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It is 8:26 am this summer morning and my house is quiet. My children, ages 7 and 5, are sleeping in due to our first late evening outdoors with roasting sticks and the fire pit. Yes, my friend, S’mores Season has officially arrived.
There is just something special about making S’mores in the summer. That wonderfully toasted marshmallow squished perfectly on top of a piece of pure chocolate between two crisp graham crackers—it is sweet perfection no master confectioner can duplicate. This fireside dessert could never receive a poor review. And with my many years of experience eating this delightful dessert, I have found that the more mallow and chocolate that finds its way across your face, all the better it tastes. It doesn’t matter what age you are, just take the plunge and bite right in!
But as you sit and devour the first S’more, it begs the question… do you dare go back for another? The first one was so good, so satisfying. Would a second push you over edge? The wise grandpa in our roasting group of the evening (my dad) stopped at just one and wore his happy S’more face proudly. My 5-year-old daughter dove back in for #2 and finished it strong. My 7-year-old son only made it through 1 ½ and shared the second half with the fish in the brush pile in the lake as they “needed dessert after eating all of his worms.” My husband ate 3 as he was excited I had found gluten free graham crackers, (made by Kinnikinnick Foods called S’moreables, found at Meijer) which meant he could participate in this age old summer tradition this year instead of just eating the chocolate bars. As for myself, I heard summer calling my name and ate two fabulous S’mores.
As the summer wears on, I hope you too can enjoy some time with family and friends making memories around the campfire. Share some stories, laugh, and be sure to wear your S’mores smile as you do it!
Fun Fact: August 10th is National S’mores Day in the good ol’ U.S.A.
A recent post to share the best tip you received growing up from YOUR parents gave us a lot of fun, funny and inspiring quotes to pass on to the next generation.
Share yours here as well! We will be doing a Part 2 sometime soon!
What is your favorite tip? Comment her or post on facebook or twitter!
Dr. Wolf has helped our dogs for several years now, and our newly adopted dog, Raymond, needed some extra help recently. I was open to trying something new, and the experience and results with Raymond have been wonderful! Acupuncture is helpful for most chronic conditions…skin, joints, muscle, bladder, etc. In Raymond's case, we are using it to treat an acral lick granuloma, an area of chronic skin inflammation and scarring formed by excessive licking. Many things can cause a lick granloma so all cases should be evaluated for the underlying cause when considering adding acupuncture to the treatment plan.
Dr. Wolf has had success resolving lick granulomas with acupuncture to the point of full hair regrowth in cases where traditional medical management has failed. When Raymond had severe back pain, and the accupuncture gave him immediate relief. He sits on my lap and relaxes completely; within 20 minutes we are done, and he is on his way!
Dr. Wolf is a mobile vet and comes right to YOUR home 217-725-6437. A huge time-saver when and your pets will appreciate staying in the comfort of their home when she visits. She has a special $15 savings for our readers families on our Mom's Choice Directory.
I saw this link on my friend's facebook page, and I was a bit skeptical at first. Was this a credible source; didn't I already know what drowning looks like from watching movies? I've taken my children to continual swim lessons and I watch vigilantly at the pool when we go, but do I really know how to recognize drowning? I truly didn't until I read this article and watched the complete video. I hope if is helpful to you and that you can share with someone else so we can all help each other this summer. Thank you to Mario Vittone is a leading expert on immersion hypothermia, drowning, sea survival, and safety at sea. His writing has appeared in Yachting Magazine, SaltWater Sportsman, MotorBoating Magazine, Lifelines, On-Scene, and Reader’s Digest. He has developed courses for municipal rescue teams and the military on search and rescue tactics and open ocean survival. In 2007, he was named as the Coast Guard Active Duty Enlisted Person of the Year and was named as the 2009 recipient of the Alex Haley Award for Journalism. Thank you for keeping us in the know to help adults and children when we are enjoying time in and around the water.
Between the Bob Steffan Summer Film Festival, Summer Science Camps (June 13 & 14) and the new Research Library in the Play Museum, there are many reason to make the ISM a frequent stop on your summer schedule. Kids age 6-10 can enjoy the new quarterly program Kids’ Night Out
. The next one is Friday June 28th, and they will teach our children what kids did to entertain themselves in the 1800's!
Participants will enjoy a fun Friday night full of hands-on learning, games, art projects, a snack, and time in the Play Museum while their parents enjoy their own night out (or perhaps in). Registration required. For more information contact Elizabeth Bazan at (217) 782-5993.
Fee: Members: $20 for 1 child, $15 for each additional child
Non-Members: $35 for 1 child, $30 for each additional child
Admission is free. Visit our website
I have great memories of attending this program way back when, and I'm thrilled to see the funding continue to provide this FREE service to our community. Head down to the Illinois State Museum for their summer film fest recommended for children ages 3-8 and is great for day care classes, summer camp groups, and families. Each program lasts approximately 30 minutes. For more information, or to schedule a group of 10 or more, contact Elizabeth Bazan at ebazan@museum.state.il.us or 217-782-5993.
The Bob Steffan Summer Film Fest films are shown on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the months of June and July at 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. in the Thorne Deuel Auditorium. Visit our website for the full schedule or keep checking Springfield Moms, as these will be featured all summer long on What's Happening!
June 4 & 5: The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top
Enjoy the Play Museum before or after your visit to the auditorium.
Julie Kaiser writes: "With one kid in stage 1 and another in stage 2 of orthodontic treatment, we have a new appreciation for the Family Care Plan and the positive fun vibe that is always in play at Springfield Moms premium sponsor McDaniel, Sternstein and Aleman.
From the gals at the front desk who so cheerfully work appointments around school, sports and endless activities to the folks in the financial department who help navigate the billing, everyone is in a positive and helpful mood when you go in. Our kids love it there, and so do I!"
Meanwhile, their staff has found that families with a member in orthodontic treatment often have questions or concerns about others in the family. In appreciation for your confidence in their doctors and team, they now offer immediate family members a complimentary examination. Their family care plan also offers a fee reduction for these members when they begin treatment. See for yourself why they have been in business for more than 35 years! Call 217-546-9600 or stop by the office (997 Clocktower Drive Suite B) to schedule this appointment.
Thanks to Springfield Moms premium sponsor Sara Freitag, State Farm Agent for sharing this information from the State Farm Learning Center on apps that help you be more savvy about your money.
You’re probably already using your smartphone for more than making calls. But did you know it can be a handy money management tool? Here are five free personal finance apps to check out—and tips for safe downloading.
1.Mint (iPhone, Android) Mint brings all of your financial accounts together and organizes them into categories so you know how you spend your money. You can then use this information to create a budget, and Mint will help keep your financial goals on track with handy tips, tools and alerts.
2.Sig Fig (iPhone, Android) This app syncs your 401(k), IRA, brokerage and other investment accounts so you can track them together in real time. Sig Fig also analyzes your accounts to create easy-to-read investment charts and generate weekly portfolio reports and investment advice.
3.Manilla (iPhone, Android) Manilla acts as your mobile mailbox by managing your bills in one secure location. The app receives, stores, and alerts you about statements from cell phone providers, credit card companies, magazine subscription services, and more.
4.Credit Karma (iPhone) This app provides free credit scores and credit monitoring. With Credit Karma, you can view your score and learn when your credit has changed. The app also helps you be more credit-conscious by giving you credit report cards complete with information about factors affecting your score.
5.State Farm® Pocket Agent® (iPhone, Android) Monitor your State Farm Bank® and Mutual Fund accounts with this convenient app. State Farm Bank customers with at least two Internet-enabled deposit accounts can use the app to transfer funds from one eligible account to another. (This feature is not available in Canada.) Mutual Funds customers can view their account balances and a phone number that can be used to purchase, redeem or exchange shares for most personal investment accounts right from the app. Plus, if you’re ever involved in an accident, the app also lets you “draw” the scene, find a tow truck and contact your State Farm® agent.
App Security
Protect your personal information and privacy when downloading apps. Follow these tips:
•Download apps from reputable sources. (e.g. Apple’s App Store, Google Play)
•Read customer reviews and ratings.
•Look for apps with higher numbers of downloads.
•Research the app developer.
•Review the app permissions. These outline what information the app has access to once downloaded.
•Password-protect your phone and applications in case your device is lost or stolen.
Before selecting an app, decide what you want to accomplish, whether it's monitoring spending, conducting transactions or some other function. And remember, whichever app you choose, it won't do the work all on its own. If you're committed to entering, monitoring and using the data, an app can become a very convenient financial assistant.
Submitted by Springfield Moms premium sponsor Sara Freitag, State Farm Agent. For more information on her services, please visit our Mom's Choice Directory.
Tommy with a huge homecoming hug for his mom who just returned from serving our country overseas.
Today and every day we express our gratitude for all of the sacrifices past and present that military families endure to protect the safety of our country. We all have friends and family that have endured the separation and loss that can accompany this commitment. Thank you for honoring our country and for providing the security for the future of our children. Thank you for allowing our families to celebrate holidays with our loved ones and to make new memories in your honor. We salute you all today and every day. I'm enclosing one of my favorite photos of my dear college friend Leigh upon returning from service. Her husband is now overseas; so she is holding down the home front with their three young children. God Bless America!
The Illinois State Museum is launching a fun new program to encourage families to visit often this summer. Children are invited to travel to the tropical seas of 300 million years ago, an 800 year-old American Indian village, a 1950s rec room, and more. Starting Memorial Day (Monday, May 27), children can receive a Museum Passport to guide them in their Museum adventures.
Every two weeks, a new passport search activity (recommended for elementary-school aged children) will be available. Each search will explore a different Illinois State Museum exhibition. The first one will feature Changes: Dynamic Illinois Environments, the Museum’s natural history hall.
Upon completion of a passport search activity, participants will receive a “stamp” for their passport and an entry in a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to the Museum Store. Drawings will be held every two weeks throughout the summer (one entry per two-week period per child).
The Illinois State Museum is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to discover and care about Illinois’ natural and cultural resources and artistic heritage. The Museum’s extensive collections and research activities provide the foundation for exhibitions and public programs that tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois. The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S. Spring Street (the corner of Spring and Edwards Streets) in Springfield, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Parking is available nearby, and the building is ADA accessible.
