But, Thanksgiving, like other large, family gatherings, means you’re going to have a lot of people — and a lot of exposure to germs.

A survey conducted recently by Clorox offered this insight:

• Before guests arrive, (65%) of those responding always clean the crumbs (visible debris, dirt and dust) and wash guest linens (63%) compared to fifty three percent who disinfect germ hot spots in the bathroom, kitchen and living room. 
• Overall survey responders reported cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting more frequently after guests leave than before they arrive or during their stay. 
• Nearly half of respondents mistakenly believe cleaning with soap and water kills bacteria (47%), and more than a third mistakenly believe it kills cold and flu viruses (39%).

This survey was put forth by a cleaning agent company, so, of course, the message is going to be that you need to disinfect and make your home more germ-free friendly.

But, that’s a good message, especially since you want to help prevent the spread of those little cold sniffles or other illnesses, like the flu.

According to a graphic created by The Clorox Company, some of the germ “hotspots” you might consider wiping down before and during family gatherings include (and I’ve added a few of my own):  

You get the idea. And, yes, I know we should keep our homes clean all the time, but the reality is that sometimes, some of us, let the chores slip a little.

How do you keep your home always company-friendly and clean?

Or, do you have some cleaning tips you’d like to share?

– Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

You should still be able to enjoy family outings and restaurants and vacations.

What I’ve learned, however, is that you sometimes might have to adjust your lifestyle a bit, depending on your child. In my case, my son has Down Syndrome.

Not all children are alike, and not all Down Syndrome children are alike. But sometimes there are similar traits or conditions that will present themselves in a child.

For instance, when my son was a little younger, he had a dangerous habit of throwing objects across the room. One Easter, my loving and very patient extended family got to witness Easter eggs thrown through the air in my niece’s living room. Thankfully, some even joined in, making it more fun than a distraction.

This throwing habit took a lot of work to correct, and I’m happy to say, it is much safer in our houses now.

He also has never liked loud sounds. We still can’t take him to a movie or he will start crying. He also doesn’t like dark places. So, we can’t yet go to movie theaters as a family. However, what we have done is take turns. Or, this weekend, we saw a movie on the RedHawks Field in Bricktown during a family movie night.

Eating out is also sometimes a challenge. He used to want to knock everything — drinks, food, utensils – off the table. It was as if it were an impulse he had. Now, we make sure to clear all those fancy salt and pepper racks, menus and candles from his area, so he’s not tempted.

Families with children always have to make choices, whether one activity is suitable for their circumstances. But it was important to me to at least try to continue introducing new and regular experiences.

What I’ve also realized is that, due to our family’s special circumstances, we have been able to grow and experience new situations we might have missed otherwise.

– Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

We call it home, but sometimes we take it for granted.

What could you do to give back to our big blue marble?

- Plant a tree. (or a bush or a seed)

- Walk instead of driving. (or skip, run, dance)

- Ride a bicycle. (or a cow, horse or unicycle)

- Share a commute with a neighbor or co-worker, or take public transportation. (And share good conversation on the way!)

- Volunteer to help clean up your local park or neighborhood. (Start with your own yard.)

- Use reuseable shopping bags, buy less and consider food packaging. Do you really need a separate plastic produce bag for lemons, limes, squash and onions. Go sans plastic bags, since you’re going to wash them anyway. (And use the food you buy. Don’t waste it and let it rot for a couple of weeks in the fridge.)

- Take shorter showers. (Turn water on, turn off, soap up, turn water on and do a quick rinse. Done!)

- Use less pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals around your home. Or stop using  unfriendly products altogether. (You might not have the prettiest lawn in the neighborhood, but you’ll feel safe having your kids play there.)

- Spend the evening watching a sunset — not the TV. (The color reception is so much better.)

- Play outside. (Bouncing balls, Hula-hoops and horseshoes are more Earth-friendly than living room-friendly.)

- Take your children on a nature hike, sharing appreciation of our environment. (Don’t touch the poison ivy!)

Share your Earth-celebrating ideas with The Oklahoman and our readers. You might inspire someone else to follow your example.

–Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

According to a news release, the fun will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, during which the company will present a $1,000 check to YWCA of Oklahoma City. And for all us techie parents, at 5 p.m., the store will unveil the new iPad 2. 

Festivities will continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the store’s Kids’ Day, with FREE family activities, such as face-painting, a moon bounce, complimentary tacos from Big Truck Tacos (YUM!!) and prize giveaways.

“The focus is around family and getting the children involved,” said Michael Perry, Quail Springs store manager.  

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

The Zoo’s Education department is offering a mother’s day out program beginning in February. The program will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nature Explorers Mother’s Day Out Program will run from Feb. 15 to May 26 and is for children ages 3 and 4. (Child must be 3 or 4 on or before September 1, 2010.)

The program will promote interaction skills, self direction, language skills, intellectual growth and environmental awareness.

For more information, including a program handbook, tuition costs and registration forms, go to http://zoofieldtrips.publishpath.com/explorers. 

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Toddler and preschooler programs include a live animal presentation, craft, story time, songs and more. Classes are 10 to 11 a.m. and cost $12 for a child with adult Zoo Friends member, or $15 for child with adult nonmember.  Additional fees apply for siblings. 

Classes are:

Age 2:  Mother Goose, Sept. 2 or 4

Age 3: R is for Rhino, Aug. 19 or 21
S is for Sea Lion, Sept. 16 or 18

Ages 4-5: Flying High, Aug. 28
Billy Goats Gruff, Sept. 25

School’s Out Safari Day Camps

If you would like somewhere fun and educational your child can enjoy during fall break or other fall days off from school, the zoo has you covered.  Classes are for ages 4-12 and meet from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the zoo’s Education Building.  Cost per day is $30 per child, siblings $20 each. Advance registration and payment are required, and spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Snacks will be provided, but children must bring their own lunch. 

Dates are: Sept. 6, 7 and 24 and Oct. 21 and 22.

Family program

An upcoming family program is “Sink Your Teeth into Sharks!” and is Aug. 28 from 2 to 3 p.m. Your family can learn all about the world of sharks.  Adults are free with paid child registration.  Cost per child is $15 for zoo members, $18 for nonmembers.  Program is for children ages 4-12.

Zoo art

Have any little artists in  your family?  Then come join local artist Lance Kelly and learn to draw animals.  Basic drawing concepts are reviewed, followed by live sketching of zoo animals. Class meets in the education building and is $20 per class for one person, $5 for each additional family member.  Classes are for ages 7 and older and meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m.  Class dates and animal topics are:

Sept. 25: Grizzly Bear
Oct. 23: Bison
Nov. 13, Turkey

For more information or to register for any of these programs, go to okczoo.recware.com or call 425-0218.

-Erica Smith

esmith@opubco.com

I  know, I know. It’s the safest form of travel. You can spout off statistics all day long and I still won’t board a plane. Call me crazy. Especially when you hear that I drove, (yes, drove) to Connecticut, which is about 1600 miles from Oklahoma City … with a 4-year-old.  Yep, that’s me, the crazy lady.  

But to be honest, it was amazing.  The drive was long, but my son was terrific on the drive up and back.  Thank goodness for car DVD players! It took us about 2 1/2 days each way and we were able to stop at some fun spots along the way,  such as the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo., and the Ohio State Fair on the way back. The Great American Road Trip. That’s what we were on.

The best part, though, was going home.  Seeing all my family, some dear friends, including a girl I’ve known since I was 5, and even Simba the family cat.  It was a two-week whirlwind.  Trips to museums, the beaches, and of course, New York City.  My son was in heaven when he stepped foot into the largest Toys R Us – the one in Times Square.  He got to meet his heroes, Iron Man and Spider-Man.  It doesn’t get any better than that for a 4-year-old boy.  And the train ride back to Connecticut to boot.  He was in awe. 

Seeing his Gwennie (his grandma) and grandpa, his Uncle Will and great-grandparents was such a treat.  They spoil him and he knows it.  Family friends were calling day and night, wanting to catch a visit with us. With some, we could fit it in, with others, we just couldn’t make it this trip.

Now, I’m back in Oklahoma and find myself missing home. I may sound like Dorothy, but there really is no place like home and no one like family and lifelong friends. I know I won’t be able to wait another 4 years to go back, airplane or not.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Registration starts today (July 15) for volunteers and consignors.  While volunteering may not sound like as much fun as actually shopping at the sale, let me tell you why it’s completely worth it. 

70% on items AND an opportunity to shop BEFORE the public!

For those reasons alone, I signed up.  For just a 3-hour shift, you get both those perks.  For 6- or 9-hour shifts, you get in to the presale even earlier.

And if you consign, you can get 65% on all items sold and still get a presale pass. I know I’ll be bringing in a ton of baby/toddler items.

The fall/winter sale is open to the public Aug. 23-28 at State Fair Park.  Presales are Aug. 21-22.

To sign up to consign and/or volunteer, or for more information, go to www.jbfsale.com.  To access the Oklahoma City site, go to www.jbfsale.com/okc.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

She is based in Oklahoma and her name is Sarah Roe, aka the “Money Saving Queen.”  And she deserves every bit of that royal title.

She is an expert on all things coupons, deals, freebies and how to get groceries at a fraction of their listed price.  Have you heard those stories about moms going to the grocery store and buying $400 worth of food for $30?  Those stories are true, and Sarah tells you how to do it.

There’s a definite method to the madness of couponing, price matching,  store deals and much more.   Here are just a few of the many tips she shared with the conference attendees:

1. Clip coupons - manufacturer’s coupons, store coupons, and get coupons off the Internet. Find coupons in Sunday’s Oklahoman, manufacturer’s websites, store websites and even eBay.  You can use manufacturer’s coupons in conjunction with store coupons for extra savings.

2. Keep track of prices. Take the 20 most expensive items you use regularly in your household.  Go to the one store you shop at most often and track their prices for 6-8 weeks.  You’ll notice a “sale cycle” when prices are at their highest and lowest and you’ll know when to stock up.  Use your coupons on the rock bottom price.  Stock up while you can, or wait until you can get it at that lowest price.

3.  Shop around.  Start planning your menus at home based on sale cycles and when stores are having the best weekly deals.

4. Know store policies.  Many big drug store chains offer rewards for simply shopping there. Same is true for grocery store chains.  Find out what they can offer you.  It may not be something they advertise, but chances are there’s something.

I get a “Daily Deals” e-mail from the Money Saving Queen.  And they really are filled with terrific discounts, free items and store sales.  She even has links to coupons you can print off and store circulars for your area. I highly recommend signing up for these free e-mails and also joining the website forums. It’s all free and well worth it. 

Go to www.moneysavingqueen.com and learn all you can on how to save the most you can at your next grocery store trip.  I know I will!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com