Frozen Lemonade Pie
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (6 oz.) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (9-inch prepared graham cracker crusts
This is the easiest recipe and one that family and friends will love.
In a large bowl, add the three top ingredients. Stir them until they are well-combined. Pour them into the prepared graham cracker crusts so they are even. Spread the mixture to level it out.
Place the pies into the freezer and freeze until firm. Remove the pies before serving and garnish with some lemon zest strips and a sprig of mint.
6 Habits for a Healthy Heart
Healthy lifestyle choices can become a habit, and that’s really the goal. It’s so much easier to practice healthy living when it’s part of your daily routine. And when it comes to your heart, you want it to be as healthy and functional as possible for a long time.
Here are 6 habits for a healthy heart.
1. Veggies and Fruit First
Here’s a good habit to get into. At meals, eat your salad and any vegetable and fruit sides first. Not only are these fruits and vegetables good for you; they will fill you up and leave less room for the other foods that are less heart-healthy. Make sure each meal has a portion or two of fruits and veggies.
2. Sneak in the Vegetables
Since you’re making it a habit to eat fruits and vegetables at every meal, you might find yourself getting creative with this. For example, you can sautee some mixed veggies in a skillet before adding a beaten egg to make a veggie scramble. Top with salsa and serve with a side of fresh fruit.
Snack on fruits and vegetables, too, throughout the day. Keep frozen vegetables on hand and add them to any foods you can.
3. Exercise
Studies have shown that sitting down for long periods can actually cause heart disease and even cut your lifespan short. Make exercise a habit – study up on chair exercises and moves you can do in a small room if space is an issue. Make it a habit to exercise while your coffee brews, throughout the work day, or while the kids are in bed. If excerise becomes a habit, then you’ll be engaging in it throughout the day and the heart-healthy benefits will add up.
4. Reduce Stress
Over and over it’s been demonstrated that stress reduction helps your heart. Prayer, meditation, stretching, deep breathing, drawing – whatever helps you calm down and decompress, engage in that as often as you can throughout the day. In addition, you might need to practice positive self-speak and learn to let past hurts go. It just isn’t worth your heart health to get down on yourself, or to stay mad and upset.
5. Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep deprivation is hard on your heart. It needs a rest, too. Make sure you get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night, experts say.
6. Eat Healthy Fats
Heart-healthy fats found in fatty fish such as salmon, cod, and sardines have been shown to promote cardiovascular health. Other healthy fats include olive oil, natural coconut oil, flax seed oil, and nuts and seeds.
The good news is that you can develop healthy habits for your heart without having to do a major overhaul.
Guys Have Feelings, Too: Tips for Women
If you start a conversation with many women about how men have feelings, you may be surprised to see or hear their reaction. Some women truly do forget that their mate has feelings, too.
This may simply be because women are more adept at sharing and showing their feelings than most men are at that very same task. Growing up as young men, boys may have been taught not to cry or not to show their feelings to avoid earning the label of being a sissy or a crybaby.
It is easy for women to forget since most women grew up with the same view as men about whether or not men should show their feelings and how they should express those very same feelings.
There are ways, however, that women can remember that guys have feelings as well.
Put Yourself in His Shoes
Although you may be a dainty size five compared to his manly shoe size of 11.5, you can always put yourself in your man’s shoes, so to speak. By evaluating the situation first before you speak, you may be able to see that he has feelings that are equal to yours. Men get hurt, angry, depressed, and sad just like women do.
If you place yourself in his position for just a moment, you might find yourself saying that you would act the same way he did if you were in his shoes.
Be the Better Person
Sometimes taking the high road is the only road available. There are no lefts, rights, or detours in some cases. When you take on being the better person with your man, it is not a sign of weakness, giving in, or even giving up being right. It is a sign of understanding that there might be some truth to what he is saying, doing, or feeling.
Stop and Remember
Take some time out of each argument with your man to stop and remember that he has feelings too. Just because a man does not openly cry or does not out and out show his emotions, does not mean that he does not have them.
Pause for a moment and recognize that he may be hurt and is hiding his emotions. Stop and remember that there may be an emotion behind his anger or sullenness that he is not able to express openly. Do not always assume that he is being cold and harsh when, in fact, he could actually be very hurt inside.
Just because he does not show an emotion, does not mean that it does not exist. Take a minute and check yourself and think what he may be hiding at this moment.
Most importantly, remember that your boyfriend or husband is a human being. All human beings have emotions and feelings, and just because he may not express them as openly as a woman does, does not mean that he does not have feelings.
Facts Women Need to Know about Adult ADHD
For the most part, if you say ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, you bring up the connotation of a young child (mostly a boy) who simply cannot and will not sit still. However, the truth of the matter is that many more young girls are afflicted by ADHD than realized.
Young girls grow into adult women who have not been properly diagnosed with ADHD, and this can affect them in many ways:
* In their relationships with others such as a spouse, co-worker, peer, or family member
* Within their workplace environment
* In their education
These are just a few areas where women are affected by ADHD. In addition, ADHD may show up slightly different than in men and in children.
Studies are beginning to show that men with ADHD may have more of the aggressive side effects than women may because men may have a tendency to be more aggressive in the first place. Men seem to be in the midst of more anger issues and insubordination conflicts with employers than women are.
However, women seem to have their own personal issues with ADHD. Some of those issues are as follows:
* More problems with overeating and obesity
* Higher risk for disease such as diabetes and heart attack due to poor eating habits
* Insecurity due to low self-esteem
* Anger and depression due to that low self-esteem
Men seem to have their issues more outside of the home environment such as when driving in traffic or at the work place, whereas it seems that women have more of their problems at home.
For women who are prone to low self-esteem, poor eating habits, diet and nutritional difficulties, and depression, it may be worthwhile to explore as much information as possible about ADHD.
You never know, it may be the missing piece to the puzzle. Some women have felt for a very long time that they have been forgetful, unable to concentrate and focus, and lack discipline. This can be a direct result of having ADHD and not being diagnosed. Not being diagnosed can lead to depression and overeating.
It is worth the effort to dive into the symptoms of ADHD and speaking to your doctor about it. It is not necessary to research too heavily and convince yourself that you have ADHD, rather it is simply important to look into the situation and arm yourself with a little bit of knowledge and a few questions about ADHD.
You never know, if you are properly evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD, you can get the proper medication and treatment to avoid further overall effects of this condition.
Citrus Ginger Chicken
1/3 cup orange marmalade
1 tbsp. honey mustard
1 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 1/2 lbs. chicken (about 4 breasts)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or you may cook this in a crock pot. You may also enjoy this recipe grilled.
In a gallon size zip top bag, add all of your ingredients except for the chicken. Combine the ingredients by “smooshing
Four Essential Things You Should Tell Your Child’s Teacher
When you have a chance to meet with your child’s teacher, you want to make the most of that short time. Many teachers have heard it all before when it comes to how brilliant and talented a parent’s child is, so don’t waste everyone’s time talking about your child’s wonderful attributes or his/her experiences at another school with another teacher. Instead, focus on the important, useful things. Here are five essential things you should tell your child’s teacher.
1. Family Situations
Without going into detail, let your child’s teacher know if there is divorce, death, a new baby, or other significant changes in your family. Here are some examples of what constitutes a “family situation” of which your child’s teacher should be aware:
* An older sibling is moving out
* You have a blended family
* You’re getting remarried
* There’s been a death in the family
* You’re expecting a new baby (biological or adopted)
* A family member, such as an aging parent, is moving in
* You’re moving
* One or both of the parents changed jobs, went back to work, got laid off, etc.
2. Health Issues
It’s imperative that your child’s teacher knows about any allergies or medical conditions your child has. Make sure the teacher knows about any medications your child takes, and what signs to watch for if there’s a problem (such as signs of an insulin reaction in a diabetic child, or signs of an asthma attack).
3. Developmental Delays
If your child has been diagnosed with any sort of learning disability or other developmental delay, let the teacher know. This does not mean you should demand special treatment or that your child is not going to be held accountable for the way he or she acts; it’s just important to let the teacher know that there is a delay in some aspect of your child’s development so the teacher can be prepared.
4. Learning Style and Study Habits
As your child learned the pre-school basics like walking, talking, dressing him/herself, and so forth, you probably got a pretty good idea of how he or she learns. It’s fine to mention this to the teacher; let him or her know that your child is an auditory learner, or picks things up visually or hand-on. For children who are farther along in grade school, you can mention the study habits you’ve observed in your child. Then the teacher can talk to you about ways you can support your child and help him or her improve.
Working with not against your child’s teacher gets the academic year off to a good start.
10 Household Items That Can Do Double-Duty
It may surprise you to know that you have a wealth of double-duty items lying around your home! You’ll often find that these items have really practical uses that can solve various problems.
Here are 10 household items that can do double-duty.
1. Alka Seltzer
Did you know that this antacid can be popped in the toilet bowl and allowed to fizz? Once the fizzing is over, the dirt and grime come off easily with a toilet brush or cloth.
2. Old Magazines
Use these to hold your boots up straight. Just fold them in half or roll them, and insert into boot legs.
3. Dryer Sheets
No time to wash your smelly gym shoes before you need them again? Stuff a dryer sheet into each shoe and leave overnight. The odor should be gone by morning.
4. Rubber Bands
These handy l ittle items do more than just double duty – they can perform a lot of helpful tasks! The thick ones (like the bands on produce) can be laid over the head of a stripped screw to give extra grip to the screwdriver. Rubber bands can also be looped over a doorknob on the outside of the door, crossed, and looped over the doorknow on the inside. This holds the latch in and keeps the door from shutting fully – a good idea if you’re making lots of trips to carry in groceries or other items.
5. Newspaper
This stuff has lots of uses. Try polishing dark leather shoes with a crumpled sheet, or stuff them into shoes to help hold their shape. You can do the same thing with hats.
6. Sticky Notes
Use the sticky edge of one of these to clean between the keys of your keyboard. Just run it along the spaces between keys.
7. Colander
When you have people over, place ice cubes in a colander and set it on top of a bowl. The water drips down, so your guests don’t end up scooping water into their cups along with the ice.
8. Cassette Tape Cases
Remember those handy, clear cassette tape cases? Use them to store and stack small items, such as hair clips or jewelry. Then you can find what you need easily in the clear cases.
9. Tissue Boxes
Use an empty tissue box as a plastic grocery bag storage box and dispenser.
10. Aluminum Foil
Use this shiny stuff to cover doorknobs and light switches when you are painting the wall. Then you won’t accidentally get paint on them.
Who knew you had such helpful items around the house?
Discovering the Cash Hidden in Your Home
This is not about finding a spare $100 bill in your couch cushions (although that would be great!). Instead, this article is about looking at your home in a new way and discovering the potential income and money you could make from what is already yours. We’re also going to talk about how to recover money you may have forgotten about over the years. From saving tips to hot-selling items, here are some suggestions for discovering the cash hidden in your home.
1. Missing Money
Depending on your age, number of relatives, and how many times you’ve changed locations, you could have money being kept by the state or the federal government. Simply type “missing money” into your search engine to find guidelines on how to track this hidden money down. It could be something as simple as an account you opened when you were in gradeschool and you had some birthday money, or it could be something more involved like stock shares you lost track of.
2. Unclaimed Tax Returns
It’s surprisingly easy to recover missing income tax returns. Many times, you miss out on this money because you change locations. If you file tax form 8822, this updates the IRS as to your current location, and they will send you any money you are owed.
3. Framed Prints
Check your attic and basement for wall art. There’s a market these days for unusual framed prints, whether prints of paintings or photos of various scenes. You might even have some spare child’s artwork around that you could quickly frame and sell online. Sources say these framed prints fetch around $30 apiece.
4. Mirrors
While we’re on the subject of framed things, mirrors are a hot item as more decorators are using them to create the illusion of space. Antique mirrors with attractive frames are especially popular, and sometimes you can sell them for $200 or more.
5. Eat No-Cook Meals Regularly
Swap out 2 or 3 meals a week that you normally cook with no-cook meals like chicken salad, dips and crackers, or sandwiches. (There are lots of good ideas online.) You’ll save a tremendous amount on energy costs if you don’t use your oven. When you do cook, use a microwave wherever you can and avoid the oven and stovetop as much as possible.
6. Forgotten Deposits
Have you changed apartments frequently? Have you sold, bought, or rented property often over the years? If so, you might have unclaimed deposit money that’s owed to you. Whether it was a deposit on the rental property or a pre-payment on utilities, contact prior landlords and utility companies to see if you are owed money from past deposits.
It’s pretty amazing what cash can be hiding right under your nose. Go looking for it!
Bacon-Wrapped Corn on the Cob
8 large ears sweet corn, husks removed
8 bacon strips (pork or turkey)
2 tablespoons chili powder
Shuck each ear of corn and clean the silks off as well as possible.
Wrap an uncooked slice of bacon around the ear of corn. Place each ear on a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Sprinkle the ear with chili powder. Wrap the bacon-wrapped corn securely. Be sure to twist the ends so you can easily turn the corn.
Place each ear of corn on a heated grill, over medium-hot heat. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until the corn is tender and the bacon is cooked. You will want to turn the corn once during the 20 minutes.
Remove the wrapped corn from the heat and allow the ears to cool for a couple of minutes so no one is burned when opening them.
Balancing the Needs of the Family When One Member Has ADHD
When a member of your family, especially a child, is diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), it is difficult at best to cope and find strategies to address the issue.
Moreover, when there are other children and family members that need attending to, it is important to remember them in the equation.
The first and most important thing to remember is to tend to the family member that has ADHD and make sure that his or her needs are well met. Be sure to speak to the doctor, any counselor, and school personnel to ensure that the best environment for your child is put into place.
Once you have discovered the diagnosis of ADHD, it is a good idea to have a family meeting. Explain the diagnosis to your other children, dispelling any myths that may exist. Have an open forum and let the others ask questions. Give them specific tools and ways to cope with their sibling who has ADHD.
Let your other family members know that with proper medication and counseling, ADHD is something that everyone can live with, especially because you are all a family and a team.
Once the others in the family know all the information and have all their questions answered, and a team of doctors, counselors, and school personnel are put into place, take some time to remember each family member’s needs – including your own.
Let everyone in the family know that they are all equally important. Spend one-on-one time with other members of the family so that they do not feel as though they have been left out.
Be a role model to your children and your spouse by making it clear that you will take time out for yourself periodically and all are welcome to do the same. Yoga, meditation, going to the gym or going for long walks will benefit you and show your children and your spouse that you are important as well. Taking care of yourself allows you to take care of the others.
If there is a family outing, take a little extra time to prepare. Make family meetings a regular habit, especially when going on a family vacation. Take all opinions and feelings into consideration and let everyone know that they can come to you at any time to discuss the family dynamics.
In a family where one member has ADHD, a little bit of time, a lot of patience, and some good old-fashioned communication are in order to strike a balance with all family members.
As long as you let your family know that you are a team and that when one wins, you all win, chances are better that you will have a successful family unit regardless of ADHD.
ADHD-Friendly Sports: High Intensity Sports for Kids and Adults
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is typically associated with the inability to concentrate and focus. Playing and participating in a sport or being on a team may, therefore, become problematic.
Whether a child or an adult is diagnosed with ADHD, sports are more of a challenge for these individuals than most. An individual with ADHD, however, can incorporate sports into his or her life. There are a few ways to achieve this goal.
If a child is diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, an early introduction of social interaction and sporting games is more beneficial as well. For adults who are diagnosed with ADHD, different choices are available.
Things to Consider: High Intensity Sports
Some sports may be better than others for adults and children with ADHD. For example, high intensity sports that involve a lot of action may assist a child in thriving as compared to a sport such as baseball where they may be a lot of waiting around involved.
Engaging in a game of ice hockey may be the perfect sport of choice for either an adult or a child with ADHD. The intensity of the game and the constant movement may be well suited to them.
A sport such as soccer is also a good choice. Running around on a soccer field where there is constant action may offer a benefit for those with ADHD, both adult and child.
Things to Consider: Individual Sports
A person with ADHD may also want to consider some options other than fast-paced, fast-moving sports such as hockey or soccer. Since those with ADHD typically have an inability to focus for long periods of time or may tend to let their thoughts wander, an individual sport may be best suited to them.
Bowling is another option for those with ADHD, since there is not a lot of one-on-one interaction going on.
Tennis and swimming, as well as wrestling, may also be great alternatives to higher impact sports.
Whether you are considering a high intensity sport such as hockey or an individual sport such as swimming, being involved and active in sports regardless of having ADHD is imperative to social and emotional wellbeing.
ADHD – How It Affects Social Skills
Social skills, under the best of circumstances, can be difficult to master. Meeting new people, learning where you fit in, holding on to core values while feeling peer pressure are all issues young teens deal with on a daily basis. Throw in sexuality and hormones and you have a volatile set of emotions mixed with the complex world of learning social skills.
Dealing with social skills when a young adult is afflicted with ADHD is even more harrowing. ADHD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, makes learning and keeping social skills even more difficult.
There are two sides to social skills. One of them is the capability to process and comprehend your own emotional understanding and the other is how to relate to the actions and emotions of others. Giving out social impressions and taking in social impressions are important emotional components necessary for the flow of well-managed social skills.
Teens with ADHD typically do not have the social skills necessary to succeed in interpersonal relationships. Many issues can arise for them during their teen years, as well as during their adult years. However, if young children learn the skills to create close friendships during their formative years, it will ease their difficulties later on in life.
There are many unfortunate circumstances contributing to poor social skills in teens with ADHD. Many times, a teen with ADHD is the one picked last for a sporting team or the one individual who seems to always hover in the background and not be included as much as their peers.
This can have a negative impact on any future social skill building techniques that ADHD teens need to learn. Confidence and self-esteem are greatly impacted by feeling left out or different. This can set off a circular chain of events. The less a young adult is included in social activities, the more he or she may act out. The more he or she acts out, the lesser chance that they will be included. It can be a difficult cycle.
Children with ADHD often display aggressive and impulsive behavior and, therefore, other children tend to stay away from them. The more they are left out, the more aggressive they may become – thereby exacerbating the social situation even further.
It is important for a child who is diagnosed with ADHD to begin learning social skills as early on as possible. Having them interact with other children for short periods of time is a positive beginning. Rewarding the child for positive behavior with other children reinforces the fact that behaving in a positive manner will result in positive reception for the child.
Social skills must be addressed early on in a child’s life in order to begin the process of healthy social skills that he or she will use in later years.
Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes
4 large tomatoes
2 can(s) (5-oz) solid white tuna, drained
2 stalks celery, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
2 tablespoon(s) capers, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 tablespoon(s) red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and pepper
1/2 cup(s) fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Wash your tomatoes well to remove any visible dirt or wax if you did not grow your own tomatoes.
Cut a thin piece off the bottom of each tomato so it will sit level. Cut ¼ inch off the top. Scoop the seeds and pulp out of the tomatoes with a spoon. Reserve the top of the tomatoes for presentation.
Chop the pieces of tomato that you cut from the bottom of the tomatoes and then add the pulp to a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, except the parsley, to the tomato and stir well. Fold in the parsley right before serving.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the four scooped out tomatoes. Replace the tops and serve.
Parent Involvement in School: Why It Matters
If you have a child in school, you may have heard that it’s good to be an “involved parent.” While this is conventional wisdom, sometimes parents don’t understand why this is important, and they might not know how to get involved.
Here are some ideas on what it means to get involved, and why it matters.
How to Get Involved
1. Help with homework
You don’t always have to be on the school grounds to be involved. Helping your child with his or her homework puts you in a supportive role where you’re working with the teachers and the school to help your child achieve his or her educational goals. So sit down and help your child with homework, such as drilling spelling words or math facts.
2. Volunteer
Sources say that even three hours of volunteer time in the classroom over the course of the school year (that’s right – three hours a year!) can make a big difference in academic performance. So see if you can be a “class parent” this school year, or find out if the library needs an assistant.
3. Other jobs in the school
Your child’s school probably has lots of activities and programs outside of simple academia. From music and sports to fundraisers, there’s almost always a need for parents to help out with these activities. Find out where your participation is needed, particularly in your child’s areas of interest.
Why It Matters
All kinds of studies point to the positive effects of parental involvement in schools. Here are some specific ways in which your involvement matters.
1. Support
Your child is likely to feel supported if you’re around at school, especially if he or she is in grade school. Your involvement also shows support for the teachers and school in general. This goes a long way in helping kids apply themselves to their schoolwork.
2. Communication
When you get involved in your child’s school, you’re helping to bridge the gap between your child’s school life and home life. It can open up doors for communication, because you have a better idea as to what’s going on at his or her school. Your child may feel less like you’re “out of touch” or “just don’t understand.”
3. Staying in school
Did you know that kids whose parents are involved in their school are more likely to stay in school? When you get involved, you’re helping to keep your child in school…and possibly others.