The tradition of Santa Claus entering people’s homes through the chimney goes back to pre-Christian times when European folklore characters were believed to use the chimney to deliver gifts to children. When Europeans migrated to North America in 1800s, the tradition followed. Because the winters were so bitterly cold, it wasn’t wise to leave the doors or windows open just for Santa to come in. Chimneys, however, were always open and didn’t let in cold air. So why not have Santa squeeze his belly (that, don’t forget, resembles a bowl full of jelly) and make him come down the chimney? It just made sense.

Unfortunately, what European settlers didn’t think of is the risk of having a chimney fire. The likelihood of which is high if you don’t properly maintain your chimney.  Lucky for you, you can find out from Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) why chimney fires occur and ways to avoid them for both your family’s sake and your children’s beloved holiday character: www.csia.org/chimneyfires.

For informational use only. Not applicable to all situations.  

It’s likely you are revving up for this holiday season’s festivities with as much spirit and drive as Santa himself. You’ve found the perfect tree. The holiday bins and boxes are being pulled out of storage, filled with all the lights, tinsel, ornaments, and décor that will transform your home into a glittery wonderland. And just like Santa’s reindeer, your pets want to play a role in the magic of the season. To keep your holiday prep stress-free and packed with fun, we have prepared a complete list (and checked it twice) for keeping your furry family members safe among all your holiday decorations and celebrations. Continue reading “11 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe During the Holidays”

If you have seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, you probably recall the tragic scene where Clark goes into the living room to find the string lights on the Christmas tree are out. After noticing the plugs are disconnected, he then goes to plug them back into the outlet, and unbeknownst to him, Aunt Bethany’s cat (which she brought as a gift) has the other end of the lights under the chair. This conundrum brings an ill-fated finale to the furry feline, for comedy’s sake. However, there is often truth in comedy, and this scene reveals the actual added dangers the holiday and all of its décor can create for pets. We hope these holiday pet safety tips will keep your furry friends happy and healthy while the halls are decked with boughs of holly (which is surprisingly toxic to animals, by the way). Continue reading “9 Christmas Tree Pet Safety Tips”

Cash and jewelry aren’t the only items on thief’s must-have list. There are a lot of “soft” targets you may not have considered, too. Check out this list and do your best to secure anything that’s easily targeted – inside and out! Continue reading “Rethink The Word “Valuables””

Cyber Monday may be a few days away, but most online shopping retailers start to offer discounts and deals on Black Friday, or even a week before.  And while, of course, we love a good “cyber” deal as much as you do, we want to make sure your online shopping experience is safe from any unexpected cyber hacks.

Continue reading “7 Tips for Safer Cyber Monday Shopping”

Each year more than 100 million Americans travel for the year-end holidays. Moreover, insurance claims peak toward the end of the year, mostly due to holiday travels and all of the valuable gifts left behind at home. By following these mischief-deferring tips, you can protect yourself and your belongings this holiday season. Continue reading “7 Tips to Help Prevent Theft During the Holidays and Beyond”

Many of us take Christmas tree traditions very seriously. It is no wonder that trees are the centerpiece of our holidays and add a touch of magic and warmth all season long. For many, December brings wonder, anticipation, and joy. Unfortunately, it also brings an increased risk of fire with all the added glow of glittery lights and flickering candles. Christmas trees and holiday lighting-associated fires result in $18.3 million dollars in property damage each year. In particular, these holiday-related fires are three times as deadly than other fires.

Continue reading “Seasonal Cheer without Fire Fear”

So, you’ve offered to host Thanksgiving this year. Hats off to you! Now for the fun part…a long list of holiday to-dos like braving the grocery store, ordering the turkey, planning a menu, decorating, and of course, preparing the meal. Continue reading “Thanksgiving: How Not to Be Gobbled Up by Thanksgiving Day Fiascos”

Winter is right around the corner, follow these 5 simple home winterization steps to help save money and energy.

Continue reading “5 Easy Steps to Help Winterize Your Home”

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s no doubt that you have already started putting together a grocery list for the perfect holiday dinner. While sides like green bean casserole and stuffing are a must for any Thanksgiving menu, Turkey is still the obvious star of the table, but not all are prepared the same.  Some wake up bright and early to get started on their turkey that may take hours to roast in the oven, some stuff their turkey with vegetables and bread, while others avoid the trouble, and save time by deep-frying their turkey instead. Unfortunately, there are a lot of safety concerns that come with doing that: from cooking fires to serious burns. Continue reading “Turkey Deep-Frying Safety”