Most Popular Articles

November 2009 Archives

Approach Alcohol Consumption with Caution During the Holidays: Your Health

By Rallie McAllister

As the holiday season approaches, many Americans will be celebrating with a glass of good cheer. While drinking a little alcohol can help you relax and enjoy the festivities, drinking a little too much can lead to embarrassing lapses in judgment, among other undesirable consequences.

If you don't want to end up wearing a lampshade at your first party of the season, it's a good idea to consume small quantities of alcohol with big doses of caution. This is especially true for folks who don't imbibe on a regular basis, since it's easy to underestimate the intoxicating effects ... Continue reading Approach Alcohol Consumption with Caution During the Holidays: Your Health.

Safe Winter Driving

Anyone who's lived in Minnesota for more than a minute is familiar with winter driving. Winter weather poses unique challenges. Before heading out onto snowy or icy streets, take a few minutes to refresh your memory on how to drive safely in wintery conditions.

Before Leaving

• Make sure the gas tank is at least half full and the windshield washer fluid reservoir is full.


• Clear as much snow off of the car as you can, including the roof, headlamps and taillights. Scrape ice off of windows and side mirrors for maximum visibility.


• Never warm up a v ... Continue reading Safe Winter Driving.
  

Holiday Menu and Entertaining Tips

It's no secret we're still in an economic crisis and this year, people everywhere are looking for ways to stretch their holiday meal dollars without sacrificing taste or nutrition.

Moms who work and live on Midwest dairy farms, like Barb Liebenstein of Dundas, Minn., are working with the Midwest Dairy Council to share tips for delicious, nutrient-rich, money-smart holiday meals. Here are a few menu and entertaining tips from America's dairy farm moms:

•          To save money, buy cheese in block form and slice or cube it yourself. Or use holiday cookie cutters to create festive shapes, and save the sc ... Continue reading Holiday Menu and Entertaining Tips.
  

A Local Writer Could Use Your Help

Do you have children ages newborn to 25? Are you willing to share some information (anonymously if you choose) to help a local writer with her book project on relationships and families? If so, please help by participating in a brief survey by clicking
here

Surviving Your Child's Adolescence

Adolescence: "What the heck?!" (Do your kids say that all the time? Mine do.)

By Julie Burton

As I entered the parenting arena nearly 15 years ago, I began to hear all sorts of talk about colicky babies, the terrible twos, and the f-ing fours (sorry, that's what my friends called it). But I noticed that people started to clam up a bit as their kids hit the earliest stages of puberty. When I'd complain about something my toddler was doing, like wetting the bed or throwing food at the dinner table, people with older kids would respond with a little chuckle, "Oh yeah, just you wait ... Continue reading Surviving Your Child's Adolescence.