Live Sigma Kappa

Locally Grown Summer Goodness

Michelle Fleer — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:31 +0000

Summer is my favorite season – maybe it’s because I was born in August. Or maybe it’s the days that seem to stretch on gloriously and infuse me with more energy than any other time of the year. With the quintessential summer kickoff weekend of Memorial Day approaching, if you’re anything like me, you’re looking forward to the next few months filled with sunshine, cookouts and maybe a beach trip or other family vacation.

It’s also the time of year where I browse the local farmers markets – surveying, sampling and buying some of the bounty of fruits and vegetables readily available. This summer season, I am trying a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). CSAs are membership opportunities where you essentially purchase a “share” of a local farm’s output. In return, you get weekly boxes of locally grown, fresh, seasonal food. Many farmers use organic, sustainable and/or humane methods so you are getting pesticide-free produce (check with your CSA to confirm this). Typically, you receive a default box filled with produce of the farm’s choosing, not your own. Depending on the type of CSA, you might have the choice to add on meat, dairy products, jams, jellies and breads.

If you’re interested in a CSA, I encourage you to do some research. There are CSAs that only offer “full shares,” which is a large box of produce. Since I have a small family, I researched local CSAs to find one who offered “half shares.” This ensures I’m not wasteful and have the opportunity to use the produce in my box before it spoils.

Another option to consider when choosing a CSA is the delivery method. Some will deliver to you, but it is more common to go direct to the farm or a central drop-off location to collect your box. The ability to swap out might be something important to you as well, which would allow you to change an item in your box for something else. Also, ask if the CSA will allow you to skip a week (or more), in case of vacation – make sure you’re not charged for the weeks you aren’t participating. Lastly, ask about payment options. Some CSAs make you pay upfront for the whole season, some by the month, some by the week and some offer working shares, where you help on the farm in exchange for your produce.

I’m pretty excited about the CSA I found, which has everything I could ask for – a short-term commitment (just the summer months instead of a longer period of time), half-shares, a large variety of produce including fruit, weekly payments, the ability to skip weeks, and a pickup location close to my home. I’m looking forward to a summer filled with new recipes using items from my CSA box and trying vegetables I wouldn’t normally buy.

I’ve linked to the USDA site on CSAs to get your research started. There, you can search a national farm database and state and regional farm directories.Support a local business and try a CSA this summer.

The Best Summer Vacation Ever

Alesha Graves — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:00:19 +0000

Sunrise on Jekyll Island

My absolute favorite thing about the summer is going on vacation, especially a beach vacation. I am most relaxed when I am walking on the beach, or sitting in a beach chair reading a great book, or simply listening to the waves.

Our best vacations were on the beach. Almost 11 years ago, Kevin and I honeymooned on the shore of Maui (how could it get any better than that??). During the summers of 2010 and 2011, we rented a house with other families on Jekyll Island, Ga. I truly did nothing more than read, write and hang out on the beach. Our daughter had a blast building sand castles and running in and out of the waves. While all of those vacations were great, the vacation of 2011 was the best one ever. Why? Because it didn’t follow us home.

Before we started forming the vacation plans, we had a financial vacation plan in place. Please stick with me and hear me out. I won’t make your vacation dull, or boring, or feel like a job just because there is a financial plan around it. Having a financial vacation plan will help you have the best vacation ever because after the vacation is over you will have memories and souvenirs; not debt and piles of bills.

The vacation of 2010 was a very good vacation. To be honest, it was the first vacation we took since our honeymoon nine years earlier. We paid for our portion of the rental house with a credit card, but set aside some cash for a few months in order to pay for other vacation expenditures. We packed our bags and placed the cash envelopes in a secure location as we headed out for a week of beach bliss. At the end of the week, we returned home with slight sunburns, a camera full of memories and empty cash envelopes. The only form of money that we used during the week was the cash from the envelopes. We were amazed. We could do this! We really can take a nice vacation and not go into debt!

Within a few months after that vacation we put a plan in place to save a predetermined amount of money each month in preparation of the next summer’s vacation. When July 2011 arrived, we had paid for the rental house and had our cash envelopes ready to go. At the end of that week, we returned home not only with slight sunburns and a camera full of memories, but with some cash left over in our envelopes! We had a fantastic vacation and didn’t carry it into the next year.

It is wise to develop a plan. Planning doesn’t take the fun out of your summer vacation. In fact, it provides you with parameters… guidelines… guardrails, if you will, for the extent of fun that you have during your summer vacation. Planning well broadens the guardrails and provides you with an abundance of opportunities for your summer vaca.

Due to other ways we have chosen to allocate our budget this year, we will not have a beach vacation. However, we have a plan in place in order to have a Hawaiian vacation in the very near future and to travel to Paris, France within the next five years. I know that we will get to do both and not pay for it in the years after.

To where are you traveling this summer?

What is your summer vacation financial plan?

Chasing Ice Cream Trucks and Challenging Small Children

Kate Fodera — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:03 +0000

When I was younger, I vividly remember counting down the days until school let out and summer vacation was in full swing. In my head, I made very concrete plans with myself to swim every day, watch a TON of Sponge Bob Squarepants, and hang out with my friends.

Now, my plans include playing hooky from work at least twice to go to the beach (shhh… don’t tell my boss), stay up later than I should at a bonfire, and eat an obscene amount of s’mores.

Things change as we grow older but that doesn’t mean we have to enjoy summer too much differently than we did when we were small children.

I know, I know… We don’t get summer vacation in the typical terms, but who says we have to act like adults on the days we do get off from work?

Make it a point this summer to act like a kid again.

For example:

Challenge a child to a sand castle building competition (Bonus points if the child you challenge isn’t your own).

Run after an ice cream truck. Goodness, remember the joy you felt when you were swimming or hanging out in your backyard and the sweet sounds of “Do Your Ears Hang Low” infiltrated your eardrums? If you were anything like I was, you probably jumped up from wherever you were, started yelling, “MOOOOM!!! DAAADD!!!! I NEED A DOLLAR!!!!” then ran at top speed down the street chasing after the vehicle, clenching money in your tiny fist. (Bonus points if you’re with a friend when you hear the truck coming and you’re the first one to reach the vehicle).

Ride a bike. Okay, this isn’t necessarily a “kid” activity, but who am I kidding? I haven’t ridden a bike in YEARS. This is the perfect summertime activity to do on your own, with friends or with your family. (Bonus points if you purchase a bicycle horn and basket to attach to your bike).

Set up a lemonade/whatever stand. This is my personal favorite because when I was in high school (Yes… HIGH SCHOOL) a friend and I decided to forego the typical lemonade stand and instead, we set up a Toast Stand. The combination of smart advertising, firm managerial skills, and perfectly buttered bread enabled us to make a fortune–a whopping $16. (Bonus points if you sell something other than lemonade… yes, I’m biased).

Buy some sidewalk chalk. Coax out the inner artist in you and get your hands dirty with a little sidewalk chalk. There are few things better than getting on your hands and knees and creating your own Van Gogh-ish masterpiece. (Bonus points if you create something that takes up your entire driveway or sidewalk outside of your home).

Age means absolutely, positively nothing in the grand scheme of well… anything.

Reconnect with your inner child and forget about responsibilities, chores and the office for a day or two.

Your mind and spirit will thank you for it

Bodacious Beach Reading

Jennifer Peterson — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:22 +0000

What is on your beach reads list this summer?

Here in northern Illinois, it’s been a bit difficult to think of diving into a juicy beach book because the weather has been less than cooperative. So to beat the daily up and down weather patterns, I’ve been searching for new books to fill my days with dramatic, romantic, saga-filled, luscious reads! Eventually, the weather will catch up, and I can bring these to the beach and sit by the lake to enjoy. Below are five books that are in my ‘to-read’ pile that I will be reading this summer.

I prefer to tackle a really big book, and love to delve into a saga or historical fiction novel, so I will be attempting The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I’m a huge fan of The Tudors and have always had a soft spot for anything about the British monarchy, so this is a book I’m looking forward to reading. I’m also a follower of the Game of Thrones series on HBO, so I will be reading the first in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series, A Song of Fire and Ice. This will also feed my need for kings and queens, but in a completely fictional, medieval and fantastical manner.

Every woman I know has been bringing the racy book Fifty Shades of Grey up in conversation. Written by EL James, the erotic romance between characters Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey will, according to the author’s website, “obsess you, posses you and stay with you forever.” I’ve been warned this book is not for readers who don’t like spicy romances. I haven’t been able to get my hands on a copy because it’s sold out everywhere and the hold list at the library is about 25 people deep! Now I must read this to find out what all the hoopla is about. Have you read it? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Fans of Sex and the City will find a book by Candace Bushnell fun to read. Her stories about strong New York women struggling to find their way among careers, friends and men are great to settle into a lounge chair and read. Her style of writing is witty, journalistic and entertaining. Be sure to check out her Carrie Diaries series for a twist on your favorite SATC character.

If you like drama, courtroom thrillers or family dysfunction reminiscent of a Lifetime TV movie, then check out Defending Jacob by William Landay. This book is the story about a well-respected, successful district attorney who must prosecute his 14-year-old son accused of murder. Character-driven and full of twisting and mysterious family secrets, this is a suspenseful novel sure to please.

What kind of summer reading do you enjoy?

Are you a romance fan? Mystery? Women’s fiction? Do you prefer to catch up on your classics like Jane Austen? I would love to hear more about what is on your summer reading list below in the comments, or email me!

Kick Off Into A Stress-free Summer!

Janah Valenzuela — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:00:35 +0000

Remember counting down the days until summer vacation?

Three whole months of freedom! These days, most of us feel lucky if we can take an entire week off. We all look forward to vacations as a chance to relax and recharge, but so often we come back to work saying, “I need a vacation from my vacation!” Here are some tips to make the most of your time off this summer:

Book early. Unless you have flexible travel dates and can afford to look for last minute deals, chances are your airfare isn’t going to go down the longer you wait. Set up price alerts with websites like Kayak.com that can let you know if your tickets are going up or down on a daily basis.
Check online reviews before booking a hotel. There’s no faster way to burst your bubble than arriving at your much anticipated getaway location than realizing you’ve booked a room with “amazing views” (of the parking lot) in a “central location” (right next to the noisy freeway). Make sure to pay attention to the review dates, as hotel management and improvements may have been made after a critical review.
Know your luggage limits. Some airlines will let you pay for your check-in luggage online to save you the extra time at the airport. Make sure you know just how much you can pack and how much it will cost you to check that bag. Also don’t forget the ever-important 3-1-1 rule when bringing carry-on luggage. Three ounces of liquid in a 1-quart bag with only 1 bag per passenger allowed. Some airports separate security lines by level of travel expertise (Families, Expert, Regular). Keep a look out, and get in the appropriate line to help yourself get through a little faster.
Always get to the airport early! The way I see it, I’d much rather be done with check in and TSA security lines early than be that crazy lady trying to flag down an airport employee asking if I can skip the line because my flight is boarding. Not cool. What IS cool, though, is having the extra time to sit down for a pre-flight cocktail to start the relaxation process.
If you are driving, make sure to get a tune up well before the big trip. Get your oil changed, check your brakes, fluids and tire pressure so you can breathe easy once you get on the road. Don’t forget your roadside assistance membership card if you have one!
If your road trip is during a big holiday weekend, try to drive late at night or early in the morning. Many families will get on the road right after meal times, so try to avoid leaving at the same time as everyone else. Make sure all the drivers get plenty of rest the night before.
Once you arrive, unplug and unwind! Instead of worrying about the work that awaits you at the office, try as much as possible to get things done before you leave and lighten up your catch-up load. Turn on your “out of office” reply and stick with it. Do not respond to emails or phone messages unless they are absolutely an emergency (as in a direct urgent request from your boss). One quick email response to a non-urgent message just opens up the door for coworkers to continue to rely on you while you are gone. Set the tone early and get in vacation mode.
Be present. You’ve counted down and looked forward to this vacation all year long. Now that you are there, make sure to truly be there. Soak it all in. Take pictures, have a drink, sleep in, read a book, laugh, explore. Do whatever it takes to make sure you truly appreciate the time you have off with your loved ones because before you know it, you’ll be counting down for next summer’s vacation.

Cinder Block Planters

Christine Navin — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:46 +0000

I am super-duper sure I am not the only child who lived through the seventies with some form of cinder block home decor element. I distinctly remember that we had bookcases constructed from cinder bricks that were painted gold. Yes, metallic gold spray paint. Looking back, I really should ask my parents whose suave idea that was. My gut is telling me it was my dad. So when I noticed planters made from cinder blocks were trendy, I was a bit cautious, to say the least. Then I began checking out Pinterest and other gardening sites. Okay, some of the planters I found were a tad hokey, but several are down right genius.

welcome home

So, how exactly does one go about constructing these planters?

The cinder blocks are easily purchased at a local home improvement big box store like Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Succulents, small ornamental grasses, and mosses appear to do the best. In order to protect what’s underneath the cinder block and retain the potting soil, I would suggest either lining them with heavy perforated plastic and/or rabbit wire (black tarp sheeting you can buy to keep the weeds out would work, as well).

Another lower maintenance option is to use the cinder blocks in partly shady areas. If you aren’t prepared to water them everyday, the plants may bake to death in full sun. Some moisture retaining potting soil, such as Miracle-Gro, might help, also.

If you would like to eliminate the extra step and expense of lining the blocks for retaining the soil, just leave your plants in decorative pots instead of planting directly into the concrete blocks.

I think I’ve narrowed down where to place my new cinder block planters. Have you?

I would, however, highly suggest bypassing the metallic gold spray paint. Just my completely, utterly, unbiased opinion…

specific instructions and photos seen above can be found via

www.pocketgrow.com

www.remodelista.com

www.apartmenttherapy.com

happy gardening,

christine

A Sun, Summer and Sigma Kappa

Adriana Diachenko — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:48 +0000

In the words of Phineas and Ferb “There’s 104 days of summer vacation; So the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it. As you can see, there’s a whole lot of stuff to do before school starts this fall.” As a teacher, yes, I have a lot of “to do’s” this summer. But 104 days?! Really I need to move to where ever it is Phineas and Ferb live! But unlike most people, my life has always revolved around the school calendar. See, as a teacher I “work” August to June, so, to me the “end of the year” is June not December. Even my day planner starts in August! But I ,too, long for summer just like the collegians this time of year when it is so close, yet there is so much to do – the possibilities seem endless….. Clean out the garage (again….), re-organize bedrooms, plant flowers, spend as much time as I can with my sons, and get ready for the upcoming school year. However, summer also means Sigma Kappa time!

Shockingly Silent

August through June I have life on speed dial. Yes, like any good volunteer my phone “favorites” do include both ABC’s I work with, the CDD and the infamous SKRM number. Each week there are minutes to read, reports to review and endless emails dealing with chapter business. Thankfully I have two amazing advisory and corp boards that work so hard and share the load. They truly give so much of themselves I am blessed to have found such awesome sisters. Balanced with my Sigma Kappa “to do” is the endless emails at work, conferences, grading, school events, grading, students and yes still more grading…then here comes June. Nothing – sweet nothing…..no more late night emails, calls or texts. No more ideas in the shower (yes admit it you also have had some great ideas while lathering your hair) or mad dashes to Dunkin Donuts on the way to work–so often the drive through guy knows my order as I pull up. Things slow down just long enough for me to catch a breath, reflect and renew for another year ahead.

Summer of “The Violet Bubble”

Throughout the year we have the wonderful, sister-filled “Violet Bubble.” For collegians it is composed of meetings, rituals, recruitment, socials and philanthropy. Nights laughing with their sisters decorating another poster for some campus event. For alumnae it could mean monthly meetings, catching up with sisters via Facebook, time spent volunteering or attending COTS or Convention. My summer will have time in the bubble as I attend an officer retreat with Gamma Zeta, Northern Illinois University, a wedding with Sigma Kappa sisters from my chapter and my 8th Convention donning Diamonds and Denim to become a Diva for a night.. or two.

“Sons” of Summer

Alongside my sisters, I have two energetic (read: tire me out.every.day) sons. They are up at 6 a.m. ready to conquer a pool, a park and everything in between. We spend our mornings running errands and after lunch its GO time. Every day is spent with neighborhood kids playing in our pool (not some fancy one but its a large blow up that does just fine for me) or riding bikes and having the carefree summer every 6 and 3 year old should have. Time is spent on the T-Ball field cheering on our little leaguers to spending Saturday mornings at swim lessons. I do realize how lucky I am as a teacher to have some down time, but honestly there are still a lot of lessons to be planned, workshops to attend, and any work I can do on my “to do” list before that fateful August day when my 6-year-old becomes a first grader and my little baby becomes a pre-schooler and I, once again, turn into Mrs. D, teacher, instead of “Nate’s mom.”

How can I have a Sigma Kappa Summer and what ways are “good ways” to spend those precious summer days? Is there a trip to see a sister, alumnae event or perhaps a Convention in your future. How can Sigma Kappa contribute to those sunny summer days? One of our bloggers shared this website: http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-bucket-list.html

The author shared a fantastic idea of a summer bucket list! She, her husband and their two boys sat around and brainstormed all the fun things they wanted to do that summer. Writing on clothespins using sharpie markers, they attached their summer goals to a bucket. Every activity achieved a pin was dropped in the bucket! What a fantastic idea and a way to get everyone involved, contributing and keeping things FUN! I think I’m going to try that with my boys and maybe bring it to the chapters I work with for a “Sigma Kappa Sisterhood” Bucket list. Now, off to get my “to do” started! Happy Summer Sisters!

I Dream of Para Para Paradise

Ashley Nance — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:49 +0000

Dreaming of Paradise

I can’t think of one mom I know that is not looking forward to summertime. We are all NATZ: In A Tizzy. I start dreaming of summer in late April, and start counting the down the days at the beginning of May. Our family’s schedule is crazier in April and May than Christmas time. Is anyone else like that? Please tell me you are! I feel like I need to hire someone from FedEx or UPS to do my logistics.

But ahhhh, summertime, it’s para, para, paradise. (We’ve been listening to a lot of Coldplay, can you tell?) Summer is a chance for this momma and children to take a big breath for a few short weeks. No need to be up at the crack of dawn to get ready for school, and there is no staying up late for schoolwork. (Unless you’re a senior who has decided to load his last year in high school with AP classes. That is another story for another posting!) By the time May gets here, the fam needs some time to recharge our proverbial batteries and then gear up for the next school year. We don’t quit everything in the summer, but we are more laid-back than during the school year. We spend a lot of time reading, going to Summer Blast a.k.a. vacation bible school, my children are on the local swim team, and I really try to keep my house clean. This last thing is very hard, and I’m not as successful as I want to be. Five against one are not fair odds. Oh well, the mess is just for a little while.

What are some of your family’s favorite things to do in the summertime?

My children do not like the beach…boo! They like going to a lake instead. Their reasoning is that there is no sand and there is not anything big enough in the lake to eat or sting them. It does make a little bit of sense, and where we live there are several lakes in less than an hour or hour and a half driving distance. (I just miss the great breeze that comes off the ocean.) We swim, ski, kneeboard, jump off big rocks, and visit with friends. It is a great way to relax and unwind. (I still have to clean, but the whole fam helps, so it makes it a little easier.)

Right now, I’m dreaming of a hot steak fresh off the grill after a day of doing very little; right now, I’m dreaming of yelling for my children to swim faster at a swim meet; right now, I’m dreaming of cookouts and laughter with friends. But I’m stuck in reality, dreaming of para para paradise, but still celebrating life!

Sweet Summer Treat

Lisa Deininger — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:52:44 +0000

Sweet, sweet summer is finally here. I am super excited about summer being here. It is my favorite time of year because everybody is at the drive-in movie theater, running around with their group of friends, and it’s a wonderful time to hang outside with a nice, cool, refreshing beverage in your hand. But…I am not going to grace you with a nice, cool, refreshing beverage, but a wonderful, cool, and delicious dessert.

This is the first time I have tried this, and for me…I think it came out wonderfully. Three main ingredients that you will need will be

Apples
Cinnamon
Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients

The first step to having a wonderful dessert for a hot summer night will be to cut the apples into slices. I like for them to be a little bit more thick. This kind of reminds me of apple pie filling. But healthier…before the ice cream.

Apples sliced and covered in cinnamon.

I baked the apples at 275 degrees for two hours. At the one hour mark, I flipped the apples over and then covered that side with cinnamon as well. I baked the apples for the last hour checking on them every 15 minutes. The thinner the slices, the crispier the apples will become. You can make apple chips this same way, just cut the apple more thin. Take them out of the oven and top them on top of your vanilla ice cream and you have a delicious sweet summer dessert.

Have you all made these before? Do you have tips on what you like to do when you make sweet apple chips or baked apples for ice cream? Is there other fruit that you would like to try this with? Also, what recipes or crafts would you like for me to try? I have several things lined up for the next couple of months, but I would love to hear what you all have to think or would like to see.

I hope that you all have a wonderful summer and don’t forget to let me know what you all think!

Love always in the Dove

–Lisa

Summer Reading…Have a Blast!

Anne Boodheshwar — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:00:34 +0000

Summer is right around the corner, as I am sure you are aware. Especially if you have kids who are counting the days until school is out! Mine were happy to discover that they are down to just a few weeks…makes it a little easier to hang on. With summer comes summer reading at our house. There are usually books the school requires, but it’s mainly a chance for the girls to get caught up on the books they didn’t have time for during school. Plus it keeps their brains working just a little bit! Since I challenge the girls to read a specific amount a week, I figure I can set a good example and read the same (or more). Any excuse to read, right?

Summer is also about the pool and beach, and while my girls might not be taking their books to the beach, you can bet I am! I personally enjoy a light book that is easy to follow, as we all know how many times you will get interrupted while there. I will also admit to preferring paperbacks over hardcover for easier transportation. I have even been known to pick up favorite books in both types to have a travel copy! Many of you now have e-readers, those I have been told are great for travel, and while I have seen them at the pool and beach, I am not sure if I would like that. (if you have one let me know your thoughts!!)

So what to read…

If you haven’t already discovered her, let me introduce you to Mary Kay Andrews. She has nine books out, all but the newest I can recommend easily. The most recent Spring Fever is on my list to read this summer. Her books are full of great female characters with such heart and soul that you can’t help but cheer for them in their misadventures. These are all stand-alone books, which makes them great for relaxed reading (no trying to remember who did what in the last novel).

Another favorite author of mine is Lynn Kurland. Her time travel romances will leave you wanting to pick up another one, and fortunately she has written a large quantity with a duo family timeline to assist you along your way. Her newest book All for You, which is next in my stack of books, is sure to be a fun romp through current and medieval England.

I try to throw in one book that will challenge my brain a bit. This summer it’s that classic I promised myself I would read this year that has been sitting on my bedside table staring at me for the last few months! I also generally read one or two off my girls’ school reading lists. I like to know what they are reading, as I am not always in agreement about what the Young Adult genre feels is appropriate, plus it’s great for starting dialog.

What will you be reading this summer? How and where will you be reading it?