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Family-Friendly Vacation Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

Family-Friendly Vacation Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank
Posted by OregonFamily on Jul 26th, 2010
With the economy still not back to full strength, many families are looking for ways to stretch their vacation dollars this summer. One of the ways in which families are doing just that is by cutting travel costs and exploring what their own regions have to...

Explore Nearby Nature – Ride the River

Explore Nearby Nature – Ride the River
Posted by Sandy on Jul 14th, 2010
Looking for a fun family bicycle adventure with plenty of kid-friendly pit stops? Try the Willamette River Bike Path! Below is a peek at some of Nearby Nature’s favorite places to pause along the way. A map of the entire Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System is available...

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning
Posted by Sandy on Jul 14th, 2010
The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks...

EarthTalk – Milk in Bags

EarthTalk – Milk in Bags
Posted by Sandy on Jul 14th, 2010
Dear EarthTalk:  I’ve been hearing about the popularity of milk sold in bags (as opposed to plastic or cardboard cartons) in India, Europe and Canada. What are the environmental advantages to milk in bags, and do you think it will catch on in the U.S.? And what...

Simply Green – Save Time & the Planet…

Simply Green – Save Time & the Planet…
Posted by Sandy on Jul 14th, 2010
Don’t you just love doing laundry? Ah, the endless piles of dirty clothes! And the best part is, it never seems to go away. Good thing it’s so much fun–the average family of four does more than seven loads of laundry a week. What? You don’t relish the...

Dad’s Eye View – In the Wilds With Daddy

Dad’s Eye View – In the Wilds With Daddy
Posted by Sandy on Jul 14th, 2010
When my daughter Sally turned 8, I bought her a new wooden canoe paddle and burned her name into the blade. With the gift came a promise: In July she and I would take a three-day canoe trip on the river that flows past our house. We hung the paddle over her bed. Sally...

Nanny Connection: Mom’s Dating Again!

Nanny Connection: Mom’s Dating Again!
Posted by Sandy on May 28th, 2010
Dear Nanny:  I can’t believe I am writing this, but I think I am ready to start dating!  Several kids and a lot of years later, what do I need to know? Congratulations! You don’t say whether you are a mom or a dad, but the recommendations will be the same. As a...
Nanny Connection Nanny Connection: Have a Safe Summer
Nanny Connection: Have a Safe Summer I am deathly afraid of the water and never learned to swim. I don’t want my kids to grow up the same way but I am also terrified for them to be near water. Please help! What a wonderful thing to be thinking about as summer approaches! You are not alone in your dilemma. Congratulations for not wanting to...
Feature Articles Letting Go
Letting Go ‘Letting go’ is a powerful concept, but can sometimes be mistaken for acceptance, weakness, or a loss of control.  Everyone has baggage – even children.  It’s impossible to travel through the phases of life without developing some kind of emotional and/or physical hang-up.  However, it’s how you...
Recipes Chicken and Brown Rice Sloppy Joes
Chicken and Brown Rice Sloppy Joes Ingredients: 1 2-cup bag Uncle Ben’s Boil-In-Bag Whole Grain Brown Rice 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground chicken 1 cup onion, diced 1/4 cup green pepper, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 3/4 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon...
Family Matters Family Travel Unplugged
Family Travel Unplugged (Family Features) Smart phones, PDAs, email, laptops, wireless Internet access — technology makes it easy to stay in touch with anyone, anywhere. But it can also make it difficult to get connected to the people you’re closest to — your family. When you add personal entertainment devices into the mix, a...