Search Results for: blog grandma in the white house

The Power of Grandma

Who knew your monster-in-law could actually serve a positive purpose in life aside from birthing your spouse? Ahem… How well do you get along with your mother-in-law? The answer could have a major impact on your children’s lives. According to a new study, married couples, who live with or nearby their mother-in-law, are more likely to have healthier babies than those who don’t. In addition, researchers say children born to said couples are also less likely to die in infancy. Finally, the study also found that when grandma is a driving force in a family, mom and dad tend to … Continue reading →

Grandma in the White House

Now that they’ve exhausted the puppy issue, the media has suddenly become obsessed with the prospect of Michelle Obama’s mother becoming the First Grandmother and moving into the White House with the rest of the family come January. Granny’s in the hoooooouse! According to news reports, after some prodding, Michelle convinced her 71-year-old mother Marian Robinson to leave her home on the South Side of Chicago and move to Washington, D.C. with the rest of the Obama’s. Initial reports had the Obama’s looking for new digs for Robinson near the White House, but now some media outlets are reporting that … Continue reading →

Ask a Food Blogger: Corn Pudding

Question: Do you have any good recipes for corn pudding? I love it but can’t find a recipe I like. When you’re looking into local cuisine on a trip (or in our case in a different neighborhood) it’s good ‘street sense’ to watch where the natives go. For example, when we go into Chinatown we don’t look for a place popular with the tourists, but instead opt to follow the locals down into what seems like a little dive in a hole in the ground for some of the best egg rolls, lo mein around. If it’s good enough for … Continue reading →

Meow Means Mischief – Ann Whitehead Nagda

In the intermediate book “Meow Means Mischief,” we meet Rana, a girl who has just moved to a new home with her little sister Tara and her parents. She’s insecure about her new school – the other children seem so confident and like they know what they’re doing all the time. Rana knows the move was good for her family – the house is bigger and they have room for the things they need, but she still feels like an outsider. One day Rana sees a cute little kitten outside the patio doors, and she falls in love with it. … Continue reading →

A White Bird Flying — Bess Streeter Aldrich

I have read several books by this Nebraskan author of early last century, and while I enjoyed them all, this one is my favorite. I identified personally with the main character, Laura Deal, on many different levels and so this book spoke to me in ways that the others didn’t. We start the story with Laura Deal at twelve years old, visiting the house of her recently departed grandmother one last time. She walks through the house dispassionately at first, seeing herself as one of the characters in the stories she loves to write, but then the realization that her … Continue reading →

An Affordable Treasury of Fun

There’s no easier way for kids to explore new and exciting worlds than cuddling up with a favorite book.  Adventures await on each page and there’s no telling where your child’s imagination can take her once she peels back the front cover. And that’s just with one book.  Imagine the fun kids can have when they are gifted with a treasury of stories. If you are looking for an affordable way to keep your kids entertained this summer, consider investing in a box set of books.  My daughter adores her Little Critter Bedtime Stories set.  The colorful collection is a … Continue reading →

Rock the Mini Vote

Will you be bringing your kids along when you place your vote on Tuesday? Most parents wouldn’t dream of dragging a squirmy tot the polls on what is supposed to be an historical Election Day, especially since long lines have been making headlines from coast-to-coast. However, if you have the means, you might consider sharing the voting experience with your child. Today, my third grader came home with a note from her teacher encouraging moms and dads to have their kids accompany them in the voting booth. She wants the kids to get a first-hand look at the electoral process. … Continue reading →

Chuck Norris, Gays, and the Boy Scouts of America

You know all the Chuck Norris facts going around? Like behind “Chuck Norris’ beard is another fist.” Or, “Chuck Norris counted to infinity – twice.” How about “Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.” Although I’ve always thought of myself as a Bruce Lee girl, these always make me giggle. His 40+ year career as an actor and martial artist along with these Chuck Norris facts cause TIME to proclaim Norris an “online cult hero” in 2006. Too bad he showed a less than heroic attitude today in … Continue reading →

There’s an Insurance Billing Code for Everything

Hospitals use medical billing codes to succinctly describe to an insurance company the type of medical services that a patient received. There used to be around 18,000 codes that doctor’s could select from. This is being updated to around 140,000 codes. It seems that there really is an insurance billing code for absolutely everything. Federal agencies have developed a system called ICD-10. It stands for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. This update greatly expands the number of billing codes that doctors can use to describe to a health insurance company what, exactly, a person was treated for. It is … Continue reading →

Family Fun in the Sun

Where are you planning to spend the upcoming Memorial Day weekend? For many families, the holiday allows them the chance to get a jumpstart on their summer tan while spending quality time with grandma, grandpa, cousins and other members of the extended clan. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel too far to have fun in the summer sun. The following popular vacation destinations offer family-friendly activities that don’t require draining your bank account to visit: Florida: If you decide not to do Disney this season, then opt to entertain the kids in Tampa. The city is home to affordable attractions … Continue reading →