July 31, 2018 If you’re lucky enough to grow tomatoes, you know you’re always in for a treat mid to late summer. Picked at the height of the season, a fresh tomato is a mouthwatering delight for many people. They are easy to grow, even on small sunny patios in pots, so living in a…
June 12, 2018 The summer months are a great time to get outside and be adventurous. If you’re out of shape, however, you might find yourself shying away from certain activities. Maybe you’re self-conscious about your body in a swimsuit or doubt your ability to hike that trail. It’s time to stop holding yourself back….
May 31, 2018 Summer means lots of fresh vegetables from our garden, the farmer’s market, and the supermarket. Nothing tastes better than fresh summer produce, and what better to enjoy with it than your own homemade salad dressing. One of the reasons I enjoy making homemade dressing and other condiments is that I have total…
June 14, 2018 Summer is here and in some places the temperature has already topped 100 degrees. With the heat comes an increased chance of dehydration. Dehydration is caused by not taking in enough fluids or losing too much water over a short period of time. This can be caused by sweating, diarrhea or vomiting,…
June 13, 2018 As the temperatures rise, many people wonder if it’s possible to make dinner and keep the kitchen cool at the same time. No one wants to put the oven on for an hour at 400 degrees when the temperatures outside are topping 90 degrees! That makes the kitchen, and often the rest of…
June 20, 2018 I’m sure you’ve heard by now that oats are healthy, add fiber to your diet, and help keep you feeling full. They’re gluten-free and add whole grains to your diet. They’re full of vitamins, iron, and minerals, and are nutrient dense. Most people eat oats by preparing oatmeal in a bowl and…
June 19, 2018 Most of us have a wooden cutting board that we use to dice vegetables, slice cheeses, and carve apples. Have you ever wondered if you’re properly caring for the board or do you simply wash it and put it away in the cupboard until the next time you need it? Chances are…
June 14, 2018 When people learn that I’ve recently lost 70lbs, they immediately want to know my “secret.” When I start to explain, I often see their eyes glaze over. We want a quick fix for our problems, something that won’t require much effort but, in my case, this journey has been all about soul…
July 2, 2018 Who doesn’t love beautiful and bright sunflowers? They make a lovely sight in gardens from summer into fall. You can also bring them inside to add cheer to any room. Here’s all you need to know about cutting, drying, and enjoying sunflowers and their seeds. Cutting Flowers The huge and gorgeous flower…
July 27, 2018 Exercise has both mental and physical benefits: it can make you happier, lower stress, keep you in shape, increase energy, clear your skin, increase memory, help with relaxation, and even help your sex drive! With so many benefits, we should all be motivated to get out of bed and hit the gym or…
June 26, 2018 When I was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia eight years ago, I laughed. To me, it was the catch-all diagnosis when the doctor really did not know what your problem was. I even shied away from telling people and when I did I would shrug it off and say it was all in…
August 7, 2018 If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive family vacation destination this summer, saddle up and ride into the sunset to your nearest dude ranch. Dude ranches are the original, all-inclusive destination, making for a headache-free week of unforgettable family fun. Here are five dude ranches that make for the perfect summer family…
June 27, 2018 People tend to associate a barbecue with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and other meat-focused dishes. However, that’s not for everyone. Roughly one million of the United States population is vegan. Although that means only about half a percent holds this dietary preference, it’s important for a host to be able to cater to…
June 28, 2018 The heat is on: With summer just around the bend, some 88% of American travelers report they plan to take their families on vacation this year, according to AAA Travel. Here are seven picks for kid-friendly vacations with not just last-minute availability but also plenty of activities that keep the focus on…
June 25, 2018 Have you ever had someone stop by unexpectedly to visit and you’re at a loss what to offer them to eat? I love entertaining and when people stop by to visit, I try to offer them something to eat and drink. When I’m short on time or I don’t have the necessary…
July 3, 2018 Have you ever wondered how to make bread from scratch with yeast? I have always enjoyed baking and cooking as many things as possible from scratch. I think of it as a challenge and try to recreate as many traditionally processed foods as possible. For the most part, the recipes are just…
July 13, 2018 If you are planning a summer vacation to New England this year, you may be wondering about the best beaches to visit. We’re firmly in the midst of a heat wave here in the northeast so people across the area are heading to the shoreline in an attempt to keep cool! The…
July 16, 2018 For a long time now, I’ve dreamed of cutting off all my hair. I’ve been through a lot these past few years and it just felt like a way to make a fresh start. Plus, with three kids under three, I was ready for something a little easier to maintain. Despite how…
July 17, 2018 Kids grow up so quickly these days. Before you know it they’ve outgrown the diapers, toys, and even baby food that you have on hand. If you’ve ever found yourself with a few jars of unneeded baby food, you will be glad to learn that there is a delicious way to use them!…
July 26, 2018 When I was a kid, I really loved amusement parks. Everything buzzed with excitement and I didn’t care if I had to wait in line forever because I had nothing else to do. I was there, in that moment, with my friends and we excitedly passed the time by talking about upcoming…
July 30, 2018 In a perfect world, we could all live in peace and harmony without feeling stressed or hurt but, as you know, that’s not always realistic. There will be people in our lives who have hurt us and who, despite attempts to repair the relationship, will continue to create chaos and pain. In…
July 25, 2018 Anyone who has insurance has probably run into a situation where a generic drug is filled even though the prescription was written using the brand name. Most prescription pads have a checkbox for the doctor to give his/her approval for a generic brand to be used. So what are generic drugs and…
August 1, 2018 If your carpet is starting to show a bit of wear, you might be wondering if it’s possible to clean it using a natural homemade cleaner rather than a store bought one. Cleaners purchased from the store often contain harmful ingredients and people would rather not expose their pets and family to them….
August 9, 2018 The first HPV vaccine was introduced in the United States over 10 years ago. At the time it was recommended that girls, age 11 to 12, get the vaccine. In the fall of 2017 the United States made the recommendation that the vaccine should also be given to boys of the same…
August 6, 2018 Have you ever wondered how to make cornbread with honey? Traditional Northern cornbread is made with sugar, but for those that are trying to avoid refined sugars, there are other options available. If you’re like my husband, a native Texan, you may be thinking that sweetener has no place in cornbread at…
August 20, 2018 If your garden is going crazy like mine is, you might be wishing that autumn would arrive soon so things will slow down. As much as I love my garden, the summer months are bountiful with zucchini, tomatoes, and other summer vegetables. By mid-summer, I look forward to autumn because it means…
August 29, 2018 Let’s face it, in a world hyper-focused on age, it’s hard not to think about the increasing number as we grow older. Worse yet, with social media in our faces all day, it’s easy to get sucked into the insecure-minded trap of comparing ourselves to the gorgeous 20-somethings posting flawless face images…
August 28, 2018 You are going to love this easy sausage gravy recipe for biscuits! My husband is from Texas and there are a few regional recipes that I had to learn how to cook when we got married. Since I’m a New England girl, sausage gravy isn’t something that I had ever dined on,…
September 12, 2018 Who hasn’t tried dieting? Cutting calories. Cutting certain foods. Cutting out carbs. Regularly dieting is very hard to maintain. You may lose the weight but when you stop doing whatever you are doing, the weight comes back. Recently, a new way of dieting is gaining coverage fast. The intermittent diet. Since this…
September 5, 2018 Aaahhh! The smell of your favorite flower or spice. Everyone wears perfume or cologne to smell good, but what about your house? The last thing you want is someone walking in and smelling the litterbox or being overwhelmed with a musty scent. One way to mask smells is to use candles. The…
September 4, 2018 Besides raking leaves, what should you be doing to your yard in the fall season? Plenty! Yardwork in the fall requires almost as much time as it does in the spring. It’s a changing season from hot to cold and that means we need to spend time outside getting our garden prepared….
September 12, 2018 Don’t you just love the start of each new season? With it comes new fashion, new weather, and new seasonal foods. Picking your own produce is the best but farm stands and farmers’ markets are great sources and can be fun too. Grocery stores will have in-season produce at good prices too!…
September 3, 2018 Fall is nearly upon us and with it comes a change in temperature, clothing, and maybe even your hair color! If you’re wondering about the latest fall hair color trends, we have a few seasonal colors to consider. Fall is all about pumpkin spice, vibrant golden autumn colored leaves, and cooler tones to…
September 5, 2018 I don’t know about you, but I love checking out the newest looks of my favorite stars on Instagram. If you love celebrity hair trends but don’t have your own stylist on hand daily to keep you in the know, keep reading for a few 2018 celeb hair trends you can have implemented…
September 18, 2018 Fall is here, and it is my absolute favorite time of year for many reasons. Cooler weather, hoodies, boots, Halloween; all of it gets me giddy. Another part of autumn I enjoy is National Hispanic Heritage Month. This year it runs September 18th through October 18th and is a time to celebrate…
October 4, 2018 Did you check out the buzz and photos from New York Fashion Week photos? It wrapped up on September 14th in Manhattan and we’re so excited to see all the new trends! Fashion Week is a time when top designers come together to share their latest looks and we get our first look…
September 26, 2018 Being born in late October, Halloween was always my favorite holiday of the year. Halloween meant three things: I got to dress up as whatever I wanted, I got to eat an incessant amount of candy (this was the 90’s, before parents checked their kids’ candy), and my HALLOWEEN BIRTHDAY BASH. My…
October 1, 2018 Pumpkin bread is one of my family’s favorite fall desserts. We generally pick up a few small pumpkins from the farmer’s market which means I almost always have pumpkin puree. This quick bread recipe is one of the easiest ways to use up the puree if you aren’t in the mood for…
October 20, 2018 Dump Cakes are one of the best and easiest go-to desserts when you are short on time but really wanting to impress guests with a tasty cake! You only need one bowl and a few, pantry-ready ingredients, making it faster than ever to whip up a delicious dessert. Food writer Anne Schaffer’s…
September 29, 2018 Yum! Subway’s San Diego stores are undergoing a “refresh,” with elevated flavor options and beverages. The newest sandwiches sound amazing! Choose from Steakhouse Melt (Steak, American Cheese and new Sub Spice seasoning); California Club (Turkey Breast, freshly sliced Avocado and Mustard Seeds); Italian Grinder (Genoa Salami, Pepperoni, Black Forest Ham, Subway® Herb…
October 16, 2018 Emotional self-reliance seems to be a foreign concept for most people, at least I know it was for me. From birth, we’re taught to rely on our parents to satisfy our needs and wants in all aspects. Then we grow into our adolescence and shift that responsibility onto our peers. One day…
October 26, 2020 It’s a common storyline in holiday films (and households) in our society. After family members gather together at the Thanksgiving table, all of the issues festering in their hearts and over their heads create tension that builds and leads a huge blow up. We might laugh when we see the antics unfold…
October 18, 2018 It’s time to get ready for cold and flu season with these natural ways to prevent the flu. The way to avoid getting sick is to enforce good health habits. You can stop the spread of illnesses like the cold and flu by protecting your family with these simple health tips. Remember…
October 26, 2018 Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to have gift giving without gifts? As much as I love the holidays, gift giving can be a challenge. There really isn’t anything that I want or need, so coming up with ideas for people to give me is tough sometimes. And, it’s not just…
November 26, 2018 Christmas is the favorite holiday for many people. For some it’s for religious reasons, for others it’s about cherishing family and festivities. For most, it’s a combination of both! Unfortunately, it can get very stressful for many people. It is overwhelming to budget for gifts, host out-of-town guests, plan and host holiday…