Erin Sluka - Parenting Healthy

7 Secrets To Finding An Epic Costume at Goodwill Stores

My local Goodwill region (Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region) has 2 gals they call, Costume Experts. Having Whitney and Morena locally means we get great tips, talent displays and DIY ideas. Creating a costume that is unique makes Halloween so fun (or you can be a Baby Shark Mom with like else).

Whitney and Morena have put together some tips to finding a Costume that will stand out and I wanted to share a few of them with you below.

Use Your Smart Phone. Technology today allows us to merge what we scan on our phones to what we see in stores. Searching ideas on your phone and using images to know what items you need makes the outfit complete. Want to be ‘Grandpa”, search some photos and head to the men’s section of Goodwill.

Plan ahead. When you start now you can visit several stores in your area to piece the perfect items together. Having an 80’s family costume this year? You’ll find everything you need if you check all local stores and keep going back because new stuff is on the racks daily.

Have a budget. Most stores offer new and used costumes and costume ideas. If you are looking for a trending, new costume see if Goodwill has it for a lot less than most retailers. Is the budget thin? Shop used costumes and save even more.

Know your Halloween night plans. What will you be doing with your costume? Will you be outside in the cold, trick-or-treating with kids? Will you be at a kids party or adult party? Know your scene and then you can choose a costume with kid-friendly in mind or even weather in mind.

What are you favorite movies, TV shows? How do your favorite actors/actresses or characters dress? My son is a huge Stranger Things fan and he likes Steve’s character so he decided on Scoops Ahoy Steve for Halloween this year. You can find a lot of inspiration within your favorite media.

Leave the Halloween section. If you are visiting Goodwill stores for your costume hunt, leave the Halloween section to find the right pieces for tops, bottoms, hats, socks, etc. elsewhere in the store.

Find a Goodwill helper. Most stores have DIY experts that can help you find costume necessities and even help find a style or idea you’ll love. There are ‘Whitney’s and Morena’s’ at Goodwill stores nationwide so check your stores experts.

Don’t forget to think about year-round needs while there. My son is in the middle of October Awareness week at school. When I was Back to School shopping I kept colors in mind so we are good to go this week for Orange Day for Anti-Bullying and Pink/Black Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. It’s always a good idea to grab those bright color items in your kids sizes for school events when visiting Goodwill stores especially if they are the day’s colored tag sales.

Goodwill thrift store sales fund free education in a variety of career fields such as culinary, barista, construction, advanced manufacturing, warehouse, computers and more. Shop to help your local community and continue the cycle by donating your past Halloween attire along with other household items!

2019 Holidays, Healthy Living, Home

Say HELLO to fresh air inside with the Laser Egg+ CO2

October 16, 2019February 4, 2020 Erin Sluka

Gone are the days where you need to judge air quality in your home or office by the absence or presence of sniffles and watery eyes. No more relying on musty odors and opening doors in cold weather when you may or may not need fresh air. The Laser Egg is here for us and now the new Kaiterra Laser Egg + CO2 is available for your home.

Kaiterra is on a mission to lessen air pollution and it starts in your own home. Kaiterra wants to make sure they delver the best accuracy in their monitors so they use a cloud-based calibration that helps in that not all air particles are created equal so simple mass measurements are not very accurate. Kaiterra tells us that the key to long-term accurate readings is having an algorithm that can take the changing factors into account in real-time.

Kaiterra has set up numerous co-locations around the globe with reference grade monitors that provide particulate readings as mass concentrations. Then they analyze the readings of the optical monitors against these devices in real-time and are able to identify the key properties necessary to update the algorithm inside a Laser Egg. Hefty stuff!

The Laser Egg + CO2 monitors 5 measurements and that’s all we really need to know! But, we need to know what these measurements mean to our health and the Kaiterra website is loaded with education for you. It’s worth the read for your family’s sake (and your health). The free app is your handled info you can check in on from anywhere.

PM2.5 is a measurement in regards to our health and how deep particles penetrate our bodies. PM2.5 refers to particulate matters in the air with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or smaller than 2.5 microns. Only by measuring PM2.5 can we start to understand the levels that we are exposed to and ultimately work towards fixing it and improving our air. Think: fine dust particles, dander and smog.

CO2 levels can effect our thinking. This is because the higher (even within safe ranges) the CO2 is the cloudier our minds and can trigger headaches are, simply put. CO2 levels are affected by poor ventilation, larger home population (people releasing CO2), cooking food and heating your home. A maintained and working HVAC system does wonders for CO2 levels. So practice steps to lower those levels as much as possible.

The Air Quality Index refers to how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. Try to stay within 0-50 for the best air quality!

Temperature is the best way to ensure comfort, indoor plant survival and best HVAC support. You get a full weather forecast within your Laser Egg.

Humidity measurements are great to know for bacteria growth. You don’t want unhealthy microorganism growth so staying about 30-50 is best.

I love how this ‘egg’ looks as it blends into decor very well. Whether your main concerns are lung health, skin concerns, better sleep or allergies, this will be your go-to for the reports you need to make accurate adjustments I your home. You never knew it mattered this much! Visit Kaiterra for the Laser Egg that best fits your needs.

2019 Holidays, Toy Reviews

Brand New Kid Games from the Creator of “What Do You Meme?”

October 15, 2019October 15, 2019 Erin Sluka

Memes are all the rage and What Do You Meme has brought popular home games that engage both adults and kids in fun play. There are 2 new games that will become a hit with families for the Holidays and make great gifts from ages 12-99.

Can You Roll Doubles – Ages 12+ – 2-8 Players

Can You Roll Doubles reminds me of my favorite game, Scattergories but with a twist. Now it has become fast-paced as you are racing to create as many words that begin with the played letter as you can before the player next to you rolls doubles. Once they roll doubles, they take the board and write words. In the end, the player who wrote the most down wins. You will know who’s answers are who’s based on the color marker used.

Party Bowl – Ages 12+ – 3-20+ players

Party Bowl is a fantastic group game for your get togethers, game nights, youth groups and classes. Players use prompt cards to come up with a bunch of words or phrases which get thrown in the Party Bowl. Two teams then compete to out-guess each other in three increasingly high-pressure rounds of fun.

Find these and more great games at What Do You Meme

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Earth Friendly, Education

5 Must Have Books for Kids Ages 5-8 in 2019

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019 Erin Sluka

With school back in and Holidays nearing, finding new books is a constant. We may need books for reading homework, class reading, gift ideas and at home bedtime routines. There are so many new titles daily and I found 5 Must Have Books for Kids Ages 5-8.

The Boring Book

The Boring Book features one particularly bored boy as he discovers, there’s actually more to boredom than meets the eye—more questions, more theories, and heaps of humor. It is playfully—and hilariously—unpacks the ways in which a seemingly stagnant state is actually a portal into a dynamic, life-enriching experience.

Chronicle Books – Amazon – Author

Grown-Ups Never Do That

Grown-Ups Never Do That is as unbelievable as it may seem, but sometimes even grown-ups misbehave! It’s a rollicking tale, showcasing the humor—and the humanity—of the most important people in kids’ lives.

Chronicle Books – Amazon – Author

Get Up, Stand Up (Bob Marley)

Get Up, Stand up is an adaptation of one of Bob Marley’s beloved songs and has a timely message for children: To counter injustice, lift others up with kindness and courage. As a young girl goes on with her day in school, she comes across several instances of teasing and intimidation. But with loving action and some help from her friends, she’s able to make things right for herself and others.

Chronicle Books – Amazon – Author

Caspian Finds a Friend

Caspian lives in a lighthouse surrounded by a cold gray-blue sea—every day, he watches, wishing for a friend, but no one comes. So, Caspian decides that wishing is not enough. What follows is a friendship story between a boy and a bear that is tender, warm, and perfect for gift-giving.

Chronicle Books – Amazon – Author

Most of the Better Natural Things in the World

With just one word per page, in lush, color-rich landscapes, we learn about the features that make up our world: an archipelago, a dune, an isthmus, a lagoon. Across them all, the tiger roams.

Chronicle Books – Amazon – Author

Comment: I was sent titles and chose some to feature on my own