~GOLF "SWING" TIP~

This tip comes from my father-in-law who is an accomplished golfer and someone that also prides himself with handing those in his foursome a multiple stroke defeat!

So, you've sized up the shot, chose the right club, and set your aim only to take a swing and watch your ball soar out of sight. But instead of going straight it goes right. While there are plenty of reasons this could have happened one of the most common is grip pressure. On your next swing, grip your club a little tighter with your left hand so as not to let it twist out of line when it comes in contact with the ball which causes the wayward ball flight.

~CRIME PREVENTION~

We received another wonderful tip from my sister. We tested it and this works!!

The tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator: Put your keys beside your bed at night. If you hear something outside or someone is trying to break into your house you can sound the alarm on your key chain (panic button). The alarm should go off from anywhere in the house. Just try it as we did. The alarm went off from several rooms in our house including our bedroom. Typically the thief will not stick around once the alarm begins to sound and neighbors begin to peek out of their windows. This is a great tip that could potentially save a life. Pass It Along!!

~DON'T GET TAKEN~

We recently received an email which stated that car thieves had a new inventive way of stealing cars. They look into your windshield and get the VIN #. They then call the car dealer and state that they are the owner who lost their keys. They give the dealer the VIN # who in return gives them a key. The person who sent the email said they tried this and the dealer said they would indeed give them a new key. We always want to research information before we pass it along. Therefore, we called our local Ford dealer and gave them the VIN # of our car and requested a new key. They did say they could give us a key, but we had to provide proof of ownership! Whew!! If this concerns you, give your dealership a call and see what they say. Better safe than sorry. Pass it along!!

~5 FOODS KIDS SHOULD AVOID~

This information comes from the Million Dollar Body, an article on healthy living. This is intended for school aged children. We thought the alternatives were especially good. Pass It Along!!

1. Chicken nuggets- usually high in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and hydrogenated oil.
alternative- Grilled chicken breast.
2. Sugary cereals.
alternative- look for cereals high in fiber and whole grains.
3. Lunch meat/hot dogs- full of potentially carcinogenic nitrates.
alternative- unprocessed meats like tuna, lean turkey breast, or chicken.
4. Juice or juice flavored drinks- does not have the fiber of fruit.
alternative- water. If you give juice do just a splash. Milk is also a healthy alternative.
5. French Fries/chips- High in fat and sodium.
alternative- scooped out baked potato with low fat chili.

~FIRE SAFETY~

We were recently given this valuable information by my sister regarding Fire Safety Month. We thought this was a perfect topic for our first tip. Pass It along....

Top 20 Fire Prevention Tips

1. Mount fire extinguishers on every level of your home.
2. Make sure to keep a fire extinguisher close to the Kitchen (Where most fires start).
3. Install smoke alarms on every level. (66% of children sleep through standard alarms so make sure they get their attention.)
4. Test your smoke alarms regularly and change batteries at least once a year.
5. Install a carbon monoxide detector near your bedrooms.
6. Store in your child's bedroom a fire safety blanket. It can shield your child during an escape, or even extinguish a small fire.
7. Only light candles when you're in the room to supervise.
8. Make sure you keep all flammables away from fireplaces, space heaters, and lamps.
9. Learn CPR and first aid.
   
10. If you have a multi-story dwelling, get a fire ladder and practice using it.
11. Avoid overloading wall sockets.
12. Cover unused electrical outlets with outlet covers.
    
13. Have your chimney cleaned every year.
14. Examine electrical cords regularly and replace frayed or worn corns. Loose cords are hazardous.
15. Don't use extension cords permanently.
16. Make sure to keep your outside grill at least three feet away from the side of the house.
17. Turn the dryer off when you leave the house and clean the lint screen each time you use it.
18. To prevent overheating use the correct bulbs in fixtures.
19. After each use unplug appliances (such as coffee makers) .
20. Kitchen and bathroom outlets need to be protected Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.

~WELCOME~

"Have You Paid It Forward" is a site geared toward reaching out and sharing information with others. We plan on having a wide array of topics including: saving/making money, raising children, golf tips, yummy recipes and much more. It is our hope that you can find information to enrich your life and then pass it along to others. We are very excited to share our lives with all of you and look forward to you sharing yours!!