Family

Home Emergency Kit Essentials

Lora Knows...

One of the best ways to improve your household’s safety is to focus on preparation. If disaster strikes, your household could be without power and running water for an extended period of time. That’s why having an emergency kit filled with supplies is an essential home safety measure.

Remember, when packing your emergency kit, disasters can be different throughout the country. Depending on where you live, you could face flooding, blizzards, tornadoes, or hurricanes, so make sure you make your emergency kit personalized to your location.

Food and Water

During a crisis, you may not have access to basic necessities like clean water and food, so make sure you have a supply of these items available. According to the Red Cross, you should keep one gallon of water per person per day. You may also want to pack portable water filters designed to remove waterborne bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from water. When it comes to food, the Red Cross suggests keeping nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items handy. If you’re packing canned food, make sure you have a manual can opener in your emergency kit. You should have a three-day supply of both food and water for evacuation situations and a two-week supply for if you’re sheltering in place.

First-Aid Kit
A well-stocked first-aid kit can help you get through an emergency. You should regularly check your first-aid kit and replace any of the contents that have expired. You can buy a premade first-aid kit, or you can put one together yourself with the following items:

  • Adhesive bandages
  • Gauze pads
  • Adhesive tape
  • Roller bandages
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Cold pack
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Thermometer
  • Antiseptic spray
  • Latex gloves
  • Eyewash
  • Emergency blanket

Other Basics
You should consider stocking up on several additional supplies that can help keep your household safe and sound. This list includes:

  • Prescription Medications: Have a seven-day supply available.
  • Nonprescription Medications: Keep over-the-counter medications.
  • Personal Hygiene: Soap, toothpaste, and feminine products are all necessities.
  • Power Banks: A rechargeable power bank can help keep your phone charged.
  • Change of Clothing: Each household member should have at least one extra pair of clothes.
  • Flashlight: One for each member of your family.
  • Radio: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can help keep you informed.
  • Batteries: You should cache a supply of batteries for radios, flashlights and other items.
  • Bedding: Pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags can help your household stay comfortable.
  • Personal Documents: Medical info, passports, insurance policies, birth certificates & more.
  • Pet Supplies: Don’t forget to stock up on items for your pets.
  • Map of the area: If you evacuate, a map can help you navigate your way to safety.

You never know what you’ll face in an emergency, so, depending on where you live, these items can be helpful to keep with your kit.

  • Cash
  • Waterproof matches
  • Rain gear
  • Life raft
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Tent
  • Flares
  • Hand warmers
  • Work gloves
  • Tools (hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, wrench, shovel, axe, utility knife)
  • Needle and thread
  • Plastic sheeting
  • Duct tape
  • Dust masks
  • Entertainment (games and books)

By taking some time to focus on preparation, you can help increase your chances of safely making it through a crisis.

Cooking, Entertainment

Tortilla Super Bowls

Lora Knows...

I was co-hosting an Open House recently and a few guests were talking about the big football games. I thought they must be talking about the Super Bowl, but when I asked they let me know it is the Conference Championships. I now know this means that it will be the last four teams, playing the last two games – and those winners will play in the Super Bowl.

You might wonder how I don’t know these very basic sport things – that’s because we are a futbol house. Ask me about Premier League Soccer and I’ll be happy to discuss teams, players, stats and more. Dean has never been a football fan, and introduced me to futbol decades ago, and it is one of our favorite sports to watch.

Chips and salsa are a classic combo, and when I saw this simple recipe I thought why not give it a go. It is a dressed up version, because the tortillas are shaped into a bowl and filled with all your favorite sides and toppings.

Ingredients

  • 12 (6-inch) corn or flour tortillas, cut in half to form 24 half circles
  • 2 muffin tins, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray
  • Ground beef, chicken, or other protein
  • Black beans, or bean dip
  • Salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and cheese
  • Tomatoes, onions, scallions, and cilantro, finely chopped
  • Jalapeños, sliced

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Take each tortilla half, and wrap inward to form a cone. The straight portion of the circle will form the pointed, cone end, while the rounded portion will form the lip of the bowl.
  3. Use the shape of the muffin tin to form a flat-bottomed bowl with a large lip that hangs slightly over the top by pressing your index finger around the inner form of the muffin tin, molding your tortilla bowl into its shape.
  4. Once all tortillas are in place, sprinkle each with a few drops of water, and press each tortilla bowl into the tin once more (this helps hold the shape). Finish each tortilla bowl with a sprinkle of salt.
  5. Bake tortillas for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. While your tortillas are baking, prep the ingredients that you would like to use for the fillings. Let the muffin tins cool; then remove each tortilla bowl, and set aside.
  6. Fill your tortilla bowls with any fillings of your choice. Layer each bowl with a variety of fillers (proteins, beans, salsa, guacamole, etc.); then add some toppings (sour cream, cheese, jalepeños, cilantro or other favorites).

Real Estate, Style

Glam Up Your Powder Room

Lora Knows...

A powder room or a half bathroom may be frequented by your guests, so it’s an ideal place to add glamour to your home. Because a powder room can be relatively tiny, you can decorate it inexpensively, making it the perfect spot to experiment with finishes and colors you might be hesitant to use in a larger room. Use these tips to add luxury and style to this space.

Add Decorative Elements
Use crisp, white wainscoting to make the walls more interesting and white crown molding to draw eyes upward and make the small room feel bigger.

Paint the Walls
It can be easier to experiment with color in a powder room since it’s a contained space, so you could try painting your walls a hue you might not otherwise use in your home. Black-and-white color schemes in half baths are trending, as are emerald green, navy blue, dark gray, and purple. An alternative to painting your walls in a deeply pigmented color is to leave them white and add a vibrant color to your wainscoting instead. Consider using glossy paint on your wainscoting to make it easier to clean.

Embellish It
A few rolls of wallpaper might be all you need to upgrade your powder room from basic to fantastic. To simplify the decorating process, you could dress your walls with peel-and-stick wallpaper. Such adhesive-backed wallpaper is easy to hang and remove if you tire of it, and is best for half baths since tubs or showers can produce adhesive-loosening steam.

Shine Some Light
Illuminate your room and add bling to it by bringing in a gorgeous ceiling-light fixture, such as a mini crystal chandelier, a beaded farmhouse-style chandelier, or an industrial flush-mount glass fixture. You could also add a wall-mounted light source, such as this white-globe sconce, on either side of your vanity for an industrial look or this three-light brass fixture over the vanity.

Tile It
Tiling can be a fun and inexpensive way to add style, color, and durability to your powder room. Ceramic tile is a popular choice for both walls and floors, while peel-and-stick faux tile can make it easy for homeowners to get the look they want without advanced do-it-yourself skills.

Update the Vanity
You could swap out your vanity for a new one or paint your existing vanity with primer and then a low-VOC acrylic enamel paint to give it a new look.

Hang a Mirror
A mirror is essential for any powder room because it’s necessary for grooming, can reflect light, and can make a space look and feel bigger. You could choose a round mirror framed in black for simplicity, a scalloped mirror with beveled edges for elegance, or an oval mirror for a classic look. As a general rule, choose a mirror with a width that’s at least one to two inches less than your vanity. Center the mirror over your sink, and place it at a height that complements the space and allows most people who will be using it to see their own reflection.

Accessorize
Once you have all the main elements of your powder room in place, you can add decor that complements its design.