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How I Cut My Food Budget In Half

July 7, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

Kali Geldis tells the DailyFinance about how she cut her food budget in half. If she would have known about services such as giftcardrescue.com, she could’ve saved even more!

With discounted gift cards to major grocery stores like Whole Foods, Walmart, Target, and more; saving hundreds of dollars a month is common. Here is her story.

I opened up my budget tracking tool last November, and my jaw dropped — I had spent $1,200 on food that month. That’s when I knew I had to make a change.

Now, a few notes about that total: That includes groceries, restaurants, bars and fast food. Also, I prepared Thanksgiving dinner — $125 for couple of pies and a turkey for six people. However, that $1,200 number stuck with me — I needed to cut my spending on food.

It’s no surprise that food was a big budget-breaker for me — it’s one of the most common expenses on which financial planners see clients spending too much money. I definitely felt like I was throwing money away. There are so many other ways I could use that money — paying for a vacation, investing more money in an individual retirement account, saving for a down payment on a home, paying for a wedding.

It was when my now-fiancé proposed over Christmas that I knew needed to buckle down and cut my food spending by a lot. Weddings are expensive, and the money that was going toward nights out and nice dinners with friends was wrecking my budget. While I wasn’t going into debt, I realized it was just a matter of time. And debt is something I strenuously avoid. (I never carry a balance on my credit cards and am constantly monitoring my credit scores for free on Credit.com to make sure my credit utilization level is low.) If I was going to start cutting my food spending, I needed new rules for myself.

How I Cut My Food Spending in Half

Pack lunch for work. A simple step, yes, but I realized that I don’t need to pack a lunch every day for work, just pack supplies for lunches once a week. I realized I could get a big supply of baby spinach, some dried cranberries and some salad dressing, and have enough to last me for lunches the entire week. It made packing a lunch less of a hassle, and helped me avoid ordering lunch delivered to the office on Seamless on a daily basis. (I still let myself order in every once in a while.)
Make grocery shopping a priority. I’m a New Yorker, so stocking up on groceries for the week is more difficult than hopping in my car, filling up my cart and heading home. I have to carry all my groceries from the store to my apartment, and a week’s worth of food is shockingly heavy. I’ve opted instead to use Fresh Direct to order groceries every week. Even though I know I’m not getting the best deal on every item I buy, I know that by regularly filling my fridge, I’m not ordering a $25 meal from an online food delivery service. The savings adds up.
Just say no. Part of my food spending problem was that I would go out with friends and feel pressured to order another round of drinks, splurge on dessert, or get a bunch of appetizers for the table. I deserved it, right? I had to learn some self-control and think about the bigger expenses I really wanted — owning a home in a few years, saving money for my upcoming wedding (and the awesome honeymoon we want), and planning for a fully funded retirement. (Yes — I’m a millennial who is thinking about retirement — we do exist!)

I looked at my food spending in May — it’s down to about $600, a huge accomplishment, I cut my food budget in half! It took me about six months to really get into a groove with these new habits, but the payoff is big. My fiancé and I are on track to save more than $1,000 a month for our wedding, and we’re hoping to have a little left over to save for the other big costs down the road.

Food To Cut From Your Kids Diet

July 1, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

Food companies are good at marketing to unknowning consumers that their product is healthy when, in fact, it could be putting artificial and unhealthy ingredients into your kids diet. Below is a list of food to cut from your kids diet, instead find healthy alternatives that are equally as satisfying. With this list of food to cut from your kids diet, you can kick artificial food coloring and sugar to the curb. Try shopping at places such as Whole Foods to have a larger, healthier food selection.

Kool-Aid Burst Cherry

Red-stained mouths are common during the summer, as kids gulp down huge cups of Kool-Aid, made by Kraft Foods Group KRFT +0.25% . But parents looking to cut down on artificial dyes may want to limit kids’ consumption of Kool-Aid Burst Cherry. The 2013 study shows that just eight fluid ounces of Kool Aid has 52.3 mg of artificial food coloring in it. The FDA says that children weighing 30 kilograms (66 pounds) shouldn’t have more than 210 mg per day of the red dye contained in Kool Aid — and just over 32 ounces of Kool-Aid Burst Cherry (that’s roughly the size of three cans of soda) would put your kids over the edge. Some groups don’t think any of this dye is safe: The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit agency that advocates for safer foods, has lobbied the FDA to ban Red No. 40 dye. Kraft did not respond for a request for comment.

Kraft Mac & Cheese

It’s a dinner staple in many households, but the 2014 study shows that just one serving of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese has 17.6 mg of artificial food coloring in it, compared with fewer than 8 mg for a serving of Hamburger Helper, another family favorite. Even Cheese Balls have fewer than 9 mg per serving. The FDA says that children weighing 30 kilograms (66 pounds) shouldn’t have more than 113 mg of Yellow No. 6 or 150 mg of Yellow No. 5 — the dyes that color Kraft Macaroni & Cheese — per day; the CSPI names both of these yellow dyes as two of the three it wants the FDA to ban. Kraft did not respond for a request for comment.

Cap n’ Crunch Oops All Berries

With its cartoon captain on the front of the box and the sweet cereal inside, there’s a reason your kids love Cap n’ Crunch Oops All Berries. But the 2014 study found that just one cup of this cereal has 41.3 mg of artificial food coloring (red, yellow and blue dyes). This was the highest amount of dye per serving of any of the 10 cereals measured. Switching to regular Cap ‘n Crunch as well as Cap ‘n Crunch Crunch Berries are both better (though still not great) bets with 9.5 and 17 mg of artificial dyes per cup, respectively. Stevens says that “better yet, choose a whole grain cereal low in sugar that does not have any dyes.” Children shouldn’t have more than 210 mg of the red dye in Cap n’ Crunch, 150 mg of the yellow dye and 360 mg of the blue dye, according to the FDA. PepsiCo PEP -0.52% referred MarketWatch to the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association for comment, which questioned the analytics of the Purdue study.

Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers

When parents hear cracker, they often think healthy. But they may want to proceed with caution. One package of these crackers has 10 grams of fat, 190 calories and only 1 gram of fiber. But it’s the dye that may give parents pause: A serving (eight crackers) of Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Crackers, made by Kellogg Co. K -0.21% , has 14.4 mg of yellow dye in them; this is one of the dyes that CSPI want to ban. The FDA says children shouldn’t have more than 113 mg of this dye per day. Keebler did not respond to a request for comment.

Trix

“Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids.” There’s nary a child in America who doesn’t know that tagline, or at least know what Trix cereal is. But that sugary (there are 10 grams of sugar per one-cup serving), colorful cereal your kids love is loaded with artificial dyes (36.4 mg of red, yellow and blue dyes per serving, the second highest of the 10 cereals measured), the 2014 study showed. Children shouldn’t have more than 210 mg of the red dye in Trix, 113 mg of the yellow dye and 360 mg of the blue dye, according to the FDA. What’s more, in general, sugared colorful cereals tend to have one of the highest levels of dyes per serving, compared with popsicles and ice creams. A spokesperson for General Mills GIS +0.47% says that the dye “levels in a product like Trix would actually be lower than what is listed by as much as 30%”.

Powerade Orange

Many parents think that Powerade Orange is a healthy drink to give Junior after his soccer or tennis match. Indeed, Powerade’s marketing campaigns say that it will help replenish electrolytes lost in sweat. But the study found that Powerade Orange, a product of Coca-Cola Co. KO -0.73% , has 22.1 mg of artificial dyes in it per eight ounce serving. You’d be better off with PepsiCo’s Gatorade Orange, which only has 3.2 mg per serving or HyDrive Energy Orange, which only has 6.7 mg, though Stevens says that “100% diluted fruit juice over ice” may be even better.” The FDA says that children shouldn’t have more than 113 mg of Yellow No. 6 or 150 mg of Yellow No. 5, or more than 210 mg per day of the red dye. Coca-Cola did not respond for a request for comment.

Fruity Cheerios

Some parents think of Cheerios as a healthy breakfast, but if you’re worried about artificial dyes, you may want to steer clear of Fruity Cheerios. One serving of this cereal, a General Mills product, has 31.8 mg of red, yellow and blue dye. Parents might want to switch to Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries, as their berries are made from strawberries and don’t contain dye, or Berry Berry Kix by General Mills, whose berry balls are sweetened with fruit juice and also don’t contain dyes. Children shouldn’t have more than 210 mg of the red dye in Fruity Cheerios, 113 mg of the yellow dye and 360 mg of the blue dye, according to the FDA. A spokesperson for General Mills says that “the safety of both artificial and natural colors has been affirmed through extensive review by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).”

Sunny D Orange Strawberry

Sure, eight ounces of Sunny D Orange Strawberry has 100% of the government’s recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C in it, but it’s also got a lot of sugar and artificial dyes. Indeed, Sunny D Orange Strawberry drink, made by parent company Orangina Schweppes, contains 41.5 mg per serving of artificial dyes — that’s second only to Kool-Aid Burst Cherry among the 32 beverages measured. A Sunny D spokesperson says “the health and safety of our products is paramount, we use only FDA-approved ingredients and we stand behind the safety of all of our beverages.” The FDA says that children shouldn’t have more than 113 mg of Yellow No. 6 or 150 mg of Yellow No. 5 — the two yellow dyes the study found in Sunny D Orange Strawberry — or more than 210 mg per day of the red dye.

M&M’s

Parents know that candy isn’t healthy for kids, but many don’t realize how much artificial dye goes into it. One quarter cup of M&Ms (48 pieces) has 29.5 mg of dyes (red, blue and yellow) in it — the second highest of the more than 50 candies measured. They also have 27 grams of sugar in them — one of the highest levels of those measured. Mars says that their products comply with both internal quality and safety standards as well as government standards. The FDA says that children shouldn’t have more than 113 mg of Yellow No. 6 or 150 mg of Yellow No. 5, 210 mg per day of Red No. 40, 360 mg of Blue No. 1, 75 mg of Blue No. 2 — all of which the study found M&Ms contained.

Skittles

When your kids “experience the rainbow,” they’re also gulping down a lot of artificial dye. One serving (a packet, which contains 61 pieces) of the candy has 33.3 mg of artificial dyes in it. But perhaps even more disturbing to parents is the 46 g of sugar that go along with that. Wrigley, the maker of Skittles, says that all the colors used “comply with our own strict internal quality and safety requirements as well as all applicable laws, regulations and safety assessments relating to colors added to food.” Skittles contains the same dyes that M&Ms do.

How To Be A Lucky Person

June 5, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

We all know that person that is always ‘lucky’. They get the best opportunities and everything just always seems to work out for them. Researchers have discovered that, what we call ‘lucky’, people share the same qualities that allow good things to happen to them. Clear your mind and try something new!

If you can be a lucky person by integrating these Inc.com traits into your life.

1. Be an opportunity magnet

Why is it that some people just seem to attract more opportunities than others? It’s because they are open to new opportunities and they make sure everyone around them knows it. If, for example, you want to get an offer for a better job, what do you think is the best way to achieve that? Right: Tell everyone you know that you’re looking for a new job. As word moves throughout your network of colleagues, friends, and relatives, chances are you will be presented with a number of opportunities.

2. Loosen up

When people are rigid and uptight, in their business or their life, then only a relatively few things fit into their definition of what constitutes and opportunity. As a result they let countless opportunities pass them by. If you find your outlook is too narrow then loosen up and allow some serendipity to enter into your life. The best opportunities, and the greatest sources of luck, often arrive from unexpected places at unexpected times. Be open to possibilities rather than shutting them down.

3. Be outgoing

If you want to be lucky you can’t be a wallflower. You’ve got to put yourself out there and talk to people, quite possibly in places and in ways that you might not normally be comfortable doing. If you’re an introvert you’ll need to make an extra effort to be outgoing. Recognize your tendency to avoid socializing or hold back in conversations, and then practice doing just the opposite. The more outgoing you are, the more opportunities–and luck–you will attract.

4. Be flexible

We all make plans in our lives: We want to achieve this particular goal by this particular date, we want to be living in this place by this date, etc. Plans are great, but luck doesn’t necessarily care what your plans are. In fact, luck follows its own plan. So, when a new opportunity presents itself, you’ve got to be agile and ready to modify, change, or throw out altogether whatever plans you’ve made. The more flexible you are with your future possibilities, the more luck you will bring into your life.

5. Don’t be afraid to fail

When opportunities arrive we can’t be afraid to act on them. Sure, there’s always the possibility that we might fail, but we can’t let the fear of failure rule our lives. If you focus on the opportunity and put everything you’ve got into it, chances are you will succeed. Even if you don’t, simply pick yourself up and quickly move on to the next opportunity. The faster you fail and move on, the faster you will ultimately succeed. Of course, you might just succeed with your first opportunity. You’d say you were lucky, but science might say otherwise.

6 Things To Quit Buying Your Kids When They Have Allowance

June 3, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

Teach your kids how to handle money responsibly as soon as you start giving them an allowance. They will grow up knowing the value of money and be smart spenders. Here are 6 things you should quit buying your kids when they have their own money.

Junk Food

Healthy snacks and food are covered by you any day however, when it comes to concession stands, candy bars, or carnival food, let your kids be on their own. Teach them that unhealthy food comes at a price and if they want it they will need to budget it.

Toys

You are at the store and your kids are begging for the newest barbie on display. You can finally be a Yes-mom and respond with; as long as you have your own money with you. You won’t have to worry about temper tantrums because they can buy it if they save.

Accessories

Buying clothes and shoes is still under mom and dad responsibility but getting new jewelry or hats should be taken on by your kids. If it is not a mandatory outfit requirement, let them buy it with their own money.

Data Plans

Your kids are not using data to keep in contact with you and it is not a necessary addition to having a phone plan. If they want to use data then make them be responsible for paying for it. Along the same lines, if they go over their data usage make sure they are the ones footing the bill.

Over-Priced Fundraisers

Buying candy bars and books from the school fundraisers gets old. If you want to contribute then make your contribution but if they want the products that they are selling, make them have saved for it or skip purchasing it all together.

School Events

Anything related to school such as educational field trips etc should be paid for by you. School events like carnivals, movies, and dances are allocated to allowance money.

Anything your kid wants should be taken on by them to make sure they have the money to pay for. You are still giving them that money (in the form of allowance), but you are teaching them to be smart about money, budget, and work for what they want. Try paying their allowance in discounted gift cards to the stores your kids love: Toys R Us, Justice, Cold Stone, and many more are available at giftcardrescue.com.

Signs You Are A Starbucks Addict

June 2, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

If Starbucks is a part of your daily ritual, you know what effect that can have on your wallet. Not to promote your addictive behavior but there is now a way to get Starbucks for cheaper! With Starbucks introducing their new wine and beer happy hour; you might be spending a lot more time there. Here are 39 signs that you are a Starbucks Addict.

1. It’s a different way to drink your calories without getting hungover the next day

2. A small iced coffee is sufficient enough caffeine and only costs $2

3. It’s expanding its menu to include wine, reaching out to the inner-alcoholic in all of us

4. The 30-minute line is a great excuse to get away from work

5. Caffeine is more addicting than carbs and it has fewer calories

6. It’s the go-to Instagram picture when you have nothing else to upload

7. Because you’re probably drinking it right now

8. The barista will, more than likely, screw up your order

9. The worst way to start the morning is taking a sip of what you thought was an unsweetened green tea, only to chug a giant gulp of sugar water

10. You will be charged extra for soy milk

11. It owns your bank account since it’s the top priority of your weekly life

12. You spend time counting down the days until you can feast on all the different Pumpkin Spice concoctions

13. The baristas recognize you and have your order memorized

14. It’s the best assistant at work you could ever ask for

15. You got visibly upset when the barista told you Starbucks discontinued your favorite breakfast: Veggie Artisan sandwich

16. You secretly believe that every time you place your order, the barista will f*ck it up

16.When budgeting, you sacrifice meals to make room for your coffee expenditures

17. If you don’t have a Gold card, it’s your biggest goal in life to obtain one

18. But, let’s be serious, you got a Gold card months ago

19. You use the Starbucks app more than any other app on your phone

20. You physically can’t do any activity without first stopping for coffee

21. You’ve gotten into a verbal altercation with another customer about who was in line first

22. You think going multiple times in one day is acceptable

23. You’ve contemplated going out on a date with a barista so that you might get free coffee (or at least a discount)

24. After years and years of consumption, you’ve somehow built up a resistance to anything smaller than a grande

25. You never feel comfortable ordering from an out-of-town Starbucks

26. You depend on your barista for your daily dose of happiness

27. You see no appeal in other coffee bodegas

28. It doesn’t matter how out of the way it is, you will always choose Starbucks over any other option

29. You understand and accept the fact that you need to allot 15 different five-minute slots throughout the day to pee

30. If your name is difficult to pronounce, you get a thrill from giving an easy-to-spell name instead

31. You are on a first-name basis with the Starbucks closest to your office and your apartment, oh and your parents’ house

32. You can’t comprehend the fact that people actually enjoy drinking decaf

33. You like your caffeine like you like your men: strong

34. You have paid more than $5.25 for a cup, complained about it and did it again the following day

35. You don’t even own a Keurig because you just love your trips to Starbucks

36. You say a little prayer every night that Starbucks might offer free refills one day

37. The fact that there are now drive-thru Starbucks locations made your life just a little bit better

38. You actually take it personally when people tell you they don’t like Starbucks

39. You stopped reading this halfway through to get another cup

Originally from EliteDaily

Photo Credit: WeHeartIt

20 Lazy Sunday Activities

May 30, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

After a long work week, Sundays are the best day to do nothing and love it. Lazy Sunday activities can include just laying in bed to online shopping, whatever your heart desires, as long as you are being lazy.

1. Buy some flowers

Go to the local market and pick up a pretty bunch of tulips. There’s something so beautiful and uplifting when you have a bouquet of fresh flowers in the house. Don’t you think?

2. Wear no make-up

Nothing feels better than a naked face. Who needs all that gunk anyways? Hey, it’s called lazy Sunday for a reason – zero effort required.

3. Bake chocolate chip cookies

Soft, gooey, warm-baked cookies. Definitely our favorite pastime.

©Pinterest/ blog.williams-sonoma.com

4. Lay around all day

Make a date with your duvet.

5. Make banana pancakes…

…for breakfast. A cup of freshly brewed coffee and a plate of fluffy pancakes? That’s how to spring someone out of bed.

6. Watch old films

Dirty Dancing, Now and Then and pretty much every Julia Roberts movie out there. Timeless fun.

7. Wear something snug

Forget tight tailored blazers and rigid black trousers. Today is your day to wear WHATEVER the hell you want. We’re going for the BF’s shirt.

8. Do some laundry

We know what you’re thinking. Chores – on a Sunday? Hear us out. You know as well as we do that there’s nothing more satisfying than clean crisp laundry. The smell is gorgeous and the effort? Minimal.

9. Drink wine and be happy

If you’re up for it, drop by the local bar and enjoy a few drinks. Otherwise, stay in and crack open a bottle of chilled wine with a friend. Even better, go all out and make summery homemade cocktails! Yum.

10. Read

Now’s the time to catch up on some fantasies. Get lost in a story or catch up on world affairs.

11. Catch up on sleep

Most of us don’t get the recommended quota of sleep (8 hours per night). In fact, we’re lucky if we do, right? On Sundays you can turn off that alarm, sleep in, have a nap, go to bed early – anything – there are NO rules on your day off.

12. Pamper yourself

Day to day stress can wreck havoc with our beauty regimes. Revitalize your body and treat yourself to some major TLC. You deserve it!

13. Get some music therapy

Tune in to your favorite station, crank up the music and daydream for as long as you want. There’s nothing as de-stressing as setting your mind free.

14. Learn a new recipe

Today’s the perfect day to learn a new recipe via Sunday morning cooking shows, of course. Girl, put your chef hat on and get whisking!

15. Go online shopping

Hey, a little retail therapy never hurt anyone. Besides this means NO long lines, whining men or those panicked crowds. Fab-u-lous. And you can get discounted gift cards to your favorite stores to save money!

16. A roast dinner

If you’re going to go anywhere on your lazy Sunday, make it the bar that does the best roast dinners for miles around. Definitely worth getting dressed for.

17. Have a sexy session

Whether you’re with someone or alone, nothing beats a sexy love-in on a lazy Sunday morning.

18. Organize your computer

Get your laptop to hand and clear that desktop. Takes a few clicks, but will feel like you’ve accomplished something with your day.

19. Call an old friend

Get snug on the sofa, pour yourself a glass of vino and facetime your special BFF that lives miles away. Best use of time ever.

20. Do a Netflix marathon

Always wondered what the fuss was with Breaking Bad/Mad Men/Girls? Time to do some serious catching up and what better time to binge than on a lovely lazy Sunday?

For more on wewomen.com

10 Health Tips to Eating Out

May 29, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

Just one meal at a restaurant can equal the total amount of calories you’re burning in a day! Lucky you, there are health tips to eating out that can help your fun meal to not be a diet catastrophe.

1. Eat beforehand to control your appetite, not to suppress your appetite. Try to eat something small containing protein before you get to a restaurant. Often a cup of milk, soy milk, or almond milk will suffice. It has enough protein to hold you over and help you make a wise choice in the restaurant. It will also help you ignore the bread basket, or similar free items placed on your table.

2. Check websites for menus or call ahead to see what will be served if you are attending a planned party. Plan what you want to eat before you get there. By preplanning your food, with items that you enjoy and look forward to, you will not be swayed by other’s choices that may be calorie laden.

3. Suggest a restaurant that you are familiar with. By simply suggesting a restaurant you enjoy and are comfortable with, you are now in command of what you will choose and how you will eat.

4. Be careful of the bread basket, Chinese noodles, nacho chips, or any food put on your table at no extra cost to you. You’ll pay a high cost in the calories consumed.

5. Order a big glass of water and make sure you drink it. Continually ask for refills. If your dinner guests are drinking an alcoholic beverage, and you choose not to, ask for your water to be poured into a wine glass.

6. Go easy on alcoholic beverages; they contain a high amount of empty calories. Alcohol can change your mood while it lowers your resistance to temptation, causing you to over eat. If you do choose an alcoholic beverage, always drink a glass of water first. Quench your thirst with the water, than enjoy the taste of the drink.

7. When you are at a social gathering and food is abundant, remember to socialize. Less eating gets done when more socializing takes place.

8. Avoid ordering foods that are described on the menu with the following words: breaded, béarnaise, au gratin, parmesan, cream, hollandaise, crispy, fried, flaky, or escalloped. These types of food preparation include a high fat content, and many added unnecessary calories.

9. Order foods described with these words: roasted, grilled, broiled, poached, stir-fried, or steamed. Stick to sauces that are stock-based or red. Food prepared this way is lower in calories and an all around healthier choice.

10. Choose “a-la-carte” items, don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions, and avoid all-you-can-eat menus. Everything you eat matters, so choose wisely.

One last food for thought… if you choose a high-calorie meal in a restaurant, leave the uneaten portion there and do not take the rest home for another day. If you enjoy it while you are out, that’s enough. There is no need to eat it again, regardless of how much you paid for it. You have already gotten your money’s worth by enjoying it that one time.

Original Article on HuffingtonPost

Top Ten Camping Tents For Less Than $100

May 28, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

Camping season is here and with the many options of tents that are available, finding the perfect tent can seem intimidating. Yahoo came up with the best tents for your summer needs. Pairing the already under $100 tents with a discounted gift card will help you to get a good camping tents for less.

Buying a cheap tent is like buying a cheap umbrella. You’re probably going to get wet. However, you do not have to spend a fortune if you’re a casual camper who wants a decent tent to use a few times a year. Sturdy tents with strong poles and quality materials can be found for under $100.Your tent should be comfortable and dry. Look for a full rainfly – not a cap-sized rainfly –that runs down the outside of the tent. You’ll also want full zippers, not flaps, around the windows, doors and rainfly.REI recommends you look for tents with aluminum poles, quality zippers, and a decent floor.“A tent’s pole structure usually determines how easy or hard it is to pitch. Fewer poles allow faster setups. It’s also easier to attach poles to clips than it is to thread them through ‘continuous’ pole sleeves. Many tents offer a combination of both clips and short pole sleeves in an effort to balance strength, ventilation and setup ease.”While these are the proper guidelines to follow when buying a tent, it’s also important to consider how you’re going to use it. You can probably ignore most of the above if you’re looking for something the kids can use in the back yard. And even the best tents can be a problem if you don’t pitch them correctly. If you go with a tent featured in this piece you should practice pitching it a few times at home. Let it stay out overnight – especially if the weather calls for wind and rain – to see how it holds up before you trust it with your family inside. If it doesn’t live up to its claims, send it back. (But do your research.)

1. Rightline Gear Pop Up Tent

This one gives you camping in an instant, employing the same design functionality used for windshield shade screens. There are no poles, it sets up in about a minute, and folds back into an easy carrying case when done. The tent is water resistant, sleeps two adults, and requires no ground tarp.

$99 @ Gander Mtn.

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You may not want to take this one on your next safari outing, but it’s a quick and fun way to introduce kids to camping.

2. Wenzel South Bend 4-Person Dome Tent

The large mesh roof vents and side walls on this dome tent provide good cross ventilation, with stability bolstered by Wenzel’s patented hoop fly. It will fit four people who don’t mind crouching – the center height is 52.” The tent features a Polyester mesh roof, walls and fly with a welded polyethylene tub style floor. It’s a three-season model with two zippered windows and a floor area of 63 Sq. Ft.

$31.00 @ Walmart

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3. Northwest Territory Silverdome 4-Person Tent

This dome tent will easily hold four people with its 10 ft. x 8 ft. overall size and 80 sq. ft. of interior space. The special silver coated fly keeps the tent cooler than a traditional rain fly, which makes it an appropriate tent for weekend overnights or fun in the back yard. The tent is easy to set up and features two storage pockets, gear loft and electrical cord access, a rear floor vent, carry bag and a limited lifetime warranty.

$69 @ Sears

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4. Gigatent Giga Tent Garfield MT80

This Garfield Mt80 Family Dome Tent, manufactured by Gigatent, sleeps up to six people in its 8 X 10 footprint. The MT 80 features Gigatent’s peaked rain fly on all four sides to protect you from rain and post storm conditions. It has a waterproof bathtub floor, full pole sleeves, taped rain fly seams that cover the doors and windows tightly.

This dome tent offers a decent center height of 60 inches, and the top is designed with center mesh panels. The tent comes with a durable carrying bag, separate bags for the poles and stakes, and an interior gear loft.

$74 @ Camping Gear Outlet

5. Texsport Cool Canyon Square 2-Person Dome Tent

Do you like camping but aren’t so keen on being stuck in a hot tent? This square dome tent is for you. The large tent features a silver polyurethane coated rainfly which helps keep it 10 degrees cooler than outside. It has zippered panels on the rainfly and a rear floor vent for extra ventilation. Heavy-duty polyurethane coats the taffeta walls with a rip-stop polyethylene floor. It also has a 3/4 length front awning rainfly and a mud mat. The Texsport has a two-pole pin and ring frame system with shock corded poles with durable speed clips to secure the tent to the frame. It also features a “No-See-Um” mesh front door and rear window with zippered storm flaps. The tent comes with stakes and a carry/storage bag.

$41 @ Walmart

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6. Wenzel Ponderosa Two-Room Dome Tent

If the word “Ponderosa” isn’t enough to sell you on this roomy tent from Wenzel, keep reading. This one is great for hiking and biking trips, as the two-room tent is lightweight enough at 10.8 pounds to carry on a backpack or saddlebags yet spacious enough to sleep four people at once. The tent has a center height of 60 inches, a removable divider curtain, a shock-corded fiberglass frame with a pin and ring connection and a weather-armor polyester fabric with a polyurethane coating. The frame is designed for quick and easy setup; the coated fabric is reliable and sturdy with seams and water-repellent threads, zippers, and webbing. The Ponderosa has three windows, Dutch D-style doors, four mesh roof vents a 10-year limited warranty.

$83 @ real recreation USA

7. Alps Summit Tent

This is a roomy, three-season tent that is supposed to sleep four, but you might be more comfortable with two. For the price and quality, that’s not too bad since it features a center height of 60”.

Two large mesh windows are included, as well as a hooded fly at the front and rear of the tent. Like many of the tents on thus list, the Summit Tent is perfect for car camping, Scouting adventures and overnights.

$90 @ sierratradingpost.com

8. Cedar Ridge Granite Falls Tent

This is a simple two-pole freestanding dome tent with one door and a vestibule. Two zippered windows – one in the door, one in the rear – and large side mesh panels provide ventilation. It comes with welded tub style, walls, rain fly, fiberglass poles, pole and stake bags, a gear loft, mesh storage pockets and a tent bag. The freestanding two-pole system with fiberglass poles makes for easy assembly with pole clips that quickly snap over the tent poles. Although this is a four-person model, Cedar Ridge also makes a similar, two-person tent for $30 less.

$54 @ Amazon

9. Tahoe Gear Acadia 6-Person Dome Ten

If you know five other people you’d like to share a tent with, this must be for you. The Tahoe Gear Acadia Tent will sleep up to six folks and coms with easy setup poles, stakes, guy ropes, and rain fly. It features a durable polyester tent body for warm or cool weather, polyester fly with taped fly seams and polyethylene binding floor. A fly canopy extends out over the door for extra coverage and the open mesh roof area provides excellent cross ventilation throughout and allows the tent to double as a more open room during the day or night. It includes a tent carry bag, pole bag, stakes, guy ropes, assembly instructions and a two-year manufacturer warranty against product defects.

$80 @ vminnovations.com (Free shipping)

10. Northwoods 6-Person Tent

Here’s another big tent for those of you who don’t mind being close to your loved ones. It’s roomy, among the better-looking tents on the list, and features plenty of storage pouches and a closet in the back. There are large, sturdy exterior pockets for electrical cords and other items to stay organized and out of the way.

Northwoods says this tent is built to withstand everything from backyard campouts to roughing it in the wilderness. The lightweight shock-corded fiberglass frame provides stability and durability while the polyethylene base resists water, tears and punctures. It weighs 14.4 pounds and features three large windows.

$95 @ kmart.com

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9 Healthy Protein Pancake Recipes

May 16, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Incorporating a high protein breakfast will curb cravings all day long. Imagine if you could make your favorite breakfast food a healthy meal! These healthy protein pancake recipes from homemadeprotein, are sure to make pancakes your new favorite protein packed health food. I use discounted gift cards from Whole Foods to purchase all my groceries at a discounted price. For more on healthy alternatives.

1. Pumpkin Spice Protein Pancakes (14 g protein)

Pumpkin gets extra love each fall — but you can taste the benefits any time of year. These flour-free pancakes deliver a protein-packed breakfast, thanks to one scoop of protein powder, real pumpkin and oats. Add egg whites and baking powder and they’re ready for lift-off. Photo and Recipe: Katie Farrell / Dashing Dish

2. Vanilla-Spiked Protein Pancakes (9 g protein)

The protein in these pancakes comes from three eggs and a half-cup of cottage cheese. A quarter-cup of flour holds it all together, and vanilla extract and coconut oil give the cakes a unique — and crave-worthy — flavor. Top with fresh fruit, your favorite nut butter or Greek yogurt for a well-rounded meal. Photo and Recipe: Emma / Better with Cake

3. Red Quinoa Pancakes (9 g protein)

These pancakes get their dose of protein from an unexpected source: quinoa. In addition to lending protein, the quinoa creates a great slightly crunchy, slightly chewy texture without losing typical pancake fluffiness. Top with fresh berries and fruit syrup. Photo and Recipe: Kayley / The Kitchen McCabe

4. Gluten-Free Almond Joy Pancakes (11 g protein)

Low-carb pancakes packed with protein and fiber — need we say more? Two of these cakes provide 11 grams of protein and nine grams of fiber, which comes primarily from the half-cup of coconut flour and six eggs in the recipe. All that great Almond Joy flavor is thanks to almond extract and (of course) dark chocolate. Fry them up in coconut oil for a slightly sweet crunch. Photo and Recipe: Carolyn / All Day I Dream About Food via The Lemon Bowl

5. Cinnamon Roll Protein Pancakes (38.5 g protein)

Instant oats, vanilla protein powder, egg whites and Greek yogurt make up the protein-packed base of these decadent (but healthy!) pancakes, while banana and cream cheese create a decadent flavor and texture. Whip up this batter at night and store in the fridge before cooking in the morning for a quick and filling hot breakfast. Photo and Recipe: Claire /The Slender Student

6. Peaches and Cream Protein Pancakes (22 g protein)

These peachy cakes bring the taste of summer into your kitchen. Oat flour, coconut flour and vanilla protein powder combine for the base of these fruit-filled cakes. Peach-flavored Greek yogurt, diced peaches, coconut and almond extract add sweetness, a bit of texture, and fresh flavors to the mix as well. Top with freshly toasted coconut, roasted almonds and fresh, diced peaches for an even more exciting dish and varied texture. Photo and Recipe: Heather Powers / Kiss My Broccoli

7. Vanilla Coconut Protein Pancakes (29 g protein)

Nuts for coconut? These vanilla and coconut-scented pancakes are made from spelt flour, almond meal and protein powder. Chia seeds add a bit of texture and a healthy kick ofomega-3 fatty acids. Top with a mix of Greek yogurt and maple syrup and toasted coconut.Photo and Recipe: Karla / Foodologie

8. Whole-Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes (25 g protein)

It can’t get more simple than these whole-wheat Greek yogurt pancakes: Just combine Greek yogurt, an egg, whole-wheat flour and baking soda, mix it up, and cook in a skillet. Add whatever flavors you like, and choose your favorite toppings. (We’re big fans of fresh berries or banana!) Photo and Recipe: Ali / Veggies by Candlelight

9. Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Chip Protein Pancakes (11.7 g protein)

Greek yogurt and vanilla protein powder put the “pow” in these protein pancakes. Oats give the cakes some body, while customized toppings add an irresistible peanut-buttery-banana-chocolaty flavor. Prefer other fixins? Use the basic recipe and top with whatever your heart desires! Photo and Recipe: Erin / Dinners, Dishes & Desserts

Deep-Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

May 15, 2014 by Kirsten Marshall

It’s national chocolate chip cookie day! Why not celebrate with this amazing goodness.

Deep-Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
yield: about 20 cookies

For the Cookie Dough:
4 oz butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

To Batter and Fry:
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup + 2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 quart oil, for frying
Candy/Deep Fry thermometer

Make the Cookie Dough:
Combine the butter and both sugars in the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat them together for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the egg and vanilla extract and beat on low speed until combined. Stop the mixer, add the flour and salt, and mix again on low speed until most of the flour streaks are gone.

Stop mixing, add the chocolate chips, and stir everything together with a spatula until it’s well-mixed. Use a 1-inch cookie scoop or a spoon to form the dough into 1-inch balls, and place them on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. You should get about 20 cookies from this recipe. Chill the dough in the refrigerator until the balls are firm, at least 1 hour. Dough can be made several days in advance and kept, well-wrapped, in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Batter and Fry:
To make the batter, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the milk and 2 tsp of vegetable oil, and whisk until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.Pour the frying oil into a medium saucepan so that it’s 2 inches deep. Insert a candy/deep fry thermometer and heat the oil over medium heat until it reaches 360 F (182 C). Once at 360 F, take a chilled ball of cookie dough and dip it in the batter, turning it over with your hands until it’s completely covered. Let excess batter drip back into the bowl, then gently drop it into the oil. Repeat with 2-3 more dough balls, so you’re frying 3-4 at a time.

Fry the balls for about 2 minutes per side, flipping as necessary so that they cook evenly.Fry the cookie dough balls until they’re puffed and a dark golden brown on all sides. Remove them from the oil using a frying skimmer or slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough balls and batter. Watch the temperature of the oil and keep it between 360 F-370 F (182 – 188 C)—remove it from the heat if it gets too hot, or let it warm up in between batches if the temperature drops too much.

These balls are best served warm, but not hot. Garnish them with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, a side of whipped cream, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, or nothing at all!

Recipe/image from Sugarhero