Happy Holidays....

Happy Holidays... Happy Holidays.... may you enjoy everyday of this wonderful winter season...

Scent of Pumpkin Pies..

The scent of Pumpkin Pies gently fills the air...nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and sugar bringing a bouquet of fragrance to a winter home...blessed is this time of year. Good memories...

Sunshine and Fall days...

Absolutely the most beautiful days of Fall are upon us..Brilliant blue skies, cool wind and warm sunshine...Spectacular!  A day to be outdoors and enjoying nature! Can hardly wait til tomorrow...

Rain....

In our great Pacific Northwest we have mega rain  on many days of winter..We love those precious raindrops that keep our state green. A long walk in the rain is so refreshing!

Arrival of the winter season...

With a change in the weather comes changes in moods and attitudes also. I always look forward to the cool crisp days in the Fall season. The brilliant colors of the trees and shrubs bring much delight to get us beyond the darker days of winter. And yet the winter has its own special charm and beauty...to be remembered and cherished also. Happy Holidays to all ........

Multi-colored varigated purple, blue Iris bloom...

                        This purple/blue variegated Iris is a real show piece in the Pacific Northwest garden, this rare bloom is from a late spring garden. Photo: from kariscottmusic.blogspot.com  

Being Frugal...

Sometimes I just do not understand how everything we purchase got to be so expensive. From food, clothes, car and lets not even talk about gasoline. I'm sure someday we will get our spending habits back to normal. Til then all we can do is live a life of frugality. Which is fine for me as I have always be a money saver. So for today I am going to be even more thrifty. Being frugal is making my life easier and happy.

Chicago Peace Rose of Summer.....

This is a wonderful addition to any garden...Magnificent...almost seven inches in diameter...The Chicago Peace Rose is so very elegant...Photo:  from the garden of singer, songwriter Kari Scott @ kariscottmusic.blogspot.com

Diamonds and stones...

To take words from a song..."Somedays are like diamonds and others like stones"  makes perfect sense to me. Can't imagine going thru  this life without my special family and friends. Take the good with the bad I guess. Every day there is something to be grateful for, even in hard times. If only one small little thing...it may bring a smile to ones face.

Spring Days...

I always enjoy the days of Spring...so many lovely flowers and great days filled with sunshine, blue sky and warm days... loving life!

Happy Mothers Day...

Happy Mothers Day 2014....

Growing a Garden...

As Spring quickly approaches it is time to think about what to plant in my garden...always like planning, growing and harvesting a garden. Maybe a different vegetable this year. Tomatoes and Zucchini are a favorite. More on this later...

Foods and More for Good Eye Health in Kids

I am delighted to welcome Taffy Eyewear founder Nitie Mehta to Parents Unite with a post on the importance of good eye health in children and how to help improve and protect their vision. You can check out more tips from Taffy Eyewear on their informative blog.

Foods and More for Good Eye Health in Kids

Foods for Good Eye Health

We all have heard carrots are good for your eyes and yes they are but here are some more great foods that are good for the eyes.

• Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards

• Nuts, beans, and other non-meat protein sources

• Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices

• And of course carrots

In addition to eating these healthy foods avoiding foods rich in sugar is also very important. Often the eye problems do not appear till one is older but taking care at a young age is important.

Sunglasses are Essential to Protect Your Vision

It is especially important for kids to wear good sunglasses to protect their eyes from the harmful UV rays.  Kids spend a lot more time outside playing and just like the skin,the eyes are exposed to UV rays. Wearing a good pair of sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses is important.

Use Safety Eyewear While Playing Sports

Sport goggles made with polycarbonate lenses are essential in sports like ice hockey, lacrosse, racquetball and squash to protect your eyes from injury.

Screen Breaks

Kids are using multiple screens for a long time. A great game may keep them from blinking and taking breaks. Ensure your kids are looking away from the computer or any screen periodically.

If Kids need to wear eyeglasses, getting a pair of eyeglasses they will like to wear is the number one priority. If they like their eyeglasses they will tend to wear them and take care of them.

Other good features to look for in kids eyeglasses include:

• Flexible hinges or spring hinges

• Lightweight

• Frames made from a material called TR90 are great they hold their shape and a very durable.

• Metal frames are durable but need constant adjusting

• Plastic frames can break easily.

Taffy Eyewear is an online boutique that specializes in carrying kids eyeglass frames. Founder, Nitie Mehta suffered from vision problems herself as a child and uses her own story to inspire others on the importance of kids being comfortable in their own frames.