Featured Articles

Holiday Gifts That Keep Your Loved Ones Warm

Winter is here. For most of us, this means that the busiest time of the year has come. After they have consumed all their Thanksgiving turkey and polished off their great grandmother’s famous pie, most people face the month-long preparation for Christmas and New Year. For me, it signals the beginning of holiday decorations, the endless hunt for the perfect gift for my friends and the seemingly growing list of nieces and nephews, followed by the gift-wrapping sessions, which I actually enjoy.

Having done this for many years, I can say that I’m quite knowledgeable when it comes to brainstorming and ultimately choosing the ideal gift for a loved one. I’m saying that on the premise that I have not received complaints so far in that department, but still, I have been able to shop (and make) holiday gifts for the people closest to me without having to argue with another shopper on who should get the last toy truck available, so I feel that I can at least share with you some ideas when it comes to these things. In this article, I shall list three holiday gift ideas that keep your loved ones warm and comfy during the holidays.

Hot cocoa mix in a jar – This one is pretty simple, yet the thought counts. And yes, I do mean it counts. Afterall, there’s nothing like the all chocolaty goodness of hot cocoa to melt the chill in your bones this season. Look for a hot cocoa mix recipe as well as a cute printable gift tag online, find a jar to put the mix into and get a cherry red (or whatever color you prefer) ribbon. Adding chocolate chips with your marshmallows is absolutely decadent. To keep it pretty, layer the milk, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, marshmallows and chocolate chips carefully – it’s really nice to look at inside a clear jar. Close the lid well, tie the ribbon, attach the gift tag and you have a sweet and thoughtful gift for your friends.
Sweaters and scarves – Okay, I will admit this is kind of old as far as gift ideas are concerned and I certainly don’t want to you, dear readers, to end up like Molly Weasley who could only afford to gift sweaters, but I still find a certain warmth when I open the box and see a lovely scarf or sweater inside. It is classic and rather timeless and I have to admit, it’s still a favorite of mine.
Quilts / Quilted blanket – When I think of quilted blankets, my mind immediately thinks of the patchwork quilts that I have adored when I was a child. There is something so adorable and homey about patchwork quilts that it brings back a much simpler time. However, you can always spice up your patchwork quilt by using band shirts of your loved ones favorite bands or just like Bella Swan’s mom in Twilight, use the shirts from the places you have visited with that person. You have to admit, the memories that one blanket can bring you are priceless.

There you have it dear readers – three gift ideas that literally keep your loved ones warm during the season. Whether you choose to stick with the classics when you give a scarf or you prefer to give a laptop or tablet, do remember that the real meaning of giving is more than just in its price tag, but your willingness and desire to provide some cheer into your loved ones this holiday season.

Winter Depression – How To Pep Yourself Up

During the spring and summer months, do you feel happier than usual? Do you feel like there are more possibilities? Do you feel like life doesn’t suck as much? The abundance of natural sunlight during the spring and summer months is wonderful for our body and spirit.

But, as the fall and winter months approach, do you feel sad or more gloomier than usual with no apparent reason to the mood change? Then, according to the Mayo Clinic, you may be suffering from Seasonal affective disorder (SAD.)

Fall and Winter SAD it’s a condition that comes as the chilly weather approaches and natural sunlight becomes more scarce. Some of the symptoms associated with this condition are:

Irritability
Tiredness
weight gain
appetite changes and
Oversleeping

Although these are some of the symptoms also associated with major depression, SAD

symptoms can come and go as the seasons change, so it’s easier for people to note the changes and seek medical advise if necessary. Spring and Summer SAD is also a condition and should be treated accordingly.

All of us have good and bad days. Those are some of the free perks we get by living life. Major depression though, is a serious illness than should be treated seriously and promptly. It is a serious illness that can be fatal if leave unattended.

Now, if you have notice mood changes or your doctor has diagnosed you with SAD, what can you do to combat it?

There are very simple, economical ways to keep yourself upbeat.

Exercise regularly and get outside.
Go for a long walk by yourself or with your dog
Read a book outside. 10 minutes of sunlight can uplift your mood for the day
Spend some time in your garden. Planting a mum or two for your garden can help you with your moods and your home’s curb appeal.
Take a hobby
Eat healthy foods

Keeping active during the winter months is hard for people living in the North, but it does not necessarily mean it’s impossible. There are groups of joggers that run all year long. They jog when raining, snowing or in windy conditions. The only time they don’t jog is when there’s lighting or thunder. In the United States, there are many trails, parks and neighborhoods where a walk is just a few steps away. Take advantage of them, and live a healthier life!

Traps to Waste Money

There are a lot of ways people waste money and we are going to cover some common traps people fall into.

One of the first things you want to consider is your impulse buying. One very wealthy person I was listening to on a podcast said he has a rule that anything that is over $50 and not immediately necessary he waits 30 days before buying. The reason is that if you give it a little time, you may realize you can live without the item and even if you have the money to buy it, maybe you do not want to add clutter to your home.

But some of the real culprits are in those monthly bills.

Paid TV is a big one. With approximately 1/3 of paid cable subscribers cutting out TV, you have to ask yourself what you are still doing paying for it. More and more you can simple stream the channels you want and reduce your payments big time.
Cell phone bills are also something that should be reviewed every year or each time your contract is up. Moving to a lower cost carrier will often cut your monthly fee and the difference in service is often negligible.
Gas for the car is another area where yo can use something like the Gas Buddy app and save a few dollars each time you fill up by choosing the best prices close to you. This adds up over the course of a year to being potentially hundreds of dollars.
Gas for your home – if you are not shopping for lower priced utility providers you are spending too much. This is a must.
Credit Cards – While it is best not to have credit card debt, it is also not a good idea to pay high interest on the debt if you have it. Shop around for a favorable balance transfer and then work like crazy to pay it off before the better offer expires.
Eating out – while we love to eat out, it is also possible to look up a fancy recipe on YouTube and cook a great meal at home for a fraction of the price. Better yet, have a pot luck with friends and you will all have a good time with little cost and more fun.

These are just some of the money traps you may be falling into and wasting your hard earned cash where you do not need to.

Lawn Cleanup Tips

What you do to clean up your lawn in the fall depends on a few factors.

Do you have a large or small yard?
Do you have many or a few trees?
Do you have kids that like to help?
Does your city provide curb side leaf pickup?

There are a variety of techniques to clean the yard. In Kent, where I like, we have trees that keep their leaves until Spring in some cases.

That means we are picking up leaves throughout the Fall, Winter (if warmer) and Spring. Because of this I like to pick them up in batches and not try to do the entire lawn at once.

30 Years ago you saw people raking and bagging the leaves. Now the manual way to get it done is to rake leaves onto a tarp and drag the tarp to the front of the house and dump them along the curb and they will get cleaned up by your city in many cases.

Other options include leaf blowers. Electric leaf blowers are inexpensive, but will only work well for modest amounts of leaves that are dry. A gas leaf blower will be able to handle more leaves and damp leaves much better. Make sure you wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.

Another option is simply to mow the leaves if they are few and scattered. Mulching them into the yard with your lawnmower set low is good if there are not too many.

Lastly, hire a company to come and clean your yard. If you are older or too busy, having a landscape company come and use blowers to clean your yard well will save you the hassle and difficulty.

Remember, just like shoveling snow, raking leaves is not an activity your body is most likely used to and it can be dangerous if you push too hard or try to do too much. You will likely be sore for days and you could hurt your back or suffer other injuries, so make a smart choice to remove your leaves and cleaning your yard.

Raising High Acheivement Kids – Interview with All Pro Parent

All Pro Parent is a community of parents serious about raising high achievement kids. Starting early and following a steady plan, parents can expect their kids to grow up better in both academics, athletics and having a variety of added skills that give the kids an advantage. This can often result in free college and better jobs, as well as a higher probability of becoming a pro athlete. The below interview is with Ron McDaniel, founder of All Pro Parent.

Why did you start AllProParent.com?

I found myself always talking to other parents about how we managed to have kids who were very good athletes as well as high achievers in academics. And we did so much better with the second child that I wanted to help people avoid all the trial and error and start out with a ton of knowledge from the beginning. There is a huge learning curve raising kids, and the more you know and the earlier you start, the better your results will be.

What makes you qualified to run All Pro Parent?

As I mentioned, we are very active with your kids and did a combination of home schooling and public school. The result with our youngest is she got into college at 13 and started taking classes full time at 14. She is also still planning to be a professional athlete and that seems on course based on our plan of finishing college at 18 and going on the WTA tennis tour.

Why Did You Name Your Site “All Pro Parent?”

The name is a play on the idea of raising pro athlete kids (aka high performers.) Unless a kid has ridiculous levels of natural talent, the reality is it takes an All Pro Parent to raise a high achiever kid. Especially if you want academics and athletics.

What kinds of things do members of All Pro Parent have access to?

One of the most important things to me is to make it free to anyone who wants to go down this path. But of course, we need to have revenue to fund development of content. So, we are using a freemium model where anyone can say they need free access and join without a cost. However, people who are willing to pay .63¢ per day ($19 per month) get access to all the archives, while the free accounts only have access to the base training and new stuff for a short period of time. I think it is the best way for us to have a model that can help everyone but still be a real business with resources.

What kind of outcomes can people expect?

I would love to see people go all in and do an incredible level of development with their kids. The outcome can be fantastic. However, many people have both parents working or limited time for other reasons, and it is hard. Here is a better way of thinking about it. If you start at birth and until the age of 14 you do 30 extra academic minutes with them 150 days out of the year (3 or 4 days a week) then at 14 they will be at least a grade level above where they are supposed to be. That could be worth many thousands of dollars in free college and scholarships and can get them into better schools.

Likewise, 3 hours of athletic development per week from age 3 to 14 results in 1,716 hours of built up training and athletic practice. Compare that to someone who decides to go out for a sport in High School but has not been preparing, and the difference is embarrassing.

It is this steadiness over time that we stress. There is a buildup of knowledge and ability, which also compounds and adds things like confidence, assertiveness and mastery. Parents will get out of it what they put into it, but it does not have to be too much in any given week. Parents succeed when they play the long game.

What if a kid is not athletic or is of average intelligence?

Our program is about maximizing talent over time. No one can promise a specific outcome but by doing more over a long period of time you can feel confident that you will get better results. Someone who is not physically gifted athletically can still play high level high school sports, and benefit from competition, physical fitness and a team environment. Average academic ability can turn into top 10% when you apply extra effort from a young age. Being in the 10% instead of 50% might not get you into Harvard or Yale, but there are still many more opportunities of better schools, scholarships and job opportunities.

In the long run, we want people to have a strong family work ethic towards being better. It pays off. Being part of a community where other parents have the same attitude and goals helps keep people on track.

How do people find out more about AllProParent.com?

Just visit www.AllProParent.com and sign up for the free email. Then join the members area for more training as well as the Facebook group to interact with me and other parents. Anyone who is not afraid of doing some extra to produce high achieving kids is welcome.

Winter Health Foods and Drinks You Must Have

The cold weather has taken its time lately, but it seems that is finally here to stay. Flu epidemics affect the United States every year, and every year local health agencies encourage people to not only wash their hands regularly but to eat a healthy balanced diet to help us deal with these epidemics. There are many healthy foods and drinks that can help us stay healthy and fight the dreaded flu, and some of these foods and drinks are even enjoyable for many of us.

These are the top 5 healthy foods to incorporate into your diet:

Teas

With the cold weather comes the craving of warm beverages that can make your day a bit more pleasant and enjoyable. But before you go out and get yourself a warm drink at your local coffee shop, think of the calorie intake and inches you will acquire after you have finished the drink. A Mocha Frappuccino at your local Starbucks contains 500 calories, 140 mg of caffeine and 79 g of sugar in one 20 0z drink. Not something you should do regularly, and especially not a drink you want to jump-start your day.

But, there have been many studies that look into the health benefits of tea, and while some of those studies are speculative, there is strong evidence to suggest that tea does have the ability to reduced the risk of coronary heart disease in people.

Black, green, white and Oolong teas are at the top of the list for the super healthy drinks for us. These teas contain disease-fighting antioxidants that can help you reduce the risk of heart diseases. A black tea-Earl Grey – contains only 30-60 mg of caffeine, green teas — 25-50 mg, and herbal teas-0 mg. If you drink teas without sugar, the calorie intake is minimal.

Dark Chocolate

Another enjoyable food or treat for us is dark chocolate. We are not talking about the white and milky chocolate variety, but the dark chocolate. That is the one that is found to have some of the same antioxidants found in tea, red wine, fruits, and vegetables. The health benefits are better blood flow in older adults and could help you reduce high blood pressure levels as well.

Avocados

Avocados are another healthy food that is great to eat and brings you many health benefits. Yes, they are fatty and have about 3.1 g of saturated fat and 230 calories, but the health benefits associated with this fruit are too many to ignore, and the fats they contain are healthy fats that help you lower your “bad” cholesterol.

Cold Water Fish

Fish is one of those foods that you know from an early age is good for you. You may not like fish, but the health benefits associated with cold water fish can range from reducing the risk of blood clots and heart attacks to lowering your cholesterol. The best cold water fish you can have are salmon, trout, herring, tuna, sardines, and mackerel. They contained an abundance of omega-3 acids that can help you fight many diseases. So, even if you don’t particularly like fish, you should try to incorporate them slowly into your diet.

Beans

There are many varieties and dishes you can have with beans. Here is an excellent black bean recipe. And like fish, there are many people that do not like beans or don’t know how to cook them. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, can help you with your digestion, lower your cholesterol levels, plus helps you reduce the risk of heart attacks. Incorporating these foods slowly into your diet can help you live a long and full life.

The NFT for Education

In 2021, NFTs have really taken off. They are generating a lot of money for artists, musicians, and collectors. But this new technology is in its infancy. Already it is making a ruckus in gaming, entrepreneurship, and education.

What is an NFT?

An NFT is nothing more than a digital certificate of ownership that resides in the blockchain, which is what houses cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Etherium. While the Bitcoin blockchain is too restrictive, other blockchains that came along later have more flexibility and have been adding contract features. This has led to the NFT boom we are seeing.

While currently, the common use is to buy an NFT, hold it, and then sell it, nearly anything can be programmed around them. That is why, in gaming, it has caught on so quickly. Items can be NFTs and bought and sold, but also used in the games. It is like having a password for each item your character carries. And you can sell that to another character for real money, and once transferred, only the other character owns it.

The Education NFT

Education is also being transformed by the NFT technology. Combining NFT collectibles with curriculum design, companies will be able to build higher-end curriculums that are more effective and reach a global audience. By combining these NFTs and cryptocurrency, education will get better, go global, and be free to everyone.

Schools, teachers, and professors will still have jobs but they will be doing more to help individuals, small groups, and running the learning projects that accompany the core curriculums.

Students will benefit from decoupling courses from schools. An NFT certificate, verified by a certified teacher or institution, will verify completion. And they can go to the best people anywhere for each course. Instead of achieving a degree, students will be able to demonstrate lifelong learning progress and multiple achievements.

Recognizing Lifelong Learning

Typically, when someone talks about lifelong learning they are talking about continuing to learn after someone has finished formal school. What is neglected is lifelong learning that starts from day one.

We all know, parents with more resources will give their newborn advantages from birth. More time from parents, and more money, help kids develop a sound foundation before they even start preschool. That is why it is so exciting that Oustanda, a company using NFTs to improve education, launched its first Education NFT to address this issue.

And while NFTs can be expensive, their program has something for everyone. Five levels range from $50,000 down to $50. Benefactor Education NFT, Champion Education NFT, Patron Education NFT, Backer Education NFT, and Friend Education NFT are the levels.

As we have already said, an NFT can be a lot more than a collectible. These NFTs have a variety of features, depending on the level. Some produce monthly recurring crypto payments. Some include royalties if the owner decides to sell it. And they all act as a key to unlock benefits that will be added down the road. Maybe they are not as cool as a flaming sword, but grown-ups understand that it is pretty cool when you improve people’s lives.

How To Make Homemade Salsa

Salsa is reported to be more popular than catsup and other condiments, and no wonder. A good salsa can be put on anything. While some people do put catsup on eggs, steak or fish, it is far more likely that you want to add a good homemade salsa to add a kick to it.

Salsas can be mild or hot and while some peppers can be tricky, you do have a fair amount of control over the heat level depending on a few factors.

1. Peppers that you use – if you use a mild pepper, then the salsa should not be as hot. Want it super mild? Use a roasted red bell pepper. There should be no heat at all.
2. Seeds – if you use a jalapeno or another hot pepper, removing the seeds and discarding them will reduce the heat of the salsa in most cases. Keep in mind that jalapenos do vary a lot so this is no guarantee of mild salsa.
3. Ratio – if you use more tomato and onion and cilantro and less peppers, you will have a more mild salsa.
4. Cooked vs raw – cooking a pepper (either grilling or boiling with other ingredients) can be a little more mild than using it raw in a salsa.
5. Quantity used – Ok, so you end up with a salsa that is very hot for your taste. Don’t worry, you can still just use less or add more tomato to it to dilute it some.

So, with that information, let me give you the basics of salsa creation. There is a near infinite variety of salsa combinations because it does not only have a lot of different types of peppers, but also different tomatoes, cooking techniques, spices, etc. I want to give you the basics in this article so you can experiment and find the combinations that best suit your taste.

Uncooked salsa is common and usually consists of red tomato, onion, a type of hot pepper, all diced up in small cubes and mixed together. The juice of the tomato will add some of the liquid for the salsa. Then you add salt, cilantro if you like it and you might add a squeeze of lime juice. Let it sit for a bit and you have a nice chunky fresh salsa.

Variations on this might include other spices, parsley, a light blend on it to make it less chunky, etc.

Next consider grilled salsa. With this approach you grill off most of the veggies that go into the salsa for a smoky flavor. I frequently make green salsa this way. I put one big red tomato, 6 tomatillos (green tomatoes), 3 or so jalapenos, large chunks of cut onion, one mild pepper and grill them all well. I peel off any major char but leave some minor specks. Then I blend them all in the blender with some salt, a bit of garlic and add diced cilantro. As you can image, this can vary quite a bit. You can use just read tomatoes, you can use poblano peppers to give it a very different flavor, etc. You should take these summaries and use them to find your own fresh flavor.

Lastly, there is traditional boiled salsa. This is when you chunk up your ingredients and boil them all until soft and then blend them into a batch of smooth salsa. This also includes tomato of choice, pepper of choice, onion, salt and garlic. It is important to add cilantro and finely diced onion as well to the salsa after it is blended to have some texture and freshness in it. To be safe, let the boiled ingredients cool before blending so if it splashes you do not get burned.

These instructions are not exact recipes. They are general guidelines of how people make fresh salsa and you can experiment to find what you like the best. Happy salsa making.

Car Winterization Tips

As the weather gets colder, you are more likely to have car issues and you most likely are less enthused about being stuck along the side of the road. Taking that into consideration, you need to take care of your cars’ “health” before winter truly arrives. Here is list of 5 things you should be checking out to ensure your car is running smoothly and won’t let you stranded.

Battery – If starting your car seems to be getting sluggish, and your car’s battery is older than three years, it is a good time to get it checked and make sure it is still in working condition. If your engine light is on, sometimes the battery is the one responsible for it, and you need to replace it as soon as you can.

Coolant – also known as antifreeze, can help your car’s engine stay at optimal condition in cold weather. Coolant can keep your engine from freezing during those single digit temperatures in the northeast Ohio area, and you can get a gallon of antifreeze for less than $15 dollars

Tires – We usually replace the tires in our car by the pair. During cold weather, and when there is snow on the ground, having good tires can be the difference between having an accident or not. Making sure your car has good tires, and that they have the right pressure, is very important for you and the life of your car.

Lighting – By 5:15 p.m. we are experience the sunset in northern states, sunlight is no longer there when we leave work, and during this time of the year, it is very important the light bulbs in our cars are all in optimal condition. The visibility we have during the winter months is much less, and we need to be prepared for it.

Washer Fluid – during a snow storm, it is very frightening to find yourself with no washer fluid in your car. Visibility is null, and a Walmart is nowhere in sight, what do you do? Make sure the fluids in your car are checked before winter arrives, and not only the washer fluid.

By taking care of your car, you can prevent accidents, avoid unnecessary expenses like towing services, and maximize the life of your vehicle.

Does Your Cat Need To See The Vet?

Cats can be great pets. Less fuss and often fairly hands off. But how do you know when they need to go to a veterinarian if they are not obviously sick? We went to a local Medina, Ohio veterinarian Steve Hicks to find out what to look for. Here is what he had to say.

These are the signs your cat needs to go to the vet:

1. If your cat is experiencing chronic weight loss. (in older cats, could be a sign of kidney disease or thyroid disease)

2. No longer grooming itself.

3. Hiding, sleeping in strange places

4. Not using the litter box

5. Increased amounts of urine in litter box (occurs with diabetes and kidney disease)

6. Increase in vomiting (most cats vomit occasionally, especially hairballs, but an increase in the pattern could be a sign of a bigger problem)

7. Decreased appetite

8. Drooling, rubbing face (could be a sign of dental disease)

Our cat has done some of these things for years and it is often not a sign to panic. For example, our cat stopped using the litter box for a bit, we took it to a vet in Kent and it turned out to be because we changed which litter we use. I learned that cats are very picky about changes and something as small as changing brands can cause this. We switched back and the problem was solved.

Our cat also has always liked to go up in the basement ceiling when it gets sick of us and wants to get away. Now that she is older she has stopped, but it was an issue for years but never meant we needed to take her to the vet. Just her personal space I guess.

The key is being aware of the signs and not hesitating to take your cat to a veterinarian if you notice these kinds of issues arising and worrying you because they are not a one-time thing.