Kids in the Kitchen

Okay, I’m going to admit something that I’m not all that proud of… Wait for it… I don’t cook! There, I said it. Now we can move on.

I guess I should explain. It isn’t that I don’t cook, because I do. It’s just that I have a few dishes that I am really comfortable making and I kind of get stuck making the same things over and over. Which, of course is boring, for my husband, for my kids, and of course for me. In the end it leads to my husband doing most of the cooking. Besides he is a pretty picky eater, he prefers his own cooking, and he is actually a really good cook. Therefore, I have learned, over the years, not to take it personally and instead to just feel lucky that my husband wants to do the cooking.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not totally incompetent in the kitchen. I actually love to bake. Though my husband doesn’t really eat sweets. That leaves me and the kids to finish every brownie, cake, cupcake, pie, etc. Therefore, I am now on a diet. Isn’t life grand.

You might be wondering how this blog ties into the title of ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ well, let me tell you. With my kids getting older I would have hoped to have more time to spend with them one on one, but that isn’t the case. Between working full-time; carpooling the kids to school, daycare, t-ball, girl scouts, week-end playdates, the park, shopping, and everywhere else; my theatre, my husbands golf, etc., etc., etc. there is little time to just sit and relax enjoying some mommy time with the kids. The kitchen then becomes a  place to catch up on what my kids did during school and all the other great parts of their day.

So, my challenge to myself, and to all of you is this… wait for it…

Spend some quality ’KIDS IN THE KITCHEN’ time over the next few weeks. I have given a few great recipes below that are easy to make, and even more fun to make with your kids. Start easy, make it fun, but always remember safety comes first in the kitchen. Follow my three easy rules of the kitchen:

(1) No kids by the stove!!! Depending on their hight they may not be able to see that the stove is hot, and it only takes a second to burn their little hands.

(2) Wash your hands!!! Kids put their hands everywhere and don’t always remember to wash them. The first thing you should do when starting to cook with kids is wash your hands and theirs, and its alright to wash them again throughout the cooking process if needed.

(3) Have FUN!!! Cooking with kids should be fun, and its okay if it’s a little messy. Brooms, vacuums, even dogs are great for clean-up. Enjoy your time and don’t worry about the mess until the end.

Now, what should you make? Good questions. Like I said, start easy. If you’ve never cooked with your kids before then pick up a box of Kraft macaroni & cheese Deluxe. You boil the water and make sure the noodles are all cooked and drained, and the rest is up to the kids. It’s really just two easy steps:

(1) squeeze the Cheese

(2) Stir, Stir, Stir

My kids have so much fun making this dinner. One gets to be the cook and the other gets to dish out the food onto the plates.

So, you think you’re ready for some more elaborate dishes? Good, I have just the thing. I picked up a great cookbook for kids and have found that the dishes are pretty easy to make and actually really yummy for kids of all ages.

(1) Berry and Yogurt parfait for Breakfast – This one is great because there is NO COOKING involved, and the kids can create it anyway they want. All you need is vanilla yogurt, fresh or frozen mixed berries, and granola. Let your kids put it together in their bowl in layers or mixed all together. Either way they’ll have fun and get a healthy breakfast too.

(2) Monkey Bread – This sticky treat is sure to put a smile on your kids faces for breakfast or just a mid day snack. You will need 1/2 cup of butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup chopped pecans (and a couple of tablespoons finely chopped), 2.5 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, sweet white bread rolls (store-bought frozen rolls work just fine), a little all-purpose flour, and a bundt pan. Your going to melt a little butter and brush it all over the inside of the bundt pan. Then mix  together the brown sugar, 1/2 cup of pecans, and cinnamon – Set it aside. Sprinkle the rest of the pecans over the bottom of the pan! Now place the thawed rolls on a lightly floured surface and then roll the rolls through melted butter, and then into the brown-sugar mixture. As you do this place each roll into the pan. You may have to work to make them all fit, but they will! Now, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees for about 5 minutes then turn the oven off. You will cover the dough and let it rise, in the warm oven, for about an hour. Remove the pan from the oven and pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake until richly browned and a toothpick comes out clean (about 30-35 minutes.). Let cool for 5 minutes and serve warm. Remember – let your kids do everything that doesn’t involve the oven, that part is for you mom!

(3) Crescent-Wrapped Hot Dogs – for lunch. Remember pigs in a blanket? This is more like hogs in a comforter because they are bigger and more filling. So, you will need store-bought crescent rolls (I like Pillsbury), All-purpose flour for dusting, shredded cheese – if your kids like it, hot dogs, and of course condiments for dipping: ketchup, mustard, pickle relish, etc. First lay out wax paper all over your kitchen table, and sprinkle with a light dusting of flour. Then unroll the crescent. this is the time to let you kids sprinkle on the cheese if they want, and roll up their dogs! More cheese can be added to the outside if they want. Bake the hot dogs until the dough is golden brown 10-13 minutes at 350 degrees. When they’re done take them out of the oven and allow to cool slightly and serve warm. Your kids will love putting them together and then tearing them apart as they eat them up.

(4) Nutty Caramel Apples – Snack. Okay this one is messy, but oh so yummy. You will need: Apples, Chopped Pecans, and 1 container of soft caramel dip. Mom you’ll want to cover the table in wax paper because caramel can be a little hard to clean. Then, slice up a few apple, any will do. Give the kids the apple slices to dip them half way into the caramel (you can also use chocolate), then they will roll the caramel-coated part of the apple in the nuts. You will want to help them press the nuts gently into the caramel to help them stay on better. Line all of the apple slices onto a wax paper lined baking sheet and let stand until the caramel has set, normally about 10 minutes (Some brands need to be cooled in the refrigerator to set). Then, ENJOY!!!

I hope you and your little ones have fun in the kitchen!!!

Aging Gracefully?

I had a dream last night, and it wasn’t pleasant. It all started with my sister, my brother-in-law, my husband, and of course me. We were at my high school reunion. Why my sister who graduated a year before me was there I have no idea. But, the rest of her class was there too, so I suppose we had our reunions together, whatever!

The reunion started out fine, but then suddenly as I took a bite of the baked cod in front of me, I lost a tooth. Yeah, a tooth! I smiled (closed mouth) nodded toward the bathroom and made a graceful exit. Once in the bathroom I looked at my reflection with horror as I saw the wrinkled gray haired woman staring back at me and suddenly all of my teeth were loose in my mouth and began to fall out. I frantically made my way to our table pulled my husband out of his seat and dragged him out to the car without a word.

I woke up and quickly threw my hands to my mouth feeling tooth by tooth to ensure they were all still there and secure in there rightful spots. They were! And in the mirror I found the same familiar reflection I always see. Thank you God!

So, what did my dream mean and why? I can only speculate but I would say ‘fear of growing old’. I’m not old or at least not old for my age. I don’t go to bed at 7pm and wake up at 4am to read the paper and sit on the rocking chair on the porch to watch the sun come up. Side thought – porch rocking chairs need to go during the next garage sale! I don’t want to be ‘that’ old lady.

I don’t actually feel old, or maybe I’m just suppressing those feelings. I can see how a dream like this could lead woman to tummy tucks, face lifts, Botox, and the all to noticeable breast enhancement! “No honey don’t get excited I’m not getting a boob job!”

So what can I take away from this dream? Who knows, but I will say one thing, next year when I my 20 year high school reunion comes along (yes 20 years – don’t do the math!) I refuse to be the grey haired old woman out on the dance floor. I don’t have a single gray hair now (and no I don’t dye my hair) and I plan to stay that way! Wrinkles? Sure we all get them but I still think I look young for my age and besides all my classmates are aging too, right?

I Quit!

It’s taken me a while to really figure out how to put this blog into words. Probably because I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about this new change in my life, but that is neither here nor there… What’s done is done and it is for the best.

For the last four years I have been the proud, enthusiastic, energetic, organized, willing, and devoted Director of the Bailey Cove Child Development Center. However, on Friday February 3, 2012 I worked my last day at the school. It was a sad goodbye but I leave it in good hands as my amazing Assistant Director is still at the helm leading the way with the new center Director.

Although I miss my staff, who I still consider family I look forward to seeing them daily as a parent instead of as a boss. My new role is not only scary and challenging but also exciting. I am excited about the new ways I can help and encourage growth at the school.

With that said, why did I leave? Good question! Growth and career advancement. I was given an opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down. I guess that happens sometimes in life, and I was afraid that if I turned this chance down then it wouldn’t come back around. I am the new Director of Business Development at JSA www.jsafed.com www.jsafed/Wordpress.com. My role encompasses more than just bringing in new contracts and growing the business. I will be developing new social media communication lines for our customers, publishing industry relevant articles on our blog, conducting government and commercial training in areas such as HR, LR and so much more.

So yes, change is hard. But, in a world where everything is constantly moving change is a necessity!

To Sum Up 2011…

Okay, lots of people do this (I’m not the first) but this year I finally decided to jump off the bridge too… So, here goes!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Took my kids to Disney, sent my little girl to kindergarten, and finished my first two novels.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I actually don’t remember what they were for 2011, but I have already made more this year, and am right on track.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. My husband lost his father. ‘We miss you Stephen’

5. What countries did you visit? Only the US. I traveled a bit, mostly D.C.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? More Time… time with my husband, family time, me time, etc.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 8th, my daughter’s first day of kindergarten. It was a really hard day, but also very wonderful.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my novel. I still have a long ways to go (more edits, submissions, etc.) before I can even hope to get it published, but I finished and that makes me very proud.

9. What was your biggest failure? I promised I would take more photos and videos of my kids, and although I took more than the year before, I didn’t take as many as I had hoped.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really. I few minor interior body issues, but everything turned out fine.

11. What was the best thing you bought? I’m not really a big spender so I don’t really know. Maybe my Coach purse if I’m talking for me, but most likely my family membership to the Botanical Gardens, because of the added family time.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband Eric’s – He is truly the most amazing husband a girl could ask for. When I had to be out of town he was on the ball taking care of the kids, when my mom had a surprise retirement party he didn’t even hesitate to say we should make the 12 hour drive to be there… no matter how much typing time I needed, or how stressed I got he keep a positive attitude and supported me all the way.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Can’t name names, but there have been a few!

14. Where did most of your money go? Mortgage. Gotta love owning a house, but come on does it really have to cost that much?!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? There were new movies, new books, and most recently the cool little cupcake / tart maker I got for Christmas.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011? There are many, and since I can’t remember a single title… you’ll just have to believe we have a CD in my car that the kids force me to listen to ALL THE TIME!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter, but getting into shape
c) richer or poorer? Same, but saving

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Taken more outings with the kids. Which is odd because we were busier this year doing stuff then ever from t-ball to girl scouts, to the Botanical Gardens, etc. I guess the more you have the more you want.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Thinking about my dirty house. I wish I could Afford someone to clean (I keep things picked up, I just don’t clean) – STOLEN FROM KIM

20. How did you spend Christmas? We spent it with Eric’s family. Then my family visited for New Year’s and we did it all over again. It was wonderful.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I love my husband more and more every day. Its as if I fall in love with him again and again every morning.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Hart of Dixie, Supernatural (but I’m over it now), Eureka, hmm… I know there was more, oh well.

23. This question has been deleted because it’s SOOO teenage emo Xanga shit. (This is what Sarah replaced #23 with and I’m too lazy to look up the original question and I kinda like how she rephrased it anyway. She’s funny, that Sarah.) (I second Kim – To lazy to look up the original question. I figure if Sarah didn’t like it I don’t need to read it!)

24. What was the best book you read? Well crap, I read like 24 books in 2011. There wasn’t even a day I didn’t have a book I was reading. There is no way I can answer this one.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? My husband is the musical lover in the family. I don’t discover he just throws them at me and if they stick he burns them for me if not they fall away.

26. What did you want and get? A money tree, but sadly they don’t make them.

27. What did you want and not get? Sick, and I didn’t so woohoo for me.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Bridesmaids, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Terrible Bosses, etc. Do I really have to pick just one? I’m sure there were a hundred others.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 36 and I had a normal date night with my hubby, dinner and a movie.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Seeing my family more – the ones that live far away. The 12 hour drive isn’t something that we can do very often.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? I’m pretty conservative in my fashion sense. I don’t feel like I can be all crazy with my style because of work, and therefore I find my self buying mostly browns, blacks, tans, etc… Very bland. I need to be more fashion aware in 2012… Wow, a new goal.

32. What kept you sane? Writing. When I felt stressed I would go to a quiet room and type. I guess I was stressed a lot in 2012 (ALL WORK RELATED) I mean, I did finish a novel.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Matt Damon – I gotta be honest he is yummy, and so amazingly talented! Don’t worry, my husband knows I have a celebrity crush on him. lol

34. What political issue stirred you the most? I avoid politics will all my power. Maybe that is bad, but most of it just makes me mad.

35. Who did you miss? My family. They are just to far away.

36. Who was the best new person you met? Honestly, I didn’t really meet anyone new this year. My husband and I kind of live in a cave. This year my goal is to meet more couples that we can hang out with together. We need a social life, but honestly if my friends aren’t going to want to be my husband’s friends then they aren’t for me. Also, I saw some of my so called ‘friends’ for who they really were this year, and they would definitely not be on the ‘best new person’ list.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. I guess it would be that every second counts, and you can be stripped from this world as easily as you were brought into it. You have to live life to the fullest while you can.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

Explanation: I work in childcare! No further explanation needed.

A Warm Welcome to 2012!

A fond farewell to 2011 and a warm open armed welcome to 2012!

I know that it is already January 6, 2012 and some people may say that its to late to announce my New Year’s Resolutions, but I would say bah humbug to you. It’s never to late to put in print what you plan to do for the new year.

So, with no further stalling involved here is my list…

Drum Roll Please!

(1) Go Green! I can not say that I’ve ever really been the reduce, reuse, recycle kind of girl, but I want to be. I reuse, which is to say that after working in a private preschool for the last four years I don’t see empty paper towel rolls quiet the same. Now I look at them and see ‘potential’. I see binoculars, hand puppets, towers, Christmas tree ornaments, and oh so much more. So, yes I reuse (when an art project is looming on the horizon). I have in the past recycled. I grew up in a state where you got 10 cents back for every soda bottle or soda can you returned to the store. So, yes I always took them back, but now you don’t even get a penny let alone a dime. It has kinda discouraged me. Though I will not let that stop me in 2012. On New Year’s Eve I went to the store and got myself ‘hooked up’. I now have three 30 gallon trash cans in my kitchen (soon to move to the garage). One labeled ‘GLASS’, one labeled ‘PLASTIC’, and one labeled ‘METAL’. I was sad to discover that after only three days the ‘PLASTIC’ container is already full. So, now I know how important it really is, because a family of four produces A LOT of waste, and a large portion of it is recyclable.

(2) Exercise More! Now, I could say loose 10 pounds, drop a dress size, etc. like everyone else, but I’m not going to. I will say Exercise More. That might be walking more, lifting weights, doing aerobics, what ever my heart desires. The reason I’m not saying drop X number of pounds or drop a dress size is because I just don’t see those goals as being very realistic. If someone who doesn’t know me looked at me they might think I was in pretty good shape. I’m not over weight, nor am I underweight. In reality I do look pretty good, even if I do say so myself. But, I don’t feel good about myself. So, in order to feel better about myself, like the way I look in my skin, and for an all over healthier feeling I choose to exercise more. If the end result is that I drop 10 pounds or even get rid of my muffin top (even as small as it is) then that is just a bonus for me. Oh yeah, I started this one already too. I went out on New Year’s Eve and bought a pair or ankle weights and a pair of wrist weights. I wear the ankle weights every where I go. See, exercising already, even when I’m not doing anything that I wouldn’t already be doing. Gotta love it when just a slight change in life style can make such a big difference – the pain in my lower legs!

(3) Write More! As you know I am trying to write a book… a series of books actually. I have finished the first book in a three to four book series, and two days after I submitted it to my editor she backed out on me. My first reaction was to cry. But then I thought, ‘No I am better than that!!!’ So, I picked my self up off the floor, wiped the snot and tears from my face, and told myself that there has to be a reason… Everything happens for a reason, and maybe this is just telling me that particular editor wasn’t the right person for this job. So, now that I am half way through re-writing book two I am going to finish book two and then start a new search for an editor. Sending a little silent prayer up to the Big Man in charge, ‘Please send me an editor that wants to work with me, is going to put his/her heart and soul into this project, and isn’t going to break my bank!’ So, yes… write more, and finish the re-writes to book two, as well as the first draft of book three.

Only three, but to me they are important. My family (husband and children) come first in my life, and they always will. But, this year I need to also think about me hence the finding time to write more, and the exercising. The recycling, well that is me trying to do my part (even as small as it is) to make a difference in this world. I hope to instil that in my children, and make it not something only I do, but have it be a life style change for my husband and children as well.

There you have it… it’s in writing… Lets see how I do come December 2012!

 

Hello, my name is Nina and I’m a Workaholic!

I wasn’t always like this. At one time, I’m sure I was just your normal average run of the mill kid. I liked to play with my friends, go to the park, have sleep-overs, and all kinds of great things. Then when I took that first job… FoodLand grocery bagger it all changed. I went to school and worked. I liked making money, and actually being able to put gas in my car and buy the things I wanted.

When I started college I went to school full-time (which was like a job), worked on campus part-time, and worked off campus part-time. Not to mention I was in the theatre department and was constantly involved with a show which took up most if not all of my evenings.

After graduating college (in exactly 4 years) I decided to continue to work on campus full-time, and take a few more classes (just for fun) while working part-time at the local high school teaching tech theater and tool safety! Oh yeah, and I was still constantly involved with a show, but instead of it being on campus I was producing, directing, and acting in shows off campus with a theatre troop I helped found.

When I finally moved out to California to try to make it BIG (insert laugh here) I took on a full-time job along with daily auditions and twice weekly acting classes. But, I kept on trucking…

I left Hollywood, and started a family with my amazing husband! Okay, so just because being a mom doesn’t pay – doesn’t make it any less a job. I happen to love being a mom, and it’s a job I wouldn’t trade for the world, but it can be tiring and hard and stressful just like any other job, and you don’t get off after 8 hours of work its a 24 hour a day job for the rest of your life! So, I do that… and a full-time job, and a part-time job, and of course I am trying… when I have time… to be a writer.

Okay, so my progress in the writing field can’t really be seen over these last few months, but it is still a dream.

I have recently sent my latest version of book 1 to my editor Jamie Aitchison (haven’t heard back yet). I am working on book 2 rewrites… I plan to pick it back up in the second week of January. My goal is to have book 2 rewrites done by the end of February. Then I will start back in on book 3. I’ve already written about 10 chapters, but due to all the edits in the first 2 books, I think I’ll pretty much be starting from scratch, oh well.

So, you see… I’m a workaholic! Wish I wasn’t, but there just isn’t enough time in the day to do everything I need to do.

If anyone out there can think of a way to add two more hours to my day, let me know.

My Latest Endeavor

Child Care Weather Watch – Understand the Weather!

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) lays out clear regulations and procedures for every licensed child care facility throughout the state. Regulations include, but are not limited to; size and available space of facility, equipment within the facility, transportation provided by the facility, disciplinary practices utilized within the facility, student to teacher ratios, staffing and qualification requirements of staff and volunteers, health and safety needs of the students and staff, and so much more. The list just keeps going. There are so many areas that are covered through the legal authority of the Department of Human Resources.

As the director of a licensed child care facility I can honestly say that I work in partnership with the Department of Human Resources. I rely on their insight and knowledge in all aspects of my job, and seek out their guidance when necessary. I hope that I am able, through this blog to share some of what I have learned through my experiences as a center/school director, and through working with our DHR Representative.  

According to the DHR Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers, all children (Infants/Toddlers and Preschool/School-age) shall spend time outdoors daily when weather permits. With that said, winter time is known for the dropping temperatures and the runny sniffly noses. Although all of our little ones want to play outside, we want to make sure they are doing it safely, and I believe that is what our families want as well. Therefore, it is important that parents remember to bundle your child(ren) up in weather appropriate clothing (layers layers layers), to include a jacket/coat, gloves, and hat.

The information below should give everyone a clear picture of how to understand the weather and what temperatures are comfortable for out-door play during the summer-time and winter-time, and what temperatures are not. I use this guide at home with my children, and at the school with all of our students.

Watching the weather is part of a child care provider’s job. Planning for playtime, field trips, or weather safety is part of the daily routine. The changes in weather require the child care provider to monitor the health and safety of children. What clothing, beverages, and protections are appropriate? Clothe children to maintain a comfortable body temperature (warmer months – lightweight cotton, colder months – wear layers of clothing). Beverages help the body maintain a comfortable temperature. Water or fruit juices are best. Avoid high-sugar content beverages and soda pop. Sunscreen may be used year around. Use a sunscreen labeled as SPF-15 or higher. Read and follow all label instructions for the sunscreen product. Look for sunscreen with UVB and UVA ray protection. Shaded play areas protect children from the sun.

CONDITION GREEN – Children may play outdoors and be comfortable. Watch for signs of children becoming
uncomfortable while playing. Use precautions regarding clothing, sunscreen, and beverages for all child age groups.

INFANTS AND TODDLERS are unable to tell the child care provider if they are too hot or cold. Children become fussy when uncomfortable. Infants/toddlers will tolerate shorter periods of outdoor play. Dress infants/toddlers in lightweight cotton or cotton-like fabrics during the warmer months. In cooler or cold months dress infants in layers to keep them warm. Protect infants from the sun by limiting the amount of time outdoors and playing in shaded areas. Give beverages when playing outdoors.

YOUNG CHILDREN remind children to stop playing, drink a beverage, and apply more sunscreen.

OLDER CHILDREN need a firm approach to wearing proper clothing for the weather (they may want to play without coats, hats or mittens). They may resist applying sunscreen and drinking beverages while outdoors.

CONDITION YELLOW – use caution and closely observe the children for signs of being too hot or cold while outdoors. Clothing, sunscreen, and beverages are important. Shorten the length of outdoor time.

INFANTS AND TODDLERS use precautions outlined in Condition Green. Clothing, sunscreen, and beverages are important. Shorten the length of time for outdoor play.

YOUNG CHILDREN may insist they are not too hot or cold because they are enjoying playtime. Child care providers need to structure the length of time for outdoor play for the young child.

OLDER CHILDREN need a firm approach to wearing proper clothing for the weather (they may want to play without coats, hats or mittens), applying sunscreen and drinking liquids while playing outdoors.

CONDITION RED – most children should not play outdoors due to the health risk.

INFANTS/TODDLERS should play indoors and have ample space for large motor play.

YOUNG CHILDREN may ask to play outside and do not understand the potential danger of weather conditions.

OLDER CHILDREN may play outdoors for very short periods of time if they are properly dressed, have plenty of fluids. Child care providers must be vigilant about maximum protection of children.

Understand the Weather

The weather forecast may be confusing unless you know the meaning of the words.

Blizzard Warning: There will be snow and strong winds that produce a blinding snow, deep drifts, and life threatening wind chills. Seek shelter immediately.

Heat Index Warning: How hot it feels to the body when the air temperature (in Fahrenheit) and relative humidity are combined.
Relative Humidity: The percent of moisture in the air.

Temperature: The temperature of the air in degrees Fahrenheit.
Wind: The speed of the wind in miles per hour.
Wind Chill Warning: There will be sub-zero temperatures with moderate to strong winds expected which may cause hypothermia and great danger to people, pets and livestock.
Winter Weather Advisory: Weather conditions may cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, these situations should not become life threatening.
Winter Storm Warning: Severe winter conditions have begun in your area.
Winter Storm Watch: Severe winter conditions, like heavy snow and ice are possible within the next day or two. 

Wind-Chill 30º is chilly and generally uncomfortable 15º to 30º is cold 0º to 15º is very cold -29º to 0º is bitter cold with significant risk of frostbite -20º to -60º is extreme cold and frostbite is likely -60º is frigid and exposed skin will freeze in 1 minute

Heat Index 80º or below is considered comfortable 90º beginning to feel uncomfortable 100º uncomfortable and may be hazardous 110º considered dangerous All temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit

Child Care Weather Watch was produced by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Healthy Child Care Iowa. This guide was produced through federal grant (MCJ19T029 & MCJ19KCC7) funds from the US Department of Health & Human Services, Health Resources & Services Administration, Maternal & Child Health Bureau. Wind-Chill and Heat Index information is from the National Weather Service.