Stocking Up For Winter

 Like squirrels and nuts, this family stores away food in the fall for the winter.  I am sure I have talked about this before in previous posts but here is the long and short of the why we do this.  My husband and I own a lawn care business.  Well, he does; I just help out when and where I can.  Winter is a down time in the business.  Grass doesn't grow around here in the winter.  However, in the fall, we have two of our most profitable seasons, aeration season and leaf season.  So we are more fluid right now.  Because of this, we like to stock up on provisions for the winter season now. 

I have pretty much just finished stocking up.  I am proud to say I have about a three month supply of most food groups.  I have also added to my  longer term food storage. I also have at least a three month supply of all hygiene products that we use, as well as household cleaning supplies.  I will continue to increase my food storage and other supplies through December.

My logic on this:  Each year we have a "planned emergency".  This is the time from January through March, but really it lasts to the beginning of May. I have always been a "prepper" and it has proved essential to us time and time again!  So when I realized that we were tending to need to use our food storage during our off season, we chose to think about this in our preps. One fall, many years ago, my husband did a big job and handed me a bunch of cash (I think it was like $500) and he said, "Go out and get everything we need for food for the next month and include all the stuff for Thanksgiving."  I spend the next couple days making an enormous list.  I scoured the ads from the local grocery stores and made a plan of attack. That year I was not only able to get enough groceries for that next month and for Thanksgiving, but also was able to put away enough meat for us for another couple weeks too.  From that point on, we made a point to start squirreling away food and supplies in the fall. 

This is what my list structure looks like:

1.  Menu planning:  My first step is to sit down and think of all the meals we love to eat in the winter.  This includes, chili, soups, chicken and potatoes, spaghetti, tacos, pork chops, meatloaf, etc. I stretch this out and create a 25 day meal plan.  Some meals we will eat more than once in that 25 day period. I also figure we will eat out 5 days in the month for dinners and more often for lunches.  I do this meal plan for breakfasts (which often look like "breakfast bars, poptarts, frozen sausage biscuits, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, omelets) and for lunches (which include a lot of planned leftovers, frozen entrees, ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). I also make a list of grab and go snacks (microwave popcorn, chex mix, chocolate, peanut butter cracker packs, pretzels, nuts, cheese, etc). For the record, this is super hard for me because we eat pretty healthy and I don't have a lot of processed foods in our house. Stocking up on fresh foods is not in the plan, but I try to switch fresh for frozen.  I also do have three on-the-go teenagers/20-somethings who have classes and jobs still living in the house. {sigh} Meal planning is the hardest part.  My 25 day meal plan is for a month.  If I am wanting a 3 month supply of food then I might add a few more meals and multiply the number of meals by 3.  I will also include any holiday meals or birthday meals that might occur. Oh and think about a few desserts.

2.  Meal breakdown:  My next step is to break down each meal into the ingredients and amounts I need for each meal.   I also include spices and seasonings, too. 

3.  List making: I make a master list of all the ingredients from the meal breakdown step. I add all the same items up.  For example, if I am using  a pound of ground beef for each meatloaf I make and I am making it twice in the month then I need 2 lbs.  If I use a pound of ground beef for tacos and a pound for chili, then my total for the month is 4 lbs. Then I further this list to creating lists for each grocery store.  Some stores have specific products my family likes.  I also use the ads from each store, checking for sales.  If there is a sale on a certain product, I will include the sale price next to the item. This will come in handy when shopping.  

4. Checking inventory: Before heading out, I add anything else that we are getting low on.  Think about spices, seasoning packets, flour, sugars, coffees, other drinks.  This is the time when I go through my pantry and clean out expired, unwanted items, dust the shelves.  I pack up the unwanted items and send them on to the food bank. I sort and organize the drawers and cabinets in the bathrooms, and organize the cleaning closet. I add any additional items we are getting low on to the grocery lists.  While doing this, begin an additional list of little chores that need to be done.  These chores could include changing out the batteries in the wall clocks and smoke detectors, replacing burned out lightbulbs, swapping out baking soda boxes in the refrigerators, etc. 

Once the lists are made I head out.  I will shop one store a day. This gives me time to shop and not be in a big rush and come home and put everything away. While I am in a store if I see an item on sale and I have it on another store's list, I will compare the price at the other store with the sale price and then buy the better deal.  I keep all the lists with me so I can mark off any item found at a different store.  Remember when I said to put the sale price next to the item on your list?  This is where it might come in handy.  You can compare the sales. 

Things to remember when stocking up like this:

1. A place for everything.  You need to have a planned place for everything you buy.  I have a separate set of cabinets in my basement for our food storage.  This helps because for us, it is not up in my working pantry.  Out of sight, out of mind. Over the years we have acquired three refrigerator/freezers, one full size stand up refrigerator, one stand up full size freezer, and one chest freezer. We don't use all of them all year long but in this case, these will end up all pretty full.

2. What you bring home, family members will think it is all free rein.  It is best to remind family members that this extra food is not free for the eating.  This is for later.

3. Lots of items can be frozen.  Some items are better fresh.  For example, you can freeze milk but it separates and doesn't always come back together like it was fresh when thawed. However, butter freezes just fine.  In our "planned emergency" time, I still have a small budget for fresh items.  I buy those when needed not during this stocking up time. I focus on the meats, veggies, spices, seasonings, dry goods, bathroom supplies, cleaning supplies. However, if you are stocking up for winter or a time when you know you won't be able to get to the grocery store (like a big snow storm) I would consider adding shelf stable milk or powdered milk (blahhk).  Fresh eggs might be hard but you can include "Egg Beaters" to your freezer. Most cheeses will freeze just fine and so do yogurts.

Why would I want to do this?

Great question.  I do it because I know we have a poor time and I can alleviate some expense now with food storage. If you have a time where you know it will be difficult to get out then this might be a good method.  Perhaps you have a planned surgery coming up. Perhaps you know that each year you get snowed in for a period of time. Maybe you are having a baby.  Or more timely, maybe you may have to quarantine for a few weeks due to the pandemic. These are great reasons to stock up. My sister stocks up each month for the last week of the month when she and her husband are too busy with work and deadlines to shop. All these are "planned emergencies". 

What is different from this type of stocking up and stocking regular emergency food storage? 

Another great question.  For the most part it is not really that different other than the fact that you know you will be using your food storage.  I have our regular food storage and because I know I will be using our storage each winter, I stock extra so at the end of the winter I am not left with nothing in my food storage.  So this is a little extra because I know I am going to be using it. Do I then have double? Not really,  more like 1 1/2 times the normal amount. I continue to grab items when I see them on sale and put them in my food storage, but this is extra.  This also is funded by extra money, not my regular storage budget. 

Can't I just use what I have in food storage for my "planned emergency" without stocking up?

Yes, you can.  But a planned emergency isn't a REAL emergency.  Plus our additional income allows me to beef up our storage during this season.  If you use your emergency food storage during your planned emergency, you will just need to understand that your emergency storage will be depleted by the time you come out of your planned emergency time.  You will have to work to restock it quickly.  With this method, I am "restocking" ahead of time. Because I know it is coming, I can plan. 

What sorts of things do you forget?

I don't know....ha ha ha.... Honestly, Ziploc bags, aluminum foil, trash bags, dishwasher detergent, wine.  It is the little things.   But those little things are sorely missed when gone. 

Winterizing Your Car Emergency Kit

Each year around this time in my area, the leaves begin to change and the weather starts to get cooler.  There is always one evening where I am out and by the time I get home it is dark and quite chilly.  I shiver as I rush to or from my car. This is when I make a mental note to myself that I need to start carrying a sweater or jacket with me if I am going to be out.

Usually the next day I grab my car emergency kit and begin its seasonal overhaul.  In the summer we don't need extra blankets, hand warmers, or hats, gloves and scarves.  In the winter we do.  I also will toss in an extra old jacket or two.

Now that my  kids are older they all have their own vehicles.  I insist that they keep up their own emergency kit (bag) in their cars too. My car now holds less items as I don't usually have the whole family in the car with me. However, when they do go out with me, I insist that they grab a jacket on the way out and if it is really chilly, hat, gloves, and scarf too.

So let's talk about what is in my emergency kit (bag):

First let's talk about the bag or container.  I use an extra large canvas bag that had a zipper on top.  I could fit most all of the items in it and zip it up.  I tossed it in the back of my SUV where we could reach it from the inside of the vehicle.  Some people use a Rubbermaid or plastic tub with a top on it.  The idea is to keep it all contained and in one place. If you drive a sedan you might choose to keep it in your trunk.  That is okay too.

1.  Blankets: small, afghan size, usually fleece or fleece-lined.  I grab older blankets we don't use at home anymore and throw them in. One for each member of the family.  I can't tell you how many times the kids used these blankets while traveling in our car.  I would too.  My husband and I don't always agree on where the heat should be set in the car. 

2.  Extra Warm clothing items: hats, gloves or mittens, scarves, hand warmers, warm socks. A set for each member of the family.

3.  Food/Water: Look for food items like protein or breakfast bars.  You don't want anything that would explode or leak if it freezes. Peanut butter crackers are also a good choice.  Water bottles. No explanation but a caution here.  Place them in a ziploc bag and check them often because they will freeze and thaw throughout the season. 

4. Old Towel (s): with little kids, I always kept an old towel or two in the back of the car.  I never knew when I might have to clean up a mess.  Also, it gave my husband something to lay on if he had to lay on the ground under the car. So I keep an old towel in my emergency bag.

5. Portable Radio: I would choose one that is hand crank over battery operated so you don't have to worry about saving battery power or if the batteries are working.  This radio could keep you informed on weather alerts, news, and entertained while you are waiting on help. This is a new item not in my old posts about car emergency bags. If you are stuck in the car your gas and car battery will eventually run out and this portable radio will serve you well. You will be glad you had it. This should probably be in your regular emergency bag in your car.

Questions you might have:

I already have a car emergency kit.  Why do I need additional food/water and other similar supplies in my winter emergency bag?  You don't.  If it is already in your car then you might just want to refresh what you have.  No one wants to eat stale peanut butter crackers.  

I don't want to keep water sloshing around in my car.  Any other ideas? Sure, when I was working outside the home, I took my lunch each day.  In my lunch box (insulated small cooler), I kept extra water, extra snacks, napkins, plastic utensils, and small packages of condiments (salt, pepper, etc.)  I did not keep water in my car at that point.  When we would go out later in the evenings I would throw a bottle or two of water in our kids diaper/toddler bag.  I had water covered wherever we went, but it was not stored in the car.  I just kept it top of mind. Make your own plan. Make it work for you.  The idea is to be prepared.

I have read other blogs and they are recommending additional survival equipment. Why aren't you?  This Winter Car Emergency Kit (Bag) that I am talking about is what I switch in and out as the seasons change.  I do have some additional emergency supplies in my car all the time.  I don't want to double up on supplies.  For example, I have flares, a multitool, first aid kit, and other items already in my basic car emergency kit. The items I add are specifically to keep me and my passengers warm while we are waiting for help.

The take away:

A couple years ago my daughter and I were out running errands.  It was super cold outside. While we were out I noticed that I was really low on gas and began heading to the gas station.  Well, we ran out of gas.  I pulled off the road but wasn't able to make it into a parking lot and the gas station wasn't close enough.  I called my husband to come "save" me.  While we waited it was quite chilly in the car.  The wind was blowing pretty hard outside and the car got pretty cold quickly. Luckily, I had our winter coats in the car and my daughter climbed into the back and grabbed our winter emergency bag with the blankets. We bundled up and were warm while we waited.  Luckily we didn't have to wait too long but we were thankful we had those blankets in the car with us.

Your winter kit should have the items that you all need.  Think about what you might need if you ran out of gas or had car trouble and needed to stay with your car and wait an hour or two for help. Think about what you might need if you needed to wait overnight for help.  Think about who might be in the car with you.  These ideas might help you formulate your own kit personalized for you and your family.

Hope these ideas help. Stay safe.

Eating at Home - Meal Kit Delivery

****added note: In the wake of our country currently "social distancing" because of the Coronavirus spread, I am posting this post that I wrote for my other blog (Whitney's Cooking). I thought that it might be helpful for us "Prepared Moms" who might be finding themselves a bit overwhelmed by needing to cook, grocery shop while staying socially distant, and try to keep fresh, wholesome meals on the table during this crisis.****



If you have read some of my other posts you already know by now, we just moved. We moved 4 miles away from our previous house into a wonderful new (to us) home.  More bedrooms, more space, more land!

Because moving is hard and EXPENSIVE we have been eating more at home.

Let me back up a bit.  Over the past several years since the meal kits have come on the market, I have been interested in trying them but every time I go to sign up, my budget minded brain says, "you can make this same meal cheaper than they can deliver the food to you", and I don't bite.

About a month ago, I was sitting in the car waiting for my son to join me for an impromptu lunch.  I had been packing all morning and was looking forward to our lunch together, just me and him.  While waiting, I was scrolling social media on my phone and yet another meal kit delivery program popped up on my feed.  For some reason, I clicked.  And for some reason, it finally clicked in my brain that it was actually more budget-friendly than I thought. Why did my thought process change? I think it had a lot to do with me being tired of eating out all the time.  I was tired of the same end of the day conversation we have. "what's for dinner?", "I don't know what do you want?", "I don't know, what do you want?", "I have chicken.", "I don't want chicken.", "It's late. By the time we fix dinner it will be even later. Let's just go out and eat.", "Kids! Put your shoes on. We are going out to eat!" And we go out.  Not to a fast food restaurant usually but to a sit down restaurant.

So here is my normal weekly money routine for food: (Family of 5, 1 in college and home on weekends, 2 in upper teens - hit or miss if they are home for dinner)

Grocery store: $200 - I end up throwing at least a third of the food away eventually because we don't eat it.
Restaurants: Breakfasts $30 (one to two times a week)
                     Lunches $100 ($25 to 30 each time we go and sometimes that is 4 to 5 times a week)
                     Dinners $350 (3 to 4 times a week and usually $75 to $100 each time)
Total:  $680 a week!!!

We also go out to eat a lot because my kids are sick of what we fix when we are in a hurry.  We have gotten into a rut and have been eating the same things over and over again.

You know (from my past posts) that we have meal planned and that works for a little while but we end up in the same boat over time, fixing the same meals.

So, that day, sitting in the parking lot, all this information running through my head, I clicked the meal kit ad.  Suddenly, it all made sense to me.

This meal kit gives me 3 meals a week for 4 people.  I spend about $75 including the shipping price a week.  I pick the meals which rotates so I can't pick the same ones over and over again week in and week out. This kit is based on whole foods.  If you have mashed potatoes on the menu, you start with whole potatoes then mash them. Nothing is prepackaged.  It is all fresh ingredients. All meals take less than an hour from pulling out the recipe card to putting it on the table.  This includes finding all the ingredients in the box, washing all the veggies, cutting everything up, cooking or baking, and then plating. Best of all I don't get half way through a recipe and realize I don't have an ingredient I need. Even more fun, we all have LOVED every single meal we have cooked!!

So for my budget I went from $680 a week to:

Meal kit program: $75
Grocery store: $150
Restaurants: $150 (fast food lunches are reduced because we usually have left overs, we still eat or take out once or twice a week)
New Total: $375 That is a savings of $305 a week!!!

Wow!!! We use Every Plate right now as our meal kit program.  It has an app that you can use on your phone to choose your meals.  I am not giving you a special link because I don't want you to think I am seeking out affiliate credits.  I am not.  I am just giving you information that I have learned.

Coronavirus - What do I do with my kids?

Many public school systems are closing for a period of time.  In our area, schools have closed for 2 weeks.  At that time they will further assess if they need to continue the closures or reopen.  So what do we do with our kids for THAT LONG???

If you work full time or part time and need child care you may think you are in a real pickle.  Look to your friends and neighbors and your child's school friends to see if any of their parents can help you out while you work.  Some neighborhoods and communities are organizing a list of people who can take in a child or two or ten during this crisis.  Even if your child is old enough to stay home by themselves for short periods of time, you may not want them staying home all day long day in and day out for weeks on end.  Look to friends, neighbors, and community.  I have seen already in my area a volunteer list for those who can help and matching those in need.  Others will be in the same boat as you.  Use social media to tell others what you need.  Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask.  We are all in this together.  We need to come together and help each other out.  If we don't know you need help, we don't know to help you. Ask for help.

If you work from home or are able to stay at home with your kids and still wonder what to do with them, I have a few mom tips for you too!

1.  Alleviate your child's fears.  Many children, my own included, had lots of questions.  I answered their questions as best as I could.  Mine are in their upper teens now so they can understand much more than an 8 year old who was just told that they wouldn't be going to school and wouldn't be seeing their friends and wouldn't be playing sports or going to dance class or even going to church for a while. When answering their questions try to answer the questions they ask.  Some kids just need to know some information.  Others may need to  know more.  They will ask until they are satisfied with the answer. I suggest also that  you don't sugar-coat it.  Tell them the facts.  The facts at this point are that no one really knows a whole lot about this nasty bug.  The kids who they know have gotten it, haven't had much more than cold symptoms, but that kids may give the virus to their parents or grandparents and when the virus is in older people they can get much sicker. So by closing schools, the people at school can clean it really well and you and your friends won't give it to each other who might give it to an older person who might get really sick.  Let them know that they will go back to school when this is all over and that they will see their friends again and that they will be able to play sports or dance again.  But for right now, we are staying home and away from others as much as possible.

2.  Create a schedule.  Some kids will come home with schoolwork to do.  Others may have schoolwork to do online.  Some may not have any schoolwork at all.  But all kids need a schedule.  They need a plan.  YOU need a plan. If you are staying home with them, create a schedule that will include time for schoolwork, meals, chore time, free time, perhaps an organized activity (hiking, biking, board games, etc), and a quiet time(I will get to this in a minute).  Schedules don't need to be by the minute but kids will do better when they know what the plan is.  Plans can change, so be flexible, and schedules can change to better fit your needs.  If you have someone else watching them outside of your home, let your kids know of your plans for them. Help your caregiver to create a list of activities that your kids might enjoy. (see next point)

3.  Activities.  Brainstorm some activities that you think the kids might enjoy. You may even want to get the kids to help you with this list.  Write them down.  Seriously, trust me on this. Write. It. Down. You will need this list to refer to when your kids 3 days into being at home comes to you and says "I'm bored" for the 50 millionth time.  Refer to the list and suggest an activity.  Also have a few "surprise" activities up your sleeve for when they are truly wracking your last nerve and you all need to do something or you will end up killing each other.  These surprise activities might be something your have never done or something that you rarely do. 

Here are a list of activities to get you started:
board games
card games (teach the kids a new one)
coloring
create a great big card for your next door neighbor just to say hello
Facetime or Skype with a friend, neighbor, or Grandma
watch a movie together
bake cookies, cook a meal together
make slime
read a book together
create a cardboard city (use boxes or other cardstock to create a town with stores, houses, park, school, etc)
play with legos

Surprise Activities:
get in the car and head to the park for a hike or biking
create a scavenger hunt in your back yard for them
rent or Netflix a new movie you all haven't seen yet, make popcorn
get in the car and take a drive.  Just drive. Maybe go through the drive thru and get a snack or milkshake


4.  Have daily quiet time.  You can thank me later.  Everyone needs quiet time.  30 minutes or an hour where you are away from everyone else in the home.  This can be quiet reading time or nap time for littles.  This might just be the one thing that will save your sanity during this crisis.  Insist on it. Don't give in.  Everyone will benefit.  Set the oven timer or the alarm on your phone. 

5.  Turn off the TV.  If you tend to have the news on in the background all day long.  Turn it off.  Kids will see the news stories of the Coronavirus over and over again (because news channels talk about it all day long).  They might become overwhelmed by the news media reporting it over and over again.  Turn off the TV so they aren't bombarded with it. 

6. Get outside.  Stretch your legs.  Just because we are socially limiting right now doesn't mean we have to be inside.  The kids can be out in your backyard playing. You can take walks. You can be outside.  Your degree of limiting is set by you.  If you feel like it is safe to play with neighborhood friends then do so.

We are in unprecedented territory here.  We don't know the extent of this crisis and we don't know the outcome.  It is always good to remember that we are all going through this together.  We are stressed and doing the best we can.  We will have good days and bad days.  This crisis will test us.  Patience and kindness is always appreciated.  Be patient with each other.  Be kind with each other.

Coronavirus 19 - Unprecedented Times - Preparing for Medical Events

**Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert in anything medical. I am NOT an expert in anything, really.  I am a mom.  I am bringing a mom's perspective on how I am interpreting the bombardment of information, opinion, and what I am doing to keep my family as safe as possible in the most responsible way I know.
-----

We are in the midst of unprecedented times right now.  There is so much fear in our community.  No one knows how this viral pandemic will turn out. Community leaders are making decisions based on CDC recommendations and WHO recommendations.  The most immediate concern is the transmission of this disease in such a rapid manner that it overloads our health care system and harms our most vulnerable population.

On my blog (this blog where you found this article), I try to help others to prepare for emergencies.  I posted another post HERE about my immediate thoughts on Coronavirus and what I did to prepare along with everyone else in my community at the same time.

We didn't see this pandemic coming.  We didn't expect it to be uncontrolled as other viruses, MERS, SARS, Ebola, similar to Coronavirus (COVID-19), had been quickly controlled and we were unaffected.  We expected this virus to be similar to the other viruses.  So now we find ourselves rushing to prepare for something unknown.

What we don't know:

We don't know how this will play out.

We don't know if this virus will infiltrate our bodies or our family.

We don't know how the virus will present itself in our bodies. Will we have mild symptoms? Will we be asymptomatic and not even know we have it? Will we become severely ill?

We don't know how long we will have to remain socially secluded.  Will life go back to normal quickly? Will we all be on "lock down" for a period of time and how long?

We don't know if we will feel comfortable enough to go out to the grocery store when we need more supplies or if people will be able to bring us supplies if we can't go out.  Will deliveries stop? Will Amazon be able to deliver my packages?

What we do know:

We know that the virus is spreading quickly.

We know that it will eventually get into our communities.

We know, sadly, that we will know someone who gets it.

We also know that kids rarely are showing symptoms of this virus.

We also know that most healthy adults are showing minor difficulties getting over this virus.

We know that elderly and those with health conditions will have the most difficulty with this virus.

We know that we all need to help prevent the spread of this disease so that those most susceptible don't get it until a vaccine is made available to them.

We know that this too shall pass and life as we know it will go back to "normal" again.

A good big part of the panic is all the unknowns.  The other part of the panic is that we just don't think about preparing for disasters, medical quarantines, or hard economic times.

My husband and I hopped on the "prepping" bandwagon about 15 years ago.  There wasn't anything in particular that sparked us but we developed a plan and began stockpiling storing extra items that would be helpful in an emergency situation.  However, because we just moved into our new house, we had very little food storage and very little extra items because we used what we had prior to our move so we didn't have to move so so so much stuff. {sigh} Lesson Learned!

How do we prepare?

When preparing for this kind of emergency here are some things to think about while preparing your list of items you should have on hand.

1.  Food/Drinks:

I would think that at least a month's worth of food. 21 days has become a popular  number floating around in other articles for preparing for an event of this magnitude.  This isn't just a 3 day snow storm!  We may need to be quarantined for up to 14 days and if we get sick, we could be home for a month!  When making your list, think about foods that will stay fresh for a month or freeze well.  Also begin to menu plan.  Make a menu for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.  Create a 7 or 14 day rotation so you don't get bored.  With a 7 day menu, multiply all the ingredients by 4.  For a 14 day menu, multiply by 2.

Sample menu: 
Day 1:

• Breakfast: Instant Oatmeal w/ dried fruit. Orange Juice/Milk
• Lunch: Sandwich w/Deli Meat, fresh carrot sticks, Ranch dressing 
• Dinner: Grilled Chicken Breast, Broccoli, Rice

Day 2:

• Breakfast: Eggs, Bacon, Toast
• Lunch: Canned Soup, crackers
• Dinner: Hamburgers, Fries, Fresh or Frozen Veggie

Day 3:

• Breakfast: Frozen breakfast sandwich or make your own.
• Lunch: tuna sandwiches, chips
• Dinner: Spaghetti with marinara sauce, garlic bread.

Keep in mind that fresh items will go bad so use them first.  Back fill fresh items with frozen items.  Frozen vegetables are great for steaming or boiling.  Frozen fruit is a good substitute for fresh fruit.  Dried fruit lasts the longest.  If you get grapes for your menu, think about raisins for the menu later in the month.  

Don't forget to put snack items on the list. 

Luckily with this event, we most likely will have heat, A/C, and electricity.  This will make preparing foods and meals much more easily.

2. Medications/Medical Supplies

Keep the standard over the counter medicines on hand. Advil, Tylenol, cold meds, allergy meds, etc.  Also make sure that your prescription meds are up to date and filled.  Locate a pharmacy where you can access a delivery method if you need to have your meds delivered to you in a quarantine situation.

In addition to medications, you will want to have a good thermometer, cold/warm packs, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial soaps, and a good first aid kit.  Add any other medical items that you may need.

3.  Cleaning products

Make sure you have enough laundry detergent, your regular cleaning products, a gallon of bleach (always good to have around), a gallon of vinegar (great natural item that kills germs), soaps, paper towels, etc.

4.  Personal Items

These might include feminine care products (I always have at least a couple months' worth), toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and shaving items, shower items, shampoos, conditioners, etc.  

5.  Kids

Make sure that you have activities and school supplies at home for when the kids are home from school.  Outside activities are being cancelled left and right currently and many public schools are closing for extended periods of time.  You will need some activities to keep the kids busy while you are hanging out at home.  Going to friends' houses may not be possible so think of some activities, board games, scavenger hunts in the yard, etc. Keep a couple ideas in your pocket for when the kids are really getting bored and beginning to drive you crazy.  Don't give all your ideas away right away.  You will be glad you held something back!

Kids may have schoolwork to do during this time.  Take it from a homeschooling mom that a schedule will be your friend.  Make a schedule and stick to it.  Get the kids up at a certain time, breakfast, schoolwork, break, lunch, schoolwork or quiet reading time, play time, dinner, evening activity, bath and bed.  Make your schedule work for you. We could be in this mess for a while so plan now and begin a schedule right away.  Make adjustments to your schedule as you need to.  However, I would like to add that I STRONGLY suggest that you schedule some 'apart' time where everyone is in their rooms or apart from each other and quiet.  Some days this might just be your saving grace!

How Can We Help Others?

Some of our neighbors may need help during this time.  How can we help them?

The best way to help others is to check in with your neighbors and friends.  This can be done by phone, visiting while standing well away from each other, Facetime, Skype, etc.  Check in with them and see how they are doing and if they need anything.

Our elderly or immune compromised may become too scared to go out and run errands and may need things.  If you are feeling up to it or can pick up items from the grocery store, Target, Walmart, for them, it can be helpful.

Parents who work full time or part time may need babysitting.  You could offer a couple hours or a couple days of babysitting if your schedule allows.

Some communities are putting together sign up sheets online to gather lists of volunteers for babysitting, respite care (an hour or two) for parents to unwind, snacks and treats (neighbors baking bread or cookies to share with others), meals for elderly and match them to neighbors who need those services.  Think outside the box as we move through this crisis.  

This crisis will bring out the best and worst in everyone.  Through all this we will all find ourselves stressed, tired, and frustrated at times.  Please remember that how we treat others will rub off.  We need to remember that others may be struggling.  Kindness and patience will go a long way even when we have nothing else to give!  Smile and know that we are all in this together.  :)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) What I Am Doing to Prepare

I have to admit....

I got caught with my pants down on this one :(

Here is the messy situation I find myself:

We just moved.  We lived in our previous home for 4 years.  Prior to that we lived somewhere else for a year and a half.  Prior to that we lived in our RV for a bit over a year, and prior to that we lived in our first home for 13 years.

Each of those homes including the RV, I felt prepared.  I felt like we had enough food stored (yes even in the trailer), emergency supplies, and first aid stuff.

Each time we moved including this one, prior to moving we would "eat down" our food storage.  This way I knew it was being rotated, and it forced me to see what was actually rotating and what wasn't so I could be better prepared in our new home.  It was also because moving is expensive.  We would save money by eating our food storage.  That is what it is there for, right? When times are tough.  So by eating down our food storage, we weren't eating out as much, we were saving money by not having to run to the grocery store all the time, we could concentrate on packing, and we wouldn't be moving so much food.

It always sounded like a good plan.  When we would settle in our new home, I would begin building up new, fresh food storage.

But this time......

COVID-19 happened.

And we just moved.  Just two days ago, I got my bed set up in my room and am no longer sleeping on  a mattress.

But now we are in the midst of a pandemic (announced today by World Health Organization).

I spoke with my husband a week ago and he told me not to worry.  Today he told me to worry. I am pretty sure I had a full on panic attack.  My chest felt heavy, I had shortness of breath, and I am pretty sure I my heart skipped several beats.

A week ago I began (like everyone else around here) to search out basics.  Hand Sanitizer, antibacterial soap, and Clorox Wipes.  Not too serious though, but it has been a hard find around my region.  Each store I go into, I look.  The shelves are bare.

I feel so under-prepared for this.  I am too late to prep.

What I do have:

1. toilet paper and paper towels.  I was able to grab a good supply of both prior to knowing that everyone was going to run out and purchase toilet paper.  We were just out and I ran my usual errand to get some.

2.  Advil, vitamins, and prescription meds.  I am all stocked up on these supplies.  Vitamins will be good to begin taking again to get my immune system even better able to handle the virus should I get it.

3.  Some bleach, Clorox Wipes, and a little bit of Hand sanitizer.  We have anti-viral/bacterial wipes  in each of our cars. We can use these to wipe down the steering wheel, door handles, and our hands when we are out in public.

4. N95 face masks.  My husband just placed an order today.  They are on their way.

5.  Some food.  Not complete at all, but we have some breakfasts, some lunches, and some dinners.  We will continue the meal kit deliveries and will continue to use the online ordering and pick up at the store or if the need arises, a delivery service.

And I have a plan:

1. Reduce my social interactions as much as possible in person.  Avoid large gatherings, heavily trafficked public areas, and the likes.  This means that my shopping and prepping will change. I will stay home as much as possible.

2. Shop online as much as I can.  This means placing orders at the grocery store and drive up to pick the order up.  Keep looking for Clorox Wipes and Hand Sanitizer online.

3.  Food delivery services.  Right before we moved I decided to "join" Everyplate and begin getting their meal kits.  We get three dinners a week for 4 people and so far we have loved every single meal.  It is about the same as I would budget for a dinner anyway and it all comes preportioned and the recipes are easy.  I can even tell my teens to start dinner without me and they can follow the directions too.  Why do I include this in my plan? Because since we won't be going out much for a while, these meals will be something a bit different than our "usual".

4.  Cancel Easter dinner at our home.  Every big holiday we host a family dinner and all the in-laws and cousins come to our house.  Not this year.  I don't want others (particularly little kids) coming to our home and potentially exposing us to this virus.  The virus is showing that in little kids they have little to no symptoms at all and most symptoms go unnoticed.  This virus is also showing that older folks have a more severe reaction to it and more severe symptoms.  I can't risk having the little cousins over and potentially exposing my older in-laws who have some severe health issues anyway.

5.  Try to keep a positive outlook on all this "family" time we will be getting.  Colleges and universities are closing down as I type.  We expect my middle child to be told any minute that they will be sent home from college indefinitely.  My oldest will most likely also be told his college will be moving "online" as well.  My youngest is a senior this year and we homeschool anyway.  It is a good thing we got some new family games at Christmas.

Now, in a perfect world I would have had plenty of hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and food storage.  I wouldn't feel so unprepared for this pandemic.


What can you do if you are underprepared like me?

1.  Read as much as you can on the disease. Know the symptoms and the latest information on how it is transmitted.

2.  Wash your hands like crazy!  I told my family tonight that from now on as soon as they enter our home they wash their hands before touching anything.

3.  Clean your car, phone, clothing, and surfaces you touch often.

4.  Stay home.  Use online shopping, don't visit high traffic public areas/places.  Work from home if you can.  If you can't, stay out of others' space.  Don't use the office break room. Eat lunch at your desk alone or in your car if you need a change of scenery.

5.  Stop shaking hands and touching others. Keep a distance.  Wash your hands.

Here is a good article that I found helpful and it calmed me down a bit from the panic attack.

https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-ten-reasons-why-you-ought-not-to-panic-132941

I will continue to update as the weeks go by about how we fared through this ordeal.