Spring Cleaning

I recently came across this awesome Spring Cleaning Checklist on Studio 5's website (it's a TV show that broadcasts out of Salt Lake City).

Besides being SUPER CUTE, this checklist is really thorough and gives specific suggestions with each point. For example, it suggests that you not only empty your trash can in your bedroom, but you also CLEAN it. I clean my kitchen trash can semi-regularly but I haven't ever thought about cleaning my smaller trash cans. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this list!

Happy Spring cleaning!!!

Family Emergency Plan: Contact Cards

No one really likes to think about this kind of stuff, but ask yourself this:

How will you contact your family members in case of an emergency?

During the day, you might be at work, your spouse might be at work, your kids at school, etc. If you can't use your cell phone or if it is dead, do you know the numbers for your spouse's work or your kid's school?

FEMA suggests that you made a contact card for each family member which includes home, work, cell phone numbers as well as doctor's information and emergency contact numbers. Adults can store these cards in their wallets or purses. (Sometimes we take for granted that we have everyone's numbers in our cell phones, but if your phone battery dies and you can't charge it, you will want this contact information.) You can place cards in your school-aged child's backpack.

Click HERE for a printable PDF with contact card information as well as a brief family plan created by FEMA.

Click HERE for a printable PDF for a child's contact card created by FEMA.

Family Emergency Plan

So, you have your 72-hour kits all ready? (Maybe) Now what?

At my house lately, my 4-year old and 6-year old keep trying to sneak into their kits to eat their food. It has made me realize that we haven't talked about a Family Emergency Plan for a while.

Here are some tips:

Decide what kind of disasters could happen in your area?

You don't have to get too creative, just think of the basics: Fire, flood, earthquake, chemical spill (if you live near a major highway or interstate), etc.

If you live somewhere that is prone to flooding, look into purchasing flood insurance. Remember, homeowners insurance does not cover flooding.

This can be an important fact, especially in determining where you would meet the rest of your family or if you would need to stay home. For example, if your house is on fire, you would want a meeting place in your neighborhood. If there is a community-wide issue where they call for evacuation, you may have a different meeting place.

Create a basic emergency plan and discuss it as a family.

Click HERE for a printable PDF with a brief family plan created by FEMA as well as contact card information.

Microsoft also has a template (click HERE) you can download to fill out information on your family emergency plan.

Each of these templates ask you to record basic contact information, information on each family member, medical information. The Microsoft template also has an area to record insurance policy information and information on your family meeting places.

Where would you go if you needed to evacuate? And how would you get there is the main route was not an option?

I like to keep my gas tank at least half full all the time...partially so I don't have to fork out so much cash at one time, but MOSTLY because in case of an emergency or an evacuation, I can get somewhere without having to get gas. I am lucky enough to have parents who live about 3 hours south of me, which gives me somewhere close to travel to if my town was evacuated. I could also go 4 hours north to my brother. I have thought of this many times. What I don't know is how I would get to either place if the interstate was closed.

Check with for information on emergency procedures at places your family spends the most time, such as school, work, daycare, church, and extra-curricular activities like sports.

Get involved in your community.

Check with your community to see if there is a local emergency plan in place. For example, some communities have a Reverse 911 system where you can be contacted by text in case of an emergency. Some schools may also have a similar program in place. (After the shooting at the school in Connecticut, our kids' elementary school had those who wanted to participate to give their cell phone numbers to the principal who set it up so that he can send us a mass text in case of an emergency at the school.)

Some other things you might want to think of...

Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.

Taking a CPR class or certification.

Making an Emergency Binder and copies to keep out of town.

Inventory of belongings, either video taped or written.

Emergency cash.

For more information:

http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/family.htm

http://www.ready.gov/

72-hour kit: Medication

Medicine is an important part of any emergency kit. Storing over-the-counter medications like Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen may be useful if you are away from home or if you are unable to go to a store for a period of time. If you have children at home, you should store appropriate medicine for them as well.

I store a bottle of each medicine in my kit. When I run out of one in my medicine cupboard, I get the bottle out of my kit. Then I buy a new one for the 72-hour kit. It has been helpful to have these extra medicines handy when I am unexpectedly run out and one of my kids is sick.

If you or a family member has a specific medical need that makes it necessary to take medication regularly, this medication is extremely important to have an emergency. My husband takes medicine weekly, along with daily vitamins. I store at least 3 days worth of the needed medication, one week's worth for the weekly meds. You may need to have a plan for medications that need to be refrigerated, if needed.

I use an old medicine bottle with a child-proof lid for the pills we need to keep my kids safe. I also have a card with each medicine and vitamin labeled.

I place the medicine in a small plastic bag, wrap it with packing tape, and label it with the date so I know when I need to rotate it.

This medication has also come in handy when we have had miscommunication between the doctor's office and the pharmacy.


This is step 4 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

Previous Steps...
Step 3: Clothing
Step 2: Food
Step 1: Water

3-month supply: Baking Items & Spices

Let's talk about a 3-month supply of baking items and spices!!!

 

 

If you've read many of my previous posts, you know that I love having extras on hand. Even if I weren't trying to slowly build up my own 3-month supply, I think would have extras on hand when possible.

 

Here's an example of when I failed.

 

In February, my mother-in-law came to visit. We only see her a couple of times a year so these visits are extra special. We try to make yummy food or take her out to local places we love. We also eat a lot of desserts when she's here. (OK, I kinda like to bake so I have desserts at my house a lot.)

 

One day during her visit we decided to try a molten chocolate cake concoction. We were planning on making two square pans, but I only had enough baking cocoa for one. BUMMER!

 

Actually, one pan was PLENTY so it was OK, but the point of my story is that we couldn't do what we wanted to do without making a visit to the store...and I hate going to the store for only one item. Having an extra container of cocoa on hand would have been the most convenient solution.

 

OK, so....what are some of the baking items you use? Remember that oils, flour and sugars are included elsewhere in your 3-month supply.

 

So the first step is to make a LIST of what you use. Here's my list:

 

Salt

Baking powder

Baking soda

Yeast

Vanilla

Cooking spray

Cornstarch

Baking cocoa

Chocolate chips

Lemon juice

Vinegar

 

The next step is to decide HOW MUCH to store. The best way to start is to simply have one extra container on hand at all times. When you open that one, make sure to replace it with a new one. This is a good way to keep variety in your storage. Once you have that habit established, you can move on to storing more.

 

Here's some more information on each item to help you decide how much to store for your family:

 

Salt- The basic 26 oz. container is good for 4 people for 3-months. Unopened salt canisters have an indefinite shelf life AND salt is CHEAP. You can get a 26 oz. canister for less than $.50!!

Baking powder- The standard 8 oz. is probably enough for 2 people for 3-months. As far as shelf life, baking powder is usually good for 18 months (although I have a large canister that I've had for a couple of years and it's still good). A good price for an 8 oz. container is about $1.25.

Baking soda- A 16 oz. box is good for 4 people for 3-months. You can also purchase baking soda is large bags. (And remember, it's not only for baking. Click HERE.) Soda's shelf life is about 2 years. A good price for a 16 oz. box is about $.70.

Yeast- 3 oz. per person. Yeast is good on the shelf for about one year, but can last up to 5 years in the freezer. At a warehouse type store you can get 16 ounces of yeast for about $2.

Vanilla- About 4 oz. per person. That's 4 of the small containers. REAL vanilla has an indefinite shelf life, while imitation vanilla stores for about 4 years. At a warehouse store, you can get vanilla for about $.44 per oz. WAY better than any prices at the grocery store.

Cooking spray- Bottles are usually 6-8 oz. That's good for 2 people for 3-months. Cooking spray lasts from 12-18 months. A good price for spray is about $3.50 per can.

Cornstarch- The standard 16 oz. box is good for 4 people. Cornstarch also has an indefinite shelf life. You can find a 16 oz. box for about $1.30.

Baking cocoa- The standard 8 oz. container is good for 2 people for 3-months. Unopened cocoa can store indefinitely. A good price for cocoa is about $.26 per oz.

Chocolate chips- One 12 oz. pack for each person. These can be frozen to extend their shelf life and run about $3 each lately, about $.25 per oz. The big packs at the warehouse stores are definitely the best options, price wise, at about $.15 per oz but watch for sales at your local grocery store. (One magical day YEARS AGO I got packs for $.50 each!)

Lemon juice and vinegar are not really baking items, but more like cooking items. However, this is the list I included them on for some reason. Both can be used for many other purposes, like cleaning, so you might want to buy the big bottles. Lemon juice is good for about 18 months unopened and about 6 months opened in the fridge. Vinegar lasts indefinitely if stored properly! Both are cheapest at the warehouse stores.

 

And here's my list of herbs & spices that I use often:

 

CINNAMON

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Oregano

Basil

Chili powder

Black pepper

 

The thing about herbs & spices is that they lose potency over time, so you don't want to store them for TOO long. In fact, I don't store extras of these spices, but I do try to get a new container when I have about half a container's worth. (Except for cinnamon. I either have a big one from Sam's Club or several smaller ones on hand.) Does that make sense?

 

 

As you can see from the prices and the shelf life, baking items can actually be a pretty easy area to store. $10-20 will go A LONG WAY with these items! (Herbs and spices, not so much.)

 

Remember:

 

Make a list

Decide how much

Watch for deals

Rotate!