The Homefront

Summer 2010 Issue | Posted by Editor in Home Front

FOOD by Danielle

Summer Sipping

When it comes to summertime entertaining, nothing makes a “splash” quite like a pretty pitch-
er filled with something cool and refreshing.

Vermont Maple Float

Maple is not just for pancakes anymore!

3 cups milk

1/4 cup pure maple syrup (no substitutes!)

4 scoops vanilla ice cream

Place all ingredients in the blender and process until smooth. Serve in tall glasses with an extra scoop of ice cream on top of each. Makes 4 servings.

Piña Colada Slush

No alcohol — just a sweet and creamy taste of the
tropics!

2 cups cubed fresh pineapple,

frozen

1 1/2 cups pineapple juice, chilled

1/4 cup cream of coconut

1 cup ice cubes

1 cup vanilla fat-free frozen yogurt

Place frozen pineapple into a blender and let stand 10 minutes. Add juice and cream. Turn blender on and add ice cubes, one at a time, processing until smooth. Add yogurt and blend thoroughly. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Sangria

This Spanish fruit-based wine punch will be the hit of any summer party.

1 orange

1 lemon

1 lime

1 medium all-purpose apple,

pared, cored, and sliced

1 cup pitted cherries

1 cup fresh pineapple chunks

3/4 cup brandy

750-milliliter bottle dry red wine

12-ounce can lemon-lime soda

1 cup orange juice

Cut orange, lemon, and lime into thin slices and place in a pitcher with the rest of the fruit. Pour in brandy, and chill for at least two
hours. Gently crush the fruits with a spoon, then stir in the chilled wine, soda, and orange juice. Add additional brandy or orange juice, to taste. Serves 6.

Quick tip: Make any drink extra fun with Stirrings drink rimmers. Rub a bit of fruit juice around the edge of a glass and dip in these flavored blends for a fancy finish. Available flavors include watermelon, pomegranate, mojito, lemon drop, and more. $5 each, at FamousFoods.com

— Visit Danielle online at FaithandFamilyLIVE.com

SELF by Mary

Cool Picks for Summer

In the summer it’s great to vacation from the ordinary, but not from your year-round elegant style. Try these tips and products to remain polished, poised, and prepared for anything.

• Check Your Cut

Should your hairstyle be modified for the summer heat? Trim up your current style, change your cut completely, or learn new ways to pull up long hair. For extra shine, try Aveda’s Brilliant Universal Styling Cream. Rub a “pea-sized amount” between your fingers, and apply to damp hair. Your hair will look glossy and brilliant. $17 at Aveda.com

• Protect Your Skin

Apply an all-over, non-greasy sun protection cream to your skin. I like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock with SPF 55. About $10 at drugstores and most major retailers.

• Update Your Shades

Take your sun protection to a more stylish level by updating your sunglasses. Skip the high-priced designer labels and head to Target (Xhilaration, Adi Designs) and Kohl’s (Elle or Simply Vera) for some fashionable alternatives.

• Pamper Your Feet

Have a luxurious and invigorating experience prepping your feet for sandals and peep-toe shoes with Arbonne’s Aromassentials Awaken Sea Salt Scrub. The price makes it a bit of a splurge ($28 for a medium-sized jar at Arbonne.com), but a little goes a long way.

• Maximize Moisture

I love Tom’s of Maine’s Moisturizing Body Wash for dry skin care at a lower price and without messy residue. Containing only the gentlest of ingredients, it’s a great option for everyday use for the entire family. Less than $7 at major retailers.

—  Visit Mary at

MarySheehanWarren.com

HOME

LIGHTEN UP

Decorating with pretty strands of lights isn’t only for Christ-mastime. A strand of clear, colored, or novelty lights adds a bit of romance or a touch of fun to your porch, deck, pool house, or back-yard barbecue.

Find a festive assortment of themed lights, including these adorable popsicle treats, at PartyLights.com (Popsicle lights, 12-inch green cord, $17.95).

FLOATING FLOWERS

This easy yet elegant centerpiece will be the center of attention at your next outdoor gathering. Simply pour water in a large serving platter, trim the stems from an assortment of summer flowers (peonies and gardenias work well), and float them in the tray.

MONEY

SWAP AND Save

Here’s an easy way to save on your home entertainment expenses. If you have a growing collection of old DVDs you could easily part with, you’ll want to check out SwapaDVD.com. After creating a free ac-count, you can list the DVDs you have available. When you mail them to other members who request them, you earn credits you can cash in for “new” DVDs from other members. The DVDs will be mailed to you for free. At SwapaDVD.com, you’ll also find links to related sites where you can swap books and CDs.

Pay Less for a Computer

Whether you need a computer for home, business, or school, here are some options to think about in-stead of buying a new one:

1. Ask around. Friends, family, and even places of business frequently upgrade their computer systems and are willing to part with their old equipment for free.

2. Buy used. You can find great deals on used computers at websites like CraigsList.org, eBay.com, and FreeCycle.org. To avoid scams, always research the person you are buying from. 

3. Consider refurbished. Some companies will fix up used computers with new parts and sell them at a significant discount. Your best bet is to stick with large, reputable companies like Dell and Apple.

HEALTH by Kate

Sneaky Nutrition

Just as the right accessories can make your outfit, all it takes are a few healthy add-ons to turn everyday eats into nutrition superstars.

“Eating healthily is not as difficult as people think,” says Stella Volpe, Ph.D., R.D., a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. “Meals and snacks can be made more healthy by adding fruits and vegetables (especially those with deep, vibrant colors), nuts, soy products, and other nutritious ‘extras’ to them.”

• Toast nuts in a dash of turmeric, an ingredient in curry powder that appears to inhibit tumor growth and may cut down on colon cancer, according to findings published in Clinical Cancer Research.

• Thicken soups or smoothies with silken tofu for a beneficial dose of calcium and soy protein.

• Stir a spoonful of peanut butter into your bowl of oatmeal for extra protein and protection against diabetes. A Harvard study found that women who ate five tablespoons of peanut butter each week reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 21%. Peanut butter’s healthy fats also leave you feeling full for longer.

• Mash black beans into burger patties to sneak in heart-healthy fiber. Toss chopped kale into your favorite stir-fry dish. Just one cooked cup of this veggie superstar provides more than 80% of your daily vitamin C intake.

Healthy Pick: Have picky eaters at your table? The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine ($12.21 at Amazon.com) can help. This book offers practical ways to sneak good eats into your kids’ favorite bites, in-cluding adding spin-ach into brownies and marbling mac ’n’ cheese with sweet potatoes.

FITNESS

She Lost It!

Name: Mary Geffre

Hometown: Portland, North Dakota

Fitness program: Daily walking, including walking to work

Diet: Lots of fruits and veggies

Weight loss: 52 pounds

Having fought the battle of the bulge for years, Mary Geffre decided it was time to take action in the fall of 2007. “I attended a healing Mass and went up to be healed of back, joint, and chest pains. Within a month the Holy Spirit led me to a terrific TOPS group and empowered me with a will to succeed that I just did not have on my own,” says the mom of eight and grandmother of 16. “With the support of my husband and my TOPS friends, I have developed good eating habits, walked off 50 pounds, lowered my blood pressure, and am free of pain.”

Taking Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) is a non-profit organization with local chapters throughout the U.S. that provide weight-loss support. “TOPS taught me to set small, reachable goals, and once those were achieved, to start again with another small goal,” says Mary, who had the honor of being recognized as the 2008 state winner in her division of TOPS.

Mary’s husband joins her for her daily morning walk, while God walks beside her every step of the way. In fact, she believes the best way to become the “biggest loser” is to take baby steps under the loving guidance of God.

“Take it one day at a time. Try — just for today — to not gain anything and to be proud of your achievement,” Mary says. “Ask God for strength to avoid all that is not good for you and thank him at the end of each day for answering your prayer.” For more information on TOPS, visit TOPS.org.

— Visit Kate at KateWicker.com

Homework: Share your weight loss success story with Faith & Family. See page 6 for contact information.

Mary, then.

Mary Geffre, now ...