When it comes to making cookies in the Summertime, I prefer to use the stove-top method. Not only is the stove-top method quick and easy, but it saves on heating up your kitchen.

I find it best to line my countertop or tabletop, with some parchment paper. You will want to ‘drop’ your cookies onto the parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat, to let them cool. After they have cooled to room temperature, store them in an airtight container.

Here are 5 of my favorite no-baking involved cookie recipes.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Jan Hayner

All of us have come across the same problem from time to time…isn’t there anything to do that doesn’t cost money?

There are many things for you to do with your kids that you may have overlooked in this hurry-up world of ours, and it’s only natural that after you read this you will wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself.

So, just chalk this up to a re-learning experience and revisiting your youth!!

Do you remember those summer nights when you and a bunch of your friends would play kick-the-can, red light-green light, or ghost tag (with the flashlight)?
Do your kids (or the neighborhood kids) know how to play these games?

How about going on a hike thru a park or wooded area and just for fun, pack a picnic lunch, stop near an old tree, and rest awhile.

Why not go swimming at an inland lake or a water park.

Build sand castles. Read the rest of this entry »

Traveling with kids can be a very enjoyable vacation or it can be a visit through the land of insanity. Every parent searches high and low for the best kids travel tips prior to heading out across the great unknown with their darling children in tow. The constant banter of arguments in the back seat, one sibling repeatedly touching the other or the other siblings invading the “invisible line” of the other siblings side of the car, can continue until the parent’s eyes want to cross.

Regardless of where you’re going on your vacation, chances are at least one of the kids will get bored along the way. That’s why it’s essential to have a variety of kids travel games in mind before you even leave the house. Being prepared is crucial. That way when your kids start shouting “Mom, are we there yet?” you can respond with something better than just “No.” Read the rest of this entry »

Devotional for kids

“I demand that you love each other as much as I love you.

“And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends.

“And you are my friends if you obey me.” John 15: verses 12, 13 and 14 [The Living Bible]

I felt lonely as a child. I was almost five. I had 13 wonderful sisters and brothers to love me and take care of me. I had wonderful, caring parents who loved Jesus. They met all my needs.

I was never alone. I always had playmates in my sisters and brothers. There was always some excitement going on at our place. In fact, the neighbor kids loved to hang out at our place. It was kid friendly. We had a huge front yard and a thirty acre woods in the back. Read the rest of this entry »

By Kathy Wilson

If you are like most women today, one of your main problems is how to save money on everything from groceries to birthday presents. Millions of families are living paycheck to paycheck, and chances are if you aren’t one of them, you know someone who is.

There are dozens of ways you can help cut expenses and live within a tighter budget, without compromising the quality of your life. Try adding just a few news money saving ideas a week. Save money at home, and you might even find enough left over to finally start that savings plan we all wish we had now!

Save Money on Groceries

• Make one day a week your food prep day. Create a menu for the week and use it to prep lunch foods for the kids, purchase the right ingredients for dinners and bake snacks or breakfast foods that can be used in lunches or reheated during the busy work week. A little bit of planning can save you big bucks on the cost of food. For the average family, that’s hundreds a month. Read the rest of this entry »

Mommy moments come in all forms of days at the park, birthday parties with streamers, and gymnastics classes. All of these provide the perfect opportunity for mothers to let their little ones burn some energy as well as share in their latest challenges. As the amount of women who live with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, continues to grow, however, so does the ability to always participate in these spontaneous mommy moments.

For example, the National Fibromyalgia Association reports that fibromyalgia (FM) experts estimate that about 10 million Americans and approximately 5 percent of the population worldwide deal with illness symptoms commonly associated with FM, one of the fastest growing auto-immune diseases in the USA. When I recently went to an adoptive mom’s playgroup, just within this niche group, three out of the six of the women there lives with a chronic illnesses. Being aware of what a friend can and cannot do, and acknowledging that you know some days will have different limitations and challenges, can make a significant impact in these mom’s ability to participate and feel comfortable with other mothers. Read the rest of this entry »

Are you overwhelmed by all of the “green” talk these days?  If so, you are among many people who don’t know where to begin “Going Green”.  The best and most productive place to start is in your own home.  There are lots of things in our homes that pollute the air we breathe- from inside our home and our outside environment.  Never mind polluting our own bodies!  Here are three simple steps to get you started on your safer and greener home journey.

Replace Regular Household Cleaners with HomeMade or “Green” Cleaning Products.

Many of the regular household cleaners that we may have in our home contain toxic chemicals, which actually pollute our homes.  Here are some interesting facts I found on the website for “Women’s Voices For the Earth” (http://www.womenandenvironment.org)

* Most affected by these toxic chemicals are women & children

* Today, women are still doing 70% of the housework Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time of year again when daffodils will soon be in bloom, trees will be budding, and a lot of folks will be anxious to get out and work in their flower beds. It’s called spring! And with spring comes the Easter bunny. An exciting and fun time for both kids and parents.

My all-time favorite Easter candy were those marshmallow peeps. Every spring (to this day), I indulge in a package or two. I love them so.
Read the rest of this entry »

Effective Family Time Tips
How far ahead of your family do you need to be to stay to stay organized?

• Toddlers: Be five minutes ahead of them, otherwise your day will begin with a downward spiral as you sleepily eye the messy kitchen and hear your little ones proudly announce: “Mommy, we made breakfast!”
• School-aged children: Be one hour ahead of them. Remind them of what is next-whether school, music, or sports-so they can mentally start to transition and collect what is needed.
• Teenagers: Be one day ahead of them. If your teenager wants the car on the weekend, leverage his motivation by requiring that he clean his room and do chores beforehand.
• Spouses: Be three months ahead of him/her. If you want to get the house painted in the summer, start selecting colors in the spring. Discuss what you want to accomplish and when you can best do it. The same goes for a summer vacation, because a one- or two-week trip takes a lot of advanced planning.
• Retiring Spouse: Be one year ahead of him/her. Months ahead of retirement, initiate discussions about projects you want to tackle together or exciting trips you hope to take during your “golden years.” This is the time to work together as a team for mutual enjoyment.

For more tips get the booklet, Ages and Stages of Organizing Your Children, to get your children organized from little ones up through high school graduates.
Marcia Ramsland is well known as “The Organizing Pro” for her practical skills and tips to manage busy lives. She is a speaker, author, and media guest expert appearing on TV, radio, and in national magazines for her popular books Simplify Your Life, Simplify Your Time, and Simplify Your Holidays (Thomas Nelson). Visit her website, www.organizingpro.com for free tips.

Several years ago I offered to take the checkbook back from my husband. Twelve months earlier our youngest son had been experiencing countless sleepless nights, along with numerous other challenges. Realizing I was overwhelmed, my husband had taken over the checkbook and all of its correlating duties to relieve me of some stress.

A year later our son had begun sleeping much better and, consequently, so was I.

I felt better able to take back the responsibility of bookkeeper of the family. On this particular day when I suggested the transition, my husband hesitated and said, “Just a minute.”

I watched him sit down at the dining room table, grab a calculator and start tapping on the buttons. He would look quietly at the checkbook register, scratch his head, mumble something meant only for his ears, and begin tapping on the various buttons again. After witnessing this disturbing scene for a while, I asked him, “Is there something wrong?”

“Well, the balance doesn’t seem to be coming out right,” he replied.

Remaining calm, I inquired, “When was the last time you balanced it?”

“Balanced it?” he questioned.
Read the rest of this entry »