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The Many Benefits of Walking

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I decided to take a walk by the lakefront in our hometown of Milwaukee. The reason had less to do with exercise and more about getting out of the house. We had just experienced our firstborn child leaving the home. He left for basic training in Texas with the Air Force. We were left with a lot of mixed feelings. Dealing with our emotions was difficult. At times we were even at odds with each other, which is why my husband suggested a walk by the lake. For some reason being away … Continue reading →

The Power of Walking

Earlier this month I read a report from the “Centers of Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) that compared to five years ago, more people have taken up walking. It is one of the most popular forms of exercise. It really isn’t a surprise. After all, it’s free and a form of exercise that virtually anyone can enjoy. While this is good news, the CDC also says that not enough Americans are meeting federal guidelines when it comes to exercise. In fact, almost a third of the population remains inactive. What are the federal guidelines? They are at least two-and-a-half hours … Continue reading →

Walking As Therapy

While walking can be a fun, enjoyable activity it can also be therapeutic. There are times when I walk that I really want company, whether it to be my husband or my children. Other times I just want to listen to my iPod. But then there are times where I need it for therapy. I think the best time to walk is after you have experienced a bad day. This is a great way to “walk things off” in a healthy manner. Instead of turning to that bag of salty chips or chocolaty ice cream, use that time of walking … Continue reading →

How to Make Walking a Fun Activity

I don’t know that I exactly have attention deficit disorder but I am definitely one of those types of people that likes to multi-task. Doing just one thing is usually not enough for me. I have to be doing two things at once. So when it comes to walking, I can find it to be a very boring activity. Overall I enjoy walking but if I am just walking and doing nothing else, I get quickly bored. Music on my iPod is a nice distraction but even that can become tedious. One of the ways to make walking a more … Continue reading →

Mall Walking for Fitness

I’m always looking for new and fun ways to stay fit. Mall walking is a great way to keep fit. If you live anywhere near one you might try walking the mall for an hour everyday. I don’t know about you but I get bored very easily when I am walking. I always change up my walking routine so that I don’t have to look at the same scenery over and over again. Mall walking gives you the opportunity to see new things. One of the benefits to mall walking is that you can enjoy other activities at the same … Continue reading →

Starting A Collection For Fun and Learning

When home schooling kids there are so many things you can do that incorporate fun and learning. Then again, not having a structured curriculum often leaves you coming up blank with something new to do. This is where starting a collection comes in handy. I always tried to get as much education out of even the smallest activity. Think about it, just baking a cake can incorporate math, nutrition, history, time management, safety, and even spelling. The educational value and fun factor involved with starting and maintaining a collection is unlimited. Each of my three home schooled girls started a … Continue reading →

Father Makes PTA History

When was the last time you saw a dad at a PTA meeting? Apparently, males are scarce at most Parent-Teacher Association meetings, which is why the appointment of Charles J. Saylors as the new president of the educational organization is making headlines around the country. The Parent-Teacher Association is a national organization of 5.5 million members, though most of them are mothers, who have a reputation of being domineering, highly-organized and driven (not that I’m into stereotyping or anything). According to The New York Times, men make up only 10 percent on the national PTA membership. However, studies show male … Continue reading →

Serious Family Fun—Spending Spring Break at an Indoor Waterpark

Our neighbors have two young sons who start counting down to their school’s spring break the day after New Year’s. Since they live in Wisconsin and cannot afford to take off from work and fly to Hawaii during the week-long school break they have made a family tradition of driving to Wisconsin Dells a.k.a. “The Waterpark Capital of the World.” The area is filled with dozens of indoor waterparks. Vacationing there gives the boys a chance to spend time in the water no matter how much snow is on the ground or what the thermometer might read. And while the … Continue reading →

My Favorite Pet Blogs from the Past Year

Below is a list of my favorite articles I wrote during the past year, often with an explanation of what made them memorable. Five Non-Cash Ways to Help Animals/Shelters this Holiday Season: This was my first article to have a comment left on it. Is It Ever Okay to Kick a Dog?: This was my first article to ever get stars. The BMK Fund: This practice is very near and dear to my heart and it was neat to have a platform such as blogging for Families.com to share it on. How to Put Your Shopping Dollars to Work Helping … Continue reading →

Fun on a Whim!

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Surprise your kids with a spontaneous getaway! A couple months back I mentioned a terrific vacation planning idea utilized by my brother’s family – a spontaneous and surprise trip to Florida. While a four day, on-a-whim vacation is likely out of reach for many families, including my own, a surprise, unplanned day trip or exciting activity certainly need not be. The past three days included two of such adventurous for my gang. On Sunday morning, we decided to head north a couple hours and spend an afternoon in Lower Manhattan. The weather was picture perfect and we figured our toddler … Continue reading →