Watch the video below for instructions on how to make quick and easy utensil holder for your 4th of July BBQ!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acL-keeVx4I&w=420&h=315]

Reading <em>still</em> seems to be something I’m telling myself to do more of instead of actually just doing. Now that we’re officially in the throes of a lazy, hazy summer, though, I’m thinking it’s about the perfect time to take action. Now, I know that summer reading may bring back memories of school days when we were forced to work our way through what seemed like a wicked long list of books…but we’re older & wiser (hopefully) now and there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a good book and spending some quality time lost in another world. I’m currently devouring <a href=”http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Life-Marilyn-Monroe/dp/0446198188″>The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe</a> by J. Randy Taraborrelli. (Talk about a crazy world to get lost in! Marilyn’s fascinating; I definitely recommend this book.) Need a little help making your selections? Check out what the <a href=”http://libraries.state.ma.us/pages/2013summer”>Massachusetts Libraries</a> have going on! Their “summer reading programs for readers of all ages” offer great resources – and they even partnered with the <a href=”http://bruins.nhl.com/”>Boston Bruins</a> for some awesome prizes. So whether you’re in it for the prizes, you want to encourage your kids to read more, or you just want to keep the ol’ brain nice & sharp, grab a book and start reading! What’s on your list for this summer?

• Overheating (heat prostration) can kill an animal. Never leave an animal alone in a vehicle, since even with the windows open, a
parked car, truck or van can quickly become a furnace. Parking in shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.
When traveling, carry a gallon thermos filled with fresh, cold water.

• Don’t force your animal to exercise after a meal in hot,humid weather. Always exercise him or her in the cool of the early morning or evening.

• In extremely hot weather, don’t leave your dog standing on the street, and keep walks to a minimum. He is much closer to the hot asphalt and
his body can heat up quickly. His paws can burn since they are not protected by shoes.

• Never take an animal to the beach unless you can provide a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for her to drink. Rinse her off after she has
been in salt water.

• Always provide plenty of shade for an animal staying outside the house. A properly constructed dog house serves best. Bring your dog or cat
inside during the heat of the day and let her rest in a cool part of your house. Always provide plenty of cool, clean water for your animal.

• Please be sensitive to old and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs (especially bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston
terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus) and those with heart or lung diseases should be kept indoors in air-conditioning as much as possible.

• Keep a current license and identification tag on your dog or cat and consider tattooing or microchipping as a means of permanent identification.

• Avoid walking your dog in areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals, as poisonings increase during the
summer when gardens, lawns and trees are sprayed. These chemicals can sicken or kill an animal. Call your veterinarian or The ASPCA
National Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA/NAPCC) if you suspect your animal has been poisoned.

• Be alert for coolant leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant and ingesting just a small amount can cause an
animal’s death. Consider using animal-friendly products that use propylene glycol rather than those containing ethylene glycol.

• A clean coat can help to prevent summer skin problems, so keep your dog or cat well groomed. If he has a heavy coat, shaving your dog’s
hair to a 1-inch length will help prevent overheating. Don’t shave a dog’s hair down to the skin; this robs him of protection from the sun. A cat
should be brushed frequently to keep his coat tangle-free.

• Take your companion animal to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer checkup, including a test for heartworm if your dog isn’t on year-
round preventative medication. Have the doctor recommend a safe, effective flea and tick control program.

• Never tie an animal outside on a correction collar. He can choke to death. If you must tether him, use a buckle collar with identification tags
instead. (This applies in any season.)

• Never let your animal run loose. This is how an animal can contract a fatal disease, including rabies, or be injured, killed or stolen. Be sure there
are no open, unscreened windows or doors through which your animal can fall or jump.

Courtesy of
ASPCA
National Shelter Outreach

Every year since we’ve met my best friend Kristen and I have done something thrill seeking for our birthdays, this year we will be sky diving. It will be the first time for each of us which makes it that much more exciting. A typical jump involves individuals exiting an aircraft (usually an airplane, but sometimes a helicopter or even the gondola of a balloon), at anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 meters (3,000 to 13,000 feet) altitude. Our trip isn’t booked yet because sky diving season doesn’t start until mid May, we will be aiming for sometime in late June. I am so excited for this to take place my only concern is what will top this next year. It’s funny because our personalities are so different Kristen is more reserved, while I’m outgoing and daring but she’s the one that comes up with all these trips for us. Every time we sign waivers I take the time to read what they aren’t liable for while she signs on the dotted line and moves right along. I will be writing a follow up to this blog when we get back from our dive. Wish us luck!

Tasty Salad

With summer upon us and wanting to continue to eat different, healthy meals I came across this grilled chicken and mango salad. I was so surprised how easy it was to make and how delicious it turned out to be. It’s a great recipe because you can add other fruits and vegetables, depending on what you like! This will be something that I will absolutely make again so I wanted to share it with everyone 🙂

What you need:
1 cup prepared GOOD SEASONS Italian Dressing Mix, divided
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
6 cups torn fresh spinach
2 mangos, peeled, sliced
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
½ cup sliced red onions

Make it:
HEAT greased grill to medium. Pour 1/2 cup dressing over chicken in shallow glass dish; turn chicken over to evenly coat both sides of each breast. Refrigerate 15 min. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
GRILL chicken 5 to 7 min. on each side or until cooked through, Slice chicken into desired size. Quickly grill slices of mango (or pineapple)
COVER platter with spinach; top with chicken, fruit, onions and remaining dressing.
ENJOY!!!

Garlic Corn on the Cob
Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 40 Minutes

Servings: 12

“Delicious and fresh summer treat. A favorite for everyone.”

Ingredients:

12 ears corn, husked and cleaned

12 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup garlic powder
Directions:

1.

Preheat grill for medium heat, or preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.

Place each ear of corn on a separate square of aluminum foil. Place 1 tablespoon of butter on each one, and sprinkle with garlic powder. Wrap ears tightly with the foil.

3.

Place ears of corn on the grill or in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, turning over occasionally.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

I first heard about Color Me Rad when my sister ran a race last year. In looking at her pictures and hearing all about it seems like a real fun race. Color Me Rad goes all over the US and the proceeds go to various causes, not just one in particular. Which is why I am so excited that Color Me Rad is coming to Maine on August 24, 2013. The whole idea behind Color Me Rad is run for the heck of it, not for any other reason than that. The race is at the Brunswick Landing and starts right at 9:00 am. Color bombs start flying right at 9:00 and every five minutes after that for the duration of the race.

All the proceeds are going to the YMCA, which is so near and dear to my heart! When I moved to Maine I worked for the Summer Camp back in 2007. I really loved the people that I was working for and children I was working with. I am excited to be able to do something that I love and the proceeds of this race will benefit the YMCA of Portland ME that I love.

I hope to get a group of people to join in with me, way more fun that way! Happy running!

This pulled pork recipe <a href=”http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/07/root-beer-pulled-pork/”>http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/07/root-beer-pulled-pork/</a> (which we recently posted the link to on our Facebook page) is soooo yummy and surprisingly easy! I’ve made it before with rave reviews, and on my recommendation two of the girls in the office tried it over the weekend, also with smashing success!

Whenever anyone asks “do you know a good recipe for ______?” I almost always direct them to a recipe from Budget Bytes. After saying this a zillion times, I realized I should spread the word about this gem of a blog a little more broadly.

To name just a few of my favorites, I’ve tried Beth’s hearty black bean quesadillas, honey spice chicken thighs, roasted root vegetables, Italian meatballs, balsamic bruschetta chicken, teriyaki meatball bowls, chicken yakisoba, English muffins, sweet potato corn cakes… ok that was more than a few, but that just goes to show how obsessed I am with this girl’s recipes! Her creations make up at least 80% of my meal plan. On top of her recipes being consistently delicious, they’re affordable! Here’s Beth’s mission statement from her website:

<em>”As a food lover and a number cruncher I’ve decided that cooking on a budget shouldn’t mean canned beans and ramen noodles night after night. This is my web log of good food cooked with little cash. My wallet is full and my stomach is too.”</em>

Can’t decide what’s for dinner? Head on over to <a href=”http://budgetbytes.com”>www.budgetbytes.com </a>

Happy Cooking!

Watch the video below for instructions on how to make quick and easy personalized coffee mugs!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06uqexe_bKc&w=420&h=315]

I have been hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire since I was little. My dad and I took our first overnight trip when I was seven and I have loved the White Mountains and hiking ever since. This is one of the most wonderful things you can do, as an individual or as a family. Hiking has so many benefits: you get out into the fresh air, get great exercise, take in gorgeous views and I have never met an unfriendly person on a mountain! Summer is a great time to go hiking, so here are a couple of ideas of great places to go! <img src=”{filedir_2}white_carin.jpg” alt=”go!” height=”172″ width=”207″ />
• Mount Monadnock. It is a good beginners hike and has the benefit of rocky summit so you get some incredible views as it is the highest peak in 30 miles! It is mentioned by both Emerson and Thoreua in their writings. Hike it – trust me and thousands of other people – there is a reason this is one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world! <img src=”{filedir_2}white_hikers.jpg” alt=” world!” height=”375″ width=”500″ />
• Hike in to Lonesome Lake Hut operated by the AMC. I can tell you from experience that this is just not a hard hike. The first time we took my cousins there they hiked in with SUITCASES instead of packs! Come for a day or spend the night! And remember to bring your bathing suit because there is no way you can pass up a dip in the lake!
• Mt. Washington! This is the highest of the peaks in the White Mountains and the summit is known to have some of the worst and most changeable weather in the world, so do not hike this unprepared! However if you do – it truly is wonderful. If you don’t think you are up to doing the whole loop in one day, or if you just want to enjoy the view some more, then make a reservation with the AMC for the Lake of the Clouds Hut and spend the night! <img src=”{filedir_2}lake_of_the_clouds.jpg” alt=”night!” height=”174″ width=”226″ />
So grab your boots and some GORP and hit the trails!