Let’s face it, winter is long.  And with a winter like this year, it can feel really long.  With the kids home from school all day and the snow keeps piling up, it can be very easy to get bored while snowed in.  Instead of allowing yourself to get bored, why not try some of these winter classics to lighted the mood a bit.

1  Play in the snow: Remember to wear protective clothing (coat, hats, gloves, etc)

2. Shovel: You know you are going to have to do it anyway, why not try to make a game out of it, like start at the middle of the sidewalk and see who can finish their side first.

3. Listen to music: Listen to some of your favorite songs, and you are home by yourself, feel free to dance.

4. Make a documentary about the snow:  Kids love to make movie, why not try an make one that is both fun and educational.

5.  Make some hot chocolate: This is a timeless classic, and needs very little explaining.

Items you may need:

Carhartt Men’s Duck Traditional Coat C003

Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat A18  SKU:

Poly Snow Shovel Curved Handel  SKU: 005072240

Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate 10 Pk SKU: 124425000

Are you having problems with diaper rash and you just can’t get it to clear up?  You have to try this product…it’s FANTASTIC!!!  Believe me…as a mother of 3…I have seen my share of diaper rash.

Product can be purchased at your local Rural King store or by going online to ruralking.com

 

Hello!! With all of this crazy cold weather we have been having and getting snowed in I have found a couple really nice inexpensive clothes pin crafts anyone can do. Most of the supplies needed for these crafts can be found at your local Rural King.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522980575449137882/

I loved the look of this, and who doesn’t love to show off their patriotic side once in a while? This can be done in so many different colors or designs as well.

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775847672252/

Who would have thought you could turn your old food cans into an awesome home decor look?! This is so easy and again can be done with a different design or color to match your homes decor.

Check out your local Rural King for more craft inspiration there is always something to find!

 

I always struggle after the Holidays on how to decorate the outside of my house. Right now, you can still keep up the snowman decorations, but that is about it. After I went exploring a little bit, I found a Shotgun Shell Wreath, which I believe would look great hanging on a door during any season. Instead of buying a Shotgun Shell Wreath online, how about using a little creativity and making one yourself. It would be “one of a kind” to your own home decorations.

We have all been there.  Coming out to warm up your car and either the door lock or the door is frozen solid.  At least all of us in the Midwest have been there.  Well did you know that certain household items can de-ice your car?

Hand sanitizer can keep your locks from freezing. Just put some on a paper towel and rub over your locks.  This tip can certainly be quite the time saver, as frozen locks can really slow you down in the morning.

Gojo Purell Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer Foam Refill 539202

SKU: 046771044

 

Another tip is putting cooking spray on the seal of your door to keep it from freezing shut. This trick works perfectly. Spritz the cooking spray on a paper towel, rub it into the seal, and your door should be ice free when you wake up the next morning.

Crisco Cooking Spray 6 oz Regular

SKU: 013380050

Did you know that November is National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month?

In honor of National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month, here are some tasty facts!

• Americans spend $800 million a year on peanut butter.
• The average american consumes 3lbs of peanut butter every year.
• One acre of peanuts produces 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
• Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter were peanut farmers.
• The largest peanut butter sandwich weighed in at 1,342lbs and was made in Grand Saline, TX.

For additional fun facts, check out the infographic below by nationalpeanutboard.org!

A lingering cough can make you feel absolutely miserable, and you probably want to get rid of it as fast as you can. Look for ways to soothe a dry cough into oblivion. For a wet cough, the quickest way to get rid of your cough in the long run actually involves bringing up more mucus faster. No matter what type of cough you have, however, there are a few common tactics you should use to put an end to your misery faster. Here are a few of the most beneficial.

Drink warm, clear fluids. Hydration is important for wet and dry coughs alike. Aim for the equivalent of eight 8 oz (250 ml) glasses of water per day, at least while you suffer from your cough.

• If you have difficulty drinking that water, clear or light juice, like apple juice, could be mixed in, as well.
• For wet coughs, hydration thins out the mucus causing your cough, thereby weakening it and helping you to get rid of it.
• For dry coughs, hydration allows you to keep your mucous membranes moist, thereby preventing the throat dryness that leads to most dry coughs.
• Note that this is the only treatment you should use for children between the ages of three months and one year. Only give the child 1 to 3 tsp (5 to 15 ml) of clear liquid up to four times per day.

Use honey. Honey is an effective way to suppress a cough and soothe a sore throat.

• Some studies suggest that honey is as effective as a cough suppressant as dextromethorphan, an ingredient commonly used in many over-the-counter cough suppressants.
• One option is to take the honey directly. Try 2 tsp (10 ml) every few hours while your cough persists.
• Another option is to add 2 tsp (10 ml) or more to a glass of warm tea with lemon.
• Do not give honey to children under the age of 1, though, since it could increase the risk of infant botulism.

Enjoy a piece of hard candy. If you do not have any cough drops on hand or would prefer to stay away from medicated lozenges, you can usually soothe and stop a cough by sucking on a piece of hard candy.

• A dry cough that produces no phlegm can be halted by nearly any piece of hard candy. Hard candy causes you to produce more saliva and to swallow more, thereby suppressing your cough.
• If you have a wet cough that does produce phlegm, lemon drops tend to work well.
• We recommend Claeys Horehound Hard Candy SKU: 046930105

When the temperatures drop outside and you need to warm up under a blanket, don’t forget to grab a cup of hot chocolate. After many hours of trial and error, we have finally found the recipe for the perfect mug of hot chocolate. Plus, we have included your favorite toppings, like marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, and more! Read on to try our recipe!

Hello all,  it is that season again.  That season when Mother nature rears her ugly side and we all pay the price.  With our electricity bills that is.  One easy way to save yourself some shock when opening that heating bill is to insulate your windows.  Not only is it cheap, and easy, but it will save you quite a bit of money over the course of the winter.

Rural King recommends our Duck Products Patio Door Shrink Insulation Kit (SKU: 027000193). The Duck brand indoor patio/large window kit contains everything you need to insulate one standard two panel patio door. The kit contains one sheet of 84-by-120-inch crystal clear plastic film, one roll of 1/2-by-432-inch double-sided tape and six alcohol surface wipes. Once taped to the door or window frame, the crystal clear film heat shrinks with a blow dryer to seal out drafts and cold. For indoor use on painted or varnished wood, aluminum and vinyl surfaces only.

Halloween is coming around the corner. There are many cute costumes out there to choose from, but what about making your own? It’s time to show your creative side parents. Here are just some suggestions, but there are many items around the house I am sure that can be used.

Little Old Lady Costume

 

All you would need to pull this costume off is: a little walker, tennis balls, a cute little outfit, and a grey wig.

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Robot

 All you would need to pull this costume off is: cardboard, aluminum foil, pacifier, a baby bottle, and a cute outfit.

 

 

 

 

Carl from the Movie “Up”

 

All you would need to pull this costume off is: balloons, PVC pipe, tennis balls, and a cute outfit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it’s time to show your creative side. You have 16 days until Halloween, but it shouldn’t be too hard, right? If you already have your children’s Halloween Costumes ready, what are they going to be?