Seashell Utensil & Napkin Holder

Provided by Free Kids Crafts http://www.freekidscrafts.com/seashell-utensil-and-napkin-holder/ This Seashell Utensil and Napkin Holder is a perfect and useful decoration for your beach themed party. It is pretty and a recycling project too. Supplies: Small Seashells Sand Clean, Dry Quart and Pint Food Containers with Lids Tacky Glue Low Temp Glue Gun Instructions: Spread a thin layer of tacky glue around the bottom half of the food container. Roll in sand. Shake off extra. Let dry. Hot glue the lid to the bottom of the container to create a small rim around the bottom. Hot glue seashells all around. Use pint size container to hold napkins and quart size to hold plastic utensils. This project was created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.

An Alternative to Traditional Health Insurance

My health insurance situation failed through the Marketplace.  I did some research and found Health Share programs as an alternative.  Here is a writer who shares in the Heart to Heart Newsletter from time to time and their choice of a Health Share program. There are other worthy options in our current health care system as well but here is one. - Michelle
So Much More

http://eileen-rife.blogspot.com/2016/05/so-much-more.html
Used with Permission by Eileen Rife 

 

Regardless of our personal and joint likes/dislikes, there's one thing we definitely share in common and wholeheartedly recommend to others who testify to a love for Jesus.  My husband, Chuck, and I enjoy a good restaurant. We like to dance and occasionally ride horses together. I even humor him by hitting a golf ball or two, and he humors me on occasion by reading together.
Samaritan Ministries. A health-sharing organization for believers in Jesus Christ.

 

Before you write this off as yet another commercial for health insurance, let me clarify . . .
This is NOT health insurance.

It is so much more.

From time to time people ask me why we chose to become Samaritan Ministry members. In a nutshell, here's why.
1. Members pray for other members who have medical needs, and God answers those prayers.
2. Eleven months a year members send their monthly share directly to one another--household to household, along with an encouraging card/note. Once each year the monthly share is sent to Samaritan Ministries to support ministry operations.
3. All members confirm their belief in Jesus Christ and agree to live a biblical lifestyle, eliminating many unhealthy practices.
4. Members work to keep their own medical costs down which benefits all members.
5. Samaritan Ministries is recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 religious, charitable organization. SM exists for ministry, not for profit. There are no stockholder dividends.
6. Every part of Samaritan Ministries is dependent on God answering the prayers of His people. He alone can provide for all of our needs. All of the glory and praise go to Him.

The threefold ministry of Samaritan Ministries' members . . .
Send a note. Pay your share. Always stay alert in prayer.

For more information about Samaritan Ministries, call toll-free at 1-888-268-4377, or visit them online at www.samaritanministries.org.

20 Minutes of Exercise Can Boost Your Mood for the Day

Written by Isabel Smith; Used with Permission by Reboot with Joe http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/benefits-of-20-minutes-of-exercise/
You're sitting at your desk at work and your boss throws another pile of papers in front of you to complete by 5pm. Believe me, we've all been there. Your heart begins to race, thanks to the fight-or-flight hormone adrenaline, and your palms begin to sweat because those important plans you made tonight might need to be canceled. At this point your cortisol levels are rising and your blood sugar is beginning to go up as well.

You feel flustered, stressed and in a bad mood. Then you're faced with this decision: Do you spend your lunch break eating a meal you think will comfort you or go to the gym for 20 minutes to blow off some steam? You think food obviously because wouldn't a 20-minute workout be pointless?

Nope! It's not pointless. Get yourself to the gym! There is a huge benefit to a 20-minute workout. In fact, researchers found that 20 minutes of working out can help to promote better mood for up to 12 hours after you've finished exercising.

So if you're still contemplating, here are 5 reasons why 20 minutes of exercise can make you seriously happy.

1. It's energizing.

   The unfortunate reality of working today is that we sit most of the time, which can make us feel tired and sluggish. Even 20 minutes of exercise can get us up and get our blood flowing, which helps to promote energy and mental clarity (a.k.a you get your work done faster and more efficiently).

2. Helps to lower the stress hormone cortisol.

   Some stress is good, but too much isn't good for us. When we have ongoing stress (and/or not enough sleep), our bodies release cortisol - a stress hormone that can cause blood sugar to be elevated, disrupt work productivity, disrupt sleep and much more. In short, less cortisol is a good thing for happiness and productivity.

3. Promotes release of feel-good brain chemicals.

   Chemicals like serotonin and dopamine are released when you break a sweat and those can trigger happiness.

4. Promotes a healthy brain (long-term).

   In addition to serotonin and dopamine released with exercise, a chemical called neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is also released. BDNF can also help to protect the brain from emotional disorders and depression caused by stress long-term.

5. Helps you relax and release some stress.

   Finally, even though it's only 20 minutes of exercise, the brain produces a hormone called gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA to be released. GABA is a key neurohormone that helps to promote relaxation and also prompts serotonin (again, that feel good hormone) to be released as well.

If you're looking for ways to get moving in a short period of time, here's a few workouts for you to try:

• 24 Minute No Equipment Total Body Workout
• 14 Minute No Excuses Workout
• 21 Minute Total Body Summer Workout

After your quick workout, you're going to be craving a healthy lunch and will be energized to complete your project.

Isabel is a Registered Dietitian, wellness expert and fitness coach. Isabel has her own nutrition and wellness practice based in New York City, Isabel Smith Nutrition.

Camping with the Family - An Endless Adventure

Used with Permission by Barbara Baranowski Children love adventure.  One of our grandsons is sixteen, and not only does he remember the camping adventures we have taken him on, but he is eager for new ones.  We enjoyed camping with our daughters when they were growing up, and now they camp with their families.  Camping provides adventure with many possibilities.  But the path to a successful camping experience starts long before the trip begins. We have planned many camping trips. Here are a few tips that we have found useful for the  preparation and enjoyment of camping with the family. 1.    Plan with all ages in mind.  If the children are old enough, allow them to participate in the planning meal, supplies, and activities. Discuss with them the activities that are provided at the campground. For example, campgrounds may have nature talks and hikes, fishing, swimming, boating, Jr. Ranger activities (to earn a badge), nature exhibits, horseback riding, and more. Explore first what the campground has, then present those activities to the children, allowing them to discuss what they would enjoy. 2.    Research the camping area.  If possible, show pictures of what a campsite or camping area might look like. Discuss the animals that may be enjoying that campground as well, and for the younger children pictures of animals are a great visual.  There are plenty of wildlife books in bookstores. Know about the environment where you will be camping. 3.    Discuss equipment that campers use. Go online for lists that can be duplicated, then take the children to a store that sells camping equipment, like Dick's or Sportsman's Warehouse, and let them help pick out the equipment. If possible, have a yard campout using the equipment before actually going on the trip.  Practice cooking and setting up a tent.  Walk around with the hiking backpack filled with water bottles, rain gear, and snacks. Be totally familiar with your supplies before you take them to an unfamiliar place.  This will help you avoid a difficult situation or even an emergency. 4.    Practice camper activities.  Take walks around your neighborhood, have nature talks, make a nature collage with leaves, feathers, rocks, etc., pick camper friendly recipes to try at home first, shop for food, and search the bookstores for children's books about the beach, mountains, parks - the place where the family will camp. 5.    Practice safe camping and hiking strategies. Take extra supplies (check for water availability).  Take plenty of warm clothing and rain gear. Even in the summer, the area may be cool at night.  Take plenty of bug spray, suntan lotion, and first aid supplies.  Make sure to have durable, sturdy hiking clothes and shoes.  For babies, make sure to have plenty of jarred baby food, cereal, bottled water, and formula. Bring milk that doesn't have to be refrigerated. When hiking, no matter the length of the hike, take plenty of water.  We have seen parents with young families carrying little or no water. Plan for protein and other snacks - especially for hiking. Discuss activity alternatives for rainy days.  Have plenty of flashlights, camping lanterns, and glow sticks. 6.    Set boundaries for the campers.  Children are born curious and inquisitive. Make sure that boundaries around the camping area/activities have been impressed upon them.  Discuss security issues - staying near parents and not talking to strangers. Make sure they are always in range of communication and eyesight. 7.    Enjoy the fun by bringing along activities the children will love.  Especially when our children were younger, we provided a "fun tent," an extra canopy with sides that could be used for craft and coloring activities.  They always enjoyed going into the fun tent and being creative.  This tent worked well every day, but especially on rainy days. Also, bring along a few riding toys.  Most campgrounds have paved roads leading to the campsites. 8.    Finally, pack your resilience, understanding, and patience. There may be unexpected situations arise with children, such as the need for reassurance in a new place. However, if children see you enjoying the experience, they will feel comforted and enthusiastic. Enjoy all that God has created and make memories no matter where you camp with your family. Camping indeed can be an endless adventure. Barbara Baranowski is a published writer and inspirational speaker devoted to family, educational, and spiritual issues.  She lives with her husband John in Roanoke, Virginia, and is a retired middle school teacher.

How to Create Your Own Memories Site for Family

Used with Permission by Michelle Gill  www.michellergill.com   When you have family in other states and other countries, it can be hard to remember to share those special moments with every person.  A blog is a great way to do that.  It sounds like that would be too complicated or cost too much.  It is not.  It can be free and most services are very easy to use. There are several other options as well for online sharing that does not involve "social media". A Family Blog - There are many companies that provide free hosting for your blog.  The catch is their company name becomes part of the internet address of your blog, ie: www.familyblog.blogspot.com or www.familyblog.wordpress.com.  (Examples:  Wordpress, Google, Weebly) Online Photograph Collections - There are several services that allow you to upload your photos to keep in one place and some even provide a sharing website.  (Examples:  Shutterfly, Google) Free Online Newsletter Services - Another option is to send out a family newsletter.  (Example:  Mailchimp) (All of the options that I mentioned above are free and simple.)

Police Department Offers Special ‘Tip’ For Parents With Kids In Crowds

Important Message for Parents:

"Taking your young child to a big event, theme park, or other busy location?"

Resource:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/police-department-offers-special-tip-for-parents-with-kids-in-crowds_us_57693dbee4b0853f8bf219dd

Caroline Bologna
Parents Editor, The Huffington Post

Summer is upon us, and many parents will be taking their children to outdoor events and attractions with large crowds, like theme parks, local festivals, zoos and carnivals.

A California police department offered some advice for parents who want to be prepared in the event of a separation. Last week the Clovis Police Department posted a special “#TipOfTheDay” on Facebook for parents with young kids.

“Taking your young child to a big event, theme park, or other busy location?” begins the post. “Write your phone number on their wrist and cover it with liquid band aid in case you get separated.”

The post — which features instructional images from mom and blogger Cherise McClimans — also advises parents to “take a photo of them using your cell phone the morning of the event so you have their clothing, hair style, and up to date photo. #BePrepared.”

According to the Clovis Police Department, this advice is a repost of a #TipOfTheDay they shared back in September in anticipation of a local festival. With over 7,000 shares, the post was “one of our most popular ever,” they explained. “[S]o we decided to post again!” 

This repost has reached over 10,000 shares and 3,000 likes.
While it’s hard to anticipate the unthinkable, it’s clear that this attitude of preparedness has resonated with many parents. And of course, taking such measures does not mean families should forgo vigilance in large crowds.

5 Gross Grilling Mistakes Damaging Your Health

by Dr. Josh Axe - Used by permission

 https://draxe.com/grilling-mistakes/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
 
There’s nothing like getting family and friends together for a weekend of grilling in warm weather. However, before you get those healthy grilling recipes cooking, watch out for grilling mistakes.
Grilling mistakes pose some specific health risks, though, including exposure to high levels of cancer-causing compounds like heterocyclic amines (HCAs). HCAs are formed in meat muscle tissue during high temperature cooking like grilling. (1) While most closely linked to stomach and colon cancers, HCAs also damage DNA and are linked to an increased risk in breast, liver, lung, prostate and skin cancer. (2, 3)
Luckily, there are relatively easy ways to protect yourself from HCAs and other lesser-known grilling mistakes that could threaten your health.

---

Avoid These 5 Grilling Mistakes

1. You Use Store-Bought Marinades
If you marinade meat right, you can drastically reduce levels of cancer-causing compounds created during grilling. Read the ingredients on most store-bought marinades, however, and you’ll likely see many products contain sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, two problematic ingredients that actually make grilling much more dangerous. Using thicker, store-bought marinades containing sweeteners like sugar, high-fructose corn syrup or even honey makes charring more likely, possibly increasing exposure to carcinogens. (4)
Opt for thinner vinegar or lemon juice-based marinades rich in herbs and spices, including carcinogen-neutralizing rosemary, instead. Experiments from the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii discovered teriyaki marinade led to a 67 percent reduction in carcinogenic HCAs. A marinade containing turmeric and garlic reduce HCAs by 50 percent. Be careful, though, because sugary marinades can actually triple HCA levels. (5, 6)
The empowering take on this is that the American Institute for Cancer Research found that using healthy marinating recipes can actually lower HCA levels by up to 96 percent. (7)

2. You Fire Up Worming Meds
They say you are what you eat. And if you’re cooking up factory-farmed meat, you’re making one of the biggest grilling mistakes. Drugs are so common in agriculture today that harmful medications routinely turn up in nonorganic meat. For instance, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service  detects medications like ivermectin (an animal wormer), flunixin (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), penicillin and ciprofloxacin (antibiotics), and other drugs at levels that are in violation of current regulations. Some of these drugs are linked to neurological impacts, allergic reactions and kidney damage in humans. Exposing these meds in meat to high temperatures doesn’t always neutralize them all, and in some cases can make them more toxic. (8, 9, 10)
If you’re grilling meat, always choose grass-fed, organic options. Of course, you can also choose organic veggies to grill, too. Just avoid ones on the dirty dozen list.

3. You Wrap Your Taters in Poison
Wrapping potatoes (or even fish) in aluminum foil with a dollop of butter is a fast and easy way to cook on the grill. The problem is aluminum foil has been shown to leach when exposed to high temperatures. That’s concerning, since there’s a link between aluminum and dementia. (11)
A 2011 study published in the International Journal of Electrochemical Science also found that exposing food in aluminum foil to heat caused leaching to occur in levels that would be considered unacceptable by the World Health Organization. (12)

4. You Use Nonstick Accessories 
Nonstick grilling accessories, including the actual grates, spatulas and grilling griddles, pans, and mats are tempting because they can make an otherwise messy cleanup a cinch. The problem is that perfluorooctanoic chemicals and related compounds commonly found in nonstick cookware have been linked to obesity, abnormal thyroid hormone levels, and toxicity to the brain, liver, prostate and kidneys. While it may require more elbow grease during cleanup, skip the nonstick grilling accessories and use ones without the chemical coatings instead. (13)

5. You Fail to Precook
The American Institute for Cancer Research highly recommends precooking meat before firing it up on the grill. This helps reduce “drippings” on the grill, which turn into smoke full of cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Partially cooking meat in on the stovetop or oven and then immediately transferring to a preheated grill helps lower levels of PAHs. (14)

Read Next: 29 Healthy Grilling Recipes

Dr. Josh Axe is on a mission to provide you and your family with the highest quality nutrition tips and healthy recipes in the world.   https://draxe.com