When I think of soccer video games, I imagine 20 players moving across the field in different directions. I’ve seen the best-selling titles (like FIFA on PC/Playstation/Xbox), and they look downright confusing to me. The most realistic soccer games are for athletes and savvy fans – those who know the ins and outs of play formations, dribbling, and advanced passing. Recently, I discovered FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush. It’s a casual game that welcomes anyone and everyone – whether you player soccer or don’t know a single thing about it.

FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush is an endless runner. This is a type of game that many children love to play, because there’s ongoing action from start to finish. The gameplay is quite comparable to Subway Surfers, which has been downloaded over a billion times. If that tells you anything, it’s that endless runners are addictive and fun. In my opinion, FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush has more educational value than any of its peers. This is because it features real athletes from Spain’s legendary soccer team. Also, there is a deep skill system that requires basic math to make the best decisions.

The list of available players includes Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Luis Suarez (among others). I did a bit of research, and I was impressed by how much each in-game character looks like their real-life counterpart! Messi has his signature Quiff, Iniesta sports a Mohawk, and Suarez’s face is photorealistic. FCB fans are bound to love playing as their favorite athlete, especially with such authenticity involved.

The skill tree and upgrade system in FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush are simple enough to understand, but deep enough to add great value. There are 10 different types of skills that you can buy and improve at any point during the game. Certain ones reward you with gold just for playing. For example, if you have the Manager skill, you will earn hundreds of coins when you initially load the game each day. Other skills work like traditional power-ups. The Adrenaline Beast skill makes temporary invincibility last longer. Depending on how you like to play, you might choose to max out a single skill for each athlete. Or, you can spread skills evenly across your entire team. You’re the manager, so you get to make every important decision!

There’s also a fun reward component of FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush. Every day, you can collect prizes from the gift box. One of my favorite ways to win prizes is from scratchers. These are scratch cards that make you feel like you’ve won the lottery! If you match three icons (which is very easy to do), you get a special prize, such as coins, energy, or a new skill.

I don’t know much about soccer, but I do know that FC Barcelona Ultimate Rush is an excellent game. After playing it myself, I let my young one try. He loved running down the streets of Barcelona, kicking soccer balls and capturing shiny gold!

Cover Up

–   More bare skin means more risk for bug bites and stings plus exposure to rash-causing plants such as poison ivy and poison oak. Whenever possible, choose clothes that cover skin like long sleeves and pants. Mosquitoes often target feet and ankles, so wearing socks and closed shoes is a good idea as well.  Using a repellent before you go out is also a good way to protect exposed skin from mosquitos and biting bugs. Dr. Lamb suggests Natrapel bug repellent, with a CDC recommended 20% Picaridin formula which provides up to 12hr of protection for the whole family. When you get home, check clothes for ticks before heading inside.

Be Aware

–   When participating in outdoor activities, make sure everyone in your family knows what plants such as poison ivy, oak, and sumac look like so you can avoid them. If you spend time in areas where these plants grow, cover up and avoid contact. When you get home, be sure to wash skin and clothing that may have been exposed to them.

–   Ensure your yard drains properly during and after rain and empty kiddie pools and other standing water. Proactive steps such as these will prevent mosquitoes from making your yard a breeding ground.

Treat Ailments

–   Always be prepared with a remedy on hand that can offer your family instant healing and relief from itching, burning and discomfort. For bites and stings, Dr. Lamb suggests using a counterirritant such as After Bite, which stops itch and offers a skin protectant, for temporary relief and faster healing is convenient to have on hand. The kids’ formula is a gentle alternative for little ones or anyone with sensitive skin. Both contain soothing baking soda and offer an easy-to-apply, portable remedy for bites from a wide variety of insects.

–   For instant and permanent relief from itching and pain associated with hives, rashes and redness, insect bites, minor scrapes, and allergic reactions from poison ivy, oak and sumac, Dr. Lamb recommends The Itch Eraser, a new steroid free anti itch product for the whole family. It’s offered in maximum strength gel and spray with antihistamine as the active ingredient or a sensitive cream formula with baking soda for those who have sensitive skin. All three treatments contain Vitamin E and Tea Tree Oil to heal and moisturize the skin while reducing redness and inflammation.

These are some tips from Dr. Angela Lamb, New York City-based dermatologist.

One of the best parts of going somewhere new is trying the food native to your destination. But as any seasoned traveler knows, those special meals at local hot spots can empty your wallet fast. It is especially frustrating when you have had your fill and there is food to spare, but you still have sight-seeing to do and have no choice but to leave your leftovers behind. If you want to avoid finding yourself in this situation time and again, there is a simple solution.
Food Storage on the Go
If you have not used a lunch box since your school days, then you should know that your options have exploded since then. For example, Arctic Zone lunch boxes come in a huge selection of prints, styles, and storage configurations, making it easy to find exactly the right choice for your lifestyle. Most lunch boxes have multiple divisions, enabling you to pack items of different weights without fear that more delicate foods will get crushed. They are also available in numerous profiles, so you can pick a classic bucket style, a utilitarian cargo style, or anything in between.
Some lunch boxes even come in shoulder-bag styles, making them perfect for bringing along on a day of tourist activities. You can store your keys, wallet, and phone in the outer zipper compartments. Best of all, the patterns are so attractive that no one will even realize that your adorable purse is actually busy keeping your food cool.
Next time you go on adventure, remember to bring your new lunch box along. When you are finished feasting at the restaurant of your choice, you can save your leftovers without worrying that they will go bad or having to traipse around with a fragile Styrofoam container in hand. Leftovers make great midnight snacks for hungry travelers. You can even save a little extra money by eating them for breakfast or lunch the next day. By thinking ahead and bringing a lunch box, you can avoid waste and enjoy a delicious meal twice.
Pack Ahead
Your food storage solution does not just have to work for leftovers, either. You can also save money on food while travelling by making a small grocery run when you get into town. For the same price of one meal at a restaurant, you can make several days’ worth of sandwiches or wraps. You can also bring along fruit or veggies some healthy snacks. All you have to do is make your lunch in the morning, toss in an ice block to keep perishables fresh, and venture out for a day of fun.
Not Just for Travelling
Of course, you do not have to limit the use of your food tote for your special expeditions. You can also use it for picnics and outings at home. The easy-clean surfaces can stand up to toddler clumsiness and playground dirt alike, and the material is okay to bring into your home because it is lead and phthalate safe and free of both PVC and BPA. Even if all you ever do with your insulated tote to keep a few drinks cool while you run errands, you will soon wonder how you ever lived without it.

Helping in the kitchen isn’t just for older children and teenagers. There are plenty of cooking steps that are safe and easy for your toddler to help with. By letting him or her get involved in helping you cook healthy recipes, you show your child that healthy food is fun, teach him or her valuable life skills, and create a special parent-child bonding time. Next time you cook, consider letting your son or daughter help with some of the following steps.

Help Gather Ingredients for the Recipe

Allow your toddler to help you gather ingredients for your recipe. He or she can get small jars or bottles out of the refrigerator, bring you items on lower shelves in the pantry or low cabinets, and bring you spices. He or she may also be able to open some types of packages.

Prepare the Ingredients

In some cases, your child can actually help you prepare the ingredients for the recipe. If you will be using bananas, let your toddler peel them. Are you using lettuce or another leafy green? He or she will have fun tearing it apart into smaller pieces. Your son or daughter can even help by scrubbing potatoes for you.

Measuring Ingredients

A child who is only two or three years old probably won’t be able to measure out ¾ a cup of flour or ½ teaspoon of salt, but he or she will be able to fill a spoon or tell you when the ingredient reaches a certain line in a measuring cup. Doing this part together not only creates a bonding experience, but begins to teach your child how to measure and read fractions.

Mash Ingredients

If you are using softened fruits or vegetables, your toddler will have lots of fun mashing them up for the recipe. This part can get a little messy if he or she gets overexcited, so be sure to set down a towel or two and put an apron on each of you. The possible mess will be worth it to see the delighted giggles and teach your child a new skill at the same time.

Add Items to the Bowl

Once you have measured your ingredients and are ready to put them into the bowl or pan, you can have your son or daughter take over. He or she can add everything to the bowl or pan based on your directions.

Stir the Ingredients

After you—or both of you—have put everything into the proper bowls or pans, you can let your toddler stir dry or wet ingredients. Teach him or her how to do it slowly to avoid spilling and how to scrape the sides to ensure everything mixes together as evenly as possible. You probably won’t want your small child next to a hot stove, but if you do decide he or she is ready for that responsibility, be sure to stay right there to supervise and prevent burns.

Brush on Butter or Oil

Are you making rolls or basting a turkey? Let your toddler help. He or she can use the brush to help you coat the food. You have the benefit of a little helper to get you through the task faster, and your son or daughter will get a kick out of “painting” the food.

Help With Cleanup

Once your recipe is in the oven, it’s time for cleanup. This is an especially important task for your child to help with because it teaches him or her responsibility. Together, you can throw away garbage, put dishes in the sink and put unused ingredients back into the refrigerator or pantry. Don’t forget to wipe down the table and sweep the floor if necessary.

The Easiest Way to Let Your Child Help

Sometimes life gets so busy that you don’t have time to cook on your own, let alone time to instruct a toddler in helping. You can still take a special day from time to time to bake an easy “recipe” that takes almost no time at all. Simply purchase premade cookie dough, have your toddler put scoops of it onto a cookie sheet, and stick it in the oven. Hamptoncreek sells organic, plant-based cookie dough that tastes great and is healthy for the entire family. You can find it in Walmart, Target, and a variety of other retailers.

Spending time with your toddler isn’t just important for his or her own needs. It may seem like you have forever, but remember, they grow up fast. By cooking together, you will instill responsibility and build memories you both will remember for a lifetime.