By   4:37:00 PM   No comments:

The great summer festivals are ready to hit the continental Europe with the season gradually approaching towards its end. Visitors to the continent in the next few months will be able to participate in a number of events to be hosted by the countries across the British Channel from which we have selected a few wonderful festivals in France which would be an added attraction for people travelling to France at the end of this summer.

With several ferries to France plying on the Dover-Calais route and the Dover-Dunkirque route across the Channel, travellers have a plenty of choice to go for a fantastic summer break to the continent with friends and family. They could easily book a ferry with any of these companies taking advantage of the cheap summer deals currently available with most of these operators. Not only is it economic but also very convenient to load the cars with as much luggage as possible and sail towards the most popular destinations in France that are ready to welcome the visitors with the great musical feast. Unlike the UK where people celebrate summer festivals by enjoying live rock music on the streets and unlimited beer, the seasonal festivals in France come with more cultural flavour with them. Once such festival is, Les Nuits de Fourviére held in Lyon every year from June to August. The two- month long event organises a number of programmes including theatre, dance, music and film. Burgundy is one more festival that takes place in Beaun between 3 to 26 July, playing a wonderful series of Opera concerts, the ‘sacred music’ and the festival is popularly known as Festival International d’opéra baroque de Beaune. People looking for more classical music can visit Nancy and Lorraine for the Nancyphonies – Festival de Nancy between 8th July and 5th August.

If you plan your trip in August, there is one more festival to entertain you in Vallée de la Vézére, Limousin, called Festival de la Vézére to be organised between 10 July and 21 August. Here you can enjoy classical music performed by very popular soloists. Normandy is another region in France to fulfil your musical thirst with the Heures Musicales de l’abbaye de Lessay in Lessay, which is a fantastic event that would surely leave you spellbound. The festival running between 13 July and 20 August presents religious and secular classical and baroque music by some of the world’s greatest performers. One more festival in this season, which certainly deserves a mention is the Festival d’lle de France that starts from 4 September and concludes on 11 October. It plays almost 30 music concerts, from baroque to jazz in various historic venues across the country. Sail with a ferry and drive into the rural locations to enjoy the best time of the year in France when the whole country becomes alive with the beats of music played across the whole region.

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Radio Flyer Wagons: 10 Ways to Fly This Summer

Radio Flyer Wagons: 10 Ways to Fly This Summer

By   8:16:00 AM   No comments:

Summer is HERE, and we don’t want you to forget about your Radio Flyer! Not only will your red wagon provide hours of outdoor adventures, it will bring a lifetime of memories. There are endless ways to enjoy your little red wagon, and here are just a few:

1. Take your Radio Flyer wagon to Fourth of July Parade – make sure to decorate it festively so you stand out from the crowd.

2. Take your wagon on an outdoor Safari at the local zoo or park this summer.

3. Long walks can get tiring for young children – bring along your Radio Flyer wagon and you can

offer an easy lift home for the little ones.

4. Put your children in the wagon this summer when you head to the local festivals and outdoor events – when the kids are ready to get out, use the wagon to carry purses, bags and other goodies.

5. Fill your Radio Flyer wagon with lunch, snacks and a Frisbee and voila – you have the ingredients for a fun summer picnic.

6. Trips to the beach with your family can become a fun-in-the-sun adventure when you pack your
Radio Flyer wagon to the brim with toys, sunblock and a few magazines.

7. Cool off on a hot summer day by transforming your wagon into a traveling lemonade stand.

8. Making a trek to the grocery store? Fill your wagon with heavy bags for easy transportation.

9. Kids aren’t the only ones who can enjoy a ride in a Radio Flyer wagon, remember your pets too.

10. A Radio Flyer wagon is perfect for carrying your gardening essentials and little garden helper around the yard this planting season.


Fun Wagon Facts:

• Radio Flyer wagons have been made in America for more than 93 years. The first wagon was produced by Antonio Pasin in 1917.

• From the original little red wagon to the current line of plastic, metal and wood, Radio Flyer has been bringing smiles and imagination to kids for generations.

• The Chicago Radio Flyer headquarters is home to the World’s Largest Wagon, which is 27 feet
long and inspired by the Radio Flyer model featured in the 1933 World’s Fair.
 
Also in honor of the beginning of summer, Radio Flyer has created the World’s Largest Wagon Mosaic to commemorate the iconic toy. As the cornerstone of the Radio Flyer family, the wagons have been engineered for almost 100 years and now with 12 different varieties we want to remind families that wagons are the ultimate summer accessory.


It’s easy to join the mosaic, just upload your wagon photo at http://www.radioflyerart.com/

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Pool and Play Set Safety from UL

Pool and Play Set Safety from UL

By   8:19:00 AM   No comments:

As the weather heats up, families will seek refuge in the cool waters of their neighborhood or backyard pools. Although there’s nothing like a quick dip on a hot summer’s day, pool season doesn’t come without potential risks. In fact, approximately 4,200 people go to the emergency room every year due to pool or spa-related injuries. This summer, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading product safety testing organization, is providing useful tips to help you and your “little minnows” stay safe.

Here is a great Disney pool safety video http://disney.go.com/disneyeducationalproductions/safetysmart/index.html

POOL SAFETY AT HOME

• If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child's reach.

• Cut overhanging tree limbs and remove chairs or ladders from the pool area to prevent children from climbing over the fence that surrounds the pool.

• Keep grates and drain covers in good repair and secured in place. Alert your family and guests to stay away from these devices, as the suction from drain outlets can be strong enough to cause entrapment of hair or body parts, which can potentially cause a person to drown.

• Make sure you know infant and child CPR if you own a pool.

BE SAFETY SMART WHILE SWIMMING

• Supervision is a must. Follow the 10/20 rule when you’re at the pool. The 10/20 rule states the supervising adult needs to position themselves to be able to scan the pool every 10 seconds, and reach the water within 20 seconds.

• Always have rescue devices, such as UL-LISTED life preservers, nearby.

• Flotation devices, toys and inflatable swimming aids are not safety devices. They are toys and can easily puncture and deflate.

• Always drain wading pools after children are done playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water.

• Have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers posted.

• Remove all toys when you leave the pool. Toys may attract children to the unattended pool.

 
From backyard tree houses, to jungle gyms, to neighborhood playgrounds, kids will be climbing and swinging all summer long. However, it’s important for parents to be aware of the potential dangers associated with play sets. Each year, more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger go to the emergency room for play set-related injuries. That’s why Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading product safety testing organization, is providing easy-to-follow safety tips to help families “play it safe” this summer.


BEFORE INSTALLING A BACKYARD PLAY SET…

• Make sure your backyard is large enough for playground equipment. The site must also provide good visibility and security. Before setting up equipment, look out for obstacles, such as the garage, tree branches, utility poles and wires.

• Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions when setting up play set equipment. Be sure your child's weight and age fall within the manufacturer's recommended limits for the equipment.

• Install protective surfacing, such as rubber tiles or mulch under the play set, at least six feed in all directions, to prevent serious injuries should a child fall.

BEFORE HEADING OUT TO PLAY…

• Carefully inspect backyard playground equipment. Make sure equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed and bolts are not protruding.

• Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.

• Always supervise children on play set equipment to make sure they are playing safely.

• Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, pet leashes or cords of any kind to play set equipment. If used improperly, they can be potential strangulation hazards.

• Watch for potential trip hazards, such as rocks, tree stumps and concrete footings. Make sure you’re children are aware of them as well.

• Do a sandbox check. Before letting your child dig in, rake through the sand to check for debris or sharp objects. Also, inspect for any animal contamination or insect problems.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Underwriters Laboratories. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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Summer Helmet Safety

Summer Helmet Safety

By   8:52:00 AM   No comments:

The tragic death of Natasha Richardson was a major wake-up call for a lot of people. Ms. Richardson was skiing on a beginner slope in ideal skiing conditions. She was participating in a private skiing lesson with a professional ski instructor. She was laughing and talking after the accident. When she was asked if she wanted to be taken to the local hospital for a check-up, she allegedly declined. How could have such a “small” accident have caused the severe brain damage that led to her death?


Would Natasha Richardson still be alive today if she had worn a safety helmet? It’s impossible to know for certain (if only we could turn back time) but sports injury experts say ski helmets cut the rate of head injuries by 30% to 50%. Research shows proper use of a bike helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by 88 per cent.

Our awareness about the importance of helmet safety continues to grow, but the question remains: how can we best protect our children? Here are a few guidelines for parents:

Insist that your child wear a safety helmet when biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, and skating. Just because legislation making helmets mandatory for ALL sports isn’t yet in force, it doesn’t mean it’s not important.

Role model the behaviour for them! Think of it in these terms … when we want our kids to learn good manners, we teach by example. The same is true of helmet use. If we wear a safety helmet then it’s easier for us to insist that our kids do too! For those of you worried about “helmet hair”, ask yourself which is worse … helmet hair or a head injury?

Ensure that your child’s helmet fits properly. In order for a helmet to do its job, it needs to fit properly and the strap has to be done up. Not sure if your child’s helmet from last year still fits? Wondering whether or not your older child’s safety helmet can be passed down to your younger child? Ask a sales associate in your local sporting goods store to check the fit of your child’s helmet. I’ve always found them more than willing to help and it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Tempted by the great sale on helmets at your local discount retailer? We all want to save money but a helmet that doesn’t fit properly won’t protect your head. It’s imperative that your child tries on the helmet before you buy it because everyone’s head is shaped differently. As well, ensure the helmet you are purchasing meets helmet safety standards. CSA, CPSC, ASTM or Snell certifies most helmets sold in North America.

Bike helmets are designed to protect your head against only one crash. After a crash in which the cyclist has hit his or her head, a helmet should be replaced, even if it does not look damaged. You should not rely on a helmet that has been in a crash to protect you from another head injury.

Helmets should also be replaced if they are more than 5 years old. The plastics dry out and may become brittle with age. Also, older helmets may not meet current safety standards, or they may have missing or broken parts.

Your child may be complaining that he/she is too cold under their helmet. This is particularly true of skating and hockey helmets because they usually don’t have any insulation. Please keep in mind that wearing a hat under the helmet does not allow the helmet to fit properly. You can always try adding a helmet cover over the helmet. It adds a layer of warmth and will make it FUN for your child to wear his/her helmet when they have an adorable design they love. http://www.tail-wags.com/

Remember that there are different helmet styles for different sports … for a good reason. It’s a proven fact that people tend to fall differently depending on the sport and, therefore, the type of protection required by the different sports helmets varies. In other words, please don’t assume that a bike helmet will protect your child while tobogganing.

Overwhelmed by all of the statistics and the helmet do’s and don’ts? If you are, you are not alone but please keep the following in mind. Once you and your children are in the habit of wearing your safety helmets, it will become second nature. Remember the first few times after car seat belt legislation was passed and you felt uncomfortable with the routine … now you probably don’t think twice about buckling up before pulling out of the driveway. I hated my ski helmet at first but now I feel “naked” without it. The Zany Zebra helmet cover also helps make it a lot more enjoyable to wear.

Author: Karyn Climans, Owner of Tail Wags Helmet Covers Inc.
A company dedicated to encouraging more kids and adults to actually wear their safety helmets.
http://www.tail-wags.com/

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Road Trip Activities for Kids

Road Trip Activities for Kids

By   8:38:00 AM   No comments:

Taking a road trip is fun but long strechs in the car can sometimes be a challege for children.

The first rule in our house is the Nintendo DS is played only in the car. Before a road trip we try to get a new game for the kids to play as a surprise. Step-3 provide my family with a copy of the new Shrek Forever After Nintendo DS game. I surprised Little Man with it before we went camping on Memorial Day. Little Man thinks it is GREAT! And his 1-year old sister tries to play it too!

Return to Far Far Away in Activision Publishing, Inc.’s upcoming Shrek Forever After™ video game. Based on the final chapter in the Shrek® franchise from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., the game reunites fans with their favorite characters – Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and Puss In Boots.

Gamers will adventure through a variety of locations from the Shrek universe, solve challenging puzzles and battle exciting new enemies as they morph between Shrek’s normal world and his alternate reality…and ultimately conquer that crafty Rumpelstiltskin! The game offers a fun-filled social and collaborative experience with its co-operative multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to work together through the single player story.

Shrek Forever After will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS and PC. The game is rated “E10+” (Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Lyrics) for all consoles and PC and “E” (Cartoon Violence) for the DS by the ESRB. Shrek Forever After is in development by XPEC for all consoles.

Another great way for kids to pass the time away in the car is digital books. We have TONS of them downloaded on my iPod Touch for Little Man. You can find many free books in the App Store. We recently were given the opportunity to review the new Shrek Forever After Movie Storybook app for iPhone and Android.

iStoryTime brings the adventures of Shrek to the convenience of your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch in this entertaining kid’s book application based on the DreamWorks Animation movie, Shrek Forever After. Welcome to iStoryTime, a library of narrated children’s books for the iPhone and iPad. iStoryTime books are illustrated and narrated, so your child can enjoy the book even when you’re busy. Best of all, the app is drop-dead simple to use because it’s actually designed for kids 2-years and up.

About iStoryTime

iStoryTime is part of FrogDogMedia, LLC. The company was founded in 2009 by two fathers and an uncle who love to have fun with their families. Driven by a passion to make children’s books more accessible and entertaining, iStoryTime is the pioneer of children’s book apps for the iPhone.

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5 Things to Check on Your Vehicle Before a Road Trip

5 Things to Check on Your Vehicle Before a Road Trip

By   8:33:00 AM   No comments:

I asked Elizabeth to write this article for me so that we can all be safe before we go on a road trip this summer!

This post was contributed by Elizabeth Cutten. Elizabeth helps run FindGasCards, a gas credit card / auto blog helping those that drive save.

We all look forward to that time of relaxing, new scenery and getting away from our hometown. Although, what we don’t look forward to, or expect to happen is for something to go wrong with our vehicle. You can’t predict the future, therefore it is important to prepare for it in every way that you can.

When traveling across the country your chances of something going wrong with your vehicle increase. Whether or not your car is old, things still happen and don’t go as planned. Although, there are a few things you can do to try and prevent anything from going wrong ahead of time. To learn how to do a quick check on your vehicle, continue reading below.

Oil: First of all, you should always be looking out for your car’s oil. You want to make sure the levels are where they are supposed to be, and that it is a nice and light color. If it looks dark, be sure to get it changed before your road trip.

Transmission fluid: You always want to make sure your car has enough transmission fluid. Transmissions can be very costly to replace so it is a good idea to always look out for them.

Tires: Also, be sure to check the air pressure in your tires. You can get a tire pressure gauge and check this very easily. If it is below what it is supposed to be, be sure to take your car to the gas station or fill them up at your house. If you have a portable tire inflator, it’s not a bad idea to bring that long with you as well.

Wipers: It is always a good idea to make sure your wipers work well and that the fluids are where they should be. You don’t want to cause any accidents simply because you couldn’t see. Filling up your windshield wiper fluid is very cheap, so be sure it’s full before you leave.

Emergency bag: Make sure you have some type of emergency bag in your vehicle. This should contain things like emergency numbers to call, towing numbers, some food that won’t spoil, some drinks and a first aid kit. You never know what the future has in store, so be prepared! Also, if it is cold, be sure to bring extra blankets just in case your car stalls.

If you’re looking to have the safest road trip possible, be sure to prepare in these five ways. These can help prevent accidents and enhance the safety of your driving!

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