Healthy Snacks For A Road Trip

September 10, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

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Road trips are a great way for families to get out and see new places without the added expense of flying. For many families, if it wasn’t for road trips, there wouldn’t be many vacations at all. There are ways to make road trips even more budget-friendly. One of the best ways to make road trips more affordable is by packing snacks and meals. Packing your own healthy snacks and meals lets you have control over what you are eating and what you are spending on food.

Healthy Road Trip Snacks

Many people think that road trip snacks must be junk food. Things like cookies and fruit snacks travel well and are easy to eat in the car. While that is true, it doesn’t mean that the only food that goes well on a road trip must be junk food.

Fruit and Veggies

Most fruit and vegetables travel well. While some things, like bananas, are more fragile than others, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take fruit and vegetables on a road trip. The key is to plan.
Have everything prewashed.
Have the fruit and vegetables portioned into separate containers. This makes it easier to grab what you want. It also helps prevent large spills and wasted food.
For foods that taste better with dip – Things like celery or apples taste better with peanut butter. Some things like carrots taste better with dressing. For foods like these, cut them into pieces. Instead of having a separate container to deal with in the car, put the peanut butter or dressing in the bottom of the container. Then add the snack on top. It is easier to dip celery into peanut butter than to try to deal with a piece of celery with peanut butter smeared on top of it.

Trail Mix

Trail Mix is always a great idea for a road trip healthy snack. It is easy to eat, filling and can be tailored to your own likes and dislikes. Trail Mix can be a very economical snack as well. Create your own mix by buying nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips or small candies. Some people prefer a granola in the mix as well. Combine all the ingredients in pre-portioned containers or plastic bags.

Deli Meats

Deli meats and cheese are another great healthy snacks idea. While deli meats and cheese can easily be made into a sandwich, it can also be eaten easily as is. Buy containers of prepared ham or turkey and the prep work is done for you. For people who only like their meats on a sandwich, pack the bread separately. This keeps the sandwich from getting mushy before you are ready to eat it.

You will want to keep the meats and cheeses cold. Pack a small cooler, even a small collapsible cooler, like the kind for drinks, will work well. Along with an ice pack or frozen water bottles, the cooler will keep the food fresh.

Hard Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs make another healthy snacks idea. It is best to have the eggs peeled before leaving on the road trip. It makes it easier to grab and eat if the eggs are pre-peeled. You will want to keep the eggs in your cooler along with the deli meats.

When considering what snacks to bring on a road trip, think about the things you enjoy eating at home. You want to pack snacks that you would eat normally. When you try to step outside your normal eating habits, most people will choose to buy something along the ride. This means you are wasting money and food.

Another way to save money on your trip is to have your vehicle serviced at the dealership before you go. There is nothing worse than having your car break down just because regular maintenance was not done. It can ruin a vacation for everyone. Have the oil changed, rotate the tires, change the windshield wiper blades. You’ll be ready to go, and have plenty of delicious, healthy snacks, too.

Three Car Maintenance Things Everyone Should Know How to Do

September 10, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

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Whether you have just gotten your license, or you have been driving for 50 years, there are certain things that you should know how to do when it comes to a car. Some things will help your car to last longer, while others are important to know in case you find yourself stuck in a situation and there isn’t anyone around that can help at the time.

Check the Oil

It is important that you know how to check the oil. For many people, they get their oil changed when it is time, but other than that, they do not think about the oil. While this is usually ok, it is important to know how to check the oil and how to add more oil. The oil keeps the engine parts lubricated. When there isn’t enough oil in the engine, parts can become damaged. By the time you hear the tell-tale signs that you are low on oil, like a tapping sound coming from the engine, damage could have already been done, and you could have a much more serious problem.

Checking the oil is simple. When the car is off, find the oil dipstick. If you do not know where this is, ask someone to show you. If you do not have someone around who can show you, check your owner’s manual. If these are not an option, check YouTube. YouTube is a life saver when it comes to finding information. Search how to check the oil and add the year and model of your car. Pull the dipstick out and wipe it off with a rag or paper towel. Put the dipstick back in and pull it out again. The oil should be to the full line. If it is not, you need to add more oil. If the oil is very dark and thick, you need to have an oil change. If there appears to have metal flakes in the oil, you will want to talk to your mechanic.

How to Check the Tire Pressure

Having correct tire pressure is more than just getting the best gas mileage you can. Having the correct tire pressure in your tires is also a safety issue. When tires are not at the correct pressure, the tires cannot grip the road properly. If tires are over inflated, it can cause a blowout.

While newer cars have a warning light on the dash that tells when the tires are low, these lights do not come on until the tires are extremely low. By this point, the tires are too low. Many gas stations have an air pump available. You can use these pumps to check the air pressure in your tires and fill the tires to the proper pressure.

To know the tire pressure, you can look at what the tire pressure for the car should be. Looking on the door jam of the driver’s side will usually have the tire pressure information. While this information is close to the correct pressure, it can vary depending on the tires on the vehicle. If possible, it is better to look on the tire itself for the psi number. The psi is what the tire pressure should be set to.

Once you know the tire pressure, you are able to check the tires. The air pumps usually have a psi gauge. Use this gauge to see where the pressure is. Once you know what the pressure is, you know how much to fill.

How to Check the Wipers

The window wipers are one of those things that no one thinks about until it is raining. This is usually when someone realizes that the wipers are starting to go. The wipers start to show wear and tear before they need to be replaced. If someone takes the time to check them weekly or monthly, it is easier to know when they should be replaced.

The worse time to know that the wipers need to be replaced is when you are driving in the rain. When the weather is nice, be sure to check for dirt and debris that might be on the wipers. Use a rag to wipe the wipers down to remove anything that might be causing the wipers to not work well. Check the wipers for signs of dry rot. Look for cracks, chips, and nicks in the wipers. If you see signs of dry rot or nicks, it is time to replace the wipers.

While there are many things that drivers should know how to do, these are just a few things that anyone who drives should know how to do. If you have put off doing the weekly or monthly checks on your vehicle, and find that you have to have expensive repairs done, It will probably be best to just replace the car.You can turn to Mr. Ed if you have poor credit and need to get a loan for a new or used car. For over 25 years, Mr. Ed’s Loan Experts have specialized in acquiring auto financing for people with bad credit. They understand that credit problems can happen to anyone and they will be there to help get your credit back on track. Their auto loan approvals are good at all 20 Earnhardt locations throughout Arizona. They have thousands of vehicles to select from giving you an amazing variety of new and used cars, trucks and SUVs. Whether you’ve had bad credit, poor credit, fair credit or no credit at all, Mr. Ed can help. Even bankruptcy is no problem for Mr. Ed! Their experts are ready and waiting to help you find the perfect vehicle to replace your old one.

How to Create a Room For A Home Office

September 10, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

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home office space

In this new age of the gig economy and the distributed team, more and more people are discovering that you don’t necessarily need to commute day in and day out to a distant office or workplace anymore. The two-hour commute, and all the ancillary expenses and stresses that go along with it, is not quite becoming a thing of the past – yet. But as more and more companies, and their employees, discover that it is actually possible to put in a ‘full day’s work’ from an unsupervised, remote location, and still meet production demands, the proliferation of the home office grows and grows.

Once you’ve been hired for a position on a distributed team, the question becomes: where am I going to do this work. You need a place that is quiet, private and restful – or perhaps open and readily accessible, to call your ‘office’. Different folks will require different prerequisites, but the bottom line here is that you must secure a personal space for yourself to do the work that you can close off from the rest of your household and where you can secure the equipment and materials essential to your new job.

Finding the Extra Space

Many older homes and apartments used to include a room called a ‘den’, which was normally a semi-secluded room reserved for the man of the house, which could certainly be convenient to turn into a home office. But the ‘den’ went the way of the single-salaried family and station wagons, was renamed ‘man cave’ and moved out to the garage. But whether you repurpose a den in an older home, or the extra bedroom in a newer one or half the garage, you’ve got to claim some space for your home office. And that’s the easy part.

The harder early step in home office creation is trying to figure out what to do with all the stuff that is usually jammed into that under-used room by all of the rest of your family or housemates. Where else can this normally considerable pile of extra things and supplies be safely stowed out of your way, but still be accessed when necessary?

The Answer is Remote Storage

One answer to remote storage is to go to the home improvement, big-box store and investigate the small storage sheds that they offer for sale. But these sheds really aren’t that small and easy to accommodate, unless your home sits on at least an acre of land. The footprint of a decent-sized storage shed is at least 400 square feet. And you’ve got to be mindful of the fact that you’re going to have to create a footing for this shed and probably a pathway to and from it. The cost of installing a storage shed on your property is probably going to run into the thousands of dollars.

The other alternative is to simply contact a company that rents storage units. The costs of this sort of space is reasonable, especially at first, when the storage company normally gives you the first month free if you sign up for a longer storage contract. The first problem with self-storage is that you have to actually rent a truck and move your possessions out of your home and into the self-storage unit yourself. This can be a hassle, particularly if you’re pressed for time, which often comes with the acquisition of a new job. And remember, you still have to put the office together once you get all the extraneous stuff moved out of your office space.

The second problem with storage rental units is that the price usually goes up the longer you rent the space. And if you remove some of your articles and would like to move into a smaller space, that isn’t always possible due to availability of a smaller rental unit. You’re stuck with paying for space that you’re actually not using.

The other storage alternatives are the on-demand storage companies that charge you by the number of items that you’re storing. Storage companies like Livible will actually send a driver with a truck over to your home, who will pack your belongings into sturdy containers, inventory these containers and attach tracking labels to them. The inventory and tracking labels make it possible for you to contact your on-demand storage company and request individual items to be delivered back to your home. Since these companies normally charge by the item, this will reduce your storage bill. It’s a very efficient system.

Whatever storage solution you decide upon, once you get the stuff out of the way, you’ll have a nice little office space that should serve you well on your new career path.

Gluten Free Lemon Cloud Cake Recipe

September 2, 2018 Karen 2 Comments

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I created this cake some time ago, but I was thinking about making another one and discovered that I never posted about it. This cake is so easy to make. Of course you can make a cake from scratch if you want to, but I wanted mine to be easy, so I used a mix. The Lemon Cloud Cake would be perfect for a party or a shower.

Lemon Cloud Cake

2018-09-02 01:06:41

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Ingredients

1 box of your favorite gluten free cake mix. I used Betty Crocker Gluten Free White Cake Mix
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 stick butter or margarine
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup gluten free flour
1 16 oz jar of Lemon Curd
1 pint heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon zest

Instructions

Make the cake according to directions on the back of the box, except substitute the 1/3 cup lemon juice for part of the water, and add 1/4 cup sugar.
Spray two 8″ or 9″ cake pans with olive oil spray, then coat the pans with gluten free flour.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the two pans.
Bake in a 350° oven for 25-35 minutes. Let the cake layers cool completely.
Pour the heavy cream into a large mixing bowl.
Add the vanilla and sugar. Beat on high speed with an electric mixer until the cream is thickened.
Place one cake layer on a cake plate, top down.
Spread 1/2 of the lemon curd on the layer, then spread half of the whipped cream over the lemon curd.
Place the second layer top up on top on the first layer.
Spread with the rest of the lemon curd and whipped cream.
Sprinkle with lemon zest.
Refrigerate until serving.

By Karen Eidson

FabGrandma https://fabgrandma.com/

Crafty Me! Some Things I Have Made Lately

August 24, 2018 Karen 1 Comment

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I have been spending a lot of time in my sewing room in the last couple of months. A new shop opened in town, Southern Charm Gifts & More. They sell hand made items on consignment. I took some samples of the things I make to show them, and I was accepted as a vendor. It has been so fun getting back into sewing. Here are some of the things I have made:

I have been making these cute t-shirts. I add three rows of ruffles to the bottom of the shirt for a sassy look. Little girls love them!

On this purple T-shirt, I added three rows of ruffles and three rows of lace, and an iron on vinyl mermaid that I cut with my Cricut. So cute!

We had a Christmas in July event at the shop last month. I made these little crossbody bags in a pretty Christmas print fabric.

This hobby horse was also made for the Christmas in July event. I used to make these years ago when i was going to craft shows. They sold pretty good at the shows.

I’ve been playing with my Cricut a lot. The nativity scene above is iron on vinyl on wood that has been painted white.

I found this cut file of an alien abduction and just had to make a shirt with it. Unfortunately, the shirt did not fit the person I made it for, so it is for sale if anyone wants it. Size Large, $18. Just email me at fabgrandma@gmail.com if you would like to buy it.

I made two of these Keep Calm Sloth On shirts. The other one was the same color iron on done on a lavendar t-shirt. They both turned out great.

I made this t-shirt for my grandson, Parker, for his fifth birthday. He loved it.

I made the banner for the new Christmas Corner at Southern Charm & Gifts. After the Christmas in July event, the owner decided to create a spot in the store where she could have a year round Christmas display. I think that this will be a popular area of the store. What do you think?

Nassau: Great Vacation Destination For Grandparents And Grandkids

August 2, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

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Nassau, as the heart of the Bahamas, is peppered with excitement that caters to travelers of all ages. I think any grandmother would want to visit Nassau with her grandchildren because there are many places to see and things to do in the Nassau where both grandmother and her grandchildren can enjoy. Nassau vacation rentals which are easy to find are built to accommodate every visitor’s dream. Nassau has no shortage of wonderful attractions for both grandchildren and grandmothers like me. So, why don’t we take a look at the wonderful places we can visit and things we can do that are fun for the grand folks and little ones.

Visit the Nattie Palace

When you visit the Nattie Palace, this experience will take you back to a time the people enjoyed the simpler things in life. There was great community spirit through caring, sharing and hard working. After you enter in the place, it is a must-see attraction for anyone who would like a beautiful view. Kids can learn a lot about the Nassau heritage and grandmother can reconnect with the past. The main building of the place is too much complex because now that spills into smaller rooms, each room has with a special theme and a special number of historical artifacts, in fact, some of which are over 100 years old.

Food Indulgence

Like every grandmother, I never compromise on the food. Of course everybody loves food and if you are a foodie who is constantly worried about your food then don’t worry as you will find different varieties of food in Nassau. Every restaurant serve the traditional caribbean cuisines but you can also enjoy the non-Bohemian cuisine like baked macaroni, coleslaw, boiled vegetable, fried plantain, and johnnycake.

Arawak Cay

Since we are already talking about food, Arawak Cay serves just a fresh caught seafood which comes perfectly with mouth-watering array of tropical fruits. It offers you the authentic atmosphere of the Bohemian Fish Fry and other Bohemian dishes which are special and unique to this destination. It is also known for its cheap yet delicious meals.

Pirates of Nassau Museum

Almost every kid that watches Disney films love the Pirates of the Caribbean so, bringing your grand kids to a Pirate Museum in Nassau is going to be a visit they will cherish forever. This museum located in the harbor in the heart of downtown Nassau, it is actually based on a model of the famous pirate ship ”REVENGE”, which visitors enter to explore the dark and mysterious world of pirates.

Visit the Straw market

Basically, straw market considered the one of the country’s oldest market which is located in the Nassau In this market, you will find people weaving straw into anything. You will find the all handmade things like Bahamian crafts, mats, dolls, conch shell jewellery, and wood carving each and everything is made with the straw and all these things available at very reasonable price. Basically, they organized the straw market all over the island. It is very quiet, open and very colorful. You enjoy a lot when you visit this market. Head into town for a little duty-free shopping. Any shoppers in the family will have a great time exploring the straw market. It is also a fun activity for grand folks and kids alike to craft their own stuffs made out of straw. It will be a great souvenir!

Hit the beach

Kids love to spend time in the beach while it is also a relaxing breaks for the grammys to take some sun. Nassau paradise island provides a variety of beaches. If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing place where you can do relaxing with your book then it is the best place. The sea is filled with bright color and beaches are pristine and safe for the kids to wander and play. And then, at the end of the day on the beach, you can enjoy dinner under the star with your toes in the sand.

Visit parliament square

No trip to Nassau will be complete without taking a trip back to old days. The Parliament Square in Nassau is oozing with history which is a great day out for you and your grand kids to learn about the past of this paradise island.

In 1815, the Parliament Square building was constructed by the Loyalists. These flamingo-pink government buildings are excellent examples of the colonial architecture of old Nassau. Parliament square is very special because this is where the Prime Minister and two parliamentary houses meet. If the house is sitting, enter the gallery and watch lawmakers debates. It’s a spectacular to witness an actual debate.

Behind the House of Assembly is the supreme court of the Bahamas building, built in 1921. You can also look for local judges or lawyers, who follow tradition, dressing in traditional British wigs and robes. The Senate building is in the center of the square, facing toward Bay Street. Here, you can find an early 20^th-century statue of Queen Victoria in front of this building. This marble statue was built in honor of the queen’s birthday in 1905. Just behind the Supreme Court building, you can find the pretty garden of remembrance. This garden is the center of many events on Remembrance day, including a march from Christ Church Cathedral to the cenotaph.

These are only a short list out of tons of places to see and things to do in Nassau with your grand kids. For sure, you’ll be able to find at least one activity that both you and your grand kids can both enjoy.

Maine Has Something For Everyone

July 27, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

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Maine is often referred to as Vacationland, and there’s a reason for this. This state has a wide range of activities and experiences to offer. Between the rocky shores, forestry wilderness, and clear coastal waters, you truly have the best of every world when you visit the state of Maine. Today I’m going to share a few reasons why Maine is a great state to visit. Perhaps this will entice you to take a trip to this beautiful state sometime soon.

Moose Watching Tours

Maine has a large population of moose that can weigh over 1,000 pounds each and stand over seven feet tall at their shoulders. While these mammals are rather large in size, it’s not always easy to find them. Take a tour with Northeast Whitewater’s Maine Moose Watching Tours. They will show you the ropes in how to find Maine’s beautiful moose population.

Lobster Anywhere

The first thing I think of when I think of Maine is lobster! While you may think that Maine is a great state to visit because of the fresh lobster from their ocean coastline, but you actually can enjoy fresh Maine lobster just about anywhere in the state. Choose to sit by the ocean, enjoying the sweet smell of the salt water while enjoying Maine lobster or travel to the inner parts of the state and enjoy the wilderness while eating a lobster or two.

Forest, Mountain, or Ocean

The beautiful part of the state of Maine, as I mentioned, is that this state offers you a chance to set your own scene. While traveling and staying in Maine you can opt to have a forest view camping site, a mountain view cabin, or a cottage next to the ocean to soak up the sunrays. Maine offers everyone a chance to stay in their comfort zone within the same state.

Island Hopping

Another reason why Maine is a great state to visit is the chance to go island hopping. There are a few islands off the coast of Maine that allow you to experience a completely different culture, view and experience than you can on land.

When you look at the geographical size of the state of Maine, you’ll quickly notice that it’s one of the biggest New England states to visit. Having this large of a state to experience during your travel expeditions makes for a lot of memory making moments by yourself or with loved ones. Consider adding Maine to your travel bucket list now that you’ve learned more about why Maine is such a great state to visit.

Tips For Traveling With Your Dog

July 27, 2018 Karen 2 Comments

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Well behaved dogs are good travel companions.

Bringing your dog on vacation is such a great way to experience the world with your furry child. Dogs are such loyal pets and they enjoy seeing new places with their owner. If you’re someone who owns a dog and is thinking about traveling with him, then continue reading for some fabulous tips that will help you survive traveling with your dog.

Take a Test Drive

If you’re planning to travel with your dog in a vehicle for a long period of time, then you’ll want to first take a test drive. It’s important to find out how your furry child handles being in a vehicle for long stretches of time. This will allow you to prepare any necessary travel items for car sickness, should your dog show signs of car sickness during this test drive.

Pack Proper Necessities

Create a checklist of items that your dog will need when traveling. This could be their food and water dishes, medications, treats and obviously actual food. Pick up a gallon-sized water jug so that your dog will have ample supply for hydration. These jugs can easily be refilled at a freshwater lake or roadside well accesses that some states have along the roadway. Bring an extra leash just in case something happens to the one you are using. Don’t forget to bring poop bags for cleaning up after your pet when you walk her.

Get Some Accessories

Think about all the adventures you’ll be going on when traveling with your dog. If there will be hiking adventures, then grab some products that will make the hiking trip more comfortable for your furry child. They make booties for dogs as well as backpacks for hiking dogs. Be sure to make a list and purchase any accessories prior to your departure date.

Wellness Check

A dog owner should always get a wellness check for their dog before traveling. Make an appointment for a well doggy visit for your pooch before you travel. This will also let you share your travel plans with your veterinarian and let them answer any outstanding questions you have about traveling with your dog. It’s important your dog is deemed healthy enough for traveling.

Check With The Hotel To Make Sure Pets Are Welcome

There are many hotels these days that accept pets, but you should never just assume that the hotel you reserved does. Be sure to ask if they do so you won’t be disappointed when you arrive.

These simple tips will help you and your furry child travel in comfort and style when you attempt to hit the open road on a new adventure together. The most important part of traveling with your dog is that they are just as happy as you are to be on this adventure.