Archives for February 2013

Four Family Friendly Tips for a Beach Vacation


Many families look forward to spending time at the beach during the summer. However, there are a few
things that you will need to do in order to ensure that your trip to the beach is a success. Below are four
tips that will help you get the most out of your family trip to the beach:

Beach trip
Wear Sunscreen

A sunburn can ruin a day of fun in the sun. One of the best things that you and your family can do to
avoid sunburn is to apply sunscreen. Children are more likely to suffer from sunburn because their skin
is more sensitive. That is why they should wear a sunscreen that has a SPF of 30. People who are over
the age of 10 will need a sunscreen that has a SPF of 15.

Go To the Beach during the Coolest Times of the Day

The hottest times of the day are usually between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. These are also the
times that the sun’s rays are at their peak. Furthermore, the hot sun can make young children [Read more…]

The New Mint Build A Bear

build a bear

Build-A-Bear workshop is making quite a splash recently with their new store front roll out and their constant stream of cute new plush to make. Today we are looking at one of the newest bears, Mint.

mint

Mint is a Girls Scout Thin Mint Bear. She is a rich brown chocolate color with mint green highlights, like the inner ear, paws and snout. Her feet also sport the Girl Scout Trefoil one one side and the Thin Mints Cookie on the other. This is an officially licensed Girl Scout product as well, so she is very well done.

As with all Build A Bear plush, the real fun starts with the accessories. Also available [Read more…]

Philadelphia-a City to Fall in Love With

The arts flourish in Philadelphia, a city rife with some of our country’s richest historical sites and locations as well as the culture and diversity you would expect from any large city. Whether you have a day, the weekend, or an entire week for your visit, you will run out of time long before running out of ways to spend it.

Independence HallMuseums abound in Philadelphia. Showcasing artwork of every nature, sculptures, gardens, and a multitude of histories, one could easily visit a different venue every day of vacation and not see them all. Visit Independence Hall, where George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army, the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation were adopted, and the U. S. Constitution was drafted. Stand in the rooms that our forefathers stood, and listen to the tour guide as they explain the many uses of the rooms. Tours are free and a timed ticked is needed for entrance.

Rodin Museum PAJust down the street you can find the National Museum of American Jewish History, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Betsy Ross House, and more- all within an easy walk. The Rodin Museum is an easy bus or trolley ride away, and well worth the few minutes. My son enjoyed drawing all the sculptures, and the staff was very nice to him, even though there were many art students there doing the same thing. This museum houses one of the most comprehensive public collections of Rodin’s work outside Paris, and is a beautiful place to visit. Public transportation is very easy to use, and comes every few minutes. The Big Bus Company and Philadelphia Trolley Works are easy, on and off, hits all major tourist and historical attractions, is inexpensive, and goes everyplace.

Philadelphia mural paintings

Take in the magnificent and unique art of the city on a very uncommon canvas- businesses and buildings. Starting out as a way to reduce the graffiti epidemic that had taken over much of the city, an artist was hired to guide youth who lacked opportunities [Read more…]

Have You Stuck To Your Resolutions?

As a new year is upon us, we start to look around and try improve our lives a title bit more then last year.
Be it with a new healthier you, a new fuller wallet, or maybe just a new car there is always room for improvement.
But why stop at just one improvement?
Why not aim high, take little steps and work toward a healthier happier more successful you.
First up, healthier. Your body is a temple and when’s the last time you saw a temple with donuts in it?
Change your eating patterns to include more vegetables and fruit as apposed to sweets and salts. Also take the steps.
[Read more…]

SeatPets – How Cute Are These? For Fun and Travel

I don’t know about you but my son just adores his seat belt. (Cough….Who doesn’t, right? Hmmm…) He puts it on all the time without fail, never fighting even a little bit, all by himself with no coaxing. (Can you tell I’m kidding?) Well, now he does. You see, very recently we were able to install his favorite accessory of the car. The fun, new SeatPet. This wonderful invention takes the idea of a a seat belt cover and adds a few upgrades- It is a seat belt cover, a stuffed animal, and a handy storage container for the car (and a very useful nap pillow).

Watching him nap in the car without anything just makes my neck hurt, and leads to the “car shuffle” to find his small pillow. But with the SeatPet he always has a pillow to pass out onto/with. The critter is so soft and cuddly, you can even get away with bringing him inside at your destination [Read more…]

Project You

Make sure you check out page 32 🙂

Milk Unleashed- and Perfect for Lunchboxes

milk

Milk has always been a staple in Americans refrigerators since the inception of the refrigerator.

cows

As such, it is assumed that all milk must stay in the fridge or else is spoils. And it spoils in such horrid ways, doesn’t it? The horrible smell arrives, or maybe instead of cereal and milk you end up with cereal and cottage cheese. Or how about some lemon milk with your coffee? All of this scares the junk out of us, so milk is only kept in the fridge, right? Wrong. It is also sold in what is called shelf stable containers. It is able to sit on a shelf in your pantry along with your dry pasta for quite some time, up to six months. After that point the milk is still good but there is a loss in nutritional value and such, but it has been done. Just be wary. Once it is open it must be refrigerated, and will last about [Read more…]

5 Ways for Stressed Moms to Fight the Signs of Aging

Anyone who says that a stay-home mom doesn’t have a job has obviously never spent the day chasing around a gaggle of children. And for moms that hold down a paying job, as well, the combination of work and parenting can be stressful, so say the least. Sadly, a lack of time paired with high stress can lead to premature signs of aging, something that no mom wants to see when she looks in the mirror. So here are just a few ways for stressed moms to fight the signs of aging and start looking and feeling as young as they are.

look younger

  1. Quit smoking. This may sound harsh, but if you’re a mother you shouldn’t be smoking. If you have children in your care you should not only do everything you can to keep yourself healthy so that you can be there for your children as long as possible, but you also shouldn’t be exposing your kids to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. (Read this – Protecting Kids from Tobacco/Vape, Don’t Smoke!) Of course, giving up your pack-a-day habit will also help to preserver your youthful good looks. And while quitting may ratchet up your stress level initially, leaving you irritable, there are medications to help (Chantix), and reducing your cravings for nicotine will actually lower your stress in the long run. As a bonus, it’s a great move for both your overall health and the condition of your [Read more…]