Search Results for: blog have a healthy picnic

The Sunny Side

If someone told me that I’d be dragging a water table outside for my swimsuit clad kid to play with on March 18th I would have likely thought he or she was still wasted from St. Patrick’s Day. After all, we live in the Frozen Tundra that is northern Wisconsin, where it snows in June. Experiencing 80-degree temps in March is beyond the luck of the Irish; it’s downright dreamy. And by dreamy I mean hello global warming, where have you been all my life? Our neighbor flew to Los Angeles early this morning only to find that the southern … Continue reading →

Spending Time With My Sister Part VI

On day five our our visit, we had planned to go for a walk around and older more affluent neighborhood and take some autumn inspired photos. Unfortunately when we awoke the next morning it was raining and much colder. Not exactly the ideal weather we were hoping we would have. So we modified our plans a little bit. We ate breakfast and did our dance cardio workout. Once the baby was good and fed. We made a picnic lunch of sandwiches, Greek yogurt, and grapes, and headed off to another mall that had a couple maternity boutiques. This mall was … Continue reading →

Easing Morning Sickness With Fresh Air

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Not all expectant mother’s experience morning sickness. Of those that do, some woman are nearly incapacitated by severe and persistent symptoms. While others experience bothersome but manageable symptoms. Luckily, I fall into the latter group of expectant mothers. While I can function quite well through the day, motivation certainly sways with the waves of nausea that come and go throughout the day. Some days the nausea is kept at bay with small and frequent snacks but other days the nausea never goes away. I was having one of those days last week — nothing could quell the queasiness. It was … Continue reading →

Cupcake Fun on Earth Day

Do you really need a special occasion to enjoy a cupcake? If you are a tree hugger with a sweet tooth, then your day has come. New York’s favorite bakery—Magnolia—is helping to save the planet one cupcake at a time. Beginning today and running through Thursday, April 22nd, the world-famous pastry shop is offering special Earth Day cupcakes at all four of its Big Apple locations. According to the folks at Magnolia, for every cupcake purchased, the bakery will donate $1.00 to The Nature Conservancy’s charity, Plant A Billion Trees. The sweet treats sell for $3.25, and no, they are … Continue reading →

Keeping Pets Warm in Cold Weather

We’ve been having an “arctic blast” here in the Pacific Northwest… and boy has it been COLD! I worry about keeping my dogs warm when we’re out walking — I bundle up with coat, hat, and gloves, but they’re out there in just their fur. My dogs Moose and Lally tolerate wearing clothes reasonably well. So if I were to buy them coats to wear, I think they would be willing to wear them. But booties to protect their feet? No way. A hat to protect their ears? Doubtful. So what can you do to protect your pets from the … Continue reading →

Swine Flu and Pregnancy

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I know what you are thinking: more swine flu news? On the pregnancy blog? Unfortunately, the swine flu has hit pregnant women especially hard. In fact, pregnant women will likely be given priority when the swine flu vaccinations are distributed in the fall. According to a recent AP wire, “pregnant women account for 6 percent of U.S. swine flu deaths since the pandemic began in April, even though they make up just 1 percent of the U.S. population.” Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe illness, according to World Health Organization experts, and could suffer spontaneous abortion and/or death, especially … Continue reading →

Toddler Travel Tips

If you can barely make it to the grocery store with your toddler in the backseat and your sanity intact, then you may want to take note of the following travel tips aimed at making your summer road trip a lot less bumpy: BREAK IT UP Not the fights between kids in the backseat. I’m referring to long car rides. Travel experts recommend stopping every three hours or so and allowing your toddler to run around at pre-selected rest areas. Pack a ball to play with and use the time to visit the restroom. You can also schedule a pit … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Sandwiches

With summer here and the temperatures on the rise, no one wants to be slaving away in a hot kitchen. The following sandwich recipes don’t require turning on the oven or firing up the stove. Rather, they allow you to serve your family a hearty and healthy meal without breaking a sweat. GREEK TURKEY WRAP Ingredients: 1 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup feta cheese 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives 4 (8-inch) spinach flavored flour tortillas 1 pound sun dried tomato turkey, thinly sliced 1 cup baby spinach leaves 1/4 cup thinly sliced cucumber 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion … Continue reading →

Great Grilling Recipes

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and what better way to celebrate than to get grilling. Grilled dishes can turn an ordinary meal into a gourmet feast. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a top chef to create the following scrumptious recipes. Simply dust off your grills, grab some basic ingredients and get cooking: RED HOT PEPPER BURGERS Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup your favorite chunky salsa 4 jalapeno peppers 4 hamburger buns, split 1/4 cup chopped fresh tomatoes 2 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives Directions: Combine ground beef and 1/4-cup salsa in large … Continue reading →

Memorial Day Family Potluck Recipes

Hail, hail the long Memorial Day weekend is finally here. Time to gather the family and celebrate the start of the summer season. If you are hosting a holiday potluck or have scored an invitation to one, then consider the following simple recipes that can be made ahead of time and are tailored to please large groups: BAKED ITALIAN FEAST Ingredients: 1 pound penne, cooked al dente 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, cooked, and crumbled 3 cups heavy cream 2 cups crushed canned tomatoes 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 4 … Continue reading →