Today's Gadget:: Reacher Grabber tool

Reacher Grabber Tool

If you've ever been in a situation where just the thought of bending over makes your back scream out in pain, you need to pick up this handy gadget.

Whether your situation is permanent or temporary, having one of these around your home can give you a lending hand.

It's a pretty simple looking tool, the featherweight style is 26-inches long with  a claw-shaped, slip resistant grip.

It also has a clip attached to the top for storing if using from a wheelchair.

A second model is available at 32-inches long and gives you the added length you need when picking up from an upright position.

Due to my husbands back injury, you'll always find one or two of these around our home. Use it in the home for picking up items off the floor or for those hard to reach cupboard items. Take it outside to help in picking up yard items, branches or anything that keeps you from bending over.

The 24-inch model sells for $25.99 and the 32-inch model goes for $2.99 more and can be ordered online at Amazon. 

There is also variations of this tool available, your local CVS, carries a PikStick which will also serve all the functions of the Reacher Grabber Tool and can be easily picked up locally at CVS for $23.99.

So if you need a little assistance around your home - check out one of these reacher tools.

Hope today's gadget review helped you out. If you have one of these tools and would like to share how you use it, feel free to leave your comments.

If you have a favorite gadget around your home that you just wouldn't want to be without - send it to me. I will review it and post it here on my blog and on Twitter @OCKidsKorner.com. VA....

Today's Gadget: Hula Ho Weeder

If you have a garden - vegetable or flower - you don't want to be without this garden tool. The Hula Ho Weeder or the 'weeder with a wiggle' as Gardeners Supply Co. calls it, is a must-have for my husband and I. The one we own, purchased years ago from True Value Hardware, has a 54-inch handle and a high carbon heat treated 'wiggle' blade and works as well today as it did when we bought it. We also purchased one for our son and daughter-in-law for their flower garden a couple years back.
This tool easily removes weeds from around your flowers and plants. Simply push the blade back and forth through the soil, the weeds are easily cut in both directions. The 'wiggle' in the blade gives it just enough movement to easily glide through the soil.
We have fairly sandy soil in our gardens and the weeds are no match for it. If you have a lot of clay in your soil it may constrict the easy glide somewhat, but I think it will handle it well.
Because this gadget is lightweight and has such a smooth glide to it, you'll want to be careful not to get too carried away and uproot more than your weeds!

Save your knees and your back and do your weeding with ease with this 'Made in the USA' product.
The Hula-Ho Weeder sells for $20.99 at True Value Hardware and can be shipped for free to your local store.
The Hula-Hoe sells for $24.99 at Gardeners Supply Co. and is sold online.
Enjoy!

Have a household gadget that you wouldn't want to live without? I would love to hear about it and share it on my blog. Thanks for reading and sharing! VA

If you enjoy gardening, you'll love it even more when you involve your kids or grandkids. Take them outdoors and have some 'fun in the sun' and let them experience your love for your gardens.

Today's Gadget: Swivel Peeler

This is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. The swivel feature allows it to glide over your fruits or vegetables with ease. The sharp stainless steel blades and comfortable handle make it the perfect gadget. Our garden is coming in nicely right now and for $7.99 this little jewel is great for one of my favorites - cucumbers. You can check out this on OXO's website and a lot of other great products.

Do you have a favorite gadget or product you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to Family: A Recipe for Life

I love my family! I'm a wife, mother and grandmother and I've been an Oakland County resident for 20 plus years. I have worked in the newsroom at The Oakland Press for more than 16 years.

I've been blessed with a wonderful husband and friend - my soul mate. Together we have 3 grown children and 2 grandsons that, without a doubt, are gifts from God. We are so blessed to have our children and thank our son and daughter-in-law each day for the joy they brought us when they made us grandparents. It was actually these little guys that inspired me to do this blog.

My hope is that together we can build a highway of information for parents, grandparents and everyone that enjoys life and living it to the fullest.  Favorite family memories, recipes, photos, videos, upcoming events and news information can be shared with us all - send me yours!

I am number 11 of 12 siblings and it seems a lotl of my favorite memories in some way involve food. Each week I will post one of my favorite family recipes along with a random recipe from my library of cookbooks. I would love to post your favorite recipe also - perhaps you have a family memory that makes it special.

And who isn't looking for that special gadget around the home that has somehow made your life easier. Maybe there's a story behind it. Share it with me - I would love to review it and post it for all our families.

Your feedback is important - I would like my blog to be your resource for information that's important to you and can be shared with families everywhere. VA...