It's an age old question: "do I keep it or toss it?" This is of course pertaining to food in the fridge that's been sitting there for a questionable period of time after a power outage. We refer you to our U.S. government guidelines on food safety, recommending just how long our refrigerators and freezers will hold their temperatures, as well as whether to keep or discard food kept inside during a power outage. More

Home security systems have traditionally been relegated into the realm of expensive investments, requiring professional installation and normally outside the bounds of apartment or small home renters. My apartment is currently monitored with SimpliSafe, an easy-to-install, renter-friendly system. But one thing it's not is compatible with a smart device lifestyle. This is where something like Scout may fill-in the niche between home security and home monitoring via app+hardware...

When I was a teenager, a burglar cut out a screen on our front door, broke the knob off, and made their way into my dad's home. To our shock, the thief didn't take jewelry or even money. They took our video game consoles, all our games, and an SLR camera and the lenses. That was it. Ever since, I've gotten pretty smart about insuring our tech. More

If you're looking to keep your family safer in 2013, your state legislature may be working to make it a little easier for you. Safer States, a national group of coalitions working to reduce toxic chemicals in our country, reports that twenty-six states (shown above in orange) are considering legislation that would affect the use of chemicals like BPA and toxic flame retardants. Is your state on the list? More

What: The Nap Nanny and Nap Nanny Chill infant recliners

Why: Risk of injury due to reports of children falling or nearly falling out of product.

More info: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Nap Nanny

In 2010 Joy Cho's living room got rockstar treatment from Emily Henderson on her HGTV show, Secrets From A Stylist. The results were gorgeous and decidedly grownup. Within a year, Joy got pregnant, had baby Ruby, and then Ruby started to move. Joy and Emily reunited recently to make the living room safe for Ruby without compromising style. More

Belkin NetCam Wi-Fi Camera with Night Vision
• $129.99
• Belkin

The problem with many home monitoring cameras is two-fold: 1) setting them up can be a pain with issues related to computer compatibility, and 2) some require per month service subscriptions. The Belkin NetCam Wi-Fi Camera eliminates the need to hook up the camera to a computer, connecting via 802.11b/g/n wi-fi instead. Plus there's no monthly fee to access your feed wirelessly with a free downloadable iOS or Android app. The resolution isn't HD at just 640x480, but the night vision mode, digital audio mic, and automatic movement-detection email notifications make the NetCam sufficiently equipped for monitoring a space from their iPhone, iPad, or Android device with as little hassle as possible. Plug-and-play home monitoring, ideal for new pet owners or parents who want to keep tabs on a space with the tap of an app.

Whether it's a tornado, flood, high winds, or a hurricane that causes a tree to go down, there are lots of things to think about. How to clean it up, what to do with all of that wood, and ultimately how to replace it are questions that come to mind.
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With Sandy last week and a Nor'easter expected to hit this week, it's a good time to talk emergency kits. Is there anything you found yourself without that you will make sure to have for the next storm? Do you have any good tips or tricks for weathering storms and power outages?
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