Kathryn, Author at Mommy Kat and Kids

3 Ways to Save On Your Energy Bill During the Winter

December 13, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

As a busy mom, you have enough to handle over the winter months. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the arrival of colder weather, household costs can start to climb quickly.

During the holiday season, it is pretty common to want to save money anywhere possible. One way to save is by cutting costs on energy usage and by preventing inefficiency. There are several factors that contribute to higher utility bills in the winter, and recognizing these factors is the first step to lowering energy costs.

feet by fire

Consider these energy saving tips to improve utility bill expenses during the winter months!

Adjust the Temperature

Keep the thermostat as low as possible while still staying comfortable. Wearing extra clothing can help in keeping the thermostat lower. Whenever you are out of the house, turn the thermostat back 10-15 degrees. This can also be done at night while you’re sleeping. Lowering the thermostat can help you save 10% or more on utility bills. By using a programmable thermostat (or a smart thermostat like the Nest Learning Thermostat), this can be even simpler to achieve, as you can adjust the unit remotely as you’re on your way home from work, or set it to turn on an hour before you wake up.

Weatherization

Weatherizing your house will aid in keeping the house warm, while keeping costs down. Utilizing insulating drapes on windows is an extra step to ensuring the cold air stays outside where it belongs. Finding and sealing leaks, gaps, or holes around pipes, chimneys, unfinished spaces and any other opening is important. Fill gaps with caulk, foam, or weather stripping as required. Weather stripping can be used on doorways and windows as well to seal out frigid air. In a pinch, you can even cover windows with heavy duty plastic on a frame to seal warm air in.

HVAC Maintenance

Replace filters for the furnace and heat pumps monthly, or as often as needed. It is also necessary to regularly assess and make repairs on your HVAC system to ensure it is working efficiently. Checking the system for leaks, breaks, rust, or corrosion should be done regularly to ensure safety. Read this guide for more information on how to get the most out of your furnace, and how to know when an issue is serious enough to call for professional help.

sensi wi-fi thermostat on wall

Venting and ducts should be inspected for leaks or damage. These issues need to be addressed quickly to avoid the added cost and headaches of compounding problems. To further ensure efficient heating, you may choose to upgrade or replace your old HVAC system. Upgrading can be completed by retrofitting the furnace or boiler with the most energy-efficient options.

There are also rebates available so you don’t have to break the bank when you invest in a new unit. Some companies offer up to $3,200 in combined savings and mail-in rebates on featured furnaces. The right HVAC specialists will also offer protection plans to help you avoid unexpected repair costs. These plans often include:

Annual maintenance by licensed, professional technicians
Live telephone support 24/7, 365 days a year
No pre-inspection – which makes it easy to get coverage
No-term contracts

There are several factors that contribute to higher utility bills; by considering these energy saving tips you will not only stay warmer, but save money this winter, keeping you and your family — and your wallet — happier!

The Top 3 Best Double Strollers for Twins

December 12, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

There’s nothing more exciting than learning that you have a child on the way. And things get even more exciting when you discover you are carrying twins!

As much fun as babies are, handling twins (or a newborn and a toddler) can be a daunting task, since both will still need lots of that motherly love and attention. So, how do you solve the problem? Start by making sure you have a great double stroller!

baby boy in stroller

Double strollers for twins can be a massive investment, but they’re an integral tool for allowing you to attend to two children at once. If you’re looking for the best double stroller for your twins, here are my top 3 picks for double strollers you should check out:
[Read more…]

Enjoy Binge-Worthy Reality Television this Holiday Season with Hayu on Roku-Giveaway

December 10, 2018 by Kathryn 56 Comments

One of the best things about the holidays is having extra downtime to relax and indulge in favourite activities without worrying about work or school.

And if reality television is one of your guilty pleasures, you’re in luck! Hayu, a streaming service offering the hottest reality television hits, is now available in Canada!

Featuring top reality shows including Top Chef, Real Estate Wars and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, any reality television fan is sure to find a few favourites to binge-watch during the holidays. [Read more…]

Bring Home Big Adventure with Smallfoot on Blu-ray and DVD-Giveaway

December 6, 2018 by Kathryn 69 Comments

What happens when a lone Yeti encounters a “smallfoot” human while exploring outside his village? Hilarity, thanks to stellar voice acting from Channing Tatum, James Corden, LeBron James and others!

Smallfoot was an instant hit this summer in theatres and on December 11, it’s available on Blu-ray and DVD, just in time for Christmas fun! Here’s a brief synopsis:

An animated adventure for all ages, with fun new music by Zendaya and Common and featuring an all-star cast, Smallfoot turns the Bigfoot legend upside down when a bright young Yeti named Migo finds something he thought didn’t exist – a human! News of the “smallfoot,” Percy, throws the simple Yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village. This epic story about friendship and courage is a great movie for everybody, big and small! [Read more…]

Protect Your Home and Your Family By Testing for Radon

December 5, 2018 by Kathryn 14 Comments

For most of my life, I lived in a century-old house in small-town Saskatchewan. And while I loved the community and our established property with its large size and mature trees, the house itself was desperately outdated.

Now, after moving into my family’s custom-built dream house, life couldn’t be more different. While we’ll have lots of landscaping to do on our six acres over the next few years, the house itself is perfect in every way, and totally up-to-date.

With three boys in our family, the safety features of our house are something I especially appreciate. In addition to the hard-wired smoke detectors, we finally have a carbon monoxide detector as well! But recently I learned that when it comes to safe indoor air, there’s more than just carbon dioxide to be worried about.

In fact, the radioactive gas radon is potentially a bigger threat to my family’s health than carbon monoxide. I hadn’t heard of testing for radon before, but after learning about the damage that long-term exposure can cause, I want to make sure our new house has safe levels of radon!

Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in Canada and is present in some level in all buildings, since it occurs naturally in soil and rock. In areas where more uranium is present in the soil, radon levels tend to be higher. It seeps into houses any place there is an opening, from floor drains and sumps to cracks in foundation walls.

Of course, not all levels of radon require attention. Currently, the Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air is 200 Bq per cubic metre. This is a significant reduction from the previous guideline of 800 Bq per cubic metre, as new information about radon’s health risks have become available.

But the only way to know if your home has a high concentration of radon is to test for it! Whether you hire a professional to test your home’s radon levels or buy a testing kit and do the job yourself, having knowledge about your home’s radon levels will help you protect your house’s value and your family’s health.

Testing kits are between $30 and $95 and generally collect radon levels over a three-month period or so. The test is then sent to a laboratory to be analyzed and the results are sent back. And if your home does show high levels of radon, there’s no need to panic!

Lowering the levels of radon in your home may be as simple as sealing up cracks and openings in your home. And even more labour-intensive solutions, like a radon mitigation system, generally only cost between $500 and $3000. These radon mitigation systems use a pump and a ventilation system to draw radon through a pipe system and ventilate it outside the home.

Testing my home for radon is something that is going to give me even more peace of mind about my home. And unless there’ some major change being done to a building, it only needs to be done every few years to help ensure my family’s health.

Learn more about the dangers of radon, and find places in your province to purchase test kits or find radon measurement and mitigation professionals at www.takeactiononradon.ca. The minimal cost of a kit is well worth making sure that radon isn’t jeopardizing your family or your house’s value!

7 Things To Do in Idaho

November 30, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Regardless of whether you’re planning a multi-day trip, a long weekend or even a family excursion of a lifetime, Idaho has something for everyone. It doesn’t matter what kind of holiday you end up choosing, Idaho has a way of providing experiences you won’t get elsewhere else.

If you’re searching for an ideal place to spend a getaway, there are many different cabin rentals in Idaho that will provide a great base to relax, explore and have some adventures.

lower-falls-yellowstone-idaho

Wondering how to spend your days? Here are some of my top things to do in Idaho:

Roaring Springs Waterpark

This is the biggest waterpark in the American Northwest and is situated in Meridian, just six miles from Boise. This year-round attraction offers a wide range of rides for all ages and incorporates many speed slides, kid slides and wave pools to enjoy. Many of the rides are ideal for little ones, making the waterpark a great family choice.

You can also visit the Pinz Bowling Center and Wahooz Family Fun Zone via the connected walkway. The way that one spot provides a variety of different activities in addition to the slides and wave pools make this one of the best water parks I have ever seen.

Yellowstone Bear World

Yellowstone Bear World could best be described as a drive-thru wildlife park. Here you can observe dim wolves, moose, wild bears, white-tailed deer and other different creatures indigenous to North America. The park is located near Yellowstone National Park, making it an ideal way to kill two birds with one stone and visit both.

You can even take part in getting up-close and personal with the bear cubs while bottle-feeding. This is a truly unique experience that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else in North America. In addition, the park has a great petting zoo and a number of amusement rides for children to enjoy.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

road-to-schweitzer-resort

Schweitzer is king of the mountain (no pun intended) when it comes to ski resorts in Idaho. There are over 2900 acres of beautiful land that is just waiting to be explored. With over 92 ski runs snaking through the resort, there is truly something for skiers of all levels. Don’t worry if you have never skied before either, lessons are available to help get you started!

The location in the Selkirk Mountains also gives the resort some glorious views of Lake Pend Oreille on the southeast and of the nearby Bitterroot and Cabinet mountains. The summit is 6,400 feet high and has a number of chairlifts that make this one of my favourite places to ski in all of North America (yes, Canada included).

Museum of Clean

It might sound a little confusing when you hear the name, but the Museum of Clean in Pocatello is a place that everyone should visit if they are in the area. The complex is huge, with around 75,000 square feet, and is especially great for children.

The museum itself focuses on the importance of cleanliness in all aspects of our lives. This doesn’t just mean being clean at home, but also with our water, air and food sources, and practically anything that needs to be clean to benefit our lives. The exhibitions are very hands on and it is definitely great to spend a few hours here, but you probably won’t see everything in a day!

Lava Hot Springs

The Lava Hot Springs has become something of an Idaho favourite and the reason is a pretty simple one. Bubbling hot springs boast mineral-rich water that doesn’t have any sulfur, so there are no unpleasant smells! It’s amazing to think that over two million gallons of water gush through the springs each day.

This also means the springs clean themselves and makes for an amazing place to relax all year round. The springs are around 102 to 112 degrees Fahrenheit and are great in any weather. The facilities are also top notch too with an indoor aquatic centre (open all year) and an outdoor swimming complex (open in the summertime). The Springs themselves are open 363 days every year, so there is no excuse to miss them!

Silverwood Theme Park

idaho silverwood theme park

Silverwood had a humble beginning with just a steam train and a few other rides. The park has grown significantly in size over the years and is now one of the most popular and fun-filled amusement parks in the northwest. You can find the park around 47 miles from Spokane, near Coeur d’Alene.

Stone Beach Water Park was added in 2003. The park has around 65 rides, slides, and other attractions. The highlights are definitely the Riptide Racer, Aftershock, Corkscrew and Panic Plunge. It is also great to see the familiar faces of the park mascots Garfield and Odie strolling around the park.

Sun Valley Resort

This is a winter resort like no other, located between the inclines of the Bald and Dollar Mountains. The resort has a variety of attractions to suit all kinds of travelers. The skiing is fantastic here, making the resort a great winter destination. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t a summer destination too. It offers some amazing hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and a number of other sports. A definite highlight is taking the gondola up to the Roundhouse and enjoying the sunset over a glass of wine and the roaring fire.

If you are looking to unwind, there are naturally a number of spa and wellness options to suit everyone. Sun Valley Resort is truly an everyman’s holiday destination for all seasons.

Whether you prefer kid-friendly amusement parks, adventurous ski hills or getting hands-on with nature, Idaho really does have something for everyone. Pick a few must-try activities and plan your trip today!

How to Drop Everything and Travel Abroad

November 30, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Have you always dreamed of traveling abroad to another country and spending more than a week engaging in the culture? For some people, this will always remain a dream.

After all, the average person has a career, a family and responsibilities. And you can’t just up and leave them…or can you? No matter what kind of situation you’re in, if you dream of dropping everything to work and travel abroad, then here are the best possible ways to make it all happen.

Get Your House in Order

Once you decide you want to leave the country for an extended period of time, you need to get your house in order. At https://www.livible.com/, they recommend using a storage facility to keep all your belongings safe while you’re away. Whether you pack up your stuff or leave it where it is, you have options for your home. [Read more…]

How Head Lice Treatments May Be Harming Your Kids

November 29, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Have you had an encounter with head lice yet? If you have school-aged children, statistically speaking, you’re likely to come up against them at some point.

Lice have been present wherever humans are for centuries, and they’re especially prevalent among our younger kids. Schools, daycare facilities and other places where kids are playing close together can be prime areas for infestation.

Most parents will look for the quickest, most effective way to get rid of lice. Many schools still send kids home and won’t allow them back until they are “nit free,” while you still must get to work!

The problem is that not all lice treatments are a great choice. In fact, some over-the-counter treatments can be downright harmful. Want to avoid potential ill-effects of treatments, yet still successfully get rid of lice? Home remedies for head lice can be effective, but it’s important to know what you’re dealing with:

The Size of the Lice Problem in North America

The official estimates of the CDC show 6 to 12 million lice infestations in the 3 to 11 age group annually. Given that many cases go unreported, some suspect this number to be a low estimate. In any case, just know that a lot of kids get lice and it’s totally normal! [Read more…]