There’s nothing quite like fresh herbs to add flavor to your food. Dry alternatives just aren’t the same. Although many supermarkets now offer fresh herbs, they can be expensive. Did you know how easy it is to create your own herb garden?

You can also purchase an herb starter kit complete with instructions to make it a snap – or here are some more helpful hints.

Decide What You’d Like to Grow

Would you like to try sage, rosemary and thyme? How about including dill, mint, chives, and cilantro? Now that you’ve chosen what you want to plant in your herb garden, you need to know a little bit about the herbs. For example, coriander, dill and basil die after one season. Parsley lives for two; and chives, thyme, mint, marjoram and tarragon bloom every year. Next, ascertain how large your herb garden will be. Ensure to keep the annuals and perennials separate from each other.

Plan Your Drainage

After you choose the site for your garden, make sure you consider drainage and soil fertility first. Without proper drainage, your garden will fail. So, improve drainage at the garden site by removing the soil to a depth of 15 to 18 inches. Place a 3-inch layer of crushed stone on the bottom. Mix some compost or peat and sand then refill the site higher than the original level to allow for the settling of the soil. Since the soil does not have to be fertile, it does not require additional fertilizer. Once the site and soil are ready for planting, you can proceed to purchase the seeds.

Planting Tips

For parsley, sow the seeds in the latter part of spring directly into the ground. Work the soil surface to achieve a really fine texture; then wet it slightly. Sow the seeds in very shallow rows with soil over them. Do not sow the seeds too deeply. It is important to cover the seed bed with either wet burlap or paper to keep the soil moist during germination. Water the seeds with a fine spray to prevent the washing away of the soil.

In order to protect your perennial and biennial herbs, use mulch about four inches deep to protect the plants. Place the mulch after the ground has frozen in early winter. Do not remove the mulch until the plants show signs of growth in early spring. Early removal could result in some early frost damage. You can check online or ask your gardening supply store for more information on what herbs you can grow now and later on in the year. Create your own herb garden and be proud of your accomplishment!

Get Your Herb Starter Kit: Click here.

Exercise and a proper diet are fundamental to good health. As we have become conscious of various health risks, we want our family to be physically and emotionally healthy as well. To this end, family fun exercise: bike riding, is one way in which parents and kids can not only enjoy exercise, but benefit from it as well.

Whether the family goes out for a traditional bike ride after dinner, or reserves this activity for the weekends, it is important that exercise be part of a family’s routine.

Bike riding is a fun activity, but should be approached in a safe manner. If you have not been on a bike for a while, there are certain safety tips you’ll need to adhere to. To ensure you and your family enjoys this activity; you’ll need to have the proper equipment.

• Helmets
• Knee pads
• Elbow Pads
• A tail light and white headlight for evening rides
• Wear bright colored clothing
• Always ride in the same direction the traffic is flowing
• Ensure the tires are fully inflated
• Wear sneakers

Unlike years ago, when we went bike riding without protection, any fall caused breaks, strains and sometimes – head injuries. Today, these pieces of equipment are vital to the protection of you and your family. Anything could happen when bike riding. Your child may hit a bump in the road; or run into a curb; whatever the case – it is better to be safe than sorry. Whether you ride around in your neighborhood, or use bike paths at your local park, ensure you follow all of the safety guidelines.

If you’ve been putting off your romantic getaway because you thought it was too expensive, think again. It’s true that when people think of romantic getaways, they often imagine faraway places in exotic locales. These types of vacations aren’t very friendly on the wallet.

Instead of thinking of a budget as restrictive, think of it as the first step in your plan to enjoy a worry-free romantic getaway. Look to your budget as a friend who helps keep you in check, not the enemy keeping you from experiencing the romantic getaway you want. These helpful hints will guide you in planning a romantic getaway on a budget.

1. Plan Early – Many of the best deals are normally found far in advance of the trip. By planning ahead you may find that you can afford to budget a romantic jaunt once every season instead of just once a year.

2. Plan Last Minute – Although there are no guarantees on last-minute deals, when flights and packages aren’t sold out, many providers offer deep last-minute discounts. To take advantage of these, you’ll need to be ready to travel at any moment.

3. Explore Your Own State – We often think of a getaway as leaving our state, but any change of location that is relaxing and romantic is a great way for couples to spend time together. Check out the mountains and beaches in your state. Each state has points of interest. For example, in the state of North Carolina, there are romantic cabins and hotels in mountainous areas like Asheville. There are also beachfront views in Wilmington and the Outer Banks.

4. Take a Bus Tour – Bus tours take trips to many popular places. These are coach tour buses with comfortable seating. Many times the cost of the trip includes hotel rooms and food. You can take a weekend trip to wine country, casinos, or other locations without spending a penny on gas or having the dreaded worry of doing the driving.

5. All Inclusive Resorts – If the romantic getaway is to last three or four days, research all inclusive trips. With these deals, airfare, hotel, and food are included. A number of activities are included in the package so you don’t have to leave the resort if you don’t want to. Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii are just a few places that have all-inclusive resorts.

A budget doesn’t have to stop you from spending time together away from it all. In fact, planning ahead makes the trip more romantic, because money is the last thing you have to think about. Instead you can concentrate on each other, which is the whole point of a romantic getaway in the first place, right?

Here’s a great 1 dish meal perfect for a potluck or for an easy family dinner. It calls for prepared ingredients, making it a snap to put it together. It’s meatless, but you can always add shredded chicken or ground beef if you preferred.

The Ingredients:

• 6-8 cups enchilada sauce
• 8 cups shredded cheese (cheddar and monterey jack)
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix (1.25 oz packet is equal to 4 Tablespoons)
• 18 corn tortillas

The Process:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Add 1/2 taco seasoning mix packet to bag of shredded cheese and shake well. Cover bottom of baking dish with thin layer of enchilada sauce. Cover sauce with 6 corn tortillas. Top with cheese. Repeat layer twice. Cover with foil and bake covered for 35-45 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered last 5-10 minutes.

With the last week of April here and most of your spring-cleaning done you probably have found many things that you never use. Instead of just throwing everything out why not put together a garage sale.

By cleaning out every room in your house you will find knick-knacks that you don’t need and maybe some things that you just don’t like anymore. Just remember someone’s trash is another person’s treasure. So when your spring-cleaning is finished follow these steps to making money.

1. Organize – Go through every room in the house and finish your spring – cleaning when you are all done look around the room. If you have any sort of clutter go through and decide what you really need. Organize your stuff and see what should stay and what should go. Once you do that make piles one that you will sell and one that you will just throw away. If you haven’t used something in over a year chances are you never will.

2. Closets – Going through your closets and your kids’ closets are a great way to find things for a garage sale. Not only will you be able to clear some drawer space you will also find things you probably forgot you owned. If you forgot you owned it you won’t wear it, put it in the sell pile. When going through the kids clothes throw out anything that has big stains or rips, no one will buy things in bad shape.

3. Get Help – Your help can be free and I bet your kids would love to help. Tell your kids to go through all there toys and find the ones that they want to sell. Let them know that they can price the items (with help from you) and they can keep all the money they make. Kids will love this idea and many will even help set everything up, they will feel involved in what you are doing and you get to spend some quality time with them. Ask neighbors and family members if they want to contribute and help out also.

4. Pricing – This is the only place where you might have to spend a few dollars. Masking Tape and a permanent marker will work great for pricing. Some of you might like the pre-priced stickers better. Just pick up a pack or make your own price tags, this wont cost a lot and it’s all the money you have to spend.

5. Time to Sell – After picking the day and letting everyone know when it is, your garage sale is under way. Many people will want to bargain down price, remember you were going to throw the item out so any price will work. Let the kids help set up there toys while you do the clothes. Organize everything according to price and you will be on your way. Have fun and make some money, just do go spend it all in one day.

Bathrooms are possibly the least fun to clean, but the most dirty. But you’ve got to do what you have to do. Here are some tips to clean your bathroom without spending too much cash.

1. Go through Cupboards – Start by going through the cupboards and getting rid of the old toothpaste that no one uses or all the little shampoos that have been stored but never used from hotel visits. Going through and cleaning the cupboards will make it easier to find what you need and easier for storing the things that you and your family will use. Just by cleaning up a little and getting rid of clutter will make any bathroom cleaner.

2. Wipe Everything Down – After you are done going through everything get out that all-purpose cleaner or bathroom cleaner if you have it. Wipe all the surfaces down including the toilet, sinks, and mirrors and don’t forget the bathtub. If you have tile that has grout it can get moldy and gross. To clean this you don’t need to buy expensive things just get one of the kids’ old toothbrushes and some cleaner and get to it. By using an old toothbrush you will save money and not spend it on products that can do the same thing.

3. Rugs – Many people will find it necessary to buy new rugs for the bathroom every year, but it is not. If you give them a good cleaning every once in a while your rugs will last a lot longer. Every week or so take your rug outside and shake then just throw it in the washer. Make sure when you buy those rugs to read the label and make sure it can be thrown in the washing machine.

4. Reuse – Many household items can be used in the bathroom throughout the year to cut down your spring-cleaning time. Instead of just throwing everything into the trash why not use the old grocery bags that are sitting somewhere or that you just throw out. Use these as liners and your trash can will stay cleaner longer. Instead of wasting paper towels to clean the mirrors use newspaper. By cleaning and drying the mirror with newspaper you will minimize the streaks and reuse an everyday item.

Your bedroom can be one of the hardest things to clean. Not only are many of your personal items stored in your bedroom but it often becomes the messiest.

And hey, cleaning your room can be fun (REALLY!); you might find things you forgot you had.

1. Start Simple – Start by walking in your room and opening up the windows. Get some fresh air into your bedroom to get the winter months out of there. Take all your bedding including sheets, and duvet covers and throw them in the washer. Washing things that you don’t do often will make your room feel clean. Make sure to read the instructions especially on comforters and duvet covers. If they need to be done by a professional open up the phone book and call around. Ask the prices and go to the one that is cheapest. By making a few phone calls you can really save a lot of money.

2. Get Out that Vacuum – If you have hard wood or carpet in your room it is time to clean it up by vacuuming. Start by clearing everything out that is up against the walls. Do not forget to get und your bed and in your closet. Dust also loves to find its way to all the corners of your room so do not neglect any space. By just vacuuming up the floor it will feel better when you walk in and kick off your shoes.

3. Organize Everything – Everyone has the problem with things finding there way under the bed. Clear everything out and make a few piles. Make a keep, throw and give pile and organize everything to fit in one of these piles. Go through your closet, drawers and anywhere where anything is. If you have clothes that you don’t want to throw out because they are nice they just don’t fit then find a salvation army by or go somewhere that buys the clothes back. See if you have a Plato’s Closet by you, they will buy your clothes from you. This way you are getting money instead of spending it.

4. Dust – Bedroom’s like to collect dust. You need to wipe everything down and make sure everything is clean. Take everything off your furniture, start by cleaning all that even if it is a quick wipe down. Next clean the surface. Do not forget about ceiling fans and artwork that may be piling with dust. Get out those coupons and see what you already have to get the dusting done. You don’t need anything fancy you just need to get your room clean.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup Irish cream liqueur
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream
Chocolate sprinkles, if desired

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 350ºF. Mix 3/4 cup flour, butter, powdered sugar and cocoa until soft dough consistency is reached. Press in ungreased square 8X 8 pan. Bake 10 minutes. In medium bowl, beat remaining ingredients minus the whipping cream and chocolate sprinkles with wire whisk until blended. Pour over baked layer. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until filling is set. Cool slightly; refrigerate at least 2 hours before cutting. In chilled small bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream onto each bar. Top with chocolate sprinkles. Store covered in refrigerator up to 2 days.

He’s sound asleep and you are too, when suddenly – it begins.

Snoring.

Now, he’s still asleep and you’re wide awake. A short-term strategy is to get your partner off his back and onto his side. Lying on one’s back can cause the throat to relax and block airways, causing snoring.

But what about more long-term solutions?

Weight Loss: Excess weight can be a factor in snoring. Excess fatty tissue on the neck can restrict the throat.

Quit Smoking: Exposure to smoke can cause congestion. Obviously, quitting smoking has many health benefits.

Alcohol: Consumption of alcohol can cause relaxation of throat and tongue muscles, blocking airways…and you guessed it, causing more snoring.

Medications: Certain medications may bring on the snoring. If you’ve noticed a correlation between increased snoring and a new medication, have him check with his doctor.

Men Snore More

The downside is that men tend to snore more than women. They have narrower nasal passages, increasing the likelihood of this night time symphonies.

Commercial Treatments

• Silent Snore Oral Spray: An organic and natural ingredient throat spray that boast improvement in snoring in 90% of its users.
• Breathe Right Nasal Strips: Drug-free nasal strips for temporary relief of nasal congestion (from colds and allergies) that can help reduce snoring.
• Marpac 980 Sound Screen & SleepMate Sound Conditioner: This white noise sound machine can be used for restless sleepers of all ages…and it might just work for your need for a good night’s sleep.

What if Treatments Don’t Help?

If these things aren’t working for your snoring problems or those of your partner, you have a more serious problem – such as sleep apnea. Under a doctor’s care, you can use oral appliances and facemasks to help combat the snoring problem and other related issues.If you suspect sleep apnea, you should seek the care of a qualified medical professional immediately. This is a potentially life threatening illness that should not be ignored. Snoring doesn’t have to ruin your social life or place your partner in another room. You can combat the effects of snoring if you’re willing to make the effort.

The Fisher Price Kick & Play bouncer comes with a padded cloth seat and a toy bar that lights up and plays music when the baby bats at the hanging decorations or kicks.

It Features:

• Bouncer with 14 songs and 8 sound effects
• Twinkling lights
• Fun-filled toy bar
• Gentle, soothing bouncing rhythm
• For ages newborn until he or she sits unassisted; up to 25 lb.

Says Mom Reviewer Genesis Davies: This is really great for keeping little ones busy while you are trying to get a bit of housework done! My son is a year and a half old and he still plays with the toy bar. A kick plate at the front senses the random kicking of even a very small baby and sets off the music and lights.

The music can be set to activate only when the baby kicks, or to play all the time, with lights flashing, which is good when your baby hasn’t yet figured out that his actions make the toy work.

There is also a vibration feature with two settings, very useful for putting a small child to sleep or calming a colicky infant when you are just too tired to bounce him anymore. Combined with the bouncing action of the chair, it is really soothing and the hum of the motor helps quiet infants, as well.

Genesis’ Criticism: The cloth seat is completely washable and very easy to use. The only problem with it is that you have no way to use the chair while the cover is being washed. In addition, the front metal strut broke while my son was bouncing in the chair. This was after about 6 months of use, although in all fairness, my husband used his foot to bounce the chair on that same strut, obviously weakening it!