see it listed here, please contact me (via email). If you have a won a giveaway that I posted, please leave a comment and share that you won.

Luciana Vega Doll (ends February 1, 2018) 
Freshly Picked Moccasins (ends February 3, 2018) 
$50 Deseret Book Gift Card (ends February 4, 2018) 
$25 Visa Gift Card and Entenmann's Coupons (ends February 4, 2018)
Noosa Yoghurt Coupons (ends February 6, 2018)
$100 Macy's Gift Card (ends February 8, 2018)
Valentine's Day Prize Pack (ends February 8, 2018)
Luciana Vega Doll (ends February 8, 2018)
$100 Sephora Inside JcPenney Gift Card (ends February 8, 2018)
Minnie Helping Hands DVD (ends February 11, 2018)
$100 Tea Collection Gift Card (ends February 11, 2018)
Mrs. Meyer's Basic Kitchen Set (ends February 12, 2018)
Disney Minnie Happy Helpers (ends February 13, 2018)
$50 Sephora Gift Card (ends February 14, 2018) 
Disney Minnie Helpers Movie (ends February 18, 2018)
Star Wars Funko Figures (ends February 18, 2018) 
$50 Gymboree Gift Card (ends February 19, 2018)
Krusteaz Mixes (ends February 19, 2018) 
$50 Gymboree Gift Card (ends February 20, 2018) 
Mrs. Renfaro's Prize Pack (ends February 20, 2018)
Chick-fil-a Promotional Cards (ends February 22, 2018)
Coco Digital Movie Code (ends February 25, 2018)
Herb Prints (ends February 25, 2018) 
Whole Heart CD (ends February 26, 2018)
Krusteaz Mixes (ends February 26, 2018)
Galentine's Prize Pack (ends February 26, 2018)
Krusteaz Prize Pack (ends February 26, 2018) 
Krusteaz Mixes (ends February 26, 2018)  
Lady and the Tramp HD Digital Codes (ends February 26, 2018)
Lady and the Tramp (ends February 27, 2018)
$100 Moda Lookbook Gift Card and Hammitt Crossbody Bag (ends February 27, 2018)
Thor Ragnarok (ends February 27, 2018) 
Coco (ends February 27, 2018)
Go Longer Skirt (ends February 28, 2018)