Author: Julie Meyers Pron

This week my friend Rajean from Because I Said So asked me to suggest great ideas for packable clothing. I can’t help but feel a little jealous even writing this post… I wish I had a need for packable clothing right about now. But enough about me… Easy Packing Lists So, one of the keys to packing for a trip (any kind of trip) is to coordinate your wardrobe so that you can mix and match to keep your packing a bit lighter. There are so many great examples of light-packing wardrobes on Pinterest, like this one from Pinterest. (This shows how great…

Every large storm that knocks out power, friends ask the same question: How long is my food in my freezer good? The USDA offers this advice: Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed. During a power outage, it is important to check the food in your refrigerator and freezer to determine which items can…

Lingerie shopping can be a very personal experience. Everyone has different preferences and needs when it comes to their underwear. Some people prefer comfortable, supportive bras, while others prefer cute underwear. To make the lingerie shopping process easier, it’s important to know what you’re looking for in your undergarments. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best places to buy cute underwear, including the best websites for lace pieces and the go-to destination for classic staples. When it comes to finding the perfect pair of women’s underwear, comfort is key. Brands like SKIMS, ThirdLove, Tommy John, Everlane, Aerie, and…

Chanel has released a new holiday collection called Vamp Attitude, inspired by the iconic Vamp nail polish color. The collection includes several Vamp-inspired nail shades, including Le Top Coat Lamé and Rose Fusion, and an eye shadow called Illusion D’Ombre in Rouge Noir. A limited-edition eye-shadow quad and a blush are also included in the collection. Vamp nail polish gained notoriety in the 1990s as the dark, blackish-red nail color preferred by Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and Madonna in her “Take a Bow” video. The original Vamp nail polish was launched in 1994 and became a post-grunge beauty icon…

Although some teens work part-time jobs in the summer and after school, many wait until they are in college to get their first job. However, getting a job early on can help teens in a variety of ways. Here are five reasons why teens should get a job. They Earn Better Grades You might assume that teens who work are too busy to spend enough time on their schoolwork, but high school students who work between 10 and 15 hours a week tend to have better grades, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For teens that always have to be…

East coasters, especially Mid-Atlantic east coasters, are watching the forecasts with lumps in their stomachs. Will March start with not just a roar but a bitter, cold, heavy snow roar? After countless storms that have trapped us in our houses all winter, we’re itching for spring. But we can do it. We know we can. Before crying in my pillow about being Frozen in the storm, I’m looking for some more ideas to have fun in the snow and asked my friend, website and magazine publisher, author, and Instagram-extraordinaire Katja Presnal of Skimbaco, how the Scandinavians enjoy their snow days.…

The winter can be gloomy, so it can be nice to escape the monotony and head out on the road for some adventure. Whether you’re skiing the Rockies, visiting Disneyland, or heading south for some fun, it’s a good idea to do some homework and think about what you might want to do on a winter vacation. Look no further because some of the best winter vacation spots in America are right here: A Phoenix Escape If you want to get away from a dreary, snowy winter, both Phoenix and Scottsdale have a lot to offer. Go for a hike…

“I assign 30 minutes of reading each night,” said my 6th grader’s reading teacher at Back to School Night. Then, he shrugged and finished his sentence. “But we all know that reading is the lowest priority for the kids, and they aren’t doing it.” Say what?! Nope. My husband and I weren’t happy with that at all. Reading is what comes first in our family, and there’s a good reason for it: we’ve always embraced and encouraged reading, and a reading teacher who isn’t going to do that is a genuine concern for our family. Reading relaxes us; it keeps…

Why are wordless books so important for reading and child development? Never discount the importance of wordless books in childhood. Through wordless books, children learn the art of storytelling and unique thoughts as well as necessary pre-reading skills. Plus 9 must-have picture books for your library Growing up, my mom and I ventured to the local library at least once a week. It was a tiny, two-story building with the children’s books and story hour hidden upstairs. These were the days before people set up workstations at small libraries. Little research was done on this one. It was, simply, a…

This post was co-written by Julie and SocialMonsters, offering ideas for teen travel with families and independent teen travel. Traveling during the developmentally crucial stage of adolescence can help your kids become smarter, more successful, and more compassionate as they grow into adulthood. Taking advantage of opportunities for adventure and exploration is key to children learning to adapt to new environments, seek questions and answers and learn to communicate with and become sensitive to people outside their normal existence. Travel Will Make Kids Smarter The U.S. Department of Education found that longer time spent traveling with the family has numerous positive…