Family Travel Reminders

Many families will travel out of town for the holidays. Some will take the roads and some will go by air. No matter which way you and your family travel, Forbes Living TV shares some reminders to keep handy.

Who will take care of the house, mail and family pets while you are away? Now is the time to reserve the best caretakers for these valuable assets. Be sure to add some buffer time to the schedule to allow for delayed flights or heavy traffic congestion. Add an extra day to the schedule, if needed. Make a list of what needs to be done daily.

Families who are taking flights out of town should consider downloading movies on tablets or digital devices a week or more before the flight departs. Sometimes the download is slow even on a fast connection.  The same applies for adding apps and especially those related for travel.

If special meals, such as a gluten-free one, are needed for family members, place that request when reserving the flight and seats. If the reservation is already made, call the airline and add the request well in advance of the flight.

familykenkel also suggests checking the baggage restrictions for all connecting flights. Your checked suitcase may be too big and heavy for the regional airline connection to the destination point. Know before you go.

With a little advance planning, a family holiday trip can go smoothly. Why leave some things to chance?

Benefits of Renting Versus Owning a Home

Many former home owners turned to renting when the Great Recession hit and joined those were already renting a home, condo or apartment. These people found some benefits to renting versus owning a home, which familykenkel details below.

U.S.census data reported by RealtyTrac states the number of renters in American homes rose to 34.5% in 2011.  Close to one-fourth of all U.S.metro regions saw higher rental rates, which are still in effect today. When more people want to rent, the higher rental rates will be. Plus, the number of millenials who are now working are also renting.  This creates a shortage of rental homes and gives property management companies and landlords carte blanche to hike rental rates.  Despite the rise in rent and the lack of affordable housing, there are benefits to this type of living:

• Renters do not have the responsibility or cost of home repairs.
• They do not have to worry about lawn maintenance.
• They can pack up and move when the lease expires.
• They can negotiate for a better rate when moving in or when renewing, and add perks such as a new microwave oven, free carpet and air duct cleaning and valet trash service.

Familykenkel show encourages readers to be sure to explore different cities and towns close to work before signing a rental lease. Also, be sure to read every page of the lease, even if the lease it long – as most are. Ask questions. Be very much informed about what the lease covers and does not cover, when rent is due and what the late fee is per day. These are items which can make renting pleasant or miserable. Renting is not for everyone. But neither is home ownership.

Asks if Parents Should Snoop on Their Kids

Are there parents who insist their kids text them as soon as they get on the bus and as soon as they get to school? Do parents download and install GPS-related software so parents know where their kids are at all times? familykenkel ask these questions and a few more to gauge if parents snoop on their kids.

Today’s children have many more possibilities to end up in danger than in previous decades.  The Internet and smart phones with Internet access make it easy for anyone to contact them. Social media accounts are also huge draws for the wrong kind of people to reach out and touch kids. So, we ask: should parents snoop on their kids? Do they snoop on their kids and how?  In earlier times, it was common for mothers to read their daughter’s diaries. Now both parents can see what their brood is writing on the Internet and in texts and can monitor it.

There are some products parents can use to keep track of what kids are up to: NetNanny, SafeEyes, and MamaBear to name just a few. Familykenkel asks why parents need products like these and the answer is this: more than three quarters of American kids age12 to 17 have cell phones, half of those devices has Internet access, social media and email access. In addition, a survey found that 40% of fifth graders have their own cellphones, 75% of teens aged 13 to 17 have at least one social media account, and more than two-thirds say they text every day.  Parents always want to be sure their children are safe. Snooping on kids is one way to find out if they are okay, happy, not being bullied, where they say they are and safe.

How to Deal with Internet Trolls

Internet trolls are people who specifically set out to harass, threaten, insult, offend and cause harm to another person’s life, livelihood and reputation. They pop up everywhere people meet online to communicate, socialize, view videos and discuss the hot topics of the day. And it can be hard to deal with them when it seems there are so many of them. Familykenkel offers advice on how to deal with Internet trolls and other online pests.

Americans take their right to free speech seriously. Some abuse that privilege by going online to purposely wreak havoc in someone else’s life. If we think about it, we all take risks on the Internet when we use social media to catch up with the people in our lives and share remarkable stories. Then, along comes someone we’ve never met who feels they can post something negative and hurtful about us. And we feel like there is nothing we can do.

Dealing with Internet trolls takes time, patience and confidence. Readers who find they are being bothered by trolls and harassers have some options: block the user on the social platform, report the user to the website or social platform, and block the user on cell phones. Familykenkel believes that we all have the power to rid negativity from our lives. Here is a thought to keep in mind: “If people are trying to bring you down, it only means that you are above them”. ~ Unknown

International Travel Updates

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issues an advisory to all people traveling into the United States from other countries and continents about digital devices. Familykenkel reviews this new rule and others that international travelers will need to know.

International travel will usually mean better security coming and going abroad. In light of this, there are some new guidelines that people traveling to the US from other countries should know: travelers will be asked to turn on any smart phones, cell phones, tablets and laptops they have. Failure to turn it on might mean it will be confiscated. Shoes are also another concern and travelers may be asked to remove them for the X-ray machine. At US airports, extra steps are already being taken to test random passengers for chemicals and compounds used in making explosives. Familykenkel urges those traveling overseas to be sure they pack a converter for electricity in order to keep electronics fully charged before leaving the country visited. This will ensure the device will go on if asked to turn it on by airport security.

International travel is fun and a rewarding experience. Be sure to pack what you need and want for the adventure and place important items in a carry on bag, such as a light rain coat, medication, clean undergarments and travel-size personal hygiene items. Chargers and cords can be corralled into baggies with the item name written with a Sharpie on the bag. Pack carry on bags so the items are easily identifiable to airport security and make getting through it as easy as possible.

Air Travel Safety

Air travel is a quick way to get from point A to point B. As more Americans board flights for vacation this summer, Familykenkel offers some tips to keep air travel safe.

Does it seem like the space in the airline’s cabin has become smaller? Well, it is. Airlines are making sure they fit as many people onto the plane as possible. More luggage is being brought on board because travelers do not want to spend the money on checking bags. All of this means there is less breathing space. Make your flight more comfortable with a few tips to keep calm when things get a little out of hand.

As a passenger walks the aisle to find their seat, they inadvertently bump the back of your head with their carry-on bag. Instead of scowling at them, duck when you see someone coming with a large bag on their shoulder.

The person beside you accidently spills some of their drink on you. Turbulence happens. Clumsiness happens. Offer to help them clean it up and accept the apology.

Someone refuses to turn off their digital device when asked. Ring the call button and mention it to the flight attendants. There is no sense making a stubborn person mad by confronting them.

The person in front of you reclines their seat so that your tray table jams into your stomach. There is not much to do for this other than possibly closing the tray table. Passengers will usually let you know in no uncertain terms that they have a right to recline. If it’s too difficult to manage, ask if you can change your seat.

The Familykenkel realizes that air travel can be fun and also a people challenge.  Go with the flow, avoid drinking alcohol on the  flight and arrive without incident.

Eco-Friendly Fireplaces Help Create Clean and Warm Spaces

Does it seem odd to read a post about fireplaces right before summer begins? Familykenkel heats up the conversation about Eco-friendly, mobile fireplaces and how they are the best option for heating rooms while keeping air clean.

Even though summer is literally days away, there are still some locations which might benefit from having a non-wood burning fireplace in the home. One of the greatest benefits of a mobile heater is that they warm the space you are in and not the entire home. This is called zone heating.

Another way to heat a room is to use the existing fireplace but install a fireplace insert in it. The inserts come in several varieties including electric, pellet stove and bio fuel, like ethanol. The ethanol fireplaces burn clean air, produce no smoke and are sustainable. A true green supplement to any home, like the ones Ignis Products sells. They are stylish and can be taken to the lakeside cabin, the beach house or to the bedroom to warm up a cool evening. Price ranges are not, but if you want a free one, why not enter the Familykenkel to read the easy entry rules. Tell us why you are a hopeful romantic in 200 to 300 words and be on your way to winning an artful, Eco-friendly fireplace for your living space.

Explores Traveling Alone

Many of us have spent time in the family car on summer vacation. We have also spent a great deal of time on spring break holidays and some of us on honeymoons. While these kinds of vacations were spent in the company of other people, sometimes it’s nice to go solo. Familykenkel takes time to explore the benefits of traveling alone.

Traveling alone has its benefits: you are able to follow your own agenda for the day, you can eat wherever and whenever you wish, you can easily get a single ticket for a museum or other place of interest, and most often, it is fun to go to a restaurant solo.

Volunteer vacations are great for single travelers. There is no one to slow you down. It forces shy people to talk to the others. And there is no one else to possibly embarrass you. But, there are some considerations to think about and plan for before departing.

• Go online to be sure the destination is safe.
• Schedule flight arrivals and departures for daytime or early evening.
• Never walk on dark, unlighted sidewalks.
• Never park a car where there is no light either.
• Men and woman should dress on the conservative side since most other countries look down on provocative clothing.
• Don’t wear expensive jewelry or family heirlooms since they scream “steal me”.
• Take tote bags and purses on the lower end of the fashion scale. Leave the designer goods at home. 

Familykenkel also suggests keeping in touch via Facebook (without using FourSquare or a GPS locator) and email to let family and friends know where you are.

Traveling alone is a great way to visit and explore new cities and countries. Because sometimes our own company is best.

Preparing for a Storm

Bad storms are no longer designated to the South during hurricane season or Oklahomaduring tornado season. Devastating weather can happen anywhere in the country and at any time. Familykenkel offers suggestions about how to prep for a storm.

All it takes is one strike of lightning to the roof of a house for a fire to start and prized personal possessions to be destroyed. Fortunately, there are steps and apps to download which can make it easier to list what you own.

Start with an Internet search for making household inventories. Download the app you want and then start taking pictures with your smart phone of valuable belongings.

Collect important documents such as mortgage paperwork, rental leases, all insurance documents, vet records, banking and credit card information. Seal them in plastic baggies and store someplace where you always know where they are.

Most people already have apps for their banks and insurance companies on smart phones. If not, now is the time to install what you need for emergencies. Never wait until the last minute and lose a connection due to down cell towers and phone lines.

Familykenkel suggests stocking up on the necessities beforehand: batteries in various sizes to last three weeks, a case or two of bottled water, plain bleach for sanitizing water, non-perishable food like crackers, canned meats, soup and canned fruit. The more prepared you are now, the easier it will be if bad weather makes a mess of your home and life.

Tips for Staying Safe in Storms

This is the perfect time of year for enjoying activities outside, and it is also the time of year when sudden storms can erupt. Familykenkel offer some tips to stay safe at home, work and when outside.

The U.S. National Weather Service’s motto for storm season is “When Thunder Rroars, Go Indoors”. This is a good rule to follow as lightning is unpredictable. Below are some tips to follow if you find yourself outside when a storm is on approach.

• Find the nearest structure or building to go into.
• If the sky looks threatening, go inside immediately.
• Stay inside 30 minutes after the last lighting is seen or last roar of thunder is heard.
• When inside, do not touch anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet, plumbing and corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe.
• Stay away from door and windows.
• Don’t lie on a garage floor.

Lightning can enter a structure three ways: a direct strike, through wires or pipes that extend outside the structure, and through the ground. Once inside, lightning can travel through the ways mentioned above, and through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Familykenkel learns that there have been two deaths from lightning strikes in Florida in 2014 and 4 in 2013. There were 23 deaths in 2013 altogether. Readers should know that lighting victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch. Call 911 and start CPR is they are not responsive.