The weather is getting warmer! With summer practically here (this year’s summer solstice is June 21, 2010) and school being out, that typically means the same thing for most families - busy, busy, busy! Kids are in different summer sports or programs, parents are at work, there are family trips, gatherings and barbeques! With all of this going on, a lot of people end up choosing to quickly grab food at the nearest fast food place... [More]

It seems as though everyone here at work has their summer vacation planned. I’ve heard about several Caribbean cruises, one fantastic-sounding trip to a resort in Mexico and a couple of guys were recently was telling me about a trip later this summer out to Vegas for a bachelor party. Now, it’s hard to imagine how these different vacations could be similar, but there is a common thread tying them all together. Any guesses what that could be?.. [More]

Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite! Many of you probably have childhood memories of your parents reciting this rhyme as they tucked you into bed. Perhaps you even say it to your own kids. In fact, the other night my mom ended our phone conversation with that exact phrase! As I lay in bed that night, I started to wonder if there was any truth to the phrase. Turns out, there is!.. [More]

We’ve all heard of first-hand smoke, which is the smoke a smoker inhales through a cigarette or pipe, and the health risks it poses to the smoker. And, naturally, we’ve also heard of second-hand smoke, which is the smoke inhaled from the exhaust of a cigarette, and the health risks it can cause to smokers and non-smokers in the vicinity. But many have not heard of a new term that is popping up in conversations: third-hand smoke... [More]

Are any of you struggling to maintain your weight? It seems like a lot of the people I talk with are. Weight maintenance can be a tricky balancing act! To try and maintain his weight, one of my friends lowered his caloric intake a bit, but he found that his stomach was growling within an hour after every meal! My friend is a smart guy and knew he was still eating enough calories. So the other day, he came to me, wondering why he was so hungry... [More]

One of my good friends is in the process of buying a new home. He’s really excited about the upcoming purchase, but a few days ago he asked me what I thought about getting the home tested for radon. We both decided to do some research and see if testing was necessary. We found out it certainly was! In fact, after what we discovered, I even decided to test my own home for radon... [More]

The other weekend, I had my friends and family over for a barbeque. As the food was cooking, we got into a conversation about some of our favorite flavors. My uncle, joking around as always, made the comment, “There are really only three things to flavor food with: salt, pepper and butter.” We all laughed, but the conversation got me thinking. I wanted to explore ways to add flavor to food without adding unnecessary fat and sodium... [More]

As I was grocery shopping the other day I was surprised at how expensive some of the produce is getting. One of my favorite fruits – blueberries – cost nearly $4.00. On top of that, the peppers I like to munch on (and dip in salsa and hummus) had gone up in price. Because I value my health, I really try to take good care of myself and part of that is feeding my body with nutritious foods. At the same time, I realize that I can’t afford to spend a whole paycheck at the grocery store... [More]

As a conscious consumer I like to be aware of what foods are best for me. This means that when I’m at the grocery store, I am always seeking out foods with the best health benefits. Ultimately, this is all part of my goal to a healthy diet. Recently, with this goal in mind, I’ve decided to incorporate organic foods into my meals... [More]

My sister is a houseplant fanatic. Sometimes, just to tease her, I like to sing “Welcome to the Jungle” when I go over to visit. (She thinks it’s funny, don’t let her fool you!) While her house may not actually qualify as a jungle, it doesn’t take long to notice out that she’s a bona fide indoor green thumb. One time, I made the mistake about asking about one of the ivy plants she had sitting in her windowsill... [More]