Great Summer Drinks That Are Fun and Healthy

Dynamic Health Laboratories has recently introduced organic fruit purees and concentrates that are a delicious alternative to soda. Soda is not healthy, and even fruit juices in excess can be harmful. These unsweetened concentrates, certified kosher by the OK, allow you to decide what goes into the drinks you are serving your family. The flavors available are mango, papaya, cranberry, and black cherry.

If you are using honey as a sweetener, put 1-3 tablespoons of honey in a jar or container, then add a little hot water to dilute the honey. Add the puree and filtered water. Great combinations include mango, honey, and some freshly squeezed lemon; cranberry, honey, and some cranberry tea; and black cherry, honey, and a little grape juice. After making your drink (children forget about soda quickly if they are part of the creative decision), refrigerate and enjoy. If your children are accustomed to undiluted juices, your drinks will need to be stronger at first, but as their taste buds resensitize, they will be happier with less honey and less puree.

These drinks can also be made into ice cubes for chilling, or poured into ices molds for healthy summer treats. Enjoy!

Essential Oils at Work

What are essential oils?
These essences come from tiny droplets that are contained in the glands, veins, or sacs of various plants. Essential oils are taken from flowers, fruits, leaves, or bark. The oil is the pure essence of the plant or herb, making it quite powerful and very effective.

What are the benefits of essential oils?
Their uses are varied. They can help in treating asthma, colds, warts, and bursitis, and they act as mood enhancers and stress relievers.

How are they used?
They can be diffused in a special burner, put into a warm bath, added to a pot of boiled water to inhale, or put directly on the skin. (Essential oils must be diluted in a carrier oil. For example, dilute three drops of essential oil in one tablespoon of almond oil.)

What are specific examples of treatment?
Asthma and colds often respond well to eucalyptus or pine. Stress can be relieved with lavender, ylang-ylang, or bergamot. Arthritic hands often feel better with juniper, rosemary, or lavender. Fevers are alleviated with eucalyptus, lavender, or chamomile.

Save As You Travel

The ULS Report (it stands for Use Less Stuff) has the following money-saving suggestions for vacationers:

Before leaving home:
• Turn off the air-conditioning; also remember to turn the hot water heater to its “vacation” setting.
• Unplug appliances such as microwaves and computers. This will protect them in the event of a storm or power surge in your absence. It will also save money, because many of these devices draw power continuously.

At the hotel:
• Have towels and linens changed every other day. Also, don’t change unused towels and washcloths. Otherwise, perfectly clean items will be sent on a needlessly hot and sudsy tour of the laundry.
• Turn off the air-conditioner when you leave the room. Make sure that the lights, water, radio, and television are off.
• Notify the housekeeping staff if the sink, shower, or toilet is leaking or dripping.

Water for Nursing Babies

Q. I exclusively nurse my four-month-old infant. Since the summer is here and the weather gets hotter, should I give my baby water?

A. A breastfeeding infant needs no supplements of water, even during the summer. Breast milk is all a full-term baby needs. Breast milk is made up of 87.5% water. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently published a paper for pediatricians updating their breastfeeding knowledge. It stated that breastfed babies need no water at all during the first six months of life. (This is true even for jaundice. Contrary to popular belief, water does not lower bilirubin levels in babies.)

Colorful Bean Mosaic

Here’s a great rainy day activity or birthday party project.

Items Needed:
• Beans of various colors (yellow or red lentils, black-eyed peas, navy beans, pinto beans)
• Piece of corrugated cardboard or small piece of plywood
• Pencil
• White glue
• Paintbrush

Your child should begin by drawing a picture on the wood or cardboard. Flowers, trees, Stars of David, or Torah scrolls can be designed. After the picture is complete, take the paintbrush and put a thick layer of glue over one part of the picture. Next have the child place the beans on top of the glued area, following the shapes and drawn figures. Continue placing beans over glued areas until the entire wood or cardboard is filled in.

Example: Red lentils can make a sun, black beans can be the ground, and dried peas can be a tree. This activity stimulates creativity and can be enjoyed by children ages 3-13.

Book Review

Everything You Need to Know About Money and Investing; A Financial Expert Answers the 1,001 Most Frequently Asked Questions, by Sarah Young Fisher, C.F.P., and Carol A. Turkington

Have you ever had a question about money but didn’t know whom to ask? Do you believe that you need to know more about insurance, taxes, credit, or estate planning, yet you don’t have the extra money to hire a professional or the time to attend a seminar? Then the book Everything You Need to Know About Money and Investing is a great vehicle for you. It is written in an extremely clear fashion, making the topic of money less intimidating and more easily accessible. The authors answer questions such as: What is an annuity?; How can I avoid paying capital gains taxes when I sell my home?; and How do I pick a bank?

The book fulfills the promise of its title, and is the perfect read for your summer vacation. If you read just a few pages daily, by the end of the summer you will have digested an enormous amount of quality information about money and finances.