With the 4th of July comes fireworks, fun with family and friends and probably a backyard barbecue. With regard to the safety of those things mentioned, you’d probably expect me to discuss being cautious with fireworks as it is not uncommon to hear about mishaps with such this time of year. But did you know that every year, 7,000 Americans…[...]

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Two years ago, my family and I went to the beach. Before heading out to enjoy the sand and sun, I made sure that we were all lathered in sunscreen.  We were outside for most of the day with consistent breaks under a canopy to avoid sunburn.  Later that evening, we went out to dinner and as I took my…[...]

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You’ve had a long day at work. You just want to go home and relax, but there’s that little voice in the back of your head telling you to stay away from the couch and that bag of potato chips and go get some exercise. Ugh! That is the last thing you want to do, but you know you should.…[...]

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One great part about the summer months is the opportunity to fire up your grill and cook outdoors! For me personally, food just tastes better when it has been cooked over a hot flame outside.  I have recently discovered foil-baked meals, which consists of meat, potatoes, vegetables and seasonings all packed inside an aluminum sealed makeshift bowl and then baked…[...]

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While I was in college, I took a world religion class. My instructor was a nun who was a lovely person and well-informed on the different religions of the world. It was really an interesting subject to study. It was, and still is, fascinating to me that many of the other religious works are similar to the St. James version…[...]

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My 14-year-old son graduated from middle school this year. There was a ceremony for the kids on the school’s football field. Several of the faculty and students participated by giving speeches, receiving awards, etc.  Of course, the highlight for me was when my son walked up to the stage and received his three awards. In addition to that moment, though,…[...]

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With the hot weather upon us it’s important to be mindful of keeping your pets comfortable in the heat. To prevent overheating, keep in mind the following: -If they must be outside, your dogs need a cool, shaded place out of the sun to rest. -Clean cool water is very important this time of year for your dogs. -Don’t push…[...]

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My family has taken a vacation every summer since I was 5 years old. Last year we went to New Orleans and this summer we are going on a cruise. It used to be just my immediate family (mom, dad, and sisters) but the trip now includes my extended family, too - aunts, uncles and cousins. It’s great. The more…[...]

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With summertime, comes heat, and with heat can come dehydration. As much as we all love summer, please keep in mind our bodies need some extra attention and help to maintain a healthy core.  Water intake can play a big role in this. Myself, like many others, do not consume enough water daily.  I personally would much rather drink something…[...]

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One day as I was scrolling through social media, a picture of a beautiful garden caught my attention. Of course I opened up my friend’s online album and looked through her gardening creations. This got my wheels turning and I decided to make some floral creations for my own porch. I know we are all busy, and at first thought…[...]

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