One of the things that’s most unfair about pregnancy is how hard it is
to sleep. You’re supposed to be getting your rest and saving up your
energy for having a newborn on your hands, but hormones give you weird
dreams and make you feel nauseated, too hot, or too cold. The doctors
and the What To Expect When You’re Expecting book make you feel that
the only safe way to sleep is on your side, your chest is tender,
you’re getting pounded by feet from the inside out, and more often than
not, you’re in pain from sciatica or some other nerve that’s not used
to being pinched. Here are a few suggestions to make sleeping easier during pregnancy:

1. A Body Pillow

Body pillows are long cylindrical pillows that you can wrap your limbs
around like a sleeping partner, but they’re lighter so your arms don’t
fall asleep, and they don’t wriggle and squirm. They help take pressure
off of overtaxed nerves and can really make the difference between a
good night’s sleep and misery. You can get a utilitarian version at any
store that sells maternity clothes, or Ralph Lauren makes a decorator
version for more upscale new moms.

2. Recliners

If you have access to a recliner, sleeping partially reclined — feet
up, back just slightly back — can be the most comfortable position for
women in their third trimester. If not, get someone to take you for a
long car ride and duplicate it as best as possible for a long nap.

3. A Supportive Bra

Don’t underestimate the pain that a tender chest can cause you during
pregnancy. A good supportive bra will help immeasurably with this
problem. There are many styles you can find that are adaptable as
nursing bras after you have the baby.

4. Comfortable Maternity Clothes

Temperature control during pregnancy is difficult due to hormonal
changes. The best way to handle the roller coaster of being hot and
cold is with layers. Get a long-sleeved tee shirt and put it over a
camisole. If you wake up hot in the middle of the night, it’s easier to
go back to sleep if you just have to pull a light layer off in the dark
than doing a full change.

Hey, guess what? Remember the Junior Ranger program available when taking kids to visit that big crack in the earth in Arizona? Well, America is a fantastic country from sea to shining sea, and who cares if there isn’t even a shining sea at the Grand Canyon; it’s close enough to fit this-here analogy. Way out east, all the way across the country, there is a shining sea and situated upon a small harbor stands a 151-foot tall woman. Now, don’t go calling 911, her name is Lady Liberty and she’s perfectly harmless. And guess what? The Statue of Liberty also offers a Junior Ranger program not unlike what is offered at the Grand Canyon.

Just as every kid, and most adults, should visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their lives, they should also see the Statue of Liberty. And the Statue of Liberty Junior Ranger program is just the thing to make a visit memorable. Because, after all, there is only so much memory that can be packed into the mind of a kid simply from riding a ferry to Liberty Island and gawking upward. The Junior Ranger program at the Statue of Liberty offers kids the chance to make their visit to Liberty Island a learning experience that also just happens to be fun. Consider it a kind of scavenger hunt for trivia, information and knowledge. By the time the kids get through filling out all the missing information in their Junior Ranger kit, they’ll know enough to write a book or host a talk show. In fact, the amount of factual information that will fill their heads will make them over qualified to become a talk show host.

The Statue of Liberty is one of the big three American tourist spots that every citizen needs to visit, alongside Mt. Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. The only problem is that most kids will probably enjoy the majesty of the Statue of Liberty the least of these three. Of course, the caretakers of the very tall Ms. Liberty probably recognized this and that’s why they came up with this great Ranger program to toss a little adventure that is sorely missing from this American landmark.

They’ve been crawling around for weeks on end and have finally taken their first step. Congratulations! Your baby is now ready for a fresh new pair of walking shoes. Infant or toddler shoes are an absolute essential the moment your young one works up the courage to take their first few steps. They’ll need a quality pair of shoes that support their feet and ankles so they can perform their next balancing act.

As you welcome your little one into the world from their new perspective, here are some shopping tips for new parents on choosing the right pair of baby shoes:

1. Look for breathable materials. Thick and durable shoes might look practical, but shoes need to be made with materials that help feet breathe. This ensures your baby’s feet will have healthy circulation and provide enough support for any hot days ahead.

2. Have your baby or toddler fitted for the right size. This is especially important if you’re buying boots or ankle-high shoes because these styles can easily trap your baby’s feet and become uncomfortable. Look for lightweight materials and flexible soles that mold into the shape of your baby’s feet over time.

3. Opt for Velcro. Velcro makes it super easy to strap on those shoes at a moment’s notice and avoid the hassle of tying up laces, or your little guy or gal tripping over undone laces. Velcro does have a major drawback; your curious little tot is much more likely to untie their own shoes with the handy Velcro strap when you’re out and about. Still, Velcro is a practical and convenient way to keep those shoes securely in place, and you can teach your baby or toddler to cooperate. Well, at least most of the time.

4. Look for non-slip soles. Shoes with light to heavy tread will prevent your baby from slipping and sliding their way around hardwood floors and tile. These types of shoes will also help the feet maintain balance, and give your young one a chance to move and explore with ease.

5. Try noise making shoes. Shoes that squeak or make a noise are valuable for parents who want to keep track of their little one. They’re also fun for the baby or toddler, as many enjoy making noise and attracting attention wherever they go!

One of the great things about gardening is that it can serve as a great family recreation activity, while at the same time providing your family with a source of inexpensive and healthy produce. Additionally, a family garden teaches children to help out around the house and is a great way to help them learn that there are great rewards that come with hard work. Even children can enjoy working in a family garden. Just remember that you all need to do is work together as a family to make it a fun family recreation, as well as teaching, experience.

Tips for making a family garden
Consider activities that are age appropriate. Children of all ages can dig holes and help put the seeds in. It is also possible for toddlers to help remove rocks from the garden area. However, some children may not be able to help in all capacities. Keep a section of the garden available only for digging. This will allow the youngest children the ability to feel as though they are part of the adventure.

Set aside specific shoes for gardening. Shoes are going to get dirty, so try and set them aside, just out the back door or inside the garage, and designate them as “gardening shoes.” Slip-on shoes , shoes with Velcro or old canvas shoes are ideal for outside work in a family garden. These are quick and easy to put on and take off and can be exclusively for work in the garden.

Have a variety of plants. Include large sunflowers in the family garden, along with vegetables. Cherry tomatoes, pumpkins (and other vine plants) and beans (and peas that climb) are all fun for children. Talk about the different plants and what they can be used for. Harvest them together and make a point to eat produce from your garden. If there is enough, be sure to freeze or bottle it for later in the year.

Some of my happiest memories growing up were made in the family garden. Family recreation doesn’t have to be expensive or take you away from home. You can build strong family ties in your own backyard.

Labor Day is right around the corner. It’s both a time to celebrate and shed a tear. It’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to high heating bills. More importantly, it’s time to break out the grill for one last meal. While most people say farewell to their faithful grills by cooking hotdogs and hamburgers, there are healthier meals to consider. Stop curling your nose up right this minute. Even though your Labor Day feast will be healthy, it doesn’t have to flavorless. Best of all, this meal is quick and easy to fix.

Grilled Chicken with Red, White, and Blue Fruit Salsa
Serves 4

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat
• Olive oil
• Sea salt, to taste
• Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 cup strawberries, chopped
• 1 cup of peaches, chopped
• 1 cup of blackberries

• ½ lime, juiced

1. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill the chicken breasts until cooked through.
3. In the meantime, combine the strawberries, peaches, blackberries and lime juice.
4. When the chicken is cooked, top each breast with fruit salsa and serve immediately.
5. Serve with a side salad or grilled vegetables.

Tips:
Taste the salsa to determine if it’s sweet enough. If not, add sugar substitute to taste.
You may need a whole lime depending on how juicy your lime is.

Grilled Banana Splits
Serves 4

• 4 plums, cut in half and pitted
• 4 peaches, cut in half and pitted
• 4 large spears of pineapple
• 4 bananas, sliced in half lengthwise

• Fat-free frozen vanilla yogurt

1. Grill the plums, peaches, and pineapple while you’re grilling the rest of your meal.
2. Allow the fruit to cool while you enjoy your dinner.
3. Grill the bananas and chop the other grilled fruit.
4. Place the bananas in long dishes and top with three scoops of frozen yogurt per dish.
5. Top each scoop with a different grilled fruit.

Who said healthy recipes had to be boring? Grab a pair of flip flops and enjoy the last few days of summer.

Okay, you saw Bigfoot in Willow Creek, CA and aliens in Roswell, NM. Now it is time to complete the trilogy and take in a sea monster. No, not Nessie. The Loch Ness is simply too far away for most Americans to get to in this age air travel costing as much as a small compact car. Have no fear, however, because America has its own famous sea monster . And she’s located in one of the most beautiful states in the country: Vermont.

If the Loch Ness Monster is real, then there is reason to believe that the creature found in Lake Champlain is a relative. Both of these sea creatures share the many of the same characteristics and Champ, as the creature is called, may be a leftover of the dinosaur era, specifically a plesiosaur. The Scots often refer to these creatures a water horse and there is much in that. The photos that have taken of Champ or Nessie don’t actually look like a horse, of course, but do you remember that breathtaking sense of wonder you used to get when you were a kid and you came across a horse running with abandon during a drive in the country? That is the same sense of wonder your perhaps slightly jaded kids will get if they happen to just see a stick floating in the waters of Lake Champlain.

That is exactly the reason why a visit to Lake Champlain or Loch Ness or Ogopogo up in Canada can be something your children won’t soon forget. Nobody really expects to see a sea serpent in these strange waters, but in most cases there is always something floating past that may seem to look like a sea creature. If you want to instill a sense of wonder in children who are growing up in a world in which all the mysteries have been sucked away by science or television shows overexplaining things, then take them to a place like Lake Champlain and watch as their imaginations take over and transform the most mundane item into a thing of absolute marvel and awe.

Remember the Sunday dinners your mother always made? Unfortunately, parents rarely have time to put a skillet meal on the table, let alone a beef roast. Is it possible to make some of the dishes your mother made, while running around like a chicken with its head cut off? Sure. You just need to learn a few new tricks.

Your mother probably spent hours preparing the perfect beef roast. If you had all day to cook, would you honestly be cooking? After all, you spend hours running your children from one practice to another. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare a delicious beef roast.

Easy Slow Cooked Beef Roast
Serves 4

• 2 pound sirloin beef roast
• 1 pound of baby carrots
• 2 large onions, quartered
• 1 pound of red potatoes, quartered
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste

• Sea salt, to taste

1. Combine the carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the beef roast on top of the vegetables, fat side up. Add Worcestershire sauce and additional salt and pepper.
3. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
4. Serve with whole wheat rolls and a simple side salad.

Who can forget those belly popping desserts you mother always made on Sunday? You were already stuffed from her wonderful beef roast. But hey, you could always undo the top button of your pants right? Instead of turning your children into chubby little Oompa Loompas, why not prepare a dessert that’s low on calories and high in taste?

Berries and “Cream” Parfaits
Serves 4

• 2 cups of sliced strawberries
• 2 tablespoons of sugar substitute (a brand that tastes like real sugar)
• ¼ of an angel food cake
• 1 cup of blackberries

• 1 cup of raspberries

To make the fat-free whipped topping:

1. Macerate the strawberries by adding sugar substitute and allowing them to sit until a syrup forms.
2. Layer the angel food cake, berries, and whipped topping in 4 tall parfait glasses and serve.

OK, so the kids loved Bigfoot Country in Willow Creek, and now they’re all pumped up for the paranormal. The Bermuda Triangle is too dangerous and Loch Ness is too far away. But you’re in luck because the truth is not out there; it’s in Roswell, New Mexico. You and the spouse don’t have to be Mulder or Scully to have a fine time exposing your kids, who may at times seem like aliens to you, Close Encounters of the Buzzword Kind. Let’s be honest about Roswell, New Mexico. It is a destination spot your kids won’t forget, not because of what they may learn about UFOs, but more for what they will learn about the ability of America to market literally anything. Roswell at times seems like literally stepping back into that innocent era of tourist traps where it was the cheesy quality that made them special. You know, like alligator farms and mermaid shows?

Just how much cheesy fun is the UFO capital of the world? Even the local Wal-Mart sports a sign that says “Aliens Welcome.” Roswell is a company town, and the company headquarters is that big face on Mars. Everywhere you look in Roswell there are flying saucers and little gray aliens. There isn’t a kid in American whose face won’t light up the first time he sees one of the many saucers that appear to have crashed into the façade of one of Roswell’s many alien-themed diners. Once the kids eat a hamburger made from an actual alien, (OK, that part was totally made up) round them up and head them over to witness a recreation of an actual alien autopsy being performed at the Area 51 Museum, and that part wasn’t made up. There are exactly two places in Roswell that you and your kids will leave saying you believe. The Area 51 Museum not only offers an alien autopsy, but an upside down room and the ability for the kids to pose with an alien.

Once you finish with the fun it’s time for the education. The International UFO and Research Center is the place to take the kids to learn about the actual history of the alleged Roswell crash, which gave birth the Roswell obsession with UFOs and aliens.