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Don’t Feel Guilty About Using Free Services

August 17, 2010 By Vera 3 Comments

My local supermarket delivers if you order $50 or more worth of product. Two nights ago (in the middle of the STORM that is my life this week) I realized that I had ZERO food.  I mean, if I absolutely needed to I could mix together olives, tomato sauce, tuna and some peanut butter… but no one would eat it.

I’m talking milk for the kids, waffles for me, MEAT, VEGETABLES. The good stuff! It was about 7:30PM and I didn’t have the energy to make it out and do what I so desperately needed to do.

Then I remembered that they deliver. Well, why the HECK NOT!? I called up and put together a $50 order (in a nano second) and 1 hour later everything was waiting for me at my front door.

Why don’t I do this more often? 6 months ago I switched to doing dry cleaning pickup which is also a free service. People made fun of me when they heard I got my delicates delivered – but WHY NOT? It’s not like I’m paying more. It’s not like I’m being lazy. I’m just being smart with my time. I rather use the hour I saved with my children or stressing over the McAfee disaster that’s happening over at INO. Time is the most important thing we have – don’t waste it.

Do you take advantage of your town’s services?

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Filed Under: Helpful Tips, Personal Blog

Great Ideas For On-The-Go Snacking

July 23, 2010 By Vera 1 Comment

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Snikiddy CEO Mary Schulman shared a few great ideas for on the go snacks with Lady and the Blog. We can all use some help and number one is my absolute favorite!

1. Team up with your child in making lunch boxes healthier. Giving them choices allows them to grow up and take charge and ownership of what’s packed into their lunch boxes. I love to ask, “What would you rather have for lunch tomorrow… red peppers, carrots or cucumbers? Not a tough choice for them! (Many of us already use this strategy at bedtime: “Would you rather go to bed at 8:30 or 8:45?” Again let them make the choices, it’s so empowering!

2. Use eco-friendly bags instead of the plastics. More than 20 million plastic sandwich bags go into U.S. landfills daily. There are now dozens of companies that make eco-friendly lunch box sets, containers, and cloth alternatives to lunch baggies that can be re-used over and over again without the waste. Be sure that you also explain to your kids how packing healthy lunch boxes in eco-friendly ways also helps plants and animals be healthier, too.

3. Wean your child from lunch box sugar. Rather than packing a juice box filled with sugar, fill a thermos with 1/2 juice and 1/2 water. As the school year goes on, reduce the amount of sugar in the mix, and before they know it, just a splash of sugary juice will do.

4. Create ‘Fun Bites’ using healthier bread. Use different cookie cutter shapes to cut their whole wheat bread sandwiches into fun shapes. My favorite this year was a snowman that I put currants on for buttons and eyes and a cucumber ring around his neck for the scarf. (Other great shapes are cars, busses, and hearts.)

5. Skip the cookies and candy. Make a mix of nuts and add just enough chocolate chips to satisfy their sweet tooth. They will love this dessert and will get some Omega 3’s in the mix.

Do you have any tips to share?

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Filed Under: Eat And Drink, Featured, Helpful Tips Tagged With: on the go snacks, snikiddy

Tips For Safe BBQing

June 30, 2010 By Vera 1 Comment

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BBQing is one of America’s favorite pastimes, especially during Fourth of July weekend.ChicagoHealers.com Dr. Martha Howard M.D. provided the following tips for staying safe during summer grilling:

  • Clean the grill: get rid of the old fats left over from previous meals.
  • Avoid petroleum starters for charcoal: If you use charcoal, use a wood starter and stack your charcoal up in a 2 pound metal can with the ends cut off. Lift off the can with tongs and spread out the coals when they are well started.
  • Proper timing: Avoid a time gap between opening the valve and starting the grill.
  • Wash your hands: Keep your hands clean and use separate plates and cutting boards for raw and cooked meats. Be sure to wash hands again before putting on long, heat-proof barbecue gloves.
  • Trim meat: Trim most of the fat from meat; less fat means fewer PAHs.
  • Use marinades: This protects the meat from charring. Put the marinade on, and refrigerate until use. Don’t let meat sit out.
  • Pre-cooking: Use pre-cooking prior to grilling, especially for items like raw brats. Avoid taking burgers, chicken or other meats directly from the freezer to the grill.
  • Cutting techniques: Cut meat and chicken into smaller pieces so they cook through.
  • Flipping: Turn down the fire, and turn your burgers, steaks, chops, or chicken often, so they cook through, and come out golden brown.
  • Meat thermometer: If you are cooking a thicker portion of meat or chicken, use a meat thermometer.

* Chicken: 165 degrees
* Hamburger: 160 degrees
* Pork: 150 degrees
* Hot dogs: 140 degrees
* Steak: 145 degrees for medium rare and 160 degrees for medium.

  • Cleaning up: At the end of the barbecue, be sure to put out your charcoal completely, and if you are using propane, be sure the valve is turned off.

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Filed Under: Eat And Drink, Featured, Helpful Tips, Holiday Tagged With: bbq

Should Adults Nap During The Day?

June 2, 2010 By Vera 1 Comment

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After I had my first child, I started to nap during the day when she rested. I could barely get through the day without one as I adjusted to life as a mom. However, I found that it started to interrupt my PM sleep and looked into whether or not it made sense for me to take that (much needed) afternoon break. Should an adult nap during the day?

Turns out it depends…

If you are someone who has trouble sleeping at night, a quick daytime nap can hurt your chances of catching a full night of zzzs.

“Even just a little bit of a power nap reduces your nighttime sleep drive,” says Ralph Downey III, PhD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. “The nap becomes nothing more than another episode of fragmented sleep.”

So, the 15 minute power nap was actually hurting me in the long run.

HOWEVER, if you are able to nap without it interrupting your sleep patterns – go for it!! Studies have shown improvement in memory, lower blood pressure and a reduction in cardiovascular issues.

In fact, a 2008 City University of New York study found that a 45-minute daytime nap can improve memory function. And previous studies have found that short afternoon siestas can lower blood pressure, and even seem to reduce the risk of death by cardiovascular events.

Do you nap when given the chance?

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Filed Under: Featured, For Mom, Helpful Tips Tagged With: adults napping, sleep habits
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