Right Time, Right Light, Right Space – Mighty Light

A few years ago, our outside porch light stopped working. Just plain, old stopped for no reason. It was a unit we really didn't need for security, since we have others outside, but it came in handy when you needed to find your keys in the dark. We asked our electrician how much it would be to install a motion-sensitive light which would go on when we stepped into the porch and then go off when we entered the house; the number he quoted almost made me faint. Then one day, I was in Target and spotted Mighty Light.

This is one of those Seen On TV products, although I never did. Mighty Light is a small, but very bright LED light that also contains a motion sensor. It can be mounted inside or out, instantly, because it has no wires. I hammered a nail into the porch near the door where I wanted the light, popped the 3 AA batteries in the unit, and within 5 minutes was good to go. For less than $10, I have a light that does what I want it to do, when I need it to.

I also use it in the entryway between the garage and the house. There's no light in that hallway and rather than guess where the stairs are (can you say “broken leg”?), Mighty Light shines just enough light to illuminate the hall. And it came in quite handy during Hurricane Sandy when the kids needed to walk around with a powerful, but safe light.

It provides just enough light to find my keys and get in the door. 

Supposedly, it's guaranteed to last 30,000 hours, but the batteries will give out before that. In the three years it's been on my front porch, I've only replaced the batteries once. I've read reviews that complain that you have to get pretty close for the light to go on, but that hasn't been a problem for me, since I'm using it in tight quarters.

Mighty Light is one of those products that you wish you'd had a long time ago. It would be great for senior citizens who might fumble for a switch when they're getting out of bed and it's perfect for deep closets or even in an attic where access to light isn't readily available. If there's space you need light, but you don't need it on all the time, then Mighty Light is for you.

~~

Thanks for reading!  

My 5 Favorite Christmas Activity Sites For Kids

With the kids off for the Holidays, let's face it, they're going to get bored, which leads to squabbling, yelling, etc. Not exactly Peace On Earth. The boy has Minecraft and goes on Skype with his friends, but my daughter needs to be guided toward some fun, safe holiday websites on which to play. Here are a few of my favorites:

• NorthPole.com (www.northpole.com) – This site is FULL of great activities for kids and parents alike. Invite your child to visit Santa's village, play games, read stories, send e-cards and more! My daughter especially likes the Disco Santa (Santa got MOVES).

• PrimaryGames.com (www.primarygames.com/holidays/christmas/games.php) – Puzzles and games are on the menu here. Our favorite game is Imp's Pranks where the naughty Imp is pulling pranks before Christmas; direct his arm to throw snowballs to knock presents off the Christmas tree.

• Akid'sHeart.com ( http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/chgames.htm) – Here you'll find online and printable Christmas games. Who knew there was such a thing as Christmas Majong?

• StoryNory.com (http://www.storynory.com/category/christmas-stories) – Kids can have stories read to them. If you child likes this site, you'll want to bookmark it since they have tons of non-Holiday stories here, too. You can also download the audio for when you're on the go.

• Holidays.net (http://www.holidays.net) – Why limit yourself to just knowing about Christmas when you can learn about so many other holiday traditions here! I especially like their list of Fun & Wacky Holidays which includes Festivus, Day of the Wren (celebrated in Ireland), and Tick Tock Day (?).

And, of course, on Christmas Eve, it's always fun to track Santa on NoradSanta.org (www.noradsanta.org). By the way, you can call them (1/877-HI-NORAD) and often you'll be able to speak to a live military person who answers the phone (I found that out late one Christmas Eve after I'd had a glass of wine and I called them. Corporal Johnson was very kind and told me that I needed to get right to bed or Santa wouldn't come. I love the military!).


–


Merry Christmas and thank you for reading!

Please check back in for suggestions on what to do with unwanted gifts and, since the teen is throwing a New Year's Eve party, tips on how to, hopefully, throw a good one.