I have fond memories of my first attempts at baking a cake. I had two younger brothers who would gather around, eagerly eyeing the mixing bowl. They wanted the creamy leftovers when I was done, of course, and since we raised our own eggs and I’d heard nothing about potential food-borne illnesses then, I always… Read More
Author: Colleen M. Story
Colleen is a full-time freelance writer who treasures her family. She grew up on a ranch where family activities included horseback riding, gathering hay off the field, and playing duck-duck-goose in the snow. She’s the “favorite aunt” for her nieces and nephews, though that may be because she is the only aunt! But she does love coming up with games and other activities for the kids to play when they all get together. She is also a novelist, motivational speaker, and founder of Writing and Wellness.
Colleen lives in the Pacific Northwest where she enjoys hiking in the beautiful countryside and playing her French horn in area music groups. Find more on her author website, or follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Penne pasta got its name from its unique shape. The word penne comes from the Italian penne, which means feather, derived from the Latin penna, which means feather or quill. Indeed, the pasta was believed to resemble the shape of the steel nibs of old-fashioned fountain pens. Pasta maker Giovanni Battista Capurro from Genoa was… Read More
When it comes to snacking, pretzels remain a popular choice. These little goodies are made from dough shaped into a knot or a stick, then baked until crisp and seasoned with salt or other flavors like cheese, chocolate, honey, or cinnamon. Where did pretzels come from in the first place? Historians aren’t sure, as there… Read More
As a mom, you’re probably familiar with the benefits of breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that it protects against a variety of diseases and conditions in infants including respiratory tract infections, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and childhood overweight and obesity. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services adds that… Read More
You don’t have tons of time to work out, so when you do you want to make it count. But sometime, even if you go hard, you don’t see great results. You can change it up with new exercises and harder workouts. But you can also do something easier and very effective: take a pre-workout… Read More
When is it time to get your child that laptop? It’s a question many parents wrestle with at some point in their child’s life, but lately, it’s become even more pressing. With most schools closed because of COVID-19 and kids forced to take classes online, having a laptop has gone from being a nice to… Read More
For many chefs and home cooks alike, stainless steel cookware is the best kind of cookware to have. There are several different reasons for that. It’s extremely durable, for one, which means you can use it over and over again for years and not have to replace it. But there are many other advantages as… Read More
Think of a cast-iron skillet and you may imagine wild-west cowboys around the fire cooking beans. But this old-time favorite utensil has experienced a surge of popularity among today’s home cooks. Many say it’s the best tool you can use for making flavorful dishes no matter where you are. Indeed, a cast-iron skillet is probably… Read More
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually, sickening one in six Americans each year, hospitalizing 128,000, and causing 3,000 deaths. Eating undercooked meat increases your risk of getting a food-borne illness, such as E. coli, salmonella, or listeria. These little microbes can survive in… Read More
If you’re tired of giving your kids your tablet to play with when waiting in a waiting room for an appointment, in the car during long rides, or whenever they’re stuck at home and bored, it’s time to think about buying a kid-appropriate tablet they can call their own. Fortunately, there are lots of tablets… Read More
When kids are at home for long periods of time—particularly if school has been canceled—one thing that parents may hear a little too often is the phrase, “I’m bored. Can’t we do something fun?” Though there are always television shows to watch and computer games to play, parents may be understandably concerned about their kids… Read More
According to research from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, about 13 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with incontinence or the loss of bladder or bowel control. The problem can range from the occasional leak to not being able to get to the toilet in time, and can significantly affect… Read More
In America, we love our coffee. Millions of us can’t get the day started until we’ve had our morning cup, with consumption in the 2018/2019 fiscal year topping 26 million 60-kilogram bags, up from 25.84 million in the previous fiscal year. The National Coffee Association (NCA) says that today, more Americans are drinking gourmet coffee… Read More