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Gas Tank Getaway: Six Flags Great America

Don’t let high gas prices keep you home this summer.  There’s no need to sweat it out in your backyard when extreme family fun is less than a tank of gas away. If you live in Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan or Illinois, a mecca of mind-blowing adventure awaits at Six Flags Great America.  The popular theme park is located in Gurnee, Illinois; less than an hour’s drive from Chicago, Milwaukee, and a host of other major Midwestern cities. Great America’s convenient location is a major timesaver, but the savings don’t stop there.  In addition to banking gas money, you can continue … Continue reading →

Hotels Helping You Stretch Your Dollar

With many hotels pushing back check-in time until 4 p.m. and moving up check-out time to 11 a.m., many travelers wonder if they are really getting their money’s worth. After all, if you are spending $250 per night on a room, you’d like to be able to use it for at least 20 hours. Some hotels are cognizant of this complaint, so while they cut back in one area, they try to compensate in others. Competition to snag travelers is heating up, especially with the busy holiday season approaching. Consequently, select properties around the world are offering free amenities to … Continue reading →

Rain Barrels for Water Conservation

Do you melt in the rain? How about your garden? Instead of watching your garden soil run away in the rain, collect your rainwater using a rain barrel. Rain barrels and water harvesting are a water to save on home water use during the summer drought. There are many styles of water cisterns that suit different gardens. As we move into spring, installing a rain barrel is a great way to summer proof your garden! Rain barrels come in many different styles, from simple wooden barrels to water storage tanks, to rain harvesting that doubles as a planter. Every style … Continue reading →

Lighting Your Aquarium

Aquarium enthusiasts know just how important lighting is in a tank, both for aesthetic reasons and for the health of the organisms found therein. But this article isn’t for them, it’s for people considering a fish tank habitat, and who need to know everything to consider when putting one together. Months ago I did a general overview on how to choose an aquarium, but today I’ll focus on a more specific aspect: the lighting. I’m going to limit my article today to lighting considerations for fish aquariums. Reptiles and amphibians usually need very specific types of light and that’s something … Continue reading →

Your Water Heater Release Valve

The other night, temperatures dropped below freezing. We were snug in our wee little beds and didn’t realize how cold it was getting outside. When we woke up the next morning, we had no hot water. We thought our pipes had frozen and figured that when the sun came up all the way, things would start to thaw out and we’d be back in business. But no such luck. We left the faucet fully on, just waiting for it to break through. And waiting. And waiting. My husband did some investigating and discovered some dripping water in a pipe under … Continue reading →

Don’t Water Away Your Money

When our rent bill came last month, I was startled to see that it was over a hundred dollars more than we usually pay. I read down the itemized list to see what on earth had happened, and saw that the water portion of the bill was through the roof. We had been watering the lawn, but my husband had been overseeing that particular chore, and I didn’t know how much he’d been using. When he came home that night, he explained he’d been doing quite a lot of watering, but after seeing the bill, he said he would cut … Continue reading →

Jumpstart Yourself to Green

One thing I hear people complain about is that going green isn’t easy. Yes, it may be hard to remember to turn the water off when brushing your teeth. It may not be easy to remember to carry your reusable bags to the store every time. It may be hard to ditch the convenience of bottled water for tap. But, Jumpstart to Green can help you. What does Jumpstart do? Well, they get you started off on the right green foot by offering a Jumpstart spring, essential, and complete kit. The spring kit contains an insulated grocery bag, a toilet … Continue reading →

Creating a Terrarium With Your Preschooler

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Have you got bugs? We do. Yesterday my daughter brought home a whole package of snails from her grandmother’s house, all delicately wrapped in a tulip petal. The package was lovely, the snails multicolored and varied. A sign of spring, to be sure. I think that our yard has one of the thickest snail populations in our neighborhood, mostly due to my daughter’s inclination for gathering neighborhood snails and placing them in our flower and vegetable gardens. To focus her interest a bit and create a place where she can observe the snails for a while without freeing them into … Continue reading →

Winter Visits to Water Parks

I never understood why some people visit indoor water parks during the summer. I suppose if you are afraid of getting sunburned, then indoor water parks come in handy. Also, you never have to worry about your vacation being rained out if you book a room at an indoor water park. Still, in my opinion, winter is the best time of the year to visit an oasis of watery fun. And with more than 215 water park resorts open in 35 states, you won’t have trouble finding one to splash around in. Some of my top picks include: Wilderness Resort … Continue reading →

Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes for Boys

Part of the reason I allow my 5-year-old to attend so many Halloween-related events is that I want to get the most out of the money I dropped paying for her overpriced costume. However, if your son is content with using a costume simply to trick-or-treat, then you might consider making your own. After all, why should you drain your bank account if your little guy is only going to dress up for a couple of hours on Halloween night? Save your money, and instead, rummage through your home for the materials needed to make these simple, yet creative costumes: … Continue reading →