So what’s the best way to wash baby’s clothes? Does it matter what detergent you use? Following are some tips on how to launder baby clothes, and what soap is said to be best.

Don’t Fear the Dryer

Some moms are afraid the dryer will ruin their baby’s clothes, but once your baby arrives, you will find the dryer is your friend! In fact, the dryer tends to make baby’s clothes softer, and it will help remove excess lint, dust, or pet hair from the clothes. Another plus is the germ-killing effect of a hot dryer on clothes that were soiled before being washed.

Sunlight Can Help

While the dryer is your friend, hanging some clothes out can really help “bleach” out stains and kill germs. This is said to be especially true for cloth diapers. You might want to run them through the dryer for a while, then take them out while still damp and hang them in the sun.

Soaking

Moms often recommend tossing baby’s soiled clothes in a bucket of water into which you’ve stirred OxiClean powder. Then the powder can work on the stains and you can put off the laundry for a bit. This especially helps with spit-up and/or poop stains.

Do You Need Special Soap?

It depends on whom you ask. Some moms say it makes no difference; they just toss their baby’s clothes in with the rest of the family’s laundry. Other moms whose babies have sensitive skin make sure to use only detergents formulated for sensitive baby skin.

The problem seems to be that the delicate stuff doesn’t remove stains. Here’s an idea for a compromise – if you’re using the gentle detergent, try soaking in OxiClean as described above before washing with the delicate soap. And if your baby does not have sensitive skin, you may not need any special detergent at all.

Mesh Bag

Here’s a tip for keeping tiny baby socks, hats, and other tiny bits of apparel from getting lost in the washer. Put baby’s clothes into a mesh laundry bag (such as one might use for lingerie) and toss it in with the rest of the laundry. This will keep everything together.

Here are some tips for dealing with everyday stress the natural way.

Consider What You Eat

Stress relief may be as close as your dinner plate. While it’s not going to magically remove all stressful things from your life, a healthy diet can really help you deal positively with life’s stressors. Some foods to include in your stress-management diet include nuts, seeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains.

Prepare for Little Things

As you work to reduce and deal with everyday stress, it helps to prevent those little stressors that can add up to make a very bad day. Here are some little things to remember each day (you can even make a list and post it beside the front door so you’ll see it before you leave the house, and so you don’t have to try and remember all these things):

* Have an extra car key handy on your person (around your neck, in a pocket, etc.) so you don’t lock your only key in the car by accident.

* Have snacks on hand in case your favorite lunch place is closed or if you get stuck in traffic and can’t get home or to a restaurant to eat. Also, snacking on healthy foods helps keep blood sugar steady, which may help reduce stress symptoms.

* Keep water or a drink handy.

* Check your finances before you leave the house: coupons, wallet, check book, credit cards, etc. Take stock of what you have so you don’t stress yourself out trying to figure out what you can and can’t afford.

Listen to Music

Choose music that is calming and peaceful, and play it throughout the day or whenever you can. You may not even pay much attention to it after a while, but it is probably affecting your stress levels (in a good way!).

Exercise

Regular exercise has been shown to greatly reduce stress. The key, sources say, is to exercise daily so that your everyday stresses are “worked out,” so to speak. Exercise helps basically every body system, and gives you a much-needed energy boost that can help you handle the stressors that come your way each day.

Deep Breathing

Slow, deep, regular breaths are said to help stress. Periodically during the day, you can stop and take 5 to 10 deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Breathing out should be as slow as breathing in. When you breathe in, it’s recommended that you “aim” toward your belly button, as though breathing into your lower abdomen.

Stretching

Regular stretching exercises help loosen tight, tense muscles and increase circulation. A few minutes of stretching at intervals throughout the day can have a positive effect on your stress levels.

Yes! There are some things you can do to boost your family’s health and help keep illnesses at bay. Here are some tips.

Rest and Sleep

Many families have schedules that keep everyone running during the day and up late at night. But resting and getting enough sleep are very important for staying healthy. While it’s understandable that some nights are late nights, it’s not a good idea to make staying up late and being sleep deprived into habits. Help your children balance activities and homework so they will get to bed on time.

Eat Well!

During the winter, there is not the abundant produce that we have in the summer. But there are still whole, healthy foods that are available and affordable. Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat pasta are readily available in the winter. Other healthy foods you can include in your family’s winter meals include:

* Winter squash
* Sweet potatoes
* Dried fruits like raisins, dried apricots, apples, figs, dates, cranberries, etc.
* Citrus fruits
* Frozen vegetables and fruits are more affordable and nutritionally similar to seasonal, fresh produce.
* Salmon and other fatty fish are good sources of fish oil, which is considered important for immune system health
* Greens like kale and collards

Vitamins and Minerals

It may help a lot to have everyone in the family on some sort of vitamin and mineral supplement. What supplement is best depends on everyone’s age and lifestyle; generally, a vitamin and mineral supplement that corresponds to family members’ ages should be fine. Make sure the supplement includes Vitamin D3, a key vitamin in fighting off illness, sources say.

Get Outside When You Can

The weather is not bad all winter. Whenever there is a sunny or milder day, get the family outside to get some winter sunshine and activity. Fresh air is a nice break from germ-laden, indoor air, and sunshine exposure helps your body make that important Vitamin D. If there’s snow on the ground, have snowball fights and build snowmen, and go sledding if you have the right kind of terrain. Winter hikes can be fun, too.

Food – Where to Cut?

Perhaps one of the greatest chunks of household income goes to food. In order to implement some everyday frugal living ideas, you need to look at where you spend the most, and where you can cut. Keep the following things in mind as you give your food budget an overhaul.

* Eating out is probably the first place where you can make some everyday changes. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks, eating out can eat your budget. Pack lunches and snacks, and cook in instead of eating dinner out.

* Focus on fresh produce, dried beans, and bulk whole grains (such as brown rice) when you go to the grocery. Not only is this healthier; it’s a big savings if you replace expensive meats and prepared/packaged foods with these items.

* Skip the chips and other snack foods. It may seem affordable and cheap to get a bag of potato chips for $2, but you can often get many fresh, raw potatoes for the same $2 (think oven baked fries). The same is true for cakes, cookies, and ice cream. You can make your own for much less, or simply cut out some of the unhealthy snacks altogether.

* Drinks are another way you can cut back each day. Prepared iced tea, chocolate milk, juice, soft drinks, and so forth can add up. Make your own iced tea for pennies, and try cutting your juice by mixing it with half water. Soft drinks can be cut out gradually. When you do buy drinks, put them in reusable drink bottles rather than spending money on individual drink boxes or containers.

* Coupons are a great way to cut back on food, too, although you are not likely to find a lot of coupons for produce and whole grains. But for those items that you do buy pre-prepared, coupons can help.

Other Ways to Save Money

* Make your own household cleaners to save money. There are all kinds of recipes online. You can even make your own laundry soap. Hint: you’ll need a lot of baking soda and white vinegar to start!

* Shop at rummage sales, second-hand stores, and antique shops for holiday gifts.

* Shop at second-hand stores and yard sales for clothing and household items, like placemats, throw rugs, and shower curtains.

Vitamins

You have probably heard of Vitamin C for cold prevention and treatment, but have you heard of Vitamin D? The latest research shows that Vitamin D (particularly D3) is important in staving off colds and flu. This may be because the lack of sunlight in the winter creates a Vitamin D deficiency, and supplements are needed to keep the immune system in top shape. You can take a D3 supplement, and/or eat foods rich in this vitamin, such as eggs, liver, salmon, and mushrooms.

Vitamin C – Still Relevant

Vitamin C is still an important cold and flu prevention vitamin. Foods that are high in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, peppers (bell and chili), parsley, dark leafy greens, and strawberries. Many of these foods are out of season during cold and flu time, so if you do get these foods at your grocery store they will not only be more expensive – they will also be less likely to contain their full allotment of Vitamin C. This is largely due to long shipment times during which the Vitamin C decreases in the foods. Therefore, a daily supplement might be a good idea.

Rest

Have you noticed that you seem to get sick at the most inopportune times? This may be because when you are under stress and have a lot of things to get done, your immune system gets stressed and weakened. Getting enough rest is key to staying healthy. You may think you don’t have time to get enough sleep or rest, but unless you allow for the time, you may find you have to take a lot more down time being sick!

Herbs

The popular cold and flu herb, echinacea, is not generally recommended as a daily preventative. You can take it if you think you’ve been exposed and keep taking it for a month or so; but experts warn that echinacea tends to lose its effectiveness if taken for more than a month at a time. The good news is, there are other herbs you can use to keep your immunity working well this winter – and they are probably in your home kitchen.

* Ginger – This anti-inflammatory herb is tasty, spicy, and said to be a great cold and flu preventer. You can drink a cup of fresh ginger tea every day, and/or include this herb in your cooking.

* Garlic – Garlic is another herb that is sometimes used along with ginger in Asian cooking. Sprinkle minced, chopped, or crushed garlic liberally in daily recipes, or mix it with olive oil for a healthy dip for bread. You can also take garlic in capsule form. It’s been shown to be a powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial herb.

* Raw Honey – Truly raw honey can really help with cold and flu prevention – studies have shown that a tablespoon a day prevents cold in children. The same could probably be applied to adults, only perhaps a larger daily dose. If you don’t like it plain, put raw honey on toast or swirl it into hot herbal tea.

But emotional buying habits are not healthy, either financially or emotionally. Here are some tips on stopping the destructive behavior known as emotional buying.

Identify the Need

Sources point out that emotional buying is indicative of some sort of unmet need. Maybe you felt deprived as a child, or perhaps you are trying to cope with emotional trauma with the accumulation of stuff. Of course, this is just a superficial fix. The underlying problem is still there.

Seek out therapy and counseling to help you identify what emotional needs or issues are at the root of your spending problem. If you can deal with the emotion that’s driving the behavior, you’re more likely to be able to stop the spending.

Let It Go

It can be tempting to spend because you don’t feel adequate. Maybe you’re trying to keep up with those Joneses we all seem to have in our lives. Or maybe you are buying inordinate amounts of things for your child(ren) or other family members. Some emotional spenders will rationalize their spending if it’s for someone they love. Try to let it go – you’re not competing with other families to see how much stuff you can show off. For all you know, that other family could be in more debt than you are!

Turn It Off

Advertising can be a real trap for the emotional buyer. After all, ads are aimed at your emotions and perceived needs. Emotional buyers are especially vulnerable to these tactics. So turn off your television and other sources of ads, and don’t browse magazines with lots of ads. It’s also a good idea to turn off any shopping networks and not browse through paper catalogues. Take some time out from the ads that make you want things you don’t need!

Find Another Outlet

As you are working on the underlying emotional issues that fuel your buying, find other things you can “indulge” in that can act as an emotional pick-me-up or reward. (It’s probably not a good idea to make that indulgent item food, however.) Treat yourself to a walk in a nearby park or a workout at the gym, or take in a chapter of a book you’ve been wanting to read. Just try to avoid any sort of money spending as you think of ways to give yourself an emotional boost.

Rescue pets are often given a bad reputation. Some people think that if the animal had been acceptable the original owner would not have gotten rid of it. However, animal shelters and Humane Societies will not adopt out an animal they don’t believe will be a great pet for someone.

Think about the following things when you discuss getting a rescue pet.

* Does everyone in the family agree that it’s time to get a pet? If the whole family isn’t on board with the decision to get a pet, it might be best to wait a while. It is helpful if everyone agrees upon the type of pet you’ll get.

* Is your home appropriate for bringing home a pet? Obviously if you live in an apartment or rental house that does not allow pets, you’ll want to wait until a later time.

* Does your home have a fenced yard? Having a fenced yard will allow you to let a dog out to use the bathroom and get exercise, and keep it safe.

* Do you have the time needed to care for a pet? Dogs are social beings. They need time to play, be trained and spend time with your family members. If you get a rescue dog, it may need additional attention to help re-socialize it. Cats, on the other hand, often prefer to be left alone. They may decide to grace you with their presence but they’re also more likely to find a quiet, out-of-the-way place to sleep.

* What can the rescue shelter tell you about the animal’s history? This is particularly important if the shelter staff knows the animal has been abused. An abused pet can still make a great pet, but it may take longer to win its trust. You may also be concerned about how it will react to being disciplined. The animal shelter will be able to give you some advice on how to work with an abused animal.

* Are you ready to spend the money needed to care for a pet? You’ll need to take the animal to the vet for routine visits. Then there are the costs for food and supplies, treats and toys. The costs for these items can add up but the relationship you build with a rescue pet can be well worth the cost.

* Ask the shelter if you can keep the animal overnight or for a trial period to see how the animal will react to being away from the shelter. This will also let you see how each family member will react to the animal. Having a trial period will give you the option to return the pet if you determine it is not a good fit for your family.

* Learn all you can about the breed of animal you may adopt. The more you know about the animal, the better ready you will be to bring it into your home and your family.

Use the above tips to help you make your decision when you consider adopting a rescue pet. If your family is ready for a pet, don’t forget to check at local shelters or Humane Societies. They are usually full of animals that need a second chance and a family to love them.

It may help to know you’re not alone. It’s not unusual for older people to have friends and then lose them over time. Sometimes the losses are due to growing apart and other times it’s due to death. No matter what the case, everyone needs friends – including those who are older.

A wise person once said, “To have a friend you have to be a friend.” Be friendly with those you come in contact with. Smile and make small talk. If you’re friendly with others they will be friendlier with you as well.

If you’re interested in making new friends, you’ll want to be available. This could mean going to places where people are or spending time online. Don’t be afraid to use today’s technology to meet new people and strike up a new friendship. Do be aware that some people pretend to be something they aren’t at times, so you’ll want to be on your guard.

Take up a new hobby. If you’ve always been interested in photography, why not take a class at a local college or university. Try to find organizations for people with the same interests as yours and then join in. Before too long you’ll be meeting new people with similar interests and forging new friendships.

Become involved in community organizations. Do you love to read? Why not find a mentor program which specializes in helping others learn to read? Are you a nature nut? You could organize a neighborhood beautification program. Volunteer at a local animal or women’s shelter and you’ll have ample opportunity to meet others.

Let your inner child come out. Children love to have fun and adults have a tendency to be more serious. Try to find things which you can have fun doing – learn to roller blade, belt out a song on karaoke night or take up kite flying – anything will work as long as you have fun doing it.

Make yourself a regular where people are. Go to the corner coffee shop each morning. If there are others who stop at the same place each day you’ll have more of an opportunity to become friendly with them because they’ll be used to seeing you.

If you have children, be sure to attend their activities. Are your children athletic? Being a sports mom is a great way to meet new people and strike up a conversation. Having something in common makes it easier talk to people, so take advantage of the time you’re together.

Even though it may be harder to make new friends as you get older, it isn’t impossible. Think about how you would like to be treated and treat others the same way. If you take time to be a friend, before too long you’ll find you have new friends in your life.

People detox for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason to do a detox is that our body absorbs toxins through what we eat, what we drink and through the things around us. Detoxifying allows the body to get rid of the build-up of toxins so we can feel better.

Before you do a weekend detox, you’ll want to get a check-up. Your doctor will be able to tell you if there are any reasons not to do a detox or which type would be best for you. The goal of a detox is to feel better, but there are some health issues which may not be suitable for a detox or shouldn’t be done without a doctor’s supervision.

The easiest way to start a weekend detox is to begin with warm lemon water. Squeeze half a lemon into warm water or herbal tea. Drink this before you eat breakfast so your digestive system will be stimulated. It will also cleanses your liver and evens out the pH level in your body.

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you’re on the weekend detox. You’ll also want to cut out sugar in any form and caffeine. Be prepared if you drink a lot of coffee. Going cold turkey during the detox can cause you to have headaches or feel sick. You can lessen these effects by reducing how much caffeine you consume over the week leading up to the detox.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids during a detox weekend. Eight to ten glasses of water each day is the minimum you’ll want to drink. You may even want to increase the amount to twelve or more glasses each day.

Eat raw fruits and vegetables during the weekend detox. Part of the goal is to clean the liver and clear the colon. Raw foods will help this process along.

The benefits of detoxing your body are numerous. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Increased energy
* Improved quality of sleep
* Decreased mood swings
* Regular bowel movements
* Reduced severity of infections
* Fewer allergic reactions
* Healthier skin
* A clearer mind

How often do you do a weekend detox? Most professionals recommend doing a weekend detox once a month. They also suggest a two-week detox if you want to rid your body of even more impurities.

Talk to your health professional and discuss your desire to learn how a weekend detox can get your health back on track. They’ll be able to help you choose the best type to do to get the best results. Once you try one weekend detox you may decide to do them more often, but you’ll want to verify with your doctor how often is best for you.

Age and Maturity

The first thing to consider is your child’s age. Some young children have more maturity than some older ones; as a parent, you need to evaluate your own child based on his level of maturity. It’s a good idea to consider the following:

* Is your child responsible with his belongings? Or does he disregard his possessions and not take care of them?
* Does your child follow directions?
* When you set boundaries, does your child respect them?

If you find your child seems to have the maturity necessary to have a cell phone, but he is still quite young, you could consider a child-friendly phone that has parental controls.

Need versus Want

It might be a good idea to sit down and evaluate whether or not there is a real need for a cell phone. Sometimes, parents decide not to purchase a cell phone for their child because the child really doesn’t need it. A child may insist she needs a phone, but it may be more a question of peer conformity (“everyone else” has one).

There may be a real need for a child to carry a cell phone. Examples might include a child who visits with the other parent, spends a lot of time with friends and going out, or otherwise spends time away from parents or caregivers. In this case, a cell phone can help parents stay in touch with their child and vice versa.

Safety

There are times when a cell phone can augment a child’s safety. Sources point out that the presence of a cell phone may deter an attacker; after all, many cell phones can take pictures and a child who’s “wired” can call for help quickly. Some cell phones even have a GPS system installed.

On the other hand, carrying a cell phone may make your child more susceptible to cyber-bullying. Also, if your child is old enough to drive, the cell phone could pose a danger in the form of distracted driving.

Cost

Some parents may decide not to buy their child a cell phone because of the cost. For one thing, some parents may not be able to afford a cell phone for your child; for other parents, it’s not a question of affording but of principle. For example, parents may choose not to buy a cell phone for their child because they’d rather the child earned it herself. In that case, your child won’t be “ready” for a cell phone until she is able to earn some sort of income.