Holidays.MyNC.com

The holiday season is here and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to keep safety in mind as they decorate for the holidays. Flickering candles, blinking holiday lights and fragrant evergreens are beautiful staples of the holiday season, but when used improperly, these holiday decorating “must haves” can pose deadly dangers.

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By DONNA KOEHN
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

You could call her Mother Christmas.

Born on Christmas Day, named Holly Christine in its honor, Holly Oswald keeps the holiday on her mind all year long.

That’s because she is a bargain hunter extraordinaire. Always on the lookout for freebies, contests, flea markets and thrift store deals, she is a master of the homemade and handcrafted. Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you’re traveling on the road or in the friendly skies, Alison Rhodes, also known as “The Safety Mom,” shares these tips for keeping your children safe in a plane, train, automobile or hotel room.

Be sure the seat fits. Put your child in an age-appropriate car seat that’s correctly positioned with a secure seatbelt. Also, place a neon sticker on the side with important information so emergency workers can assist should you be unable to.

Get ready for take-off. The safest place for a child in a plane is in an approved child restraint system, not on your lap. This is a hard-backed safety seat that’s government approved for use in motor vehicles or aircrafts.
Plan ahead. Find the name of a local pediatrician and pharmacy at your destination. Also create a first-aid kit to bring with you that includes all necessary medications and first-aid items.

Label your kids. Create a tag listing your cell phone number, the name of the hotel where you’re staying and any medical conditions the child has. You can tape a piece of paper to the inside of his or her shoe or buy wrist ID bands such as Vital IDs from Belly Charms (www.vitalids.com).

Create a plan. Upon arriving at your hotel, review a fire escape plan with the family. Show family members the fire exits and pick a meeting spot outside should you become separated. Also bring a portable door alarm, which will sound if the door is opened and your child has left the room. In addition, cover electrical outlets with bandages and tie rubberbands around the handles of cabinet drawers containing dangerous items.

From MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Here you will find some unedited letters to Santa from almost a century ago, as printed in the Dec. 23, 1909, Mooresville Enterprise, predecessor to the Mooresville Tribune.

I suspect that, as is the case today, some parents helped their children in the composition and printing of letters to the jolly old elf.

Note what the children are asking for and not asking for. They are not requesting CDs, DVDs, HDTVs, WMDs, iPods or anything electronic or relating to Hannah Montana or SpongeBob SquarePants.

Note that they are asking for fruit, which was scarce in winter. Think about the last time your child or grandchild asked Santa for nuts and oranges?

Remember, too, that in 1909, people had chimneys large enough to accommodate someone with a bag of toys on his back.
Dear Santa:
Please do not forget me. I want a doll carriage, a doll, a bed, and a tea set. Please bring me lots of nuts, candy and fruits.
From your friend,
Mary E. Brown Read the rest of this entry »