Posted by Colleen O'Toole on Wed, Sep 21, 2011 @ 10:20 AM
Tips to help make sure your child is safe in a car seat
Just as buckling up before driving is second nature, ensuring your child is properly strapped in to their car seat should be as well! After all, they are dependent upon you to get where they are going safely. There are multiple things to think about when strapping a child in – age and height being just two of them. Check out the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s car seat recommendation for additional considerations.
September 18-24th is the 2011 Child Passenger Safety Week, and according to the Traffic Safety Marketing Fact Sheet, its mission is “to bring public attention to the importance of properly securing all children in appropriate car seat, booster seats or seat belts--every trip, every time.”
If you drive with children, even only occasional, you’ll want to make sure you know how to properly install a car seat into your vehicle. Check both the car seat instructions and your vehicle’s manual before starting. If you’re still not sure whether or not the seat is properly installed, find a child car seat inspection station. September 24th is National Seat Check Saturday. But don’t wait until then; get the seats checked now so you’ll know your child is safe.
The NHTSA provides links to register a child restraint, and you can sign up for recalls on the seats to stay up to date. Also, Plymouth Rock Assurance offers safe driving tips, such as “Keeping Your Family Safe.”
Finally, just as you take care of the children in your car by fastening their seatbelts, set an example for them by fastening yours.
Posted by Colleen O'Toole on Wed, Sep 14, 2011 @ 02:46 PM
Fall is in the air, the kids are back in school, the temperature’s changing, and the leaves are turning colors, which means apple picking is back! What a perfect time of the year to have fun getting the family outdoors to enjoy this totally New England season.
Directories, Activities, Recipes
If you have a family tradition to go to a particular orchard, then you may have already planned your trip, but if you aren’t sure where to go, there are plenty of apple orchards in New England to visit. You can check out the New England Apples Association’s directory to find one near you.
Going apple picking has a lot to offer: you can choose where you want to go based on location, or by your favorite types of apples, or you can find an orchard with other fruit still in season, plus pumpkins and hayrides. Both Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stowe, MA and Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro, MA offer a variety of apples, animals, mazes, and hayrides.
Of course, what’s a trip apple picking without cider or cider donuts? Honey Pot Hill and Parlee Farms make cider donuts and other treats.
Use New England Apple Association’s directory before your trip to find orchards near you, and check out Plymouth Rock’s Gas Price Finder before your trip to find the lowest gas prices near you.
Once you arrive home with your apples what are you going to do with them? Pork chops and apple sauce is an option; you can try making your own applesauce using this recipe from the Food Network’s Rachel Ray. After dinner you’ll have to try fried apple pie a la mode by the Food Network’s Patrick and Gina Neely.
Have a great time and enjoy eating your apples!
Posted by Colleen O'Toole on Fri, Sep 09, 2011 @ 01:30 PM
This week’s cool damp weather makes it seem as if fall is just around the corner - even though the temperatures seem to be warming up for the weekend. With the onset of warmer temperatures if a trip to the beach isn’t an option due to other engagements, or the return of the cooler weather, you should check out these upcoming events which will help you transition from your flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt worn while walking in the sand, to shoes and a light jacket worn while picking apples.
Local Events at a Museum, a Festival & a Fair
The Boston’s Children’s Museum is always a fun, interactive place to take your family. Both The Wizard of Oz Children’s Educational Exhibit and Caterpillars of Eastern Massachusetts: A photo exhibition by Sam Jaffe end on Saturday, September 10th. So don’t miss out on your chance to see these two exhibits. If you can’t make it, check the calendar for other upcoming exhibits and events at the museum. You and your family can make a day trip out of it and stop by a local food place for lunch, dinner, or even a snack.
If the beach is still on your mind, then check out the 7th Annual Endless Summer Waterfront Festival at Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA on Saturday, September 17th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will feature a sand castle competition, music, food, shopping, and more. Check the schedule of events to see when everything is happening. In the event of rain, the festival will be held on Sunday, September 18th. So don’t pack those flip flops away yet, because technically it’s still summer until September 23rd!
The Topsfield Fair runs from September 30th through October 10th. Take a look at the daily schedule to see what interests you so you won’t miss out! There are attractions such as the Sand Sculpture, the Giant Pumpkin Contest, animals, shows, and more. Plus, you can get discounted tickets with these offers.
Whether you are looking to follow the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz, spend a day at the beach, see animals, or explore a new area of the state, then there’s something for you during the month of September!
Want to attend all of these events, but don’t want to spend a fortune on gas? Use the Gas Price Finder from Plymouth Rock to find the lowest gas prices near you!
Posted by Colleen O'Toole on Thu, Sep 01, 2011 @ 09:08 AM
Labor Day is a bittersweet holiday. It signals the end of the summer, and the start of a new school year. For students entering as freshmen in college, the end of summer also means a new chapter in their lives. If you’re a student living away from home for the first time, figuring out what you need for your dorm or apartment can be overwhelming. It’s more challenging if you’re a returning student bringing a car to campus.
Here are some moving-in tips for you if you’re a student or a parent:
- Check out school guidelines regarding types of appliances (TVs, refrigerators, microwaves) that you can bring to your dorm.
- Check to see which kind of light bulbs you’ll need for desk or nightstand lamps.
- Check smoke detectors to see that the batteries are installed and fully charged.
- If you’re bringing a laptop, consider getting a lock to secure it the while you’re in the library or even in your dorm. (FYI, always save work to another location, such as a USB flash drive or email the document to yourself.)
If you plan on bringing your car to campus, here are a few tips and ways to save money at school:
- Check to make sure your car has the maintenance it needs before heading to school. Things will be hectic enough without the challenge of getting routine maintenance done or worse – having delayed maintenance and expensive repair, which will definitely kill the pizza budget.
- If you are a Massachusetts resident, sign up for Plymouth Rock’s eReminders so you don’t forget when your license, registration, and inspection stickers are going to expire, which can also save you time and money.
- Make sure you have the appropriate parking sticker or pass to park on campus; you don’t want a ticket the first day of class!
- Another quick way to save money is to use the Gas Price Finder from Plymouth Rock to find gas stations near you with the lowest gas prices.
- Avoid distracted driving by making plans with your friends before setting out so you avoid using your cell phone while behind the wheel. If you need to change plans, pull over to a safe location and make a phone call.
Have a great start to the school year! And, don’t tell your parents you can’t find the library because I’m sure they’ll send you directions; they won’t want you to miss any quality time studying!