November 22, 2023 by taylor.4411 Thanksgiving table with roasted turkey, sliced ham and side dishes With many different holidays approaching, it is important that we do our best to keep our family and friends safe. Having large holiday dinners is fun, exciting, and a great way to spend time with our family and friends, but […]
Yachtzee-like game This afternoon my daughter comes into the living room and asks, “Where is the Yahtzee?” I was a little miffed. Why would I be upset that my 17-yo wants to do something that doesn’t involve technology? Let me explain. My parents recently came home from Florida to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and for […]
Tips for daycare, preschool, and school age drop-offs and transitions If your children are like mine, it’s not always easy for them to say goodbye, especially when going to daycare or school. While some children might run in the classroom excited for the day, it’s okay if that is not how it looks for you! While […]
One of the lesser-known benefits of consuming a diet high in polyphenols is its beneficial impact on your gut bacteria. Polyphenols are natural compounds found in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, and wine. They provide amazing health benefits as they proceed through the digestive tract. The majority of polyphenol compounds stay present […]
Many of us get the urge to grab a snack from the vending machine. You know that when you do, most of your choices will be the high calorie, high fat or sugar selections you may crave. The next time the urge hits for a snack from the vending machine, take a minute to select […]
Posted in Healthy aging, retirement, finances, emotional health, tagged Building communities, communities, education, families, family and consumer sciences, fcs, Healthy Living, home ec, home economics, life skills on August 15, 2023| Leave a Comment » Today, as Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Educators, often we are asked what is FCS? FCS was originally called Home […]
About a year ago, I wrote a blog titled Fall: A SAD Time of Year. I talked about my experience with the winter blues, a milder form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I contrasted symptoms of winter blues versus SAD, and I reviewed things you can do to alleviate symptoms. As I write this today, […]
January 18, 2024 by erinrugg Tips for daycare, preschool, and school age drop-offs and transitions If your children are like mine, it’s not always easy for them to say goodbye, especially when going to daycare or school. While some children might run in the classroom excited for the day, it’s okay if that is not […]
I am amid a downsizing phase of life. Typically, when we think of downsizing, we think of empty nesters or older adults. However, for me, I am downsizing simply because I am moving from a two-story home to a one-story home. As I began to sort through my possessions, it became overwhelming. What do I […]
Rainbow over green fields When I wrote my blog Certainty in Uncertain Times in March, little did I know how many things would change over the next 8 months. I didn’t know I would still be working primarily from home, not see my colleagues for a year except on Zoom, all the conferences I attend […]
November 28, 2023 by LittleJ As we enjoy some extra family time together around the table over the holiday season, it is not just benefiting our taste buds. Family mealtime is something that is a good practice all year long. Eating together helps children grow and develop, improves family relationships, and ensures that all participants […]
Studies show families who eat meals together regularly benefit. Both parents and kids are included in these benefits. Food patterns for the future generation are healthier when families eat together. In other words, eating together today can impact healthy food patterns of tomorrow. University of Minnesota research shows that teens that ate meals together with […]
My dad picking apples Apple season is upon us! I grew up in a rural area in western New York where we had an old orchard of apples growing wild along the yard and woods on our property. We spent many fall days picking apples for homemade applesauce, cider, and many apple desserts. According to […]
Do you find yourself seeing the negative in most situations? No matter where we are, the negative voice always seems to be louder than the positive one. Recently, I have been trying to see the joy in every day moments, even if they are difficult. This has freed me to laugh more and to find […]