Think of all the work that mothers do in raising their children. Mothers need to be celebrated!

In the late 1800’s Anna Jarvis was born the 9th of 11 children to a dedicated, hard-working mother who was very active in working to improve the health of people in her community. Jarvis’s mother also organized a Mother’s Friendship event in her community to bring confederate and union soldiers together for a peaceful celebration.

Growing up, Anna had often heard her mother say she wished someone would create a day honoring mothers. After her mother passed away, Anna worked hard to promote the creation of Mother’s Day to be honored on the anniversary of her mother’s death. Because of her hard work, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed May 9, 1914, the first Mother's Day.

Now, all around the world in many cultures, children honor their mothers on that day. What are your plans to honor the mothers (mothers, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, etc.) in your life this year? Flowers, brunch, gifts, pampering - moms deserve it!

Want to learn more about Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day? Here’s the FULL STORY.

Ever picked your own tomato from your garden? Or cut your own fresh herbs to add to the supper you are cooking? If you haven’t you are missing out on one of the great natural rewards in life.

Growing your own vegetables or herbs can be fun, good exercise, cost-saving, and rewarding at the dinner table. All good reasons to consider gardening, if you aren’t already doing it.

A vegetable garden doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. You can, of course, go the traditional route and till up an area of your yard. The next easiest option is to build a raised bed garden (be sure you don’t use treated lumber here). If you just want to dip your toes in the water, you can easily plant a pot or two for your deck or patio.

Whatever garden type you choose, plan well. Do some reading so you learn how to maximize the space you have to grow healthy, productive plants that do well where you live. Overcrowding your plants can cause disease and make way for terrible disappointments at harvest time.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

 
• FARMER'S ALMANAC
• COMMUNITY GARDEN GUIDE
• THE PEOPLE'S GARDEN GARDENING RESOURCES

One easy (large) pot to grow would contain a cherry tomato plant, a basil plant, and a marigold. These three plants work well together, and grow better together than separately. Marigolds grown with tomatoes help keep the tomato-destroying insects away. You’ll need a good strong stake and tie system to keep the cherry tomato plant upright for better yield. Place it in a sunny location, water well, and fertilize weekly.

That first juicy tomato of the season...mmm, mmm! Enjoy!

It’s April 23rd and you’ve (hopefully) filed your taxes by now.

Did you get a big, juicy tax return this year? Or get socked with a big, nasty amount to pay the IRS? Either way, if your job requires you complete a W-4 for your employer, it might be possible to reduce that number.

It’s pretty clear why you wouldn’t want to pay so much next year in a big lump sum, but you might be wondering why you would want to reduce your big, juicy tax return. After all, it’s like getting a fat bonus check, right?

Actually, when you have too much taxes withheld from your paycheck, you are giving the government money out of your pocket that they earn interest on... interest which they don’t share with you. If you adjust your withholding, you get more money in your paycheck that you can then save for a nest egg and earn the interest on yourself!

The IRS is so helpful, they have created a Withholding Calculator that you can use online for free. Check it out - get them to help you figure out what your withholding should really be. If you get less back, or pay less in April - you win, either way.

Here’s the Withholding Calculator  -Calculator - try it out.

We’re always looking out for your financial health. And, of course, your physical health.

Whether you do it for health reasons or simply because it’s a personal choice, maintaining a gluten free diet can be a challenge. And while controlling what you eat at home is one thing, doing it while dining out is dining out can seem more challenging. However, as more and more people are being diagnosed with celiac disease, more restaurants are providing gluten free options. So if you decide to dine out, here are five tips that can help.

1. Eat something before you go.

The hungrier you are when you look at the menu, the more likely you are to be guided by your stomach instead of your head. If you’re not at home, keep some small snacks in your purse or briefcase for emergencies.

2. Do some digging.

Even if you know exactly which grains and foods you should be avoiding, you may not know everywhere they might be hiding. Visit some gluten-free websites and search for areas where you’re likely to find “cross-contamination” and avoid those foods.

3. Research the restaurant.

Many restaurants are now providing gluten free menu options and many now post their menus online, so you can know in advance what your menu options are. If you’re considering a restaurant that doesn’t have a website, call and ask them to fax you a menu. If you can’t find anything you’d feel comfortable ordering, consider switching to a restaurant with more gluten-free options.

4. Ask questions.

If you know you’ll be going to a restaurant that worries you, call the restaurant in advance and ask to speak to a manager. Tell him or her that you have celiac disease and ask what he or she recommends. An Italian eatery or other restaurant that serves pasta may allow you to bring your own gluten-free pasta and prepare it and serve it with their own sauce.

5. Talk about it.

Tell your server that you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy and explain what you need. If the server seems unable or unwilling to help you, ask to speak to the manager.

Prepare yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need, and you should be able to enjoy the occasional meal out without any issues.

It’s already getting pretty cold in most areas of the country – and winter’s just around the corner. Here are some tips on how to save on those big heating bills that are also looming in your future.

• Cook your meals in a microwave instead of a conventional oven. You’ll use 55% to 65% less energy.

• Run full loads of laundry in your washing machine. Heating water generally accounts for 15% of your utility bill – so you can save big by not washing a couple of things at a time.

• Ceiling fans can make a room warmer. Hot air rises - and a ceiling fan forces it back down to warm the part of the room you’re actually in, rather than the roof warm!

• Plug gadgets like TVs and DVD players in power strips. You can turn them all off at once, rather than let them run and suck up energy 24/7.

• Get a furnace tune-up. Heating systems need to be serviced on a yearly basis to make sure they’re running as efficiently as possible.

• Seal up any openings in walls, doors or windows with tape or caulk – especially if you have a drafty attic. As we noted, hot air rises and you can lose up to 50% of your heat from it escaping up there.

Stay warm and we’ll see you next week.

Do you have your Halloween costume picked out this year?

Last year, the average person spent $72 on Halloween, as opposed to $66 in 2010 and $56 in 2009. That shows the effect of the economy – will this year reflect the so-called recovery?

Halloween’s origin is traditionally linked to ancient festivals of the dead – but more likely, it’s an offshoot of the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose name meant, roughly, “summer’s end.”

So if it was all about the seasonal transition to winter-like weather, where did all the spooky stuff come from? Well, the ancient Celts believed that the border between our physical world and the spiritual one became a very, very thin one on Samhain, meaning spirits, both harmless and harmful would come and play on that day. So costumes and masks were employed to impersonate the not-so-friendly ghosts and avoid being attacked by them.

The name “Halloween” first began to crop up in the 16^th century. And believe it or not, the pumpkin was not the designated vegetable when it came to creating Jack O’ Lanterns. No, instead, large turnips were hollowed out and faces were carved in them to also ward off the evil spirits. In America, however, pumpkins were bigger and more available than big turnips

Some other fun Halloween facts…the most popular trick-or-treat item is a Snickers, the largest pumpkin in the world weighed 1385 pounds, and, according to superstition, if you look in a mirror at midnight on Halloween, you’ll see your future spouse.

By the way, on that last one, if you end up just seeing yourself - guess you’re the only one who’s a fit companion for you!