Do you ever shop at Trader Joe’s?

I love this store!

No I am not paid to promote their store or their products, I simply like to share good finds with my readers.

Last week my daughter and I were invited to a friend’s house for lunch.  She served a cucumber dip with pita crackers for an appetizer.  At first I was hesitant to try it (since I am rather picky) but how could anything with the words “creamy” and “garlic” in the name be bad?  I am so glad I did, because it is awesome!

It is called:  Trader Joe’s Tzatziki Creamy Garlic Cucumber Dip.

It can be used as a dip or I am going to try it as a sauce when I make chicken pitas.

Idea of the Day:

Take a trip to Trader Joe’s if you have never been there.

If you are a Trader Joe’s shopper and love one of their products, please share it with us!

How do you keep your children hydrated in the summer months?

Last week we were sitting at baseball in our winter jackets and this week my kids are sitting under a tree with bright red faces complaining it is too hot.

In Minnesota you never know what the weather is going to do.  Therefore, parents must always be prepared.  As we enter the hot and humid days of summer, one question that comes to a parents’ mind is, “Are my children drinking enough fluids?”

Children sweat more and produce more body heat than an adult.  This puts them at a greater risk for becoming dehydrated while they are out in the heat.  This is why it is important for parents to be aware of ways to prevent dehydration.

I am thinking of making a batch of Gatorade popsicles just to be prepared.

Tip of the Day:

Read through a couple articles on dehydration before the hot summer temperatures arrive.

Preventing Dehydration in Preschoolers

Dehydration in Children

Dehydration and Youth Sports

Summer Safety

Do you have curious little outdoor explorers?

My kids are loving the change of seasons and the ability to play outside almost every day.  Most of the time their outdoor play involves riding bike, playing on the swing set and other large motor activities.  We also try to do an outdoor science  experiment.  So far we have played with wet chalk, planted our herb garden and done some bug investigation.

I think our next science activity might have to be building a small worm farm.  My daughter LOVES digging and playing with worms.  Within five minutes of being outside, she has her shovel and black dirt smeared on her hands and legs.  True scientific experiments usually lead to a bath, right?

Idea of the Day:

Take a look at the website: Home Science Tools

Here you will find great summer science projects with easy step-by-step instructions.

Under the “science” tab on this site, you will find science projects broken down into various categories.  There is one for PreK-4 Science projects.

(Comic taken from Comics.com, Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis)

Can you relate to this comic?

The Pearls of Swine comic in the Sunday paper on May 23, 2010, made me laugh.  This happens to me so often when I sit down to be “productive” on the computer.  I have the best of intentions when I start up the computer.  I tell myself I will only check my email and then begin my writing for the day.  But just like in the comic, I end up clicking on a link, checking Facebook or searching the internet for some random thought or idea I had.

Now getting back to the blog topic of the day…the comics.

I typically never read the comic section but as I was putting away the paper, I noticed a section that had educational websites for kids.  I decided to take a few minutes and see if they were ones I could use with my children.  (Yes, checking out these sites led to other searches and links that were not relevant to my work.)

Tip of the Day:

You will most likely find great resources in unlikely places.  Always be watching!

Websites found in the comics this past Sunday:

BBC’s: A History of the World

Calculation Nation

4Kids.org

What do you use baking soda for in your home?

Did you know that putting baking soda in the cracks in your driveway and/or sidewalk will help prevent weeds from growing there?

I would love to say that I use baking soda in many different ways…But I don’t.  I use it for cooking and occasionally I will put some in the refrigerator when there is that odd smell that will not go away.

Last week I learned that you can put baking soda on leaking batteries to neutralize the acid.  This would have been very helpful to know two months ago when my son decided to open the battery compartment on an old toy.  He came to me and said, “There is something a little wet and crusty on this toy.”  When I asked him if he touched it, he replied, “Yes, I thought it was dried apple juice.”  Where he comes up with these ideas, I have no clue.

Needless to say, if you ever encounter battery acid, simply get out the box of baking soda.

Tip of the Day:

Check out these lists of uses for baking soda.

After reading these lists, I am going to need to stock up on baking soda and give some a try.

Many Uses for Baking Soda

Sixty Uses of Baking Soda

Healthy & Beauty Baking Soda Uses