Bear Bites: Hester’s Parenting Advice
Bear Bites: Hester’s Parenting Advice | NBC Chicago
Bear Bites: Hester’s Parenting Advice. Getty Images. Good morning and welcome to Bear Bites, the best of Chicago Bears news. If you are looking for things to do with your kids this summer, Devin Hester has some ideas. (Chicago Parent) …
Publish Date: 05/11/2011 8:23
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/grizzly-detail/Bear-Bites–121628504.html
Going on a Road Trip? Be Prepared
One of the great things about summer vacation is the trip in the family car. Are you ready for a road trip? Here are some tips to help you prepare and make the trip memorable.
Road trips can be fun for adults and kids. Most think about the drawbacks of being cooped up in the car for long periods of time. But, there is an upside to this scenario. The trip can be fun and hazard free.
With that said, here are some tips to prepare for your adventure.
* Get the car serviced
Sure-Fire Ways to Get Your Teen to Read Every Day
With advances in technology, reading is becoming a lost art. More and more kids are finding other activities to engage in. what can you do to get your teen to read every day?
Reading is truly fundamental. Reading texts and instructions requires more than a rudimentary understanding of the English language. Even kids that don
Lemony Fried Fish Dinner
Ingredients:
1 tbsp lemon juice
Food Allergies and Summer Camp: What to Consider
Food allergies don
Independence Day Fireworks Displays – Where to Go
If you’re looking beyond your local community to view a spectacular fireworks display, you might consider traveling. There are various cities throughout the United States where the nation’s birthday is celebrated on a grand scale. These areas are well known for their excellent fireworks displays. Here are some of the places you could consider visiting.
1. Washington, DC
The fireworks in DC are said to be spectacular. Because they are set off over the Reflecting Pool, the experience is enhanced by the mirror effect. Historic landmarks in the background, such as the Washington Monument, make for memorable and beautiful photographs.
2. Boston, MA
Music accompanies the fireworks in Boston. The Boston Pops have a tradition of adding their expertise to the fireworks experience. Music like the 1812 Overture adds greatly to the experience. The historic significance of Boston cannot be matched – it’s the home of the American Revolution.
3. New York, NY
Macy’s isn’t just for the Christmas parade. New York has a lovely fireworks celebration each year, and it only gets bigger. Macy’s fireworks are a 25-year tradition.
4. Louisville, KY
In a celebration known as Thunder Over Louisville, fireworks are detonated on a grand scale. Thunder Over Louisville is said to be the largest display of its kind in the US – some even say the largest in North America. It lasts just under a half hour and includes a unique fireworks “waterfall” off a bridge.
5. Mount Rushmore
The colorful fireworks lighting up the faces of the famous is an experience you won’t forget. However, in years past there have not been fireworks if the risk of wildfires is significant. So be sure to plan this trip ahead.
6. Nashville, TN
The fireworks in Nashville are set off on Riverfront Park, which makes for a spectacular display. This is said to be a great place for families, so if you want to take your kids along, Nashville might work well for you.
7. Addison, TX
Just outside Dallas, the suburb of Addison gets national attention on the Fourth of July. Its fireworks display attracts nearly half a million people each year, so be sure to call at least six months in advance for hotel and restaurant reservations.
8. Lake Tahoe, NV
The fireworks at Lake Tahoe are launched from a barge on the water. Once again, the reflective surface of the water enhances the experience. You can go out on the water by boat, or view from anywhere around the lake.
These are just a few of the wonderful displays around the country.
Family Holiday on a Budget
Every family needs some time away. But, in this economy, family vacations can be a bit of a stretch. Here are some ideas for how to keep the costs down when you want to have fun.
What will you do this summer? Staying home can be boring for kids so parents try to do other fun things. The downside is the cost. The ideas we will provide here can offer options not only for you but for other families as well.
* Share a vacation rental property
Easy Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
8 oz macaroni noodles
2 cups cheddar cheese (grated)
2 cups milk
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni according to package instruction.
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the flour and stir until you get a smooth paste. Slowly pour in the milk, whisk continuously and cook until the mixture has thickened. Season well with salt and pepper. Stir in the cheese and cook until melted. Then add the cooked macaroni and stir well.
Pour the mixture into a 2qt oven-proof dish and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes.
Serve with a tossed, green salad.
Family City Breaks: How to Make Them Fun
When you are on a budget, traveling can become an exercise in creativity. Plan your family getaway strategically so that you can take advantage of low-cost activities. Here are some ways to get everyone involved in the fun.
Who says that you have to go far away to have fun? Even if you spend time at the beach, choose one that is in a city or close to a nearby city with lots to do. Family staycations can offer you a road trip and fun within your own area.
Before choosing this mini-vacation, hold a family meeting. Find out what types of activities everyone likes. This is the key to finding a place that will have enough to please the entire family. Make a list to help you decide which cities hold it all.
Consider transportation. Many major cities have subways or some form of mass transit to get around. If your attractions are far between and you have little ones, consider a stroller or the ease of transporting that stroller on and off of buses. A walking tour may work for you.
Here are some ideas of fun things to do that can impress your family.
* Museums
Easy Road Trip Snack Ideas for Your Family
Everyone gets hungry, especially on a family road trip. But what snacks can you pack? Here are some ideas to keep the fun high and the mess low.
You have included the entertainment for the kids, but they will get hungry. If you are on a budget, bring food along with you to cut down on costs. Visiting every drive-thru window can sap your money before you know it
Easy Dinner Ideas for Families on the Go
With many experts telling us that family dinners are more important than ever, what’s a busy family to do? One thing that may help is having an arsenal of quick dinner recipes and ideas at your disposal. There are other things you can do, too – here are some ideas.
1. Double it
When you make dinner, double the portion. It doesn’t take any more time to boil three cups of pasta as it does six, for example. This allows you to freeze the extra and have a healthy dinner available for busy nights.
2. Slow cookers and pressure cookers
These special pieces of kitchen equipment can be invaluable for the hurried cook. Ironically, the slow cooker can help those who need dinner to be ready quickly. You throw the ingredients in, and the food cooks itself during the day or overnight.
Pressure cookers can also be a life-saver. If you get held up and can’t get home in time to start a roast or assemble a soup or stew, a pressure cooker can cook even frozen foods in less than half the time of conventional cooking. Even beef or chicken stock can be made in less than 45 minutes. Pressure cookers are also helpful for those who want to incorporate whole grains and beans into their diets. These foods take a long time on the stovetop, but are ready quickly in a pressure cooker.
3. Plan ahead
Take some time each week to plan your meals. Check your grocery store’s flyer for specials or look online, and make up a shopping list and meal plan for the week. This can help prevent you getting caught off guard.
4. Frozen meats
Keeping a bag of fish fillets in the freezer can be a life-saver on busy nights. Fish cooks quickly whether it’s been thawed or not, and it’s a versatile food that goes well with many flavors. Frozen chicken tenders are helpful, too – they cook up a lot faster than full chicken breasts.
5. Eat raw and cold foods
One way to cut down on cooking time is not to cook! Break out the dips (which you can keep on hand) like hummus, salsa, or even just ranch dressing, and put out a plate of raw vegetables, cheeses, pita wedges, corn tortillas, and fruits. Roll up deli meats with cheese and apples, or make hors d’oeuvres with crackers, cream cheese, and sliced veggies.
Butternut Squash Pasta
Serves 4 as a side dish
Ingredients:
1 butternut squash, peeled and diced
1lb penne pasta
1 pack feta cheese, crumbled
1 jar of ready-made red pesto
Olive oil
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350
Decorating Tips for a Healthy, Peaceful Bedroom
You spend a third of your life in your bedroom, so it makes sense to have that area of your home healthy and peaceful. Here are some decorating tips to help you create a bedroom you can really rest in.
1. Detox
There are growing concerns about the toxicity of some common bedroom items, such as the foams and plastics found in conventional mattresses. So it’s probably a good idea to undergo a detoxification of your sleeping area if you want healthy sleep.
* Bedding – First, your bedding. If possible, use a natural rubber mattress without the synthetic materials found in conventional mattresses. Cover your bed with natural cotton or wool sheets that are free from synthetic dyes and bleaches. Your pillows may need to be replaced if you have had them for more than a few years. Again, see if you can find pillows and pillow cases made from natural materials. There are even pillows filled with buckwheat shells that are said to be good for those with allergies and/or neck problems.
* Clean air – Next, you’ll want to take a look at your bedroom’s air quality. It’s probably already improved if you’ve changed out your bedding, but installing an air purifier can be a step toward an even more healthful bedroom. If you like open windows, see if you can purchase a window air purifier. These work by drawing in outside air through a filter.
* Floors – If your bedroom has carpet (particularly old carpet) it’s a good idea to rip it up. Many homeowners discover they have lovely hardwood underneath carpets; others are not so lucky. But there are inexpensive, non-toxic options out there for flooring these days, such as floor tiles. Use area rugs that can be put in the washing machine.
2. Decorate
As you decorate your bedroom to make it healthier and more peaceful, you might be uncertain how to proceed. Here are some ideas and suggestions.
* Feng shui – The art of feng shui is becoming more popular, particularly for bedroom decorating and organization. Feng shui is said to promote health and peace, so some of its tenets may be worth a try. Feng shui emphasizes soft bedroom colors, like pink, light blue, and light green.
The bed itself should be placed in the room so that “energy” can flow freely beneath it (not against a wall, for instance). Water is an important feature of feng shui, and the sound of running water can be very peaceful and relaxing. So a wall or tabletop fountain may be something you’d like to consider.
* Paint – If you are painting your bedroom walls, look for paint that is free of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. This is one time “organic” is not necessarily good! VOCs are generally considered harmful to your health, and they are found in most interior and exterior wall paints. But a little searching should turn up non-VOC paint – in fact, conventional “box” stores sometimes carry paint that is free of VOCs.
* Window treatments – Simple window treatments are considered the best for your health. Choose natural fabrics and keep the design very simple. Big swathes of multi-layered materials just make for difficulty cleaning and may promote a heavy, cluttered feeling.
How to Cut Your Food Bill in Easy Steps
As more and more people are finding it necessary to stretch their monthly food budget, many are wondering what the best way is to reduce their monthly food bill. Keeping your food healthy is another concern – it might be easy to reduce your food bill by eating nothing but generic peanut butter and white bread, but you might find your savings offset by health problems! Here are some simple steps you can take to cut your food bill and still eat the healthy foods you need.
1. Whole foods
For some reason, many people think that eating fresh, whole foods is more expensive than eating pre-packaged foods. When it comes down to how much food you get for your dollar, it’s often the other way around. For example, you will probably pay approximately the same amount of money for three pounds of potatoes as you would for a 13-ounce bag of potato chips. It’s cheaper to buy flour and make your own bread than buy the store-bought equivalent of homemade, whole grain bread.
Whole grains are also fairly inexpensive. Bags of brown rice, millet, quinoa, and other whole grains can be stretched far to feed a family.
2. Buy in season
There is something in season just about all year ’round. In winter, look for winter squash, kale, turnip greens, turnips, and sweet potatoes. If you really like seasonal favorites like summer squash, asparagus or bell peppers in the middle of winter, buy extra in the summer and freeze them at home. Another budget secret: commercially frozen vegetables are nearly as nutritious as fresh. If you want to buy out-of-season produce for almost-summer prices, look in your freezer section.
3. Combine coupons and sales
When you are trying to reduce your monthly food expenditures, you need to be willing to put in some time. There are entire websites dedicated to showing you how to ferret out the best deals, from alerting you to your local store’s sales to providing printable coupons.
Take advantage of this information, and brush up on how to save. Try to combine coupons and store sales for great deals. Visit the websites of your favorite brands and products, and search for printable coupons on their site. Study the flyers that come in the mail from your local supermarket and grocery store. Don’t be afraid to try a different store if they have good sales and deals. Sometimes, saving money is a matter of breaking expensive habits and being willing to try new things.
4. Cut back on meat
There are so many healthy alternatives to expensive cuts of meat that this article isn’t long enough to cover them! From vegetarian options to meat substitutes to frozen fish, there are lots of options to choose from when you are trying to cut back on pricey meats.
The meats that are usually the most expensive are beef steaks, beef roasts, whole turkeys, and large hams. Think of meat as a side dish, and serve small portions with a meal that’s heavy on the vegetables and whole grains. Meat can be stretched in stews and casseroles, too.
Clean Your House in Record Time
Are you expecting company at the last minute? Maybe you are just tired of the mess and want to clean your house, but it seems overwhelming. Sometimes, people put off cleaning their homes because they think it will take tons of hours – and who has that kind of time? Luckily, it does not have to take an entire weekend or even an entire day to clean your house. There are tips and tricks to make the job go faster. Here are some of them.
1. Pick a spot
Sometimes, that overwhelmed feeling begins when you look at the big picture. Breaking the task up into small bits that you can manage is key. Don’t even look at a whole room – pick a corner or an area of the room. A messy bookshelf, a pile of boxes or paper, or a cluttered corner are examples.
The point of this exercise is, getting that small area clean will help ease your mind and be done so quickly that you’ll be motivated to do some more. Don’t be tempted to “call it a day” after doing this small portion of the cleaning – otherwise, by the time you’ve cleaned the whole house, that first corner will be messy again!
2. Schedule it
If you were being paid to clean your home, and you were paid more for less time, wouldn’t you do a good, fast job? Schedule your housecleaning time as you would a paying job, and take it just as seriously. This will also help prevent that tendency we all have to simply wait until we have time…someday.
3. Make it fun
You can at least make it bearable by playing favorite CDs, turning on a movie or TV show in the room where you’re cleaning, or playing a book on tape or CD. The time will go by a lot faster with something going in the background to entertain you. Take care it doesn’t distract you, though – if you want to clean your house in record time, you need to keep going once you start.
4. Keep things within reach
Keep cleaning tools all together in a special bin or container, or in a particular corner of a closet or storage space. That prevents you having to go all over the house gathering up cleaning supplies before beginning. Rags, mops, sponges, a broom, vacuum cleaner, etc. should all be in one spot.
5. A place for everything
If you’re in a hurry, you may not have a place for all the magazines, books, papers, and various sundries lying around. Toss these things into baskets if possible – baskets look nice on shelves and on top of furniture. Also consider putting items temporarily in a plastic bin or box with a note to go through them later and find a real place for them. Otherwise, they will find their way onto the middle of the floor again!
Bored Teens? Keep Them Organized This Summer
Have you ever heard your teen remark that they are bored? It can be like a broken record by summer