The Homefront

May/June 2008 Issue | Posted by Danielle Bean in Home Front

Pack a Perfect Picnic

Get outdoors and enjoy some springtime sunshine with your meals! Lunch at the playground is free and easy fun for moms and kids alike. Some things to keep in mind:

Be safe. Perishable food can go bad quickly in the heat of the sun. Always pack refrigerated items in a cooler.

Save space. Bags of frozen fruit or frozen juice boxes can double as ice packs in your cooler.

Get creative.Sandwiches are forgettable, but what about a fresh loaf of crusty bread with a variety of spreads? Don’t forget to pack a knife and spreader.

Be practical. Picnic baskets are lovely and romantic, but they can be awkward to lug around with a gang of kids in tow. Check out some of the picnic backpack options at PicnicFun.com.The stylish Rambler Blue Stripe Picnic backpack for four is an attractive choice at just $50.

Classic Macaroni Salad

Ham and cheese make this typical picnic side dish tasty and filling.

16-ounce package macaroni,cooked, drained, and rinsed

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 cup peeled, chopped cucumber

1 tablespoon minced onion

1 cup diced cooked ham

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

salt and pepper, to taste

In a large bowl, combine the pasta and mayonnaise. Mix well. Stir in cucumber, onion, ham, and cheese. Drizzle oil and vinegar over top and toss. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

— Adapted from AllRecipes.com

Swimming Success

BY Mary

No more hiding. No more crying. It’s time to revisit swimsuits. Like it or not, a swimsuit is an important springtime purchase, though not one most women look forward to. Here’s a little help to get you through.

Websites such as SwimSuitsForAll.com, LLBean.com, and LandsEnd.com give terrific guidelines for selecting the best suits for specific body types, and several sites now offer something called the “Miracle Suit.” Despite the allure of such promising product names, let’s remember that this isn’t about looking perfect. This is a swimsuit you are shopping for — not a parade-yourself-around-for-criticism suit.

Choose a swimsuit that flatters your body type. All body types benefit from a covered midriff, and most do well under the magic of printed fabric (keeps the eyes moving over any extra flesh under there), but here are some more specific pointers:

Minimize your waist with suits that create length through the torso with princess seams, well placed piping, or diagonal lines through the midriff. Styles such as the surplice or the universally flattering swim dress are fantastic for minimizing waist and upper thighs.

Minimize your hips with suits that provide width on top with ruffling, horizontal lines, or a high neckline. Avoid prints below the waistline.

Minimize your bust with a wrap or surplice style by adding an embellishment (print, peplum, or skirt) around the hip area. The support of a built-in cup is critical.

When you try on any swimsuit, give it the “head, shoulders, knees, and toes” test: Stand in front of the mirror to see what happens as you stretch your arms toward your head, shoulders, knees, and toes. Does the suit betray your privacy? Adjust accordingly.

At least as much care should go into choosing your swim cover-up as goes into the suit itself. Choose your cover according to your fashion personality. Do you prefer the classic structure of a simple shift or are you such a romantic soul that only a fluid and flowery caftan will do the trick?

For the last word in elegance, choose a towel and bag that coordinate cleverly with your swim ensemble. And don’t forget a pair of chic sun- glasses and a summery hat. Even scuba gear can be glamorous with the right accessories!

— Visit Mary at MarySheehanWarren.com

Clear Out Clutter

BY Danielle

Sometimes God’s plan for my day is tricky to figure out. But other times it’s easy. For example, when a mother of eight opens the family closet to hang her coat and is buried by an avalanche of baseball cleats, picture books, broken-zippered sweatshirts, and all manner of Polly Pocket accessories, God’s plan for her morning becomes abundantly clear: Clean out this clutter!

You might not have a closet like mine, but most of us must contend with clutter somewhere in our homes. Maybe your kitchen counters could use an intervention, or there’s an overflowing bookcase, end table, or entire room that you’ve been avoiding. Whatever it is, there’s no time like spring for finally tackling a dreaded job and starting fresh. Some clutter-clearing tips to inspire you:

Bribe yourself. If you lack motivation for clearing clutter, rent your favorite movie or plan a date with your husband. No fun for you until after you’ve tackled the clutter job!

When in doubt, throw it out. If you wonder if a particular item is needed or useful, err on the side of getting rid of it. If it’s unused or broken, you won’t miss it.

Sort through. As you clear through clutter, place items in boxes or bags labeled “keep,” “give,” “relocate,” and “toss.” Items to keep go back neatly in the spot you are cleaning, items to give go in your car for dropping off next time you go out, items you relocate get returned to where they belong. And you know what to do with the “toss” items.

Go black. Use black garbage bags for the garbage you find so that less courageous members of your family won’t be tempted to “trash pick.”

Identify the problem. Are loose shoes threatening to take over your home? Don’t just dump them back into the closet again —

find a storage solution that works for you. ContainerStore.com and Ikea.com are some of my favorite online places that offer a

variety of creative, space-saving products.

Eat Out for Less

Budget-conscious families don’t have to give up the pleasures of eating out. Enjoy restaurant dining for less with these tips:

• Go early. Breakfast, lunch, and brunch are generally cheaper to eat out than dinner. Also, many restaurants offer early bird specials.

• Look for discounts. Many eateries offer mid-week specials and promotions to entice customers on “slow nights.”

• Get it to go. Enjoy restaurant fare in your own home by ordering it as takeout. You’ll save on drinks, desserts, and impulse purchases.

Give More

If you are an online shopper, iGive.com is a great way to earn money for your favorite charity while purchasing items from your favorite retailers. It’s easy: Register at iGive.com, choose a charity (pro-life and Catholic causes are among those listed), and then shop at more than 680 online stores. It won’t cost you any extra, and up to 26% of your purchase price will be given to charity.

Beyond Tupperware

For moms, “work-from-home” can sound like a dream come true. Unfortunately, though, many scams have given home employment opportunities a bad reputation. There are some legitimate at-home sales companies, but smart consumers do their homework first. A good resource to use is the Direct Sales Association (DSA.org). You can trust any company that is listed on their site. The DSA also offers tips for choosing a home business opportunity.

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