Articles written by Barb Hacker

Take the time to plan and prepare a toddler for a professional photography session to get a picture that's truly frame worthy.

Nov 1, 2011 - Barb Hacker

Take advantage of the year's record snow falls and build a snowman! All you need are a few inches of packing snow and some snowman accessories.

Feb 7, 2011 - Barb Hacker

Help your three or four-year-old child learn how to clean and tidy. Teach a young child to vacuum, dust and tidy a bedroom.

Feb 7, 2011 - Barb Hacker

The AAP believes that screen time increases the risks of obesity, drug use and violent behavior in children. How can a family decrease screen time?

Feb 2, 2011 - Barb Hacker

The seasonal availability of winter squash makes it easy to serve Roasted Mashed Squash as a delicious side dish at the next holiday meal or family dinner.

Nov 17, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Clement C. Moore wrote everyone's favorite holiday poem. But, a contemporary English professor speculates that this may not be true.

Nov 8, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Moms and dads with scouts have to affix patches onto Cub Scout shirts. For those who don't know how to sew, attaching badges to scout shirts can be hard.

Oct 6, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Plan ahead and prepare to increase the chances of a successful garage sale.

Aug 12, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Make money and get rid of extra clutter by having a rummage sale that will draw customers.

Aug 12, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Figure out the real reason behind a clutter problem before trying to remove and organize the mess.

Aug 6, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Looking for patriotic songs for the Fourth of July party or fireworks show? These songs are patriotic crowd pleasers.

Jun 9, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Look online for free, printable Father's Day cards that leave room for personalization and creativity.

May 18, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Celebrate graduation with these timeless, classic rock songs.

May 18, 2010 - Barb Hacker

There are several perennial plants that will do well in the partially-shaded garden. These three, flowering perennials are a popular choice.

May 9, 2010 - Barb Hacker

The secret to growing tulips is to know when and how to plant the bulbs.

Apr 17, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Learn how to transplant sunflower seedlings outdoors to increase the chances of a beautiful crop of summer sunflowers.

Apr 16, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Give sunflowers the best chance of success by starting the seeds indoors and transplanting them to the garden after all danger of frost is gone.

Apr 15, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Tent camping doesn't have to be dirty and wet, even during the heaviest downpour. Learn how to tent camp while staying dry and clean.

Apr 13, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Campers do not need to fear the mosquito. Cover up when mosquitoes are at their worst. Use natural and herbal mosquito repellents for further protection.

Apr 13, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Forget the old-style crock pots. New slow cookers are available with keep-warm settings, the ability to adjust cooking time and in a variety of sizes.

Mar 16, 2010 - Barb Hacker

If the necessary steps haven't been taken to prevent data loss, it may be possible to recover important files from a failed hard drive.

Mar 13, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Cold sores are itchy, painful and embarrassing. Pregnant women may try to treat a cold sore with home remedies or may need to consult a doctor for stronger alternatives.

Jan 20, 2010 - Barb Hacker

It's possible to keep the factory-made hem while shortening denim blue jeans and corduroy pants.

Jan 20, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Recycle old blue jeans and flannel shirts for this quick, practical craft project.

Jan 19, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Alter the homemade play-dough recipe by adding scents and colors that fit the seasons and holidays to make the homemade play-dough extra special.

Jan 18, 2010 - Barb Hacker

A pincushion is a practical necessity for sewers and crafters. Make this quick, easy pincushion in less than an hour to give as a gift or for personal use.

Jan 17, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Wool sweaters are warm and beautiful, but they are vulnerable to pilling, shrinking, stretching and moth attacks if not properly handled.

Jan 16, 2010 - Barb Hacker

These quick, easy Valentine cards look fancy and are fun for kids to make and give for school Valentine exchanges.

Jan 15, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Anyone that is interested in avoiding potentially dangerous chemical pesticides can use herbs to repel insects and rodents from a home.

Jan 14, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Make these tasty lemon-glazed cookies for a snack or special treat. They are a fun cut-out cookie recipe to make with children.

Jan 13, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Look for Valentine gifts for children that promote quality family time or show children they are loved with traditional Valentine treats.

Jan 11, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Discover the many uses of chives and lemon balm when they are readily available in a home herb garden.

Jan 8, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Using lemon balm frequently for cooking and medicinal purposes makes this herb a rewarding addition to the home herb garden.

Jan 2, 2010 - Barb Hacker

Combat toy clutter by storing extra toys away in well-organized containers.

Dec 29, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Help those in need by donating items that are no longer used in the home.

Nov 12, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Get this popular word game that is a fun activity for children and likely to cause uncontrollable laughter.

Nov 11, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Give a toddler toys that he and his parents are likely to appreciate and play with again and again.

Nov 7, 2009 - Barb Hacker

A price book is a reference guide to enable a grocery shopper to quickly compare prices of frequently purchased items at local stores.

Oct 31, 2009 - Barb Hacker

A well-organized coupon book will make menu planning and grocery shopping easier and thriftier.

Oct 31, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Homemade play dough with pumpkin pie spice becomes special, scented play dough for a Halloween party activity.

Sep 1, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Keep children safe while trick or treating by being aware of the real Halloween dangers.

Aug 31, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Halloween costume ideas for boys need to be practical and fit with school costume guidelines.

Aug 30, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Find toddler Halloween costume ideas that avoid Halloween masks and costume props and are a comfortable style.

Aug 29, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Quality footwear for children is an important investment for a successful school year.

Jul 31, 2009 - Barb Hacker

A minor basement flood can ruin stored items unless they are packed carefully.

Jul 29, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Avoid the chemicals in conventional home cleaning products by switching to all-natural cleaners.

Jul 27, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Christmas decorations that are carefully packed away each year are not likely to be damaged or misplaced in storage.

Jul 7, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Living Christmas trees are a good choice for those families that want a real Christmas tree, but don't want to cut a live tree down every year.

Jul 3, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Watch out for this vine with three leaves. An itchy, poison ivy rash is an avoidable pitfall of summer.

Jun 26, 2009 - Barb Hacker

Back-to-school shopping lists seem to include everything but the kitchen sink these days. Get creative to cut costs and spend less for school supplies.

Jun 24, 2009 - Barb Hacker