* Water - one gallon per person, per day
* First aid kit
* Extra medication
* Extra pair of glasses or contacts
* Battery operated radio plus extra batteries
* Flashlight plus extra batteries
* Blankets
FOOD
* Canned or other non-perishable foods (they may not be on your usual menu, but they'll keep bodies fueled)
* Pet food (if applicable)
* Can opener/Swiss army knife
* Camping stove or grill (optional)
Stock instant coffee or tea drinks (1 year), canned puddings (1 year), whipped topping mixes, hard candies in cans and such snacks as dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, chips and ready-to-eat popcorn (check pull dates). They deliver some nutrition and will help morale.
HYGIENE
* Toilet paper
* Zipper seal bags for waste disposal
* Soap
* Shampoo
* Alcohol
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Feminine hygiene supplies
* Baby wipes
* Underwear
FIRST AID KIT
The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:
* 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
* 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
* 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
* 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
* 5 antiseptic wipe packets
* 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
* 1 blanket (space blanket)
* 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
* 1 instant cold compress
* 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
* 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
* Scissors
* 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
* 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
* 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
* 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
* Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
* 2 triangular bandages
* Tweezers
* First aid instruction booklet
Store your survival kits in your hallway or backyard. If you live in a building, your car trunk is a handy place for these bulky items. If you think there is a possibility that your carpark might be affected by the earthquake, store it at a friend's backyard.
Experts recommend that you make three identical emergency kits. Store one kit at home, one at your workplace and one in your car. That way, your chances are good of having a kit handy after a quake.
These supplies are no help if you can't get to them. Make sure every household member knows where they are.
FOR BABIES/KIDS
Baby Food: Buy some packets of instant formula food that needs not mix with water. Keep a track of their expiry date and replace them with new ones periodically.
Diapers: The number of diapers needed depends upon the age and habit of your kid. However, as a rule of thumb you should at least keep 20 disposable diapers and 4 cloth ones. Cloth diapers can be washed and reused in case you run short of disposable ones.
Clothes: Store at least 10 pair of clothes for your baby in the 72 hour kit. This is tricky as babies grow rapidly. It can be managed by circulating the clothes with new ones of larger size from time to time.
Comfort Toys: Every child has a toy or blanket that he/she loves. Try grabbing them in emergency as this will help to keep your child calm during emergencies. If this is not possible, keep a toy that will comfort the child in absence of his/her favorite item.
Medicines: Medicines for infants are different from those of an adult and is a must-include item in a 72 hour kit. Babies can fall sick anytime and medicines present in the kit are the only savior then.
An important thing to remember is that toddlers grow rapidly. Therefore, you will always need to periodically check your 72 hour emergency kit and keep things that are appropriate for your child's age and development stage.
I have so much storage containers and bags at home that I'm going to finally put them to good use! As experts suggested, I'll be keeping a kit at our home, cars, and offices.
My mantra: Prepare for the worst then live your life
After my recent trip from Dubai, my eyes were opened to the wonderful world of luxe items...from shoes to bags to clothing. I was able to go into a Tod's store and their leather goods were to die for! Here are a few items from their Spring and Summer Collection.
Strappy Sandals
Tod's Tote Bags
Petite Tote Bags
Suede Ballerina Flats
Summer Cuffs
Iconic D-Bag
I would love to be able to buy all of them, but since I have two boys to raise at home, I would love to get the Tod's signature tote, given the chance (and by the husband), hehe. So nice right? And their leather is buttery soft. Wish I could get my hands on them!
I realized that I'm not very fond of loud brand names shouting out from whatever item I am holding. I prefer understated elegance and the quality of the brand will speak for itself.
Enough lemming already, have to get back to work. Have a good one.
Read this aloud, mwahahaha! *****************************************************************************************
When it rains, it's four!
I just had to share...
We've been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same almamother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulp bits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me.
He said, *"I hope you don't mine. Can I get your number?"*
Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw.
Sabi ko, *"Connect me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch?"
*"The!?!!??". ..* ang sarcastic na sagot nya. ** Aba! The verb! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in this guy. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we should go ouch na rin.
Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time. After 2weeks, he plopped the question. *"Will you marriage me?"* I'm in a state of shocked. Kasi when it rains, it's four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.
Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces.Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, *"Well, well, well. Look do we have here."* What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. As is!!! I don't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, *"please, mine you own business!"* Who would believe her anyway?
Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even my boyfriend said like twice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, *"Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."
Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts and I'm sure you have a few tricks up your sleeves. If you make a mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.
One of my favorite love songs from Gary V. I even used this for our wedding coz I think it evokes the sentiments that I had at that moment. Beautifully written.
We are playing the waiting game at my house. Merrick has applied to the colleges of his choice and is now waiting to hear back from them. One of the schools he applied to asked for a letter of recommendation from the parents. They wanted the perspective of the person/people who would talk of the early years and personality of the applicant. When I read their request I cried. I was being asked to weigh in and support my son’s application and frankly there are days when I don’t know how I’ll let him go. Sometimes even the thought of Merrick going off to school makes me physically ill, but at the same time I want what’s best for my son. I will not be a hinderance to his dreams. I realized that the only way I would be able to write a letter of recommendation, is to ask a request of all the schools. Below is my open letter to all of them.
Dear College of my son’s choice,
My son Merrick has applied to your school and is hopeful that he will be accepted. You invited parents to write letters of recommendation for their child. Your request is based on the fact that most students when applying concentrate on the ages of 14-17 and parents can give a long-range look and perspective on the applicant. I’m quite willing to write a letter for my child. I appreciate the wisdom and sensitivity in your request. Before I do so however, I have a request of my own. Please watch over my child. He is eager to leave home and enter the world of academia and freedom that college allows. I watch his anticipation and enthusiasm and am confronted with my own mixture of excitement and apprehension.
When his older brother Jordan went off to Amherst College, his dad and I could not have been prouder. Jordan chose a school that was the perfect fit for him. We watched him attenuate to college life with vigor and ease. He entered his sophomore year excited to have a single room, ready to pursue a major in Political Science and looking forward to the future. I often joked with him that I was living vicariously through him as he talked of studying abroad either in Costa Rica or London. His future seemed boundless. Seemed. When we received the news that Jordan had been killed in a car accident just 20 miles from his college campus shock and sorrow took hold of us, the grip of which I still feel today.
Now it is time for another of my children to fulfill their dreams and goals. Merrick has worked so hard to be an attractive candidate for your college. A finer student, scholar, and most importantly compassionate human being you won’t find. As he readies himself to, “be on his own,” I try and ready my heart to give the world another one of my children. Merrick comes to you an eager vessel of learning. He also comes bearing the weight of sorrow that losing his big brother and best friend brings. So, I’m finding a way, no matter how hard it is, to continue trusting that the world is a giving, safe place for my children. As unwieldy and irrational my plea is I ask you to remember it. When you see my son walking through campus, treat him with care as he fulfills his dreams and honors the legacy of his brother.
